Vietnam: 17 religious texts, including Bible, allowed in prison

Today's headlines: Shanghai remains on lockdown. India's Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief, speaks out; The Arab League offers to mediate between Russia and Ukraine; Criticism of Putin's war grows; Armenians and Azeris resume peace talks.

VIETNAM

Vietnamese authorities have authorized the distribution of 17 religious texts in the country's prisons, including the Bible. According to activists and former prisoners, this is a propaganda move, since prisoners will most likely not be able to freely profess their faith.

CHINA

Authorities in Shanghai have extended the lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic. Restrictions in the eastern part of the megalopolis were to be lifted today, maintained after mass tests showed a surge in infections (more than 13,000).

TAIWAN

The average disposable income of residents of China's Fujian province ($ 5,850), one of the richest in China, is less than half that of Taiwanese residents (about $ 13,000). The figure emerges from a study by the Fujian Development Research Center.

INDIA

After her party's recent defeat in the state elections, Sonia Gandhi is back in the news. The Congress president has renewed her call for unity within the party in the face of the divisive policies of the Modi government, which has also been attacked for failing to lower energy prices.

MIDDLE EAST

The countries of the Arab League have said they are ready to mediate in order to put an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war. This was stated yesterday by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry at the end of a visit to Moscow. Today Shoukry will meet with Ukrainian representatives in Warsaw.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE

Gazprom Bank's director of IT operations, Ruslan Dostovalov, has resigned from all duties due to the conflict in Ukraine. He has written a farewell letter to all colleagues stating that "conscience does not allow me to continue working in this institution. Despite all the privileges I have enjoyed so far, I prefer to remain unemployed."

ARMENIA-AZERBAIGIAN

After the tensions of recent days, Armenia and Azerbaijan have decided to resume peace talks, which remained at the agreements of the end of 2020. A meeting between the leaders of the two countries will take place on April 6 in Brussels , with the mediation of Charles Michel, president of the European Council. If there are results, meetings in Moscow will follow, as desired by the Armenians.

• asia
• today