Emanuele Scimia

China’s economy grew by 3 per cent compared to India’s 7 per cent because of Xi Jinping's zero-Covid policy and the decline in global demand. India relies more on domestic consumption. China is aiming for recovery this year, but a super boom will be hard to achieve. US companies operating in the Chinese market are pessimistic.

Today's headlines: Hundreds of cases of poisoned schoolgirls in Iran; Clashes between Indian army and Kashmiri militants; Japanese foreign minister skips G20 meeting in India; Burmese military junta continues to demolish civilian homes; For Orthodox Patriarch Kirill the Donbass is an 'outpost of the Russian world'.

Constitutional government, separation of powers and independence of the judiciary are now out. Previously, a directive had been issued encouraging students to report on teachers who deviate from the Communist Party line. Chinese liberals are a persecuted minority. Xi wants to promote China's ideological model in the world.

Today's headlines: per capita income growth drops in China; US and Thailand engaged in Cobra Gold military exercises; New Japanese sanctions on Russia; Government crisis in Nepal. Putin promises salaries to priests engaged at the front in Ukraine.

Today's headlines: China increases the number of coal-fired power plants. New Vietnamese president appointed this week. More than 20 Pakistani migrants drowned off Italian coast. Yemen reopens port controlled by pro-Iranian rebels. Russian stock market and rouble fall sharply.

A recent survey found that more than 60 per cent say they are willing to fight. According to recent wargames, the US and Japan could avert a Chinese attack, but at a very high cost. China's military are learning from Russia’s mistakes in Ukraine. Taiwan trusts the natural obstacle of the Taiwan Strait.

Other news of the day: China plans to train 5,000 security personnel from several countries, India and Germany are negotiating over six submarines, the bird flu appears in Cambodia, wealth gap in South Korea gets worse, ultranationalists in Siberia target a rabbi.

China releases a 12-point proposal today to solve the Russian-Ukrainian "crisis". It includes respect for the territorial integrity of countries, but does not condemn Russia’s occupation. For NATO and the EU, it is not very credible. Meanwhile, a Chinese company is getting ready to supply Russia with attack drones. At the UN, China abstains from voting against Putin's aggression against Ukraine.

The local church, which is huge, is currently spared. The faithful are asking for prayers to change the mayor's mind. The destroyed house is located in an area of high urban value. The local Catholic community has been without a bishop since 2005. The renewal in October of the Sino-Vatican Agreement on the appointment of bishops has not stopped government repression.

In a self-serving move, the Kremlin wants France and the UK to join the nuclear treaty, not China. The latter has the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world but wants nuclear parity with Russia and the US before joining the treaty. For Russian expert, Putin's move is political, not military; Russia has enough nuclear weapons. The risk for their use in Ukraine is low.

Iranian Foreign Minister pulls out of the Raisina Dialogue in India after organisers post a video showing Iranian women cutting their hair. For the Islamic Republic, this constitutes interference in its internal affairs. The two countries could work together in the region, especially in Afghanistan.

Last cleric to preside over Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei. He was secretary general of the Taiwanese Bishops' Conference. He published nearly 50 books. Remembered for his service to the Catholic Church and the academic community.