The story: Man charged over sexual assault of Perth prostitute is obviously going to be one we're sure to see alot of in the coming weeks - especially when it goes to trial at the end of the month.

I will keep a close eye on the ABC website, the evening news and the newspapers when I get them (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday). If you see anything on the case that it is likely I have missed - please leave a comment with the source.

Expect more soon!

xoxo

p.s. I got my History assignment back. 71%! Can you believe that? Seriously man, it was not worth 71%. I am thrilled. ^_^

p.p.s. I am now getting 67 cents to the USA dollar. Man, I told my parents that the economy was going to crash. I told them this in the lead up to the Australian Federal Election last year. They told me to shush, I wasn't an economics expert and nothing of the sort would happen! I should've converted my cash to US dollars and pounds and euros last year

Clique abaixo

A charge é uma contribuição de Fausto Bergocce, o Fausto, para o blog.

CHARGE

Pela terra da colonização alemã, passada a folia de eleições é hora de começar a pensar em Oktoberfest, que começa na quinta-feira (dia 9). Para não perder a oportunidade, o jornalista Daniel CostadeSSouza desenhou uma charge, que publico abaixo. Publicou ontem mesmo, em seu blog "Texto Decorado".

Da direita pra esquerda: Ricardo Stodieck, João Paulo Kleinübing e Alcantaro Corrêa

BLOGUEMANIA

As eleições de 2008 trouxeram pro mundo virtual uma nova oportunidade tanto para os jornalistas quanto para aqueles que querem informações em primeira mão ou opinião. Destaque no dia de ontem, o blog do jornalista Fábio Ricardo, ficou durante todo o dia entre a lista dos Blogs que crescem mais rapidamente no Wordpress em língua portuguesa. Parabéns, Fábio.

ENTREVISTA

A convite da turma do 4º semestre de Jornalismo da UNIVALI, dei uma entrevista coletiva em uma das aulas deles no dia de ontem. O tema era Cultura Regional. Durante cerca de uma hora conversamos sobre literatura, cinema, políticas públicas para a cultura, entre outras coisas. Foi muito interessante. Agradeço a oportunidade e espero que tenha ajudado em algo.

ANIVERSÁRIO

Aproveito o espaço para dar os parabéns (atrasados, porque o aniversário foi ontem) ao amigo e estudante de Jornalismo, Joel Minusculi, entusiasta da blogosfera. Você pode encontrar trabalhos dele tanto no blog pessoal (Refúgio de um Foragido) quanto nos coletivos "Pega no meu blog" e "Blog do Jornalismo".

Já estou preparando um novo post com mais informações sobre as eleições em Itajaí e Blumenau. Fiquem ligados. Abraço a todos.

A charge é uma colaboração de Fausto Bergocce, o Fausto, para o blog.

É, realmente política é um jogo. Quem decide entrar no jogo coloca a cara a bater e tem que estar pronto para a vitória e para a derrota. Entre enxadrista e candidato a prefeito, nas próximas eleições... definitivamente... o petebista Leonel deve permanecer enxadrista (depois de fazer 96 votos - menos do que sua votação para vereador alguns anos atrás).

I'm looking at the locator (which shows what's in the ED with notes if the patient is expected to be admitted) and see the following:  admit tele, k2.8, poss. seizure.  So I mark them on my cheat sheet and wait for the call from the nursing supervisor.  And like clockwork the phone rings.

I give the room away and tell the nurse.  Eons later the ED calls up with report, but the residents don't want tele.  I mean, really?  A potassium of 2.8 with a seizure and no tele?  As I finish pounding my head against the desk, the nursing supervisor calls back.  "So they don't want tele.  But I have a room on neuro and a chest painer who needs a room."

"OK, let's swap.  Neuro can have the low K and we'll take the chest pain."  I say.

"Hey J" I say to the nurse who was taking that patient, "Low K is going to Neuro, but we've got a chest pain for you.  Same room though."

And we wait.  The morning is slipping away and we're starting totake bets on whether this new chest pain will show up before shift change adn the phone rings.

"Hey is the room where chest pain is going an isolation room?" ask the supervisor.

"Yeah, it's a private." I say.

"But is it a negative pressure room?"

"No, what are you getting at?"

"They're ruling them out for TB.  They have a nodule on the chest film and a positive PPD in their history."

"Sorry, it's just a private.  You're out of luck." as Isay as I hang up.

"Uh, J." I finish, "they're ruling out chest pain for TB so their not coming either."

