| INDIAN MANDALA

A Portuguese MEP's denunciation of events that allegedly took place in recent weeks in Bastar district. The area has a strong presence of Naxalites, the Maoist guerrillas opposed to the Delhi government. Since 2017, the army has launched Operation Samadahn-Prahar to root out the insurgency that curbs mining activities. But over the past three years, several youths left without jobs have joined the militiamen in an endless cycle of violence.


While the mission of Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman in space, has ended, Saudi repression continues on earth. Fatima al-Shawarbi was sentenced to 30 years for tweets defending political prisoners. Manahel al-Otaibi is in jail awaiting trial for demanding an end to male guardianship.

| 01/06/2023
| SAUDI ARADIA
by Sumon Corraya

Cases are five times those of last year, with 13 deaths already reported. The Health Ministry is mobilising with prevention campaigns. Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar are among the hardest hit.

 

| 01/06/2023
| BANGLADESH
by Nirmala Carvalho

Arrested in 2018 and then released on bail, he was acquitted in January 2022 by a Kerala court; however, the High Court has admitted an appeal. “I resigned from the post for the sake of the Jalandhar diocese,” he says in a video message. The nunciature had asked to do so; now a new bishop can be appointed.

| 01/06/2023
| VATICAN – INDIA

In a secret ballot, 123 members of the World Health Organisation voted for North Korea despite the lack of transparency in the way it handled the COVID-19 pandemic, which may still be raging in the country. This is a further sign of the influence North Korea’s Chinese ally wields within the United Nations health agency.

| 01/06/2023
| NORTH KOREA
by Gianni Criveller *

No vigil in Victoria Park or even suffrage Masses for the victims of the Beijing crackdown 34 years ago. The authorities threaten an iron fist against 'acts that endanger national security'. Along with political freedom in Hong Kong, the hope and joy of the people has also been abrogated. The meeting in prison with Lee Cheuk-yan, who for years has been the soul of the commemorations: even behind bars he remains a free and strong man.

| 01/06/2023
| RED LANTERNS
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

The economic crisis has pushed many Sri Lankans to migrate. After controls and rejections stopped migration by sea to Australia, the UK became the second choice. The network of smugglers providing forged passports and documents and the testimonies of those trying to get to the UK.

| 01/06/2023
| SRI LANKA - GREAT BRITAIN
Editor's choices
 
by Dario Salvi
The phenomenon of flaring - the burning of gas in reservoirs - is becoming a health emergency. The first reports of cases from refugee camps in Kurdistan, but the increase in incidences of cancer affects the entire population. Fr. Samir: 'Every day ...
| 30/05/2023
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
by Alessandra Tamponi
The East Asian country is increasingly vulnerable to land degradation. According to government data, 76 per cent of the country's territory is affected. One of the factors is mining, which is growing to meet the demands for raw materials needed in ...
| 25/05/2023
| MONGOLIA
 
Francis calls for closeness to Chinese Christians on the Day the Church celebrates the feast of Mary Help of Christians venerated at the Sheshan shrine. A special thought "for the pastors and faithful who suffer": may they find "consolation and ...
| 24/05/2023
| VATICAN - CHINA
 
by Melani Manel Perera
Fourteen years after the end of the conflict between the army and the Tamil militias in the North and East regions, tens of thousands of women who have lost husbands, fathers and brothers are still struggling to survive in a context aggravated by the ...
| 19/05/2023
| SRI LANKA
 
Taiwan, containing China, and the Ukraine War will top the agenda of this year’s summit of the most industrialised countries. In light of regional dynamics, they will be joined by India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, China is ...
| 18/05/2023
| JAPAN
 
The guard, Muhammad Alam Khan, was hired to protect the school. After his arrest, investigators are looking for a motive. A few years ago, the school was shut down due to terrorist attacks by the Taliban. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai was ...
| 17/05/2023
| PAKISTAN
 
by John Ai
The influx of economic migrants into China's four largest metropolitan areas has stopped. The population decline represents an epochal turning point for the country. The birth rate is also plummeting. The 'first-tier' cities are becoming ...
| 17/05/2023
| CHINA
 
Wazir Khan, a 23-year-old activist, set up Today Child in Bagrami, 17 km from downtown Kabul, where, with a group of volunteers, he holds lessons for about 1,000 boys and girls, and goes door-to-door to speak to families about the importance of education, ...
| 16/05/2023
| AFGHANISTAN
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”