… significant structural opportunities for agricultural growth. To start, … region with rice and fruit, vegetables making up nearly … conditions, especially in northern Europe, I expect that herbicides … for improving both the fertilizer usage, crop protection, …
Statement by Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in light of Recent Developments in France
Following today’s attack in Nice and following on from the murder of Samuel Paty on 16 October, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has condemned all forms of terrorism and extremism and called for mutual understanding and dialogue between all peoples and nations.
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad states:
“The murder and beheading of Samuel Paty and the attack in Nice earlier today must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Such grievous attacks are completely against the teachings of Islam. Our religion does not permit terrorism or extremism under any circumstances and anyone who claims otherwise acts against the teachings of the Holy Quran and contrary to the noble character of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
As the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the victims and to the French nation. Let it be clear that our condemnation and hatred of such attacks is not something new but has always been our position and stance. The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (peace be upon him) and his Successors have always categorically rejected all forms of violence or bloodshed in the name of religion.
The fallout from this heinous act has further exacerbated the tensions between the Islamic world and the West and between Muslims living in France and the rest of society. We consider this to be a source of deep regret and a means of further undermining the peace and stability of the world. We must all join together to root out all forms of extremism and to encourage mutual understanding and tolerance. From our perspective, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will spare no effort in our mission to foster a better understanding of the true and peaceful teachings of Islam in the world.”
World churches body condemns recent extremist attacks around the world
In a week of brutal inter-ethnic violence and a series of attacks by extremists claiming to act in the name of Islam, the World Council of Churches has condemned the violence and called for confronting the brutal ideologies behind them.
“The unbearable toll of lives lost, and the impact on the affected communities and nations, must engage the concern, solidarity and action of the international community and all people of goodwill,” wrote Rev. Ioan Sauca, interim general secretary of the World Council of Churches.
This must be done to “stem the bloodshed and to confront the brutal ideologies behind such atrocities,” he said on Nov. 3.
He was commenting on violent extremist attacks in western Ethiopia, Kabul and Vienna that followed another attack in Nice France last week,
“In an attack on ethnic Amharas in western Ethiopia on November 1, 54 people are reported to have been killed, in a tragic escalation of the ethnic violence which threatens the very fabric of the Ethiopian nation.
The on Nov. 2, gunmen attacked Afghanistan’s largest university, killing at least 19 people and wounding more than a dozen, in the second deadly assault on an educational institution in the capital resulting in mass casualties in just over a week.
“And now in an apparent religiously-inspired extremist attack in Vienna – which began outside the Seitenstettengasse Synagogue, four people are reported killed and another 17 wounded,” said the WCC.
The WCC said the “Seitenstettengasse Synagogue, the main house of prayer for the Viennese Jewish community” has been the target of past violent attacks.
Gunmen opened fire in six different locations in the Vienna city center and at least one suspect was still at large.
The WCC categorically denounced all the attacks, “and its rejection of any attempts to justify such violence on religious grounds,” Sauca said.
“Merciful God, bring peace to a world increasingly riven by divisions and hatreds. Introduce compassion and wisdom to those leaders who so fearfully lack these qualities and who incite hatred and violence,” he prayed.
“Bring peace to a world increasingly riven by divisions and hatreds. Introduce compassion and wisdom to those leaders who so fearfully lack these qualities and who incite hatred and violence. Comfort all those who mourn the precious lives lost, and encourage and protect the communities now living in fear.”
On Oct 29, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow and offered prayers for a “savage attack” in at a church in the French city of Nice in which three people were killed in a knife attack described as a “terrorist incident” and which was denounced by the French president and the WCC.
And two days earlier WCC’s joined global Christians and the United Nations in expressing horror at the brutal attack on schoolchildren in Cameron in which assailants slaughtered at least eight students with firearms and machetes.
Holy See urges comprehensive approach to tackling inequality – Vatican News
By Vatican News staff writer
Addressing participants at the 2020 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mediterranean Conference on Tuesday, Monsignor Janusz Urbańczyk stressed the importance of an integral approach in tackling the challenges of security and development amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
The Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the OSCE said that security issues should always be addressed in a comprehensive manner, taking into consideration items such as “security, climate change, migration and the current economic and financial crisis exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Often, Msgr. Urbańczyk continued, “the level of economic growth of a country is the only factor considered in development.” However, he said, “the development we speak of cannot be restricted merely to economic growth.” For it to be authentic, “it must be well rounded; it must foster the development of each person and of the whole person.”
The OSCE Conference was themed: “Promoting Security in the OSCE Mediterranean Region through Sustainable Development and Economic Growth.”
Integral development
Echoing Pope Francis’ observation in the 2020 Encyclical letter Fratelli tutti, Msgr. Urbańczyk highlighted some economic rules that have proved effective for growth but not for integral human development. He notes that “wealth has increased, but together with inequality; with the result that ‘new forms of poverty are emerging’.”
