Sister Elenita Belardo is a member and former leader of an advocacy group branded by the Filipino government as a front for the underground Communist movement. National security adviser accuses the nun of lying about the group’s legal status. For the group, the authorities want to stop them from “speaking about widespread human rights violations.”
The organization, which includes 48 pro-democracy groups, is among the most active in popular protests. The new chief police officer flies to Beijing to meet with Chinese security leaders. Agents "ready to intervene in the event of disorder".
The 73-year-old doctor and health worker died in an ambush two days ago in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Armed men opened fire on his car, killing five others. The Taliban deny any responsibility in the attack.
The storm made landfall four times, leaving several areas in the North in a state of calamity. Some 413,833 people were affected in 1,788 localities. Caritas is still helping Mindanao earthquake victims. “This time we are afraid that we will not be able to offer adequate financial aid to the population,” says Caritas official.
The man had worked in Afghanistan for over a decade and carried out water projects in rural areas. Last April, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani granted him honorary citizenship. Hundreds of Afghans publish photographs of Nakamura, condemning the killing and stressing how respected the Japanese doctor was.
Fr Lê Ngọc Thanh, pastor at the Sáu Bọng church in Cần Thơ, reported the incident. “There were three to four people stationed every metre from the church,” he said. “They did not let veterans sit outside”. Redemptorist Fathers launched a programme to help disabled veterans in 2013.
Myanmar will go to the International Court of Justice to rebut accusations of genocide against the Rohingya. The archbishop of Yangon calls on the government to "put away guns and violence" and on the international community “not punish the people of Myanmar as a whole”.
The prelate has repeatedly said that the charges against him are groundless and fabricated. The former bishop of Jalandhar risks imprisonment if found guilty. The court extended his bail until the next hearing on 6 January.
Today’s rally in Chater Garden follows the sweeping victory of the pro-democracy camp in last Sunday’s district elections. “As Hongkongers, we need to continue using different methods to raise our demands with the government,” said one young participant. In six months of protests, about 5,890 people have been arrested, including 910 minors.
Growing demand for timber is the main cause with unsustainable development causing degradation for ecosystem and people. The country has about 8.7 million hectares of evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous and dry dipterocarp forests, and flooded forests. The UN offers some recommendations to change course.
A multiple rocket launcher is North Korea’s newest weapon with most of South Korea within its range. Yesterday, it carried out a fourth test, raising concerns among experts because of shorter time interval between each single launch.
Two students refused to salute the national flag and sing the anthem, acts their faith deems idolatrous. For the local education agency, this “is against our obligation as Indonesians.” Meanwhile, police are investigating whether the fact “was part of a treason attempt or of not recognising the state”.
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