Seven years on from the attacks that claimed 269 lives on Easter Sunday, the Minister of Security reported to Parliament on the state of the investigation following the breakthrough in February with the arrest of the former head of the intelligence services. Linked to the same group is a long chain of criminal acts that began two years earlier, of which Sallay was aware but failed to act. Suspicions point to a political level above the Islamist leader Zahran Hashim.

In a reflection sent to AsiaNews on the eve of the prayer vigil for peace called for tomorrow by the Pope – which coincides with the anticipated start of talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan – the cardinal recalls that peace is not an “external matter”, but “arises from within” and becomes “word, gesture and way of life”. If conscience “is silenced, aggression grows”. The cross “shows that true power is not that which crushes, but that which remains faithful to the truth”.

Like all Eastern Churches, Christians in Armenia are preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday 12th, reviving ancient customs such as holding eggs in their hands as they make their way to the Easter Vigil. Among the deeply meaningful rites is the Andastan, with the blessing of the four cardinal points to symbolise the rebuilding of a new world founded on faith and unity.

During her visit to the People's Republic of China, seen as a sign of the pro-Beijing orientation of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang leader surprisingly paid homage to Sun Yat-sen at his mausoleum, praising his role in the development of the island's “national identity”, in an attempt to reconcile Taiwanese attitudes to Beijing’s outstretched hand.

The secretary general of Catholic schools spoke to AsiaNews about the climate of fear and mourning in his country a day after Israeli’s devastating attack. “We have never experienced anything so strong, serious, and sudden,” he said, speaking on the eve of peace talks in Pakistan. Meanwhile, he remains committed to keeping teaching alive, online and in person.

Last year, Japan expelled 318 foreigners, a 30 per cent increase over the previous year, and is now aiming to speed up repatriation procedures, despite severe labour shortages. NGOs denounce the risk of violating the principle of non-refoulement of refugees and a growing climate of fear, even among those who have lived in the country for years.