The jubilee year opens today in the Church of Arabia 15 centuries (it was 15 October 523) after the massacre of the saint of Najran and his companions. Msgr Berardi: discover the "rich Christian past of the Arabian Peninsula". Vicar of the South: Promote awareness of the "most precious witness" of the Missionaries of Charity.
The vicar of Northern Arabia expresses concern for the escalating war between Israel and Hamas. An invasion of Gaza could have repercussions for the entire region. Pope Francis met today with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in the Vatican, renewing dialogue and exchange. Our Lady cathedral has become a tourist destination for Christians and Muslims.
The country’s parliament is set to vet a controversial bill by the Information Ministry. Experts view it as a step backward for a country that guarantees more freedoms than other Gulf region states. If adopted, the bill would ban criticising top officials, including the crown prince.
Today's headlines: Terry Gou to run in upcoming Taiwanese presidential elections; Taliban bans women from entering the most famous and oldest national park for non-compliance with hijab regulations; China still addicted to cigarettes, smokers one-third of world total; At least four killed in Vietnam quarry collapse; Pyongyang approves return of expats unable to return since 2020 Covid closures; in Novosibirsk new anti-migrant raid.
A summit between the Cooperation Council of the Gulf States and Central Asian countries was held in Jeddah. The aim: to broaden economic cooperation starting from religious commonality. Every year about 50,000 Saudi tourists visit the historical cities of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Rising crude oil prices, linked to production cuts by the OPEC+ countries, had an impact. In Saudi Arabia, growth should drop to 3.2 per cent in 2023, down from 8.7 per cent last year. The UAE’s growth should also decline from 7.6 per cent to 3.7 per cent. Inflation also weighs in.
