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.”
India is celebrating the Week of Christian Unity from 18 to 25 January. As religious intolerance and hate speech rises, especially in states governed by the BJP, ecumenism is becoming a concrete sign of solidarity. Celebrations were held in Karnataka, with the faithful of various denominations participating.
As was the case with the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Moscow is not going beyond statements of circumstance on what is happening in Venezuela and Iran, two historic allies. The Kremlin's criticism is now directed almost exclusively at Europe and NATO, without involving Washington's responsibilities to any great extent.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong asked the main opposition party to appoint another MP for the post of Leader of the Opposition. The issue stems from Singh's conviction for pressuring a former MP who had lied about the police. The Workers’ Party defends its leader, accusing the government of using the courts for political reasons.
The catechesis in today’s audience in the Paul VI Hall focused on the Second Vatican Council and Dei Verbum. The knowledge about God is "relational", realised in Jesus the "mediator," with his "integral humanity." Salvation also comes from the "real body" of Jesus. The pontiff also focused on building strong bonds of unity during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Faced with a rapidly declining population, Greenland is increasingly relying on workers from the Philippines for key sectors of the local economy, such as fishing and seafood processing. This is happening at a time when some studies suggest that Southeast Asia is the region most affected by rising sea levels due to melting ice sheets.
