South Asia

The court ruled that the land is a private donation, not religious property, squashing the Waqf Board’s attempt, in 2019, to claim the area as a religious asset, creating uncertainty for more than 600 Catholic families who had legally purchased the land. The court called the Board's action a “land-grabbing tactic”, clarifying that the state is not bound by its orders. The Archbishop Chakkalakkal of Calicut calls for the full restoration of property rights.

Today, India decided to reopen its embassy in Kabul, marking an unprecedented political step towards the Taliban government. The announcement came after Pakistan struck the Afghan capital to eliminate Noor Wali Mehsud, leader of the Pakistani Taliban. These developments are part of a new phase in the conflict between India and Pakistan, which began with Operation Sindoor, launched by New Delhi in May in response to an attack in Kashmir.

The Colombo government has launched a plan to build the facility on the northern island, where it still takes seven hours and sky-high prices to deliver the fuel that powers the electricity generators. ‘It is part of the effort to bridge the gaps and develop the economy in peripheral areas.’ But environmentalists are concerned about the impact on the fragile ecosystem, which is still home to a large population of wild horses.

Last night, a serious act of intimidation struck the largest Catholic parish in Bangladesh, in the Tejgaon neighbourhood. No casualties or injuries have been reported, but there is great concern about the gesture and the message it conveys. Parish priest Fr Joyonto Sylvester Gomes: ‘Our church had never been targeted before’ . The Bangladesh Christian Association: ‘The government must identify those responsible and address the situation’.

While negotiations continue in Sharm el-Sheikh for the release of the hostages still alive, the family of Bipin Joshi, the last Asian hostage whose fate is still unknown, has authorised the release of some images proving that he was still alive two months after he was seized. The family is “barely holding on” to this.

Last Sunday evening, eve of World Habitat Day, a ceremony was held at Temple Trees in the presence of Sri Lankan President Dissanayake to mark the start of a programme to provide a home to at least 4,000 families in need. Land and a symbolic cheque were also handed over. The government pledged to offer a safe, comfortable, and dignified living environment for all its citizens.

The Canadian government has listed the powerful India-based criminal network as a terrorist group. The decision follows a long trail of shootings and extortions against members of the Sikh diaspora, and comes as Ottawa attempts to restore cooperation with New Delhi following tensions over the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian authorities accuse the gang of acting as a tool of intimidation, with connections to Indian intelligence, a charge New Delhi vehemently denies.

More than fifty people are showing symptoms consistent with the disease, which is transmitted from livestock to humans. For the first time, cases have also been reported in the Rangpur region. The government has launched mass vaccinations and awareness campaigns, but experts warn that surveillance structures remain fragile and the risk of new infections is high.

The head of India's highest judicial body was targeted with a shocking gesture by a lawyer from a Brahmin family for comments he made during a hearing regarding a temple in Madhya Pradesh that Hindutva nationalists deemed offensive. The judicial community was outraged by a casteist attack that “cannot be tolerated”.

The CCIDE and NCJP Pakistan are behind the initiative that brought together students, activists, as well as Muslim, Christian, Hindus, Sikh, and Parsi leaders. The nation's founder and the values ​​of tolerance and freedom of worship were stressed. True change lies in translating the values ​​of understanding, love, respect, and peace into concrete action.

In Pakistan's northeastern province, the local government stopped funding stipends for female public school students three years ago. Although meager (200 rupees or $US 0.70) every six months, the money was crucial for female attendance in rural areas. Across the country, spending on education is declining, and 38 per cent of children, especially girls, remain out of school, while early marriage and forced labour are on the rise.

Faced with 22,000 deaths a year linked to alcohol consumption, the Sri Lankan government has made a symbolic gesture on World Temperance Day. Former alcoholic entrepreneurs tell AsiaNews: "A scourge that leaves the poorest defenceless. Politicians must choose whether they want the revenue from excise duties or these victims."