Year of the Eucharist
16/01/2015 CHINA
Ma Jian, deputy minister in the Ministry of State Security, which oversees the foreign and counterintelligence operations, is accused of "serious violations" of the law. Suspected of corruption, Ma is the latest top official to fall in President Xi Jinping's campaign against tigers and flies.
05/01/2015 NEPAL - CHINA
Beijing and Kathmandu sign deal that includes the construction of a "corridor" to ship Chinese-made goods through Nepal territory. A new railway line linking the two countries and India is also in the works.
04/01/2015 VATICAN
Before the Angelus, Francis talked again about his Message for the World Day of Peace "No longer slaves, but brothers and sisters". Exploitation "is a social evil that humiliates interpersonal relationships and prevents a life of communion." There is also too much "bloodshed in too many regions of the planet." For him, "There is no future without aiming and planning for peace." The pontiff also announced the names of 20 new cardinals (including five cardinals emeriti) with the bishops of Hanoi, Yangon, and Bangkok among them.
31/12/2014 VATICAN
For the pontiff, "must defend the poor, and not defend ourselves from the poor; [. . .] we must serve the weak, and not use the weak". Since the end of the year is a time for soul-searching, "For us Christians, the quality of our work, our life, our presence in the city, our service to the common good, and our participation in public and Church institutions depend on such self-examination."
10/12/2014 INDONESIA
The aim of a series of impromptu raids by Tadzkiiratul Ummah conducted by on-site spraying of colored paint is to "moralize" the inhabitants of the Indonesian province which is subject to sharia law. Those wearing jeans or tight clothes are the targets. The leader of the movement accuses authorities: "they do not apply Islamic law". Moderate Muslim movements condemn the action.
10/12/2014 IRAQ - SYRIA
The terrorist group posts pictures online showing a man thrown from a rooftop and then finished off by stoning on the ground. He was killed for being "gay". The posting was made yesterday. The killing took place somewhere in the Islamic State-controlled region carved out of Syria and Iraq.
10/12/2014 KOREA - VATICAN - PEACE 2015
In his 2015 Message for Peace, Pope Francis mentions women "forced into marriage" and "sold for arranged marriages". About 90 per cent of North Korean women who flee to China are sold to brothels or Chinese husbands for US$ 2,000. A Korean priest, together with humanitarian organisations, buys them and brings them to South Korea.
10/12/2014 KOREA - VATICAN - PEACE 2015
In his 2015 Message for Peace, Pope Francis mentions women "forced into marriage" and "sold for arranged marriages". About 90 per cent of North Korean women who flee to China are sold to brothels or Chinese husbands for US$ 2,000. A Korean priest, together with humanitarian organisations, buys them and brings them to South Korea.
09/12/2014 BANGLADESH
The Notre Dame University has already 283 members and 24 teachers. The subjects are English, economics, law, philosophy and business administration. The university is the result of the Missionaries of the Holy Cross, known and appreciated in the country for their educational apostolate.
08/12/2014 VATICAN
Pope Francis prays before the statue of the Immaculate in Piazza di Spagna. The pontiff arrived in an economy car after going to Santa Maria Maggiore to pray before the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani, to which he is very devoted. After the prayer, he greeted the sick.
06/12/2014 BANGLADESH
The Christian Religious Welfare Trust gives US$ 27,500 to finance pastoral works and church renovation. The fund's goal is to contribute to national development by encouraging solidarity and brotherhood among people of different religions. The donation is "big deal for us," says a Catholic priest in a country where Christians are only 0.4 per cent of the population.
_1201_-_arcidiocesi_jakarta.jpg)
06/12/2014 INDONESIA
The Social Communications Office sponsors a meeting attended by at least 200 faithful. Strengthening community ties and promoting participation in the life of the Church are among the objectives. Priest in Jakarta says that magazines are essential in connecting the faithful.
06/12/2014 BANGLADESH
The Christian Religious Welfare Trust gives US$ 27,500 to finance pastoral works and church renovation. The fund's goal is to contribute to national development by encouraging solidarity and brotherhood among people of different religions. The donation is "big deal for us," says a Catholic priest in a country where Christians are only 0.4 per cent of the population.
_1205_-_Testimoni_Geova.jpg)
05/12/2014 RUSSIA
The Russian Supreme Court rules against a website and three books used by the community. The latter talk about God and how to lead a happy life. The sect, which is one of the most ill-treated religious minorities in the former Soviet Union, continues to face legal problems.
_1205_-_Corruzione.jpg)
05/12/2014 NEPAL
Anti-corruption activists and officials with Nepal's Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority call on public officials to follow Pope Francis' "simple life" and non-ostentatious lifestyle. The latest edition of the corruption index sees Nepal's ranking worsen.
05/12/2014 PAKISTAN
People with disabilities, who represent about 15 per cent of Pakistan's population, need legislation to protect their rights. An independent commission to monitor the application of the UN Convention is also needed. Various groups appeal to the government for the establishment of quotas in education and the workplace. In Lahore, police mistreats two blind people.
_1201_-_CSM_comunicato_viaggio_papa.jpg)
04/12/2014 SRI LANKA
Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) writes to the Holy See. Proximity of papal visit to presidential election is “risky”. "The organizers of election campaigns can use the apostolic journey as a political tool."
