Dario Salvi

Over the weekend, police were deployed at sensitive sites across the big city, detaining people wearing masks. Despite the absence of any formal ban, anyone caught with a mask or make-up is at risk. Last year the celebration provided an opportunity to criticise and attack the leadership and policies of the Communist Party of China.

Today's news: New protests in Bangladesh, demonstrators demand President Shahabuddin's resignation; Activists raise the alarm on environment and rights over hydroelectric dam projects on the Mekong between Thailand and Laos; Hundreds of thousands of South Korean Protestants promote prayer service against recognition of rights for same-sex couples.

Tomorrow Japanese voters will pick members of the House of Representatives in an early election. The ruling majority is at risk after months of corruption scandals and poor showing in public opinion polls. Inside the LDP, a new leadership contest is developing. Opposition parties are not likely to back a coalition government with the LDP.

The place of worship, dating from the 4th century AD, was found in Artaxata. The discovery is the result of joint work of archaeologists from the University of Münster and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. For experts, it is also a "significant" find because the kingdom was the first in history "to adopt Christianity as its official religion”.

Today's headlines: Japan and South Korea (and the US) express "grave concern" over the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. By 2050 Nepal’s snow leopard might be extinct. For Taiwan, no "external force" can change the island’s democratic future. Vietnam is building an airstrip on an artificially expanded reef in the Spratlys, claimed by China.

The deadly attack against an aerospace firm near the capital followed reports that Öcalan might address Turkey’s parliament, and that dialogue with the Kurdish movement might resume. Turkish authorities blame rebels, but no official claim has been made. Turkish warplanes retaliated targeting scores of sites across the border in Syria and Iraq, causing many deaths, including civilians.

AsiaNews met the bishop of Ha Tinh, in the north of the country, among the participants at the Synod that concludes this weekend. Waiting for the signing of full relations between Hanoi and the Holy See. Faith and spirituality are ‘very important’ elements, as is the ‘evangelisation’ of migrants and the diaspora. Concern over tensions in the seas and wars in the Middle East.

The proposal launched in recent days by the Akp to strengthen ‘deterrence capabilities’ in a regional framework of growing conflict. Speaking of Israel, the president called it ‘a danger that is approaching our country’. A record 165% year-on-year increase in defence spending is expected by 2025.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is second, followed by the New Generation Movement. Voter turnout is up, 72 per cent against 51.4 per cent in 2018. In Ankawa, the mayor of the Christian suburb beats the candidate of the pro-Iran Babylon Movement to win a minority seat.

Speaking to AsiaNews the cardinal-designate tells of a community that “is not a reality unto itself” but “shares difficulties and problems” with the rest of the population, which is “welcoming” but suffers “from sanctions.” In the cry of the poor, ecology, common home “the ground for dialogue” with Shiite Islam.

Elected by parliament, he takes over from Tô Lâm who became party secretary (the most senior post in the country) after the death of Phú Trọng. The goal is to maintain political stability in the country at a time of an internal power struggle and anti-corruption campaign. In his first speech, Cường promised to boost defence and an independent, multilateral foreign policy.

The Islamic preacher died yesterday at the age of 83 in his US exile after years of poor health. For decades, he was one of Turkey’s most influential figures before taking refuge in the United States and being charged with orchestrating Turkey’s failed coup in 2016. His movement built a network of hundreds of schools at home and abroad. A supporter of interfaith dialogue, in 1998 he met Saint John Paul II in Rome.