At the start of the new year, the pontiff met with diplomats accredited to the Vatican. The topics he touched included the "weakness of multilateralism," war "back in vogue”, and the threats to the rule of law. He spoke out against “diplomacy based on force" and the use of "ever more fluid" language that hinders dialogue. He expressed concerns for freedom of conscience and religion, noting that “a truly free society does not impose uniformity”. He also spoke out in defence of life, migrants, and appealed for peace in Myanmar.
On Tuesday, the authorities began cracking down on the leaders of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, an underground Evangelical community founded by Rev Wang Yi, who has been in prison since 2018. In October, the Zion Church suffered the same fate.
Bangladesh’s concerns about the safety of its cricket players is connected to the decision by Indian cricket authorities to exclude Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. The deterioration in bilateral relations follows former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina's flight to India. The two sides also accuse each other of sectarian violence as Bangladeshis are set to go to the polls next month. Still, New Delhi is trying a more conciliatory approach.
This strategic move is designed to counter China's dominance in the sector at a time of crisis in bilateral relations. The Chikyu drilling vessel is set to leave on Sunday for the Pacific island of Minami Torishima. Experts believe the seabed around it could contain the world's third-largest deposit.
After the floods, suspicions grew about the fate of farm animals. Health inspectors discovered illegal trafficking of chicken meat from animal carcasses: 120 kilos of meat destined for restaurants and canteens in various locations in the Puttalam district were seized.
The accounts of Mirziyoyev's daughters offer a glimpse into the private lives of their families, demonstrating the leaders' closeness to the people, an important element of today's “political technology”. The counter-current case of Nazarbayev's grandson who - having fallen into disgrace due to drug addiction - accused all his relatives of being “greedy and insatiable”.
