Other news of the day: Tokyo intends to dump more than a million tons of radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the sea; St. Anne’s Shrine in Penang is the first (minor) basilica in Malaysia; India’s Supreme Court warns Delhi and individual states against sectarian hatred; Beijing has decided to introduce a test to be qualified as a journalist; a third of Russians depend on pensions or state subsidies.
IRAN
Tehran hanged Alireza Akbari, former deputy minister with dual Iranian and British citizenship, arrested in 2019 and sentenced to death as a spy for London. He allegedly participated in the assassination of the scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. In recent days, the authorities have granted the family a “last visit” before carrying out the sentence.
JAPAN
This year Japan plans to dump more than one million tons of radioactive water from the Fukushima plant, which was destroyed by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011. After receiving treatment, most of the particles would meet national standards. IAEA green light and concern of some countries in the region.
MALAYSIA
St. Anne’s Church in Bukit Mertajam, in the Diocese of Penang, has been declared the first (minor) basilica from Malaysia. The solemn celebration took place on January 9 and was presided over by Card. William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore. The sanctuary, built in 1846 by Father Adolphe Couellan and very popular with the region’s faithful, is also a famous pilgrimage center.
INDIA
The Supreme Court of India issued a warning to the central government and individual states about confessionally-based hate speech, calling it a “threat” which must be dealt with before it becomes a “monster”. For their part, Christian organizations are calling for the opening of a research on the sectarian violence that has led to the displacement of more than a thousand indigenous people in two districts of Chhattisgarh.
INDONESIA
Thousands of Indonesians took to the streets of Jakarta today to protest against a presidential decree on the subject of occupation which Joko Widodo aired last month. The law must receive the approval of Parliament to be definitively approved. According to critics, the rule affects the rights of workers and reduces guarantees in terms of environmental protection.
CHINA
Beijing will introduce a qualification exam to practice the profession of journalist from July 1, in which the candidates must demonstrate “loyalty” and “political correctness”. Those who do not pass it, are classified as “unhealthy practices” or do not respond to the directives will have their authorization revoked. The test includes written questions and is organized by the Ministry of Human Resources.
RUSSIA
According to data released by the Rosstat statistical institute, a third of Russians (more than 40 million) depend on state pensions or subsidies and 31 million citizens consider that state aid is their main income. 70% of people who receive State aid are over 60 years of age.
TURKMENISTAN
Former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, current president of the Senate, has proposed a reform of Parliament that eliminates one of the two chambers. The Khalk Maslakhat, the upper house he heads, should become an independent and “representative” government institution, with the power to amend the constitution and guide foreign policy.
