South Asia

Nominations have been finalized for the Sept. 21 vote, the first since the revolt two years ago that led to the ouster of Gotabaya Rajapaksa swept away by the economic crisis. The economist who will lead the country from 2022 presents himself as an “independent.” Opposition leaders are against him, while the old dynasty is running the former president's grandson. Transparency opens website to collect complaints about abuse of public resources in election campaign.

Portable X-ray machines capable of early diagnosis in a short time have been brought to more than 5,000 meters above sea level. Nepal is one of the countries with the highest rate of chronic repiratory diseases worldwide. The Stop TB expedition, supported by the United Nations, gave the equipment to a local hospital at the end of the trial.

During the commemoration, Christians paraded wearing black clothes and praying against extremism. Local pastor Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi urged government intervention. The Christian community did not participate in Independence Day celebrations, which are celebrated on Aug. 15, but planted new trees in parishes.

Some 90 per cent of the world's rough diamonds are cut and polished in India, but the industry has been in a severe crisis for the past two years due to the drop in Chinese demand and the Gaza and Ukraine wars. Thousands of workers have lost their jobs while another 65 have committed suicide in less than two years. After a local union set up a helpline, it received more than 1,600 distress calls in a month.

The ZeroPlastic Movement sounded the alarm. Unchecked waste disposal devastates marine and land environments, disrupting ecosystems and seriously endangering several animal species. A new thermal power plant in Kerawalapitiya is fired by solid waste; another is under construction in Karadiyana.

"Green rooms" is one of the latest initiatives by the "She works for peace" association, founded by social entrepreneur Selene Biffi. One of the projects is a vegetable garden project that allows Afghan women to save water and soil. This is a window of hope in a country plagued by drought and food insecurity.

So far, the efforts by governments and international organisations to contain the danger have failed. Dengue fever has no cure and the only prevention is via elimination of the Aedes mosquito. The most dramatic situation is in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Called Haati, it monitors pachyderm movements. Between 2020 and 2024, more than 1,700 people across India were killed by elephants. Due to habitat loss, animals are increasingly invading fields and locals are using electricity to drive them away, sometimes causing their death.

The bishop-elect of Thanjavur, the diocese in Tamil Nadu where the "Lourdes of the East" is located, comments for AsiaNews the letter in which Card Fernández, on behalf of Pope Francis, encourages pilgrimages that welcome the faithful of all confessions. “Christ is the way,” but “not all religions are the same.” Yet Mary “welcomes everyone.”

Speaking to AsiaNews, Card Patrick D'Rozario appeals “for peace, calm and no revenge”. For the first time, student leaders join a caretaker government. There is uncertainty over the role the military will play in the period leading up to the election, expected over the next three months. Activists and analysts stress the importance of maintaining stability.

Today's headlines: Japan’s prime minister cancels trip to Central Asia, as fears of a “megaquake” increase among the Japanese. Myanmar’s military regime is preventing young people from emigrating for work. Seven die in attack by militants against army posts in northwestern Pakistan. Panipak Wongpattanakit is the first Thai sportswoman to win two gold medals at the Olympics.

The ties between former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India go back to the War of independence, becoming even closer economically in the past ten years. In India, some fear that Bangladesh will turn to Pakistan and rival China, but much will depend on who comes to power after the elections.