12/09/2013CHINA Smog cloud forces closure of schools and airports, affecting the economy No relief is in sight for China's pollution emergency. With the onset of the cold weather, coal burning is up, boosting the amount of polluting particles in the air. In Beijing, the levels of particulates reached 473 mcg per cubic metre. In Shanghai, they topped 600. The 'safe' limit set by the WHO is 25 mcg. Steps taken by the authorities "aren't enough", so companies are leaving. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)
- Air pollution continues to be an emergency across China.
Whilst pollution
levels have exceeded 300 every day in the capital (anything above 300 is considered
'severe'), the authorities were
forced to close...
12/06/2013CHINA - SOUTH AFRICA The Bishop of Shanghai, under house arrest, prays for Mandela and recalls his fight for freedom by Jian Mei Bishop Ma Daqin has been under house arrest in Sheshan Seminary since July of 2012 when, shortly after his ordination, he resigned from the Patriotic Association. On his microblog, he invites prayers for the deceased South African leader and cites three sentences, symbolic of his struggle: freedom is indivisible, faith is sometimes persecuted, oppressor and oppressed are both in chains.
12/06/2013ASIA- SOUTH AFRICA The world bows down to Nelson Mandela by Paul Wang The South African leader passed away last night at the age of 95. He was the first black president of his country. Tributes of Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk : He taught a divided nation to live together. Also from Nobel Peace Laureates Aung San Suu Kyi and the Dalai Lama. Even China calls him "friend", although many of Mandela petitions for Tibet and dissidents have been ignored .
12/05/2013TIBET - CHINA Young Tibetan father sets himself on fire calling for an end to Chinese repression Konchon Tseten, 30, burnt for more than an hour before he was taken away by police. His current condition is unknown. When a group of Tibetans try to defend him, police intervene to arrest people, including his wife and relatives. Tseten's self-immolation is the 124th of its kind since protests began.
12/03/2013CHINA Jiangxi, (closed door) trial of anti- corruption activists begins Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua are members of the "New Citizens Movement", which has asked communist leaders to "tell the truth" about their assets. Lawyers denounce irregularities in the trial that could end with a sentence of five years for "unlawful assembly".
12/02/2013ITALY - CHINA Prato Chinese Chaplain announces special prayer for fire victims on 8 December "This painful lesson helps us understand that safety must come first," priest who serves the Chinese community in the Tuscan town tells AsiaNews. "Chinese in Italy are unaware of workplace dangers." The fate of four people still hospitalised in intensive care remains uncertain.
12/01/2013VATICAN Pope: the hope of Advent to end all wars Pope Francis mentions the prophecy of Isaiah, turning "swords" into "ploughshares" and "spears" in "pruning hooks". Humanity must find a shared horizon for its existence. The Church and the world are walking together toward the final goal. The Virgin Mary is the model to emulate. The Pontiff's thoughts also go out to people living with AIDS, grateful to missionaries and health care workers who quietly stand by them.
11/30/2013VATICAN - CHINA Young Chinese discovers Jesus among friends in Italy by Silvia Peng Silvia met Pope Francis during the ceremony for catechumens held at the end of the Year of Faith. For the past year, she has been attending Catechism to become a Christian. The friendship and affection of her Italian friends led her to seek the faith.
11/30/2013UNITED STATES - CHINA East China Sea: US tells airlines to comply with Beijing's rules For Washington, respecting Beijing's rules does not mean accepting its unilaterally imposed Air Defence Identification Zone (AZID). To counter China's claims, US sends B52, South Korea deploys military patrol plane whilst Japan tells civilian air carriers not to bow to Beijing's orders.
11/29/2013CHINA Beijing: detained while seeking justice, petitioner stabs his persecutors Gong Jinjun years attempted to present his petition the central government , but each time was intercepted, detained in illegal prisons and sent home. After the last failed attempt he stabbed and killed one of the officials recruited from the provinces to stop those who seek justice. The system denounce the experts, is fundamentally corrupt: arrested and removed ( for corruption), the deputy director of the National Office for petitions.
11/28/2013CHINA - JAPAN -US Sparks fly between China , the U.S. and Japan over air control of Senkaku / Diaoyu Beijing has established an air defense zone, but let U.S., Korean and Japanese aircraft bombers pass without doing anything. The Philippines, Japan and South Korea fear that the area is the first step toward a claim of sovereignty in the aerea .
11/27/2013TAIWAN - CHINA - SINGAPORE Social and environmental issues win at Chinese Oscars by Xin Yage The "Golden Horse , the oldest and most important film festival in the Asian world, awards Singapore's Anthony Chen’s "Ilo Ilo" best film. It analyzes the relationship between a wealthy family in the city - state and their Filipino maid. Awards also go to a Taiwanese documentary on environmental protection and the "disarming honesty" of the Chinese "Back to 1942 ", which brings the horrors of famine during the war with Japan to the big screen.
11/27/2013CHINA Beijing, more raids against Protestant Christian communities The police forcibly cleared at least three gatherings in different parts of the capital. Seized Bibles, religious books, and other materials of worship. According to police, the faithful "are not welcome" in the country .
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