The text calls for a 30-day truce in order to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate wounded from eastern Ghouta, a rebel enclave under government siege. In five days of attacks at least 400 people have been killed. People have also died in Damascus. Moscow threatens to use its veto if the resolution is unfavourable to its Syrian ally.
Last Sunday’s air crash that killed 65 people has raised the issue of airplane safety in Iran. Some 200 accidents have occurred in 20 years with at least 2,000 deaths. Most of the fleet should have been changed ten years ago, but sanctions have stopped purchases. And Trump is now set to block a billion-dollar agreement between Teheran and Boeing (as well as Airbus).
About 800 Christian families have left their homes in the village of Dhir after Patras Masih, 18, was accused of sharing an offensive post on Facebook. Police watch over empty homes to prevent robberies. For priest, “Illiterate people do not need to buy expensive smartphones as they do not know how to use social media”.
Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray for the resolution all conflicts, in particular for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Syro-Malankara Church met in Trivandrum cathedral, in Kerala. Sister Meena Barwa, raped by Hindu radicals, prays "for peace in Kandhamal".
Francis recalled it at the conclusion of the spiritual exercises. The Spirit of God "also flies and works outside" the Church, "it also works in unbelievers, in 'pagans'".
Dancers with dog masks make suggestive moves in front of a building believed to be a mosque. The musician defends himself saying said that it was the Prime Minister's Office. This year's Chinese New Year has been a sensitive issue. Dogs are deemed impure by Muslims who are 60 per cent of the population.
