Dario Salvi

Rev Joseph Shahbazian gets 10 years in prison, plus other penalties, including a ban on travelling abroad. Two converts get six years, while four other Christians can pay a fine to avoid jailtime. During the trial, the presiding judge, Iman Afshari, subjected the defendants to pressures, threats and humiliation.

Yilmaz Örkan, of the Kurdistan National Congress in exile, believes Erdoğan intends to exploit the tensions over Nato enlargement to deal a blow to the rebel people. But not only regional balances are at stake. Today's meeting in Ankara between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov will not only discuss the issue of Odessa wheat.

Israel’s weak government endures another setback. The bill to renew the application of Israeli civil law to settlers was defeated by a margin of 58 to 52. Now it’s down to the wire as the existing law is set to expire on 1 July. Prime Minister Bennett is considering making it a vote of confidence. The law provides special legal status to settlers in the Territories.

From the political and institutional stalemate to worrying signs of radical drift, fears for the community's survival are growing. Discrimination, migration and citizenship are among the unresolved issues. Chaldean Patriarch: extremism an "aggressive cancer" that destabilises the social body.

The Swiss-born bishop is preparing to entrust the mandate to his successor Msgr. Martinelli. In his last pastoral letter, he expressed his "gratitude" for a reality that has matured in 18 years of missionary work. With ups and downs, from the pope's visit to the killing of the four Missionary Sisters of Charity in Aden.

The regent and Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand Mar Yakoob III Danil was chosen. he served in Syria. He succeeds Mar Addai II Gewargis, who passed away in February. Informed sources say that the election represents a setback in talks on possible reunification with the Assyrian Church of the East.

Authorities are clamping down on support for the demonstrations. Crackdown on celebrities who joined the "‘Lay Down Your Arms" campaign, subject to threats and intimidation. A fatwa against the film 'Holy Spider', starring Zar Amir Ebrahimi. But citizens defy the bans and demonstrate to demand justice for the 37 victims of the collapse in Abadan.

The Mar Sawa al-Hakim church in Tel Tamr, which had already been targeted by the Islamic State in 2015, suffered serious damage. Houses and the local infrastructure were also hit. The local Orthodox Syriac bishop blames Turley’s expansionist ambitions, aimed at driving Christians out of the area.

Baghdad’s Syro-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation is among the churches that will join the pontiff in today’s Marian prayer. Card Sako calls for quick action before a “third world war” breaks out. In St Mary Major, a Syrian family will recite some intentions; groups of refugees will be present. Marian shrines in Syria, Bahrain, the Philippines and Korea will link up with Rome.

In recent days a church has been inaugurated in the capital, recalling the only episode of Christian martyrdom in the Koran. Catholics, a migrant reality with a "strong community spirit". Mascate remains a model of diplomacy and balance between Sunni (Riyadh, Abu Dhabi) and Shiite (Tehran) powers. Tourism - and oil - fuel the recovery.

About 70,000 people took part in the Flag March. Police arrested 21 people. Bennett pledged “zero tolerance” against violence. Netanyahu slams the government for weakness. Hamas threatens harsh responses “at the right time”. Many fear an escalation of violence, like the one that led to last year’s brief war in Gaza.

Francis welcomes a delegation of Buddhist leaders from Mongolia on their first official visit to the Vatican. Accompanying them was the apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Monsignor Giorgio Marengo. At a time of conflict, they look to the example of Jesus and Buddha "the first builders of peace and promoters of non-violence".