The bishops sign a statement after the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force. Pope Francis encourages “States and all people to work decisively toward promoting conditions necessary for a world without nuclear weapons, contributing to the advancement of peace and to multilateral cooperation”. The bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki issued a joint statement against deterrence theory.
The National Insurance Institute reports that 23 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, almost 50 per cent in the case of Israel’s Arab population. The pandemic has particularly hit the middle classes and the self-employed. The poor were able to rely on government subsidies. Unemployment is a major concern.
Mgr Jacob Manathodath sent a letter to the CPI-M secretary in support of Isaac Varghese’s inclusion on the party list, a decision that has raised some eyebrows. For a former spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, “It is not good for a bishop or a priest to show public support” in politics. But in this case, the endorsement is an internal party matter.
Bangladeshi authorities renew their commitment to de-radicalise extremist militants, young people recruited in universities and on the web. A life of hiding and fleeing, of armed militancy is not life. The state should punish but also rehabilitate those who err. Help from family is crucial.
The dioceses of Colombo, Kurunegala and Jaffna celebrated a prayer service on Monday. Jaffna will continue until 25 January. Participation in celebrations was limited to 50 people.
The village chief is responsible for the order to tie to trees people who are reluctant to stay home. In Hebei the number of cases is down, but places of worship remain closed. Some people blame them for being the source of contagion.
The shock that reached 7.1 on the Richter scale was felt, as well as in the region, as far as the Philippines. No tsunami warning was issued.
Repression of the democratic movement in the former British colony condemned. Calls for targeted sanctions against the officials responsible for the crackdown. The Union had to use the negotiations to preserve the autonomy of the city state. Defending human rights also in Xinjiang and Tibet.
Pope Francis appointed the Belgian religious as archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins, after years of sede vacante. He will be consecrated on 16 February in Rome, on the feast day of St Maruthas. He appeals to Catholics around the world to nurture “contact and bond” with Iranian Catholics.
Overnight the jihadist group claimed responsibility for the double kamikaze attack on the city market, with 32 victims and 110 injured. Iraqi Church: "Fateful moment", every citizen called to "turn the page". The Iraqi president against the "rogue" attempts to "destabilize" the nation. Support from the US, the UN and the EU.
The South American country is a popular destination for those who want to escape the war in Syria with their entire family. The work of the Catholic community and Christian-inspired NGOs. A response to the call of Pope Francis. Migrants thank the Argentine people for their humanity.
Russian sociologist Sergej Erofeev wants to nominate him for the Nobel Peace prize. Demonstrations in favour of the blogger activist. Authorities try to block protests. Film on "Putin's Palace" in Gelendzhik has already been seen by over 53 million viewers.
The founder of the "New Citizens" movement and the human rights lawyer face sentences of more than 11 years. They are currently held in a Shandong prison, kept isolated, unable to receive mail, nor mee their defence lawyers. For Xu, Xi Jinping, by suppressing freedom of expression, is the cause of the spread of the coronavirus and the proponent of a "new model of totalitarianism".
They did not receive last month's salary nor three months of social security money. The employer says it has no money to pay them. Some of the workers are forced to dine with three cookies and a glass of milk. The authorities have been accused of doing nothing to deal with the situation.
Two suicide bombers hit an open-air market in central Baghdad. Several seriously injured people were taken to hospitals in the capital, which had not experienced such violence for a while. No one has yet claimed responsibility but fingers point to the Islamic State group. “[W] did not expect it,” said Baghdad’s auxiliary bishop. Pope Francis sent his condolences.
