Pakistan

Yesterday’s ambush was the latest in a series. Today a Taliban leader was reportedly killed. Since their "cousins" took power in Afghanistan, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have increased terror attacks in Pakistan by more than 50 per cent.

Although the waters have receded, the situation in southern Pakistan remains catastrophic. Poverty is up fourfold and people have been reduced to stealing. “Even before this disaster, we were in difficulty,” said the bishop of Hyderabad. The AsiaNews campaign to send aid is still ongoing.

For six days, more than 2,000 faithful read the Holy Scriptures non-stop in a church. Members of other religious denominations were also invited. For Fr Pascal Paulus, this way, Jesus’s message can be spread.

Members of his staff say that the conditions of the former prime minister are stable. The leader of the Pakistan Tahreek-e Insaf party was leading a protest march demanding early elections. According to experts, political instability is now likely to increase even more.

Pakistan owes China US$23 billion in loans. Beijing says it wants to continue investing in the South Asian country, but the flow of money has shrunk in recent years. Chinese workers are often attacked by Balochi separatists and Pakistani Taliban.

Today's headlines: Chinese evangelical Christian under police control for over a fortnight; Pyongyang has fired two more ballistic missiles; a new shipping route connects Pakistan with Oman via Qatar; Burmese and Thai Catholic volunteers to help displaced people in the border area; several Russian oligarchs under sanctions allegedly saved hundreds of millions in capital abroad.

The former premier and cricket star announced another march for early elections. He then claimed that the killing of journalist Ashrad Sharif in Kenya was targeted. The intelligence chief for the first time spoke directly to the media. International rating agencies fear that the current political instability will fuel the economic crisis.

Today's headlines: Chinese police continue to maintain restrictions against activists and dissidents imposed during the party congress; in Iran 'the world's dirtiest man' died at 94, almost 60 years without ever washing; Hanoi imposes a travel ban on a Redemptorist priest from the former Saigon; Russia's war in Ukraine blocks international studies on the melting of Arctic glaciers.

Arshad Sharif had fled to East Africa after criticising the army and former premier Imran Khan. According to initial rumours, he was mistaken for another person. It is not clear what the reporter was doing in the region.

The award from the International Christian Organisation of Media for its courageous work in defending "fundamental rights as the basis for fruitful dialogue". Founder and director Mughal: "We will continue to fight for the abolition of the blasphemy law and the removal of hate material against minorities in school textbooks".

Food, tents, and mosquito nets arrived in Allah Bachao Shoro, a village of 150 families who lost everything. So far, “no one has helped us, but the Almighty God sent you here to support us,” said catechist Abdul Majeed. Now, “we want to rebuild our homes.” Even though flood waters have receded, some 5.2 million people are still completely destitute. For its part, AsiaNews continues its fundraising campaign.

15-year-old Saba was abducted, raped and forced to marry. After a few days, she managed to escape and, together with her family, started a tough and arduous battle in search of justice. Often the perpetrators, Muslims, benefit from the climate of impunity. For activists Saba is "an example of the attempt to resist in the face of injustice".