Turkey

by Dario Salvi | TURKEY

The apostolic administrator notes that red tape and the lack of legal recognition of the Church are major problems. A torchlight rally was held at 4 am in Antakya to mark the moment when the main quake struck. The main opposition party slams the government, claiming that only 30 per cent of the promised reconstruction has been completed.


A  Greenpeace Turkey report revelas that for the fifth consecutive year, the country is confirmed as the main destination for waste: 456,507 tonnes from the EU and the UK alone in 2023, equivalent to 125 lorries of waste per day. Global Plastic Treaty to be discussed by the end of the month.

| 08/11/2024
| TURKEY

The place of worship, dating from the 4th century AD, was found in Artaxata. The discovery is the result of joint work of archaeologists from the University of Münster and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. For experts, it is also a "significant" find because the kingdom was the first in history "to adopt Christianity as its official religion”.

| 26/10/2024
| ARMENIA – TURKEY

The deadly attack against an aerospace firm near the capital followed reports that Öcalan might address Turkey’s parliament, and that dialogue with the Kurdish movement might resume. Turkish authorities blame rebels, but no official claim has been made. Turkish warplanes retaliated targeting scores of sites across the border in Syria and Iraq, causing many deaths, including civilians.

| 25/10/2024
| TURKEY – SYRIA – IRAQ

The proposal launched in recent days by the Akp to strengthen ‘deterrence capabilities’ in a regional framework of growing conflict. Speaking of Israel, the president called it ‘a danger that is approaching our country’. A record 165% year-on-year increase in defence spending is expected by 2025.

| 23/10/2024
| TURKEY

The Islamic preacher died yesterday at the age of 83 in his US exile after years of poor health. For decades, he was one of Turkey’s most influential figures before taking refuge in the United States and being charged with orchestrating Turkey’s failed coup in 2016. His movement built a network of hundreds of schools at home and abroad. A supporter of interfaith dialogue, in 1998 he met Saint John Paul II in Rome.

| 21/10/2024
| TURKEY – UNITED STATES
by Dario Salvi

The vicar of Anatolia describes a "widespread feeling" that unites the government and the population, which is experiencing "great concern" like the whole region. The Jewish state continues to strike, from Gaza to Lebanon: at least 22 dead in Beirut, while the UNIFIL mission was targeted in the south. A synagogue was vandalised in Izmir. As the pope said, even in this conflict the "economy of arms" prevails.

| 11/10/2024
| TURKEY – GAZA – ISRAEL
Editor's choices
 
by Dario Salvi
The archaeological site north of Nablus linked to the memory of John the Baptist targeted by settlers (and the Israeli army) attacks. The death of a 14-year-old boy hit by a soldier's bullets. Scholar Carla Benelli to AsiaNews: ‘Heritage ...
| 04/02/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
by Alessandra De Poli
Myanmar’s military regime has extended the state of emergency again, but its control over the country is faltering as ethnic militias and resistance forces now control 95 cities. Meanwhile, the UN is reporting war crimes, highlighting the imminent ...
| 01/02/2025
| MYANMAR
 
The explosion of "cheap" alternative to ChatGPT is the result of China’s bet on internal competition among large companies and startups to develop the most advanced AI systems. A stinging defeat in a Go tournament is having a greater impact than ...
| 30/01/2025
| RED LANTERNS
 
In Fujian, the auxiliary bishop who quit in 2020 over joining government-controlled bodies, celebrated the anniversary of his priestly ordination under residential segregation. Videos sent to AsiaNews by local sources show him meeting the faithful and ...
| 28/01/2025
| CHINA
 
by Alessandra De Poli
An Irish missionary in South Korea for almost fifty years, he explains to AsiaNews how current divisions within South Korean society have developed. For Fr Donal O'Keeffe, the situation is progressing "slowly", and is not a total stalemate. The country ...
| 27/01/2025
| SOUTH KOREA
 
by Stephen George
AsiaNews in conversation with Patras Paul, a Muslim cleric who suddenly - more than twenty years ago - reading the Gospel found in it the answers he could no longer find in the Koran. He tells of the persecution he suffered for this choice and of ...
| 26/01/2025
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA
 
The people involved worked with the United States in Afghanistan and had already received approval for resettlement. The programme, which grants a Special Immigrant Visa, was established in 2009 and covers the family members of selected people. The day ...
| 21/01/2025
| AFGHANISTAN
 
Israel celebrates the release of Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari as part of the fragile truce. However, the fate of the foreign workers still being held hostage in the Strip remains a mystery. These include six Thai nationals ...
| 20/01/2025
| ISRAELE - PALESTINE - ASIA
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”