Especially in these times marked by the wide-ranging effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, these new forms of poverty have not only exacerbated already existing poverties but have added new ones. Some of these include the limits of our health care systems, which are overwhelmed by the crisis; or the long-lasting consequences of the economic crisis; the lack of access to correct information and education; and the suffering caused by social isolation, increased violence, and distress.
“We cannot allow economics to be separated from human realities, nor development from the civilization in which it takes place,” said Msgr Urbańczyk. “What counts for us is the person – each individual, each community, and humanity as a whole.”
Women particularly affected
The pandemic has a disproportionate effect on women, Msgr. Urbańczyk noted. Many are impacted by a heavier workload, including telework, care, and domestic work; or by unpaid leaves and job losses, especially in the informal sector.
Highlighting the crucial role women play in the economy and society, the Monsignor stressed that “women must be recognized as dignified protagonists of their integral development,” adding that governments have the responsibility of protecting their dignity and providing them with a system of social safeguards and adequate compensation.
Inclusion of all
In light of the strong societal inequalities highlighted by the pandemic, Msgr. Urbańczyk recommended that the policies and tools put in place to respond to those in need be guided by two principles: the inclusion of all, and the protection of the sacredness of human life.
Although the pandemic is a test for individuals and society as a whole, Msgr. Urbańczyk concluded, “it also provides a real opportunity to seek new and innovative consensus-based solutions that are not divisive, politicized or partial, but that truly seek the common good and the integral human development of all.”
Ivory Coast president declared winner in contested election – Vatican News
Vatican News staff writer
The Ivory Coast electoral commission announced Tuesday morning that Alassane Ouattara has won re-election to a third term as president of the west African nation.
Opposition groups immediately rejected the results, citing Ivory Coast’s constitution which sets a two-term limit on the presidency. The incumbent argued, however, that the approval of a new constitution in 2016 allowed him to restart his mandate.
According to the results announced Tuesday, Ouattara won with over 94% of the vote, with a turnout of 53.90% of voters. Leaders of opposition groups, which had called for a boycott of the election, said turnout was closer to 10%. They said they did not recognize an Ouattara victory, and would instead form a transitional council that would work on organising “a fair, transparent, and inclusive presidential election.”
International election observers had already noted on Monday that “a significant portion of the population did not vote,” compared to previous elections. A statement released by the observer mission carried out by The Carter Center and Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa added, “these problems threaten public acceptance of the results and the country’s cohesion.”
Disputes over the election and Ouattara’s candidacy led to violence prior to Saturday’s election, with at least 30 people killed. Violence also broke out on election day itself, with reports of five deaths.
Recent elections in Ivory Coast have led to widespread unrest, with a brief civil war following the election in 2010 that left more than 3000 people dead.
The streets of the capital, Abidjan, remained calm in the early morning hours after the results were announced but it was unknown whether that would hold.
The opposition on Monday night said that its call for civil disobedience was still in effect and told its supporters “to remain mobilized until the final victory.” The U.N. refugee agency reported that as of Tuesday more than 3,200 Ivorians had fled to Liberia, Ghana and Togo fearing post-electoral violence.
Fish Scupper: EU and EU fail to bridge gaps on fisheries
The UK and European Union have so far failed to reach agreements on the three most contentious issues in their ongoing trade talks, both sides said.
The pair have not been able to reach agreements on fisheries, the so-called level playing field, and settling future disputes between Britain and the EU.
Read more: CBI deputy: A no-deal Brexit on top of coronavirus is ‘very, very worrying’
The impasse comes despite almost two weeks of intensive talks in a last-ditch attempt to strike a deal for when Britain’s transition agreement with the bloc comes to an end on 31 December.
Any deal to smooth billions of pounds of trade between the pair needs to be agreed by 15 November to give it time to be ratified by the EU before the transition period expires.
An update on the talks’ progress and the chances of a deal being struck is expected tomorrow or Thursday. Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier said last week that “much remains to be done” before an agreement is reached.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
A European Commission spokesperson said negotiators have not yet found a deal on sharing access to fishing waters after the post-Brexit transition period ends in December.
“We have not yet found a solution on fisheries,” a Commission spokesperson said. They said “a lot more work remains to be done to get a deal”, adding: “we are not there yet”.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We’ll only be able to make progress if the EU accepts the reality that the UK will have the right to control access to its waters at the end of this year.”
“There are significant gaps that do remain between our positions in the most difficult areas, and there is much work still to be done if we are to bridge those gaps.”
The Commission also said it would consider escalating its legal dispute with the UK over its violation of the Brexit withdrawal treaty.
Read more: Brexit talks: Germany ‘concerned’ over lack of progress given reliance on City
The bloc sent London a formal letter of notice at the start of last month over the UK’s internal market bill – which Britain has admitted breached international law by breaching its earlier Brexit divorce settlement with the bloc.
