New Delhi, Jan 21 (IPS) – As countries across South Asia continue to battle the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, causing serious public health and economic crisis, this region, which is home to almost 2 billion people, is also grappling with the erosion of democratic norms, growing authoritarianism, the crackdown on freedom of press, speech and dissent.

UN report warns of reprisals against those who collaborate in defence of human rights
Gaza: At least 20 killed in deadly building collapse, search for survivors continues
AI, climate and conflicts top Guterres’s agenda ahead of General Assembly
Security Council LIVE: ‘Being a woman is a crime in Afghanistan,’ civil society briefer declares
Repression continues in Venezuela in the face of ‘appalling’ human rights violations
World News in Brief: Shipping alert from IMO, democracy vanishing in Nicaragua, alert over political ‘denialism’