India

The CCBI expresses its “condolences” to the bereaved and their families and offers “spiritual closeness” to the injured and displaced. Caritas Nepal’s appeal for support for relief efforts. Kathmandu opens its borders to foreign rescue teams. The death toll rises to 626, with over 2,400 still missing. Censorship in Beijing.

The Galathea Bay International Container Transshipment Port is a strategic infrastructure project for Delhi, located on Great Nicobar Island in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka’s success is based on its strategic location, but plans for the future are needed. The aim: to modernise and expand services.

The report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) highlights the critical issues surrounding the initiative launched in 2014 by the Modi government. Poor planning, shortcomings in implementation and a lack of monitoring are among the main causes of the failure. The strategy centred on ‘green cover’ appears to be insufficient.

Hundreds of worshippers were undertaking their sacred pilgrimage in the affected area. The peak (and lake) are regarded as sacred by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon practitioners as a place of purification. This millennia-old tradition was resumed in 2025 following interruptions caused by wars and the Covid pandemic.

Drawing on the suffering of refugees, “Batwara 1947” seeks to foster unity rather than division in the memory of a deep historical wound. Fr Norbert Herman: “It highlights the values of unity, justice, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence amongst people of different faiths.”

Mohan Bhagwat – the head of the RSS, which has been accused of violence against Christians in India – is due to appear at Madison Square Garden on 29 August for an event on ‘universal unity’. The Congressional Commission on Religious Freedom is calling for his visa to be refused. Indo-American NGOs denounce the infiltration of radicalism even within the diaspora.

The tragedy has directly affected the local Catholic community: the official version speaks of “self-defence” against a “group of poachers”, but the families deny this. Bishop Serrao: “The Church respects the law, but life must be protected. An independent inquiry and compensation”.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee is set to review a bill amending the rules affecting many NGOs. The All India Christian Council is urging lawmakers to heed schools, hospitals, and charities. Cardinal Gracias speaks out against the risks the bill poses for many NGOs.

In addition to Russia, Armenia’s prime minister is looking to China and India to boost the country’s development. New Delhi plays an important role in military-industrial and security matters. China is looking for Armenian raw materials. In the background, ties with the European Union (along with the United States) remain the primary political objective.

Arun Pannalal, 75, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, is accused of offending Hindu religious sentiments. Human rights groups slam the political use of laws against religious incitement. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the Christian minority in the state.

For the first time, a Dalit candidate wins top place in entrance examination to the country's most prestigious medical schools. Meanwhile, the government promises to reform the controversial admissions system following student protests. In the background, the debate rages on over reserved quotas and meritocracy in India.

The Archbishop of Nagpur highlighted this point to AsiaNews after Indian President Murmu signed the bill. The state government is now awaiting notification of the date when it will enter into force. Under the new legislation, offences are cognisable and non-bailable. Thus, the very essence of freedom and independence envisioned by India’s founding fathers is at risk.