12/29/2014ARMENIA - TURKEY Encyclical Letter for the centennial of the Armenian genocide by Karekine II Armenian Patriarch Karekin II announces the canonisation on 23 April of all of Turkey's victims. The next day will become a memorial day for the nation's "holy martyrs". According to unconfirmed reports, Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass on 12 April in memory of the terrible event. AsiaNews publishes below the patriarch's full message. Etchmiadzin
(AsiaNews) - Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Karekin II issued a solemn encyclical
letter to launch a year of official events to remember the Armenian Genocide
The massacre
of 1.5 million Armenians took place in the twilight years of the Ottoman
Empire,...
12/29/2014CHINA - BANGLADESH China proposes free trade agreement to Bangladesh The goal is to improve road and rail connections, especially those through Myanmar. Dhaka relaunches with a proposal for improved connectivity through Chittagong-Cox's Bazar-Myanmar-Kunming.
12/29/2014AFGHANISTAN As NATO "leaves" Afghanistan, the Taliban gets stronger
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) ended its combat operations yesterday, replaced, after more than ten years, by the Resolute Support mission, which will provide assistance and training to local troops. If "the West's goal was to lead the country on the path of democracy, very little seems to have been done," local source told AsiaNews.
12/29/2014SYRIA - ISLAM Islamic State blamed for almost 2,000 executions in less than six months Of those killed, 1,175 were civilians, including women and children. Almost half of the victims are members of the Sunni Shaitat tribe, which rebelled against the Islamic State domination. The group also executed 120 of its own members, who wanted to return to their home countries.
12/29/2014BAHRAIN Bahrain opposition leader arrested Sheikh Ali Salman leads al-Wefaq, which challenged the monarchy boycotting the elections last November. Summoned for questioning about "violating certain aspects of law," was then held by the Ministry of the Interior. His group warns: "Mr Salman's arrest is a perilous and arbitrary adventure which will seriously complicate the political and security scene in Bahrain".
12/29/2014CHINA Beijing to publish list of "legal" religious venues to "eradicate" illegal religious activities by Wang Zhicheng The list will be completed within two years. It already includes 16,140 registered Buddhist and Taoist temples and places of worship. For 20 years, the UN has called on Beijing to drop the distinction between "legal" and "illegal" religious activities. A law on religions seems urgent. Taoist and Buddhist monks criticise the use of temples and places of worship as moneymaking tourist destinations.
12/29/2014BANGLADESH Bishop of Rajshahi: the vocation for the priesthood is a call to responsibility by Sumon Corraya Bishop Rozario celebrates the ordination of a new priest. In recent years many priests, nuns and religious have abandoned consecrated life, unable to resist temptation. The faithful "must help their priests with prayer."
12/29/2014CHINA For the first time, China will not meet five-year plan targets Trade and investment goals set out in the 2011-2015 plan will not be met. For Chinese economists, the decision by Chinese policymakers to boost quality is behind the trend. For international experts, the very concept of five-year plans is outdated and unworkable.
12/29/2014RUSSIA Despite devaluation, sanctions and recession, Russians are preparing for the New Year by Nina Achmatova The year 2015 is expected to be difficult. The ruble is in free fall and sanctions remain in place. Even though the recession and double-digit inflation are eroding their living standards; Russians remain united around President Putin, whose approval rating stands at 85 per cent. Some 96 per cent will celebrate Novi God and 72 per cent will celebrate Orthodox Christmas.
12/29/2014INDONESIA The search continues for the AirAsia Airbus that has vanished with 162 people on board This morning an Australian plane detected objects in the sea. According to the Head of the Search and Rescue operations, the aircraft could have precipitated into the Java Sea. Among the 155 passengers, most of them Indonesian, there are three Koreans, a Briton, a Malaysian, a Singaporean. They include 17 children and a baby. Emergency number set up for relatives and friends.
12/29/2014INDIA Christmas in jail for Christians in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh by Nirmala Carvalho Two different communities (one Protestant the other Pentecostal) were attacked by Hindu fundamentalist groups while celebrating the birth of Christ. Local police arrested the faithful and their leaders on charges of forced conversion.
12/28/2014VATICAN Pope: Let us pray in silence for the families that are suffering, that they may not lack concrete help On the feast day of the Holy Family, Francis calls on the faithful in St Peter's Square to pray in silence (and then with a Hail Mary) in support of families in need. The pontiff mentioned the importance of grandparents and intergenerational solidarity in households. At the end, his thoughts go to the plane that disappeared between Singapore and Indonesia, and for people in distress in the waters of the Adriatic, saying "I am close to you affection and prayer."
12/27/2014CHINA As police stops woman who tried to "bring the Gospel" to Xi Jinping, Wenzhou bans Christmas celebrations in schools and universities by Wang Zhicheng The woman, a member of an underground Protestant community, denies having mental problems, but wants to spread the Gospel to change party members' "corrupt thoughts". In Wenzhou (Zhejiang), the authorities crack down on Christmas celebrations, deemed "Western spiritual pollution". Surveys indicated that some 60 per cent of university students want to learn about Christianity. In Beijing, 3,000 people are baptised on Christmas night. Zhejiang supplies 60 per cent of the world's Christmas decorations.
12/27/2014PHILIPPINES - VATICAN Manila: Islamic leader calls on Muslims to follow Pope Francis for world peace Ebra Moxsir M. al-Haj, head of the Imam Council of the Philippines and chaplain of the Philippine National Police, speaks on Know The Truth programme, praising Francis' efforts in favour of the good and peace in the world against all forms of extremism, which must be backed all the way. He calls on Muslims to welcome the pontiff and understand his words.