South Asia

According to CBSL data, declared exports of precious stones in 2024 were less than £382 million. However, the value is much higher for unaccounted exports and clandestine trade. The main destinations are Hong Kong, Thailand and Dubai. Experts find it difficult to intervene because those responsible ‘enjoy political protection’.

The place of worship, dedicated to St Joseph, is located in the village of Munpi, a remote area in the Singngat region. A Catholic couple from Goa made a significant contribution to its construction. The inauguration was presided over by the Archbishop Emeritus of Imphal. For the prelate, the church ‘will contribute to their healing, their relief and their sense of stability’.

Eight officers suspended from duty in Kathua district: they stood by and watched during an attack by Hindu fundamentalists on a minibus carrying participants in a Christian initiative. Behind the ‘anti-conversion’ initiative is the local BJP leader, already reported for other acts of violence.

For more than a year, a shipment of Tamil translations of the Islamic holy text from a Saudi foundation has been blocked in a container. The detention was reportedly requested by an official from the Ministry of Defence. Muslim MPs: ‘Discrimination on religious and linguistic grounds’.

The 2021 legislation, which imposes up to 10 years for converting to another faith, has come under scrutiny. Some of the law’s provisions violate personal rights and privacy. For the bishop of Lucknow, the rulings are a “welcome relief and a sign of hope for the Christian community”, but all "unconstitutional" provisions must be struck down.

The archbishop of Imphal spoke to AsiaNews in Rome. Violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo has diminished, but "the mental divide continues”. Modi's visit in September came “too late”. The Church is providing assistance to displaced people. For the prelate, “survivel comes first, then, the pursuit of peace”. Meanwhile, Naga leader Thuingaleng Muivah returned to Manipur after decades.

The border closure has triggered a spike in the cost of basic items. The price of tomatoes jumped fivefold since the start of the month. An official admits: "We have no information” about when the border will reopen. A meeting between the two sides on Sunday is eagerly awaited.

Delivered by the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), Monsignor Andrews Thazhath. No Pope has visited the subcontinent since John Paul II's last visit in 1999. In 2024, Prime Minister Modi renewed the government's invitation to Pope Francis. Meanwhile, in Seoul, the Minister of Unification hopes that the pontiff's presence at World Youth Day 2027 will be a step towards ‘de facto unity’ between the Koreas.

Most of the abandoned building that the current administration had repurposed for national interest ventures are closed and in disrepair. Many heritage buildings have become havens for criminals and drug addicts, while furniture and other assets have been stolen. Former lawmakers and scholars are calling for urgent action before the deterioration becomes irreversible.

In Uttar Pradesh, opposition is mounting after Hindu nationalist Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has 2.6 million oil lamps lit for the Festival of Lights. For some it was a waste of resources taken from the poor, a view seen as anti-Indian by the ruling BJP. For Father Anand Mathew, while inequalities are growing, and many, especially Muslims, are suffering, Diwali remains a “joyous celebration” for all.

Originally from southern India, the ethnic Malaiyaha Makkal families, risk losing their home. "We have nowhere to go,” they told AsiaNews. After decades of working without social security protections, the new owner, a resident of the United States, announced the sale of the land and ordered the residents to leave within three months. For the NGO Voice of Plantation People, it is a question of humanity.

The national pass rate has fallen to 58.83%, the lowest in 21 years. Over half a million students failed, while 77,000 fewer than last year achieved the highest marks (GPA-5). Scholars and educators are questioning the reasons for the crisis. Catholic schools are spared, although they too have recorded a (minimal) decline in results.