02/08/2012PHILIPPINES Death toll from Negros and Cebu earthquake rises to 48 dead and 92 missing In the island’s east coast city hundreds of people digging with their bare hands in search of hundreds still buried under rubble. Caritas Philippines warns that food supplies are running low. Landslides and mudslides block roads and make it impossible for the arrival of humanitarian aid. The local Catholic Church opens churches, chapels and schools to provide shelter to hundreds of displaced families. Manila (AsiaNews) – The death toll from the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the islands of Negros and Cebu (Central Philippines) on 6 February has risen to 48 dead and 92 missing. In the eastern part of the island the quake destroyed dozens of towns and villages. Hundreds of people are buried under the...
02/06/2012PHILIPPINES Quake hits the Philippines, at least 13 dead, dozens missing A 6.8 quake strikes in Negros Oriental province at a depth of 20 kilometres. A local tsunami warning is issued with the possibility of one-metre waves. Villages are isolated and houses are buried by landslides. College and elementary school students are among the victims.
02/04/2012PHILIPPINES Mindanao, Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah leaders killed in a raid The air raid struck an Islamic extremists camp located near the town of Parang (Jolo), killing 15 terrorists. Among the dead Zulfifli bin Hir, head of Jemaah Islamiah, Gumbahali Jumdail, leader of Abu Sayyaf and Mumanda Ali, one of the authors of the Bali bombing. In the coming days DNA tests to confirm the identity of the slain.
02/04/2012ITALY Responding today to Jesus' question: "Who do you say I am?" An International Symposium on "Jesus our contemporary," to be held in Rome from 9 to 11 February, organized by the Italian Churches’ Committee for Cultural projects. Cardinal. Ruini: "a strong message to society and a cultural world that are oppressed by so many other concerns and many other needs."
02/03/2012ASIA 1.24 million deaths from malaria: twice those estimated by the WHO A Seattle University study has estimated that in 2010 the victims of the disease numbered about 47% more than shown by the data published by the World Health Organization. Funded by Bill Gates, the new study is based on statistical models that also takes into account deaths that previously were not attributed to malaria.
02/02/2012ASIA Baltic Dry Index falls to record low by Maurizio d'Orlando Index hits 662 points. The previous low was in 2008, during the Lehman Brothers crisis. The drop reflects the steep decline in demand for raw materials, consequence of a worldwide economic slowdown. Expert tells AsiaNews that ship overcapacity is the main reason for the fall. Loans to big ship-owners now start to look shaky.
01/28/2012HOLY LAND International Day of Prayer for Peace in Holy Land Card. Turkson, Justice and Peace, and the Custodian of the Holy Land for the fourth edition of the Day. Prayers and Eucharistic adoration, Mass at Calvary in Jerusalem. Angelus with the Pope.
01/22/2012VATICAN Pope: Christian unity comes from God, but requires our daily commitment Pope invites large turn-out for Vespers of January 25 in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for the conclusion of the Week for Christian unity. Best wishes to the peoples of the Far East for the Lunar New Year.
01/20/2012PHILIPPINES Costa Concordia: Filipino waiters and cooks hailed as national heroes Almost 300 members of the ship’s crew are from the Philippines. They helped passengers evacuate the ship, putting their own lives on the line. Their action has been seen around the country thanks to an amateur video shot during the rescue operation.
01/20/2012ASIA Year of the Dragon: many newborns and political changes by Wang Zhicheng A boom in births anticipated in the Chinese world. Doubts about presidential elections in the U.S., France and Russia. Silence on the changes at the top in China. The growing engagement of civil society against totalitarianism. The Chinese dragon is similar to an angel or an archangel in Christian tradition.
01/18/2012ASIA Baltic Dry Index plunge signals a major drop in economic activity by Maurizio d'Orlando Index loses 53 per cent in three years. It is a measure of maritime shipping costs for commodities like minerals and grains (with the Pacific Ocean as the hub). The recent decline reflects trends in industrial output in Asia, especially China.
Books
Augusto Colombo. Apostolo dei paria di Piero Gheddo
pp. 320
Matteo Ricci: missione e ragione. Una biografia intellettuale di Gianni Criveller
pp. 132
Bioetica religioni missioni di Buono Giuseppe, Pelosi Patrizia pp. 432
Matteo Ricci e Giulio Aleni, due vite incrociate di Giulio Aleni / (a cura di) Gianni Criveller
pp. 176
Missione Bengala 155 anni del Pime in India e Bangladesh EMI
di Piero Gheddo
pp. 480
La Cina di Mao processa la Chiesa di Angelo S.Lazzarotto pp. 528
Il rovescio delle medaglie di Bernardo Cervellera pp. 240