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Voting ends in landmark Congo election Voting ended in the final round of the first free Presidential election in Congo in over 40 years. The run-off candidates are President Joseph Kabila and Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba. Reserve Bank of India hikes repo rate, keeps most key interest rates stable The Reserve Bank of India has hiked the repo rate by 0.25 percent to 7.25 percent, keeping the reverse repo rate unchanged at 6%.

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Wikimedia chair Jimmy Wales steps down Following the Wikimedia Foundation's retreat in Frankfurt, Germany the Wikimedia Foundation held an extremly important meeting in regards to the organization of the Board of Trustees.

Wikipedia Current Events
A United States federal appeals court blocks a landmark judgment against the tobacco industry clearing the way for selling "light" and "low tar" cigarettes until industry appeals can be reviewed. Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, says that it has started negotiating with Israel on prisoner exchange. (Reuters) Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, a prominent Kazakhstani politician and one of the founders of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, says the Government of Kazakhstan should "look at other circumstances that have harmed Kazakhstan's image" instead of "fighting Borat." The Prince of Wales’s controversial visit today to a madrassa in the Pakistani town of Peshawar, bordering Afghanistan has been cancelled over fears for his safety, after calls by Islamic leaders for revenge for a Pakistani airstrike that destroyed another religious school about 60 miles away. The Lebanese army issued a statement saying its gunners fired anti-aircraft artillery at Israel Air Force warplanes as they flew over south Lebanon. China announces the resumption of the stalled six-party talks to find a peaceful resolution to concerns about North Korean nuclear weapons program. Taliban insurgency: Suspected militants attack a convoy of NATO troops in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nuristan killing three soldiers. Bajaur airstrike: Pakistani officials confirm that a strike on a madrassah was based on United States intelligence that senior members of al-Queda were hiding there. The attack has generated protests by religious and tribal leaders in Pakistan. Fiji's military stage exercises around the capital Suva and close off the city's army barracks as tensions rose due to fears of a coup d'état. Fiji's military chief, Frank Bainimarama, has threatened to force the Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase to resign unless the Prime Minister drops two Bills, one which will offer amnesty to some of those involved in a 2000 coup led by George Speight.

North Korea returns to six-party talks
North Korea has today agreed to return to the six-party talks about its nuclear programme, as announced by the Chinese and U.S. governments. This comes after Pyongyang's withdrawal two weeks ago after the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose sanctions on North Korea, which were ultimately designed to remove the ability to create nuclear weapons.

United States President George W. Bush has thanked the Chinese government for assisting and persuading North Korea to return to the talks. He went on to say that "[the US will] be sending teams to the region to work with our partners to make sure that the current United Nations Security Council resolution is enforced but also make sure the talks are effective, that we achieve the result we want". Pyongyang did not make the lifting of the sanctions a condition for the resumption of the talks.

The negotiations between the six parties, North Korea, China, the United States of America, South Korea, Russia, and Japan, could restart as early as November, said Christopher R. Hill, the chief US negotiator on North Korea. South Korea was optimistic about the resumption of the talks. "The government hopes that the six-party talks will resume at an early date as agreed," said Choo Kyu-ho, spokesman for South Korea's foreign ministry.

South African rail police pilot successful, to be implemented nation wide
A successful rail police pilot in the Western Cape will now be implemented nationwide according to South African Transport Minister Joseph Radebe. Radebe announced Monday that the program, which has reportedly resulted in a 68 per cent overall decline in crime on trains and in railway stations, will be implemented throughout South Africa by 2008. More than 5,000 officer will be deployed in railway stations and on trains.

"More than 5 000 police personnel will take their rightful place in the rail environment in order to confront our security concerns. We have made an undertaking to increase our presence, particularly on strategic high volume corridors such as Khayelitsha in Cape Town, Hammanskraal in Tshwane, and Moloto in Mpumalanga, as well as links between Midrand and Thembisa," said Radebe.

Lucky Montana, Chief Executive of the government owned Metrorail, said, "The levels of crime remain unacceptably high. That is something we are concerned about. But today, we are driving the message that the safety of commuters comes first, as a priority. We are investing millions of rands to make sure that we turn around this environment."

Commuters have been subject to railway "barbarism" for too long, said Transport Minister Radebe. Radebe said that the government plans to invest more than 80 million Rand ($10.5 million USD) in the rail police system with the intention of curbing the daily murders, robberies, and kindnappings committed on the Metrorail.

Lyricist Javed Akhtar awarded Indira Gandhi Prize
Acclaimed lyricist, poet and screenplay-writer Javed Akhtar has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for National Integration. Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi presented Akhtar the award, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function in New Delhi.

