In the Philippines, more than six million people joined the Alay Lakad, the nighttime pilgrimage in Antipolo, while in Quezon province, a group of farmers interrelated the stories of the Passion with their own struggle to defend their lands. In Arunachal Pradesh, young people are celebrating the Easter Triduum by praying for religious harmony in India. The World Council of Churches in South Korea called for conversion and shared a prayer dedicated to the painful division between North and South.
The thousands of people employed on large ships, mostly Filipinos, Indians, and Indonesians, are unable to disembark or be repatriated, while those who were set to leave have suddenly been left without work. Psychological pressure and uncertainty are growing among crews. While the human cost is ignored, business remains the priority, this according to Scalabrinian missionary Father Paulo Prigol who spoke to AsiaNews.
Today's news: Former Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif urges Iran to declare victory and seek an agreement with Trump on ending the war. Pakistan offers oil tankers Pakistani registration to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. By 2025, renewable energy will reach nearly 50 per cent of global electricity capacity. Tencent Video launches a TV channel for dogs and cats, tapping into a rapidly growing economic niche in China.
Despite a government crackdown, new licences have been issued in recent months to casinos with clear ties to online scam centres. Amnesty International reported an "industrialized" form of abuse within gambling establishments, where criminal groups engage in violence, forced labour, and human trafficking.
During Holy Week, Korea’s bishops announced a major step in the cause of Father Thomas Choi Yang-up (1821-1861), a companion in the seminary of the martyred Saint Andrew Kim. For 12 years, he was the first priest to minister in Korea, visiting local Christians during a period of persecution. He died of typhus at the age of 40 after travelling thousands of kilometres and translating the catechism into Korean language. The local Church rejoices as it gets ready to host World Youth Day in 2027.
The epicentre was about 129 km off the coast of Bitung at a depth of 33 km. The main quake was followed by at least 29 aftershocks, the strongest reaching a magnitude of 5.5. A 69-year-old woman died in Manado. The roof of a church collapsed. Church authorities are assessing its safety for Holy Week celebrations.
