Hidden in the Himalayas, Parvati valley produces some of the purest hashish in the world. But it is now being targeted by the authorities. In this land where cannabis is king, two France 24 journalists accompanied the police on their raids against the drug traffickers and growers in the Manali region of northern India. This is their exclusive report.
In today's pick of the international press we look at army defections in Syria, ongoing repression in Bahrain, Libya and kung fu fighting Buddhist nuns in Nepal.
A Buddha Air turboprop plane taking tourists to view the peaks of Mount Everest crashed while trying to land in dense fog in Nepal's Bisankunarayan village on Sunday, officials said, killing all 19 people on board.
The death toll from a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck northeastern India, Nepal and Tibet rose to at least 39 on Monday as rescue workers battled rain and landslides in their search for survivors.
Nepal's parliament has elected a senior leader of the former Maoist rebellion as prime minister after weeks of fruitless attempts by lawmakers to come to an agreement over the formation of a national unity government.
Five years ago, a decade of bitter and deadly conflict in Nepal ended with a ceasefire. The UN peace-keeping mission that followed is now over. In an effort to maintain peace, Maoist rebels are joining forces with the regular army. The former enemies will wear the same uniform. But have they really given up their convictions - or the armed struggle?
One American was among those killed after the small plane crashed into a mountainside in the Himalayas Wednesday. Most of the dead are believed to have been Bhutanese pilgrims. The remote region is home to Hindu and Buddhist religious sites.
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS, Tuesday, 23.11.2010: Europe's front pages are largely on the Irish bailout but yesterday's horrendous stampede in Cambodia which left hundreds dead is also prominently featured. We also take a look at the UN's presumed role in spreading the cholera epidemic in Haiti.
Charles Sobhraj (pictured), dubbed the "Bikini Killer, is awaiting a court’s decision on an appeal against his conviction for the killing of a US backpacker in 1975. The French national is also linked to a series of gruesome murders across Asia.
A look back at key events that shaped the last 12 months in Asia. From military conflicts to natural disasters and to the 21st century's longest solar eclipse. Also in this edition : a leading chinese dissident condemned to 11 years behind bars. And an exclusive report in Karachi : our correspondents tell us why the Taliban seem to leave the city alone.
