Anthropic has documented the use of Claude to track Catholic and Tibetan Buddhist leaders, Christians in Taiwan, and the Falun Gong. A religious affairs intelligence unit that once employed many teams has been reduced to a single office, yet this is enough to produce thousands of investigations per month.
Today's headlines: HoNg Kong storm damage estimates serious; Some Korean sect members arrested in Fiji; Japanese authorities mull too many tourists on Mount Fiji; Rice shortage hits Malaysia; Philippines and Australia sign anti-China agreement; In Bangladesh articles by "experts" with fake photos or questionable reputations to favor the re-election of Prime Minister Hasina; 10% of Russians suffer from serious depression.
As people move from rural to urban areas in China in search of work, a high proportion of their children follow only to face a range of hardships, ranging from poor emotional support to limited access to public services. Despite some improvements, their full development is thus stunted by inadequate living conditions.
The 43rd summit of South East Asian countries closes today in Jakarta. The decision a response to the Burmese military coup and violence since February 2021. The US Vice-President and the Chinese Premier also attended, as well as state and government leaders. By 2045, the region will contribute 5.4% to global GDP. Jokowi: trust and cooperation.
Today's headlines: Russia tries to enlist Cubans for the war in Ukraine; China proposes a ban on clothes that 'hurt the nation's sentiment'; Japan joins moon race; Myanmar sentences a photojournalist to 20 years in prison; Bangladesh in throes of worst dengue epidemic ever recorded.
At the funeral of the auxiliary bishop of Tokyo, the PIME missionary, who replaced him at the helm of the Shinsei Kaikan Catholic Cultural Centre, remembered the prelate who loved to refer to God through the typically Japanese image of hot spring water. During his ministry, he shared a life of closeness and consolation with so many people.
On the same day that Pope Francis praised Mongolian culture and traditions, the authorities in China’s Inner Mongolia region, where a fifth of the population is Mongolian, described them as “historical nihilism” in the name of sinicisation. The words Francis addressed to the Chinese people in Ulaanbaatar were banned in China, with no coverage in official media.
After years of harsh lockdown due to the covid-19, the country is now trying to give industry a new boost. It is focusing on domestic tourism, to expand international tourism at the same time (with an eye on the environment). This is also an opportunity for propaganda, to improve the consideration of a nation 'closed' to the outside world.
Today's headlines: Aung San Suu Kyi has been refused outside doctor; Two giant pandas from Edinburgh Zoo will return to China by the end of the year; The president of Taiwan on official visit to eSwatini; Israel blocks the export of goods from Gaza; The border markets between Tajikistan and Afghanistan reopen; The Ukrainian Orthodox Churches adopt the Gregorian calendar instead of the Julian calendar.
The late prelate served as auxiliary bishop alongside Archbishop Shirayanagi until 2000. For many years, he was the soul of Tokyo’s Catholic cultural centre. Very attentive to relationships with people, he said that the mission in the metropolis requires knowledge of “how to win the trust of people, touch the hearts of the Japanese,” making oneself close to those in need of hope. Archbishop Kikuchi will preside tomorrow’s funeral.
Chinese authorities have released a statement for the first time, following speculation over the reshuffle of the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force and the ouster of former Defence Minister Wei Fenghe. In the press release, they acknowledge changes among top military leaders, with some officers removed for failing to show due loyalty to President Xi Jinping. Nevertheless, the campaign continues to avoid the limelight.
Fr. Gianni Criveller, PIME missionary and sinologist, comments on the words addressed by the pope yesterday to the Chinese people from Mongolia, with Card. Tong and Cardinal-designate Chow. "There is no contradiction between being good Christians and good citizens when there is freedom. Now it is up to Beijing to follow up with concrete steps on issues such as the permanent form of dialogue urged by Card. Parolin or the peace mission of Card. Zuppi."
Today's headlines: at least 40 injured in Taiwan in passage of a typhoon; Pakistan shop owners close in protest over high bills; The ASEAN foreign ministers summit gets underway in Indonesia; Israel wants to expel Ethiopian asylum seekers; Kyrgyzstan has repatriated women and children linked to ISIS from Syria; Latvia wants to require citizens of foreign nationality to take a language exam.
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