Christian organisations have reported 48 incidents of intimidation over the past five months. On 5 November, a prayer rally in Kolkata brought together at least 12,000 people to call for protection and freedom of worship. The community also met with a representative of the RSS.
The UN climate conference opened yesterday in Turkey and is scheduled to run until 20 November. Tomorrow sees the start of the two-day session with heads of state and government, barring absentees including Trump. Environmental crises intertwined with diplomacy and geopolitics. Global warming targets are increasingly at risk.
Today’s headlines: Lithuania asks the Taiwanese office in Vilnius to change its name; Saudi coalition intercepts Houthi missiles heading for Riyadh, air raids on Sana’a; Vietnam: US investigation into intellectual property protection extended by three months; In 2026, China’s trade surplus exceeded one thousand billion dollars.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in the Argentina, the homeland of his predecessor, Francis, who never came back home. In his address to President Milei and Argentinian authorities, the pope spoke of democracy as a legacy to be safeguarded, and of an economy “at the service of the person.” He stressed the need to recognise the “dignity" of the unborn, and noted that the pursuit of peace requires “dialogue” and “respect for the law.”
Speaking to AsiaNews, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church describes the flood crisis, which comes on top of war. In the Gaza Strip, people continue to die from Israeli military strikes. The UN reports that more than 900,000 people are at risk. More than a thousand students, including Muslims, attend classes are at the Patriarchate’s school.
Whilst large companies are reducing the number of staff they send to construction sites, thousands of small Chinese entrepreneurs are seeking new opportunities on the continent. However, logistics costs, instability and infrastructure shortages often negate the benefits of cheap labour.
For years, Moscow has been waging a war of information and ‘worldview’ without regard for cost, resources or time. The authorities exploit the ‘vulnerability’ of democratic systems and Western peoples. Propaganda compensates for personal shortcomings and provides a language for action.
The visit of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm to Japan marks the first trip by a leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 11 years. Tokyo and Hanoi are strengthening cooperation in the nuclear sector and alternative energy sources to support Vietnam’s rapid industrialisation, a process that, by 2050, will require five times the energy currently consumed.
The major events will take place at the World Cup Stadium and Seongnam Airport. Organising Committee (COL): pilgrims to be hosted by parishes and families; preparations underway for heatwave measures. Actress Kim Tae-hee is the ambassador, alongside mascots Hobi and Cobi. Bishop Chung: the “courage to welcome one another” is key.
The measure for public sector employees with children under the age of ten grants each parent up to nine days of paid leave per year. It is part of the Third Child Plus Programme, launched in June for families with three or more children, as an effort to counter a decline in the birthrate.
Today’s headlines: the 31st UN Climate Change Conference begins today in Turkey; Sheikh Hasina applies for a new passport to return from exile in India; Nvidia is investigating alleged Chinese espionage, with CEO Jensen Huang implicated; Indonesia: one dead in a helicopter crash whilst fighting forest fires.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Georgia has become a new hub for childless couples from China, Arab countries and other regions. But on the other side of this business in Central Asia, lives are often ruined.
The papal visit to Uruguay ended today in Florida. In his homily, the pontiff mentioned the women who make "God present in the ordinary events of life." Addressing fathers and grandfathers, he said that, “Children learn a great deal by seeing that their father can kneel before God without feeling that he is any less of a man”. Yesterday, a vigil was held at the Estadio Centenario, where he told the young people to be “saints”. Today, he left for Buenos Aires.
A study reveals that a sharp rise in construction along Nepal’s rivers, up 78 per cent since 2016, is threatening entire communities. Indigenous groups are often at the greatest risk, while experts warn that land-use planning and mapping remain inadequate.
The practice of wearing a costume depicting a character from manga, video games or films is now widespread amongst young Chinese people. And it often happens that they find themselves in front of churches to take their photos. An AsiaNews source living in China describes the reactions of the Christian community.
She was eight months old when the atomic bomb destroyed her city. Ten years later, she met the co-pilot of the Enola Gay and realised she no longer wanted revenge. In Milan, she told her story to over 300 young people from Sant’Egidio: “You must know what happened, so that it never happens again”.
For Masar Jadid leader Samer Sinijlawi, the turnout was crucial. Now the goal is to mobilise Palestinians for a Palestinian election in March. The high turnout in East Jerusalem is another sign of change. For Adel Misk, at the polls, the voiceless revived the Palestinian issue.
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