American Muslims raise funds for Pittsburgh synagogue attack victims, and a new group joins the US-bound migrant caravan.
Far-right candidate Bolsonaro wins Brazil’s presidential elections
Brazil’s far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who campaigned on a promise to eradicate corruption, has won a sweeping victory in the country’s presidential election, reports BBC.
Bolsonaro won with 55 per cent of the votes against 45 per cent secured by Fernando Haddad from the left-wing Workers’ Party.
In a victory speech Sunday, Bolsonaro said his government would be a defender of democracy and the Constitution. “The commitment I assumed with the Brazilian people was to create a decent government, committed to the country and the people. And I guarantee you that I will,” he added.
Critics of Bolsonaro are concerned about the rights of minorities following homophobic, racist and misogynistic remarks made by him during the campaign and before.
US Muslims start raising funds to help Pittsburgh synagogue victims
Eleven people have been killed and a number of others injured, in what is considered to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the US history, Saturday.
To help the victims of the attack, the Muslim-American community has raised tens of thousands of dollars in a crowdfunding effort, reports Al Jazeera.
LaunchGood is a site which aims to help victims whether it is the injured people or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones in the Pittsburgh synagogue attack.
The campaign which was started by Tarek El-Messidi, a Muslim-American speaker, raised $25,000 in only six hours. The goal has now been extended to $50,000.
Robert Bowers, has been identified as the suspect for Saturday’s mass shooting.
Muslims, let’s stand with our Jewish cousins against hate, bigotry, & violence. https://t.co/RCl4p4AOGV
— Tarek El-Messidi (@Elmessidi) October 27, 2018
Bishops want greater participation of women in church decisions
A worldwide assembly of hundreds of Catholic church’s bishops in Vatican City came to an end Saturday, as it called for a more inclusive role for women in church decision-making and greater participation of young people, reports The New York Times.
The appeal was part of the document which was given to Pope Francis for his consideration.
The document said that “it is a duty of justice. The absence of women’s voices and viewpoint impoverishes discussion and the path of the church”.
It also recognised the church’s loopholes amid fresh revelations on clerics’ sexual abuse of minors, a development that has damaged the church’s credibility in recent years.
The document added that the assembly known as ‘The Synod of Bishops’, recognises that dealing with the question of abuse, in all its aspects, with the precious help of young people, can really be an opportunity for an epochal reform”.
US-bound caravan of migrants still moving north
Thousands of Central American migrants who entered Mexico from Guatemala last week have not given up and are still moving towards north even with growing problems in the march and threats from the US and Mexican governments to turn them back, reports CNN.
Most of the migrants, who left everything behind to join the caravan, have little funds; some even have gone hungry for days and are walking with worn out flip-flops.
President Donald Trump has described the caravan as an organised effort by dark forces to introduce criminals and possibly terrorists into the United States, says CNN.
According to the Mexican government, the caravan has been reduced to about 3,600 migrants from more than 7,000 although organizers claim their numbers are growing.
Meanwhile, a new group of migrants, who called themselves the second caravan, came in conflict with the Guatemalan police while forcing themselves through a gate on the border bridge in the town of Tecun Uman and then fought with Mexican officers, reports The Independent.
Japanese Princess Ayako marries commoner
Japanese Princess Ayako married a commoner in a ceremony at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine Monday, reports The New York Times.
Princess Ayako is the 28-year-old daughter of the emperor’s cousin, and the groom — 32-year-old Kei Moriya — works for a major shipping company, Nippon Yusen.
Women who marry into the imperial family become part of the family, but those who marry commoners, like Ayako, must leave.
After the wedding ceremony, Ayako told the reporters that she was filled with happiness.