India

Today's news: the Hong Kong government wants to prosecute activist Agnes Chow in Canada too. Israel accuses Hamas of using sexual violence as a weapon of war. After the death of 6 Nepalese soldiers in the Russian army, the Himalayan country has asked Moscow to no longer recruit its citizens. A cyclone in India has caused at least 9 deaths and displaced 8,000 people.

Prime Minister Modi's party holds on to power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while Congress, the main opposition party, wins in Telangana. Speaking to AsiaNews, Archbishop Emeritus Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, the ultranationalist Hindu party ran a more effective campaign, while Rahul Gandhi’s Congress failed to keep its promises.

Today's news: Red Crescent volunteers also among victims of new Israeli bombings in northern and southern Gaza; Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party have won three of the four state elections, a prelude to the 2024 general election; 11 people are confirmed dead and 12 missing following the eruption of the Marapi volcano in Indonesia

Yesterday the #we4resilience conference, a two-day event to understand how to deal with the disasters caused by climate change ended in the Indian capital. The event - held just as COP28 opens in Dubai - was attended by dozens of aid workers, priests and beneficiaries of projects implemented by Caritas together with other partners. The focus was on a comprehensive approach that takes into account the experiences of vulnerable communities.

Workers trapped for 17 days in a Himalayan tunnel were brought to safety by a group of Dalits and tribals who specialise in digging for coal by hand in inhumane conditions. Officially outlawed, this practice is for too many people the only way to earn a few rupees at the risk of their lives.

170 Catholic women religious representing 80 member congregations of Amrat - which is part of Talitha Kum, the network that internationally combats human trafficking - at their annual meeting pledged to put into practice in their daily work the right to no longer be slaves.

One of the world's busiest and most important "waterways" has seen assaults rise again in recent times. The president of the Goa Seamen's Association calls on the Indian premier for joint action to strengthen security measures.

Today's news: In a meeting in Busan, the governments of China, Japan and South Korea explore a way to restart cooperation after a period of high tensions; Beijing launches an investigation into one of the country's most important shadow banks; India has increased its milk production by almost 23% in five years; The Bay of Bengal hosts joint exercises between the armies of India and Russia; Ašgabat starts distributing cheap flour rations.

Despite a high court ruling that Dalit Christians must be able to participate in religious festivals together with non-Dalits, this year’s procession for the festival of St Francis Xavier will not pass by their homes. “Dalit Christians have fought to obtain their rights within the Church,” said Fr Bosco, SJ, speaking to AsiaNews. “Christians cannot accept castes.” In fact, "If he wants, the bishop can cancel festivals until people agree to get together to celebrate them.”

Today's headlines: Special anti-migrant checkpoints have been set up at the Finland-Russia border. The Philippines is considering rejoining the International Criminal Court. Anti-junta militias continue to advance in Myanmar. To boost tourism and business, China will allow travellers from six countries, including Italy, to enter the country visa-free as of 1 December.

As rebels pursue their campaign against Myanmar’s military, fresh border tensions rise between the Meitei and Chin militias, who are ethnically related to the Kuki. A Myanmar national treated at an Imphal hospital dies when a mob storms the medical establishment enraged by the presence of the “invader". Meanwhile, the Commission of Inquiry set up in June by the Indian government into the violence has not yet held any hearing.

A seminar on the perspective of integral ecology in India is currently taking place in Bengaluru under the auspices of Catholic bishops. In his introductory address, the Archbishop of Hyderabad said: “Integral ecological care is not just a concept; it is a living expression of our love for God and our love for our neighbours, both near and far.”