Dario Salvi

For the first time in two decades tens of thousands of people protest Bouteflika. The 81-year-old president is ready to stand for a fifth term. The support of religious leaders opposed to protests in the name of stability and the dictates of Islam. The Imam Network in Support of Leadership.

The public sector is saturated and cannot absorb employment requests. For 2019 the government will spend 52 billion in salaries and pensions, an increase of 15% over the previous year. It is essential to relaunch private individual businesses and industry, taking advantage of modern technologies. Appeal to banks: interest-free loans and aid for young people.

A report by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives' Oversight Committee notes how the White House is putting pressure on lawmakers in order to sign plush contracts with the Saudis. In the past, negotiations ended in failure because of Saudi opposition to safeguards. The president is directly involved in the matter.

Exports at the beginning of 2019 exceeded the forecasts of experts and industry. In January, 1.3 million barrels per day. In December, the figure was under one million. Race to purchase before the Washington’s final sanctions. Beijing and Teheran strengthen partnership.

At least 200 families are trapped in the Baghuz area, in the middle of the Euphrates River valley, not far from the Iraq border. They are threatened with weapons by the militia. Bachelet: "Ensure safe passage for those who want to escape". Jihadist request for a transfer to Idlib rejected.

Western nations block the offensive against jihadist groups in Idlib, for fear of an exodus of militiamen. The reconstruction is at a standstill and the difficulties increase, with queues for fuel. It is still a regime of emergency aid instead of employment projects and reconstruction plans. Fears for the future of the Christian community.

The explosion also killed the suicide bomber and wounded three other policemen. Serious damage to some shops in the area. The man was suspected of having placed a bomb in recent days in Giza; police defused the bomb. The question of security re-emerges, with possible repercussions on tourism. The condolences of the Churches of Egypt.

The Saudi crown prince is on the first stop of his Asian tour, Pakistan, where he signed a US$ 20 billion deal. Meanwhile, a violent crackdown continues at home. Reformist religious leaders like Shaykh Salman al-Awdah risk the death penalty for their beliefs. Liberal Muslims must support the oppressed and break down the wall of silence.

The Chaldean patriarch spoke at the 55th Munich Security Conference, from 15 to 17 February. The prelate insists on the need to counter "the jihadist ideology" and to reform Islam by eliminating the concept of "holy war". Data on anti-Christian violence in the country.

The United Nations welcomes "important progress". Go ahead for the first phase of the relocation plan in the port city. The area is the entry point for import products and international humanitarian aid, such as food and medicines. The parties have also reached a general agreement on phase 2.

13 of the 21 Christians massacred by the jihadists in Sirte in 2015 were from town of El-Aour, in Upper Egypt. The area has become a destination for pilgrimages and site of mysterious healing. Fr. Rafic: "simple" people who believe in these "signs of heaven". Caution and in-depth studies are needed.

With the vote of 485 members in the 596-seat chamber, Parliament begins the process of strengthening the powers of the president. In addition to extending terms limits, changes would enhance the role of the Armed Forces in the country’s political life. For an Egyptian activist, Sisi runs the country like a "military unit”, but for Fr Rafic, power still lies with voters.