South Asia
COVID-19 Cases Spike in India
India reported a total of 3,823 new COVID-19 infections on April 1, a jump of 27% from the previous day - the highest single-day spike in COVID-19 infections in over 6 months. The surge is representative of a wider spread of COVID-19 in India, with a 437% increase in cases and a 114% rise in deaths.
Indian Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi Sentenced to Jail and Expelled From Parliament
A district court in Gujarat sentenced Rahul Gandhi, the face of the Indian National Congress, India’s most prominent opposition party, to a two-year jail sentence under defamation charges.
Punjab Faces An Internet Blackout As Authorities Hunt Down Sikh Preacher
Over 30 million people in the North Indian state of Punjab have been affected by an internet shutdown, as imposed due to a search for Amritpal Singh Sandhu, a Sikh preacher who has been fighting to create a separate Sikh state.
Digital Payments in India have Reached a Zenith
Digital payments have seen explosive growth within India in recent years. Overall, India had the largest number of digital payments of any country in 2021, at 48 billion -- more than the next 4 countries combined.
G20 Summit in Bengaluru Concludes
India recently hosted the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors meeting in the city of Bengaluru. This is the first major G20 meeting since India assumed the presidency of the G20 in December 2022.
BBC headquarters raided by Indian Tax Officials after Documentary on Modi
The Indian income tax department conducted raids in BBC’s Mumbai and Delhi headquarters on Tuesday Feb. 14, alleging tax evasion.
Indian Army Returns After Providing Relief In Turkey
After providing extensive services and aid to Turkey after an earthquake struck the area, the Indian Army’s medical team is returning back home.
2022 Remittances Projection: India Set to Hit $100 billion in 2022
During their Migration and Development Brief, the World Bank stated that India is expected to receive a record $100 billion in remittance in 2022, the first time a single country has reached this number.
India’s Richest Man Acquires Stake in News Portal Raising Concern about Media Independence
The RRPR Holding officially announced on Monday, Nov. 30, that they had transferred their 29.1% shares of New Delhi Television (NDTV), India's leading news publication and TV channel, to the Adani Group. In August this year, the Adani Group also put out an open offer for an additional 26% stake in NDTV, which will potentially give the industrial conglomerate a controlling interest in the media house.
Taliban-Pakistan Ceasefire Officially Ended After Five Months of Discussion
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (T.T.P.), the Pakistani branch of the international Taliban movement, announced on Nov. 28 that it would end the uneasy indefinite ceasefire with the Pakistani government agreed to in June of this year.
Nepal Holds General Elections Amidst Growing Political Discontent
Nepal held its eighth general election on Nov. 20, with 275 parliamentary and 550 provincial seats hanging in the balance.
Modi's Vision for the Future of Andhra Pradesh
During a public meeting at the Andhra University Engineering College, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced on Nov. 12 that approximately $1,334,335 USD will be set aside for five infrastructure projects.
UN and Sri Lankan President Conflict on Solution to Financial Crisis
The United Nations estimated that some 3.4 million of the 22 million Sri Lankans are in need of financial and humanitarian aid.
Modi's Vision for the Future of Andhra Pradesh
During a public meeting at the Andhra University Engineering College, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced on Nov. 12 that approximately $1,334,335 USD will be set aside for five infrastructure projects.
Attempted Assassination On Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan waving from an open-topped truck, moments before shots rang out, with a bullet hitting Khan’s leg as his party members quickly ducked for cover.
Indian Women's Cricket Team To Receive Equal Pay To The Men’s Team
An announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Oct. 27 has confirmed that India’s men's and women's cricket teams will start being paid equally, ensuring that female players at the international level receive the same match fee of 1,500,000 rupees ($18,225).
Prominent Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif Killed in Kenya
Prominent Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was murdered on the outskirts of Nairobi at the hands of the Kenyan police on Sunday, Oct. 23. Sharif had sought refuge in Kenya after he left Pakistan in August, fearing for his life.
Kabul School Bombing Signals Internal Problems with External Consequences
On September 30th, a suicide bomb attack occurred in a tutoring center in Dasht-e-Barchi, Afghanistan as students were taking a practice exam for college placement.
Former Pak PM Imran Khan Disqualified from Public Office till 2027
Pakistan's former Prime Minister and opposition leader Imran Khan has been banned from holding political office for the next five years by the country's election commission.
The Indian Economy: A Rising Power
Pushing past the previous economic depression during the coronavirus lockdowns, India hopes to achieve their target of $2 trillion in net exports by 2030, according to the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.