Nirmala Carvalho

The murder took place in the rural village of Toylanka, where the conversion of a branch of a family to Christianity did not go down well with the rest. The victim was mortally wounded while working in the fields. Relatives even opposed her burial.

The death toll from tainted booze in Kallakurichi has reached 50, with about 100 people hospitalised. For Fr Devasagayaraj, the most disadvantaged were the most affected, especially Dalits who cannot afford more expensive drinks. Responsibility also lies with the state, which runs liquor shops through the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation.

The bishops - originally from the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the epicentre of the schism - launched an appeal to avoid a schism, contesting the circular letter issued by the Major Archbishop requiring priests to adapt to the unified rite by 3 July. "A hasty choice and contrary to the spirit of Vatican II. Pope Francis asked us for unity through dialogue".

Some members of the Hindu nationalists flaunt the photo of the embrace with the pontiff to acclaim Modi. The opposition retorts: "Where were they when Christians were attacked in Manipur or Fr Swamy died of unjust imprisonment?". The Bishops' Conference on the invitation to visit the country: "Ready to welcome the Pope with enthusiasm".

The assault took place at night in a parish church in the Rourkela diocese. They were beaten with hockey sticks and iron bars, before being robbed of all the solid money collected for the school and hostel. In another incident of violence in Telangana, Muslims who were bringing livestock to the madrassa for the Eid festival were attacked.

A new ultimatum to the rebels by Major Archbishop Thattil and the apostolic administrator of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. The date chosen is that of the feast of the Apostle Thomas, to whose descendants Syriac-rite Christians refer. The harsh retort by Almaya Munnettam, the group that most vehemently rejects the liturgical solution adopted by the local Synod in 2021: copies of the circular were burnt in front of the bishop's csa.

The Court ruled in a case involving Tamil schools in the capital, forced to operate with 30 per cent of posts vacant. “The State can regulate the proper utilisation of aid,” the ruling said, but “It cannot subjugate the minority educational institution to its dictates”. For Archbishop Elias Gonsalves, “bureaucrats and education officials have tried to downplay” minority rights. Now things can only get better for the kids.

The victory of the alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taken for granted, but in large and populous states such as Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh it was neck-and-neck for key seats. Even within the opposition, led by the Congress, there has been a rise of regional and local parties. Card. Gracias to AsiaNews: ‘A politically aware vote’.

At St.Andrew's College, the event desired by Pope Francis was experienced by taking girls from a community for minors at risk in the Thane district to visit the city. Rector Fr. Magi Murzello: "Offering hope is a life-changing adventure".

Dozens of people died in two separate incidents last night in Gujarat and Delhi. The gaming venue operated for four years without proper licences. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” the bishop of Rajkot told AsiaNews. “We grieve with the families”.

People in financial difficulty were taken to a clinic in Tehran to sell a kidney for a few thousand euros. It is suspected that some of them died during the operations, which brought proceeds of up to ten times more to the pimps. Iran is one of the crossroads of these criminal deals because of the high incidence of kidney disease.

Inaugurated by Card. Gracias on the eve of Pentecost, it proposes the twenty mysteries of the Rosary through 252 statues at natural height and in a setting that recalls the time of Jesus. The Archbishop of Mumbai: "A great gift from which many will benefit".