Dario Salvi

For the parish priest of the small Latin rite community, “the war will not end soon,” now that it involves Lebanon. More than 16,000 children have died in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict out of a total death toll of 41,000. For the small Catholic community, the priority is schooling, even if it has to take place in improvised classrooms in the church itself so as not to lose the year. A day of prayer and fasting for peace will be held on 7 October. Many “only want an end to the violence.”

Today's news: Singapore's former transport minister sentenced to 12 months in prison; Chinese authorities ordered the transfer of 200 students from a Buddhist monastery in Tibet to state schools; Delhi blocks the screening of a Pakistani film, the first in over a decade; Dozens of tigers, lions and panthers die in two zoos in Vietnam from H5N1 bird flu.

Foreign migrants cannot access already overcrowded shelters and are exposed to Israeli bombs outdoors. A parish has opened its doors but dozens are crying for help every day. Migrants in Lebanon top 160,000, 65 per cent women, but they could be many more. Promises of repatriation by the Philippine government remain unfulfilled.

Today's news: Delhi opposes the idea of an ‘Asian NATO’ advocated by the new Japanese premier; Seoul unveils the latest ‘monster missile’ that can hit critical infrastructure in the North; Textile factories reopen in Bangladesh after violent protests; The Myanmar regime launches population census operations ahead of vote.

The victim, Fr Gregorius Saloum, served as parish priest in Ibl al-Saqi, in the south of the country. He was seriously wounded in yesterday’s attack along with his wife and children. Kfour, a Christian village near Nabatieh, was also hit with the local church suffering heavy damages.

Today's news: Israeli troops in Lebanon, ‘limited’ operation (but settlers already ‘selling’ property); Militias attack army headquarters in Mandalay; Afghan Taliban announce the arrest of Isis militiamen responsible for attacks in Bamiyan and Kabul; Thai court authorises extradition for Montagnard activist accused of ‘terrorism’ by Hanoi.

Yesterday alone, more than 105 people were killed and 359 wounded in Lebanon. The southern village was also in the crosshairs, with ‘at least one confirmed victim’ in the Christian community. The target was the head of the Party of God in Sidon, and an entire building inhabited by civilians was razed to the ground to eliminate him. PM Mikati speaks of one million displaced people. Maronite Patriarch: strengthening unity among Lebanese.

Today's news: Landslides and floods leave at least 170 dead, schools closed in Nepal; Riyadh, record number of executions: over 198 in 2024, highest figure since 1990; Taiwan on alert for ‘multiple waves’ of missile launches and tests in China's hinterland; Two attacks in Balochistan, Pakistan leave seven dead and 20 kidnapped; Vietnamese prisoners of conscience on hunger strike.

Israel’s military announced the death of Hezbollah’s leader and its number three. Speaking to AsiaNews, Fr Michel Abboud paints a “very difficult" picture, saying that a Carmelite convent was just missed by an Israeli airstrike. People are fleeing "with no prospect of safety" and the displaced emergency is increasing. In an appeal "for help and support", the clergyman said that “needs are huge”.

Anooshavan Avedian, 62, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leading a house church. An appeal court dropped the charges and ordered his release. Advocacy group is pleased about the turn of events but calls for the victim to be "compensated for all he has endured". At least 21 Christians are still in an Iranian prison because of their faith.

Today's headlines: Japan's new prime minister Ishiba is set to appoint rival Koizumi as head of the party's election committee. Manila has launched a plan to start up nuclear power plants by 2032. Nepal and India have signed 12 development projects dedicated to education, health, agriculture, and drinking water. The Homeless World Cup 2024 closes today in Seoul.

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