05/19/2013VATICAN Pope to Movements: The action of the Spirit is newness, harmony, mission At Mass for Pentecost, along with movements and lay associations, Francis asks believers not close in on themselves for fear the 'God’s surprises', defending ourselves " barricaded in transient structures which have lost their capacity for openness." The harmony of the Spirit brings unity, not exclusivism or standardization. "The Holy Spirit ... saves us from the threat of a Church which is gnostic and self-referential, closed in on herself" and " drive us to the very outskirts of existence in order to proclaim life in Jesus Christ." The final thanks of the Pope: "You are a gift and a treasure for the Church." Vatican City
(AsiaNews) - The action of the Spirit is the bearer of the newness, not a "search for something new to relieve
our boredom," but for
"the surprises of God" of which we must not be afraid; his action creates
the diversity of gifts, but also the harmony and unity of the...
05/19/2013VATICAN Pope to Movements: man is in crisis. No to a church closed in on itself, but a Church that goes out, At the Vigil for Pentecost, Pope Francis pushes Christian witness in a world that has become the enemy of man, where the collapse of financial markets makes the news, but not the death of workers or child hunger. A great event for the Year of Faith, 200 thousand people are present: from CL and Renewal in the Spirit, to the Neocatechumenal Way, Focolare, Sant'Egidio, international associations. The testimony of John Waters, an Irish journalist, and Paul Bhatti, former minister for minorities in Pakistan. The Pope invites all to pray every day for persecuted Christians and to work for religious freedom. The Church is not an efficient NGO. Her main contribution is "to live the Gospel."
05/18/2013CHINA Torrential rains in Guangdong and Fujian, more than 50 dead and thousands displaced The bad weather has hit the city located at the foot of mountains. So far there are 14 missing and over 900 thousand people affected. The most serious damage reported in Guangdong. Landslides have devastated the nine cities, including Guangzhou, the provincial capital.
05/18/2013VIETNAM - AUSTRALIA Vietnamese boat people return, fleeing regime and poverty, 40 years after the war In early 2013, at least 450 people have left the country on makeshift boats headed for Australia. A number greater than the total in the last five years, and a growing phenomenon. But Canberra rarley recognizes them as refugees and Hanoi does not want them.
05/18/2013PALESTINE Kentucky fried chicken, fast food without the 'fast', takes four hours to reach Gaza A distribution company supplying Gaza with meals from the American multinational uses the underground tunnels. A business born by chance that, in spite being triple the original cost, is extremely popular among the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A customer: "It is also delicious cold."
05/17/2013SYRIA - UNITED STATES - TURKEY Washington: Obama talks to Erdogan, against shipping weapons to the rebels As talks get underway with Moscow, the US president speaks with Turkey’s PM, Syrian rebels’ main ally. The two leaders discuss Syria’s democratic future and Assad’s necessary departure. Ankara voices doubts about a peace conference between rebels and regime backed by Moscow and Washington. After decades, Russian Pacific fleet warships enter the Mediterranean.
05/17/2013JAPAN PM Abe willing to meet Kim Jong-un Japan's prime minister does not rule out the possibility of direct diplomatic talks with the North Korean dictator. At the centre of his statement is the controversy over Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 70s. Abe wants to know more about their fate.
05/17/2013MYANMAR Myanmar, least "transparent" country in the world's oil and gas sector A US-based institute reports the finding. Natural resource earnings are hard to trace because they are often hidden away by members of the military leadership. In terms of corruption, the Myanmar government is worst than those of nations like Turkmenistan and Zimbabwe. How money is spent and where it ends up remains a mystery.
05/17/2013CHINA Chinese tourists "are uncivilized and damage the image of the Motherland" Vice Premier Wang Yang makes statement during a government meeting to prepare a new law on tourism. Over 80 million Chinese visited a foreign country in 2012: "They scream, spit and draw graffiti. We need to educate them to respect religions, and the customs of the places that host them".
05/17/2013CHINA Kunming, hundreds of people take to streets against oil refinery The protest was held yesterday in front of provincial government building. The protesters took to the streets for hours braving a massive police cordon. To avoid clashes, the mayor opens a mediation with civil society. On May 4, thousands of people protested against the refinery project which is highly polluting.
05/16/2013VATICAN Pope: Money must serve and not rule Addressing a group of ambassadors, Francis criticizes the role that economics and finance have on people and society today, reducing humanity to being consumers and consumer goods. The rejection of God and ethics "considered counterproductive as too human, because it relativizes money and power, as a threat, because it rejects the manipulation and submission of the person."
05/16/2013BAHRAIN Twitter, the social medium the emirs do not like As government persecution continues, six more people are arrested in Bahrain for offensive twitting against the country's customs and institutions. Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, the religious police warns locals that anyone using social media "has lost this world and his afterlife."
05/16/2013MYANMAR - UNITED KINGDOM Religious conflict and drama Rohingya "destabilize Myanmar’s reforms” by Dario Salvi AsiaNews speaks to Benedict Rogers, East Asia team leader for Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The situation of the Muslim minority is "tragic and potentially devastating." Some internal elements maneuver to hinder democratization. The Catholic Church has a "key role" as a 'force for peace. "
05/16/2013CHINA The highest dam in China "will harm nature. But we will build it all the same " So says the central government, who approved the project to meet the "thirst" for energy in the country. The infrastructure will be 314 meters high and will be built on the Dadu River in Sichuan. Authorities: "We know that it will affect local flora and fauna, we will take counter-measures."
05/16/2013NEPAL Nepal, nearly half a million illegal weapons have entered the country A Swiss organization detects the presence of 450 thousand small arms on Nepalese territory. According to analysts, most of these used by Hindu fundamentalists to intimidate Christians and other religious minorities. Fears for inter-religious peace.
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