© Alberto Pizzoli/AFP Author: Lusa Pope Francis named 20 new cardinals this Saturday, in a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, including the first from East Timor, in a consistory that gives the college a greater representation of all churches. The new cardinals come from all corners of the world, including the first […]
Tag: Asia
Ukrainian official says Daria Dugina was executed by Russia
Investigations into the explosion of Daria Dugina’s car © AFP Author: Lusa The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine declared today that the murder of Daria Dugina, daughter of the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, was an “execution carried out by the Russian secret services”. Speaking to Ukrainian channel 24, which was […]
Philippines reopens schools after more than two years of closure
© Ted Aljibe/AFP Author: Lusa Millions of children returned to school this Monday in the Philippines, marking for many the resumption of face-to-face classes, interrupted since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Philippines is one of the last countries in the world to restart full-time in-person classes, with lengthy classroom closures raising fears of […]
“Homosexuals are now more accepted.” Singapore to decriminalize homosexuality
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore © Dan Kitwood/AFP Author: Lusa Singapore will decriminalize homosexuality, punishable by up to two years in prison, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Sunday. “Although we are a largely conservative society, homosexuals are now more accepted in Singapore, especially among young people,” explained Lee Hsien Loong, in […]
Russian, Chinese leaders to attend G20 summit
G20-Indonesia Summit © AFP Author: Lusa Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will attend the G20 summit in November, said the Indonesian president, who currently chairs the forum of the world’s largest economies. The presence of the two heads of state will coincide with that of US President Joe Biden, at […]
Chinese-Canadian tycoon Xiao Jianhua is sentenced to 13 years in prison in China
© Photo by Yan Ke on Unsplash Author: Lusa Chinese-born Canadian tycoon Xiao Jianhua, who was once known to be close to Chinese Communist Party leaders, was sentenced in China on Friday to 13 years in prison for fraud. Xiao Jianhua was one of the richest men in the country and the founder of the […]
China Promotes Use of Coal as Extreme Heat Causes Power Shortages
© AFP Author: Lusa China will offer assistance to coal-fired power plants to secure electricity supply as power consumption surges due to an extreme heat wave and severe drought. The heat wave and low rainfall are drying up reservoirs in Sichuan province, a province of 80 million people that relies mainly on hydropower, forcing local […]
Japan launches campaign to increase alcohol consumption among young people
© Pixabay Author: Carolina Lent Japan has launched a campaign to ask young people to drink more alcohol, with the main objective of boosting the national economy. The “Sake Viva!”led by the National Tax Agency (NTA), asks young people between the ages of 20 and 39 to submit proposals that help revive the popularity of […]
Macao no longer requires vaccinations from those arriving from abroad, but maintains quarantines
© Tatiana Lages/Lusa (file) Author: Lusa Macao announced this Thursday that it no longer requires a vaccination certificate against the new coronavirus from those arriving from abroad, but maintains the obligation to quarantine and present a negative nucleic acid test. “Persons, of any age, who intend to board civil transportation from abroad, from the Hong […]
Manhunt launched in South Africa after kidnapping of 6-year-old boy
south africa flag © fluxcomm/Flickr Author: Lusa South African authorities launched a manhunt on Wednesday after the early morning kidnapping of a 6-year-old boy on his way to school in a Cape Town suburb. “Six suspects fled with the victim and have not yet been apprehended,” local police said in a statement, adding that an […]