2 admits, not a single on to the floor.  I say to J, "Y'know, I should try to give you patients more often.  Guess they just don't like you!" I joke.

As frustring as that may be, I love it when that happens.  One night I tried to give 3 patients from the ED to a nurse, all three ended up going somewhere else.  I guess the patients have heard about our reputation and just don't want to come hang out!

João Guilherme dos Anjos

NEW DELHI, October 3 (Compass Direct News) – At least two more Christians were killed today in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district after Hindu extremists this week set fire to nearly 400 homes there and in Boudh district. A third man succumbed to axe injuries on Wednesday (Oct. 1).

Weeks after Hindu extremist violence erupted against Christians, this morning tribal peoples in Sindhipankha village killed Dushashan Majhi, a local influential Christian, first shooting him and them cutting him to pieces. Local Christian leaders reported that Majhi was a government servant working in the treasury.

The mob then turned on Sanyasi Majhi, also said to be Christian, who was with Dushashan Majhi. There were unconfirmed reports that a third victim was killed along with the other two.

A local Christian who wished to remain unnamed told Compass that after killing the two men, the assailants massacred cattle belonging to village Christians and burned Christian-owned houses. Sindhipankha is about seven kilometers (four miles) from Tumudiband.

Local news reporter Lalit Jena told Compass from Kandhamal that the attacks – which have continued unabated since Hindu extremists blamed Christians for the death of Hindu leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on Aug. 23 even though Maoist militants admitted murdering him – involve women first ransacking the Christian homes.

“The modus operandi of the tribal mob is such that women go first and attack the Christian houses,” he said. “They ransack and rob the household’s gold and other jewelry, TVs and all that is precious. The men then follow and burn the houses. Lately it has been reported that now they are fighting among themselves for the booty.”

Jena added that tribal peoples who lived in poverty before the violence now have obtained many heads of cattle, including goats and cows, within a short span, as well as household goods.

“They may have no electricity in their villages, but one can see lots of television sets, nearly all of it looted from the Christians,” he said.

Axe Murder

On Wednesday (Oct. 1), Lalji Nayak, believed to be about 80 years old, died from axe wounds after a Hindu extremist mob attacked his village of Hrudangia the previous day. Nayak and 14 others were wounded, with Nayak struck between his neck and chest.

While three of the wounded received first-aid at a health center in Kandhamal, eight others, including Nayak and his wife Mandaki, were admitted to MKCG Medical College in Berhampur. At press time Nayak’s widow, who received an axe blow just below the ear, remained in the medical center with a serious head injury.

Local Christians in Berhampur wanted to give Lalji Nayak a Christian burial, but police did not allow it. Utkal Christian Council members B.D. Das and J.R. Patro expressed strong objections to the police action.

Nayak’s brother, Junas Nayak, was taken to Cuttack Medical College for gunshot wounds. He remained in critical condition at press time with multiple gunshot wounds, and according to Jena has a total of 13 bullets in him.

“Seven are on his left thigh, and six in his right hand, but the doctors have so far done nothing to remove them from his body, even though he has been admitted in the hospital since September 30,” Jena told Compass. “We are concerned that he may develop septic [shock or infection] because of the delay.”

In the attacks, an 8-year-old boy miraculously survived after being hit by an axe in the middle of his skull.

Two pregnant Christian women, Archana and Geeta Sahu, this week were brought from Kandhamal to Berhampur hospital, where they gave birth and were said to be out of danger.

Houses Burned

Nearly 400 houses were burned or destroyed in Orissa state’s Boudh and Kandhamal districts this week.

On Wednesday (Oct. 1), mobs set fire to dozens of houses in the Raikia area of the Kandhamal district. Yesterday the violence crossed over to neighboring Boudh district as about 100 houses were torched by mobs in at least nine villages. Worst affected was the village of Kantamal.

The burning of houses continued this morning, with more than 400 houses reported to have been either burnt or destroyed in Boudh and Kandhamal districts.

Police have reportedly arrested five people so far in connection with the burning of the houses in Boudh district.

Additional District Magistrate Mihir Chandra Mallik told reporters, that unidentified people set fire to over a hundred houses of Dalit Hindus in at least nine villages in Boudh district.

“We have set up a relief camp at Kantamal town to provide food and shelter to the people who have lost their homes,” he added.

The administration said that the motive for burning these houses was ethnic, as Kandh tribal peoples attacked Dalit Pana homes.

