Southasiasphere is our roundup of news events and analysis of regional affairs, now out twice a month. If you are a member, you will automatically receive links to the new episodes in your inbox. If you are not yet a member, you can still get it for free by signing up here.

In this episode, we talk about upcoming elections in the Maldives and Pakistan, an economic boycott of Muslim traders in Haryana in the aftermath of communal violence, as well as communal violence targeting Christians in Pakistan’s Faisalabad.

In “Around Southasia in Five Minutes”, we talk about how unpaid electricity bills are revealing corruption among the political establishment in Sri Lanka, even in the aftermath of economic crisis; the capsizing of a boat carrying Rohingya refugees off the coast of Myanmar; Manipur’s ongoing internet ban and Narendra Modi’s recent statement on the crisis in the state; continued calls to release lhotshampa political prisoners in Bhutan; fractures in Nepal’s ruling coalition amid corruption scandals; The Indian government’s attempt to impose Hindi-language bills on non-Hindi speaking states; and the funeral of the controversial Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee in Bangladesh.

For “Bookmarked”, we discuss the second season of the Amazon Prime series Made in Heaven.

Episode notes:

The Maldives’ ruling party is fighting itself and the opposition in the race for president: https://www.himalmag.com/maldives-presidential-election-ibrahim-solih-mohamed-nasheed-abdulla-yameen-mdp-ppm/

The political fallout of violence in Manipur, Bangladesh’s economic crisis, the crackdown on PTI supporters and more: https://www.himalmag.com/violence-manipur-bangladesh-economic-crisis-crackdown-pti-supporters/

Violence in Manipur, Imran Khan’s arrest, the Karnataka elections and more: https://www.himalmag.com/violence-in-manipur-imran-khans-arrest-adani-myanmar-karnataka-election/

The Rohingya refugee crisis at sea, and beyond: https://www.himalmag.com/the-rohingya-refugee-crisis-at-sea-and-beyond-struggle-for-justice/

Modi’s US visit, Pakistani migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, Myanmar’s flower strike and more: https://www.himalmag.com/modi-us-visit-pakistani-migrant-deaths-in-the-mediterranean-myanmars-flower-strike/

Made in Heaven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lpxWzvII5k

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