Today's headlines: Chinese judges freeze 7 million in Evegrande assets; Surge in Covid-19 infections in Southeast Asia; Bangladesh among world's top exporters of military uniforms; Iraqi court orders Kurdistan government to hand over oil and gas to central government; New trial of Naval'nyj.
VATICAN-TAIWAN
Yesterday, Pope Francis appointed Msgr Norbert Pu as the new bishop of the Taiwanese diocese of Chiayi, southwest of the island. Ordained a priest in 1987, Msgr Pu had led the parish of Christ the King in Putzu since 2017.
CHINA
The crisis of the real estate giant Evergrande, which has accumulated a debt of 300 billion dollars, continues. The national judicial authorities froze 7 million of the company's assets, which will be used to settle non-payments to suppliers and partner companies in construction projects.
SOUTH-EAST ASIA
The region is witnessing a surge of Covid-19 infections. The spread of the Omicron variant has increased daily cases in Malaysia (20,600), Thailand (15,430), Vietnam (27,340), Singapore (11,330) and Indonesia (32,500). The trend is also growing steadily in Myanmar; the only exception is the Philippines, with infections down to about 3,000.
BANGLADESH
With annual revenues of around 500 million dollars, the South Asian country has become one of the world's main exporters of military uniforms - also purchased by NATO. Overall, Dhaka earns around 31 billion dollars a year from the sale of textiles abroad.
IRAQ
The Iraqi federal court has declared unconstitutional the law by which the Kurdistan Region autonomously manages the sale of oil and gas, retaining the profits. The judges ordered the Kurdish government to hand over control of these resources to the central authorities.
RUSSIA
Another trial against Aleksej Naval'nyj has begun in the penal colony no. 2 in Pokrov, Vladimir province. The accused was able to embrace his wife Julia after many months. On leaving the prison, the woman said, "Putin is so afraid of my husband, that he is the first Russian to be tried in a lager.
TURKMENISTAN
After Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's surprise announcement to step aside after 15 years in power, presidential elections have been set for 12th March. The head of state's son, Serdar, has announced his candidacy.