Dario Salvi

The British-born Australian researcher was arrested at the airport in September 2018 after attending a conference. The 24 months in prison were "a long and traumatic ordeal" which was overcome thanks also to the support received from abroad. Release comes in exchange for three Iranians detained abroad.

The initiative is titled ‘Let's build bridges of peace and tear down the walls of hatred’, and is one of many activities planned for Christmas. Clothing and basic necessities were delivered to the Khazir camp, just outside Mosul. For a Chaldean priest, acts of solidarity represent a "light" of living together at the end of the "tunnel" of hatred and extremism.

Some demonstrators from the metalworking sector had left the industrial town of Gebze, headed for Ankara. The police stopped the protest and detained 99 workers. Demonstrations sparked by layoffs without compensation and unpaid leave. Ankara uses Covid-19 to crack down on freedom and rights.

Fr. Romanelli confirms the increase in infections and victims in the Strip, where the alert is high. Concern about hospitals and intensive care, almost full. Swab testing also increases, with 800 positives out of about 3 thousand tests. Fears as winter approaches, but the population rediscovers the importance of nutrition and sporting activity. Some initiatives related to Christmas are underway.

At least 2500 infected employees out of 5800 tests for Top Glove, the world’s most important manufacturer of latex gloves. In recent months, record earnings due to the increase in demand for personal protective equipment. The conditions of the workers, mostly immigrants from Nepal, are being blamed. In the past the company was accused of labour exploitation by activists and NGOs.

The meeting, a first if confirmed, is said to have taken place yesterday in Neom, a Saudi tourist resort on the Red Sea. Iran and normalisation of relations between the two countries dominated the talks. The US secretary of state and Mossad chief were also present. Officially Riyadh maintains the same line: an agreement will follow a "lasting peace" between Israel and Palestine.

The recent, devastating floods highlight the fragility of the country's natural environment. Deforestation, expanded farming, timber harvesting, and hydroelectric dams are the main culprits. In four years, 7,300 hectares of forest have been lost. So far, about 800 large, medium and small plants have been built with another 450 on their way.

The episode dates to February 2019 in Van, in the eastern sector of the country, but has only emerged in recent days. The boys, between 14 and 17 years old, are accused of Kurdish "propaganda for a terrorist organization". The police officers who committed the violence still go unpunished. No trace of the barracks surveillance video.

The event is scheduled for November 27 in Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Under the motto "Mutual help in life", the goal is to raise funds for as many people as possible. Participants are asked for a contribution of around 100 euros. Singers, musicians and artists will alternate on stage.

Foreign Minister Zarif opens up to diplomacy with the new US administration. He calls the president-elect a "long-time expert" in foreign policy, who can lift all sanctions on Iran "with three executive orders." But for the president of the Iranian parliament, there are no differences between Biden and Trump.

Security agents arrested Gasser Abdel-Razek, Karim Ennarah and Mohamed Basheer, members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). There is no news on their fate and the charges. Paris expresses concern and proposes dialogue on rights. The Egyptian foreign ministry denounces attempts to meddle in internal affairs.

Bor Bet and Sim Sovandy fled to avoid arrest after taking part in protest for the release of a trade union leader. The two spent over two months hiding in the forest, then after a two-day trip they crossed the border. Police and authorities searched for them at their temple and in their hometowns.