Emanuele Scimia

Administered by Taiwan, the islands are 10 km from mainland China and almost 200 km from Taiwan. For local councillors they are not defensible. A police force should replace soldiers in order to turn the area into a demilitarised zone where the two sides can talk.

Today's headlines: the death toll from quake in Syria and Turkey exceeds 8,700; Thailand expects 30 million tourists this year; Australia bans coal mining near the Great Barrier Reef; Dispute in Russia over the name of the former Stalingrad; Tomb of the father of Azeri literature destroyed in Iran.

The Lowy Institute's annual index measures geopolitical influence in Asia. The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened all the countries included in the study. The US will maintain its leadership this decade. Japan is declining, so is Russia, burdened by its aggression against Ukraine.

Today's headlines: Death toll from quake in Turkey and Syria reaches 5,000; Taiwan will create a fleet of military drones to oppose China; The Philippines strengthens its naval presence in the South China Sea; Opposition in India calls for investigation into giant Adani's financial collapse; Russia: Orthodox priest suspended by Patriarch Kirill for calling for peace in Ukraine.

The defendants are accused of trying to overthrow Hong Kong’s government. The trial of the 16 who pleaded not guilty is expected to last three months. All face life imprisonment. The defendants include prominent figures like Benny Tai and Joshua Wong. The trial of Catholic tycoon Jimmy Lai will be held in September.

Today's headlines: In China, Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou freed; Pakistan: former coup general Musharraf had died; Well-known academic critical of the regime arrested in Vietnam; Open race for the leadership of Japan's Central Bank; Ukrainian authorities condemn ties of the Upz Orthodox Church with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Senator Malan: "Every year two or three delegations used to leave from Rome, and we hope to resume this good custom." Last mission before the pandemic. Relations between Western and Taiwanese politicians infuriate China. Latest clash with Czech president-elect, who spoke to Tsai Ing-wen in phone call.

Under a 2014 agreement, the US can rotate small military contingents in four more outposts in order to block China’s expansion in the South China Sea and south of Taiwan. However, it will be hard for the Philippines to be openly anti-China.

His condition worsened after his Vatican visit for Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral. He asks everyone not to worry about his health. Police is still investigating him over alleged threats to national security.

The prelate’s secretary is also detained. The goal is to prevent them from attending the funeral of an “underground” clergyman, Fr Chen Nailiang. Shao has been the victim of constant government persecution. The bishop of Xuanhua was also banned from travelling for Lunar New Year celebrations.

They will be able to get an urban "hukou" for social services, schooling and the health care system. The government wants to encourage further urbanization of the country. The goal is to stimulate economic growth after the pandemic and in response to population decline. In Sichuan, unmarried couples will also be able to have children.

With temperatures dropping to minus 34 centigrade, the country is going through its worst cold snap in 10 years. The coming months could see both droughts and floods. More than half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance.