South Asia

Asghar Ali Engineer, Indian Muslim, joins the recent debate sparked by the full veil. It is part of a wider area that concerns the rights of women. He advocates a "direct approach 'to the sacred text, and a departure from the Arab tradition, which keeps women in conditions of inferiority, claiming" their dignity and freedom of choice. "

Exports rise for the fourth month, by 43.5 per cent in March, because of Asian markets. Unemployment drops whilst domestic consumption rises. Observers are now waiting to see if national companies invest to stimulate further consumption.

An Indian leader criticizes and insults Indonesians. Protests erupt with thousands attacking buildings and structures of the firm on the island of Batam. Thousands flee the island, to avoid involvement.

Mahiuddin Ahmed, head teacher and coordinator of Hizb ut-Tahrir, is being held in detention under anti-terrorism rules. He was involved in a bomb attack and subversive activities. The group is present in 40 countries and aims at the creation of a caliphate.

links with major European airports restored since yesterday. But it will take weeks to return to normal. Priority to passenger flights, not goods.

Fr Edward Sequeira, a Verbite priest who saw anti-Christian violence firsthand and was almost burnt to death during the 2008 pogrom, tells AsiaNews that a big organisation is working against Christians. He is certain that the Church will return to the areas where its institutions have been laid waste. The archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar says the Church is ready to appeal the acquittals.

The new government gets an initial thumbs-up as well as aid from Russia and the United States. China is still a bystander, but Kyrgyzstan is crucial for its expansion into Central Asia. Sino-Kyrgyz trade is in fact quite substantial and many Chinese companies are active in the country.

The United People's Freedom Alliance wins more than 60% of the vote and gained 144 seats out of 225. Tomorrow, the swearing in of elected candidates. The result comes after the fraud and violence that forced the election commission to repeat the vote in two provinces.

Resolute stance of the Archbishop of Colombo, at the inauguration of the chapel of a hospital dedicated to Divine Mercy. More than 2,500 faithful present.

Samandar Singh killed a nun in 1995. After that, he converted to Christianity and today he is a different man. He helps Tribals and for him Sister Rani’s family has become his own. Sadly, he agrees that a climate of anti-Christian hatred is currently sweeping across India. He urges his compatriots to see the truth in the presence of missionaries in the country.

On the third Sunday of Easter every diocese in the country offered Masses and prayers. Christian leaders call the faithful to "mitigate the pain of the population" marked by war and the refugees. Not to look for Jesus among the dead, but "among the living" and among those on the margins of society. "

A 25-year-old man drowns in a well after a group of radical Hindus breaks a prayer meeting. The archbishop of Bhopal tells AsiaNews that the State has failed to protect Christians.