India's engagement with the Taliban and the rise of similar ideologies within India, such as the RSS, reveal a troubling convergence of religious extremism and anti-modernist sentiments, threatening democratic principles and women's rights across South Asia.
Israelis from diverse backgrounds, including tech workers, teachers, and military veterans, have been protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to increase government control over the judiciary. The proposed judicial overhaul would give Netanyahu and his coalition more power to pick judges and override Supreme Court decisions. Protesters fear that this would embolden religious parties in the coalition to further push their fundamentalist agenda, leading to a theocratic state. Many are waving Israeli flags, traditionally a hallmark of right-wing marches, and are calling for the preservation of democracy and minority rights.