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Category: World Touch
China-United States

Panda Diplomacy

The “repatriation” of two pandas born in captivity in the United States became a celebration of Sino-American friendship. The two animals, born and raised in the U.S., headed for Sichuan. The event took place after highly-tense weeks that saw the two countries at loggerheads over the internet, human rights, exchange rates, Dalai Lama and arms sales to Taiwan. “Panda diplomacy” remains one of the few channels of dialogue and cooperation between the two world superpowers.

www.asianews.it
China

No More Dog or Cat Meat on the Menu

For the first time in Chinese history, an animal rights proposal has been made, which would ban selling, cooking and eating dogs and cats. If adopted, it would make such commerce a criminal offence carrying a maximum 5,000 yuan (US$ 730) fine and 15 days detention. The proposal’s main advocate is Chang Jiwen, a social law researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He has spearheaded animal welfare legislation for the past 11 years. His 181-clause proposal was presented last September for public consultation.

www.asianews.it and Agencies
Pakistan

Shazia’s Story and the Reality of Child Labor

While the nation is still reeling from the tragic story of Shazia – the young Catholic girl brutally murdered in Lahore by her Muslim employer, the Catholic Church in Pakistan launches a warning, in light of this tragic case: “There are more than 10 million child laborers in the country, an obvious violation of Child Labor Laws,” says a document by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Pakistani Bishops’ Conference.

www.fides.org
Vatican

210,000 New Cases of Leprosy Every Year

Leprosy is still a plague, with 210,000 new cases of infection per year (not counting those long-infected, only recently diagnosed). But the world is indifferent and oblivious, even though the disease can be easily eradicated. In a message for the 57th World Day of Leprosy, Msgr. Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care Workers, demands that the international community strengthen its efforts for the treatment and prevention of this scourge.

www.asianews.it and www.fides.org
Pakistan

Blasphemy Law to be Revised

Pakistani Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti (photo) has said that the government plans to revise its laws against blasphemy this year. Bhatti said religious reconciliation was a little-noticed priority for President Asif Ali Zardari’s civilian government in Pakistan, Samaa TV reports.

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Italy

War is Irrational and Inhuman

War is irrational and inhuman, and nonviolence needs to become a language, reconciliation a style of life. These were some of the conclusions at the Italian Episcopal Conference’s convention on “For a World of Peace: the Dream of Isaiah and the Proclamation of Christ.” Caritas-Italy and Pax Christi co-sponsored the event.

www.zenit.org
World

Three-quarters of the Hungry are Rural Poor

Climate change, associated with a four-fold increase in natural disasters in the last decade, and the growth of world population, which is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, pose new challenges for aid initiatives like those of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). This warning comes from Gemmo Lodesani, head of the WFP office in Brussels, who is in charge of relations with the European Union and of fund-raising to fulfill the organization’s primary commitment: fighting hunger worldwide.

www.ipsnews.net
Shaolin

Kung Fu Monks Become a Money-making Brand

China Travel Service (CTS, a Chinese tourism giant) has announced it has opened negotiations with the city of Dengfeng, Henan, to transform the ancient monastery of Shaolin into a successful brand. The meeting was confirmed by municipal leaders, who have stressed, however, they “have not yet signed any contract with the company.” The Hong Kong branch of the CTS is responsible for the ongoing negotiations.

Asia News
China

Church Fails to Follow Population Growth

The largest survey ever conducted of the Catholic Church in mainland China has indicated that the Catholic population has not kept pace with overall population growth. According to the results of the study conducted by the Faith Institute for Cultural Studies (FICS), a Church-run organization based in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, there are now about 5.71 million Catholics in mainland China, served by 3,397 bishops, priests and deacons. A total of 3,268 priests are serving in more than 100 dioceses.

UCA News
Dubai

Tallest Skyscraper in the World

The world’s tallest building opened its doors in Dubai with a superb show of fireworks and colored lanterns. To the surprise of many, the skyscraper measuring 828 meters that was called “Burj Dubai” during the construction, has been called “Burj Khalifa,” after the head of the federation of the Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Emir of Abu Dhabi.

Asia News
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