The United Nations Secretary-General comes out against the vote, saying it weakens the fight against the Islamic State. Iran is ready to close the border in case of independence. Rhetoric notwithstanding, Barzani’s move is designed to keep himself in power. Israel backs Kurdistan, sending a message to the United States and Turkey.
The Games opened yesterday until 27 September with 62 delegations and 5,500 athletes competing in 21 disciplines. Turkmenistan wants to revamp its image spending billions on new facilities. Human rights groups are critical because the rights of homeowners and residents have been violated in order to “standardise” the capital’s appearance.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls for a stop to the military offensive before the crisis becomes irreversible. The Myanmar military have redoubled their action against Muslim "extremists" in the country’s north-west. Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has become popular in China for defending her people’s “interests”. China has a major stake in Rakhine State.
The initiative succeeded with Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. The Centre for Islamic Studies allowed guided tours of one of the capital’s historic mosques. For Buddhist monk, the visit dispelled “certain beliefs about Islamic traditions. Today many act and think badly about Muslims."
The Filipino army intervened near the mosque of the terrorists stronghold of Bato. Joy for his release. The conflict is about to end, but the city is destroyed. Plans for reconstruction. Mindanao bishops condemn terrorism.
Whoever is in the government should be aware of being "subordinate" to the "people who gave them power, and God, from whom power comes through the people". The ruler who does not pray "closes in his own self-referentiality or in that of his party, in that circle from which he cannot escape; he is a man closed in on himself. "
