South Asia

Today's news: Covid-19 dismissed, North Korea decorates streets with (fake) flowers to celebrate Kim Il Sung; Recently released Vietnamese political prisoner Phan Kim Khanh denounces labour exploitation in prisons; Tomorrow evening, daylight saving time also strikes in Lebanon; in parks and public places in Russia, civil defence films are broadcast with warnings in case of a nuclear attack; In Uttar Pradesh Hindu radicals prevent Muslims from praying for Ramadan.

Sri Lanka is considering building small, offshore and onshore reactors, deeming nuclear power an environmentally and economically viable option. Currently, its electricity comes mainly from hydroelectric power plants. The government is vetting an existing contract between Rosatom and Bangladesh.

Today's headlines: Singapore premier on official visit to China, the first since the pandemic; Taliban block a march of women activists in Kabul for women's right to study; Myanmar's coup leader moves against 'acts of terrorism' by armed groups fighting against the army; First 'controlled' demonstration in Hong Kong; In five months more than 25,000 Russians reached the USA across the Mexican border.

This year, the Daham Sevana seminary hosted an exhibition for Lent centred on the images of the Virgin in Asia, giving both seminarians and visitors a chance to go beyond a superficial devotion, and discover in Our Lady the one who walked with her Son on the path of Easter.

On the run for nearly a week, the Sikh preacher leads a separatist group in India's Punjab state. Khalistani independence dates back to the era of partition between India and Pakistan. A history of clashes with the central government. The role of the diaspora.

Today is World Day for the fight against a disease that still causes 100 deaths a day in Bangladesh. The testimony of a Missionary of the Immaculate, a doctor, active for 12 years in Khulna on this frontier: "Many still do not know TB and arrive when they are already serious. By treating them I am a sign of Jesus' love for all".

These workers were sent home in November without any notice. Trade unionist Imran Bhatti: 'We will continue our protests, the government is solely responsible for any misfortune to these poor families'

A mob instigated by Bajrang Dal extremists block a funeral procession. Police had to intervene to allow the family to bury their loved one on their own private land.

Back in 2015, more than 75 per cent of Asia lacked was water insecure. Water insecurity affects mainly China, South Asia and the urban areas of Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Asia represents about half of the global bottled water market, a factor that discourages investment in public infrastructure.

Members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were taken into custody at a club in the capital where they were set to take part in a “social programme” and have dinner. Local police filed a case against them under the country’s anti-terrorism law. The BNP announced that it will boycott the elections scheduled for January next year.

In the face of plummeting rubber prices, Monsignor Joseph Pamplany, archbishop of Tellicherry, calls on the central government to intervene, promising support for Hindu nationalists in return. Fr Thelakat, former spokesman of the Syro-Malabar Synod: 'A barter for money that does not consider the good of the country'.

The structure, which runs for 132 kilometres, directly supply diesel to northern Bangladesh from the Numaligarh refinery in Assam, bypassing rail transport. This marks further cooperation between the two countries, which already share the Ganges River and resumed rail and road transport links interrupted by war.