South East Asia

From blocking of flights to and from Mexico to temperature scanners in the airports, and limitations on visas for Mexicans. The experience of SARS and bird flu is showing itself useful for China and the countries of southeast Asia. Stocks in companies in the tourism and travel industry falling, pharmaceutical stocks gaining.

The decision of Malaysia, an Islamic majority country, establishes that children are bound to the religion of their parents at the time of marriage, even if later one of the two becomes Muslim.

Catholic religious leaders are “responsive” to workers and their problems, open to pro-active intervention to protect their rights. Church and trade unions are working on a seven-point plan to protect workers, migrants and the poor.

The accusation, issued by the state-owned media, includes the possibility of the death penalty. At the origin is the protest against a construction project on a plot of land belonging to the parish of Thai Ha, and against a plan to mine bauxite in the high plains, which would cause irreversible damage to the environment and to the population. Buddhists and the legendary general Giap join the criticism.

WHO: raises its pandemic alert level to phase four. A similar Flu, 40 years ago, caused over one million deaths. Deaths in Mexico, suspected cases in many nations among them, Israel and South Korea. A vaccine will take months to produce. Airline shares slide.

Clergymen are summoned by police reacting to a complaint filed by the monastery’s superior against a construction plan that involves seizing more parish-owned land.

Crisis Management Committee says it lost contact with kidnappers. Muslim religious leaders call for the release of the International Red Cross worker. Filipino government says Italian man is in a hut in Indanan forest.

Local police find the bodies of Rev Frans Koagow and his wife, slaughtered in their home in Manado, capital of the province of North Sulawesi. Investigators exclude theft as possible motive. Two men who came to the clergyman’s home early in the morning are the main suspects.

Suspected cases in Israel and Hong Kong. Severe controls in the airports, with instruments to measure body temperature. Exported American pork prohibited in China, Russia, and other countries. Experts: if the flu spreads to the populated areas of India and China, it will be difficult to contain it.

Printed in 1593, it is the oldest example of Christian literature in the local language. It is based on the teachings of Cardinal Bellarmine, a theologian and doctor of the Church. The only existing copy is kept in the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington.

Decision aimed at “fostering national reconciliation” after weeks of violent protests by “red shirts”. Last weeks clashes have brought the tourist industry to its knees. The national state airline announces a 20% drop in bookings.

For Catholics RVA is often the only source of news of and about local and the universal Church. The Vietnamese are particularly proud of Mgr Nguyen Van Tai, who has worked for the broadcaster for the past 31 years, and contributed to the training of priests, nuns and lay people studying in the Philippines. Monsignor Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, took part in the celebrations.