Catholic charities are working to prevent child marriage through development and the fight against superstitions, helping everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. “We focus on community development, human dignity, and empowerment,” said Father Birendra Tete.
Civil society groups and activists are echoing a call from various segments of Sri Lankan society to renegotiate the agreement with the International Monetary Fund in light of the damage caused by climate change. The focus is on the Extended Fund Facility programme whose austerity measures are a further obstacle to economic revival. The demand is to put people first in restructuring the economy. Meanwhile, the number of people killed and affected by the cyclone continues to rise.
The pope continued his series of Jubilee catechesis in St Peter's. He noted that modern life is marked by "constant movement”, and that inner emptiness shows that "we are not machines." Instead, the heart reaches out to "God who is Love," a "treasure" obtained by loving "brothers and sisters in flesh and blood”. The pontiff hopes the nativity scene will continue to be part of Christmas.
The Indonesian consortium that controls 60% of the route inaugurated two years ago recorded losses of over 0 million in 2024. This year, losses are expected to increase further. The project is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, but from the outset it appeared to be economically unsustainable. It is not the only case among the major railway projects in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, Prabowo is intensifying his embrace of Beijing.
The parish priest of the Holy Family shares a video testimony of these days of Advent with AsiaNews. Life has ‘slightly improved’ after the ceasefire, but the war ‘continues’. The humanitarian emergency remains current in a climate ‘of great depression because there is no end in sight’. A tormented community that finds strength in faith and prayer.
The two giants of the Asian continent have always been close, but they have never communicated as intensely and amicably as they have in recent times. China's position continues to strengthen despite all the mistrust surrounding Russian projects. The scenario of a ‘reverse colonisation’ compared to the times when Moscow was the ‘big brother’.
