Indicators are in the red, entrepreneurs are operating at a loss, and families are resorting to loans even to pay for weddings. High fuel costs are leading to illegal logging, and people are increasingly forced to forgo necessities. Despite warnings from the IMF, the banking lobby holds 90 per cent of account holders in a stranglehold.
Arab League endorses new group, set up after long discussions among various Syrian opposition groups in Doha (Qatar). Viewed now as the only voice of the Syrian people, it will be led by the former imam of the Great Mosque in Damascus. An appeal is made to Western nations to arm the rebels. In the meantime, Syrian cities continue to suffer as a result of war, famine and runaway crime.
His appointment is welcomed across the country. A committed and devout father, he combines "professional and human qualities." In 1994, he miraculously survived an explosion in Our Lady of Deliverance Church. A high profile figure, he has been a judge of reconciliation.
The meeting between the cardinal-designate and a delegation of the Party of God is followed by those with the opposition and Christian politicians. Agreement on the need for dialogue to end the crisis and the need, in principle, for a truly representative electoral law.
The choice aims to show the diversity of the opposition movement often referred to as sectarian and too close to Islamic radical positions. George Sabra was elected yesterday at the end of the meeting of the Syrian National Council in Doha (Qatar). The dissident has been fighting for decades for democracy in Syria and spent several years in prison. In his first speech he has urged foreign countries to stop the bloodshed arguing in favour of supplying arms to the opposition in the battle against the Assad regime.
The appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, former Anglican Bishop of Durham was confirmed yesterday by Prime Minister David Cameron. The new leader of the Anglican Communion worked for years as a special envoy of Rowan Williams in Africa and the Middle East. The Vicar of Baghdad stresses his emphasis on dialogue between Muslims and Christians.
Currently there is only a picture of the designated “guardian" and only the names of family members. But from now on woman officials will see the uncovered faces of Saudi women.
The President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum yesterday visited the refugee camps in the Bekaa Valley. Fr. Simon Faddoul president of Caritas Lebanon tells AsiaNews about the emotion of refugees, mostly Muslims. A mother with a child of four months asked the cardinal to take the child to save him from this terrible situation. In tent cities water, electricity, food is lacking. An appeal to Westerners to open their "eyes, ears and hearts to the suffering of the Syrian brothers."
AsiaNews presents a testimony on the situation in the Syrian city. Food prices are constantly increasing; certain goods are only available on the black market. Medicine is starting to run low, the health system risks paralysis. Without schools, volunteers organize lessons and games for children. The appeal from the International Red Cross.
Thousands of Muslim extremists bussed in from around the country occupy the place that came to symbolise the January 2011 pro-democracy demonstrations. Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist al-Nour Party leaders stay away from the rally, but many of their rank and files are present. Pro-democracy parties and Egypt's Christians are running out of time to stop Egypt from becoming an Islamic republic.
Values like marriage, birth and natural death are viewed as "rightwing". On the contrary, for the Church, they are important for the development of nations. Abortion, sterilisation, birth control, euthanasia and gay marriage have nefarious consequences on how social problems can be solved. Italy is now in a deep demographic winter.
The bishops ask political leaders for greater security and defense of the rights of all sections of Iraqi society. The appeal to stop the exodus of Christians from the country. The call to pray for the Christians of Syria. The annual meeting of the bishops was held November 6 to 7 in Ankawa (Kurdistan). Among the topics: the application of Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, the ideas of the Synod for the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith.
His death is being reported by sources close to Iran's Green Wave movement. Arrested on national security charges, the 35-year-old man was Active on Facebook. His body is said to show signs of beating and torture. He was held at Kahrizak, a detention centre where many activists are raped or die under torture.
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