South Asia

The new auxiliary bishop speaks to AsiaNews about the pastoral challenges that await him. The problem of "extremist forces, a threat not only for Christians, but for the union, integrity and secularism of the entire nation".

The weather experts warn of a possible worsening of rainfall: high risk of flooding. Main rivers of the country under surveillance, for fear of flooding. Victims include women and children. Government criticized for lack of prevention.

Krishna Upadhyaya and Gundev Ghimire work for the Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD), a Norwegian Human Rights organization. They were in the Gulf country to investigate the situation of migrants involved in World Cup constructions. They last made contact five days ago, "We are being followed by the police, it seems we are creating a lot of problems." The local authorities do not respond to the demands of the international community.

Fomented by ultra-nationalist militants, some parents protest against the Mariambika English School. The new uniforms feature the institution's logo: a depiction of Mary, whose name in the local dialect is also the name of the school. Christian leader: "shameful accusations, the school will welcome students of all religions because of the quality of education it imparts."

"The Gospel is newness! The Gospel is celebration! And the Gospel can only be fully lived in a heart joyful and a renewed heart". "We cannot understand the mentality - for example – of these doctors of the law, these theologians Pharisees, we cannot understand their mentality with the spirit of the Gospel. They are different things. The Gospel style is a different style, which leads to the fullness of the law. Yes! but in a new way: is the new wine in new wineskins. "

On the day marking the liturgical memory of the Blessed of Kolkata, AsiaNews publishes a reflection by the archbishop of Mumbai. "Through Jesus," the foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, "revealed His tenderness and personal love for the poorest of the poor."

The first house of the Missionaries of Charity in Egypt bears this name. Fr Bimal Kerketta SJ, an Indian priest who runs a school in Minya, speaks about the difficulties the sisters face, their relations with Muslims, and vocations among Egyptian women.

In a video message, the fundamentalist leader announces the formation of a branch of the Islamist group in the Indian subcontinent and renews his allegiance to Mullah Omar. The new branch, he says, will save "Muslims in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Kashmir" from injustice and oppression.

"The power of the Word of God is in this encounter between my sins and the blood of Christ, that saves me. And when there is no encounter, there is no strength of heart". "What can a Christian boast about? Two things: their sins and the crucified Christ".

Gidugu Venkata Ramamoorty, a writer and linguist, straddled the 19th and 20th centuries. Students at Maris Stella College recognise the need to "be proud of our ethnicity expressed through our mother tongue."

Mar Sako warns that the displaced are increasingly suffering, at risk of "genocide" and deprived of "religious, human, moral and national values." The international community and the Iraqi government must fight extremism. Christians also need to put aside the desire to emigrate and continue to be "leaven" of the earth. The struggle against the political use of religion starts with education.

Tuesday marked the 37th anniversary of the death of Dhaka's first Bangladeshi bishop. For a young Catholic, he is "a guide to follow in life." Already a Servant of God, he is undergoing the process of canonisation process.