The much-lauded peace process has not simply wiped Northern Ireland free of criminality. Rather, it has led paramilitaries to disown their political leaders and embrace organized crime, writes Gavan Reilly.
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Family reunion: A Syrian refugee is reunited
Alaa Houd fled Syria’s civil war and went to Germany. His greatest wish was to bring his wife and son to a safe country. Now, the young family is finally reunited.
From Soviet to Sith: Ukrainians transform Lenin statue into Darth Vader
Just in time for the release of the latest Star Wars blockbuster, Ukrainians in Odessa transform a statue of Lenin into one of Darth Vader, an oddly prominent figure in local politics.
Portugal’s Socialists reject new minority government


The Socialist Party has urged its members to withhold support for the center-right’s attempt at minority rule. A new vote and a growing divide over austerity policy are expected amid Portugal’s postelection confusion.
Source: Portugal’s Socialists reject new minority government
′Every dark skin in Israel is now a target′ | Middle East | DW.COM | 23.10.2015


a recent study has found that about 40 percent of the imprisoned minors in the country are Ethiopians, despite their small part in the total population – only 1.6 percent. This is perhaps not a shocking revelation; however, in a country which is already a patchwork of so many different ethnic origins, this is a very disturbing escalation.Smaller attacks, resulting in light injuries, hardly make it into the mainstream news, and thus dozens of racial incidents remain within the social media sphere, or at the very best appear as a short sentence on news tickers.Two weeks ago, a 22-year-old Israeli Jew from the northern town of Kiryat Ata stabbed another Israeli because he thought his victim was an Arab. Unlike the times when the assailant was Palestinian, this time Haifa Magistrate’s Court placed a gag order on revealing the attacker’s name and other identifiers at the request of his attorney.
Source: ′Every dark skin in Israel is now a target′ | Middle East | DW.COM | 23.10.2015
A Whiff of Intrigue as Vatican Disputes ‘Unfounded’ Report on Pope Francis’ Health – The New York Times
Francis, who has appeared determined to shake up the church, has faced resistance from some bishops, 13 of whom signed a letter to him, leaked last week, saying that he was trying to manipulate the synod’s outcome in his favor. The timing of the report, on the heels of the leaked letter, has given rise to theories that opponents of Francis’ agenda are working to undermine his papacy by sowing doubt about his health.Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Thursday that he feared that the article was part of a well-planned “apocalyptic strategy” against Francis by conservatives who want to “discredit the one who holds the power” and “destabilize him.” Archbishop Fernández, a close friend of Francis’ from Argentina, was among the bishops chosen by Francis to attend the synod.The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, has issued three rebuttals since the tumor article was published, calling the reports “gravely irresponsible and unworthy of attention.”
New Jersey Senate Overrides Christie’s Veto of Gun Control Bill
Conservative PACs Turn Attack on G.O.P. Leaders Into Fund-Raising Tool
New Mexico Secretary of State, Dianna Duran, Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Two Tibetan women and a Chinese democracy activist arrested in the UK for ‘posing a threat’ to Xi Jinping
Two British Tibetan women and a Chinese democracy activist were arrested today in the UK for “posing a threat” to President Xi Jinping.
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