Nirmala Carvalho

Thousands meet for a series of initiatives. Many are still concerned that nothing may change. Indian police detain 56 Tibetans who wanted to cross the border. Dalai Lama sends his prayers and wishes for the success of the Olympics, a great event for China.

Monsignor Gracias speaks out in a controversial case. Niketa and Haresh Mehta ask the court for the right to abort their 26-week-old foetus because it has a congenital heart block. Abortion and euthanasia are two aspects of the same ‘culture of death’.

“A Candle for Tibet” organisers hope to see that many participants; they call on everyone to show a lighted candle, on 7 August, eve of the start of the Beijing Olympics. This way the world will remember repression in Tibet.

In imitation of the Olympic torch, it has crossed five continents to recall the Tibetan question and Chinese repression against rights in the country, and call for Tibet's freedom. Meanwhile, yesterday in Nepal 253 pro-Tibet demonstrators were arrested.

Cardinal Vithayathil: "the Catholic Church will oppose state dictatorship . . . to the end". The poorest are the ones who reject these laws, because "they know that every child is a gift".

The country's law bans abortion after the 20th week. The fetus, now in the 25th week, has heart problems that would require the insertion of a pacemaker after birth, followed by regular operations to replace it. A firm "no" from the Church, which defends the absolute principle of the "right to life".

The head of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy criticises Jacques Rogge’s silence on human rights, calls on political leaders attending the Olympics to ask Hu Jintao about the fate of 5,500 Tibetan prisoners. There are great fears that repression will increase after the Olympics.

Mgr Fernandes slams strategy designed to split Indian society along religious and ethnic lines. But he also stresses the solidarity people showed at the time of the attacks. At least 49 people are killed by the blasts which were set to kill as many people as possible and create as much insecurity as possible.

Tibetan groups are launching the initiative to remind the world about the Chinese repression and colonial domination in their country, the killing of over one million Tibetans, the 6,000 monasteries destroyed. They are asking politicians, athletes, and the Olympic Committee for concrete initiatives.

Parliaments begins debate over nuclear deal but focus is on last minute alliances and defections. Each vote will count. If the government loses elections will be called and Hindu nationalists are currently favoured to win, riding high on street protests over price hikes and widespread social injustice.

An exclusive interview with Cardinal Topp, in Sydney for WYD. Constant contact with enthusiastic, attentive young people, in an experience fundamental for their lives and for the future of the world.

The prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile talks about WYD, and the contribution of the pope, "a great defender of religious freedom and of rights". And he recounts how Tibetans are seeking to preserve their culture from the genocide practiced by Beijing.