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Pakistan: Mob attacks churches over alleged blasphemy
Deutsche Welle
17 Aug 2023, 13:40
A rampaging mob set alight several churches and scores of homes on Wednesday in a predominantly Christian area of the Pakistani city of Faisalabad.
Officials said the attack, in Jaranwala town, was triggered by a group of Muslim religious extremists who accused a local Christian family of desecrating the Quran.
What we know so far
Christian leader Akmal Bhatti said the crowd set fire to at least five churches and looted valuables from abandoned houses after clerics made announcements in mosques to incite them.
Hundreds of people armed with sticks and rocks stormed churches belonging to various denominations.
Provincial police chief Usman Anwar told the online media outlet Dawn that officers cordoned off the area as police tried to negotiate with the crowd. Police also said they were registering cases against those who desecrated the Quran.
"Priests and lay people are deeply pained and distressed," said Pakistani bishop Azad Marshall, in the neighboring city of Lahore.
"We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice," Marshall said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
In response, Pakistan's newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said he was "gutted by the visuals coming out of Jaranwala" and promised "stern action."
"All law enforcement has been asked to apprehend culprits and bring them to justice," said the prime minister. "Rest assured that the government of Pakistan stands with our citizenry on equal basis."
How is blasphemy dealt with in Pakistan?
Blasphemy — where the accused are deemed to have insulted Islam or Islamic figures — is punishable by death in Pakistan. While no one has ever been executed for it, there are cases of angry crowds lynching accused individuals.
Hundreds are in prison facing blasphemy charges, with judges often postponing trials for fear of retribution if they are deemed too lenient.
According to rights groups, accusations of blasphemy are sometimes used as a means of settling scores.
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Can Trump Repeat a 132-Year-Old Feat?
Donald Trump now has the chance to make new history. After 132 years, he’s the first former president to run for office again after a loss. If he can defeat Kamala Harris in this election, Trump’s name will join Grover Cleveland's in the history books, as Cleveland is the only U.S. president to lose an election and then win a comeback.
Running again after a loss is rare in American history. If Trump wins this time, he will achieve a historic presidency.
132 years ago, Grover Cleveland was the only one with this unique accomplishment in U.S. political history. He was first elected in 1884, ran again in 1888 as the Democratic candidate, but lost to Republican Benjamin Harrison. Later, in 1892, Cleveland ran again, defeating Harrison to reclaim the White House. He became the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.
In 1912, former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt also attempted a comeback, running as the Progressive Party candidate. However, he lost to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.
Trump's path mirrors Cleveland’s and Roosevelt’s so far, but the final difference will come with the election results. Trump, the Republican candidate, won in 2016 but lost the next election. This year marks his third run. If he wins, he’ll make history like Cleveland; if he loses, his story will resemble Roosevelt’s.
Interestingly, Trump and Cleveland share similar ideals: both advocate for reduced foreign intervention and military spending. Their economic policies align as well, and both faced accusations of dishonesty. For instance, Trump was accused of faking illness to avoid attending a military event in Vietnam, while Cleveland is said to have sent a substitute to fight in the Civil War in his place. Analysts believe such actions caused voters to deny them a second term initially.
Experts say both Cleveland and Trump had controversial first terms, yet Cleveland overcame this to win on his third attempt.
Can Trump, like Cleveland, earn public trust again and repeat history after 132 years? If he succeeds, he will be the first Republican president to achieve this feat.
US election: Washington Experiences Calm Before Storm
Ahead of the presidential election, the US capital is ramping up security measures to prevent a repeat of past riots and violent protests. Some residents have come up with contingency plans in case things get violent.
Washington D.C. was not up to its usual hustle and bustle on Monday, the day before Americans head to the polls to elect a new president on November 5. Traffic seemed just a little bit lighter, with fewer people out and about.
"The city is quiet, so quiet," said Manaye, an elderly Uber driver, on Monday. He didn't sound happy, and it soon became clear why. "I guess everyone is watching the election from home," he complained. Not a lot of business to be had for Uber drivers.
