South Asia

After the first outbreaks of infection - still ongoing - authorities had blocked imports and exports. Experts: "They are safeguarding the economy, but not the health of the population."

At victim’s funeral Card. Malcolm Ranjith, President of the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka, condemns the attack on behalf of all the bishops of the country. An armed raid on a church, he said, "is a sacrilege for anyone, the sanctity of the holy places must be safeguarded and those who enter in search of protection respected." The cardinal urges the government to "punish the guilty, regardless of their rank or social status."

Kinandang Patong rice can grow in water-parched regions. Its stronger roots can go deeper to find water where are strains would fail. Millions of people could be fed this way.

The Pope sends a video message to his old archdiocese, which today celebrates the liturgical memorial of St Cajetan patron saint "of bread and work". To the faithful who queue for hours to kiss the statue of the saint, Francis says: "We must be able to reach out to eachother. We must build, create,construct a culture of encounter. "

After a week of peaceful demands, the government deploys troops in Weliweriya to stop demonstrators asking for drinking water. Shooting to kill, soldiers fatally wound three young people and injure an additional 45. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd were threatened with death as they tried to protect the fleeing kids. The parish priest at St Anthony recalls the "utter fear".

New Delhi accuses Islamabad for death five Indian soldiers along the border. It is the third such incident since the beginning of the year. AsiaNews sources recall attack a few days ago against the Indian consulate in Jalalabad: "Pakistan is afraid of losing control in Afghanistan."

No woman has ever held this office before Janet Lawrence D'Souza. "Attacks on churches, fabricated accusations of forced conversions and anti-Christian persecution are a danger to India's development," she said. The lack of burial space for Christians is an issue that needs a solution.

A remote-control bomb blew up at the end of a football match. Children ranging in age between 6 and 15 were among the dead. A provincial minister was the probable target. For Bishop Rufin Anthony, Pakistan is paying a "heavy price for the war on terror." He appeals to the new government to deal with the violence and the economic crisis.

The man is the second in Nepalese to choose self-immolation to demand an end to Chinese repression in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama to Lhasa. Meanwhile, the police arrest six Christian converts from Hinduism because "they killed a cow to eat it." The police admits: "It is not a crime, but the religious pressures are strong."

The government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Hindu ultra-nationalists) introduces compulsory study of the Bhagavad Gita in all state institutions and madrassas (Islamic schools). Criticism of the Muslim community. Archbishop of Bhopal: "Political move to conquer the electorate."

In his Message for World Mission Day, Francis says mission means stepping out of one's comfort zone to reach out to non-Christians. This is not outside the Church's purview, for it "is not about proselytizing" or violence, but about the most important "gift", namely faith. The pontiff also mentions "those Christians who, in various parts of the world, experience difficulty in openly professing their faith" and in living with dignity. In fact, "Quite a few also risk their lives".

To help spread Pope Francis’ greetings for the festival of "Id al-Fitr," Fr. Giuseppe Moretti – in charge of the Missio sui iuris in Afghanistan - reads the message in church and sends the text to a local newspaper. It was not republished, but he still hopes to bring home to Muslims, "the closeness and the Church's respect for their holy days."