Moscow, arrests and schisms: the season of consensus ends

Two days ago, Iraq recorded 2567 deaths and over 62275 cases of infection, mostly in Baghdad. In June, there was a 600% increase in cases of infection. Shortage of health facilities and personnel: in the country of 39 million inhabitants, there are 1.4 hospital beds for every 1000 inhabitants; 0.7 doctors per 1000 inhabitants and 500 ventilators for intensive care. During the coronavirus epidemic, poverty rose from 22% to 34%.

The British government maintains the civilian casualties in the conflict are "isolated incidents" and there is no "clear risk" of new episodes in the future. NGOs and international bodies fear increase in deaths among the population. Globally the Saudi kingdom is the biggest buyer of weapons of war.

Under Beijing’s control the office is in charge of executing the legislation that bans criticism of the regime. Homeland security forces have settled in the city. The Office will be headed by Zheng Yanxiong, considered a "hawk" of the regime.

At a press conference titled “Preparing the future, building peace in the time of COVID-19,” Card Turkson said: “As the world takes emergency measures to address a global pandemic and a global economic recession, both underpinned by a global climate emergency, we must also consider the implications for peace of these interconnected crises.”

Following an initial boom at the beginning of the pandemic, many factories in the sector have closed their doors. With over 200 million masks produced per day, excess production has closed factories down. Left without a job, workers protest over unpaid arrears. About 350 euros per month to produce 3 thousand sanitary masks.

Bishop Emmanuel Kerketta of Jashpur had plans to expand a local mission, but everything is on hold because of Hindu opposition. A new parish priest is under quarantine because of COVID-19. The diocese has about 200,000 members, mostly farmers and farmworkers, “poor but very generous”.

Famous for his soundtracks, folk songs and Christian hymns, the 65-year-old musician was a member of the country’s Anglican church. He battled a lymphoma for a long time. For Card Patrick D’Rozario, the singer and his music will always live in people's hearts.

Yesterday the stock market rose to +5.71: a 25.29% jump from last March. The gains are the result of ease of access to liquidity. Warnings of bubonic plague in Inner Mongolia: A partial lockdown for the city of Bayan Nur. Due to the closure of many firms during the pandemic, at least 80 million jobs have been lost, not to mention the lives of over 300 million migrants, not figured in official statistics.

Work went on during pandemic despite "restrictions,” Catholic volunteer noted. Volunteers and some refugees helped to make masks and sanitisers. People in urgent need are “fragile,” said a priest in Bangkok. Health crisis has increased inequalities.

The academician was charged with "soliciting prostitution ". He was suspended from teaching for an article against Xi's lifetime presidency. He was also critical of the regime’s pandemic management. The Communist Party is leveraging the fight against coronavirus to crack down on dissident intellectuals.

Syrians are "tired and exhausted" by the war, “revolted” by Western policies and "outraged" by sanctions. The economic crisis has been made worse by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Blue Marists are promoting projects of support and solidarity for the weakest among local residents. Their work goes beyond the emergency.

Videos of their work have gone viral. The country has reported 160,000 cases of infection and 2,000 deaths, including a dozen Christians. Fearing contagion, very few people are willing to touch the bodies of the infected. Catholics are grateful for this service.

Vietnam and the United States marked 25 years of diplomatic ties and six years of “comprehensive partnership”. The COVID-19 crisis has kept celebrations at a minimum, but not diminished cooperation. More than 30,000 Vietnamese are studying in the United States and will be the future "cultural ambassadors" between the two countries.

First superior of the Jesuits of the Russian region between 1992 and 1998. Protagonist in the days of Solidarność and of the great changes in Poland in the 1980s. He organized the presence of the Jesuits in Russia. The first Catholic priest barred from ministry in Russia after communism. A man of great vision and prophetic intuition.