Stories about South Asia
Climate change, digital authoritarianism and disinformation campaigns ruled in South Asia in 2022
With 2022 nearly over, situations in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were extremely difficult. So, what did this year hold in store for South Asia? Read on.
A fact-check of India’s socio-political undercurrents: the case of Zubair
The reactions and subtle usage of language and labelling by and of different actors in the Indian ecosystem symbolise the undercurrents in Indian society.
The climate crisis is a water crisis in the Himalayas
Climate change is heating up the Himalayas faster than the global average, disrupting this water cycle. The rains are becoming more erratic, groundwater is depleting, and glaciers have shrunk.
Twitter Space: What’s next for the Aragalaya movement in Sri Lanka?
Read excerpts from our Twitter space on Sri Lanka's notable Aragalaya movement. Find the full audio here.
Undertones in Pakistan: Military, Women, Blasphemy
Researchers share some of the strongest narratives that have circulated in Pakistan this year
The last of the Tharu traditional healers of Nepal
The traditional healers from the Tharu indigenous community in Nepal with ethnobotanical knowledge are bound to disappear soon because of no interest from the young generation to continue the practice.
Nepali migrant workers who built the World Cup stadiums are completely forgotten
Rights-based organizations and international media are raising their voices for forgotten migrant workers of Qatar but the Nepali media fell short in covering the human cost of the Football World Cup.
Fewer people vote in a Nepali election that includes the parties blamed for the deaths of their loved ones
Nepalis across the country were lining up on the morning of November 20 to cast their votes, with a total of 11,543 candidates fielding for 825 seats, 275 in parliament and 550 in provincial assemblies.
Charles Norris-Brown and his love for Nepal, tigers, and conservation — A tribute
Charles Norris-Brown's book "Did Tiger Take the Rain?" showcases the importance of conservation. He was writing another book about tigers and conservation, but he passed away unexpectedly on October 19.
Bangladeshis join the 2022 football World Cup frenzy, but this year it's a little complicated
As the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off Bangladesh has been gripped by football fever, as it is every four years.
Qatar refuses payoffs to FIFA World Cup 2022 workers
Three weeks ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar’s Labour Minister has rejected calls from human rights groups to compensate migrant workers involved in building stadiums and other infrastructure.
Research flags Sri Lanka where over 9.5 million people may descend into poverty
The ongoing economic crisis, food inflation, and job losses in Sri Lanka have impacted negatively on living conditions and are expected to increase poverty substantially in the country.
Undertones: Why India’s Hindu nationalists revere UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
Hindu nationalists pick and choose who is "Indian enough" to serve their political interests
Egypt’s systemic greenwashing is sabotaging COP27 before it begins
While thousands of environmentalists, politicians, and scientists from all over the world converge on Egypt to attend COP27, the government is barring local civil society workers and activists from attending.
The tweets may flow: A look into India’s take-down requests
The tussle between social media giants, governments, and citizens raise questions about agency and power. Each stakeholder has tried to push back on the other to further their interests.
Chittagong: Industries versus individuals in limited water supply
Chittagong has been identified as one of the coastal cities in Asia subsiding at a rate almost 10 times faster than the sea level is rising.
Societal beliefs and perceptions are the enemies of transgender people in India
Global Voices interviewed Somabha Bandopadhay, a community activist and a legal expert, to discuss the myriad challenges that transgender and hijra people face in India.
Dhaka: A refuge that needs to be rescued
Dhaka, the fastest-growing megacity in the world, is facing a climate crisis as groundwater resources deplete and the city sinks more and more each year.
A Nepali migrant learns the language of overseas work
Raju Subedi, a Nepalese migrant worker tells about his ordeals in South Korea and how the language he learned in desperation now serves him so well.
Pakistani journalist's murder in Kenya may not be a case of mistaken identity
Pakistani journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot and killed by Kenyan police in a case of "mistaken identity". However, in both countries, people are questioning the official narrative.
Kathmandu’s street-smart dogs — worshipped for a day
The Kukur (dog) Tihar festival inspires compassion towards all animals, including dogs, but animal rights groups are advocating for better treatment of stray dogs in Nepal.
About our South Asia coverage
