United Nations experts have spoken of a persistent pattern of forced labor imposed by the Chinese state on Uyghurs, Tibetans, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz in Xinjiang and other provinces. Under the guise of “poverty alleviation” programs, millions of people are reportedly involved in coercive transfers, with serious consequences for fundamental rights, cultural identity, and religious freedoms. Beijing has rejected the accusations as unfounded.
Women's rights organizations have also long been targeted by Beijing's crackdown. As a result, opportunities for women in traditional newsrooms have been drastically reduced, while alternative online spaces remain under constant pressure. The cases of Haze Fan, editorial assistant for Bloomberg in Beijing, and Zhang Zhan, the blogger who reported on Covid in Wuhan, who has been re-imprisoned.
Trade unionist Lee Cheuk-yan, lawyer Chow Hang-tung, and former Legislative Council member Albert Ho, who have been in prison for more than four years, appeared in court this morning for the first hearing of one of the trials symbolizing the battle for democracy in Hong Kong. Accused of subversion, they face up to 10 years in prison. The prosecution: “There are no legitimate means to demand an end to the Communist Party's leadership in China.”
Seven people were killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) in the commercial district of Shahr-e-Naw. The attack, which is part of a broader anti-Chinese jihadist campaign, reignites fears for the security of investments in Afghanistan. Beijing continues to maintain a diplomatic and economic presence, while internal divisions within the Taliban leadership complicate the political and security situation.
A complex system of corruption disguised as educational trips and remedial courses that never took place has come to light after complaints from the families of some students at the Technology and Business College. Faced with the nationwide outcry over the case, local authorities are shifting the blame. There are currently around 800 private universities operating in the country, with popularity levels now on a par with public universities.
Established by Pope Gregory XIII on 23 January 1576, it was the first in East Asia in the modern era and played a key role in the region’s evangelisation. St. Joseph's Seminary Church has been designated as a place of pilgrimage due to a special indulgence granted by the pope for this occasion. “Let the memory of the past become a compass for” today’s mission, writes Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang.
