Despite its target of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030, Colombo has suspended the feed-in tariff scheme for surplus energy. This is a setback for small-scale consumers, who will struggle to recoup their investment under this system. Meanwhile, a floating solar farm has been launched in Dambulla.
A 12-hour prayer service and cultural meetings are held in a Catholic school in Kandhamal. Together, people from all walks of life sang, read the Bible, prayed and took part in small recitals. Catholic priest says, we brought "our unity" to "bear our Christian witness to all".
An 8.7 earthquake is registered off the coast of Aceh, an area devastated by another major quake in December 2004. So far, there have been no reports of casualties. Millions of people have fled the coast. Evacuation operations are underway in India and Thailand. Padang bishop tells AsiaNews, "We are okay".
Maria and Teresa converted to Christianity to marry. But their marriages have proved unsuccessful: the husband of the first is a drunk and violent, and the second will not work. Both, however, choose to remain faithful to their men and to Christ. "A different love," says Maria, "which makes me happy."
A group of Hindus attack Fr Sisirakant Sbhanayak, parish priest in Sukananda (Kandhamal District) on four occasions during Holy Week. The attackers wanted to destroy a path that leads to a Lourdes Grotto attached to the local church. During anti-Christian pogroms in 2008, the church was demolished together with the home of the Sisters of Mother Teresa.
According to the report of the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Trivandrum, the bullets extracted from the bodies of two fishermen in India correspond to two Beretta rifles found on board the Enrica Lexie. Vincent Panikulangara, High Court of Kerala: "We must wait for the judgment on jurisdiction."
All over the country the minority participated in Holy Week religious functions, the Way of the Cross yesterday. Bishop of Islamabad: look to the Cross on Calvary as the place for relief from suffering. Throughout Lent, the faithful promoted charitable activities and Bible study.
Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong lost at least 1%. Shanghai also drops, because of the state banks, hit by Wen Jiabao’s "no" to their monopoly. Federal Reserve reluctant to new stimulus measures.
Pakistani curricula and textbooks promote extremism and violate minorities’ rights. An NCJP study notes distortions and requests a revision of the educational system, the first source of marginalization. Although minorities are guaranteed the possibility to deepen their own religion.
Bishop John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar: "In this Holy Week, the Lord's peace, truth and justice must prevail." Today the State Government should release 23 prisoners in exchange for the release of Paolo Bosusco and Indian Parliamentarian Jhina Hikaka. Among prisoners, 15 are part of an organization of workers and peasants suspected of links with the Maoists.
Yadav Poudel was based in Jhapa District (Eastern Region). The motive for his murder remains unknown. A Communist group places seven bombs in the capital, which police found and defused.
The K-152 Nerpa, renamed Chakra Ins II, will cost New Delhi about one billion dollars over the next 10 years. The submarine will not carry nuclear weapons but will carry cruise missiles. Meanwhile, New Delhi’s first nuclear submarine, the Arihant operative next year.
During Chrism Mass, Card Malcolm Ranjith urged more than 200 religious to follow the Lord for "we belong to Christ totally and integrally". The bishop is not superman but "one like you" with whom to collaborate to help the people of God to find their back to Him.
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