At a time of economic crisis, exacerbated by the Gulf War, Archbishop D'Cruze turns down government allowances for clergy. Instead, he calls for money to be used in programmes aimed at the most vulnerable. He also requests aid for the construction and renovation of churches and cemeteries.

Iran is blocking with missiles and mines the strait through which 20 per cent of global crude oil transits. After China, India and Bangladesh are trying to get Iran’s approval for their ships to avert a crisis. According to EIA data, up to 82 per cent of oil going through Hormuz reach Asian markets. Starting 16 March, Tokyo intends to release part of its oil reserves on its own.

Yesterday, long queues of vehicles formed at petrol stations; the panicked population fears that stocks will run out and prices will escalate. Arguments and tensions among motorists in the queues. Power cuts also reported by large industrial groups. In Saudi Arabia, another Bangladeshi migrant worker killed by an Iranian missile strike on a residential complex.

Zobaidul Amin, 28, is in Alaska where he is set to be brought to trial. Wanted since 2022, he is accused of running an international online sexual exploitation ring. The case highlights the vastness of these networks, based on encryption, cloud computing, and cryptocurrencies. Cooperation between local and Western police is growing, while Asia remains the operational hub for such offences.

Asian bishops express concern over the escalation in the Middle East. In communion with Leo XIV, they call for stability, dialogue, and reconciliation that “prioritize human dignity.” They also call for prayers for civilians and migrant workers affected by the conflict; meanwhile, prayer initiatives for peace are growing at the diocesan level.

There have already been several victims among the many expatriate communities. The first death in the Jewish state from an Iranian missile was that of a Filipino caregiver. The conflict has also spread to the seas, with a seafarer killed on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman. A Pakistani, a Nepalese and a Bangladeshi citizen are the three people killed in the United Arab Emirates.