by Dario Salvi | GATEWAY TO THE EAST

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will end on 31 December after more than 20 years. A farewell ceremony was held recently in the presence of the UN secretary general. The country has grown and become more stable, but some uncertainty remains. After last month’s election, Iraqis are waiting to see a new government take over with uncertainty over the chances of the incumbent prime minister. For Cardinal Sako, Iraqis are waiting for the “birth of a new Iraq”.


Faced with growing hostility promoted by nationalist groups through anti-conversion laws and their intimidation against Christmas celebrations, former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has issued an invitation to all non-Christians in India: ‘The only correct policy is one that keeps us united. Let us pay tribute on this feast day to the contribution of Christians to our country.’

| 16/12/2025
| INDIA
by Jainakri Phonna*

The floods meet all the criteria to be considered a catastrophe: millions of people affected, significant damage to property and infrastructure, and insufficient local capacity. But the central government is suspending its decision. The declaration is not just a formality, but responds to pre-established criteria. The provincial government of Aceh is evaluating a request for aid from the UN.

 

| 16/12/2025
| INDONESIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

An opinion poll among immigrants from the former Soviet Union ranked Azerbaijan as the country closest to Israel and Aliyev second only to Trump among the world's most friendly leaders. A bond cemented by many factors, including historical reasons but also today's commercial agreements on energy and military cooperation.

| 16/12/2025
| AZERBAIJAN-ISRAEL
by Joseph Masilamany

A Facebook post by a mufti has shed light on the group's relationships with influential figures in Malaysian society and politics. The Home minister believes it poses no threat, although the police are monitoring the situation. At stake is the delicate issue of balancing vigilance and guarantees for religious freedom in Malaysia.

| 15/12/2025
| MALAYSIA
by Nirmala Carvalho

The Hindu nationalist candidate defeated the left-wing candidate in local elections in a town at the centre of a dispute over ownership of 400 acres of land pitting the Waqf against some 500 Christian families. Modi's party also won in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, for the first time, although Indian National Congress came out on top in the southern Indian state.

 

| 15/12/2025
| INDIA

In a statement, a group representing Australia’s Pakistani community described the incident as a "horrific act of violence" that "shocked our community." The Bondi Beach attack in Sydney was allegedly the work of a father and son of Pakistani origin who had ties to the Islamic State. The hero who risked his life to disarm them was from Syria. In Pakistan, political leaders slammed the attack, saying that their country is “also victim of terrorism." For Pope Leo, “Enough with these forms of antisemitic violence!”

| 15/12/2025
| PAKISTAN – AUSTRALIA
Editor's choices
 
After five years in prison and a one-sided trial lasting 156 hearings, the “exemplary” sentence was handed down today to the Catholic entrepreneur, publisher of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. The sentence has yet to be determined, ...
| 15/12/2025
| HONG KONG
 
The border dispute is not the only factor in restarting clashes. Scores of online scam centres operate along the border, run by criminal networks linked to Cambodian elites. Thailand considers them strategic military targets and is using the war to build ...
| 11/12/2025
| THAILAND – CAMBODIA
 
by A priest from China’s underground community
Yesterday's episcopal ordination in Henan is opening new wounds rather than healing old ones. The underground bishop whose resignation Rome accepted is still under strict surveillance, unable to attend "his" ceremony, and not even his family can ...
| 06/12/2025
| CHINA – VATICAN
 
by Mathias Hariyadi
The Ministry of the Environment has launched an investigation into corporate responsibility for the devastation caused by violent floods and landslides. Some 50,000 of the 340,000 hectares of forest have been logged. For Environment Minister Hanif, there ...
| 04/12/2025
| INDONESIA
 
Leo XIV has arrived in Beirut, where he delivered his first address to the authorities, speaking about the resilience of the Land of the Cedars and the challenge of achieving reconciliation that goes beyond a mere balance of interests. “A culture ...
| 01/12/2025
| LEBANON - VATICAN
 
by Giorgio Bernardelli
A mandate entrusted to over 800 delegates to make Jesus present through their lives in their own countries brought to a close the Great Pilgrimage of Hope, which saw the Churches of the continent gather in Malaysia. Cardinal David: ‘Evangelisation ...
| 30/11/2025
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA
 
by Giorgio Bernardelli
In Penang, 800 delegates from churches across the continent gathered for a ‘pilgrimage of hope’ in the Jubilee year. Cardinal Tagle: like the Magi, we reject the despair of today's Herods. Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching: ‘We are ...
| 28/11/2025
| MALAYSIA - ASIA
 
by Alessandra De Poli
The devastating fire that destroyed much of a public housing complex in Tai Po has exposed the fragility of Hong Kong's housing system, characterised by overcrowding, negligently managed construction sites, and thousands of senior citizens and domestic ...
| 27/11/2025
| RED LANTERNS
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”