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South Asia
by Sumon Corraya | BANGLADESH - ITALY

The workers have spent thousands of euro on documents, but for months they have been waiting for a clearance to leave that has not arrived. In the crosshairs the consultancy company VFS Global, which was in charge of handling the administrative paperwork. Also involved are brokers and swindlers who exploit conditions of need to do business. 


Due to shooting from Myanmar, links between the island and the mainland have been cut. According to local sources, it is not clear whether the shooting was done by the military or the Arakan Army, the local ethnic militia that seems to be on the verge of seizing Rakhine State. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has deployed its Navy to the area.

| 19/06/2024
| BANGLADESH – MYANMAR
by Melani Manel Perera

Bishop Fernando received Ranil Wickremesinghe, with whom he discussed topical issues, from the impact of new projects on local fishermen to connections to the Madhu sanctuary. For the president's office, the prelate praised the government's 'efforts'. But there has been no shortage of controversy from part of the Christian community, which accuses the head of state of not doing justice to the victims of the Easter massacre. 

| 19/06/2024
| SRI LANKA
by Nirmala Carvalho

Some members of the Hindu nationalists flaunt the photo of the embrace with the pontiff to acclaim Modi. The opposition retorts: "Where were they when Christians were attacked in Manipur or Fr Swamy died of unjust imprisonment?". The Bishops' Conference on the invitation to visit the country: "Ready to welcome the Pope with enthusiasm". 

| 18/06/2024
| INDIA
by Nirmala Carvalho

The assault took place at night in a parish church in the Rourkela diocese. They were beaten with hockey sticks and iron bars, before being robbed of all the solid money collected for the school and hostel. In another incident of violence in Telangana, Muslims who were bringing livestock to the madrassa for the Eid festival were attacked.

| 17/06/2024
| INDIA
by Melani Manel Perera

More than 3 years after the presentation of the report on the serious responsibilities of intelligence and politicians, President Wickremesinghe has chosen to start from scratch by entrusting a new panel led by a retired judge with a new investigation. The Bishops' Conference: 'What more is there to investigate? Rather explain why those who were responsible continue to be protected'.

| 17/06/2024
| SR LANKA

According to UN Women child marriages have increased by 25% since the rise of Koranic students. Faced with the risk of being married off to a fighter, families choose to arrange marriages. The broken dreams of Amina and Musal, and the "humanitarian, educational and professional" crisis of an entire nation. 

| 15/06/2024
| AFGHANISTAN
Editor's choices
 
The former apostolic administrator of Kunming and two other dioceses passed away; he was in his nineties. He was seminarian in 1949 when the Communists took over, and had to wait until 1995 to be ordained a priest after spending many years in prison ...
| 18/06/2024
| CHINA
 
by Alessandra De Poli
Kim Aris, 47, has accepted on his mother’s behalf the honorary citizenship awarded to her by the town of Abbiategrasso (Italy). Her family does not know where the 79-year-old is being detained nor her health conditions. According to her son, the ...
| 17/06/2024
| MYANMAR
 
Francis spoke at the expanded session of the summit underway in Puglia under Italy’s presidency. This is the first time a pontiff sits among the world’s top political leaders. In his address, he focused on artificial intelligence, an “exciting ...
| 14/06/2024
| VATICAN – ITALY
 
by Gianni Criveller
The great German Reformed theologian, who passed away a few days ago at the age of 98, nurtured dialogue with cultural Christians in Hong Kong and Beijing. He recognised the dignity and sincerity of another theological journey in China, however controversial, ...
| 09/06/2024
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA
 
by Sumon Corraya
Caritas Secretary General Alistair Dutton visits the refugee camps where Caritas Bangladesh has been active since 2017 together with the Government of Bangladesh. Global food aid has fallen to US$ 10 per person per month, which has serious consequences. ...
| 08/06/2024
| BANGLADESH
 
According to Prof Sebasti L. Raj, the BJP lost some key constituencies because it focused on religious issues rather than solve people’s real problems. The opposition is not a single bloc; to succeed, it must remain united. New undercurrents within ...
| 07/06/2024
| INDIAN MANDALA
 
by Dario Salvi
Yesterday at the Centro PIME in Milan, the nun spoke about the six months of brutality she experienced in Gaza. The war came on suddenly, with violence greater than in the past, which “removed the veil of human rights". Christians too are among ...
| 05/06/2024
| ITALY – GAZA
 
For years he has travelled the country barefoot, from north to south, feeding on alms and sleeping in the forests. A eulogy of religious devotion through the 13 ascetic practices of ‘Dhutanga’. Hostilised by official Buddhism, the monk is ...
| 01/06/2024
| VIETNAM
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”