East Timor heads to the polls for presidential elections

Today's headlines: UN resolution on Afghanistan presence without legitimising the Taliban government; 2022 will be a very dry year in Indonesia; Putin plans to continue the war in Ukraine until mid-April; political unrest in Pakistan; India celebrates Holi  today.

EAST TIMOR

The citizens of East Timor will go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president. Ucanews interviewed Salesian Archbishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, who said the Church continues to remind politicians of the need to live in a free and democratic nation. In East Timor, 98% of the population is Catholic and Pope Francis is expected to visit the country this year.

INDONESIA

Indonesia's Meteorological Agency warns the La Niña phenomenon means the dry season will start late this year. It is expected that 2022 will be drier in general, increasing the risk of forest fires across the archipelago, which are already being used to make room for plantations. The World Bank figures estimates 900,000 people suffered respiratory diseases in 2010 due to smoke from the fires.

AFGHANISTAN

Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution extending the assistance mission in Afghanistan (Unama) for another year. The document was approved with 14 "yes" votes, with only Russia abstaining. Unama says it establishes "formal and stable relations" with the country, not the Taliban, to continue delivering humanitarian aid.

RUSSIA

The state propaganda campaign "Write to a Soldier", distributed in all schools in Russia, shows that Putin intends to extend the military operation until at least mid-April. Students are obliged from mid-March to mid-April to send letters of support to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

TURKMENISTAN

While waiting for the solemn inauguration of the new presidency of Serdar Berdymuhamedov, the internet connection was almost completely suspended in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat. Correspondents on teh ground report only the mobile network is working, but very sporadically. In the meantime, many publications speak of a succession from father to son that is also planned for Tajikistan, between President Emomali Rakhmon and his son Rustam Emomali, the current mayor of Dushanbe and speaker of the senate, Madzhilis Milli.

INDIA

The Holi festival is being celebrated today in India: after two years of pandemic, millions of people have gathered to light bonfires and smear themselves with coloured paint. The festival of colours is celebrated every year on the day of the first full moon in March. The term 'Holi' comes from 'Holika', a name associated with a female demon in Hindu tradition. The ritual commemorates the defeat of evil by good and thus the end of the winter season.

PAKISTAN

Some members of Prime Minister Imran Khan's party withdrew their support for the Prime Minister ahead of a no-confidence vote expected perhaps as early as this month following a motion tabled by the opposition last week. Human Rights Watch said it feared an escalation of violence. Dawn looks back at the last four years of the former cricketer's rule.

IRAN - UAE

According to Iranian media, an Emirati cargo ship sank off the coast of Iran. All but one of the crew members have so far been rescued. The incident occurred about 50 kilometres from the port of Asalouyeh in Iran.