Pope Francis intervenes at the 75th General Assembly of the UN with a video message, extolling the United Nations as a "bridge between peoples". The pandemic is "a concrete opportunity for conversion, for transformation, for rethinking our way of life and our economic and social systems". At the root of everything is the "throwaway culture", which determines exploitation, marginalization, humiliation of human dignity and even abortion and violations of religious freedom. It is time to move from "declarationist nominalism" to the effectiveness of solidarity.
According to ManpowerGroup, 23 per cent of Taiwanese companies are ready to hire new staff. Unemployment in the country is at 4 per cent compared to the 9.4 average in advanced economies. Its recovery is driven by the technology sector. The idea that governments must choose between public health and economy has been disproven.
The prelate envisages possible changes to the executive branch but remains firm on the country’s neutrality and on equality between Christians and Muslims. The ‘Help devastated Beirut’ campaign continues.
The former human rights lawyer, who became a video reporter, disappeared after two weeks in Wuhan, where he documented what was happening in the city: infections, deaths, collapsing hospitals, crematoria, etc. He is not the only journalist to have disappeared.
In Tibet, pastoralists and “surplus” farmers are trained and indoctrinated in facilities similar to Xinjiang internment camps. Chinese authorities use the fight against poverty as mechanism of social control to fight "separatism" and stifle the Buddhist religion. Tibetan workers have also been "transferred" to other provinces.
Under the changes clergy who study aborad will be subjected to a control to "exclude extremist ideas". The new law is also criticized by Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and Protestants, who go abroad for their studies. There is a fear of a resurgence of state control over religions, as in the early 1990s of the last century. The opposition of Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals.
The official of the Seoul Ministry of Fisheries was killed by the border forces of Pyongyang: for the Covid-19 emergency, they have orders to "shoot to kill" those who try to cross the border. The apology sent in a letter to the president of the South Moon Jae-in: a rare occurrence in the troubled history between the two countries still at war.
Some 14 Christian homes are almost destroyed. Hindutva followers want to ban Christian residents from their villages in Chhattisgarh unless they go back to Hinduism.
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong are doing well; Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu and Qinghai are not. According to the China Beige Book, Chinese authorities are lying. Small and medium-sized enterprises continue to struggle. Protests flare up in the construction industry.
Despite a rising number of coronavirus cases, Riyadh has decided to allow pilgrimages. After restricting Hajj, the Saudi government is focusing again religious tourism, despite the great risk of further contagion.
At the United Nations General Assembly, Antonio Guterres warns of the risk of dividing the planet according to the two great economies, which can lead to geostrategic and military divisions. The speeches of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping: the challenge between "two bullies". The United States and China will not participating in an alliance of 156 nations for the creation of an anti-Covid vaccine even for poor countries.
The "piecemeal third world war" denounced by Pope Francis is increasingly taking shape. A South Korean official was killed by the Pyongyang border forces. High tension along the Sino-Indian border: An Indian paramilitary of Tibetan origin has died. Clashes over fishing rights in the South China Sea.
Sister Marissa Viri elected president of CEAP during a conference, held online due to the pandemic. Her swearing in scheduled for tomorrow, in a closed-door ceremony. Founded in 1941 and with 1524 connected schools, CEAP is one of the most important institutions in the field of education, Catholic and otherwise.
The swearing-in ceremony in the presidential palace defended by deployed soldiers and with the city centre closed to the public. In the evening, demonstrators in different cities marched with banners and words: "We have not chosen you!". Germany and the United States have decided not to recognize his presidency due to a lack of "democratic legitimacy".
Indonesia is the tenth Asian country in terms of cases, 252,923 with 9,837 deaths. In Jakarta, the local administration has imposed stricter social distancing rules. Governor Anies Baswedan has been criticised for his inconsistency since he allowed public funerals of government officials in Greater Jakarta. Radical Islamic groups have been forced to go online to hold prayer meetings and gatherings.