The Commission spokesperson said that Britain had failed to reply and that the EU would therefore now consider the next step in the legal dispute – a reasoned opinion.
Indonesian Bishops call for dialogue in restive West Papua – Vatican News
By Devin Watkins
Representatives of the Catholic Church in Indonesia, in particular from the West Papua province, have held talks with the country’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.
The meeting was held on Sunday at Mr. Mahfud MD’s residence, and were aimed at discussing the various problems afflicting the restive province.
Present were Bishop Aloysius Murwito of Agats and Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Amboina, who is also the Apostolic Administrator of Merauke, along with Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, President of Indonesia’s Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The encounter came after reports emerged that the Indonesian National Army had shot dead a Catholic catechist on 26 October. He was suspected of belonging to a separatist movement.
The murder took place in Jalae Village, Sugapa District, in West Papua’s Intan Jaya Regency.
Harmful effects
Bishop Mandagi told UCA News that the hour-long meeting was meant to address “various problems in Papua, especially violence.”
Indonesia’s Bishops, he added, are concerned about the situation, though he said no specific cases were discussed.
Rather, talks focused on the suffering wrought by violence, both on local civilians as well as on security forces.
Dialogue, not violence
Bishop Mandagi said he told Mr. Mahfud that expanded dialogue with the people of Papua could help ease tensions. The local Catholic Church, he added, was always open to discussions.
“Papuans are good people,” he said. “Everyone including military, police, and church workers who come to Papua must not look down on them. We all need to settle Papua’s problems with dialogue, by respecting Papuans and without violence.”
The Bishop said military interventions only serve to exacerbate tensions.
Long-running unrest
A separatist movement has simmered in Indonesia’s West Papua and Papua provinces since the late 1960s, when the region became part of Indonesia.
Papuans complain of human rights abuses and discrimination from government authorities.
Following the meeting with Church leaders, Mr. Mahfud said the government would engage in further dialogue with Bishops in West Papua and Papua, as well as with other religious leaders.
Bishop Mandagi expressed his hopes for the cessation of violence.
“We want Papua to become a land of love, not a war zone,” he said.
Seven nominations for Miriam Dalli’s seat in the European Parliament
Seven nominations have been presented for Thursday’s casual election to fill the seat vacated by Miriam Dalli in the European Parliament
The Electoral Commission said the election is being contested by Felix Busuttil, Josef Caruana, Cyrus Engerer, Mary Gauci, James Grech, Robert Micallef and Lorna Vassallo.
Miriam Dalli resigned her seat in the EP to take up that vacated by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in the national parliament.
Cyrus Engerer is in lead position to take the seat, as he was fifth in line after the Labour party’s four MEPs.
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US votes in Presidential Election – Vatican News
By Lydia O’Kane
It’s decision day in the United States. Following a divisive US election campaign, Americans are going to the polls Tuesday to choose their next President.
Both Republican Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden spent the last day before this ballot continuing to woo voters.
Trump did a whistle-stop tour of four states on Monday, while Presidential hopeful Joe Biden spent his last full day of campaigning in Ohio and Pennsylvania, telling voters that he was the man for the job.
Speaking to Americans late on Monday night in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Trump warned that his rival would move US jobs abroad. Biden, meanwhile, addressing supporters in Pittsburgh, said, “We’re done with the chaos, we’re done with the tweets, the anger, the hate, the failure, the irresponsibility.”
Communicating a message
Both men have rallied supporters, taken part in televised debates, and used social media to get their message across.
Fr Mike Russo is an Emmy Award-winning producer and former professor of Communications Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California. Speaking to Vatican Radio, he said the current president has used social media to his advantage and maybe “we’re not used to that kind of Chief Executive.”
Fr Russo added that even if Donald Trump ends up being a one-term president, “I think there will be copy cats following him afterwards, able to get into high office and continue that kind of day-to-day social media, I would call it combat, where everyone is susceptible to being brought down by a Tweet.”
Challenging times
This has been a campaign dominated by a number of key issues. Topping that list is the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 231,000 people in the United States and left millions unemployed. The country has also been rocked by protests over racial injustice against Black Americans and other minorities.
Noting that the US at present is facing challenging times, Fr Russo said moral leadership is something we need at all times.
“What is the role of a United States President?” he asked. “I’d particularly argue that there is this idea about bringing about cohesion … just as preaching is a leadership skill, so too is the role of the President of the United States … it’s a complicated role.”
In anticipation of possible protests several cities, such as New York and Washington, have begun boarding up buildings.
Votes and electoral college
Voters have already cast their ballots early in record-breaking numbers in this election – more than 99 million, in fact, either in person or by mail.
