03/02/2015SYRIA - ISLAM Islamic State group frees 19 Syrian Christians in Syria after a ransom is paid After jihadists seized the Tal Tamr area and at least ten Christian villages, they took 220 people hostage. Judged by an "Islamic court", 19 were released after paying US$ 1,700 per person. Assyrian and Islamic tribal leaders are negotiating the release of the other hostages. Damascus (AsiaNews) - Islamic State (IS)
terrorists on Sunday freed 19 of the 220 Assyrian Christians they took
hostage in Tal Tamr (Syria) last week, after a US$ 1,700 ransom per
person was paid for their release,...
03/02/2015PAKISTAN Lahore: 'charity travels' for a Lent of prayer and sharing by Kamran Chaudhry Each year, the archdiocese offers its members a number of day-trips to some of the country's places of suffering (and hope): homes for the mentally disabled, orphanages, centres for troubled children, as well as Mariamabad, one of the most beloved Marian shrine in the whole of South Asia. At the Dar ul-Karishma Centre, the Sisters of Charity welcome people with psychiatric problems.
03/02/2015BANGLADESH Bangladesh holds man over blogger Avijit Roy's murder by Sumon Corraya The suspect had been arrested previously for inciting attacks against writers and intellectuals. The murder victim, a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin, was hacked to death with a machete. Islamist extremists threatened publicly to kill him last year after the publication of his book 'Biswasher Virus,' Bengali for 'Virus of faith'.
03/02/2015INDIA India's 2015-2016 budget calls for growth, but on the back of children by Nirmala Carvalho Lenin Raghuvanshi, director of the People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR), slams the Finance minister's financial bill. Large infrastructure and energy investments come with heavy cuts in educational and development programmes for the country's children.
03/02/2015VATICAN Pope: Judging ourselves to obtain and offer mercy At Mass in Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis emphasizes that judging ourselves is the first step of Christian wisdom. Recognizing the envy that leads us to "speak ill of others", that we are capable of doing worse things than which we judge others for. "Who am I to judge?" obeys the exhortation of Jesus: Judge not lest you be judged.
03/02/2015MYANMAR Yangon cardinal calls for dialogue between military and ethnic militias to end conflict in Myanmar by Francis Khoo Thwe The Burmese archbishop appeals to the warring parties, calling on them to resume peace talks. By taking part in the pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Nyaunglebin, he stressed the importance of meetings "face to face". He announces that he would be working on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Naypyidaw.
03/02/2015PHILIPPINES Caritas Philippines: Lent with Francis, against the globalization of indifference This is the charitable organization’s aim ahead of Easter. The national director invites people to listen to the poor, the oppressed and safeguard the environment. Initiatives include projects for agrarian reform, support for displaced fishermen and farmers, the fight against forced evictions.
03/02/2015THAILAND Four Thai fishermen held captive by Somali pirates for five years are freed by Weena Kowitwanij A joint collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations. The fishermen: "It's like coming back to life after being dead”. Thai Prime Minister: "Entrepreneurs in the sector must cooperate with the government to stop this human trafficking."
03/02/2015IRAQ Baghdad launches offensive to wrest Tikrit from Islamic State Military operation in Salahuddin province, an Islamic fundamentalist stronghold north of Baghdad. The security forces and Shiite militiamen have launched an assault on the city, with air and artillery support. Premier Abadi appeals to Sunni fighters, urging them to abandon the jihadists. "It's their last chance."
03/02/2015KOREA - USA Pyongyang fires two missiles at launch of Seoul-Washington exercises As every year, the beginning of the "war games" between the US and the South Korean armies irritates the regime led by Kim Jong-un. No real damage, but Seoul’s Minister of Defense warns: "Enough provocations or we will make regret it".
03/02/2015RUSSIA Tens of thousands flood Red Square in memory of Nemtsov People march under the slogan "I'm not afraid," but no one is hoping for a real revival of civil society. The Church invites people not to exploit the tragedy, but Muscovites still believe those in "power" are behind the incident.
03/01/2015VATICAN Pope: Let us not forget those who are suffering in Syria, Iraq and Venezuela; let us pray for them Francis comments the Gospel of the Transfiguration of Christ. "Jesus reveals himself as the perfect icon of the Father, the irradiation of his glory. It is the fulfilment of revelation. [. . .] Jesus' journey always leads us to happiness [. . .]. Love transfigures everything." The task he leaves for the disciples and the faithful is simple: "Listen to and follow the Saviour." After the Marian prayer, the Holy Father issued an appeal to the peoples of the Middle East, noting that "We are praying insistently for an end to the intolerable brutality of which they are victims."
02/28/2015VATICAN Pope encourages the growth of cooperatives as an economic model that serves the common good Cooperatives are "enterprises based on the principle of solidarity and social relations," that act as "the lever that raises and develops the weakest part of local communities and civil society," and provide "new welfare solutions" that support, facilitate and even encourage family life, because even though money is "the dung of the devil," if it is well managed, "it can be used to promote the common good."
02/28/2015RUSSIA A leading opponent to Vladimir Putin murdered in Moscow Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister under President Yeltsin, was shot to death last night. The Kremlin called it a "brutal murder" and a "provocation". Obama calls "upon the Russian government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation". The 55-year-old politician was opposed to Russia's stance in the Ukraine, and was planning to take part in a protest tomorrow against Russian interference in that country.
02/28/2015PHILIPPINES Filipino Church: helping women and families in crisis against abortion Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) is organising a conference together with the Commission on Family and Life of the Archdiocese of Manila and Life and Couples for Christ. The goal is to promote a "healthy" way of experiencing pregnancy.
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