Dario Salvi

Faced with the emergency, Caritas responded quickly providing aid to everyone, Catholics and Orthodox, Christians and Muslims, Turks and migrants. “Everything is needed, from food to spiritual comfort and human support even among the refugees,” said the vicar of Anatolia. For the bishop of Aleppo, the tragedy could be an opportunity for Ankara and Damascus to “reflect about peace and working together”.

The municipality of the holy city has ordered payment totalling €5 million. Papers and accounts frozen until payment is made. The node of places of worship and ecclesiastical realities that should be exempted. The director explains: "A long-standing issue" that comes up "every time the government or local administration changes".

The vicar of Anatolia and president of Caritas Turkey announces the mobilisation of Christian organisations to bring aid to the stricken population. An event that "took them by surprise". Head of Caritas Anatolia speaks of "serious and extensive damage". The Hatay airport runway destroyed, hospitals also hit. Bishop Audo's testimony in Aleppo: "Great fear" for "violent tremors".

Israeli forces attacked the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp this morning looking for the authors of a restaurant attack in late January that failed because a gun jammed. Israel’s prime minister wants to build a network of underground roads to "fill" the West Bank and give Jewish settlements “territorial contiguity”.

Another 200,000 settlers live in East Jerusalem. The settler community grew by 2.5 per cent in 12 months, 16 per cent over the last five years. The settlers' goal is to pursue their expansionist policy under Netanyahu's ultranationalist government. Three million Palestinians live in the same area.

For Transparency International, Ankara records the worst figure in the last decade. It has risen from 50 points in 2013 to 38 in 2022. In the region, Syria the most corrupt country, UAE the least corrupt. Without Netanyahu in power Israel improves by four points and ranks 31st.

This morning, a 40-year-old American Jew slammed with a hammer a statue of Jesus in the Chapel of Condemnation at the first stop on the Via Dolorosa. Arrested by police, he remains under observation pending psychiatric evaluation. Custody releases a statement lamenting a series of attacks against Christians in a climate of widespread sectarian hate.

The latest report by Reprieve and the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights found that an average of 70.8 executions were carried out per year between 2010 and 2014 compared to 129.5 between 2015 and 2022 after Saudi crown prince came to power. Torture is "endemic" in prison, even for minors.

Feb. 3 scheduled for episcopal ordination of Fr. Younan Hano. In the former capital of the Islamic caliphate, residents committed to rebuilding by working together. Commitment to peace and dialogue prevails, but economic element weighs. Need "time" to eradicate extremist ideology. The value of unity among churches and the relationship with the Chaldeans.

The "Table of Six" met yesterday to end Erdogan’s 20 years in power. The opposition candidate should be named on 13 February. A 240-page, 2,300-point programme aims to restore parliament’s central role. How Kurds will vote will shape the final outcome.

Speaking to AsiaNews Fr. Aldo Berardi, appointed Jan. 28 as vicar of the North, confesses his "surprise" at the choice, combined with the "awareness" of operating in a territory he knows. His years of mission in Bahrain and visits to the region. Respect for Christian rites, cultures and traditions. Pope Francis' recent apostolic trip was a "historic" occasion to bring together the faithful from across the vicariate.

Five families, totaling 17 people, were detained and sent to detention centers for repatriation. By Turkish authorities psychological violence to force refugees back. Families are split up, fathers are allowed to see their children once a week for 15 minutes. Videos of denunciation posted to social media.