As victims are counted and efforts are underway to save hydroelectric plant workers in Nepal, questions are mounting about the sustainability of the development model adopted in recent years in the shadow of the Himalayas. For its part, the Nepali government is demanding “climate compensation”.
The emergency has been caused by a lack of adequate facilities and the extensive use of preventive detention pending trial. There are at least 40,000 prisoners on the island in facilities with a total capacity of only 10,500 places. In some prisons, the actual capacity is exceeded by 400%.
Party leaders urge supporters to refrain from celebrations and pray "for the future of Bangladesh”. Jamaat-e-Islami acknowledges defeat but is "not satisfied" with the electoral process. India, Pakistan, and the United States have reacted. The referendum has not yet been decided, pending official results.
Ten mobile libraries have been delivered to the Western Province, part of a countrywide project supported by the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat. With an endowment of 9,300 books, the vehicles will serve municipal councils and rural areas. Officials and writers highlight the initiative's value for a better informed society.
After a year of diplomatic tensions, the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Kuala Lumpur on 7 and 8 February marked a rapprochement between India and Malaysia, with the signing of 11 agreements in various sectors. Modi also emphasised the importance of ties to Indo-Malaysians who represent the country’s third-largest ethnic group. Investment and technological cooperation have been revitalised.
Voting concluded at 4:30 PM. The Election Commission will announce the results tomorrow morning. A Yes vote in the constitutional referendum could lead to the drafting of a new constitution without the Awami League, which led Bangladesh to independence. Minority representatives confirmed the peaceful atmosphere, but called for greater inclusion.
The founding lawyer of CLAAS-UK dedicated over twenty years to defending Christians and religious minorities. He offered legal assistance to victims of blasphemy laws, forced conversions and discrimination. Internationally respected, he leaves behind a fundamental legacy for the protection of rights in the country.
The country’s power regulator introduced new rules to contain the costs of buying back excess energy from photovoltaic systems. Faced with protests from those who installed the systems, Prime Minister Sharif promised a fair solution. Conflicting interests risk slowing the growth of renewable energy sources.
In a statement released at the end of its assembly in Bengaluru, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) expressed concern over rising inequality, polarisation, and "anxiety about identity and belonging." The bishops reiterated their trust in the Indian constitution, urging Christians to bear “mature, hopeful, and credible public witness”. The CBCI added that, “Instead of being silenced or withdrawing from our mission,” Christians should be “inspiring hope and promoting unity”.
Two days before the national elections, which also include a constitutional referendum, a climate of intense political uncertainty prevails in the country. With the exclusion of the Awami League, the electoral contest will see the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami, two parties deeply distrusted by Hindus and Christians, as the main protagonists. Once again, the country finds itself torn between hope for change and suspicion that the election’s outcome is already preordained.
The wife of the journalist who disappeared in 2010 has reported receiving further threats from a man who identified himself as a ‘retired army general’. She wrote to President Dissanayake, also recalling the continuous postponements of the trial against nine officers accused in the case.
The Punjab government has brought back the Basant cultural festival. Celebrated from 5 to 9 February, it enlivened the city, reviving tourism and the local economy. Strict security measures were in place to prevent accidents that led to the 2007 ban, which was also supported by the Muslim clergy. Activists and citizens enthusiastically welcomed the return.
The Dalit prelate, archbishop of Hyderabad, chosen by Pope Francis in 2022 as cardinal, has been elected to lead the CBCI, the collegial body that brings together the dioceses of the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites. Monsignor Chandra Nayak tells AsiaNews: ‘Chosen for his merits: a message from the bishops to the whole of Indian society’. During the Assembly, the new translation of the missal into Konkani, the local language of Goa, was also presented.
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