The murder occurred in the neighbourhood of Tahrir. The police say motive is not yet clear. Fr. Hazem Girgis, a local priest: It is one of the many crimes committed to eradicate Christians from the area and force them to leave.

Benedict XVI approves the election of Rev Emil Shimoun Nona by the Synod of Bishops of the Chaldean Church. The diocese had no leader since March 2008 when Mgr Rahho was abducted and murdered. Catholics in Mosul are full of “joy and renewed hope.”

The Catholic hospital in Bethlehem offers aid to poor women in four refugee camps.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Israel to halt what he called "provocative" actions after another Palestinian family in East Jerusalem was evicted from their home, the latest in a series of similar incidents.

Two African priests denied visas, the priests from Europe reduced to a one year visa. Church authorities are afraid to raise their voice for fear of the consequences. The cause for restrictions: the fundamentalism of the Shas party.

Benedict XVI tells Iranian Ambassador:“The Holy See trusts that the Iranian authorities will be able to reinforce and guarantee to Christians the liberty to profess their faith and to ensure for the Catholic community the essential conditions for its existence.”

Contracts with the Italian company Eni, in alliance with the United States and South Korea. The Nasiriyah oilfield to the Japanese. Problems with Chinese companies. But meanwhile the standoff between Kurdistan and Baghdad continues.