Russia

This year for Muscovite Catholics the Easter Way of the Cross without being able to leave the area around the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Mgr Paolo Pezzi: "Our path is embedded in communion with Christ". The 'foreign' roots of the capital's Catholic community. "Christ did not choose the cross, it was given to him".

Today's headlines: Israel targets sites in Lebanon and Gaza in response to Hamas and Hezbollah rocket attacks; In China a new study on Covid-19 confirms animal origin; Military aircraft goes missing in Japan; South Korean man staging his own kidnapping arrested in Thailand; Papua separatists want to release the pilot taken hostage two months ago; Saudi Arabia will support Pakistan financially.

Chinese and Russians step up cooperation on Internet control. Foreign sources of unwelcome information targeted. A project born in 2017 and strengthened after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Great focus on Aleksej Naval'nyj's opposition movement.

Today's headlines: The UN to address latest ban on women with Taliban; Pakistan's Supreme Court orders elections in Punjab on 14 May; Myanmar junta using 1970s' military strategy in Chin State; Filipino workers are demanding a minimum wage; Japan is also sending military aid; Gas and petrol prices rise in Kazakhstan; Chechen activists reveal the existence of a secret prison.

Exhibition of painting 'When they bombed Bukhara' by the pacifist painter Vjačeslav Akhunov called off. Bolshevik troops bombed the Uzbek city in 1920. Fears of a Russian-ordered stop. The role of an agency at Putin's direct orders.

Bizarre theories proliferate in the country at war, contrary to the scientific discoveries 'imposed' by the West. Russians who can live 900 years, miraculous homeopathy, satellites that perform interstellar travel. With the new patriotic science, Moscow wants to conquer not only this world, but the entire universe.

Today's headlines: Bahrain convict three Shiites for discussing Islam on YouTube; In Pakistan, 12 people died in a stampede during charity donations; In India, a Hindu procession set fire to a mosque; Human Rights Watch calls on Bangladesh not to proceed with repatriation of Rohingya to Myanmar; Wagner mercenaries assisted by the pro-Russian government of Burkina Faso.

In Kiev while Onufryj - leader of the Orthodox jurisdiction still linked to the Moscow Patriarchate - is calling on the Ukrainian government to stop the eviction, antagonist Epifanyj has already appointed a new superior of the Monastery of the Caves. The long history of the forge of the many souls of Russian Christianity developed in the mid-11th century through the enlightened leadership of the son of the first Prince Vladimir, Jaroslav "the Wise."

Supporters of Chechnya's independence, suppressed by Putin 20 years ago, reappear. Local leader Kadyrov could exploit the movement if ignored by the Kremlin. Chechen independence battalion fights against the Russians in Ukraine.

Today's headlines: 35 die in incident at a Hindu temple in Indore; In limited victory for Tehran The Hague deems US asset freeze of Iranian companies partially 'illegal'; Water crisis hits South Korea; Cambodian opposition leader appeals against conviction; Pyongyang launches campaign against divorce; Taliban delegation in Tajikistan to discuss borders.

Today's headlines: Hong Kong wants to share organ donation database with China, concern among activists; Pasdaran and Basji promote 'veil culture' during Ramadan; setback for Vietnam's economy in Q1 2023; Delhi asks Baghdad to renovate a historic Sikh temple; Union of intent between Moscow and Beijing to control and censor the internet.

The former Soviet countries of the region busy recovering the deep dimensions of their own memory. Kyrgyzstan still lagging behind. Further ahead Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The history of peoples begins with that of families. The humiliating labour migration to Russia and Europe from the region.