Paolo Fossati

The Myitstone dam would be the first to block the Irrawaddy River, the cradle of Myanmar civilization. Beijing presses for the reopening of construction works. The Kachin community is fighting to cancel the project. Card Charles Maung Bo called it "a death sentence" for Myanmar.

Africa represents a market of 1.2 billion potential consumers. About 90 per cent of phones sold in Africa are smartphones. African countries hold the largest share in the world of adults with mobile money accounts. Unmet demand and the need for new digital infrastructures are attracting entrepreneurs.

In his latest letter, the Archbishop of Yangon calls for a renewed effort to pursue the process of national reconciliation. What was an "earthly paradise" has been "mutilated" by 60 years of dictatorship and armed conflict. The country now has a million refugees and as many internally displaced people. The poverty rate is around 40 per cent. The country’s military needs to be an army “of justice and peace.”

The National Assembly chose him with 500 votes in favor. His rival, the Democrat Thanathorn, obtained 244. The opposition claims to have "been robbed of victory": 250 Senate members had all been appointed by the junta. But the government has a small majority in the House of Representatives.

According to experts, the former are no threat to government troops, as they are too few and not prone to armed struggle. The latter, on the other hand, play a central role in Myanmar’s peace process. They are self-governing and have close ties with Beijing.

The South Korean government will provide US$ 8 million to UN agencies. This is the first aid provided to Pyongyang by the Moon government through international agencies. South Korea was divided over sending food to the North. The regime has received assistance from Moscow over the past four months.

The student is a graduate of Santo Tomas, an old and prestigious university. In five years of studies, she has not felt or experienced discrimination. On social media, she writes that the world needs to look at similarities rather than differences.

On 28 May, 19 students were attacked by Ryuichi Iwasaki, 51, who struck when the girls were lined up to board a school bus. A girl and a parent died in the attack, whilst the murderer committed suicide. The scene of the tragedy continues to attract mourners.

Wirathu, an ultranationalist monk, is accused of sedition. Yesterday the religious did not appear at the West District Court of Yangon. The authorities want to try the religious for his "obscene and personal" statements against Aung San Suu Kyi.

Prayuth Chan-ocha, the premier in office since the 2014 military coup, is ready to keep his post. He is challenged by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the New Future Party. Thailand remains divided after 13 years marked by coups, violent street protests and short-term civilian governments.

The second most important religious holiday in the Islamic world is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth lunar month. Celebrations in Southeast Asia begin a day later than in the Middle East because the date depends on the sighting of the new moon. Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic country, is preparing to celebrate amid tensions.

In Japanese hikikomori refers to acute social withdrawal. The problem affects about 613,000 Japanese aged 40 to 64 and 540,000 aged 15 to 39. For PIME Missionary, “causing or experiencing discomfort in [Japanese] society leads to strong inner hang-ups.”