South Asia

They are the outgoing president Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, head of a left-wing alliance, who is seen as the favourite. At 12 noon, 30% of the eligible voters had voted. The majority of voters, 17 million in all, expressed concern about the economy.

The most recent incidents are mainly related to suspected theft or political affiliations. Several clashes took place inside universities. Among the main causes are political instability and distrust in the judicial system.

The two candidates favoured in the polls hold opposite positions towards Sri Lanka’s Indian neighbour, sometimes seen as a cumbersome presence in the island nation’s domestic politics. India is worried instead about China’s growing influence, but, given the current environment in South Asia, it will likely work with whoever comes to power.

Three cases shake the conscience of the country and revive the issue of abuses linked to blasphemy rules. In Sindh, police kill a doctor investigated for blasphemous posts; a suspect is killed by an agent in Quetta, and his relatives forgive the murderer; a Christian woman is sentenced to death for messages on WhatsApp.

Worldwide, the virus, which can cause paralysis in infants and children, is unchecked only in these two countries. In Afghanistan, the Taliban no longer want door-to-door campaigns fearing for their own safety. In Pakistan workers continue to be victims of terrorist attacks and families are still very wary of vaccines.

They are accused of promising miraculous cures for diseases, exploiting superstitions widespread among Dalits and the poor. The events allegedly took place in the house of Pastor Achhe Lal, in the village of Pakhrauli. A local source: it was a normal Sunday liturgy. Fr Anand Mathew of Varanasi: ‘Arrests are an almost daily occurrence. Wrong if Catholics on Protestants say: it is only their problem'.

About 2.3 million voters cast their ballots for 24 of the 90 members of the Legislative Assembly. The poll is the first since the region’s special status was repealed in 2019. The turnout should be high, but results are expected to show a fragmented political landscape.

The leader of the Aam Admy Party - a member of the opposition to Modi, who was released from prison by the Supreme Court after his arrest last March over the excise scandal - has resigned as head of the local government in the Indian capital, appointing another member of his party to succeed him. However, he wants to bring forward the administrative vote to November in order to obtain a ‘certificate of honesty’ from the citizens of Delhi and return to the leadership of the executive.

The UN-backed World Restoration Flagship project seeks to restore 10,000 hectares by 2030. Coastal forests are vital to protect the country from natural disasters such as storm surges and tsunamis, playing a crucial role in resisting climate change. For environmentalists Dissanayake and Semasinghe, mangroves also provide “sustainable livelihoods for rural communities.”

A number of complaints have been made about the use of minors in propaganda for the 21 September vote. A worrying phenomenon in a country already plagued by serious problems on issues such as child abuse. Sr. Deepa Fernando: ‘Sri Lanka does not have a national framework for child protection: more attention and assistance is needed’.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation set off the crisis. Workers are protesting over back wages and accuse factory owners, many of whom are linked to the previous government, of fuelling the unrest for political reasons. Source tells AsiaNews that unemployed young people are returning to their home villages. Exports for coming seasons are at risk.

At a public commemoration, the governor attacked the educational work carried out under British rule, claiming that it sought to “destroy India’s identity". In its reply, the local Bishops' Conference described the governor’s remarks as a “gross distortion of history” and a “divisive rhetoric” that undermines India’s unity.