Some buildings along Pennsylvania Avenue, the street that the White House is on, started safety preparations as early as Friday, with workers barricading the street fronts with plywood. Office buildings as well as convenience restaurants are taking precautions.
"There always are fears living around D.C. that something like the Capitol riots might happen again, that it might get violent around here," a young woman walking along the fencing protecting the White House said. "But overall, I think people will be ok."
Washington wants to prevent a repeat of the January 6
Washington is on high alert ahead of the November 5 election because the memory of the last transfer of power is still fresh in people's minds. On January 6, 2021, when Congress certified Joe Biden's election victory, an angry mob of Donald Trump supporters and right-wing extremists stormed the US Capitol. Half a year before that, during the Black Lives Matter protests in May and June 2020, several street-front businesses in Washington's downtown area were damaged.
City officials as well as local and federal agencies have vowed not to be caught off-guard this time around and to keep everyone safe through election week and beyond. All eligible 3,300 D.C. police officers will work 12-hour shifts "to ensure we have enough officers on the street and in every corner of the District," Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said.
Brooke Pinto, a Democratic D.C. council member, also said security is the highest priority. "Across the DC government we have prepared and coordinated with federal partners to ensure the safety of DC residents and visitors throughout the election and inauguration," Pinto said in a statement shared with the Washington Post. "Violence or destruction will not be tolerated."
Democratic presidential candidate and current vice president Kamala Harris will be in Washington on November 5. Her election night party will take place at her alma mater Howard University. In the university's neighborhood, workers have set up metal fencing, and police cars are a constant presence.
Bars and restaurants are closed, and not many people are around on campus since classes have been moved online for November 4 and 5. (Donald Trump will spend election night in West Palm Beach, Florida, not far from his Mar-a-Lago residence.)
Some Washington residents have contingency plans
A little further uptown, where bars, restaurants, and shops line 14th Street, it's business as usual — no boarded-up storefronts in sight. Locals here aren't too concerned about their safety.
"I am not overly worried about riots, probably because I won't be in proximity of the White House or the Capitol," said Emma, 24. "If I lived downtown, I probably wouldn't feel too comfortable being out and about this week though, emotions are running high."
Christopher, 47, a resident of Washington's Capitol Hill neighborhood, certainly feels the discomfort.
"I'm trying not to be overwhelmed with worry, but it is a concern," he said. "I live close to the Capitol and have vivid memories of January 6."
Should the situation escalate again after the election or in the run-up to the inauguration, Christopher says he already has an escape plan. "If things get crazy, I'm going to pack up the cat and stay with my partner across town."
US Presidential Election: Trump Set for a Big Win
The United States stands on the brink of a new chapter in its history, as American citizens cast their votes to elect their 47th president. Voting has already concluded in several states, and the counting has begun. Polls in a few other states will close within a few hours.
According to the data available so far, Republican candidate Donald Trump is leading by a significant margin over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Contrary to the predictions of a close race suggested by opinion polls, reality shows a different picture. The initial vote counts indicate that Democrats have lost substantial support, primarily due to policies of the Biden administration.
As of 8 AM Bangladesh time on Wednesday, Kamala trails significantly in the crucial Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency. Trump, on the other hand, is well on his way to the White House, having secured more than half the required path. With 270 electoral votes needed to win, Trump has already garnered 210, while Harris has received only 113, according to CNN.
Voting took place continuously from morning to evening on Tuesday, November 5, local time, across all 50 states. Due to time zone differences, voting times vary across states, with Indiana and Kentucky finishing first, both showing strong support for Trump.
Voting began at 7 AM in Los Angeles, California, at the YMCA center on Oxford and Third Street, where a majority of voters are of Bangladeshi and South Asian descent. Voters lined up well in advance, and the lines grew longer as the day progressed. Many voters noted they had never seen such a turnout before, and despite the wait, they expressed no discomfort.
