South East Asia

The launch will take place within the next two weeks from the eastern military base Musudan-ri. Members of ASEAN and South Korea issue a joint communiqué urging the North to “avoid ulterior provocation”. The communist regime orders a stop to shipping in the Yellow Sea.

Dubai calls on the Rothschild bank for help, perhaps out of desperation. In Saudi Arabia a Saad Group company defaults. US, European and Asian banks are struggling. The end of Ramadan in September might mark the start of an economic depression worse than that of the 1930s.

In front of a crowd of 30 thousand in St Peter’s Square, Benedict XVI underlines the “youth” of the Church which the Holy Spirit urges on to witness the Word made flesh and charity. A thought for the persecuted in the name of Christ, and the young people of Abruzzo.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the fruits of modern man who, like Prometheus, stole fire from the gods to prove himself “adult”, but risks carrying out acts against humanity. The need for ecology for nature and against the poison that pollutes the spirit. The need for a Church that is “less anxious” for action and more dedicated to prayer so it may “prolong” Christ’s work.

Card. Pham Minh Man against extraction of bauxite in the central high planes promoted by government. The prelate denounces all who “damage the environment in the name of development” and invites all to “preserve nature for future generations”.

Testimony by American intruder undermines charges laid by the junta. Sources tell AsiaNews that the military made it easy for him to enter Ms San Suu Kyi’s home. Burmese blogger calls for street demonstrations in favour of release of Nobel Prize laureate.

The approach to local authorities by the bishop of Bac Ninh, also known as the bishop of the poor, of unfortunate children and lepers in Than Binh Parish, might work.

Burma’s opposition leader, who is on trial for violating house arrest order, blames police for poor security. Nobel Prize laureate says intruder tried to contact her back in November 2008, adding that military junta never told her to report such incidents.

Nguyen Thanh Xuan, deputy chief of the Commission for Religious Affairs confirms the government “has no intention of returning any property or goods to the Catholic Church or any other religious organisation”. He describes the Church as a great landlord living in luxury thanks to the “blood, sweat and tears” of the people. Father Joseph Nguyen responds “it’s a distortion of the truth” given that the properties in question were destined for prayer, education, charity work and hospices for the poor”.

The first grandchild of King Bhumibol, UN ambassador and law graduate, has been fighting for women’s rights for years. In 2006 she launched a campaign for women inmates in the countries prisons, with a specific project for pregnant prisoners.

Myanmar’s opposition leader remains in prison despite the lifting of her house arrest because she is on trial. Today she was allowed to speak to the judges, told them she is innocent. For the second time journalists and diplomats are allowed to be present during the trail.

For now the alarm level will not be raised. The new cases are in Mexico, USA, Canada and Japan. A first case in the Philippines. Virus spreads at slower rate in the southern hemisphere.