Asian members from Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka are part of the global humanitarian expedition. The son of Faisal Edhi, a leading figure in Pakistan’s humanitarian community, is among the people detained. As his fate remains unknown, his father has appealed to Pakistani authorities to obtain his release. For Asian activists, theirs is not just a "symbolic" participation.
The war with Iran has triggered a shift in Riyadh that is not merely geographical. Neom, Yanbu, and Jeddah are no longer just scenic elements of Vision 2030, but strategic infrastructures for survival. Hence, Mohammed bin Salman is trying to avoid all-out war with Iran (which would also jeopardise the Red Sea) in a context where the US is no longer a guarantor of stability.
The success of artists like Yoasobi and Fujii Kaze has prompted the government to approve a bill that also recognises royalties for singers, musicians, and producers. This change aligns Tokyo with international standards and could generate billions of yen for artists. Concerns remain about the costs to venues, while a three-year preparatory phase is planned.
The private sector’s main body has accused 10 public agencies of extortionist practices against businesses and ordinary Thais. The growing importance of foreign investment in the country's southern tourist resort areas may have played a role, but the corruption system has long been considered structural and involves bureaucracy, law enforcement, and politics.
A new report highlights coordinated online campaigns against voices critical of the government, whether media outlets or NGOs, following Prabowo Subianto’s accession to the presidency. Accounts linked to the military have spread accusations of being “foreign agents”, with consequences including violence, whilst major social media platforms have refrained from intervening.
AsiaNews will host an evening of reflection to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. The event on May 21, in Milan will rediscover the testimony of Fr Robert Greene, a Maryknoll missionary imprisoned in Guangxi in the 1950s, and highlight the challenges faced by today’s Catholic communities in Beijing.
