Pakistan

Three schools for the children of poor and exploited brick kiln workers inaugurated by Bishop Msgr. Rehmat in Bonnieabad, the city being created for them in Punjab thanks to Fr. Bonnie Mendes' Society for Human Development. A mother of three tells AsiaNews, "To see that our children will be able to study for us is a dream come true."

Lawyer's protest: contents found on phone, in four years failed to prove crime. False accusations of blasphemy against religious minorities in Pakistan are often made to settle personal vendettas, property disputes, religious prejudices or commercial rivalries.

Today's headlines: Iran sets record with 142 executions in May, at least 307 since start of year; Japan launches "special bonds" to finance child care plans; Annual inflation in Pakistan hits 38 percent, highest figure among South Asian countries; Jakarta offers "golden visa" to attract talent from around the world; Bangladesh looks to Qatar for liquefied natural gas supply; A new church for the Russian Orthodox community in Manama.

Today's headlines: Seoul to overhaul warning systems after panic following yesterday's North Korean launch; Activists appeal against trials in Islamabad military courts of supporters of former premier Khan; Chinese authorities forcibly evict Tibetans for the construction of a dam; Companies in the Emirates now subject to profit tax; Kuala Lumpur ready to set up a 'war room' against the effects of El Nino.

FAO and the World Food Programme sound the alarm. The long-term effects of last summer's floods, from which the country has yet to recover, are compounded by political and financial instability. With imports cut because of the lack of foreign currency, food is increasingly out of reach for many while inflation is way up.

On the Solemnity of Pentecost, the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee began. The archbishop's warning: 'We have always worked not for our own profit, but for the development and progress of the entire country. Let us not look outside to condemn and belittle others, but let us renew ourselves by putting Jesus at the centre'.

The former prime minister accuses the government and the military of putting pressure on Pakistani Tehreek-e Insaf members. The defence minister suggests banning the party over the violent protests that broke out on 9 May. In the meantime, the issues that should be central in the campaign for the October elections are being sidelined.

The St Dominic Institute in Khushpur, active since 1975, accommodates 170 students from first to tenth grade, of whom 15 are Muslim. The centre is located in the village that was the birthplace of Shahbaz Bhatti and Bishop John Jospeh. The aim is to provide 'quality' education to ensure a 'better' future for the whole society.

The guard, Muhammad Alam Khan, was hired to protect the school. After his arrest, investigators are looking for a motive. A few years ago, the school was shut down due to terrorist attacks by the Taliban. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai was shot in the same area in 2012 by the same group. Over the past year, attacks are up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that borders Afghanistan.

Today's headlines: Malaysia government drops appeal on use of the word "Allah" for non-Muslims sparking ire of Islamic extremist movements; World Bank warning, Jordan increasingly at risk of poverty; Pakistani court released on bail Christian widow accused of blasphemy; Sugar prices continue to rise due to Delhi's export cuts; New Taipei mayor (likely) opposition presidential candidate.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court is accused of favouritism vis-à-vis the former prime minister, who, released on bail, urged his supporters to continue protesting. The country's institutions are now against each other. Some hope that an agreement on the election date might be possible. The “situation does not benefit democracy, nor can it solve economic instability.” Fr Khalid Rashid Asi told AsiaNews. Yesterday Catholics in Faisalabad prayed for the country.

While the country is in an uproar over the former prime minister’s legal problems, another girl is kidnapped from her home in Faisalabad and raped for seven days by men known in the community. Local Muslim notables are pressing for the family to drop their complaint. For NGO Voice Pakistan, “The protection of underage Christian girls has become the main problem of religious minorities.”