East Asia

Chen's son, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law have admitted to moving money out of the country. At pretrial hearings, Chen reiterates that these are political accusations, fabricated by China and by current president Ma.

Asian markets are down today after Wall Street fell yesterday. Bank shares are in a free fall. British banks are “technical insolvent.” Experts say US banking system is “insolvent” as well.

The new US president’s references to “communism” and repression of “dissidents” are eliminated. North Korea, Iran and Myanmar “ignore” the swearing in ceremony, while Putin declares scepticism. From South East Asian Nations an invitation to resolve “the economic global crises”.

Tens of thousands of unemployed; more than 15,000 companies bankrupt. Most of the people are looking to the future with pessimism. For some analysts, the focus should not be on finance and market mechanisms, but on man and the quality of life.

It is a 16 year old student from the province of Guizhou. He contracted the illness from infected fowl. Chinese health authorities have set out “severe sanctions” against the illegal selling of poultry and vaccines to fight bird flu.

The communist regime in the north is not ruling out military action at the maritime border west of the peninsula. Government propaganda speaks of "an historic chapter in the unification of the people," and calls upon the citizens to be "a single body" with the army. South Korean president Lee appoints a new minister for unification.

Millions of unemployed workers are moving back home for the first time in years where they will celebrate New Year with family and friends. The government expects unemployment to rise. The new year uneasily begins on a note of uncertainty but with many still hoping to find a job near home and raise their children.

Two new victims in the country in January, the latest two days ago. A two-year-old girl seriously ill. Beijing warns everyone to take precautions during the lunar new year, when hundreds of millions of people travel and poultry consumption spikes.

For the Chinese, 28 March becomes ‘Serf Emancipation Day’. Beijing claims its intervention freed Tibetans from theocratic “slavery” under the Dalai Lama. Many Tibetans remember instead the bloody crackdown which continues unabated. The Dalai Lama says he trusts the Chinese people, not their government.

A new appeal to stop the violence in the Strip. Benedict XVI also encourages the Israelis and Palestinians who believe in the possibility of coexistence "to rise again from the rubble and from the terror." Day for migrants and refugees celebrated. Praying for Christian unity during the week dedicated to it. On January 25, the pontiff will celebrate solemn vespers at St. Paul's Outside the Walls.

The city has been hit hard by the drop in exports, and by the crisis in the petrochemical, steel, and automobile industries. The industrial and export contraction is expected to continue for a number of months. But there is optimism over the city's extensive human and technological resources.

The Holy See is attacked for its position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas; others try to get the Holy See to support one side or the other. But they do not understand the Vatican's specific mission.