India

Today's headlines: many migrants on train crash in Orissa, 187 bodies yet to be identifie; Hun Sen imposes new financial controls on all NGOs; Philippine bishops for the Ati's right to land on the tourist island of Boracay; In Turkmenistan, the government requires gas and electricity to be paid three months in advance.

While nearly 300 people are known to have died, bodies continue to be pulled from the wreckage. A local Catholic hospital and social outreach agency are helping passengers, most of whom come from other Indian states. Card Gracias offered the condolences of the country’s Church, which stands by the families, pained to see so much suffering. In a telegram, Pope Francis expresses his own sorrow and closeness to the victims and their families.

The other news of the day: A train disaster kills hundreds in Odisha. “A certain place in the city inevitably evoked memories and sadness in me,” writes the Bishop of Hong Kong about the cancelled anniversary of Tiananmen. At the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting, Indonesia presents its plan for peace in Ukraine. Kazakhstan recovers a part of the wealth transferred abroad by the Nazarbayev family.

A Portuguese MEP's denunciation of events that allegedly took place in recent weeks in Bastar district. The area has a strong presence of Naxalites, the Maoist guerrillas opposed to the Delhi government. Since 2017, the army has launched Operation Samadahn-Prahar to root out the insurgency that curbs mining activities. But over the past three years, several youths left without jobs have joined the militiamen in an endless cycle of violence.

Arrested in 2018 and then released on bail, he was acquitted in January 2022 by a Kerala court; however, the High Court has admitted an appeal. “I resigned from the post for the sake of the Jalandhar diocese,” he says in a video message. The nunciature had asked to do so; now a new bishop can be appointed.

Undisturbed, the chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights continues his campaign of persecution against Christian educational establishments. After threatening to arrest the bishop of Jabalpur, he recently targeted a children’s centre in Katni. The BJP-ruled state goes to the polls in November and now children are used as a political pawn by those who should instead protect them.

Catholic prelates appeal to the State’s various communities after a month-long violence pitting Meitei against tribal groups. They note that “concessions can be made in view of the common good” while “Both communities concerned know their destinies are intertwined.” Meanwhile, more attacks are reported against Kuki villages; in one, scores of houses and the church were set on fire. Weapons are rumoured to have been taken from armouries.

Today's headlines: in 2023, solar investment will exceed oil spending for the first time, driven by China; PM Modi inaugurates new parliament, opposition boycotts: South Korean court issues arrest warrant for passenger who opened door in flight; Over 9,000 Russian teenagers will attend patriotic-military camps in summer, modern variant of Soviet 'Pioneers'.

The only Catholic family in an Orissa village, they were forced to flee during the 2008 persecution, losing everything. Now the little girl from that time has made her first religious profession, and the Hindus who had participated in the violence also took part in the Christians' celebration. A ray of light amid gathering darkness for Christians in the state of Manipur.

Like with Ukraine, India is taking the middle road in the Pacific region, between the US and China. For Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, India is a “leader of the Global South". On the plus side, India can provide affordable technology and rely on local Indian communities, but militarily, the West remains dominant.

A dispute over space in an Imphal market reignited tensions between Meitei and Kuki, which left many dead and caused devastation in the local Christian community earlier this month. In the meantime, in New Delhi, India’s Supreme Court requested a report from the state government about the situation. The country’s highest court also slammed the ruling by the Manipur High Court to allow the majority group to demand disadvantaged group status, which sparked disputes over land.

The Chinese delegation had announced that it would not attend the three-day summit in Srinagar because it was 'disputed territory'. Pakistan and autonomist movements had also expressed their opposition to the event, the first in the region after the revocation of special status in 2019. India wants to promote natural and cultural heritage, but today the security agencies had to ask the delegates present to change route.