2025, Indonesia is expected to generate 150 thousand tons of trash per day, much of it plastic. Indonesian entrepreneur David Christian is developing everyday products to edge the world’s 4th most populous nation toward producing zero waste. But with COVID-19 wreaking havoc on businesses around the world, some outlets are finding environmentally friendly packaging a luxury they can’t afford
Freedom of worship guaranteed under Nazarbayev and perpetuated by his successor finds its raison d’etre in the careful policy of control of religions promoted in Kazakhstan, a country with a large Islamic majority, aimed at repressing the possible birth or operation of violent Islamic radical groups. To this end, the government establishes moments of encounter during the year, between the various religious leaders, thus favoring a rather formal ecumenical and interreligious dialogue
For urban dwellers under stay-at-home orders, finding ways to safely exercise outdoors has been challenging. In Oakland, California, where many parks have been closed, city planners are experimenting with turning streets into temporary recreation areas
TV stations in Ukraine, Serbia, and Spain, have bought up rights to the Tajik soccer championship, one of the few soccer leagues in the world that is continuing despite the coronavirus epidemic. Tajikistan has not reported any COVID-19 cases so far, but matches are being played behind closed doors as a precautionary measure
The President’s decision aims to prevent, in a nation hosting 230 million Muslims (about 90% out of a population of 260 million inhabitants), at least thirty million Indonesians travelling across the country, in order to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has already registered over 7,400 cases and caused 630 victims in Indonesia. The government had previously issued a “travel ban” related only to employees of public bodies and state-owned enterprises, while Indonesian Muslims had been advised against (but not prohibited) from traveling. The absolute ban comes into force today Friday 24 April and penalties will be applied starting from 7 May
Afghanistan officially registers 1300 infected and about 50 deaths, but tests are extremely limited and the cases are much higher. The coronavirus-related health emergency is added to political instability, institutional fragility, dependence on international donors
Unhappy with its 177th out of 180 rankings in the World Press Freedom Index, China maintains that foreign journalists are “welcome”. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) recalls that the regime is harassing press correspondents and has just expelled 13 of them
The shared document was “a recognition letter from His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding the reincarnation of [religious figure] Choedon Rinpoche from Sera Je Lhopa Khantsen,” he added
The production of a ventilator normally takes a year or longer, but a group of researchers and engineers came together to make it happen in one month at a fraction of normal cost. Mass production of the Spiro Wave bridge ventilator has begun as low-cost ventilators could prove especially helpful in developing countries where supplies are much scarcer
New York City people are asked to Shelter in Home and Quarantine and the streets of NYC are empty . Aaron Fedor reports for VOA from New York City