The tragedy in Birsa, a remote area of Madhya Pradesh, has once again highlighted the vulnerability of villages left without reliable healthcare facilities. Adivasi organisations are on strike because of government indifference. The Church stands by isolated populations.
A farm near Dhaka has been infected. In a country that produces 250 million chickens there is great alarm. The virus has been confirmed in Saudi Arabia. In Islamabad, the flu has spread to wild birds and the population is at great risk.
Maoists and Madhesi opened fire in the center of a city. The Madhesi assemble the least affirmed social groups, of which Maoists take distance from when they reached power. The drama of the 100 thousand Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.
India’s central government wants to provide additional aid to victims of the 2002 Gujarat massacre, but the decision draws sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party which accuses the government of trying to buy Muslim votes in an upcoming state election.
The new port of Gwadar is inaugurated. Experts note that it will become a key transit point for oil, gas and all sorts of goods destined for China from the Middle East, Iran, Central Asia and even Africa. Economic cooperation between Pakistan and China is growing fast.
Caritas India will launch a national campaign in April with the slogan, “Save the farmers, Save India” in order to help the regretful phenomenon, which is spreading across the country: suicides amongst farmers. The loss of crops and insurmountable debt has driven farmers into poverty and desperation. They see suicide as the only way to salvation.
Missionaries are charged with proselytising and forced conversion. District where incident occurred is a Hindu nationalist stronghold. Local bishop denounces intensely anti-Christian atmosphere.
In Adiala Jail, Christian inmates have been protesting the demolition of the church and of their lack of rights to perform religious rituals. The other minorities support the protest. The administration of the jail denies everything, but external groups backup the protest.
The painting began crying a week ago in the dining hall of the local police station. Thousands of people besiege the protestant bishop’s home while Catholics do not confirm and urges caution.
In Rome and Kabul Afghans say they are “happy” for the Italian journalist’s release but are “worried” about their compatriots’ fate and possible retaliations against Italy. News about the fate of the murdered driver’s body is contradictory. Information about the interpreter’s whereabouts is also unclear. Freed with the Italian journalist, he is said to be either in the hands of Afghan intelligence or still prisoner of the Talibans.
Following the removal of Pakistan’s Chief Justice Chaudhry, the chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan reiterates the importance such pillars of democracy. Despite opposition from some Muslim circles, senior-most justice Bhagwandas is set to become the first Hindu to head Pakistan’s Supreme Court as a result of Chaudry’s suspension.
They have asked the local government for a law protection ethnic minorities. 4 murders and countless attacks have targeted the Christian community there. In Tirupati, seat of important Hindu Temples, a violent Hindu protest has broken out. They are asking that all Christian activities be outlawed. A newly converted student commits suicide.
Islamist websites are posting boastful congratulatory notes for the release of five Taliban prisoners as well as pledges to continue the fight. Politically, the Talibans have scored big and can now claim that they recognised as would-be parties to any peace conference. Bitterness instead fills the hearts of ordinary Afghans and the relatives of the decapitated driver.
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