Eid festivities raise coronavirus surge fears in South Asia

The Indian Air Force confirmed that the country's military chief of defense staff, Bipin Rawat, was aboard a helicopter that crashed in the south of the country.

The Muslim community in India is often a target of misinformation spread by Hindu nationalists. The latest accusation is that Muslims are carrying out "rice jihad". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Government officials in Bangladesh denounced US sanctions but activists hailed them as a step forward for human rights in the country. The measures were implemented over rights abuses and extrajudicial killings.

India was recently gripped by a controversy involving the family of one of its most famous actors, Shahrukh Khan. In October 2021, Khan's son was arrested for alleged narcotics consumption. But according to his lawyer, there was no evidence of any wrongdoing. Many Indians believe the arrest was in fact orchestrated by India's Hindu nationalist government as a way of targeting the actor. In recent years, the government has become increasingly hostile towards some members of the country's powerful film industry. Our correspondents report.

Pakistan hosted a conference of Muslim countries pledging financial assistance to stave off "chaos" in Afghanistan. They vowed to unlock frozen aid funds and set up a humanitarian trust.

The ambitious goal to fully vaccinate the entire adult population is proving difficult. People are not returning to receive their second dose, and motivating them poses complex challenges.

Over 500 people were aboard the passenger ferry, which had a capacity of 310, when it caught fire in the south of Bangladesh. The blaze was put out after more than three hours, and rescue operations are still underway.

Bangladeshi police have arrested one of the four owners of a ferry involved in a massive fire in which at least 39 people died. Seven other people, including owners and captains of the vessel, are on the run.

Children have been out of school for over a year, raising worries about students falling behind. In India this month, some states have started allowing schools to reopen. But in Delhi, many are choosing to stay away, over fears of a third wave.

International aid groups are once again drawing attention to the plight of Rohingya refugees relocated to the remote, flood-prone island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal. Earlier this month, dozens of people drowned as they tried to flee what some are calling a prison island.

Kashmir's subzero temperatures in winter and a dearth of electricity are a painful mixture for locals. With a vast capacity to produce hydropower, why is so little electricity available?

As COVID restrictions are eased, small clubs are bringing people back for stand-up comedy shows. Some producers are using this opportunity to fix the skewed gender ratio in lineups as well as audiences.