• VIETNAM - Regime implicated in scandal behind attack against Catholics in Hanoi
Popular indignation over the affair referred to as PMU18, with government officials and representatives embezzling millions of dollars, has led to the repression of any demonstration, including peaceful ones.
• SOUTH KOREA - The Church in Daejeon at 60
Two years of pilgrimages, martyr worship and fund raising for the poor went into preparing the anniversary. Now the diocese is sending missionaries to Mongolia and is helping other dioceses in South Korea.
• PAKISTAN - Lahore, Ulema Council: suicide attacks are "un-Islamic"
Prominent Islamic scholars in the country recall that only the state can proclaim jihad, and not extremist groups. A fatwa has been issued against the attackers who bloody the country. Archbishop of Lahore: "no religion approves of terrorism."
• CHINA - Beijing announces anticipated health system reform
The guidelines have been published after years of study. The objective is to ensure free health care at least for basic and urgent services, and to subsidize the hospitals. But experts warn of the difficulties of applying it, and expect experimentation in just a few hospitals.
• NEPAL - Makkah hotels too expensive for Nepali Muslims
The demolition of low-cost pilgrims’ hostels in the holy city will prevent Nepali Muslims from performing the traditional hajj pilgrimage. Finding a solution is proving difficult and is generating tensions between Prachanda’s Maoist-led government and some Nepali Muslim leaders.
• VATICAN - The Church is not an association but a community “called by God,” says Pope
In continuing his presentation on the life and ideas of Saint Paul, Benedict XVI speaks about the Apostle’s views about the Church. Together “the various local Churches” are “the Church of God, which comes before them as their fulfilment.”
• INDONESIA - Execution date for Bali bombing defendants to be announced in a few days time
Attorney general says that date and place of the execution will be announced before 24 October. Islamic extremists continue their pressure to have sentence postponed.
• ASIA - Asian markets lower on recession fears
Only Tokyo closes higher, all the other markets are negative. Although the financial crisis seems to have passed, economic problems remain.
• SRI LANKA - Controversy in Sri Lanka over "expired" plasma kits
The National Blood Transfusion Service is believed to have used equipment that did not guarantee perfect sterilization, putting the health of patients and donors at risk. Patients' rights activists call for "thorough investigations," and the "denunciation" of any irregularities.
• ISLAM - IRAQ - Islamic conference condemns attacks on Iraqi Christians
The organization is calling for an "end to the suffering of our Christian brothers." The Iraqi government sends a commission to support the work to bring security back to the inhabitants of Mosul.
• CHINA - Beijing pulls all pre-14 September dairy products off the shelves
China’s central government removes all dairy products that pre-date melamine scandal. Dairy products must pass new government tests before sale, but some retailers are still selling tainted products.
• IRAQ - VATICAN - Cardinal Delly: the situation in Iraq is disastrous, tragic, and worse by the day
The head of the Chaldean Church, speaking at the synod of bishops, describes a country in which "life is a Calvary," "everyone is afraid of being kidnapped," and the number of deaths caused by car bombings and suicide bombings is on the rise. Commemoration of Archbishop Rahho and Fr. Ganni.
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