| VATICAN

Pope Francis released his reflection for the event slated for 19 October in the jubilee year. Even “the most developed areas” are in crisis today, but the Gospel can “restore us to a whole, healthy, redeemed humanity.” Francis thanks the missionaries ad gentes and calls for experiencing evangelisation as a “communitarian process”.

by Sumon Corraya

Thousands of protesters stormed Mujibur Rahman's historic residence after a speech by his daughter to her supporters. The former prime minister then broadcast a second message, in which she accused the interim government of favouring Islamists and turning Bangladesh into a ‘land of terrorists’.

| 06/02/2025
| BANGLADESH
by Silvia Torriti

While not renouncing tradition, Generation Z is making significant changes in the way they celebrate the holiday these days. From ‘reverse trips’ to invite their parents to the cities where they work to new digital consumption.

| 06/02/2025
| RED LANTERNS
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Patriarch Kirill is speeding up procedures to achieve the canonisation of the most victorious commander in Russian history by 9 May, the 80th anniversary of Victory. A man who anticipated contemporary directives of ‘hybrid warfare’ in all dimensions, in the field and in politics, in ideology and in religion.

| 06/02/2025
| ORTHODOX

While TikTok was banned in the United States and then reinstated, in India, Shein's fast fashion application has returned to digital stores after a five-year ban on condition that it sells garments made in India, India's minister of Commerce and Industry announced. However, neither India nor US companies have been able to create viable alternatives to Chinese apps.

 

| 05/02/2025
| INDIA – CHINA

Four international human rights NGOs lodged a complaint with the European Commission, saying that the human rights provisions in the 2019 Vietnam-EU free trade agreement were being ignored. They document 40 emblematic cases of men and women in prison for up to 20 years for their actions in favour of sustainable development and workers' rights.

| 05/02/2025
| VIETNAM – EUROPEAN UNION
by Nirmala Carvalho

Some 18 employees of Andhra Pradesh's main Hindu place of worship have been targeted for transfer to other government offices or voluntary retirement. The new state government is backing identity politics against the previous administration led by a Christian chief minister.

| 05/02/2025
| INDIA
Editor's choices
 
by Dario Salvi
The archaeological site north of Nablus linked to the memory of John the Baptist targeted by settlers (and the Israeli army) attacks. The death of a 14-year-old boy hit by a soldier's bullets. Scholar Carla Benelli to AsiaNews: ‘Heritage ...
| 04/02/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
by Alessandra De Poli
Myanmar’s military regime has extended the state of emergency again, but its control over the country is faltering as ethnic militias and resistance forces now control 95 cities. Meanwhile, the UN is reporting war crimes, highlighting the imminent ...
| 01/02/2025
| MYANMAR
 
The explosion of "cheap" alternative to ChatGPT is the result of China’s bet on internal competition among large companies and startups to develop the most advanced AI systems. A stinging defeat in a Go tournament is having a greater impact than ...
| 30/01/2025
| RED LANTERNS
 
In Fujian, the auxiliary bishop who quit in 2020 over joining government-controlled bodies, celebrated the anniversary of his priestly ordination under residential segregation. Videos sent to AsiaNews by local sources show him meeting the faithful and ...
| 28/01/2025
| CHINA
 
by Alessandra De Poli
An Irish missionary in South Korea for almost fifty years, he explains to AsiaNews how current divisions within South Korean society have developed. For Fr Donal O'Keeffe, the situation is progressing "slowly", and is not a total stalemate. The country ...
| 27/01/2025
| SOUTH KOREA
 
by Stephen George
AsiaNews in conversation with Patras Paul, a Muslim cleric who suddenly - more than twenty years ago - reading the Gospel found in it the answers he could no longer find in the Koran. He tells of the persecution he suffered for this choice and of ...
| 26/01/2025
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA
 
The people involved worked with the United States in Afghanistan and had already received approval for resettlement. The programme, which grants a Special Immigrant Visa, was established in 2009 and covers the family members of selected people. The day ...
| 21/01/2025
| AFGHANISTAN
 
Israel celebrates the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari as part of the fragile truce. However, the fate of the foreign workers still being held hostage in the Strip remains a mystery. These include six Thai nationals ...
| 20/01/2025
| ISRAELE - PALESTINE - ASIA
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”