Other news of the day: The Malaysian government has dropped demands on the use of the word “Allah” even for non-Muslims, angering extremist Islamic movements. World Bank warning, Jordan is increasingly at risk of poverty. A Pakistani court has released on bail a Christian widow accused of blasphemy. Sugar prices continue to rise due to Delhi’s cuts to exports. The mayor of New Taipei would be the (likely) opposition candidate in the presidential election.
China sent a notification to foreign embassies in Beijing warning them not to display objects or symbols that could be equated with “politicized propaganda”. Diplomatic sources explained that it refers to the Ukrainian flag displayed on the facades of some buildings since the Russian invasion began. However, some representations have already rejected the request.
MALAYSIA
The government headed by Anwar Ibrahim decided to lift the prohibitions about the use of the word “Allah” even to non-Muslims. In the context of a ten-year legal battle involving Christians, the move has sparked the ire of radical Islamic movements. Among these are the two largest local Muslim parties. The delicate inter-ethnic balances within the executive are at stake.
JORDAN
The World Bank warned that Jordan is in poverty risk. The data shows an increasing rate compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic. In the 2023 report, experts point to scarce employment opportunities, divisions in the labor market, low productivity and structural weakness. Unemployment stands at 22.9% and in 2019 it was 19%.
PAKISTAN
A Pakistani court has released on bail Mussarat Bibi, an illiterate Christian widow, and Muhammad Sarmad, a Muslim gardener, both accused of blasphemy for burning sheets of paper containing verses from the Koran. Activists applaud the decision, speaking of “fresh air” for the victims of the false accusations, while Islamic extremist groups call for the death penalty.
INDIA
The world sugar prices (already at a decade high) could continue to rise due to declining production in India, the world leader in the sector, and government-imposed restrictions on exports. Compared to initial forecasts of 38.5 million tons for 2022-23, a lower estimate of 36.8 million tons is recorded.
TAIWAN
Taiwan’s main opposition party reportedly decided to appoint New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih as candidate for the presidential election next year, a crucial vote for relations with Washington and Beijing. The Kuomintang (KMT) should make the formal announcement shortly. For the vice presidency there is talk of Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
RUSSIA
The Orthodox ecclesiastical court in Moscow has reduced to secular status the priest Ioann Koval, from the church of Saint Andrew in Ljublino, a suburb of Moscow. In the “prayer for holy Rus”, which must be read in all churches, he had replaced the word “victory” with “peace”, thus committing a “sacrilegious oath” against the patriarch’s provisions.
ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN
In the Renaissance Square of Stepanakert, the Armenian capital of Nagorno Karabakh, a demonstration was held in favor of Sambel Babayan, president of the Free Homeland party. It is considered that he is the only one capable of “securing independence in 100 days”, forming what he has called the “Artsakh Salvation Front”.
