Dario Salvi

For young Turks, the meeting offers an opportunity to "build a local Church" by meeting fellow Christians from other Turkish dioceses and vicariates. A young man from Yemen will arrive with the Gulf delegation. The Lebanese will mark the third anniversary of the tragic explosion of 4 August 2020 with adoration and prayers. The auxiliary bishop of Baghdad hopes that the Mideast might host WDY one day.

Today's news: After weeks of speculation, Xi Jinping changes the leadership of China’s rocket forces. Vietnamese police arrests ethnic Khmer advocates. Iranian authorities suspend the license of an online insurance broker over female employees failing to comply with headscarf rules. Russia imported large quantities of sanctioned military-use microchips. Some Central Asian countries seek dialogue with the Taliban despite the Pashtun question.

For the Archeparch of Damascus, the family unit was "united and close-knit". There was "an abundance of vocations." Now it is rare to find an "entire family” with exiled fathers, sick or depressed mothers, and children abroad. From 120 in 2019, today only 37 seminarians are left. For Christians in the Syrian capital, praying at the Shrine of the Martyrs is their Wall of Lamentation.

Today's news: Lao police arrest Chinese human rights lawyer who defended Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates. Suicide bombing in Pakistan kills at least 44 people and wounds another 200. Seven satellites made in Singapore were successfully launched from India. In Herat the Taliban torch musical instruments that “cause the youth to go astray.” At the Russia-Africa summit, Putin rewards the Zimbabwean president for his "loyalty".

About 72 per cent of Chinese researchers in the United States feel “unsafe”, while 61 per cent are looking into new opportunities abroad. Many of those who left chose China and Hong Kong. The policies of former President Trump have boosted the exodus. For academics, the benefits of collaboration outweigh the risks.

The holy city now has a new sports and cultural facility with an indoor swimming pool, theatre, museum, and multifunctional areas. The Custody of the Holy Land is behind this "crazy" idea, meant for local “young people", both Jews and Arabs. For the patriarch of Jerusalem, investing in young people is not a slogan, but "energy and hope for the whole society.”

Today's headlines: EU Parliament resolution asking Delhi for 'all necessary measures' to stop the violence in Manipur; Damascus grants the go-ahead for UN vehicles through the Bab al-Hawa crossing for six months; Thai Foreign Minister meets with Aung San Suu Kyi, the first senior foreign official since the democratic leader's arrest; Pyongyang' crackdown on smoking, but only applies to women accused of 'capitalist culture'; Japanese PM in Gulf to discuss energy.

Today's headlines: Tomato crisis erupts in India, prices rise more than sixfold; No students from mainland China in Taiwan universities; The UN Human Rights Council passes Pakistan's motion, desired by Islamic countries, against the burning of the Koran but which risks - according to the West - restricting freedoms; Iran, malnutrition alarm: about 57% do not reach the minimum level of daily calories; Moscow sends homeless people to 'work rehabilitation' centres.

The Iraqi president scraps a 2013 decree signed by his predecessor, the late Jalal Talabani, giving official recognition to the patriarch as the head of the Chaldean Church. For President Rashid it is a "constitutional" matter that changes nothing to the patriarch’s status. In fact, what is at stake are the Church assets. A source told AsiaNews that the decision came after the president met with Rayan the Chaldean, a self-styled Christian leader backed by Shia militias.

Today's headlines: Pyongyang launches 12th ballistic missile of the year after days of threats to the US; Bahrain first nation in the world for calorie consumption, over 4,000 per capita; Chinese naval base in Cambodia will accommodate warships and aircraft carriers; In first, Taiwan military exercises to include the defence of the international airport; After child deaths, Delhi wants to raise drug standards; In rural Russian Far East only 3.2% of homes have hot and drinkable water, heating, electricity.

A report by international NGOs shows the critical situation of those who leave the Islamic Republic, especially converts, to escape persecution. Abuse by employers, high rents, lack of education for children among the critical issues. The serious slowdown in the outplacement system in third countries (United States, Canada, Australia).

Today's headlines: appeal by family members and activists in Bangkok against the deportation of Cambodian opponent Thol Samnang; The suicide of a young artist raises the issue of depression in Hong Kong and China; Erdogan's green light for Swedish entry into NATO; At least 29 dead from monsoon rains in northern India; Ancient temples in Japan at risk of dilapidation and vandalism; Moscow propaganda raises accusation of US-backed bio-laboratories in Ukraine.