Six In The Morning

Catholic synod: Gay rights groups ‘disappointed’

19 October 2014 Last updated at 01:32

BBC

Catholic gay rights groups say they are disappointed after bishops rejected a call for wider acceptance of gay people, which had the Pope’s backing.

The draft report, which also urged more tolerance for divorcees who remarried, failed to win two-thirds backing at the bishops’ synod in Rome.

The final report says only that anti-gay discrimination is “to be avoided”.

Pope Francis has asked for the full draft document, including the rejected paragraphs, to be published.

The synod will meet again in a year’s time in an expanded form.

Ebola deaths in Liberia are ‘far higher than reported’ as officials downplay epidemic

 Film-maker Sorious Samura, recently returned from Liberia, says Ebola is still not under control, with cultural practices and data problems masking the true extent of the epidemic

Mark Townsend

The Observer, Sunday 19 October 2014

The true death toll from the Ebola epidemic is being masked by chaotic data collection and people’s reluctance to admit that their loved ones had the virus, according to one of west Africa’s most celebrated film-makers.

Sorious Samura, who has just returned from making a documentary on the crisis in Liberia, said it is very clear on the ground that the true number of dead is far higher than the official figures being reported by the World Health Organisation.

Thai scholar may face jail for insulting king who died in 1605

 Accusations of lèse-majesté have frequently been used in Thailand as a weapon to harass political enemies

 THANYARAT DOKSONE  BANGKOK  Sunday 19 October 2014

One of Thailand’s most prominent scholars is the target of a criminal complaint after comments he made about a Thai king who died more than 400 years ago.

Sulak Sivaraksa, 82, was cited by two retired senior army officers for lèse-majesté, or insulting the monarchy. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 15 years.

In Thailand, anyone can file a lèse-majesté complaint with the police, and the charge has frequently been used as a weapon to harass political enemies.

Foreign interests trying to exploit my fragile nation, says Timor PM Xanana Gusmao

October 19, 2014 – 3:00PM

     Tom Allard

National Affairs Editor

Foreign interests were trying to “dominate” East Timor, exploiting the fragility of the tiny nation to deny its rightful share of the oil and gas revenues in the Timor Sea and sow unrest, prime minister Xanana Gusmao says.

Mr Gusmao made the remarks as the fledgling state is embroiled in bitter fights with the Australian government and multinational oil companies over the resources that contribute 90 per cent of its income.

It emerged last year that Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)  agents bugged East Timor’s government offices to gain an advantage in treaty negotiations over the lucrative reserves that lie between the two countries.

 Abbas vows legal measures to prevent Al-Aqsa ‘attacks’



Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP)

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Saturday legal measures would be taken to prevent Jewish settlers from attacking Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, having said their presence desecrates the site.

His remarks follow a recent spate of clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police, which erupted when Jews were to visit the complex.

Muslims fear Jewish presence on Al-Aqsa is aimed at usurping the site.

Water crisis squeezes Sao Paulo state

Record-breaking heat in Brazil leaves some of Sao Paulo state’s 44 million residents scrambling for clean water sources.

  Gabriel Elizondo

Itu, Brazil – The state of Sao Paulo is on the cusp of an unprecedented water crisis stemming in part from one of the worst droughts in decades, leaving millions scrambling to find clean water sources.

On Friday, the city of Sao Paulo recorded its hottest temperature in more than 71 years, and 70 cities in the state are facing extreme drought, with 30 cities already on some sort of water rationing.

The problem stems from a lack of water at the Cantareira, a complex of reservoirs and small dams built in the 1970’s that are the primary source of water for more than 10 million people in the state.