China's 'pax cinese' in Holy Land in meeting between Xi Jinping and Abu Mazen
Today's headlines: Philippines launches tourist tours to disputed territories on Spratly Islands. Indonesian Constitutional Court rejects request to change electoral system. Japanese opposition ready to file no-confidence vote against Kishida. Indian nun arrested on conversion charges released on bail. Last year nearly 3800 people died on migration routes from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe, the largest increase from Lebanon. With the vacations come an increase in children begging in Turkmenistan.
CHINA - PALESTINE - ISRAEL
Independent Palestinian state; development assistance and humanitarian aid; and just peace talks with respect for Jerusalem's holy sites. These are the three points outlined by Xi Jinping, in his meeting with PNA counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on an official visit to Beijing, which ends tomorrow. Also on the table is a "strategic partnership" between Palestine and China, which is increasingly active in the Middle East.
PHILIPPINES
For the first time, the Philippines has authorized sending tourists to the Spratly Islands, an area of the South China Sea that is the scene of a bitter territorial dispute with Beijing and other Asia-Pacific nations famous for fishing and a strategic location for trade. The seven-day dive yacht tour is called Great Kalayaan (Freedom Expedition) and costs over ,000.
JAPAN
The opposition is poised to file a vote of no confidence against the government of Fumio Kishida, which could lead to the dissolution of Parliament and early elections. The premier enjoys solid support, growing after the recent G7 in Hiroshima and thanks to solid stock market indexes. However, there is no shortage of criticism around the national identity card and for his son's party at the official residence.
INDONESIA
The Constitutional Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to change the country's electoral system. Citizens will continue to vote for individual MPs in upcoming rounds, particularly the general and presidential elections scheduled for February next year. Part of Parliament, including the Democratic Party of Struggle (Pdi-P), wanted to return to the old system.
INDIA
A religious sister in Chhattisgarh who had recently taken her vows, then jailed along with four others on conversion charges, was freed June 13 on bail. Sister Vibha Kerketta had been arrested June 6 after the family celebrated a mass at home to thank God for her choice of consecrated life with the Daughters of St. Anne of Ranchi
LEBANON - M. EAST
Nearly 3,800 people died on migration routes from the Middle East and North Africa in 2022, the highest number recorded since 2017 as shown by data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Compared to 2021, the figure has increased by 11 percent and is far higher than the 4255 six years ago. The largest increase is from Lebanon to the shores of Greece and Italy.
RUSSIA
Two tankers, one of which was carrying gasoline, collided on the Lena River in the Siberian region of Irkutsk, and checks revealed that one of the two conductors was in a highly alcoholic state. The more than 800 tons of fuel partially spilled into the water, leaving a huge stain potentially dangerous to aquatic and bird life.
TURKMENISTAN
With the start of the school vacations, the number of children between the ages of 7 and 14 begging on the streets has increased. The youngsters wave large empty eggplants especially on the Ašgabat-Bakharden highway, saying they are local residents, sent by families to supplement the household budget. They ask for bread and even water, complaining about dry springs.
15/07/2023