South Asia

In India's most populous state, which is ruled by Hindu nationalists, the stricter law now includes life in prison. Minorities are often targeted by such legislation. The law “violates the provisions of the Indian Constitution,” warns the National Council of Churches of India. “Presently 28 Christians, mostly pastors are languishing in UP jails because of their faith,” Fr Mathew told AsiaNews.

The drowning of three students earlier this week has reignited the debate over such facilities. Young people from all over India are crammed into overcrowded classrooms and student residences and find themselves studying up to 18 hours a day to pass a government or college entrance exam. The costs fall on families while students feel all the pressure. The government has been forced to intervene because of a high number of suicides in recent years.

After student protest and the harsh repression that cost more than 200 lives, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina bans Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing as terrorist organisations, blaming them for the violence. The party was created by Bangladeshis who fought for Pakistan in the 1971 War of Independence. The true unity for the good of the country remains a challenge.

Last night several members of the Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna expressed their support for the current president, even though in the past few days the party had decided not to support Wickremesinghe, but to present another candidate. For the time being, it is still unclear how the faction revolving around former president Mahinda Rajapaksa will move.

However, he has set a number of preconditions to the talks that will be difficult to meet. The Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) leader has been in jail for about a year. Meanwhile, the population has been protesting for days about rising energy prices and army violence in Belucistan.

China condemns the raid that led to the death in Tehran of the Hamas leader. Only a few days ago, Beijing brokered a deal among Palestinian factions. Caught between Israel and Iran, India has remained silent. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was harsh, saying that such a crime was only possible “in an environment of utter impunity.”

Two landslides caused by heavy rains have swept through districts in the hilly region of Meppadi. Among the people missing are many tea growers. Field hospitals have been set up in a church and the local university. The Catholic Bishops' Conference is working with government agencies to speed up relief operations.

India has a very good bid after the Games in Los Angeles and Brisbane, but things could change when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) elects a new president in 2025. Meanwhile, cricket is back as an Olympic sports in 2028. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto travels to Paris to push his country's bid.

A government report shows high levels of household debt. The main cause is a drop in average monthly income, forcing households to go into debt to meet daily food needs; for most, three meals a day are not guaranteed.

A village panchayat in Uttar Pradesh is said to have ordered the inhumane treatment over an extramarital affair. Police arrested 15 people in connection with the incident.

This is a partial figure calculated only on the deaths so far confirmed while investigations continue to establish a definitive count. The unrest in recent weeks has also spread to the outlying areas of the capital. Yesterday Christians gathered in prayer for the victims.

Indian Pauline heads the Madrid-based SOBICAIN, which disseminates the Holy Scriptures and promotes biblical culture. In an interview with MattersIndia he talks about his commitment to expand the dissemination of the Bible in various languages and countries in the footsteps of Fr Alberione