"The dictatorships, all of them, began like this, by adulterating communication, by putting communication in the hands of an unscrupulous person, of a government without scruples". "Communicating scandals is hugely seductive, a great seduction. You can seduce by scandal. Good news is not seductive".
The patriarch supports Russia, but advises the Orthodox clergy to offer maximum hospitality and welcome to visitors to the country. Putin thanks the head of FIFA and recalls the Russians’ slogan: "Sport is outside politics". The 11 cities where the matches will take place are like a trip to "classic" and "profound" Russia. Russian women are advised to avoid "promiscuous" relationships with foreign athletes.
The 21st World Cup starts tomorrow with the host nation playing against Saudi Arabia. Asian teams have little chance of winning, but Asian businesses are swooping up sponsorship deals. Nike denies Iran boots as a result of Trump’s sanctions. Child labour used in making World Cup goods emerges as an issue.
The Statistical Yearbook of the Church shows that there are more bishops and permanent deacons. The number of priests stable but religious and seminarians in decline. In Asia Catholics are 11% of the population, but vocations are growing
"Here is the challenge: find authentic life, not a carbon copy. Jesus offers no surrogates, but real life, true love, true wealth!". The World Cup in Russia can be an occasion for meeting, dialogue and fraternity between different cultures and religions, fostering solidarity and peace among nations ".
If the greatest witness of the Christian is to give life as Jesus did, that is martyrdom, there is also every day witness, which begins in the morning, when one wakes up, and ends in the evening, when one goes to sleep.
The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation took place in Qingdao, on China’s coast. For the Chinese president, the agreement signed in 2015 represents an important result of multilateralism. India refuses to sign on the Belt and Road Initiative project.
With today's signature, the two leaders commit to a lasting and stable peace on the Korean Peninsula. The deal calls for the recovering the remains of prisoners of war. Kim makes an "Unwavering commitment" to denuclearise the peninsula. Trump offers security guarantees to North Korea. China approves; France has doubts. South Koreans “hope” for peace. North Korean refugees are concerned.
The civil war in the northern state has entered its seventh year. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has exceeded 150,000. Some tell of their flight from their homes and of their life in the reception facilities.
Writer Liao Yiwu spoke with Liu Xia, wife of the late dissident Liu Xiaobo, who was left to die in prison from cancer. Under house arrest, Liu Xia was promised by the government that she could leave China for treatment. But nothing has happened so far. Despite her request, Angela Merkel could not meet her. Liao pleads with politicians and ordinary people.
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