As voters in the southern Indian state go to the polls, the local Church is struggling to carry out its outreach programmes. The issue dates back to 2022, following protests over port construction by the Adani group.
The former East Pakistan is watching the election process closely. Especially with regard to the presence of migrants, of Muslim faith, in India. For now, Dhaka is trying to maintain a certain balance between Delhi's pressure and Beijing's influence, explains Fr Sergio Targa, a Xaverian missionary in Bangladesh since 1992, now in Italy.
The Calcutta High Court ordered new appointments within 15 days, directing concerned school staff to return paid salaries with interest. The State administration led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to the Supreme Court. Some state officials have been arrested on corruption charges, while assets worth millions of rupees have been confiscated.
In the state shaken by ethnic conflict for a year now, even the vote for the federal parliament has become an occasion for confrontation with assaults and accusations of fraud against the local government led by the BJP. Extraordinary re-opening of the polls today in 11 polling stations. In tribal-inhabited areas, many polling stations remained completely deserted in protest.
According to a media investigation, the number of operations carried out abroad by the Research & Analysis Wing has increased since 2020. The agency reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office. Islamabad has been reluctant to talk about it because the people targeted are terrorists or militants of groups Pakistan has always denied hosting.
According to the UN health agency, about 3,500 people die of viral hepatitis every day. The highest number is in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Despite improvements in diagnostic testing, huge disparities still exist in access to drugs.
