In Sri Lanka, the preliminary death toll from Typhoon Ditwah stands at 56, with 44,000 people affected. Hundreds of millimetres of rain fell in just a few hours. Government offices and schools are closed. In Indonesia, 19 people are confirmed dead with scores trapped by mud and debris. The archbishop of Medan has launched a fundraiser.

At last week's summit in Johannesburg, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a six-point agenda, ranging from coordination against drug trafficking and terrorism to a new framework for critical minerals, as well as regulations on artificial intelligence. Relations with Japan, Italy, and Canada have strengthened. But while New Delhi claims a central role for emerging economies, tensions with Beijing flared up again after yet another incident related to the disputed territory of Arunachal Pradesh.

For the local elections on 9 and 11 December, the party led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented an unprecedented number of Christian candidates. The Syro-Malabar Church, after a meeting with the prime minister, has invited the faithful to collaborate in the electoral review, signalling a possible rapprochement.

India's Supreme Court has confirmed the dismissal of Christian officer Samuel Kamalesan, who was accused in May of "grossest indiscipline" for refusing to participate in a Hindu ritual in his regiment. On Constitution Day, Mgr Savio Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay, slams anti-conversion laws as tools of persecution against minorities. For him, they “invert justice” and “criminalize compassion.” India risks betraying its pluralist vision.

Growth linked to increased global demand, with new opportunities for the country to monetise its natural resources responsibly. For environmentalists, mangroves could yield ‘over a million carbon credits per year’. A regulatory framework is being developed to distribute the proceeds from emissions trading to local communities.

A Christian entrepreneur was forced to close her online business due to threats and offensive comments. A story shared by many others in the country, it goes beyond verbal abuse. According to the CSWC, 76 per cent of victims of online violence are women. Among the most vulnerable groups are female students, with the spread of deepfake images aimed at humiliating them.