East Asia

China Merchants Bank Co. stock rose 18 per cent on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Ant, a big microcredit digital platform, is not in line with the new government rules and poses a threat to traditional banks. This is a heavy blow for billionaire Jack Ma, who is critical of China’s financial regulators.

During the civics and politics lesson, the teacher states that God does not exist, according to Darwin's theory of evolution. A young teenager expresses his disagreement and is punished: he will have to stand for a month during the lesson. The United Front campaign to curb faith among young people.

The US company's anti-Covid vaccine is reportedly 90% effective. Singapore and Mumbai registered the most enthusiastic response on exchanges. Testing of a Chinese vaccine blocked in Brazil. The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges are losing ground.

According to Bao Tong, a well-known political figure, China’s president emerges strengthened from the 5th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Without the rule of law, it will be impossible to liberalise the country's economy. The government must respect the constitution and the rights of all citizens.

Containing China remains the chief objective along with the North Korea conundrum and maintaining the status quo in Taiwan. Re-entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership possible. Pledge to restore the Iran nuclear deal and balance relations with Israel and the Palestinians.

The Rev. Zhao Huaiguo is accused of using the internet, bypassing censors and posting news about the Covid-19 epidemic in China. Since 2007, the authorities have been demanding that his domestic Church join the Three-Self Movement, but he has always refused.

It is reportedly only a "severe pneumonia". A group of university students in quarantine with a high fever and respiratory problems. The local population does not believe the official version. Pyongyang claims that there are no infections in the country.

"Do not wait for the last minute to respond to God's grace, do it right now, right away". "If we allow ourselves to be guided by what appears most attractive to us, by the pursuit of our interests, our life becomes sterile". Applause for Juan Roig, a layman who died a martyr at the age of 19, beatified yesterday in Barcelona. Concerns for Central America, hit by Hurricane Age. Ethiopia and the Forum of dialogue for peace in Libya.

There are 89 new cases of Covid-19 infection, bringing the total to 27,284. The total number of deaths is 477. Starting today, new security measures are taken at five levels, adapted to different situations, depending on the spread of the virus. Total lockdown is only when there are at least 800 new cases of infections per day for a whole week. South Korea is currently below the lowest level.

The number of new born continues to decline. In 2019, their number was the lowest since the Great Famine (following the Great Leap Forward). According to the National Bureau of Statistics, there were 14.65 million newborns last year; the previous year 15.23 million. The new five-year plan erases "family planning" and proposes a more "inclusive" fertility, perhaps even for unmarried women and same-sex couples.

The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party was a slap down to the president. The self-sufficiency invoked by Xi is balanced by the opposition's call for a new type of international relations. An end to the conflict with Taiwan; work on Hong Kong's prosperity. The world will become more and more anti-communist. A reflection of the "father of democracy" in China, now in exile in the United States.

Informants can use the snitch line to send images, audios, videos, e-mails, text messages, chat messages, knowing that their identity will be kept secret. For Human Rights Watch, this is an attempt to impose the mainland’s "informant culture" on Hong Kong. There is no independent confirmation of the law’s “notable results". Carrie Lam has “deeply felt" Beijing’s support.