Asian

Misery and disease conquer Afghanistan

The heaving wards of a ramshackle clinic in southern Afghanistan are just one sign of the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that has gripped the war-ravaged country since the Taliban returned to power a year ago. Last month, the Musa Qala District Hospital in Helmand province was forced to shut its doors to all except those suffering […]

Covid, poverty force secret burials in North Korea

Extreme poverty intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing people in remote areas of communist North Korea to bury dead loved ones secretly in unmarked graves in forests at night to avoid high funeral costs, reports say. North Korea recorded “zero” new infections over the previous 24 hours and the death toll remained at 74, the […]

Singapore should ban picking genetically best embryos

Genetic testing has recently attracted much interest in Singapore, with the Ministry of Health (MOH) issuing a public warning on the risks of consumer genetic testing, as well as announcing subsidies on IVF (in vitro fertilization) embryo genetic testing for some patients at risk of transmitting heritable genetic defects to their offspring. In May 2021, the ministry […]

Quo vadis? Pope revitalizes ancient theologian’s rules as a timely guide

When Pope Francis gave his first full-length interview after his election in 2013, he was asked about the importance of the church providing solid points of reference in a rapidly changing world. The new Pope pulled out his thumb-worn breviary and read out a Latin quote from a fifth-century French monk. Highlighting the words of […]

No one’s responsible for killing 16,000 Nepalese people

It still remains a Himalayan task for Nepal to achieve the transitional justice and reconciliation process to restore the social order that was ruptured because of mass atrocities during the protracted civil war from 1996 to 2006. Sixteen years after the civil war left about 16,000 dead and 15,000 reported missing, repairing society after massive […]

Myanmar executions should serve as wake-up call

The execution of four political prisoners by Myanmar’s military junta made headlines in international news media on July 25 and sparked outrage and shock among world leaders. The executions, which made a comeback after more than three decades in the conflict-torn nation, are an attempt to instil fear among the people who are offering strong […]

Save Myanmar from absolute hell

Myanmar has known many, many dark chapters in its history, especially over the past 18 months since the latest coup d’etat. But the execution of four pro-democracy activists — the first judicial executions in more than three decades — plunges the country into even greater darkness. The news broke less than a week after the […]

Vietnamese clergy fall victim to soccer fever

Father Joseph Pham Huu Quang attends soccer practice sessions on July 18 Monday and Friday afternoons at Tay Loc stadium in Thua Thien Hue province. Father Quang, who has to ride a motorbike to the state-run stadium 30 kilometres from his Son Qua parish, is at the ground regular as clockwork, wearing football boots and […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica