South Asia

Jacinta Kerketta turned down the prestigious Room to Read because it was co-sponsored by a US agency while the US government supports Israel's war in Gaza (and Lebanon). Last year she did the same with another award in protest against the abuse of Adivasis in Manipur. For Indian priest, hers is a “bold step”.

The incident took place at a girls' high school in Daspara sparking attention following videos posted on social media. Hindu students and parents are asking for more security. Violence against minorities has increased after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. About a thousand Christian schools are also at risk. For Journalist Mostofa Feroz, “the country belongs to everyone.”

The platform was launched by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India-Latin rite on the eve of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Migrants can register to be welcomed and helped by host communities. Migrants bring wealth to local parishes, as was visible last Sunday in Mumbai during the Karam festival, celebrated by over 800 Catholic migrants at St Stephen's Church.

Since 9 September, about a thousand workers have been asking for higher salaries and their own union. The southern Indian state has been an important industrial hub for hi-tech production since the 1990s; unlike other states where economic growth dominates, it has seen social progress as well, due especially to policies that do not take into account caste or religion.

Following his election victory in Colombo among the new president's priorities are negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and a commitment to a country that "embraces diversity." After the swearing-in of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, dissolved Parliament with elections set for Nov. 14.

In a letter, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath denounces the misappropriation of property owned by Christian fishing families in Ernakulam district. After intense debate, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled in early August, was forwarded to a joint parliamentary committee. Muslims, however, fear control by the central government.

Several families have reported that it is increasingly hard for them to enrol their children, despite having papers certifying their refugee status. Millions of people, including many children, have already been sent back while the campaign to expel more continues to intensify. The first 10 km of a wall that will divide the two countries has been built.

The completion of a 96-kilometre water conveyance project in the North Central Province is one of the challenges facing Sri Lanka's new government. Key for local communities, it will benefit up to 100,000 families. One of its main objectives is to promote the fishing industry, livestock farming, and tourism.

Led by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, the initiative at Holy Name High School in Colaba is linked to the Prime Minister Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign to honour mothers and promote care for the environment. For Card Gracias, it is important to “encourage our youth and everybody else also to be conscious of the need to care for creation”.

Four hours of "ritualistic sanitation" are needed to cleanse a historic Hindu temple visited by millions of pilgrims every year after lab tests found traces of animal fats in laddu sold to devotees to be presented as offerings. The recently elected chief minister, a BJP ally, blames his predecessor for the problem. The latter writes to PM Modi to slam his successor and call for an independent investigation.

The victory of the 55-year-old leader of a Marxist-leaning party breaks with the country’s “dynastic” politics, reflecting the demands of the Aragalaya movement that ousted the Rajapaksas. During the election campaign, the new president pledged to review the austerity policy imposed by the International Monetary Fund, but also reopen the investigation into the Easter 2019 attacks. Both India and China reacted to the outcome of the vote.

They are the outgoing president Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, head of a left-wing alliance, who is seen as the favourite. At 12 noon, 30% of the eligible voters had voted. The majority of voters, 17 million in all, expressed concern about the economy.