Delhi, air still unbreathable: 35 times over WHO limit

Today's news: Xi Jinping in Macao for the 25th anniversary of the handover to the People's Republic of China; Japanese giants Honda and Nissan in talks to establish partnership to counter Tesla and the electric industry; More Indonesians travelling to Cambodia for jobs in the gambling industry; Mgr Iyad Twal, 51, new vicar of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for Jordan.

INDIA

Delhi's pollution is once again at dangerous levels, and is estimated to have a greater impact on public health than the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, air quality is 35 times higher than the WHO safe limit, and residents are complaining of respiratory problems, as well as itchy eyes and throats. Authorities have urged people, especially children and the elderly, to stay indoors as much as possible, while doctors recommend wearing a mask.

CHINA - MACAO

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Macao from today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the passage of the former Portuguese colony under Beijing's sovereignty. The three-day visit is likely to be the occasion for a further call for diversification of the casino industry. Xi's trip to the world's largest gambling centre is his third as president. Xi's last visit was in 2019, when anti-government protests were rocking Hong Kong's nearby financial hub.

JAPAN

Car giants Honda and Nissan are in talks to establish a partnership to compete against Tesla and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. Bloomberg reported that Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn - officially known as Hon Hai Precision Industry - has approached Nissan to acquire a controlling stake. The two and three Japanese automakers, after Toyota, had already explored a collaboration in March.

INDONESIA - CAMBODIA

An increasing number of Indonesians are looking for work in the online gambling industry in Cambodia, as the number of nationals presenting themselves at the Indonesian embassy in the neighbouring country of Indochina has increased sixfold. Data from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry found that in 2023, the number of Indonesians voluntarily registering at the embassy in Cambodia increased by 638 per cent compared to three years ago.

JORDAN - VATICAN

The Holy See announced yesterday the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He is Msgr. Iyad Twal, 51, who will be patriarchal vicar in Jordan. A member of the patriarchal clergy, he was born on 15 July 1973 in Amman and completed his philosophical and theological studies in the seminary of the Latin Patriarchate. He was ordained a priest on 9 July 1998 in Madaba.

RUSSIA - SYRIA

Syrian ex-President Bashir Assad released a letter from Moscow explaining his flight to Russia, clarifying that he could not intervene earlier due to ‘the total exclusion of all contact for security reasons’, and stating that ‘leaving Syria was not on the agenda’ and remained until the morning of 8 December, when terrorists entered Damascus.

GEORGIA

The Georgian government commented on the sanctions issued against Prime Minister Iraklij Kobakhidze and other members of the Georgian Dream by Lithuania and Estonia, calling them ‘Georgian-phobic’, and explaining that Tbilisi ‘will not take similar measures in response to them, out of respect for the people’, while the governments of Vilnius and Tallinn, ‘despite 33 years of independence, have not managed to get rid of the Soviet mentality’.

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