American media outlets are announcing results state by state as the final stages of voting conclude and results gradually emerge. Although election officials previously hinted that this year’s results might be delayed, it appears that, while formal results may take time, the winner could be clear much sooner.
U.S. Presidential Election: Global Stock Market Surge
The forecast of the results of the U.S. presidential election has led to a surge in stock markets worldwide. On Wednesday morning, benchmark share indices in Japan and Australia were trending upward. Meanwhile, as investors closely monitored the U.S. election results, the value of the U.S. dollar also rose against major currencies.
The outcome of this election is expected to have a significant impact on the global economy, especially in Asia. It remains uncertain whether the results will be known during the trading hours in Asia, as the vote count in the swing states could take some time.
In the U.S. presidential election, voting has already concluded in over 40 of the country’s 50 states. Forecasts of the results are gradually beginning to emerge. However, the wait for results from some states could be extended further.
So far, in the early results, Donald Trump is leading. His Republican Party has approximately secured 210 electoral votes. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won 113 electoral votes. A total of 270 electoral votes is required to win the election.
Trump is currently ahead based on the results from his stronghold states. The results from the battleground states are still unknown.
Donald Trump is set to win in states such as Texas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Kamala Harris is winning in states like Delaware and Rhode Island.
According to BBC, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada are witnessing fierce competition between the two candidates, with very narrow vote margins in these states.
Trump Wins North Carolina; Harris' Path to Victory Narrows
Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in the battleground state of North Carolina in Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, Edison Research projected, moving him one step closer to completing an improbable political comeback.
The outcome remained uncertain in six other states expected to determine the winner.
But Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country. He had won 227 Electoral College votes to Harris' 165 as of 11:30 p.m. ET (0430 GMT on Wednesday). A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.
Decision Desk HQ projected Trump would also win Georgia, narrowing her path to victory through the Rust Belt trio of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though she was behind in all three states.
Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison.
Trump won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53% but up 13 percentage points from 2020.
Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago.
About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a 79%-to-20% margin, according to exit polls. Some 45% of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse off today than four years ago, and they favored Trump 80% to 17% for Harris.
Trump Needs 4 More Electoral Votes to Win Presidency
Based on CNN’s current projections, Vice President Kamala Harris’ path to victory is shrinking.
Former President Donald Trump has 266 electoral votes and Harris has 188 electoral votes, CNN projects. That means Trump only needs to win four more electoral votes to win the presidency.
CNN has projected that Trump will win several key battleground states — including North Carolina, Georgia, and more pivotally, Pennsylvania.
Trump’s Victory Speech: ‘God Saved My Life for a Reason’
Donald Trump is set to take the White House for a second time. Although the official announcement of his position as the 47th President of the United States is yet to come, Trump has already declared himself the winner. On Wednesday, November 6, he delivered a victory speech, mentioning Pennsylvania, where he won in a landslide. He remarked, "God saved me for a reason."
Following his landslide victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, Trump addressed his supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday.
In his speech, Trump said, "God saved me for a reason, and that reason is to save our country and rebuild America as the ‘Great America’ it once was. Together, we are now embarking on that mission. We will accomplish it." He reiterated this determination.
He continued, "The path ahead is not easy, but I will fulfill my duties with every ounce of strength, enthusiasm, and goodwill I possess."
The newly elected President also pledged to mend the divisions among the American people. He said, "It is time to heal the rifts that have emerged among us over the past four years. This is a moment for unity, and we will strive to bring America back to being ‘Great America’ once again."
Earlier, Trump had stated that if he won in Pennsylvania, one of the key swing states, he would become the President of the United States. With 19 electoral votes, Trump secured victory in Pennsylvania.
Several months ago, during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump faced an assassination attempt. A gunman fired at him from a distance, and Trump narrowly survived, with a bullet grazing his ear. The Secret Service neutralized the attacker.
Since then, Trump has faced another attack, underscoring the challenges surrounding his journey back to the presidency.
