North Asia

by Stefano Caprio | RUSSIAN WORLD

The 2025 military campaign, the most violent and systematic, is nearing its conclusion before the winter freeze. For one expert, “the strategic context of the war is [. . .] shifting," while Russia’s economy slides towards stagnation. Trump is tempted to conclude a "mutual deal" with Putin. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are truly capable of changing the course and nature of the war.

by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Atlantic Alliance is Moscow's “number one enemy”, but the West fears conflict over a nuclear drift. European intelligence services and military and political experts believe that a clash is inevitable, starting in the Baltic states. The sanctions policy has led Russia to focus its economy on the arms industry. The goal: the conquest of Europe.

| 13/08/2025
| RUSSIA - UKRAINE
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Washington meeting confirmed the role of the US as mediator in place of Russia. Many issues remain to be resolved, including the international disputes between Yerevan and Baku, borders and prisoners. But the central issue is the opening of the so-called ‘Zangezur Corridor’, renamed the ‘Trump Corridor’ and under US control. The challenge for the Armenian Church.

 

| 11/08/2025
| ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The former soccer player and secretary of Georgian Dream wants a third term as mayor of the capital. The Putin-aligned oligarch, the country's “real master,” was present at the party. Anti-Western slogans and threats to expel the EU ambassador. For the opposition, the mayor-champion's new candidacy is yet another anti-Brussels “signal.”

| 07/08/2025
| GEORGIA - RUSSIA
by Stefano Caprio

One of the most popular figures in the Orthodox Church, he died at the age of 65. A writer and poet, he was among those who championed Putin and the war in Ukraine, but was disliked by Patriarch Kirill. Pitirim became bishop of the capital of Komi in 1995, at the age of 34. His style was very popular for its informal communication, especially with young people. His odes were examples of Russia's “obedience to destiny”.

| 28/06/2025
| RUSSIAN WORLD

Gomboja Zandanshatar was elected after the resignation of Oyun-Erdene, who was ousted following strong youth protests in Ulan Bator. A former banker who studied in Russia and did research at Stanford, he will face serious economic challenges, including inflation, deficit and unemployment. ‘Budget review inevitable,’ he said. Tax reforms and restrictions on luxury consumption and high incomes have been announced.

| 14/06/2025
| MONGOLIA
by Stefano Caprio

Pentecost and ‘Russia Day’ fell just a few days apart. ‘Where are you, my Church?’ asked Father Andrej Misjuk bitterly, calling for a return to a faith that ‘does not tolerate lies, does not bless those who cannot be blessed, and once again sets out on the path that leads from Jerusalem to the Eternal.’ Meanwhile, in his new ‘Fable,’ Vladimir Sorokin recounts a post-apocalyptic world.

| 14/06/2025
| RUSSIAN WORLD
Editor's choices
 
At least nine people have died in two separate incidents in just a few days. For local sources, “it will take time” to recover some of the bodies due to weather conditions. Weather phenomena like cyclones are increasing the risk of avalanches. ...
| 04/11/2025
| NEPAL
 
Chinese language teaching is increasingly about memorising and repeating sounds and signs, without the meditative beauty that underlies the language. Pronunciation is not a relevant variable in a codified system of linguistic levels since listening is ...
| 03/11/2025
| CHINA
 
by Andrea Ferrario
Informal employment is exploding in North Korea because of a drop in orders from China and lower wages. Tensions are also rising among the workers Kim supplies to China, fuelled by ever-increasing deductions from their wages to ensure revenue for the ...
| 30/10/2025
| NORTH KOREA
 
by Sarah Bernstein*
Sarah Bernstein, executive director of the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem, spoke at the Vatican. For her, Nostra Aetate, promulgated by the Second Vatican Council 60 years ago, teaches that dialogue must address the burning realities ...
| 29/10/2025
| VATICAN – ISRAEL
 
by John Ai
Underground Bishop of Zhengding since 1981, he died this morning at the age of 90 in the bishop's residence where he had been confined. After he was jailed during the Cultural Revolution, he was tasked with rebuilding dioceses in several Chinese ...
| 29/10/2025
| CHINA
 
Sebastien Lai spoke to AsiaNews about his father’s ordeal. The 78-year-old Catholic businessman, who fought for democracy in Hong Kong, has been in prison since 2020. Given his poor health as a diabetic, “the fear for his life is very real.” ...
| 25/10/2025
| HONG KONG – ITALY
 
Following Pope Francis's outreach with popular movements, his successor spoke about the new poverty of the digital age. The creativity generated by artificial intelligence and robotics has brought "great progress in many areas,” but “it ...
| 24/10/2025
| VATICAN
 
by Lisa Bongiovanni
A new report by the Asia Centre highlights how fake news and phoney arguments have turned Thai public opinion against Indigenous groups (most of whom are not officially recognised by the Thai government), leading to the belief that their traditional ...
| 21/10/2025
| THAILAND
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”