Dario Salvi

The project would link the Iranian port of Bandar-e Deyr to an unspecified location in Qatar. The underwater tunnel would run for 190 km, with both road and railway sections, although the former is more difficult. President Raisi is in Doha to sign four cooperation agreements, from energy to transport.

The Strip is experiencing a phase of relative calm, even the tensions in Jerusalem are (for now) a distant echo. A bookshop, the restoration of a Byzantine church and the discovery of a Roman cemetery are signs of rebirth and hope. Exit visas are essential not only to visit the holy sites, but to avert the danger of endogamy.

Nationalist groups and settlers, including the City of David foundation, are behind the INPA project, which would give Israel direct control over an area with historic Christian places of worship like the Church of the Nations. For Christian leaders, this “brutal measure" violates the sites’ "sacred character” and the status quo in the pursuit of “political and ideological considerations”.

The UN reports on "at least 53 arrests" made among members of the minority. And it expresses "concerns" about the "continued repression". A group of converts forced to undergo "re-education" sessions in the Islamic faith. The role of the Pasdaran in anti-Christian attacks.

Research carried out by the German organisation Kas reveals 73% of those questioned (aged between 18 and 25) would like to leave the country if they had the chance. Forty-eight per cent had no confidence in the president. Very little trust in politicians, parties and the press. Over 90% are in favour of premarital relations, 80% for gender equality.

At least three people died after government forces bombed a fuel depot in the province. A woman shot in the head by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militiamen for smuggling fuel. From 2019 to 2021 Ankara repatriated 155,000 refugees by force or deception.

Clashes between Israelis and Palestinians have been taking place for days in the disputed neighbourhood in eastern Jerusalem. A government source does not exclude the risk of "an escalation". Dozens of people have been injured and arrested. Bishop of the Holy Land: new conflict unlikely, because "the price" would be "too expensive". Every Friday dozens of Israelis demonstrate in solidarity with Palestinian residents.

Bartholomew calls on all parties to follow the path of dialogue to achieve “peace, stability and justice” in his homily in the presence of Ukrainian diplomats. The use of force causes only "war, violence, sorrow and death". Like Pope Francis, he says “war is madness.” He urges the Church to commit to the path of peace.

Chocolates, flowers, red clothes and lingerie are on display in the shop windows. Shop assistants confirm,behind anonymity, the increase in sales and business linked to the occasion. But the Saint's name remains a taboo. Young people hope for further, albeit gradual, changes in the future.

At the Angelus Francis spoke again about the crisis in Ukraine and called on the Virgin Mary to move “the conscience of the political leaders”. In the Gospel passage dedicated to the Beatitudes, the pontiff praises the “identity” of Jesus’ disciples who do not find joy “in money” or “material goods”, but “in the gifts they received every day from God: life, creation” and the desire “to share”.

In the past four years, some 80 Yazidi civilians have become "collateral damage" of Erdogan's bombs against the PKK. About 350,000 Yazidis are still internally displaced and more than 100,000 have left Iraq. For activist, Sinjar is “turning into a war zone" and the population is “suffering under unimaginable conditions in displacement camps”.

Today's news: hundreds of Hong Kong residents queue for hours at the Shenzhen checkpoint to cross the border and flee the wave of infections in the territory; in Laos, one child in three experiences severe food insecurity; China will not renew passports for non-essential travel; Britain and mercenaries are blamed for riots in Almaty.