Over 400 soon-to-be-weds, migrant workers in various countries across the region, are unable to return home and tie the knot due to the suspension of flights. Families are in despair, having completed their preparations yet facing an uncertain future. Some are considering video calls for an ‘alternative’ ceremony, but weddings are not merely a personal choice but community events woven into the social and economic fabric.
Father Aloysius Pieris died in Sri Lanka at the age of 92. He was the first non-Buddhist to earn a doctorate from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. A scholar of Eastern religions, he founded the Tulana Research Centre in 1974, also very active in social work. He was the first Asian member of the editorial board of the magazine Concilium.
Recently, the state government led by Yumnam Khemchand Singh met with the Kuki-Zo Council for the first time, issuing an appeal to "forgive and forget". The meeting marks a first step towards reconciliation, but tensions and deep mistrust remain between the communities.
The ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan for the end of Ramadan is part of a broader objective, namely possible talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad to halt the war in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump reported "very good and productive conversations," ostensibly with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Saudi Arabia is also playing a central role.
A long-awaited solution to avert the long-standing human-elephant conflict (HEC). In the area, over 300 people have died and dozens have been left disabled in incidents involving the elephants. For local residents, it is a ‘key project’ that should have been completed ‘decades ago’. Experts say at least a year of monitoring is needed to assess its effectiveness.
The decision by Narendra Modi’s government to revoke a code that came into force in November to improve infrastructure safety in high-risk areas has drawn strong criticism from the scientific community, whilst builders have welcomed the reduction in costs and regulatory constraints. Several new infrastructure projects are set to be built in high-risk areas such as the Himalayas and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
