The ongoing challenges to democracy in Asia – DW News

Many regions in Asia saw challenges to their democratic form of governance in 2021. But there were always people who stood up to abuses of power. We look at how in Myanmar, Hong Kong, India and the Philippines.

India monks call for ‘Muslim genocide’ in hate speech summit

Outrage as far-right religious and political groups seek Rohingya-like mass murder and exodus of Indian Muslims, in presence of the leaders of ruling BJP, in a three-day Hindutva conclave held in northern Haridwar city. Leaders of several far-right groups with ties to the ruling Narendra Modi’s government have called for ethnic cleansing of minorities in

India to repeal controversial farming laws following persistent protests – DW News

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Friday in an address to the nation that he will be repealing three controversial farm laws. Farmers in the northern part of the country have been protesting against the laws for over a year. The announcement came on the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti, a celebration of the birthday

Indian police arrest seven for ‘celebrating’ Pakistan cricket win

Young Muslims face charges including ‘promoting enmity’ after match at T20 World Cup in Dubai Indian police have arrested seven Muslim youths for allegedly celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in a cricket match on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, a senior Bharatiya Janata party figure, said in a tweet that the three may be charged

Many Indians unlikely to be fully vaccinated by year-end despite ample COVID shots

Tens of millions of Indian adults are unlikely to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021, despite ample supplies, due to an unusually large gap between the doses of the most widely-used vaccine and growing complacency as cases fall. The locally-produced AstraZeneca (AZN.L) vaccine which is known as Covishield has a 12 to 16

The Hindu Extremists at War With Interfaith Love – VICE News

Hindu nationalist vigilanties believe India is in the grips of an Islamic plot called “Love Jihad”. They work with police to track down interfaith couples, and “rescue” Hindu women who’ve been allegedly seduced into marriage and forced religious conversion.

Police arrest Indian minister’s son in killing of farmers

Indian police on Saturday arrested the son of a junior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government as a suspect days after nine people were killed in a deadly escalation of yearlong demonstrations by tens of thousands of farmers against contentious agriculture laws in northern India, a police officer said. Four farmers died Sunday when

Indian minister’s car ploughs into protesting farmers – TRT World

At least eight people were killed in India’s Uttar Pradesh after a BJP minister’s vehicle ploughed into farmers gathered for a protest against the government.

French Prez Emmanuel Macron hold talks with Narendra Modi amid rift with US – WION News

As France’s relation with United States takes an uncertain turn, French president Emmanuel Macron called up Indian PM Narendra Modi and discuss the Indo-pacific cooperation between the two countries.

Death threats sent to participants of US conference on Hindu nationalism

Threats force several scholars to withdraw as ‘far-right fringe groups’ accuse event of being ‘anti-Hindu’ An academic conference in the US addressing Hindu nationalism is being targeted by rightwing Hindu groups, which have sent death threats to participants and forced several scholars to withdraw. The conference, titled Dismantling Global Hindutva, which is co-sponsored by more