A mob lynched a 20-year-old Muslim man for allegedly smuggling cows and bulls at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh’s Nahan district on Friday.
EUROPE/PORTUGAL – 115 institutions ready to accept refugees
Lisbon – There are 115 institutions that are willing to accept refugees, according to information revealed by the first General Assembly of the support platform for Refugees . The High Commissioner for Migration considered that the membership and the work of PAR is an attitude “of inspiration for public administration”, in a time when “it was necessary to create a common strategy at a national level”, with regards to the integration of refugees.
Rui Marques, recently elected Coordinator of PAR , stressed that the reception and integration of refugees “is not just a logistical problem, it is much more: it is a question of civilization”, and referring to the fact that many educational institutions have already joined the project, he underlined the utmost importance of the role of higher education institutions.
There is the presence of several diocesan Caritas, religious congregations, parish social centers, associations and schools linked to the Catholic Church in the list of these 115 institutions. In this first phase, it will be possible to accept 85 refugee families, for a total of 420 people. However later their number could increase to 135 families, 660 people.
ASIA/HOLY LAND – Caritas Jerusalem: pilgrimages cancelled due to the blocks in the neighborhoods of the Holy City
Jerusalem – All the security measures which have taken place by the Israeli authorities in Jerusalem – especially those inside the Old City – are causing the cancellation of pilgrimages, “which means the collapse of the whole tourism sector especially in Bethlehem, for most people depend on this sector to secure their livelihoods”. This is the side effect of police blocks put in place by the Israeli government especially in East Jerusalem, after the new escalation of violence in the Holy Land has already caused the death of at least 39 people. Caritas Jerusalem also launches the alarm regarding the impact of security measures on pilgrimages in a statement released today and signed by the President General, Father Raed Abusahaliah.
The cancellation of permits to enter Jerusalem or Israel – denounces Caritas Jerusalem – “will lead to increased unemployment and economic hardships for tens of thousands of the families of the workers who completely rely on the income that they make”. “We do not deny that the situation is not easy”, said the statement sent to Agenzia Fides, “but we call upon all our Christian brothers and sisters to come and not to be fearful: don’t leave us isolated”.
ASIA/INDIA – Protestant Pastor killed in Jharkhand
Bhopal – A Protestant Pastor was killed in the state of Jharkhand, eastern India.
As reported to Fides by the Evangelical Fellowship network of India, Chamu Hasda Purty, 54, of the Independent Pentecostal Church was killed on October 12 in the village of Sandhi, a village in the district of Khunti, Jharkhand state. A group of armed men broke into his house and shot him. The cold-blooded murder has created tension and fear among Christians in the area. In the state Hindu extremist groups are increasing and have recently launched a campaign to promote an anti-conversion law .
In the state, currently ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, nationalist formation, there is a Christian community of about one and a half million faithful, mainly made up of tribal groups.
According to the recent report of the US State Department on religious freedom 2014 “in India people are killed and arrested for religious reasons, there are riots and forced conversions, and the police are not able to respond effectively to violence”
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez Makes Historic Run for US Senate
By Alberto Garcia
During the past 19 years, Congress Loretta Sanchez has blazed a trail through the halls of the US Capitol as a recognized expert on military and security issues.
First elected to Congress in 1996, Ms. Sanchez, a Democrat, defeated 6-term Congressman Bob Dornan, a conservative Republican. Dornan was accused in his previous campaign of posting signs in Spanish at polling places on Election Day warning voters they would be asked for citizenship papers by immigration officials before voting.
Congresswoman Sanchez sat down this week with La Prensa San Diego in Barrio Logan for an exclusive interview.
“Sometimes I’m the only woman in meetings but I’m nearly always the only Latina,” the Congresswoman noted.
The meetings she was referring to involve her work on the House Homeland Security Committee, usually with high-level military and intelligence officers.
She also serves on its Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities which oversees the Department of Defense counter proliferation and counter terrorism programs and initiatives including Special Operations Forces, defense science and technology policy and programs, information technology programs, cyber-operations, and strategic communications. Ms. Sanchez also is a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.
These important committees are involved in shaping the policies and programs instrumental in protecting the United States from terrorist threats as well as overall military spending yet most of us didn’t know a Latina from Anaheim is a key player in these discussions.
Born in Lynwood and raised in Anaheim, Loretta Sanchez grew up speaking only Spanish and was in the first class of the federal Head Start program. Later earning an Economics degree from Chapman University and a Masters of Business Administration from American University, Ms. Sanchez pursued a career in finance, working with defense contractor Booz Allan Hamilton and Fieldman Rolapp.
