Paolo Fossati

Any new government needs least 112 votes in parliament. This is the first time the king is playing a crucial role. The political crisis follows rumours about a new alliance being formed. The prime minister had promised to hand over power to his ally Anwar. The early end of the government casts shadows on the transition.

The support of the independence hero Xanana Gusmao has waned. Ruak is ready to remain in office until the resignation is accepted, in order to "guarantee government activities". Gusmao has a new six-party coalition ready to control 34 out of 65 seats in parliament.

Public Eucharistic celebrations in the city-state were suspended indefinitely ten days ago. However, the Archdiocese is broadcasting the Mass every day on its YouTube and radio channels. For every Christian Church, the emergency has become an occasion to promote a message of unity.

At present, there are no cases of Covid-19 in North Korea. But the country shares a long and porous border with China. About 3,000 people in North Pyongan province are under control because of suspicious symptoms. South Korea has the largest number of confirmed cases outside China: 763. Before 19 February, Seoul reported only 31.

“We are working on these cases not because of international pressure, but because of our responsibility and accountability,” said a military spokesman. Myanmar’s Armed Forces will follow recommendations from the president and the final report of a commission of enquiry established by Aung San Suu Kyi. The document, which was made public on 20 January, found evidence of mass killings, including nearly 900 Rohingya.

In South Korea, 229 new cases were reported, the largest single-day rise since late January. Japan has lost track of the path of some cases, which tripled to 90 last week. For the WHO, the situation in Iran is "very concerning” with 18 cases and four deaths in the last two days.

The Future Forward Party (FFP) is dissolved because it accepted illegal funding from its founder and leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Main party leaders have also been banned from political life for ten years. In parliament, opposition forces have been weakened.

“We are a Church called together by God, not a self-organized mutual admiration club,” writes the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in his letter for Lent. “The breaking of the Bread is a commemoration of the violent death that the Lord went through. Who claps while others are in pain? It is pain with love; yes, but it still pain.”

The accused assisted the illegal immigration of 67 people to the UK and Europe. On 23 October, British authorities found the bodies of 39 people in a refrigerated lorry.

It is the second day in a row that the province records fewer than 1,000 new cases, after nearly a month of daily four-digit increases. In China, the total number of total infections is 75,567. So far, 18,264 people have recovered. Critical day in South Korea: 52 infections confirmed, 29 of which related to a sect.

The Blessed Sacrament Church in Kuching held a seminar on the topic. The Church’s social doctrine and its implication in the Malaysian context were the main topics. “We need a new narrative,” says Fr Clarence Devadass, not the one by politicians.

“What if the poor look for other poor people to marry? There will be more poor families. This is a problem in Indonesia,” said Muhadjir Effendy. Poor households number around 5 million, 9.4 per cent of 57.1 million. About 115 million Indonesians, 45 per cent of the population, have not yet achieved economic security and middle class status.