South Asia

A social entrepreneur who first arrived in the country in 2009, after various experiences in the field of cooperation she now supports a pasta workshop that employs 15 women. While the Taliban impose yet another crackdown on the right to female education, the girls help each other by exploiting the open spaces left by the law.

In Narayanpur district, hundreds of protesters want complaints to be filed against people who have attacked and evicted tribal residents for converting to Christianity, instigated by local politicians. As many 21 such incidents have been reported this month. “Our fundamental rights [. . .] are being taken away from us,” reads one complaint.

A study by Oxford University notes that only few Asian countries have met the 2020 targets. Thus, the continent will find it hard to meet the commitments made in Montreal. Chaired by China, the conference ended with an agreement to protect 30 per cent of land and restore 30 per cent of degraded areas by 2030. Clashing with African countries, China opposed setting up a special fund.

Superior of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Saint Marc, Sister Ligy Payyappilly chose to stay close to the local population after Russia’s invasion. She tells AsiaNews about the courage of the Ukrainians and how, on Christmas, her convent will become a place of shelter and welcome.

Archbishop of Karachi MSgr Travas: "Jesus came to a very poor and downtrodden family to remind us that that is where love begins". In Sahiwal a march of Christians through the bazaars and streets to spread a message of unity. Prayers for those still suffering from this summer's floods.

For the Russian embassy in Colombo, the “meeting focused on the requirements of Sri Lanka’s energy sector”. Sri Lankan authorities are considering several options to address the island nation's energy crisis. Sri Lankans can expect many power cuts in 2023.

To mark the anniversary, a new video by a Muslim filmmaker reconstructs the forgotten story of 15 Christian girls who took part in the conflict with Pakistan in 1971. Tushi Hagidok, now 67: "Love for our country drove us".

Some 20 organisations urge the Bishops’ Conference to boycott government Christmas celebrations. They call for protest over the failure to find the truth about the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. They want the authorities to pursue an impartial investigation and help survivors if they truly care about Catholics.

The country has the highest number of such attacks worldwide. In 60 per cent of cases, victims do not report the attack because the wheels of justice turn at a snail’s pace. The reasons behind the violence are rooted in a patriarchal culture.

Rishi Rajpopat, 27, reinterpreted a grammar problem by Pāṇini, a master of the Hindu sacred language who lived in the 5th century BC. According to scholars, his intuition could revolutionise the study of a language used in India for centuries in scientific, philosophical and literary works.

Arsenal Consulting found 44 documents planted via malware, which India’s National investigation agency used as “evidence” of terrorism against the Jesuit who died at 84 in July 2021 after many months in prison. His confrere, Fr Mascarenhas, told AsiaNews that the hacking began in 2014, soon after current Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office for the first time.

The High Court of Kerala struck down a provision in an 1869 law that required a separation period for married Christian couples to bring it in line with those of other religious communities. For Fr Babu Joseph, “Although the High Court is legally right,” its ruling will have “social repercussions” on marriage. The Church “will do everything possible to save it rather than let it fall apart.”