A celebration of lights and shadows, between decorated streets, illuminated Christmas trees and neighborhoods still in the dark due to lack of electricity. A parade with songs and dances, to bring back a happiness forgotten because of the conflict. When the desire for redemption overcomes wounds caused by the conflict. AsiaNews shares Caritas Syria’s Christmas story.
From 2.5 million barrels per day of pre-sanctions, it has been reduced to less than one million. Some traditional buyers like Taiwan have blocked trade for "lack of clarity on payments". The Islamic Republic looking for new buyers, but keeps the names hidden.
Prelates call for action to overcome obstacles, political or otherwise, and find a way to form a new government that can come up with structural reforms and investments. They slammed the speaker of parliament for trying to force through a budget bill and expressed solidarity with a Muslim lawmaker who was criticised for taking part in a Mass.
Fr. Paul describes Christmas celebrations in the former stronghold of the Islamic State. Liturgies on the Nineveh plain "crowded and vibrant". A new Archbishop in Mosul to rebuild the community, on a pastoral and social level. Christians and Muslims against obscurantism, ask for "dialogue and modernity".
The story of the 18 year old Saudi has sparked online discussion on male protection. A part of the country - even men - call for the end of an outdated practice. The hashtag "We will all emigrate" becomes viral. But the conservative faction condemns the girl for dishonoring her family.
Sheikh Saad Askar shouted warnings to Christians after two Al-Azhar students noticed the possible attacker. The imam calls on Christians and Muslims to “stand by each other’s side and take care of each other. Those who target places of worship have no religion and are neither Muslim nor Christian”.
Construction of the first Christian (Syrian-Orthodox) place of worship of the Republican era should start at the end of February in Yesilkoy, an Istanbul neighbourhood not far from the international airport. It will serve as a point of reference for the city’s 17,000 Assyrians.
A request has been sent to the Australian government to accept Rahaf Mohammed Al-Qunun and grant her asylum. Canberra is evaluating the application; no comment from the Riyadh authorities. The importance of online mobilization for her case. Saudi official: better to withdraw her phone rather than her passport.
The data emerged from the latest report of the Central Statistics Department. There are about 175 thousand Christians today in Israel, equal to 2% of the population. The population increase of 2.2%. 78.5% of the 12-year-olds graduated from secondary education, just under 70% of the active population.
The UNHCR experts will have to assess whether there are any grounds for granting refugee status. According to some sources, her father has arrived in Thailand to bring her home. In the recent past, Mohammed al-Qunun has abandoned Islam and is therefore afraid of being killed.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun sends updates in real time. She fears that if she is returned to Saudi Arabia, she would be killed. Thai authorities want to send her to her relatives in Kuwait. For the Thai government she is not a refugee and has broken immigration laws. Another Saudi woman, 24-year-old Dina Ali Lasloom, experienced the same fate.
Yesterday Tawadros II celebrated midnight mass in the presence of President al-Sisi and senior officials. The video message of greetings of Pope Francis re-broadcast by the Egyptian media. The desire to celebrate amid impressive security measures for fear of new attacks. In the new administrative capital, nearby church and mosque "sign of religious coexistence".
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