China

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The announcement of the merger of the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges has boosted Chinese markets, which yesterday posted one of their best performances in recent years. The mainland market closed the session up 2.3%. The composite index gained 55.50 points to close at 2473.67 points, the highest level since November 2011, with a turnover of 245.2 billion yuan (just over EUR 32 billion). Hong Kong also closed positively, with an increase of 0.83%, the Hang Seng index gained 194.46 points to close at 23744.70 points, with a turnover of 91.98 billion Hong Kong dollars (EUR 9.52 billion). The euphoria of investors is linked to the official announcement of the launch of a common trading platform. The initiative is considered one of the most important financial and economic moves since the last century, and will be able to offer foreign investors unprecedented access to China's financial market. The project, called the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, has received all necessary approvals and will officially start operations on November 17th. The Beijing government presented this project in April 2014, and sought to use it as a weapon to stop the democratic demonstrations taking place in Hong Kong. The merger has been postponed twice, and the government of mainland China even aired the possibility of "canceling the project due to political instability" in the former British colony. Despite the fact that the protests for a real universal suffrage are still in progress, the merger has eventually been given the go ahead. Charles Li Xiaojia, chief executive of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, said: "The launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect represents a significant step in the opening of China's capital markets for both domestic and for international investors, as well as a milestone in the internationalization of the yuan". China’s national currency was until now limited to trade on the National stock exchanges: union with the largest financial hubs in the world will make it possible to look beyond their borders and invest in foreign markets. Hong Kong has long been the second most important exchange in Asia after that of Tokyo; on the other hand, in recent years, Shanghai has managed to carve out an increasingly important role thanks to the futures market. According to current data, their twinning will create a turnover capable of bypassing the Japanese stock exchange in terms of market capitalization. Tokyo is third in the world and first in Asia to 4.54317 trillion dollars. Data is provided by the World Federation of Exchanges, which annually calculates the volume of global transactions. In 2013, based on market capitalization, the Federation placed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK) in sixth place with 3.10078 trillion dollars. Shanghai, not yet open to foreign investors, is worth 2296.99. The data indicates that from Monday 17 there will be cross-border transactions for an amount up to US$ 3.8 billion every day. Should the project be successful the plan provides for further enlargement to include, at a later date, even the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. This was revealed by a Chinese government official, who called it a target "to achieve by 2015". The three cities combined could reach a market capitalization of about 7 trillion dollars.

Jesus showed that "service" is "total" and "gratuitous, that is, asking for nothing in return”. The temptations of laziness that "distance us from work and lead us to ease, selfishness" and "to become master instead of servant, which leads to arrogance, pride, to treating people badly, to feelings of self importance".

Pope Francis writes for the Brisbane summit. The answer to "unjust aggression" cannot only be military, but must extend to those who fund it, as well as its "root causes" like poverty or exclusion. People must be defended even from "other forms of aggression" like the "abuses in the financial system."

The leaders of the two Asian nations, in obvious discomfort, make a press appearance after bilateral talks to resolve the issue of disputed islands. Beijing still wants an apology from Tokyo for massacres committed during the occupation and the removal of the names of war criminals from Yasukuni shrine.

Scandal " is to proclaim and profess a way of life - 'I am a Christian' - and then live like a pagan, who does not believe in anything". This causes scandal "because there is no witness," while "the faith is professed by the way you live your life". "We have to forgive, because we have been forgiven. And this is the Lord's Prayer."

Kenneth Miller and Matthew Bae returned home after a long imprisonment. A source tells AsiaNews said that the regime wants the visit of a high-ranking official - James Clapper - and got it. But above all, Kim is concerned that Obama and Xi Jinping will unite to end his dynasty.

On the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing, Xi Jinping reaches out to Japan, scraps tariffs on South Korea trade and pledges peace and prosperity to Vietnam. Meanwhile Obama is on his way to promote a 12-nation deal that excludes China to bolster the US position in the region.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis hopes a culture of encounter may spread, "capable of bringing down all walls," so that there is no more persecution or killings because of one’s faith. “Where there's a wall there is closure of hearts. We need bridges, not walls”. Thanksgiving Day in Italy, solidarity with the world of agriculture, to "cultivate the land in a sustainable and inclusive way". Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, an opportunity to rediscover the Church as our "spiritual home” and Christians capable of giving witness to the faith in love. “We are Christian not because of what we say, but what we do".

Singers, actors and directors are supporting young people who are in the central streets of the island, at the risk of losing revenue from the Chinese market. China bans their photos and participation in shows. Chinese academics say that Occupy endangers "national security", prompting fears of a military intervention.

To the representatives of Masci (Italian Catholic Movement of Adult Scouts), Pope Francis asks them to enhance their efforts on the streets, but also the "ecclesial dimension of" the scouting experience. Families founded in the Sacraments; Respect for Creation as "disciples of Christ"; commitment to the cities being "faithful to Christ and faithful to humanity”.

"Worldliness" makes us citizens of the world and not of Heaven. "If you love and if you are attached to the money, vanity and pride you are on the wrong road." If, however, "you try to love God, serve others, if you are gentle, if you are humble, if you are a servant of the other, you are on the right road".

Receiving the participants at an ecumenical conference of bishops friends of the Focolare Movement, Francis reaffirms the need to "respond to the globalization of indifference with a globalization of solidarity and fraternity." The Eucharist as a mystery of communion the "high road" in the search for unity.