While the mission of Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman in space, has ended, Saudi repression continues on earth. Fatima al-Shawarbi was sentenced to 30 years for tweets defending political prisoners. Manahel al-Otaibi is in jail awaiting trial for demanding an end to male guardianship.
Cases are five times those of last year, with 13 deaths already reported. The Health Ministry is mobilising with prevention campaigns. Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar are among the hardest hit.
Arrested in 2018 and then released on bail, he was acquitted in January 2022 by a Kerala court; however, the High Court has admitted an appeal. “I resigned from the post for the sake of the Jalandhar diocese,” he says in a video message. The nunciature had asked to do so; now a new bishop can be appointed.
In a secret ballot, 123 members of the World Health Organisation voted for North Korea despite the lack of transparency in the way it handled the COVID-19 pandemic, which may still be raging in the country. This is a further sign of the influence North Korea’s Chinese ally wields within the United Nations health agency.
No vigil in Victoria Park or even suffrage Masses for the victims of the Beijing crackdown 34 years ago. The authorities threaten an iron fist against 'acts that endanger national security'. Along with political freedom in Hong Kong, the hope and joy of the people has also been abrogated. The meeting in prison with Lee Cheuk-yan, who for years has been the soul of the commemorations: even behind bars he remains a free and strong man.
The economic crisis has pushed many Sri Lankans to migrate. After controls and rejections stopped migration by sea to Australia, the UK became the second choice. The network of smugglers providing forged passports and documents and the testimonies of those trying to get to the UK.
