Across the Indian state, thousands of people took part in the celebrations, diving into wells, ponds and watercourses in a symbolic ritual that recalls the biblical episode in which St John the Baptist leapt for joy in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. A festival deeply cherished by the Catholic community, it coincides with the start of the monsoon season.
The victims were young people attending a 3D graphics class offered by an animation studio. The building had been subject to a demolition order in 2016 due to serious flaws, which was later revoked. Bishop Gerald Mathias sent his “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families”, urging the authorities to take “appropriate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.”
A report by Center for the Study of Organised Hate, a US-based think tank, documents how YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Meta are profiting from hundreds of songs that incite violence against religious minorities in India, violating their own guidelines.
After eight years, the trial against the Sisters has ended. In 2018, far-fetched child trafficking charges were laid against them, sparking worldwide media coverage. The High Court's verdict declared them not guilty. For Bishop Mascarenhas, “after years of suffering, prayer and perseverance, truth has prevailed.”
Under pressure from Darjeeling producers, India’s Ministry of Commerce is blocking imports from Nepal, ostensibly for “quality control”, seriously damaging the Himalayan country's economy. Yet, India itself actually needs to supplement its production to meet the volumes demanded by the global market and sells Nepali tea marketing it as its own.
Controversy and outrage mount across the country over the latest femicide committed within the family. Fuelling the controversy is the fact that it occurred under the eyes of police officers who were supposed to protect the victim. Activists blame the killing on a mix of patriarchy, caste, and failure to enforce the law in Uttar Pradesh.
