Taiwan, nationalist leader in Washington: we are not pro-Beijing

Today's headlines: Southeast Asian countries will not reach target decarbonisation levels by 2030; Clash in India over insults to Mohammed by BJP members; Health sector crisis in Lebanon; Former President Ghani allegedly fled Afghanistan with millions of dollars Independent; Independent Russian TV channel reopens in Latvia; Turkmen government commandeers grain production.

TAIWAN

On a visit to the USA, the leader of the nationalist Kuomintang (Kmt) declared that his party is not pro-Beijing. Eric Chu emphasised that the formation he leads has always been pro-US and in defence of Taiwan, adding, however, that he wants to dialogue with China. In opposition, the Kmt is struggling to catch up with President Tsai Ing-wen's pro-independence party.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

As things stand, no country in the region will be able to reduce polluting emissions by 2030 to a level compatible with a global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the limit set by international agreements to contain the effects of global warming. This was revealed in a study by Bain & Company, Temasek and Microsoft.

INDIA

The Modi government is attempting to appease its Muslim population and several Islamic countries after two members of the ruling BJP (Hindu nationalist) party circulated offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad. The words of the two triggered protests in several parts of India, with an initial toll of 38 arrests.

LEBANON

A dangerous crisis in the health sector is looming in the Land of the Cedars. As pointed out by the Lebanese authorities, hospitals have their bank accounts blocked and are therefore unable to buy medicines and equipment. Due to non-payment, many doctors and nurses have already left the country in search of employment abroad.

AFGHANISTAN

US authorities say it is unlikely that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled last August with 169 million dollars of state funds. With the Taliban about to enter Kabul, Ghani fled the capital by helicopter and then took refuge in a Gulf country.

RUSSIA-LATVIA

The Latvian Telecommunications Council decided to grant a broadcasting licence to the Russian channel Dozhd, whose editorial staff will move entirely to the Baltic country. In Russia, the channel had been suspended on 3 March because of the 'fake news law', which puts all journalists who disagree with Moscow's official versions of the war in Ukraine in danger of arrest.

TURKMENISTAN

Ashgabat has set very strict rules for the grain harvest as a consequence of growing global concerns about the grain market. Farmers are forced to sign a contract with state bodies, whereby they undertake to hand over the entire harvest to the state, without being allowed to keep even a small part of it for themselves.

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