Area church leaders confirmed this, but one said on condition of anonymity, “First they were targeting Christian Panas only, but now even Hindu Panas are not being spared. All Hindus who have not joined the mobs in attacking Christians are also being treated in the same way as Christians.”

Both Dalit Pana houses as well as homes belonging to the Christian Pana community have been targeted in Boudh district, he said.

In Barakhama village near Kandhamal, Christians may move to the safer Daringbadi. A local pastor told Compass that Barakhama was also targeted last December, when around 400 homes belonging to Christians were burned and demolished.

“The same continues now,” he said on condition of anonymity. “The Christians love their homes, but it is just not safe to live here anymore, for the government has failed to protect us. The Christians in Barakhama have almost decided to move collectively to Daringbadi, which is at least a bit safer.”

It is estimated that around 500 Christian families will leave the village.

Nun Raped

Police have finally confirmed the rape of a nun in Kandhamal two days after the death of Hindu leader Saraswati.

A mob of around 40 men attacked the nun at K. Nuagaon village, where she and a priest, Father Thomas Chellantharayil, had taken shelter after their center was attacked. The mob allegedly dragged her and the priest to a deserted office of a Non-Governmental Organization, where she was stripped and raped. The priest was reportedly doused with gas and beaten as he tried to stop the attack on her.

Police have arrested four suspects in the rape. Juria Pradhan, 52, his 22-year-old son Kartik Pradhan, Biren Sahu, 35, and 26-year-old Tapas Patnaik were arrested in connection with the assault and rape of the 29-year-old Catholic nun on Aug. 25.

The inspector-in-charge of Baliguda police station has since been suspended in connection with the incident. The Orissa government has also ordered a probe, 39 days after the initial complaint.

District Superintendent of Police S. Praveen Kumar this week told reporters that a medical examination report confirmed that the nun was raped.

The Hindustan Times reported today that although the report was filed weeks ago, police obtained the medical examination report only two days ago following media reports and the efforts of Sister Nirmala, Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, who wrote to the state seeking justice.

“A police official said they were busy in maintaining law and order and could not find time to look into the case,” the national daily reported.

Attempts at Law and Order

Since Wednesday (Oct. 1), 46 people have been arrested on charges of rioting in Kandhamal district. A police official said that they had arrested more than 300 people in the past month.

Christian leaders attributed the sudden arrest of 46 people in the last two days to new state Director General of Police (DGP) Manmohan Praharaj, who took over from Gopal Chandra Nanda, who retired on Tuesday (Sept. 30).

Hindu extremist Vishwa Hindu Parishad International President Ashok Singhal did not take kindly to the latest arrests.

“The new DGP is indiscriminately arresting leaders of Hindu organizations that are not related to any case,” he told reporters this week.

Nearly 53 companies of paramilitary forces have been appointed in Kandhamal district, and curfew was still imposed. The central government sent 1,000 paramilitary personnel in the form of 10 Central Reserve Police Force companies on Wednesday (Oct. 1) to Kandhamal district. Local sources said 10 more companies were expected by Sunday (Oct. 5).

The central government has come down heavily on the Orissa state government. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil wrote a strongly worded letter to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday (Oct. 3) asking him to take effective measures and provide security for the Christian community in the state.

“Merely continuing to ask for additional forces after every few days cannot be the solution,” Patil wrote. “The state government has to implement overall strategy for creating an environment of security.”

The letter came hours after the Union Cabinet expressed grave concern over the situation in the state, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directing Patil to present a report on the situation at the next cabinet meeting.

Peace Rally in New Delhi

In New Delhi, nearly 15,000 Christians joined in a peace march in solidarity with the victims of the Orissa and Karnataka violence yesterday.

The peace march was the culmination of the week-long sit-in organized by the Christians of Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region) beginning Sept. 26 to protest atrocities on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka. The peace march took place on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation.

Many national leaders, including central ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Oscar Fernandes, addressed the gathering at the Dharna (sit-in). Yadav, the union minister for Indian Railways, promised to personally meet with the prime minister and urgently discuss the matter. He said that he would “take up the anti-Christian violence in Parliament and debate the hatred of Hindutva [Hindu nationalist] forces.”

Hindu leaders such as Swami Agnivesh addressed the peace march at Rajghat (Gandhi’s final resting place), saying that the “very killers of Mahatma Gandhi, are the same killers of Christians in Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country . . . The Hindutva fascists do not represent the peace-loving Hindu societies, rather they are damaging the Sanatam Dharma [eternal law] of Hinduism,” he said.

