When India gained independence from the British Empire, its law of citizenship was based on where people were born, not their ethnicity or religion. That looks set to change, as the government pushes through a law allowing certain immigrants from neighbouring states to earn citizenship faster than others provided they come from certain religious groups. Saba Sharma explains why thousands of Indians are protesting the law, and how it could change the country.

Africans’ massive interest in the World Cup finals in Russia is testament to the fact that football is tantamount to “an African religion”. Many religious leaders and ordinary believers don’t approve. But, writes Mohammed Girma, there’s a way out of the impasse: to understand how the beautiful game can be used to address African challenges.