Sunali Khatun, who is nine months pregnant, was deported with her family to Bangladesh where they were detained as "illegal immigrants”. India’s Supreme Court slams the central government for ignoring evidence proving her Indian citizenship. New Delhi ultimately accepted her return on humanitarian grounds. This is an aberrant example of arbitrary expulsions of ethnic Bengali Muslims, especially from the state of Assam.
The testimony given in Milan on the feast of St Francis Xavier by a deacon from Telangana who is preparing to become a PIME missionary: “The Koya forest was my first seminary: there I learned that mission is not about grand speeches or extraordinary works, but about constant presence and listening to people. I don't know where I'm going, but I know who I'm going with: with Jesus alongside those who are poor, alone and forgotten”.
The Ministry of the Environment has launched an investigation into corporate responsibility for the devastation caused by violent floods and landslides. Some 50,000 of the 340,000 hectares of forest have been logged. For Environment Minister Hanif, there will be serious repercussions. A further review is underway regarding permits. The death toll rises to 753, while experts are calling for a declaration of national disaster.
The surprising welcome of the Lebanese people, whom Leone XIV praised for the “simplicity” of their faith. They recognised him as a “man of God full of zeal and compassion”. Beirut's efforts to make peace with Israel (and the US). A land of encounter between Islam and Christianity, it must also become a pioneer of Christian unity.
The debate among Russians over Islamic rituals in public spaces in the absence of sufficient places of worship is becoming increasingly heated. Muslim religious authorities reiterate their recommendation to choose places where other people are not disturbed. But in the growing climate of hostility towards communities from Central Asia, there is no shortage of violent raids against Muslims at prayer.
Today's headlines: The hostage’s body returned by Islamic Jihad is that of Thai migrant Suthisak Rintalak, found north of Gaza; Beijing is deploying its most impressive naval force in East Asia; Delhi reverses its decision to make it compulsory to install a state-provided application on smartphones in the country; The new round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan ends without agreement.
