Winds of economic crisis blow from Sri Lanka to Nepal

Today's headlines: mass testing for Covid also in Guangzhou, southern China. Population fears for a new dam in Laos. Unprecedented heat wave in India. Jordan wants end to Israeli restrictions on the Esplanade of Mosques. Russians launch "online forced labor". Armenian opposition announces large protest rally on May 1.

NEPAL

Nepalese government orders blockade on imports of products such as cars, alcohol, tobacco, toys, and cell phones costing more than 0; also imposed reduction in work week. The measure will last at least until mid-July and was decided in order to safeguard the country's foreign currency reserves, which are in dramatic decline.

CHINA

After Beijing, also the southern megalopolis of Guangzhou launches mass tests for Covid-19. The authorities' fears of a spread of contagion are growing. Shanghai continues to be in lockdown despite a drop in infections. Health checks ordered for millions of people also in Hangzhou, important technological hub of the country.

LAOS

Plans for the construction of a new dam - and adjoining hydroelectric plant - on the Mekong River will be evaluated by a special government commission. Local villagers, in the southern area of Phou Ngoy, fear they will be excluded from the process. The plant will be used to supply electricity to neighboring Thailand.

INDIA

Fears are growing over the heat wave that has hit the country, especially its northwestern and central states. PM Modi has admitted that temperatures are rising more than normal and ahead of time. 44 degrees Celsius is expected in Delhi this week.

JORDAN

Jordanian authorities are stepping up efforts to restore the historic status quo of the Al Aqsa Mosques in Jerusalem. Amman wants to open a dialogue with Israel to restore the situation to what it was in 2000, removing some restrictions on Muslim worshipers.

RUSSIA

Russian prison police have decided to bring in IT specialists now held in various prisons around the country to work in online regimes for commercial companies. This was explained by Deputy Director Aleksandr Kabarov, responding in this way to requests from many companies to start "remote forced labor".

ARMENIA

Armenian opposition forces have promised on May 1 a grandiose demonstration against the government of Nikol Pašinyan, to demand his resignation. Organizers are proposing a new "velvet revolution," with a protest march from all regions of the country to Yerevan, as Pašinyan himself had done in 2018 before gaining power.

• Asia
• Today