Dozens of life sentences and harsh prison for “coup leaders”

The Middle East Council of Churches issued a statement in defence of the Christian population of Artsakh, who must be protected from possible abuse and reprisals, whilst ensuring their freedom of worship. The agreement reached does not guarantee a true and lasting peace. Churches call for a "new regional order" to meet everyone's aspirations.

At the general audience, Francis recalls that the Church it consists of listening to the teaching of the apostles, custody of shared communion, the breaking of bread and prayer. If these "coordinates" are missing, there is no ecclesiality.

Some demonstrators from the metalworking sector had left the industrial town of Gebze, headed for Ankara. The police stopped the protest and detained 99 workers. Demonstrations sparked by layoffs without compensation and unpaid leave. Ankara uses Covid-19 to crack down on freedom and rights.

The Central Office of Church Statistics looked at the evolution of the number of priests in the world between 2013 and 2018. Over this period, the number dropped by 0.3 per cent to around 414,000. The number of diocesan priests rose by + 0.5 per cent, whilst the number of religious priests dropped by around 2 per cent.

Fr. Romanelli confirms the increase in infections and victims in the Strip, where the alert is high. Concern about hospitals and intensive care, almost full. Swab testing also increases, with 800 positives out of about 3 thousand tests. Fears as winter approaches, but the population rediscovers the importance of nutrition and sporting activity. Some initiatives related to Christmas are underway.

 Francis asks young economists and entrepreneurs for a "pact" for a new economic model, because "we can't go on like this".  Three days of discussion in Assisi.

The meeting, a first if confirmed, is said to have taken place yesterday in Neom, a Saudi tourist resort on the Red Sea. Iran and normalisation of relations between the two countries dominated the talks. The US secretary of state and Mossad chief were also present. Officially Riyadh maintains the same line: an agreement will follow a "lasting peace" between Israel and Palestine.

The episode dates to February 2019 in Van, in the eastern sector of the country, but has only emerged in recent days. The boys, between 14 and 17 years old, are accused of Kurdish "propaganda for a terrorist organization". The police officers who committed the violence still go unpunished. No trace of the barracks surveillance video.

"The art of choosing well, especially today, means not seeking approval, not  plunging into a consumerist mentality that discourages originality, and not giving into the cult of appearances."  The young people of Panama “passed” the WYD cross to the young Portuguese.  The diocesan celebration of WYD will take place on the Sunday of Christ the King.

At the Angelus, Francis warns that "the Lord, at the end of the world, will judge His flock, and he will do so not only as shepherd, but also as oneof the sheep, with whom He identified himself.  And He will ask us: 'Have you been a bit of a shepherd like me?' ".

A message on the occasion of World Fisheries Day, which is celebrated tomorrow 21 November, recalls that the sector employs about 59.5 million people. “Strikingly one out of two workers is a woman. Asia has the highest number of workers, in this sector, and contributes some 85 percent of the world total labor force."

Foreign Minister Zarif opens up to diplomacy with the new US administration. He calls the president-elect a "long-time expert" in foreign policy, who can lift all sanctions on Iran "with three executive orders." But for the president of the Iranian parliament, there are no differences between Biden and Trump.

The meeting of economists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers under 35 began with live streaming today. It includes 27 webinars in 12 areas: work and care, management and giving, finance and humanity, agriculture and justice, energy and poverty, profit and vocation, policies and happiness, CO2 inequality, business and peace, women and the economy, businesses in transition, life and lifestyles.

Two months after the death of his predecessor, 40-something Ali Alyas, became the new “Baba Sheikh” yesterday. His father also held the title in the past. The ceremony was held at the stone shrine in Lalish, the Yazidis’ holy place. For some, the choice risks causing further rifts in a community still reeling from Islamic State violence.