Following objections from some MPs, the head of the local government has decided to withdraw the controversial bill from the Legislative Assembly’s agenda; like in other Indian states, the bill targeted “unlawful religious conversions”. Catholic leaders and representatives of other minority groups had expressed concern.
Led by the Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Peña Parra, the delegation joined the millions of pilgrims who will pay homage to the relics of Saint Francis Xavier until 5 January. Also present was the organiser of papal journeys, Cardinal-designate Koovakad. The pope has India and Asia “in his heart,” he said. Goa Governor Pillai pays tribute to Christian schools.
The Major Archbishop visiting communities in the region. After a first stop in the northern vicariate, the second in the south between Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Apostolic vicar Msgr. Martinelli: ‘Collaboration “virtue” of the Gulf Church’. Among the unresolved knots mentioned by the prelate is ‘jurisdiction in the Middle East, even if the modalities have not yet been defined’.
Violence between protesters and police during a survey of the Shahi Jama mosque, which some extremists claim was built in the 16th century on the ruins of a Hindu temple. The protests began with stone-throwing while residents claim that police shot and killed four men, all Muslims.
In the last ten years, the ice in the Himalayan region has shrunk by 65% compared to the previous decade. South Asia could lose up to 75% of its glacier volume by the end of the century. The call for climate finance to mitigate the effects and the compromise solution adopted in Baku, deemed insufficient by developing countries.
The BJP alliance will continue to lead the former, while a local party will lead the latter, attentive to tribal issues. In both states, local politics again trumped over the largest national parties, including the Indian National Congress. Turnout falls short of 70 per cent and many pre-election polls were off the mark.
According to the US Attorney for New York’s eastern district, the businessman close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi lied about investigations into his activities and the transparency of his companies in order to secure US investments. The case highlights the shortcomings of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the country’s regulatory body for securities and commodity markets.
The solemn event is repeated every ten years, attracting thousands of pilgrims who pray before the remains of the great evangeliser of Asia. "We are Messengers of the Good News" is the theme of this year’s exhibition, which will continue until 5 January. Accompanied by a human chain of a thousand young people, the urn with the relics travelled from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the cathedral.
After six bodies were found over the weekend, protesters stormed the homes of local BJP lawmakers. The Union government is sending thousands of special forces, while the Union Home Affairs minister tries to resolve the situation peacefully. For the archbishop emeritus of Imphal, the government is “only watching".
The Himalayan country, which has abandoned fossil fuels thanks to surplus renewable energy in the monsoon season, has started exporting to Dhaka via the Indian power grid. The tripartite agreement provides for supplies from June to November, for five years. This is a turning point for connectivity between South Asian countries.
In India's current local election round, votes are also being cast in the state of which Ranchi is the capital. Prime Minister Modi's Hindu nationalists aim to win back the government by promising ‘equal rights’. But local ethnic groups fear that their identity and traditions will be erased.
With the tycoon’s return, hundreds of thousands of Asians risk deportation from the United States, along with Latin Americans. The Philippine government is getting ready to assist 370,000 Philippine migrants. Indians are one of the largest groups of asylum seekers, along with the Chinese. Due to a legislative void, many South Koreans adopted as infants until the 1980s are at risk.
India’s Home Affair Minister Amit Shah announced the policy presenting his party’s election manifesto for the 20 November state election. Currently, 10 out of 36 Indian states and territories have such a draconian law on the books, which is used to intimidate Christians. “No government can come into my soul,” says the archbishop of Bombay. “Freedom of religion and conversion is a human right,” he adds.
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