Dario Salvi

The ‘Personal Status Law’ approved without a parliamentary vote alarms activists and civil society. The fear of a ‘disintegration’ of the family and a step backwards in the role (and rights) of women. Iraqi scholar Saad Salloum: ‘Barter’ between the three main political forces Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish and linked to the interests of each'. Card. Sako: ‘Shocking’ norm that violates ‘freedom’.

Fr. Karakach reaches out to AsiaNews, sharing that the country still has ‘a long way to go’ to become a true ‘rule of law, stable and democratic state’. Among the positives are an open economy and conflict resolution with neighbours, concerns about ‘political freedom’ and an ‘Islamist’ matrix. Summary executions of at least 35 former Assad officials over the weekend.

Today's news: Hanoi and Seoul ready to conclude 300 million arms deal; Saudi foreign minister in Damascus today to meet new leadership; Pakistani Human Rights Commission: progressive deterioration in the last two years of freedom of expression;China hands down death sentence to one of three attackers on foreigners last year.

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples got married today on the first day of a new marriage law. In a pastoral letter, Thai bishops outline the “three principles" of the Church on the matter. The prelates call for a response to the "challenges" posed by gender theory, which they see as a source of "confusion and conflict”.

According to Halo Trust since early December, coinciding with the fall of Assad, at least 144 people have been killed, including 27 children. Last year, at least 212 civilians lost their lives to explosive remnants of war, including 28 women and 63 children. Land clearance work critical to a true rebirth of the country.

Today's news: at least 103 schools in Bangkok suspended classes due to pollution emergency. Isis claims the killing of a Chinese national in northern Afghanistan; Three people stabbed outside Nagano train station in Japan, at least one victim; New Syrian government cancels contract between Tartus city port and Russian companies.

The Israeli military launched an operation in Jenin, dubbed Iron Wall, resulting in a dozen deaths with 35 wounded. In Tel Aviv, a man is killed after carrying out a knife attack that left four people wounded. General Herzi Halevi resigns over 7 October, backing an independent inquiry. For a Palestinian activist, Israel is imposing “total closure” on the West Bank to settle the score.

For the first time in a decade, the Nepalese government is raising the levy to reach the world's highest peak. Up to $15,000 will have to be shelled out in the summer season, a substantial increase from the $11,000 required until now. Fall and winter fees are also growing. The hope of mountaineers is that the money will be invested in the environment and safety.

Today's news: Seoul orders removal of concrete barrier that aggravated crash of Jeju Air aircraft in December; More than 23,000 Pakistanis are detained in prisons around the world; UN human rights experts call on Bangkok to stop deportation of 48 Uyghurs to China; In Turkey, nine arrests are made in connection with a hotel fire at a ski resort that left 76 dead and 25 injured.

A six-fold increase from 2023 amid a growing crackdown that has seen 96 worshippers sentenced. This is what emerges from a study published by activist groups and titled “The Tip of the Iceberg.” Because, in reality, violations of practise of worship are far more widespread than the published data. The role of services and the search for contacts or funds from abroad.

Today's news: In China, the execution of the Zuhai bomber publicly announced two months after the massacre; In Thailand, hundreds of homosexual couples will marry on 23 January when the law legalising their marriage comes into force; Pakistan inaugurates country's largest airport, built thanks to Beijing; Patriarch and Custos of the Holy Land say truce means resuption of pilgrimages for Jubilee Year.

Israel celebrates the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari as part of the fragile truce. However, the fate of the foreign workers still being held hostage in the Strip remains a mystery. These include six Thai nationals and one Nepalese national about whose fate nothing has transpired even during negotiations in recent days. The families' fears that “everything may fall apart” before their return.