by Nirmala Carvalho | INDIA

Across the Indian state, thousands of people took part in the celebrations, diving into wells, ponds and watercourses in a symbolic ritual that recalls the biblical episode in which St John the Baptist leapt for joy in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. A festival deeply cherished by the Catholic community, it coincides with the start of the monsoon season.

by Melani Manel Perera

The remains of more than 400 people have been exhumed at Chemmani, more than in Sathosa (Mannar). A delegation led by the Minister of Justice visited the site, reiterating that everything about the findings will be made public. Experts and activists are concerned about the lack of forensic analysis and information available to the public.

| 24/06/2026
| SRI LANKA

The government has singled out legal loopholes that allowed non-Thais to circumvent restrictions on foreign ownership. This has sent a chill through the sector, affecting mainly the most famous destinations like Phuket and Koh Samui. However, for experts, the crackdown should generate increased caution among buyers rather than dampen foreign demand.

 

| 24/06/2026
| THAILAND

During an audience in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV continued his catechesis on the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. The Eucharist leads to a “dynamic of unity” and teaches us to “adopt the way of life” of Jesus. A meeting with writers to mark the 100th anniversary of the Vatican Publishing House: writing is an “act of truth” and “has to do with God”.

| 24/06/2026
| VATICAN
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, has spoken of Kazakhstan as a possible third-party custodian of Tehran’s enriched uranium. Astana possesses significant nuclear expertise and, since 2019, has hosted the world’s only low-enriched uranium bank. The main obstacle is not logistics, but trust: only Russia and China could guarantee Iran the return of its uranium should the agreement fail.

 

 

| 24/06/2026
| KAZAKHSTAN-IRAN
by Silvia Torriti

In Wuhan, a call for teachers to turn up at dawn to inspect vegetables for school canteens sparked a protest. But among the non-teaching tasks assigned to teachers is also the requirement to ‘like’ posts from public accounts on social media. Meanwhile, an increasing number of schools are turning to the ready-meal market, which the Party has identified as one of the key sectors to be promoted in the economy.

| 24/06/2026
| CHINA

Today’s headlines: Following the agreement between the United States and Iran, the International Maritime Organisation is working to gradually evacuate the 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz; The south-west monsoon arrived in Mumbai today, 13 days late; The Vatican has confirmed the ban on laypeople delivering homilies during liturgical services; China has regained the title of having the world’s fastest computer.

| 24/06/2026
| ASIA TODAY
Editor's choices
 
After eight years, the trial against the Sisters has ended. In 2018, far-fetched child trafficking charges were laid against them, sparking worldwide media coverage. The High Court's verdict declared them not guilty. For Bishop Mascarenhas, “after ...
| 18/06/2026
| INDIA
 
by Alessandra De Poli
In online scam centres across South-East Asia, thousands of young people are reduced to digital slaves in one of the forms of violation of human dignity also highlighted in the encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas’. On the border between Thailand ...
| 17/06/2026
| SOUTH EAST ASIA
 
by Arundathie Abeysinghe
The new sustainability rules are causing difficulties for many local exporters. The European Union is the largest market for the textile industry. From September, companies will have to comply with requirements across the entire supply chain: firms are ...
| 16/06/2026
| SRI LAKA - EU
 
by Andrea Ferrario
Once classified by the Communist Party as “spiritual pollution”, this genre now generates billions of yuan in revenue and has become part of the state's cultural promotion strategy, within a clear geopolitical vision. "The Wandering Earth" ...
| 11/06/2026
| RED LANTERNS
 
by fr. Gabriel Romanelli *
On the Feast of Corpus Christi, the small community of the Holy Family performed the Eucharistic blessing towards the four cardinal points from the church square. The parish priest said: “From here we also blessed the towns that no longer exist: ...
| 09/06/2026
| GAZA
 
by Gregory
Stored gelignite reportedly caused a massive explosion that killed at least 55 people in a village in Shan State. The catastrophe has put the spotlight on the TNLA, a controversial militia that struck a deal with China. Meanwhile, according to the United ...
| 02/06/2026
| MYANMAR
 
by Chow Hang-tung *
In a message written from prison, the lawyer on trial alongside Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho for the 4 June vigils in Victoria Park speaks of the importance of resilience in remembering the 1989 massacre in Beijing, whilst the Hong Kong authorities cover ...
| 01/06/2026
| HONG KONG - CHINA
 
by Shafique Khokhar
In his encyclical, Pope Leo XIV singles out Pakistan's first female prime minister as a public figure who promoted the greatness of humanity. A Muslim, she was assassinated in 2007 in Rawalpindi. Pakistani Catholics expressed gratitude towards her ...
| 28/05/2026
| PAKISTAN – VATICAN
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”