Nirmala Carvalho

State parliamentarians are forced to withdraw the text deemed “discriminatory” towards religious minorities. The Archbishop of Gandhinagar: the previous law still stands however, an attack on religious freedom.

Delhi stops the "return march" of exiled Tibetans from Dharamsala: "It violates agreements according to which anti-China demonstrations should not take place". Kathmandu arrests 130 activists. And in Lhasa, dozens of monks have been arrested for protesting peacefully.

In Tamil Nadu upper caste Catholics attack Dalits, destroying dozens of their homes. They are “guilty” of demanding a separate parish. Police move in and fire at attackers.

For the cardinal, India is ready for a greater role for women. But it is necessary to change an ancient mentality and to guarantee all women better health protection and education opportunities.

The bishop of Vasai, president of the Indian bishops' commission for doctrine, comments to AsiaNews on the new forum of dialogue between Catholics and Muslims approved yesterday at the Vatican. In India, the relationship is good because "it is based on social interaction founded upon friendship".

They want to cross - without permission - the border between India and China, in connection with the Olympics, to denounce before the world the repressive Chinese occupation. One of the organisers recounts the details.

The president of the Global Council of Indian Christians makes a proposal to that effect, blames government for doing “nothing to ensure the safety” of victims. Hyderabad archbishop complains that anti-Christian violence is getting worse by the day.

The executive secretary of the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Development criticises the 2008-2009 Budget for being too populist. Spending estimates only offer short-term solutions in view of next year’s elections, but leave hundreds of millions of people, the poor and rural communities, destitute.

The Chinese authorities occupying Tibet are a serious threat for the survival of the local language, and are making life "impossible" for the Tibetans who do not speak Mandarin Chinese.

The newly-elected president talks to AsiaNews about his priorities: the unity of the Catholic Church, the defence of the downtrodden and the protection of religious freedom. He stresses the need for dialogue and tolerance. He receives Cardinal’s Gracias best wishes.

Demonstrations against the arrest in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, of a priest accused of child molestation. The churches and schools of the diocese have suspended their normal activities as a sign of protest, and will meet with the governor to ask for justice.

From the region wracked by anti-Christian attacks, the eye-witness account of Fratel Oscar, Missionary of Charity and director of Shanti Nivas, a home for the elderly destroyed by hindutva militias.