At the final Mass of his visit to Chile, at the Campus Lobito in Iquique, Pope Francis prayed for "the integration of peoples" in an region that has know emigration and immigration. He called on people to be like servants at Cana – “they too are part of the miracle” – and take care of the poor and those who have a "watered down" life. He crowned the statue of Our Lady of Carmel (Virgen de la Tirana), patron saint of Chile, and received a crosier and a cross made of salt crystals.
A conference was held on 16-17 January at al-Azhar. Many prominent figures from Lebanon took part, including the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi. The Arab world is divided between "complicit passivity" and "noisy but ineffective speeches". For a former Lebanese premier, coordinated actions are needed to ensure greater efficacy on behalf of Jerusalem’s "pluralistic identity " and "religious freedom". Card Al-Rahi called for joint prayers, Islamic-Christian interfaith solidarity in the Arab world, and support for the Palestinians.
She was charged with assault in connection with an attack against a soldier, but also with previous incidents. The video of her attack against the soldier went viral. The self-restraint of the Israeli soldier was praised, but seen as weakness by Israel’s right-wing camp. Meanwhile, security forces continue their hunt for those who murdered a rabbi. One of the suspects dies in a shootout.
Some 18 teams are involved in the sporting competition, which will last until 25 January. Organisers envisage holding the event on an annual basis. The “lack of guidance and a suppressed need to get recognised” are the main cause of drug addiction.
The province dominates bitcoin mining because of its abundant hydroelectric energy, which is perfect for energy-intensive supercomputers. Electricity in fact accounts for 60-70 per cent of plant costs. With 550 mining machines operating 24 hours, up to 2.5 Bitcoins can be mined per day, worth around US$ 6,400.
The country has one of the largest migrant population in all of Southeast Asia, some 4-5 million, plus about a million illegal migrants. A new law on undocumented workers came into effect on 1st January. Starting last June, workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos have been leaving in droves.