East Asia

In a letter, Beijing called upon Kuala Lumpur to stop oil and gas activities in Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone, which China challenges. In addition to the Philippines and Vietnam, tensions are bound to rise with Malaysia as well, with Chinese coast guard vessels permanently patrolling the Luconia Shoals.

In villages still dominated by householders, women who marry an ‘outsider’ lose access to local services and compensation for expropriated collective land. With increasing levels of education and greater social connections, more and more of them are taking these kinds of disputes to court. But the road to their protection remains an uphill one.

A copy of the report (never officially released in full) was sent to an NGO confirming the unreliability of an audit conducted last December exonerating Volkswagen from charges of the exploiting Uyghurs. For China Brief , “Volkswagen used an inexperienced and little-known PRC law firm” and “failed to assess the compliance” with real conditions.

Lee Im-jae, 54, convicted of failing to foresee the huge turnout of people in Itaewon on 31 October 2022. Other officials including the head of the local government exonerated. Incident ‘not classified as an accident’ and regulations not ‘mandatory’ according to the court. Victims' relatives appeal demanding harsher punishment.

A conference in the hometown of the friar martyred in India in 1321 while he was on his way to Beijing focused on the contribution to evangelisation of the Franciscan spiritualist current linked to the theology of Joachim of Fiore. For Father Criveller, these movements “were the most attentive to missionary openings because they believed that history is guided by God” and “had anticipated what the magisterium and theologians teach today”.

For the first time, guidelines are drafted to provide industry-specific rules for companies and content creators. Videos must contain an "explicit" label. Experts foresee difficulties in application.

Former defense minister, 67, in the Japan Liberal Democratic Party primary election beat Sanae Takaichi, the candidate closest to Shinzo Abe's legacy, in the runoff. He will be sworn in as premier on October 1 and will be called upon to lift support for the political force since the postwar period that has been a major player on the Japanese political scene. But on the horizon already looms an election clash with Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the opposition.

Priests from Fujian travelled to the province of repressions against the Uyghurs to ‘educate the patriotic spirit’ and ‘grow in the path of Sinicisation’. They were led by Bishop Vincenzo Zhan Silu, one of the two Chinese bishops who will participate in the Synod. Tourism promoted as the Party's preferred path to cover up the detention of figures like Ilham Tothi and other human rights violations.

The theme and logo were presented at a press briefing today in the Vatican in the presence of the archbishop of the South Korean capital. The Cross that accompanies the meetings of young people with the Pope will be handed over in St Peter's Square on 24 November. Speaking about the possible presence of young North Koreans, Archbishop Chung said: "We want to invite them,” but today's political situation does “not currently favour their presence.”

Hong Kong authorities had previously denied a work permit to Louise Delmotte, a French photographer working for the Associated Press. Last year she took a picture of the Catholic businessman and pro-democracy activist in handcuffs. The Immigration Department, which now requires flight operators to send information on arriving passengers, has not provided an official explanation.

As the country’s population declines and religious disaffection grows, religious sites are increasingly targeted for the tax breaks they provide. Out of 180,000 registered religious sites, as many as 4,400 have been inactive in the last year. For Benmou Suzuki, a monk in Sanbagawa, “Temples are places for local people to gather and forge connections” and must be protected. For its part, Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs has intensified controls.

Blessed on the feast day of St Andrew Kim in the presence of Korean bishops on an ad limina visit. The Virgin wears a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, and is depicted as Our Lady of Peace. ‘Intercede for reconciliation on the Korean peninsula’.