World Touch Archives - Page 20 of 71

China

Killer Smog

Pollution in China kills between 350 and 500 thousand people each year. This was revealed by an article in the British scientific journal The Lancet co- authored by Chen Zhu, president of the Medical Association of China, formerly the Minister for Health under President Hu Jintao. In the text, the authors admit that “despite best efforts, it will be difficult to control the phenomenon, since there are huge sources of pollution and of very different kinds.”

www.asianews.it

Philippines

New Gun Law Will Not Stop Crime

The new law on firearms has sparked heated debate in the Philippines where, in 2013 alone, over 220 thousand crimes were committed including robberies, murders, assaults, violence. The new norm is the final version of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, of June 2013, which allows at-risk groups to carry firearms. These include journalists, lawyers, activists and priests often victims of kidnapping, summary killings and robberies by groups of terrorists or criminals. According to the previous law, such categories were treated like any other citizen and had to show that they are “under real threat” to bear arms. Critics of the law state that while the government now allows individuals at risk to defend themselves, it still does not make any headway in preventing crimes.

www.asianews.it

Africa

Billions That The Poor Won’t Touch

With its two-trillion-dollar economy, recent discoveries of billions of dollars worth of minerals and oil, and the number of investment opportunities it has to offer global players, Africa is slowly shedding its image as a development burden. “While global direct investment has shown some decline – dropping by 18% in 2012 – in Africa, foreign direct investment rose by 5%,” Ken Ogwang, an economic expert affiliated with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) which has a membership of over 60 businesses, said.

www.ipsnews.net/Miriam Gathigah and Jeffrey Moyo

World Touch

A Filipino Prophet

Richard Pulga died five days after Typhoon Haiyan rampaged across the fragile land called the Philippines. In another time, another place, the healthy 27-year-old would still be alive.

By Phyllis Zagano**

C.A.R.

Great Violence Amid Threat Of Genocide

A year of violence threatening the stability of the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) has escalated recently, leaving more than one million people in need amid calls for foreign aid and warnings of the potential for genocide.

www.catholicnewsagency.com/ Carl Bunderson and Michelle Bauman

South Sudan

Conflict Spreads In Spite Of Peace Talks

As the conflict in South Sudan continues, aid agencies are struggling to provide assistance to the thousands of people caught up in the violence.

www.irinnews.org

Holland

1,000 Catholic Churches To Close By 2025

About 1,000 Dutch Catholic churches – around two-thirds of the total in the country – will be shut by 2025, Cardinal Willem Eijk warned Pope Francis at an ad limina visit recently.

www.thetablet.co.uk

Afghanistan

Opium Production At All-Time High

“According to the 2013 Afghanistan Opium Survey, cultivation amounted to some 209,000 hectares, outstripping the earlier record in 2007 of 193,000 hectares, and representing a 36% increase over 2012.”

www.catholic.org

Religion/Global South

In Spite Of Persecution, Christianity Is Growing

Researchers say the Christian population is growing in regions that experience anti-Christian persecution, though this threatens their ability to contribute to societies.

www.catholicnewsagency.com/ Kevin J. Jones

World

Eighty-Five Richest People As Wealthy As The Poorest Half Of The World

The world’s wealthiest people aren’t known for travelling by bus, but if they fancied a change of scene, then the richest 85 people on the globe – who among them control as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population put together – could squeeze onto a single double-decker.

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Category: World Touch