Just four months after taking office, the BJP-run state government announced a plan for a massive expansion of educational facilities linked to the Hindutva movement, in open competition with Christian and Islamic schools. Even the patriotic song "Vande Mataram" is becoming a source of controversy.
India’s Home Affair Minister Amit Shah announced the policy presenting his party’s election manifesto for the 20 November state election. Currently, 10 out of 36 Indian states and territories have such a draconian law on the books, which is used to intimidate Christians. “No government can come into my soul,” says the archbishop of Bombay. “Freedom of religion and conversion is a human right,” he adds.
The phenomenon, already recorded elsewhere, happened for the first time in the port city where the Mahaweli River flows. The affected species is odonus niger, found decomposing in shallow bays. Dr Sujeewa Athukoorala: ‘Oxygen deficiency and gill obstruction’. Scientists: algae proliferation favoured by ‘sunlight, warm water, carbon dioxide and fertilisers’.
Minahil, only six years old, was raped in the Asan School System by Muhammad Hassan, an employee of the institute. The man was arrested after the family's complaint, tests on the girl confirmed the abuse and DNA results are awaited. Christian and Muslim leaders have visited the victim and expressed their closeness to the parents.
Meeting in the Vatican with this confession from Kerala of Syriac origin but very close to the Reformed world, the pontiff expressed his desire for a common appointment among Christians of every denomination on the theme of mission: ‘Working together to bear witness to the Risen Christ is the best way to bring us closer together’.
On the eve of COP29 in Baku, the Indian Climate Report 2024 was released. In the first nine months of the year, as many as 3,238 people lost their lives in the country due to floods, landslides, and heat waves, up 18 per cent. Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of days of extreme weather, while Kerala had the most deaths.
The wound in the northeastern Indian state is still open. Some houses were set on fire last night. The mainly Christian Kuki community reports continued incursions by Meitei extremists. Fears are growing that hitherto neutral ethnic Nagas might be caught up in the violence. Talks proposed by the Union Home Affairs Ministry have gone nowhere.
The interim prime minister met a delegation from the Bishops' Conference led by Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze. The prelates call for a nation grounded in justice, human rights, and participatory governance. The Church's educational and healthcare institutions offer their services "regardless of caste or creed”. The bishops urge the government to simplify visa procedures for missionaries.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), adopted as a temporary measure in 1979, is a draconian piece of legislation that is still on the books. Over the decades, it has been used by the “Government of Sri Lanka to target, and harass minorities, activists, journalists and critical voices,” Amnesty International laments. The National People's Power party had promised to repeal it but recent statements suggest an about-face.
Surendra Jain, local Vhp leader, speaks of ‘involvement’ of church institutions in the ‘business’ of drug trafficking. In addition to ‘destroying our culture, insulting traditions, beliefs’. Three Christian organisations file a complaint with the authorities against the defamatory campaign. Words ‘contemptuous and hateful’.
The long-postponed rite takes place amid protest. The apostolic administration of the "rebel" Diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly limited the rite to new priests who sign an affidavit in which they commit themselves to celebrate the liturgy according to the "uniform" rite adopted by the synod. In a circular he banned priests and lay people from participating in associations that “criticise the official stance of the Church”.
Pakistan’s parliament approved a series of bills in about 40 minutes, sparking a strong reaction from the main opposition party, which is led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The army chief of staff, who was supposed to leave next year, will thus remain in office until 2027. The number of justices on the Supreme Court has also been increased.
Several samples of a free, ready-to-eat, cereal- and legume-based food meant to "eradicate malnutrition" in Sri Lanka have been recalled. The Health Sciences Institute in Kalutara detected the mycotoxins above permitted levels last August. The lack of suitable storage is among the main causes.
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