Shots fired at the school and the Franciscan nuns' convent, raid by masked men at the Salesian nuns' institute with a demand to convert. Yesterday mass interrupted with a demand to recite the Koran. For the former vicar the clear condemnation of imams and Islamic leaders in the city 'positive' . The climate of heightened tension around the reform of justice 'wide ranging and worrying'.
Today's headlines: Singapore premier on official visit to China, the first since the pandemic; Taliban block a march of women activists in Kabul for women's right to study; Myanmar's coup leader moves against 'acts of terrorism' by armed groups fighting against the army; First 'controlled' demonstration in Hong Kong; In five months more than 25,000 Russians reached the USA across the Mexican border.
In areas controlled by pro-Iranian rebels, women working for NGOs must be accompanied by a "mahram", a male guardian. This hinders their movement and impedes their work. The hunger-stricken population is paying the price in a country in dire need for aid.
The German broadcaster Deutsche Welle shut down its Turkey office after losing its operating licence, primarily because of the close race ahead of the 14 May elections. Government pressure has intensified after the 6 February earthquake. Turkey ranks 149th out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom. In the 2018 elections, Erdogan got 181 hours of coverage on state television; his main rival, 16.
The four civilians, who had lit a fire to celebrate Nowruz, were shot at by a splinter group supported by Ankara. The incident has increased tensions between factions, in an area long disputed by Kurds, anti-Assad groups, and pro-Turkish militias. For Human Rights Watch, the area has seen “over five years of unaddressed human rights abuses”.
Two deputies of the Religious Right proposed a law that criminalises any form of "proclamation" of Jesus, imprisonment from one to two years. Patriarchal Vicar: worries "the general climate", "vicious circle" involving Israelis and Palestinians. Fears of loss of "flow of pilgrims". Netanyahu promises to block the law (not to lose consensus among US evangelicals).
