In Indonesia, pastoral work with prisoners is carried out by lay people and very few religious. The archbishop of Pontiak urged priests to stay close to Catholic prisoners, who are often involved in drug trafficking. Fr Burrows: "They seek spiritual comfort and a friend to talk to".
Candidate for the State Duma for the opposition party Russia Just. "Putin lives in his empyrean, but we are dealing with the problems of real people." Claims Naval'nyj has made mistakes, but many of his projects should be supported.
Sponsored by PIME Sisters, the facility teaches in English, based on a programme increasingly sought after by middle class families in the capital. The facility will also financially support five other schools in remote villages offering free education to the poor.
She had been battling colon cancer for a long time. Instead of allowing the dissident to visit her, the authorities arrested him. He has been missing for almost a year. When he was a student, Guo participated in the Tiananmen protests. In detention, he was tortured several times.
"What gives dignity is not bringing bread home. You can get it from Caritas — no, this doesn’t give you dignity. What gives you dignity is earning bread — and if we don’t give our people, our men and women, the ability to earn bread, that is a social injustice in that place."
His destination is unknown, most likely Israel, where he has citizenship. Through satire, he has accused the Russian president of belonging to a criminal gang. Considered a "foreign agent" by the authorities along with other figures of culture and entertainment.
This is a positive sign even though Rev Matthias Abdulreza Ali Haghnejad and eight members of the Church of Iran still face a review of their trial. For religious advocacy group, the charges are unfounded; those involved simply exercised their right to freedom of worship. A number of Christian inmates enjoy a 10-day leave at Christmas.
Despite unrest, the faithful gathered to celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Don Trezzani: desperate people from the province hired to attack the palaces of power in Almaty. Tajiks and Uzbeks seen in the city during clashes. Internal power struggle and a definite plan behind the revolt.
Street vendors and day labourers can't even buy the cheapest food like vegetables. Some products are available only in informal markets. The government plans an aid package but has not explained how it intends to fund it.
Official line: Csto troops, led by Moscow, intervened to protect government structures from attacks by foreign trained Islamists. In all likelihood, Moscow military used in the power struggle with the faction of former President Nazarbayev. So far the energy pipelines are safe, including those to China.
In some cases, the effects of climate change are slower than predicted. Russian observer: no need for "apocalyptic alarmism", but use new technologies against the inevitable floods.
The arrest of Protestant pastor An Yankui and one of his collaborators has been formalised in Shanxi. The two have been in prison for more than a month over a trip to Malaysia. The authorities ban their wives and lawyers from visiting them. Meanwhile, Taiwan inaugurates a Jewish cultural centre.
Two Sisters are tribal and one is Bengali. The congregation, which has 168 members, was established in 1951 by the PIME mission. Bishop Sebastian Tudu led the Mass. “Now your job is to preach the Gospel,” he said. “You will be rewarded for God's blessing in your life.”
The Kopel cooperative, which ran a sustainable tourism business, saw visitors disappear with the health crisis. So it invested everything in reforestation projects. In the last 20 years, Malaysia has lost a quarter of its tree cover.
The traditional Christmas message of Patriarch Kirill. Today "storm winds" torment our existence. The leader of the Russian Orthodox invites us to contemplate the Holy Family of Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Overcome every difficulty by living according to the commandments.
Calls for the intervention of the Moscow-led CSTO. Protests have broken out over high fuel prices. Symbols of the dictatorship linked to the "eternal" ex-president Nazarbayev targeted. The government declares a state of emergency and blocks the internet. Demonstrators want to put an end to the corruption and nepotism of the ruling elite.
Charges include genocide, torture, rape and crimes against humanity. The action follows inaction by international bodies. Turkish citizens are among the Uyghurs imprisoned in China. The initiative will have little practical effect, but it creates a political problem for Erdogan.
The archdiocese is set to implement a four-year youth programme in its 67 parishes via an online campaign designed to involve more and more people. For Card Suharyo, concrete actions can restore value to human dignity.
The new African Exarchate of the Russian Patriarchate established, divided into the two dioceses of North and South Africa. The Russian-African clergy will be subject to the bishop of Yerevan (Armenia) Leonid. "The Waltz of Chairs" in patriarchal sees.
The woman who was fleeing from the Taliban died after being caught in a storm, but her two children, who are now in the care of Iranian soldiers across the border, are safe. Turkish officials offload responsibility. AsiaNews sources: "Many people" have died in recent weeks while trying to enter the country. Caritas Turkey rushes to aid of 30 migrant families.
This follows Stand News’s closure a few days ago. Under the national security law, the boundaries between what is lawful and what is not lawful for the press no longer exist. The law has already affected the Apple Daily, RTHK, DB TV and several foreign journalists.
Clothing items are sold to Chinese companies. Using forced labour in concentration camps reduces the risks of spreading COVID-19. Faced with the economic crisis, Kim Jong-un orders “important revolutionary measures" in agriculture. United Nations slams North Korea’s crimes against humanity.
Archbishop Marco Tin Win tells AsiaNews about the drama of the country that has not known peace since the February 1 coup: "Last year there was Covid-19, now we are suffering from a man-made disaster. The military is looking everywhere for those who fight against them, even priests and nuns forced to flee. To the Burmese who are far from home, like Mary and Joseph, I want to say: God is with you".
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Tejgaon, a district of the capital, held a fundraising campaign to be ale to gift small sums of money to needy families. For some it's an opportunity to buy meat and sweets. Others use it to buy a dress for their daughter. One parishioner: the festive season is an opportunity to "show compassion to others".
Maniža now lives in a women's shelter in St. Petersburg. Once she arrived in Russia, her father prevented her from studying. A victim of archaic family and cultural traditions of her people. She escaped thanks to the help of friends and a fundraising campaign on the web.
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev, president of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Relations, is in the Vatican today. "The meeting with Kirill will take place when all the conditions have matured." The patriarch wants to see the pontiff again. The problem of Orthodox religious schools, with religion has regaining a pivotal role in the life of Russian society.
Military spending is up, “beyond the levels at the end of the Cold War and they seem certain to grow exorbitantly.” At the same, spending in education is down across the world, treated as mere “investment”. For the pontiff, “Work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfilment.” Political leaders are “called to play an active role by promoting a fair balance between economic freedom and social justice.”
The Ukrainian autocephalous Church would like to switch to the Gregorian calendar, used throughout the world and a reference for Catholics. The Metropolitan of Kiev calls for celebration on 25 December and no longer on 7 January. The staggered dates, however, favour ecclesiastical exchanges between the two communities.
The initiative is now in its ninth year and is of particular importance this year, amid the grave economic crisis. In the past, the association promoting the event has helped the victims of the port explosion and families in difficulty for Covid. Dalia Dagher: We need to "save lives".
Only 30.2 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballot. This was the first poll after pro-democracy groups were excluded under reformed election law. Pro-Beijing camp won 89 out of 90 seats with one lonely seat going to a centrist candidate. Catholic diocese expressed concerns over the region’s full democratisation. The central government claims that the election was “representative” and “inclusive”.
