South Asia

As Asia’s representative, the 78-year-old archbishop of Bombay (Mumbai) is one of two members of the first council appointed by the pontiff when it was founded in 2013. Speaking to AsiaNews, he said he was “reappointed for continuity”. He also stressed the importance for today’s Church to see “the bigger Churches help the smaller Churches” around the world.

Her name is Aneeta and she is 24 years old. She was found after eight hours and this was made possible thanks to the intervention of the local parish priest. However, the girl's family was transferred to another village to avoid further retaliation.

Today's headlines: the Burmese junta implodes schools, 300,000 teachers missing; Six Palestinian victims in an Israeli raid in Jenin, rockets fired from the Strip today; Millions of Indians celebrate Holi, festival of colours; Young Thai man sentenced to two years in prison for lese majesty; earthquake damage exceeds 100 billion in Turkey alone.

Foreign exchange reserves rose by 23.5 per cent. For economists, this is the beginning of the end of the economic crisis. The possibility of obtaining a loan from the International Monetary Fund is increasing.

The chances of a deal with the International Monetary Fund are receding. Media regulators have banned the broadcast of the former prime minister's speeches, while the High Court has ordered his arrest. Meanwhile, people are increasingly unhappy about the economic situation.

Incident at an oxygen production plant, devastated an area within a kilometre radius. Just nine months ago, another fire at a warehouse not far away. Poor safety measures are blamed. Sr. Zita Rema: 'Factory owners should be concerned first and foremost for the lives of the workers.'

Today's headlines: for the UN, the Taliban's treatment of Afghan women is tantamount to 'crimes against humanity'; the Philippine Catholic Educators Association condemns the practice of 'hazing' after a suspicious death at a university. Tehran confirms its hard line on transgressions of the Islamic 'dress code'; in 2022, new births in Japan fell below 800,000 for the first time.

In an open letter, the signatories, including former Foreign Minister Sujatha Singh, urge the prime minister to move against the wave of intolerance by Hindu extremists. A few days ago, a stand that distributed Bibles at the World Book Fair in Delhi was attacked. “All violence can be stopped immediately with just a word from the top leaders of the BJP”.

Katchchateevu Island hosted celebrations over the weekend with more than 2,000 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu. The auxiliary bishop of Colombo led the Mass along with Vicar General Rev Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam.

At least 2,000 homes have been destroyed in what is considered the largest refugee camp in the world. Learning centres, schools and hospitals have also been razed to the ground. For experts, the main problem is relocating the refugees. For the UN, deaths by sea of those fleeing Myanmar and Bangladesh are also on the increase.

Today's headlines: Philippine coast guard spotted over 40 Beijing ships in a disputed area of the South China Sea; Pakistani police serve arrest warrants on former premier Imran Khan; Qatari emir 'perplexed' over delays in aid to post-earthquake Syria; illegal pangolin sales increase in Laos.

The Christian minister, who was killed in 2011 for his opposition to Islamic extremism and minority rights violations, was commemorated across the country. People miss “his leadership”. Human rights associations bemoan the failure to repeal the blasphemy laws while “the number of falsely accused has increased.”