Ms. Sanchez credits the Head Start program for changing her life. Head Start was launched in 1965 to help children in low-income communities. In addition to preschool classes, Head Start provided medical care, dental care, and mental health services.
But not only did the program help her, but Congresswoman Sanchez says it helped her mother and other parents get more involved in their kids’ lives while also improving their own lives. Ms. Sanchez’ mother, Maria Sanchez, went on to earn her GED, a Bachelors’ degree, and eventually her teaching credential. Mrs. Sanchez taught in Orange County public schools for 17 years.
Her personal experience with public education has made Congresswoman Sanchez a fierce supporter of funding for schools. During debate on the House floor to reform the Head Start program, Ms. Sanchez shared her background growing up poor and challenged with a speech impediment.
“I know about these kids, because I am one of those kids”, she explained to her Congressional colleagues. “It hurts to hear you talk about how we are not successful, or how we are losers. But we are very successful. We have had a lot of successes with Head Start,” she added.
Many years later, that little girl from Anaheim now discusses with military leaders the state of readiness of our armed forces, or gets briefed by intelligence officials on the latest terrorist threats to our country.
“Sometimes they all look and think alike in these meetings,” she told La Prensa San Diego, referring to career military and intelligence officials, “and I bring up a different view based on my own life experiences. I’m usually the only Latino or Latina in these meetings,” she added.
“I understand the security issues facing the US-Mexico border areas and want to help protect our Homeland Security but we have to deal with real immigration reform,” she added.
Congresswoman Sanchez has been a supporter of the Senate’s co-called “Gang of 8” immigration reform deal, stating at the time it passed the Senate in 2013 that the deal was “a monumental step and a sign that real progress can be made toward creating a path to citizenship. It’s high time to create a fair and viable path to legal status for the millions of undocumented immigrants in our country,” she added. The bill eventually stalled in the House when Republicans opposed a comprehensive approach in favor of a piecemeal set of bills that to this day have not materialized.
This year, Congresswoman Sanchez launched her campaign to replace retiring US Senator Barbara Boxer. In order to run for the Senate, she had to give up her ability to seek reelection to her congressional seat. Ms. Sanchez is facing California Attorney General Kamala Harris and State Assemblyman Rocky Chavez from Oceanside. If she were to win this election, Loretta Sanchez would become the first Latina ever in the United States Senate.
“I think she’s a great role model for us and shows that we can reach the highest levels of success no matter where we come from,” said Eduardo Lopez who heard the Congressman speak during her visit. “Our children can see that someone who looks like them and came from a similar background can really make it in this country,” he concluded.
Ecola Seafoods Inc. Issuing Voluntary Recall on all Canned Salmon and Tuna Because of Possible Health Risk
ECOLA Seafoods Inc. of Cannon Beach, Oregon is voluntarily recalling all canned salmon and tuna with any code starting with “OC” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
Kroger Withdraws Unrefrigerated Caramel Apples Due to Potential Food Safety Risk
CINCINNATI (PRNewswire) — The Kroger Co. on Thursday announced its decision to withdraw from sale unrefrigerated caramel apples that have been pierced with dipping sticks due to new scientific evidence that the product, if left unrefrigerated, may be at risk for listeriosis.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with these products. Kroger made its decision out of an abundance of caution after reviewing a study published online by the American Society of Microbiology.
A Huge Number Of Americans Have Come Out As LGBT On Facebook This Year
A whopping 800,000 people have changed their sexual preference or gender identity since National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) in 2014, which represents 13 percent of the total number of ‘out’ Americans on the site. [ more › ]
The Skyrocketing Costs Of NYC’s Homeless Epidemic: Gothamist
Since 2007, Albany has scaled back its contribution for both family and single adult shelters, while the federal share for family shelters has grown, and the city’s tab has increased for single adult shelters. (The title of the IBO’s report begins “Albany Shifts the Burden…”)The report cites former mayor Michael Blomberg’s elimination of the rental assistance program Advantage in 2012 as a likely driver of the latest shelter population spike. Mayor de Blasio, to be sure, is committing more money to trying to the issue. He has lined up $1 billion in anti-homelessness spending over the next four years, and his administration spent $180 million last year helping 53,000 households pay back rent to avoid eviction, up from 42,000 households and $124 million the year prior. He also started a new rental assistance program called Living in Communities, commonly referred to as LINC, but the report says its impact has yet to be felt.
Source: The Skyrocketing Costs Of NYC’s Homeless Epidemic: Gothamist
Afghan migrant shot dead trying to enter Bulgaria
A migrant has died in a scuffle with border guards, according to Bulgarian officials. The man allegedly traveled with a large group of refugees from Afghanistan and was trying to enter the EU from Turkey.
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