Dr. Singh pointed out that the prize celebrated the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's "deep commitment to the unity and integrity of the country", recalling Akhtar's comments that the 2002 communal clashes in Gujarat were not a "Hindu-Muslim problem, but a clash of secularism and democracy versus fascism and intolerance". Singh also expressed his delight at the fact that "a creative, committed, secular and patriotic Indian" was being honoured in memory of Mrs. Gandhi.

The Prime Minister also commended Akhtar's contributions to the empowerment of women, while Sonia Gandhi (who headed the advisory committee that chose the winner) spoke about the lyricist's efforts to fight againt fundamentalism and expose the divisive forces in Indian politics.

Reserve Bank of India hikes repo rate, keeps most key interest rates stable
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has hiked the repo rate by 0.25 percent to 7.25 percent, keeping the reverse repo rate unchanged at 6%.

The Bank rate and the cash reserve ratio are left unchanged at 6% and 5% respectively.

In its mid-year review of monetary and regulatory policy, the Reserve Bank has forecast an annual GDP growth of 8.0%, as against the 7.5-8.0% forecast earlier in its annual policy statement and first quarter review. The Reserve Bank indicated that inflation will be contained between 5.0-5.5%, during the year 2006-07.

The Reserve Bank estimated real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2006-07 at 8.9%, up from 8.5% last year.

New Zealand police lose criminal at Heathrow Airport
The New Zealand police lost Rafal Luczynski, a convicted drug dealer, while at London's Heathrow Airport awaiting to be taken back to his homeland, Poland. Luczynski managed to lose the two New Zealand detectives in Terminal One on October 12.

32-year-old Luczynski was convicted three and half years ago of importing four kilograms of amphetamine ("speed"), worth an estimated $4 million. He still has eight and a half years of his twelve year sentence to serve.

The police have launched an inquiry to find out whether Luczynski's escape was due to a procedural deficiency or or an error by the detectives. If the detectives are to be faulted, then they may face disciplinary action.

The findings of the inquiry may not be made public for security reasons. Jon Neilson, spokesman for the police, said: "I can not guarantee the findings of the review will be released, because of the secret nature of the operation." It is expected in three to four weeks.

The police are not going to attempt to recapture the criminal. This is mainly because he was out of the New Zealand jurisdiction. "He's no longer wanted by New Zealand police at all," Michael Player, spokesman for the police, said, "It's just unfortunate that he exited ahead of his destination, but really he's now a UK responsibility. It's up to the UK authorities to decide how much effort they put in to trying to find him."

The Police say that a criminal evading had never happened until now, even though they do provide several escorts per week. "The policemen were rather embarrassed at losing Luczynski, who was not handcuffed when he escaped," Player said.

Luczynski first managed to escape from New Zealand when in 2001 he was in home detention. He was not caught for two years until he was found in New York. "He seems to be a bit of a Houdini artist," Player said.

Luczynski has connections to the Polish mafia.

Neilson said: "There was a formal notification for alerting British police if a prisoner was being handed over, but if the prisoner and escorts were in transit then it was a more straightforward procedure."

Api Fiso, group manager of border security for the Labour Department, said: "It was the responsibility of the police, not the department, to ensure deportees reached their destinations. Though the department had an interest in the outcome of any search, it would not be taking an active role in finding Luczynski."

Reactions to review of economic implications of climate change
Reactions to the review of the economic implications of climate change include optimism about the commercial opportunites and apprehension about possible fiscal repercussions.

The Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change, commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, points to the need for urgent action to reduce carbon emissions if a world-wide economic catastrophe is to be avoided. The institution of global carbon trading, control of deforestation, increasing investment in energy R & D and support to poorer countries in adapting to climate change are all key proposals in the Review.

A leaked letter from David Miliband, Environment Secretary, to Chancellor Brown contains a package of tax proposals to promote the use of public transport and to encourage people to buy smaller cars and fly less. The proposals also include charges on petrol-guzzling cars, road pricing, levies on air travel and increased charges for landfill waste disposal.

The findings of the Review and the promise of a Government Climate Bill, containing measures in response to the Review, received a mixed reception from employers and unions.

Miles Templeman, Director-General of the Institute of Directors, said: “Without countries like the US, China or India making decisive commitments, UK competitiveness will undoubtedly suffer if we act alone. This would be bad for business, bad for the economy and ultimately bad for our climate.”

The Confederation of British Industries, the British Chambers of Commerce and asset managers F&C all pointed out the dangers to business of additional taxation.

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, was optimistic about the opportunities for industry to meet demands created by investment in technology to combat climate change. The Prince of Wales’ Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, formed by 14 of UK’s leading companies shared this hope. Chairman of Shell UK, James Smith, expressed the hope of the group that business and Government would discuss how Britain could obtain “first mover advantage” in what he described as “massive new global markets.”

The markets for low-carbon energy products are expected to be worth £300 billion by 2050.

