News in World

Pope Francis has a Taiwan problem

Pope Francis has a Taiwan problem

by: Michael Sainsbury - UCAN in World Issues,

Beijing wants the Vatican to derecognize the Republic of China but the way forward for Rome is fraught with dange. As talks progress between the Vatican and Beijing on a new deal on bishop appointments, or extension of the existing deal signed in September 2018, the Vatican is facing an increasingly thorny problem with Taiwan: its diplomatic derecognition of the effectively independent nation is something that Beijing craves.

The Netanyahu-Gantz Government and the future of the West Bank

The Netanyahu-Gantz Government and the future of the West Bank

by: Giovanni Sale, SJ - La Civiltà Cattolica in World Issues,

The new executive is supported by the so-called “right-wing bloc,” a coalition of eight parties, several of which are small. It is the largest government in the history of the country, with as many as 34 ministers and 16 deputy ministers. In this regard, during the inaugural debate, a leading member of the opposition, Yair Lapid (who was initially an ally of Gantz), noted: “There are more ministers and deputy ministers in the government than people hospitalized for the coronavirus.”

Jesuit superior warns of pandemic threat to democracy

Jesuit superior warns of pandemic threat to democracy

by: Cindy Wooden - CNS in World Issues,

Democracy and efforts to build a more just world are under attack in many countries, according to Father Arturo Sosa SJ, superior general of the Jesuits. He said human lives and jobs are not the only things threatened by the coronavirus pandemic.

Burundi Catholic politician sworn in as president

Burundi Catholic politician sworn in as president

by: Fredrick Nzwili - The Tablet in World Issues,

Evariste Ndayishimiye, a practising Catholic who is known to bring the importance of God into politics, has been sworn as the president of Burundi. The president immediately promised to unite the people, promote peace and justice in the tiny East African country where majority are Catholics. He also swore to fight genocide ideology and discrimination.

Syria and Turkey Battle for Idlib Province

Syria and Turkey Battle for Idlib Province

by: Giovanni Sale, SJ - La Civiltà Cattolica in World Issues,

Nine years have passed since the Syrian conflict began, since the optimism of the 2011 Arab Spring turned into tragedy. For Syria, it all began on March 15 of that year, when protesters took to the streets in Daraa, in the southwest of the country. Soon protests – mostly peaceful – spread throughout the country, demanding an end to the 40-year rule of the Assad family.

A reflection on the latest abortion figures

A reflection on the latest abortion figures

by: Elizabeth Parsons - The Tablet in World Issues,

Sadly, and ironically, just last week, the abortion statistics for 2019 were released – and they broke my heart. For the second year running, we recorded the highest abortion figures ever experienced in England and Wales. 

The corona experience, though suffused in tragedy, has shown us the very best of ourselves

The corona experience, though suffused in tragedy, has shown us the very best of ourselves

by: Peter Hennessy - The Tablet in World Issues,

Cheer, clap, rattle our pots and pans to show how much we cherish our NHS staff and all who work on the front lines in care homes, pharmacies, stores, transport and delivery or one of the three-quarters-of-a-million volunteers. I am not alone in hearing in that glorious cacophony the sound of a people and a nation rediscovering their better selves.

The Marshall Plan: One way to deal with the coronavirus crisis

The Marshall Plan: One way to deal with the coronavirus crisis

by: Giovanni Sale, SJ - La Civiltà Cattolica in World Issues,

This is what Pope Francis said in the Urbi et Orbi Easter Message, inviting Europe to give concrete proof of solidarity: “After the Second World War, this continent was able to rise again thanks to a concrete spirit of solidarity […]. It is more urgent than ever, especially in the present circumstances, that these rivalries do not regain force, but that all recognize themselves as part of a single family and support one another.” Today, the pope continued, “the European Union is presently facing an epochal challenge, on which will depend not only its own future but that of the whole world.”

The Plague Writers who predicted today

The Plague Writers who predicted today

by: Jane Ciabattari - BBC 14 April 2020 in World Issues,

Survival, isolation, community and love are explored in these plausible, prescient books. Jane Ciabattari on the novels that tell us ‘we’ve been through this before and we’ve survived’.