South Asia

Even Afghans with valid papers are affected by warrantless arrests and deportations, Human Rights Watch reports. Women and children are hiding to avoid repatriation, while journalists, activists, and former officials with the previous government fear persecution by the Taliban. More than a thousand Afghans are in a precarious situation stranded in Qatar, with the United States seeking to send to Congo.

An amendment amending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has been introduced in the Lower House. Among other things, the bill proposes the establishment of an “authority” tasked with “seizing, managing and disposing of” the assets of the affected organisations. For Fr Thelakkatt, it is “cloaked in rhetoric” about “national security” but is a tool to fuel the “nationalist ideology” of Hindutva.

Recent violence has rekindled tensions in the northeastern Indian state, scene of a bitter conflict for the past three years. Ethnic Kuki-Zos now accuse the Nagas, who had remained neutral during the confrontation between Kuki-Zos and the Meiteis. The newly elected Yumnam Khemchand Singh administration is facing the difficult task of reconciliation.

The latest census reveals an increasingly aging country. People over 60 already represent 18 per cent of the population and could become a quarter by 2041. Due to low labour force participation, inadequate pensions, and a lack of care services, the risk of vulnerability for millions of elderly people is growing. Without reforms, aging risks turning into social and economic crises.

The first round of the legislative elections, held yesterday, was marred by controversy over the revised electoral rolls, which excluded millions of voters, mostly Muslims. The central and state governments have blamed each other, while those most affected belong to vulnerable groups.

In Kottayam district, a Christian hymn performed during a festival sparked controversy from groups close to the Hindu right. The temple committee, however, defended the choice, emphasising the shared nature of the event and the collaborative relationships between the Hindu and Christian communities in the village.

Sudan Gurung is the second cabinet minister to leave within a month of the new government taking office. At the centre of the case are his holdings in insurance companies. The minister resigned to allow independent audits and avoid conflicts of interest. Prime Minister Balendra Shah is taking on the Home Affairs post until a new appointment is made, while the government emphasises its commitment to fighting corruption.

This year, the major pilgrimage to Makkah is set for 24-29 May. The desire to participate outweighs the fear of war, although concerns remain about rising prices, last-minute cancellations, and delayed return journeys. Saudi Arabia is using artificial intelligence to manage security and monitor pilgrims. Two million people are expected to participate.

Various memorial events were held in Colombo yesterday for the 269 people killed in attacks on churches and hotels on 21 April 2019. The former head of Sri Lanka’s intelligence service was detained last February, accused of complicity with Islamist bombers. For the cardinal, some politicians and officials are afraid and nervous about the investigation and are trying to sabotage it.

AsiaNews reports the heart-wrenching story of survival and the struggle for freedom of a young father of two. For months, the factory owner kept him in conditions of slavery to exploit his labour without paying his wages. Freed thanks to the intervention of an NGO and a court ruling. Azhar Saeed: this is not an isolated tragedy, but part of a much wider injustice.

The measure, adopted a few days before the anniversary of the Pahalgam massacre, targets institutions run by the Islamist organisation banned in 2019. The move is part of a broader security strategy launched by Delhi following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, but has drawn criticism for its potential repercussions on the education system and for violations of minority rights.

The BJP-led state government has renamed a 16th-century pillar to make it a symbol of Hindu victims of the Inquisition. For scholar Frazer Andrade, the new name is misleading, lacking any verifiable historical evidence. Meanwhile, a local nationalist leader lashed out at Saint Francis Xavier in a debate, calling him "a terrorist”. The archdiocese expressed outrage, saying that the saint is “revered not only in Goa but by millions of people across the globe,” an example of “peace and unity”.