02/12/2014 MALAYSIA - THAILAND
Yesterday in Kuala Lumpur face to face talks between the Thai premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha and his counterpart Najib Razak. As a precondition for talks they demand an end to attacks by all the rebel groups. So far, the fragmentation of the separatist struggle has hindered negotiations. In ten years of conflict over 6 thousand people have died, mostly civilians.
26/11/2014 KOREA - VATICAN
The bishop of the Diocese of Daejeon, where Francis attended the Asian Youth Day in August, handed the Pope a list of "small works" born spontaneously due to its trip. The national railway company has decided to donate the ticket price of the seat used by the pope to charity, while the state has declared the Solmoe Shrine a "National Treasure".
25/11/2014 HONG KONG - CHINA
Bailiffs, workers in white gloves and 3 thousand policemen cleared the sit-in blocking Nathan Road and Argyle Street. A bus company got a court order to clear the intersection. The young people kept calm, fearing arrest. The leaders of Occupy Central and Card. Zen ready to surrender to authorities.
25/11/2014 NEPAL - INDIA
Led by Maoists, a group of 22 Nepali political parties protest Narendra Modi's decision to speak to the faithful at Nepal's Ramjanaki temple because people "fought for years to have a secular federal republic" against those who "interfere with our new Republican Constitution."
25/11/2014 VATICAN - EUROPE
Speaking to the Council of Europe Francis recalls that it has a mission to promote peace, freedom and human dignity. Peace is "wounded" in Europe, "where tensions do not cease." It is violated by terrorism " bankrolled by a frequently unchecked traffic in weapons " and also "the traffic of human beings, which is the new slavery of our time." History today demands the ability to break out of the structures which “contain” our identity and to encounter others, for the sake of making that identity more solid and fruitful in the fraternal exchange of transversality.
24/11/2014 IRAN-US
United States and Iran face last hurdles. Clearance of Iran in the international community could change the face of the Middle East, creating opportunities for peace in Syria, in the fight against the Islamic state, in Lebanese politics. The enemies of the agreement are Israel and Saudi Arabia.
21/11/2014 JAPAN
Prime Minister announces December vote, two years before the end of his mandate. The move indicates a willingness to "better explain" the economic policies of his government, which up to now seem to have failed. The country is in recession.
17/11/2014 VATICAN
"Not just the priests and bishops, but faithful too: 'We are the ones on the Lord's side! And yet from spending so much time looking at the Lord, we no longer see what the Lord needs: we do not see that the Lord is hungry, thirsty, in prison, in hospital. The Lord, present in the marginalized. This atmosphere does so much bad".
11/11/2014 VATICAN - G20
Pope Francis writes for the Brisbane summit. The answer to "unjust aggression" cannot only be military, but must extend to those who fund it, as well as its "root causes" like poverty or exclusion. People must be defended even from "other forms of aggression" like the "abuses in the financial system."
20/10/2014 BANGLADESH
Over a hundred priests, nuns and faithful, led by the bishop, took part in the diocesan assembly on 15-18 October. Mgr D'Cruze emphasised God's word as a mysterious force that can help families meet their challenges. The family must be protected from dangers and threats. Micro-credit tools should be used to help households in need.
16/10/2014 MALAYSIA - ISLAM
In the group of 14 people arrested earlier this week there is a close associate of the Minister for Energy and an expert in social networking, active in the recruitment of fighters online. Since April 37 suspects arrested, at least 30 have left the country to fight in Syria, 15 victims on the ground.
16/10/2014 VATICAN - PHILIPPINES
George and Cynthia Campos intervened during the first week of the Synod on the family. Members of 'Couples for Christ', they walked together blessed by the presence of four children. Despite the serious challenges God placed on their path, they did not waver. They continued helping other couples. For new, irregular situations, they say that new ways to prepare and accompany others are needed.
15/10/2014 VATICAN
"All nations will be together" in the heavenly Jerusalem, and "there will be no more isolation, bullying or discrimination of any kind - social, ethnic or religious - we will all be one in Christ." "Thus the Church has the task of keeping the lamp of hope lit and clearly visible so it may continue to shine as a sure sign of salvation and illuminate the path that leads to the encounter with the merciful face of God for all humanity" .
15/10/2014 BANGLADESH
The Education Ministry describes St Philip's High School and College as "an ideal educational institution", not only for its academic standards but also for its "moral and spiritual" teachings. In Bangladesh, 90 per cent of students in Catholic schools are non-Christians.
_1014_-_Ciclone.jpg)
14/10/2014 INDIA
Winds reaching 200 km/h devastate coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. An early weather warning helps the authorities to evacuate residents, limiting death toll to 26. The bishops from the affected dioceses tell AsiaNews: "The most serious damage was caused by uprooted trees and collapsed houses. Pray for the victims and the many wounded."
06/10/2014 VIETNAM - UNITED STATES - CHIN
Vietnamese deputy prime minister visits Washington to discuss maritime security and a closer partnership. The US government is considering selling defence equipment to Vietnam, in an "anti-Chinese" move. Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
TOP10
Symposia
