In recent weeks, in the district of Narayanpur, a series of measures have targeted Christian families with the aim of forcing them to take part in tribal religious rituals. The Archbishop of Raipur to AsiaNews: “These actions are funded by those with a self-serving political agenda. Let us pray that God may open their hearts.”
The authorities have stepped up pressure on one of the few remaining places of worship for the Protestant community in Iran. St Peter’s Evangelical Church has been operating for almost 150 years. Six security officers raided the premises and ‘identified’ those present. The property is worth ‘tens of millions of dollars’. The crackdown has intensified since the signing of the truce with the United States.
The Pettah market is in a state of neglect. Opened in 2014 with 70 shops, the tourist spot now has dilapidated stalls, sunken boats, a flood of garbage in Beira Lake, and marginalised people. "We are disappointed,” tourists told AsiaNews. Former retailers lament the authorities' negligence.
Kiev’s increasingly intense attacks, even on Moscow and St Petersburg, are leading the propagandists of the Russian invasion to accuse their own leadership ever more openly of failing to understand the situation on the front line. And former General Popov, who was removed from his post in 2023 after criticising Gerasimov, is now being portrayed as a ‘victim of the truth’.
Today’s headlines: Border crisis and refugee emergency; Phnom Penh cancels the 2026 Water Festival; Meeting between Iranian and US delegates postponed, rift between the parties remains; At least 14 children killed in roof collapse at a building in Lahore; In Singapore, one in four citizens has no religious faith.
On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet approved a proposal for formal recognition of the genocide, which now goes before the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, for a vote. This has sparked criticism in Turkey and Azerbaijan. For Armenians, it is a political move that reflects current tensions and conflicts. For Kegham Balian, an activist with “Save The ArQ,” Israel’s action is an "insult to the memory" of the 1.5 million murdered by the Ottoman Empire.