Report from Compass Direct News

Le temps de charger le camion, il était déjà presque midi, et comme la réception du magasin est fermée de midi à 13 heures, j'en ai profité pour aller faire mon devoir de citoyen.  Je suis allé voter par anticipation, pour l'élection fédérale qui aura lieu le 14 octobre prochain.  Alors dans mon cas, c'est une affaire réglée.

Vous pouvez voter par anticipation les 3, 4 et 6 octobre prochain (soit aujourd'hui, demain, et lundi qui vient), et ce entre midi et 20 heures.  Le jour même des élections, les heures de vote sont décalées, afin que les résultats de l'élection soient connus en même temps, partout au pays.  Pour ceux et celles qui habitent dans un endroit qui est à l'heure de l'Est, les bureaux seront ouverts de 9h30 à 21h30, et pour les gens qui habitent dans les autres fuseaux horaires, vous pouvez consulter le site d'Élections Canada, pour y voir le tableau des heures locales d'ouverture et de fermeture des bureaux de vote.  Souvenez-vous également que vous devez prouver votre identité ET votre adresse.  Le site d'Élections Canada vous donnera tous les renseignements nécessaires.

Vous savez, quel que soit votre âge, votre profession, vos idées, il est très important d'aller voter.  Commencez par vérifier si votre nom est inscrit, et bien inscrit, sur la liste électorale.  Pour ce faire, vous devriez avoir reçu votre carte d'information de l'électeur.  Vérifiez bien les renseignements qui y sont inscrits.  Si vous n'avez pas reçu de carte d'information de l'électeur, si vous avez reçu la carte d'une autre personne, ou encore si la carte contient des erreurs dans votre nom ou votre adresse, vous avez jusqu'au mardi 7 octobre, à 18 heures, pour communiquer avec votre bureau local d'Élections Canada.  Vous trouverez l'adresse de ce bureau sur le site d'Élections Canada.

Ensuite, assurez-vous d'exercer votre droit de vote.  Dans plusieurs pays, à travers le monde, des gens meurent afin d'obtenir le droit de vote, alors avouez que ce serait stupide de lever le nez là-dessus, nous qui l'avons acquis depus si longtemps.  Comme je le dis souvent, votez pour qui vous voulez, mais de grâce, votez!  J'ai une opinion politique, et vous en avez probablement une, vous aussi.  Si vous n'aimez aucun des candidats, ni aucun des partis politiques inscrits sur votre bulletin de vote, votez pour tout le monde, ceci l'annulera, mais au moins, levez-vous le cul, et ALLEZ VOTER!  Car si vous trouvez que l'élection coûte cher, à environ 350 millions$, ce sera de l'argent purement gaspillé si vous n'allez pas voter.

According to China Aid Association (CAA), Pastor Bike and his wife returned to Beijing on September 21 after being kidnapped and detained by Chinese police during the Olympics.

CAA says they rented an apartment, but on September 22, the couple’s water and electricity were cut off by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) office of Chaoyang District of Beijing. Officials told Pastor Bike he was not welcome in the city. Pastor Bike’s landlord was also threatened and told to stop renting to the couple.

In a report from CAA obtained by ASSIST News the organization says that Pastor Bike tried to sue the PSB, but the local court and prosecutor office refused to take up his case because of a "lack of eyewitness."

On the morning of September 26, Pastor Bike went to the PSB office of Chaoyang district, Beijing to file a complaint against the PSB branch office in Qibahe township. The three officers on Pastor Bike's complaint were: Qibahe Township PSB Office Director Mr. Yuan Hongwei, PSB officers Mr. Peng Cheng and Mr. Yang Bin.

CAA said an officer in charge of Religious Affairs from Domestic Security Protection Squad named Bai Tao called several officers from the Religious Affairs Bureau and the city government.

"The officials came to Bike and told him he is now allowed to operate his house church in his living area. They told him his rental apartment will not be disturbed again, " CAA said.

"Pastor Bike thanked them and invited them to attend the third anniversary of the founding of the Chinese House Church Alliance scheduled for October 20."

Pastor Bike wishes to thank all who have been praying for him and his family.

CAA explained this unique victory for Zhang's house church is a welcomed and encouraging sign for our brothers and sisters in China.

China Aid Association would like to personally thank those who have contributed to Pastor Bike's victory through their prayers, support and faithfulness to walk with those who are persecuted.

Report from the Christian Telegraph