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, questions the assertions that there is scientific consensus on global warming. At best, he said, there is uncertainty. Politicians world-wide are jumping on the ‘green’ bandwagon, but, if they want popular support, they’d better be sure that this is not simply the ‘new witchcraft’.

Ruth Lea, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, also questions the notion that there is a ‘scientific consensus’ over global warming, about whether reducing the emission of man-made gases, especially CO2, just one of the thousands of variables involved, could have any effect and if it did, whether it would be for good or not. About economic models, upon which Stern relied for his projections, her experience was that forecasting just two or three years ahead was usually wrong. She described the problem of drawing conclusions from combining scientific and economic models as ‘monumentally complex’. She doubted whether international cooperation was really possible. She concluded that she thought that this Review was designed to cloak the motives of a government that wanted some moral justification for increasing taxation on fuels.

An unconfirmed report on BBC 24 early Tuesday morning, October 31, stated that the White House had not yet seen a copy of the Stern Review.

Ontario Provincial Police: Caledonia land dispute is top priority
The Caledonia land dispute has been going on since February 28 and still has not been resolved. The native protesters occupied the Douglas Creek Estates, a housing development, southwest of Hamilton, saying that the property belongs to them.

Townspeople have repeatedly called for police to remove the protesters from the land, and is now owned by the province and being held in trust until the dispute is resolved.

The Ontario Provincial Police accounced today at the OPP Headquarters in Orillia, Ontario that " 'lawbreakers' in Caledonia will be dealt with swiftly, regardless of which side of the native occupation they are on."

"I certainly don't expect that there will be lawbreaking that isn't dealt with and that will be my message to our people as well, that it's their duty and responsibility is to enforce the laws," said OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, on his first official day on the job. "I assure that those who do break the law will be dealt with."

While under former commissioner Gwen Boniface, who resigned last year because of the dispute, the OPP were criticised for not enforcing the law, especially when several camera people were assaulted by native protesters.

Fantino said the on-going occupation of a property by members of the Six Nations Reserve is beyond his ability to resolve. His role in the contentious dispute will be to keep the peace in the town of Caledonia, Fantino said.

Officials in Ontario and the federal governments are currently negotiating with Six Nations representatives.

Wikinews Shorts: October 31, 2006
Gas station workers get attacked

Two gas station workers employed at the Marathon station on Gratiot Avenue in Clinton Township were injured by a group of teenagers. According to police, "at least four people were arrested."

Australian workers get minimum wage increase

Australia's Fair Pay commission has ordered a 5.6 percent wage increase for workers earning minimum wage.

Crane falls on houses in Portland, Maine

A crane fell on houses in Portland, Maine. No one was injured.

Wal-Mart cuts ties with PR consultant over controversial Republican TV ad
Wal-Mart severed links with Terry Nelson, a Republican strategist, last night because he had connections to a controversial Republican Party advertisement in Tennessee. The ad's purpose was to blast Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr, who is running against Republican Bob Corker.

A blonde woman in the ad says, "I met Harold at the Playboy party". As the spot ends, she winks and says breathily: "Harold, call me!". The ad also "criticised" Canada. "Canada can take care of North Korea," a man in the television ad says. "They're not busy."

Nelson and his company, CrossLink Strategy Group, were hired by Wal-Mart last year in an attempt to help the company.

Jesse Jackson, an American politician, and other leaders signed a letter distributed by WakeUpWal-Mart.com, asking the company to end its relationship with Nelson.

In an interview with the Associated Press Nelson said, "There was no intention to offend anybody and it's unfortunate if people took offense. That was certainly not what people planned for or hoped for."

A spokesman for Wal-Mart, David Tovar, issued a statement saying Nelson's company had "sent a letter to Wal-Mart ending its working relationship with our company."

Today in History
1512: The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was repainted in fresco by Michelangelo.

1521: Ferdinand Magellan led the first European expedition to navigate the Strait of Magellan, the passage immediately south of mainland South America, connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

1755: A massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami destroyed Lisbon, and killed over 100,000 people in Portugal and Morocco.

1954: The "Front de Libération Nationale" began the Algerian War of Independence against French rule, with guerrilla attacks in various parts of Algeria.

1963: The Arecibo Observatory, with the world's largest radio telescope, officially opened in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

November 01 is National Day in Algeria, Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda (1981), All Saints' Day in Catholicism.

Quote of the Day

The fundamental article of my political creed is that despotism, or unlimited sovereignty, or absolute power, is the same in a majority of a popular assembly, an aristocratical council, an oligarchical junto, and a single emperor.
~ John Adams

Word of the Day

winnow; v

To free or separate grain or the like from chaff or refuse matter, usually by means of wind.

To wave to and fro; to flutter; to flap.

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