Asianews.it
Ultime notizie dall'Asia



CHINA - GERMANY - Beijing vetoes Merkel, a sign of China’s weakness and fear (Feb 4)
The Chancellor concluded her visit to the country, marked by prohibitions and news blackout: meeting with a dissident prevented, visit to a non-government newspaper cancelled, the presence of the media blocked at visit the Catholic bishop of Guangzhou.


PHILIPPINES - Mindanao, Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah leaders killed in a raid (Feb 4)
The air raid struck an Islamic extremists camp located near the town of Parang (Jolo), killing 15 terrorists. Among the dead Zulfifli bin Hir, head of Jemaah Islamiah, Gumbahali Jumdail, leader of Abu Sayyaf and Mumanda Ali, one of the authors of the Bali bombing. In the coming days DNA tests to confirm the identity of the slain.


ITALY - Responding today to Jesus' question: "Who do you say I am?" (Feb 4)
An International Symposium on "Jesus our contemporary," to be held in Rome from 9 to 11 February, organized by the Italian Churches’ Committee for Cultural projects. Cardinal. Ruini: "a strong message to society and a cultural world that are oppressed by so many other concerns and many other needs."


CHINA - SUDAN - China "ready for anything" to free workers abducted in South Sudan (Feb 4)
The Beijing government "will exert every possible pressure" on the southern Sudan to secure the release of the 29 workers of Sinohydro Corporation taken away by force on 29 January. But the image of China in Africa is full of holes blacks.


INDONESIA - Central Java, Catholic Church celebrates a boom in vocations (Feb 4)
After three years of decline, a sharp increase in requests for admission to the seminaries. The St. Peter Canisius in Mertoyudan, run by Jesuits, is celebrating the 100 year with a record number of students. Most come from the archdiocese of Semarang.Bishop of Purwokerto: "huge number".


INDIA - Protestant leader: Hindu attacks against schools and teachers Christians "indecents" (Feb 4)
The President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) recalls the cases of Nirmala Convent School (Chhattisgarh) and St Joseph's PU College (Karnataka), where ultra-nationalists created turmoil at the end of January. For Sajan George, the attacks show "the protection guaranteed the extremists" -


KUWAIT - Islamist parties win the elections in Kuwait (Feb 3)
Islamist candidates take 34 seats out of 50. Their victory comes amid protests against the outgoing government, accused of corruption. No woman is elected.


ASIA - 1.24 million deaths from malaria: twice those estimated by the WHO (Feb 3)
A Seattle University study has estimated that in 2010 the victims of the disease numbered about 47% more than shown by the data published by the World Health Organization. Funded by Bill Gates, the new study is based on statistical models that also takes into account deaths that previously were not attributed to malaria.


INDIA - Card. Turkson: India's economic growth also needs spiritual values (Feb 3)
The President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace spoke to the General Assembly of the Bishops' Conference of India (1-8 February). He affirmed that economic growth alone "is not sufficient"; it is necessary "to adopt the Christian vision and place the human being at the center."


INDONESIA - Papuan Church preparing the ground for talks between Jakarta and independence movement (Feb 3)
President Yudhoyono met a delegation of Catholic and Protestant religious leaders. Christian leaders appreciate the government’s moves, hoping for talks between the two sides. They have not however expressed any views about separatist demands in the resource-rich territory.