Both candidates have focused their attention on twelve key states, nearly all states that President Trump won in 2016. They include Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Polls also predict tight races in Florida, North Carolina and Arizona.
In order to win the White House, 270 electoral votes are required. Joe Biden has held a steady lead in the popular vote in national polls. But Donald Trump is close in enough swing states to possibly amass the 270 state-by-state Electoral College votes needed to hold on to the presidency.
Buddhist Times News – First Buddhist Chaitya, more stupas excavated in Gujarat’s Vadnagar
First Buddhist Chaitya, more stupas excavated in Gujarat’s Vadnagar
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By — Shyamal Sinha
The Covid lockdown interval has yielded a serious treasure for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) crew working at Vadnagar, the hometown of PM Narendra Modi. This features a pretty well-preserved construction believed to be a Chaitya, a shrine with a prayer corridor, and two stupas in the neighborhood.
The word caitya appears in the Vedic literature of Hinduism. In early Buddhist and Hindu literature, a caitya is any ‘piled up monument’ or ‘sacred tree’ under which to meet or meditate.
The historic marvels have been dug up from close to the grain godown in Vadnagar and date again to the 2nd to seventh Century. This time interval coincides with Chinese traveller-monk Hiuen Tsang’s go to to the traditional city in the seventh Century.
A crew of ASI’s Excavation Branch V has been stationed in the traditional city since 2015 to hold out cultural sequencing of the PM’s hometown. Work in season 2019-20 was primarily targeted on two spots – Amba Ghat on the banks of Sharmishtha Lake, and the neighborhood of grain godown close to the railway line.
“The main structure, possibly a Chaitya, was excavated from the site spread over a 50X20 metre area. It is an apsidal (semi-circular) structure. The structure is being closely studied but is believed to be a Buddhist Chaitya because of it’s unique design,” mentioned sources near the event. “The Chaitya structure dates back to 2nd-3rd Century CE. It also shows signs of repairs around 5th Century CE onwards.”
‘Built chaityas rarer than rock-cut ones’
The historic marvels have been dug up from close to the grain godown in Vadnagar and date again to the 2nd to seventh Century. This time interval coincides with Chinese traveller-monk Hiuen Tsang’s go to to the traditional city in the seventh Century.
A crew of ASI’s Excavation Branch V has been stationed in the traditional city since 2015 to hold out cultural sequencing of the PM’s hometown. Work in season 2019-20 was primarily targeted on two spots – Amba Ghat on the banks of Sharmishtha Lake, and the neighborhood of grain godown close to the railway line.
“The main structure, possibly a Chaitya, was excavated from the site spread over a 50X20 metre area. It is an apsidal (semi-circular) structure. The structure is being closely studied but is believed to be a Buddhist Chaitya because of it’s unique design,” mentioned sources near the event. “The Chaitya structure dates back to 2nd-3rd Century CE. It also shows signs of repairs around 5th Century CE onwards.”
‘Built chaityas rarer than rock-cut ones’
A chaitya, chaitya hall, chaitya-griha, or caitya refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions. The term is most common in Buddhism, where it refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded apse at the end opposite the entrance, and a high roof with a rounded profile.Strictly speaking, the chaitya is the stupa itself, and the Indian buildings are chaitya halls, but this distinction is often not observed. Outside India, the term is used by Buddhists for local styles of small stupa-like monuments in Nepal, Cambodia, Indonesia
The chaitya and stupa are situated away from the traditional boundary of the city with a water physique in the neighborhood. These traits are sometimes discovered in historic Buddhist websites. We have all causes to consider this to be a website that will have been one of many 10 websites noticed by Hiuen Tsang,” mentioned an professional.
Archaeology specialists mentioned that discovering a constructed chaitya is much less frequent than a rock-cut one. Devni Mori, one other landmark Buddhist website in Gujarat, had an apsidal construction, they added.
A round stupa measuring 3mx1.5m was discovered from the identical construction, which specialists affiliate with the sooner part of the chaitya. Another memorial stupa — a 2mx2m sq. — has been discovered from the identical website. “It’s identified as a memorial stupa as we have also found a space to keep the revered relics. This structure dates to 5th-7th century CE,” mentioned an professional related to the venture.
Experts related to the venture say the recent discoveries additional cements Vadnagar’s stake as an necessary Buddhist centre in the previous millennium. In the previous decade, a Buddhist construction, believed to be a nunnery, was unearthed by the state archaeology division. Later excavations by ASI have thrown up a superstructure on the banks of Sharmishtha Lake, 23 chambers believed to be a monastery, and a big cache of Buddhist artefacts.
Apparently the last rock-cut chaitya hall to be constructed was Cave 10 at Ellora, in the first half of the 7th century. By this time the role of the chaitya hall was being replaced by the vihara, which had now developed shrine rooms with Buddha images (easily added to older examples), and largely taken over their function for assemblies.
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