South Asia

by Melani Manel Perera | SRI LANKA - UNITED KINGDOM

The bilateral initiative with the United Kingdom is designed to boost trade relations between the two countries, starting with the promotion of women-led companies. A platform for women entrepreneurs to contact UK buyers has been established. Participants stress the need for Sri Lanka to be inclusive to drive growth.


Although excluded from universities, Afghan women and girls could enrol in vocational schools. Now, without midwives and nurses, access to care for women becomes very complicated. When the ban was announced, the Taliban Minister of Health was in Beijing for a WHO-sponsored conference on traditional medicine.

 

 

| 05/12/2024
| AFGHANISTAN
by Sumon Corraya

Hundreds of students have taken to the streets in recent hours to demonstrate against the attack on the diplomatic representation, with serious damage to the building. Earlier there had been demonstrations in India against the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country. The two governments tighten control and security measures.

| 04/12/2024
| BANGLADESH - INDIA

Recent studies show that the toxic cloud released into the environment in 1984 continues to impact the health of residents. The site of the US-owned plant responsible for the tragedy still holds over 330 tonnes of toxic waste. No one has ever been seriously prosecuted for the disaster and today, only grassroots associations are taking care of the survivors.

| 03/12/2024
| INDIA

The Society of Pilar is hosting the world meeting for the first time in the Indian city from 2 to 6 December, concurrently with the exhibition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier. Card Ferrão hopes the societies can “inspire the Church” to embrace her “synodal journey". PIME superior general was also present.

| 03/12/2024
| INDIA

Rescued at sea in October 2021, the few dozen Sri Lankan exiles, including children, applied for asylum in the Chagos Islands, which is still an uninhabited British overseas territory (with a large military base). The UK refused to accept them, despite complaints about their conditions, and view the current humanitarian solution as temporary.

 

| 03/12/2024
| SRI LANKA – UNITED KINGDOM
by Maria Casadei

Local authorities have reported killing 16 terrorists in the past week alone. In addition to the threat of the Pakistani Taliban and the claims of the population of Belucistan, new sectarian clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have recently been added. But the response of the executive, focused on internal political dynamics, is considered insufficient.

| 03/12/2024
| PAKISTAN
Editor's choices
 
The opposition has tabled a motion to impeach the head of state to be voted in the coming days. Interior and Defence ministers, who allegedly played a role in imposing martial law, are also accused. Civil society groups take to the streets calling for ...
| 04/12/2024
| SOUTH KOREA
 
by Gianni Criveller
At the conference ‘Youth and Faith in Greater China’ that AsiaNews is promoting for 3 December in Milan, the Chinese translation of theologian Severino Dianich's book ‘Jesus. A tale for those who know nothing ... or has ...
| 02/12/2024
| CHINA - ITALY
 
by Nirmala Carvalho
A native of the same Indian metropolis, 57 year-old Msgr. John Rodrigues has led the diocese of Pune since last year after serving for ten years as auxiliary bishop to Card. Oswald Gracias, who will turn eighty on 20 December next. As of 25 ...
| 30/11/2024
| VATICAN - INDIA
 
by Fady Noun
On 9 January, a new session for the election of the head of state. ‘The moment of truth has arrived for the Lebanese, especially for the Shia community,’ says Speaker Berry. After the cease-fire it will be the decisive test for ...
| 28/11/2024
| LEBANON
 
Pope Francis has authorised the promulgation of the decree for the beatification of the priest from Bạc Liêu killed in hatred of the faith in 1946, during the First Indochina War. He offered his life to save his community; his grave is venerated ...
| 25/11/2024
| VIETNAM – VATICAN
 
The territory’s High Court convicted 45 activists for organising primary elections for the opposition in 2020. They include well-known people, like legal scholar Benny Tai and umbrella movement leader Joshua Wong. Many pleaded guilty to obtain ...
| 19/11/2024
| HONG KONG
 
by Nirmala Carvalho
After six bodies were found over the weekend, protesters stormed the homes of local BJP lawmakers. The Union government is sending thousands of special forces, while the Union Home Affairs minister tries to resolve the situation peacefully. For the archbishop ...
| 18/11/2024
| INDIA
 
With the tycoon’s return, hundreds of thousands of Asians risk deportation from the United States, along with Latin Americans. The Philippine government is getting ready to assist 370,000 Philippine migrants. Indians are one of the largest groups ...
| 13/11/2024
| ASIA – UNITED STATES
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”