370 businesses and institutions (excluding one-man businesses) were declared bankrupt in May this year - 84 down from the previous month and the lowest level since November 2008. They fell noticeably in the trade and manufacturing sectors. Meanwhile, Operation World reports ‘the Roman Catholic Church is rapidly decreasing - from 41% in 1975 to 26% (other reports claim 18%) in 2010 - and every year has fewer priests and missionaries. Weekly attendance is reportedly as low as 300,000 on any given Sunday, and the aged composition of the faithful points toward further decline. However, there is also clear growth in the charismatic and evangelical groups within Dutch Catholicism, and a proliferation of Alpha Courses.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has offered an AED 183.6 million ($49.9 million) concessionary loan to the Government of Montenegro to support its agricultural development sector. Aimed at accelerating economic development in Montenegro through supporting food security, the agreement seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Montenegro's products to international levels. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi said, ‘As a catalyst for inclusive development and food security, the UAE, through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, pursues an active policy in supporting agricultural investment across the developing world. To achieve this goal, ADFD is committed to ensuring necessary funding for development projects, especially in strategically important sectors that can significantly benefit the economies of developing countries.’
A new international volunteer from Monaco has flown to Mongolia to help set up a pilot centre for people with disabilities. Florestan Fillon holds a Masters degree from the University of Victoria in Canada in community development. He will be based in Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, and will focus on the integration of young people with handicaps. This project is supported by the Luxembourg NGO PADEM (Aid and Development Programmes for Children of the World), a partner of Monaco in international cooperation since 2010. Already rich in experience with eleven years of development programmes and partnerships, fundraising and public relations, Florestan Fillon will use his expertise for the pilot project in Mongolia. Previously, he took part in the development of a centre for people with disabilities in Peru. Currently, six international volunteers from Monaco are in long-term missions in Mongolia, Morocco, Burkina Faso, and Madagascar.
In Chisinau, the Moldovan capital, thousands demonstrated against corruption and fraud on 7 June. They were demonstrating in support of the Dignity and Truth civic group, which is campaigning against organised crime and corruption. Participants in the rally called for the resignation of several politicians suspected of involvement in large-scale embezzlement from Moldovan banks. Moldovan media sources estimate that nearly $1 billion disappeared from three banks shortly before parliamentary elections last November. For more information on the size of Moldovan corruption a further story can be found at Click here
5,184 single parents were on some form of social benefits as of last April, social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia revealed. Responding to a parliamentary question by opposition MP Clyde Puli, Farrugia revealed that the government spent €6,312,863 on benefits for single parents, €2,237,818 on social assistance, €1,281,482 on the ‘Social Assistance for Single Parents’ scheme, €1,396,045 on unemployment assistance and €1,397,518 on medical assistance. This made up 10.58% of the government’s total expenditure on social benefits. The government also spent €6,008,248 on the most recent children’s allowance payment. There are 371 fewer single parents on social benefits compared with the previous year and 418 single parents have benefited from the benefit tapering scheme - a gradual phasing out of social benefits for unemployed people who find a job - since its introduction at the start of 2014.
Macedonia’s ethnic composition dominates its political and social existence, where segregation is more prevalent than harmony. The large (and growing) Albanian minority feel more connected with their own kind in Albania and Kosovo than with the other ethnicities of Macedonia. Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia also have agendas for Macedonia. Economic difficulties cause significant emigration and urban pull; many of the 2,000 villages are dwindling or disappearing altogether. Media and literature are important ministries in Macedonia, and the Bible Society oversees the distribution of two new Macedonian translations of the Bible. The Gideons are the largest distributors of Scripture, giving out many New Testaments. A Christian cultural centre in Skopje includes a Christian bookstore, but so far only a few books have been translated into Macedonian. The JESUS film has been widely viewed on television and film. It is available in Albanian, Macedonian, Romani and Turkish.
Luxembourg International Christian Centre is an independent, English-speaking Full Gospel church that was founded on 14 October 1991. It was born from a group of nine adult Christians of four nationalities, who had been meeting for Bible study and fellowship for the two previous years. In August 1991 an Australian pastor, John Brown, and his family arrived in Luxembourg, believing the Lord had called him to start an English-speaking church. By the Lord’s leading the two groups met. At this time, the church consisted of 10 members from five nationalities, and nine young people under 16 years of age. John stayed a little over ten months, then left for Scotland. Graham Kettle, who had pastored two previous churches, then took up the pastorate. The church has continued to grow and take shape over the years, becoming the International Christian Centre. The Lord has answered their needs in growth, and their prayer is for more space to grow.
A Lithuanian recording studio has already published three music albums of Lithuanian Christian contemporary music, and now have some experience in this field. They pray heartily and seek for support for the release of new albums. They are finding that still many of the current Christian musicians in Lithuania do not know the laws that are in force and do lots of incorrect steps. Their hope is that albums of Christian music will be published according to all the laws and requirements of the governing agencies. They have trodden a breakthrough path to sound recording studios, producing centres, publishing and advertising companies, and are preparing presentations of published music albums. They distribute music albums in all possible ways - in shops, concerts, online and through mail.