Full Coverage: South Asia

30.04.2007 The oneVillage Foundation has aligned with the International Free and Open Source Software Foundation (iFOSSF) for empowering developing nations in Information, Communication and Technologies (ICTs) by initiating a project “Telecenter Portals and Applications." The first project will be launched in Ghana.

30.04.2007 A Bushman spokesperson has appealed to the Indian government to respect an order of the Indian Supreme Court that has asked for closure of the Andaman Trunk Road that will harm the Jarawa tribes.

30.04.2007 International watchdog Reporters Without Borders has condemned threats made by Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, younger brother of the president, against the editor of the Daily Mirror, Champika Liyanaarachchi. The minister also threatened to "exterminate" a journalist on the newspaper, for writing articles about the plight of civilian victims of the war.

30.04.2007 A report by ActionAid reveals that the business practices of UK supermarkets are forcing women workers in the cashew industry in India to live in acute poverty and work in unhealthy conditions.

26.04.2007 "Shocking details" are emerging about the Pakistan government's "utter disrespect for independence of judiciary" as shown in the manner in which it sought to oust Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry, says a leading Asian rights group.

24.04.2007 New Delhi based organisation Citizens Research Collective has compiled data and information on Special Economic Zones (SEZs). SEZs are specially demarcated areas being promoted by the Indian government to boost economy but are also creating social resentment because of large scale displacement.

24.04.2007 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) signed an agreement with soft drink multinational Coca-Cola to collaborate on projects to improve community access to water and sanitation in India and Nepal.

23.04.2007 Plans by Bangladesh's military-backed "interim" government to exile the leaders of the two main parties ran into a problem when the High Court asked the government to explain why it should not produce former prime minister Khaleda Zia to prove that she is not under house arrest. Yesterday, too, British Airways refused to fly Zia's rival, Sheikh Hasina, to Dhaka on the grounds that it had been told the flight would not be allowed to land.
From The Daily Star

23.04.2007 Threats by Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse against the editor of the Daily Mirror, Champika Liyanaarachchi - a former editor for OneWorld on Yahoo! News - has been condemned by Reporters Without Borders: the minister also threatened to "exterminate" a journalist on the newspaper for writing articles about the plight of civilian victims of the war.

22.04.2007 Bangladesh's military-backed "interim" government has tightened its grip by virtually expelling the leaders of the two main parties: Khaleda Zia was set to leave for Saudi Arabia today while Sheikh Hasina was barred from boarding a flight home in London this afternoon after the authorities in Dhaka asked airlines to prevent her returning home.
+ Rebranding Democracy in Bangladesh
+ OneWorld Guide to Bangladesh

20.04.2007 Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), on April 18, 2007, released its latest publication entitled, 'Sewage Canal: How to Clean the Yamuna'. CSE also premiered a 32-minute video on the subject, 'Faecal Attraction: Political Economy of Defecation', which explodes various myths about river cleaning. At the release function, Sunita Narain,director CSE, pointed out that money and technology cannot revive the Yamuna, and other approaches would have to be adopted.

20.04.2007 The findings of the survey done by WHO in six states of India, distinctly states that health costs are out of the reach of the poor and made them more vulnerable to ill-health. In fact for many, poverty has been exacerbated due to debt and selling of assets for the meeting of health expenses.

20.04.2007 Food security can ensure physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for a healthy life. But startling food insecurity and poor health indicators make it essential to bring these issues to the fore. Indian Social Institute intends to build capacities for achieving food security and ensuring healthy living through a 2 day workshop on Food Security and Health Promotion: Approaches and Strategies" from April 27-28, 2007 within its premises at Indian Social Institute, 10 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003.

20.04.2007 KRITI: a development research, praxis and communication team will be releasing a Hindi version of their publication From Thought to Action: Strategies to combat Violence against Women, entitled Aurato ke Khilaf Hinsa: Dhrishtikon aur Rannitiyan at the Amphitheatre, India Habitat Centre, on the 4th of May 2007 from 6.30 pm onwards. The book shares findings from an in-depth field-based study and suggests possible interventions.

20.04.2007 The concept of Community Radio (CR) is indeed exciting as it gives voice to the voiceless and reinforces democracy. It provides the traditionally marginalised communities to have a mechanism of change in their own hands. Sushmita Malaviya in her article talks about the involvement of various organizations in CR, their work and the challenges ahead.

19.04.2007 Kolkata-based NGO, Center for Social Market (CSM) is initiating a series of seminars - Climate Conversation - on Climate Change in the Indian cities of Kochi and Kolkatta in June 2007. The organisation feels the need for the civil society organisations to interact with policymakers to raise awareness on climate change and security issues.

19.04.2007 Controversial plans to mine over 4,000 acres of farm and forest land in India have come under further criticism after people affected by the giant project were effectively barred from attending a public hearing.

18.04.2007 The headquarters of Mizzima News Agency in New Delhi, India, run by exiled Burmese journalists was shut down by the Delhi Police and municipal authorities who claimed that the office was conducting "commercial activities" from a residential area.

18.04.2007 Pakistan's General Musharaff appears to be trying to "drive the country towards civil war just to perpetuate his rule", the Supreme Court Bar Association has warned in a statement.

18.04.2007 In this paper, presented at the national workshop on Gender Budgeting as an effective tool for women's empowerment, organised by the Equity Foundation Patna and the Planning Commission of India on 15th April, 2007, Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Director, PGSR, SNDT Women's University Mumbai, shares a detailed analysis of the state of gender budgeting in India.