East Asia

The parade for the 90th anniversary of PLA. All weapons on display "made in China". In five years Xi cleansed the army from corrupt generals and his enemies. Budget for domestic security greater than those for external security.

First time in 50 years that two typhoons hit the island simultaneously. Over 10,000 people evacuated. Rail services suspended and more than 300 national and international flights canceled. More than 600,000 households without electricity.

Pope Francis has Hail Mary recited at the Angelus “to support the victims of trafficking and convert the hearts of traffickers.” The world seems to be getting used to this "aberrant plague", which is “ugly, cruel, criminal!" The pontiff mentioned the parables of the treasure and precious pearl. The quest "is the essential condition for finding". The discovery of the treasure and the pearl entails "sacrifice, detachment and renunciation”. The joy of the farmer and merchant in the parable "is the joy of each of us when we discover the closeness and consoling presence of Jesus in our lives."

Asian Youth Day opens tomorrow with 3,000 young people from all over Asia. The final ceremony will see 20,000 young people from all of Indonesia's provinces. At the start, young people will stay with families in 11 dioceses. AYD activities will follow. The event sparks memory of John Paul II, who urged young people to be missionaries in daily life together with their peers.

Growth is due greater coal exports to China. North Korea’s per capital income is US$ 1,300 compared to South Korea’s US$ 28,600. Since the start of the year, Beijing has cut coal imports by 75 per cent.

The missile flew for more than 1,000 km reaching an altitude of about 3,700 km. For South Korea, this represents a "significant" improvement in missile technology. Seoul calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. US and South Korea conduct new missile exercises. China urges restraint. President Moon’s call for dialogue go unheeded.

China Merchants Port Holdings will hold an 85 per cent stake in the port. A second firm, 50.7 per cent owned by Sri Lanka, will oversee security operations. Local residents are afraid of losing their lands. India, the United States, and Japan are concerned about a naval base.

Dr Hocine Drouiche calls on Muslims to "take their share of responsibility" in terrorist attacks. France’s Islamic leaders tried to disrupt the Muslim March against Terror. Most Islamic leaders in France and Europe come from political Islam or work for foreign countries who use political Islam for their policies.

The Hong Kong Government says there can only be one law - Chinese - to govern on customs, immigration, railways and trains. For Democrats it is a first step to delegating legislation on demonstrations and protests to China.

According to some Pentagon sources last week the North administration transported a missile launcher on a truck to Kusŏng, near the northwestern coast of the country. Today is the anniversary of the Armistice between the two Koreas. A test would be another provocation after the July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Moon Jae-in Administration confirms the line of dialogue.

The archbishop of Rouen led the Mass in the church where the priest was murdered. Emmanuel Macron thanks the Church of France for her "power of forgiveness". Saint-Etienne-du Rouvray has become a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslims.

The great statesman talks about his friendship with the great dissident, who was left to die of cancer by the authorities. Liu’s peaceful and non-violent proposals in the 2008 manifesto are almost all already in the Chinese constitution; yet Liu was convicted for "subverting state power". Bao proposes the nationalisation of the army and federalism.