Japan

Protesters "surrounded" the Parliament, which this week will have to decide on the controversial bill that abolishes Art. 9 (and pacifism) of the Constitution. Protests led by opposition leaders and students

In his message for the day that will be celebrated in Nazareth during the Holy Year of Mercy, Francis noted that the wedding at Cana, with the merciful Jesus and the " the provident and prayerful Mother,” represents "hope" for all of us. The hope is that this Jubilee Year "will foster an encounter with [Judaism and Islam] and with other noble religious traditions; may it open us to even more fervent dialogue so that we might know and understand one another better; may it eliminate every form of closed-mindedness and disrespect, and drive out every form of violence and discrimination’.”

"The Church is our mother and welcomes all of us as a mother: Mary our Mother, our Mother Church, and this motherhood are expressed through an attitude of welcome, understanding, goodness, forgiveness and tenderness." "And nd where there is motherhood and life, there’s life, there’s joy, there’s peace and we grow in peace. When this motherhood is lacking all that remains is rigidity, discipline and people do not know how to smile.

Wei Jingsheng, one of mainland’s best known dissidents and a leading figure in the Democracy Wall movement, wades into the controversy involving Beijing, Tokyo and Taipei. The Communists did not put everything they had into the fight against Japan, preparing instead for the showdown with the Kuomintang. For their part, the nationalists made many mistakes out of selfishness. Their respective fight would have been in vain without Washington and London. Under Xi Jinping, the same mistakes are being made again, only more this time, because the mainland’s current leader has “immersed himself with too much power and is carried away” with it.

The serpent "is a charmer," but he is also "a liar". "He promises many things but when the time comes to pay, he pays badly, is a bad creditor." "If a Christian wants to move forward on the road of Christian life he must humble himself, as Jesus humbled himself. It is the path of humility, yes, but he must also bear humiliation just as Jesus did".

Following Christ "leads to true freedom, freedom from selfishness and sin." For the pontiff, "in Peter, as in the other disciples and in each of us, the temptation of the Evil One, who wants to turn us away from God’s will, stands in opposition to the grace of the Father.”

Francis urges credit unions to help the weakest members of the community, as well as encourage social justice, family life, solidarity and a socially useful relationship to money, so as to enhance honesty in economics.

Although downgraded to a "Tropical Storm", the typhoon caused torrential rains that have devastated the country. At least 22 missing, dozens of people rescued by military helicopters after spending the night on roofs. The Meteorological Agency warns: "Possible future disasters."

The Lord speaks of "reward": "Judge not, lest you be judged. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned". "The first step is to accuses ourselves. The courage to accuse oneself before accusing others. ""When I get the urge to tell others their faults of others, I must stop and ask myself, what about me?".

Francis calls on people to make “every effort so that where a solution to the single socio-environmental crisis is discussed,” we “may listen to the voice of the poor, at both the level of countries and individuals.” He also urges everyone “to listen to the cry of the earth, our mother and sister, and of the poorest of those who inhabit it, so that we can take care of it.”

Organised by the Vatican Apostolic Library and the University of Tokyo, the meeting will feature the translation and inventory of the Marega Papers, the largest collection of papers documenting the Christian presence in Japan between the 17th and 19th centuries. Speakers will include the Librarian Mgr Jean-Louis Brugues, Prefect Cesare Pasini and Japanese ambassador Teruaki Nagasaki.

Etau hit the archipelago yesterday, causing torrential rains that flooded several prefectures. Tochigi and Ibaraki and the most affected. Torrents of water invade the contaminated Fukushima nuclear plant, and end up in the ocean. Drainage pumps are not enough.