North Asia

Opening up to religious freedom was not part of the initial reform programme. It was the events following the Černobyl disaster that forced the secretary-president to change his attitude to the point of reaching the harmony he established with John Paul II. But the Russians blamed him for the end of the USSR and renunciation of its role as a world power.

A new wave of crime is feared, especially in Caucasian Russia. The soldiers return home with no psychological barriers to keep them from violence. The State takes no responsibility and does nothing to rehabilitate those returning from war.

The "Donskaya" Madonna displayed in Moscow to inspire Russian success in the war in Ukraine. The Orthodox authorities had done the same with Rublev's Trinity. Patriarch Kirill continues with his pro-Putin war rhetoric and further closes the door to dialogue with the West by also refusing to attend the 11th assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the largest ecumenical body meeting in Karlsruhe.

In six months of war Beijing has not shown itself to be a reliable partner for Moscow. Chinese people have little interest in what is happening in Ukraine, except for their opposition to the West. Chinese industries and banks fear secondary sanctions from the US and Europe.

The Vatican Press Office issued a statement to clarify the pope’s words about the Ukraine war that sparked a controversy last week. Meanwhile, the College of Cardinals ends its two-day in-camera meeting centred on the pope’s Roman Curia reform. The role of the laity was a top issue discussed.

The authorities want new land for residential districts and urban facilities. The 'capital of the north' has similar problems to Venice. Environmentalists protest. Experts: build new neighbourhoods and residential areas modelling them on the city's environmental reality.

Fear that some voices in the Orthodox world in Nur-Sultan would launch accusations of "philetism," also weighed on unwillingness to meet in Kazakhstan. But Russian culture and tradition are a universal heritage of Christendom. And when the bombs are silenced (hopefully sooner than later ) and rebuilding begins, the embrace between Francis and Kirill will be more necessary than ever.

Today's headlines: food, showers, haircuts: Filipino Catholics in aid of Manila''s poor; rains and floods of "historic" magnitude in Pakistan, more than 900 victims since June; Tokyo approves 2.5 million fund for funeral of former PM Abe; in Iran, women attended a men's top league soccer match for the first time since 1979.

Konstantin Jankauskas, deputy of the Zjuzino district, is due to appear in court on 26 August. He is charged with 'discrediting the armed forces', having published the Pope's supplication on the day of the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to Our Lady. Active in politics for some time, in the past he had contact with a movement close to Naval'nyj and was arrested several times. Kirill will not go to Kazakhstan, meeting with Francis called off.

A new heartfelt appeal by Francis at the general audience on the day that marks six months since the beginning of the conflict. A thought also for Darya Dugina, who died in the attack in Moscow, and for the victims of other wars including the Rohingya "who travel the world because of the injustice of being driven out of their land". Concluding the cycle of catechesis on old age, he spoke of preparing for "our destiny which is to rise again".

Despite Western sanctions, consumer prices are down and the rouble remains strong. The price of crude oil is decisive, which is however slowing down due to lower demand from China. Silence from Kremlin-linked economists and experts. Between September and December the country's future is at stake, with global consequences.

He died at 75 years of age and was one of the most influential figures in the Russian judiciary. He was remembered for his battle against the return to the Soviet regime. He was co-signer of the law on the victims of political repressions in the 1990s. A personality in clear opposition to Putin.