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Cairo 'most dangerous' megacity for women – survey

The Egyptian capital Cairo has been described as the "most dangerous" megacity for women.

The finding comes from the first international poll on how women fare in cities with over 10 million people.

The survey was conducted in 19 megacities where experts on women's issues were asked about how well women were protected from sexual violence.

The poll ranked London as the megacity most friendly to women, followed by Tokyo and Paris.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said women were now leading in every level of society in London, including public service, the arts, business and politics.

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Women's rights campaigners in Cairo blame centuries-old traditions for the discrimination there, with any progressive steps to help women extremely difficult.

Women also have limited access to good healthcare, finance and education.

Shahira Amin, a high profile Egyptian journalist, said everything about the city was difficult for women, and even something as simple as walking down the street could expose a woman to harassment and abuse of all kinds.

Karachi, Pakistan, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Indian capital Delhi come behind Cairo in the survey, conducted by Thomson Reuters Foundation.

• France plans anti-street harassment law
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Delhi and the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo were reported to be the worst for risk of sexual harassment, sexual violence and rape.

The figures for Delhi come despite tougher laws on sex crimes after a fatal gang rape of a woman on a bus in Delhi in 2012 which led to popular protests.

A poll conducted for the Brazilian Forum of Public Security found one in three Brazilian woman 16 or over had suffered some of form of physical, verbal or psychological violence.

Source – bbc.com

If a man loves a woman, she is going to mean the world to him. He will turn the world upside down for her. He is going to go at any length for her. A man, if he loves a woman, will give her everything she wants or desires for. A woman can be weird, can be mad, can be ignorant at times but all of these things would not affect a man an inch. If a man falls for the right woman, following thoughts will come in his mind:

15. She Is The Prettiest Woman:

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A man when falls for the right woman, then they do not just care about the ways she looks physically. In the beginning, there must be lust. But as the time goes by, when a man pays more attention to the smaller details. They start loving the girl more gradually. The man is not able to take his eyes off that woman.

14: No One Understands Me The Way She Does:

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When a man finds the woman he loves, he will find himself lucky. Men generally try to keep their worries and tensions to themselves only. They are afraid to lose the person they love, that is why they keep all of the sorrows to themselves only. But when they love the right woman, they start feeling comfortable in their own skin. They will not be afraid to do anything which would be risky as they will sure about the fact that the right woman will always keep trust in them. And will give him respect no matter what.

13. She Is The One:

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When a man loves a woman, that woman becomes the center of his world. He is not able to think about anything else. He is just concerned about her. She becomes his priority. He does not have to make an effort to impress her anymore. He always feels connected to her. He loves her so much that he will do anything to protect her from all the odds. He becomes sure of the fact that she is the one with whom he would love to spend his all life.

12. I Respect This Thing:

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If a man loves a woman, he is going to give all the respect he could give. That woman will bring all the positive changes in his life. He will strive to the core to become the best version of himself. He will do anything to give her respect. He wishes the best for her. There would be so much respect between the two of them. And he will cherish this thing deeply and completely.

11. I Am Going To Love Her No Matter What:

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A man loves a woman for all the right reasons. When he loves her, she becomes the world for him. Things like whatever happened in her past do not affect him at all. He will love her and will care about her no matter what. He is going to support her no matter what. He is just going to stand by her side at all cost.

10. Is This Love?

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A man will do anything when he loves a woman deeply. But in the beginning, he starts thinking whether this is love or the feelings which will pass with the time. He has not felt the same way before. The feelings are very strange for him but somehow they seem right to him. It may sound weird to you but man will go to his friends and ask his experienced friends. And after some questions, he will get the answer to all of his questions. And he will become sure of the fact that she is the right one and he loves her completely.

9. Should Not Keep Cold Shoulder:

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Every man is careless in the initial years of his life. When he falls for the woman whom he considers the right one for him, he starts thinking that he should stop keeping a cold shoulder. He knows that now he can not remain unserious in his life anymore. His nervousness about anything in life just disappears. He knows, now he has to start a new life.

8. She Is Perfect The Way She Is:

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Everyone has a list of ideal things in their mind about a person with whom they would love to spend their life. When a man falls for someone the list just goes away. He starts finding everything endearing related to her. He loves her no matter what the girl has. He will love the girl despite everything. And will consider her perfect the way she is.

7. I Can Talk To Her All Day:

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A man will never have to seek ways to talk to the right women. He does not have to think twice before saying anything to her. He will never get bored of anything about her. He will feel that he can talk to her all day long. He will talk to her about anything without having a second thought.

11 Things Men Pay Attention To But You Don’t

6. Does She Deserve Me?

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That time when a man falls for a woman is the time when he starts questioning himself. He starts thinking to himself whether he is the right one for her or not? He starts working harder to make himself worthy of her love.

5. She Is My Destiny:

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The right woman is going to matter the most to a man. She will be perfect for him in all ways. He will feel the happiest when she will be around him. He will not be able to think any other thing beyond her. He loves all of her, irrespective of all the highs and lows. He will consider that woman his destiny.

4. Right Time To Settle Down:

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When a man is successful in finding the right woman, the desire to look at other women will go down the drain. He will consider all of these things very childish. He will feel there is no point of doing all of this. He will ask himself what is the point of doing all of these things. He would just think about settling down so that he can marry the woman of her dreams.

3. Everything Seems Perfect:

Image Credits: Shutterstock

Before meeting the right woman, a man thinks that relations are just tedious. But when such woman comes in his life, he feels all of these things normal. Everything around him seems to be perfect. The right woman brings so much positivity in his life.

2. She Is My Better Half:

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With the presence of a right woman in a man’s life, he feels complete. He can not even imagine his life without her. He feels the need to be around her always and considers her his better half.

1. She Should Stay Happy:

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When a man loves a woman, he wants her happiness all the time. He just wants to see her smiling. He would do anything to keep her happy. Her happiness would be his utmost priority. He will always try to find new ways to keep her happy.

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Article By: Born Realist

The post 15 Thoughts A Man Has When He Finds The Right Woman appeared first on Born Realist.

Source – bornrealist.com

Microsoft Windows 10 breaches Dutch privacy law

Microsoft breaches data protection law in the Netherlands because of the way its Windows 10 operating system processes personal information, according to a report.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) also said users were not clearly informed about what data the technology giant was using.

There were four million active devices in Holland using Windows 10, it said.

Microsoft said it was "a priority" for the company to comply with Dutch law.

The DPA said that sanctions could be imposed if Microsoft failed to resolve the issues but did not detail what they might be.

The report claims that Windows 10 users "lack control of their data" because of the approach of Microsoft.

"It turns out that Microsoft's operating system follows about every step you take on your computer. That results in an intrusive profile of yourself," said Wilbert Tomesen, vice-chairman of the DPA.

"What does that mean? Do people know about this? Do they want this? Microsoft needs to give users a fair opportunity to decide about this themselves."

Microsoft responded in a blog post.

It said that its latest update did give users of Windows 10 the opportunity to learn about privacy controls, and that users were informed in various documents and statements about why it processed data, including the performance of the device and apps installed.

"Windows collects data so that we can be responsive to your needs and interests," wrote Marisa Rogers, Microsoft's Windows and devices group privacy officer.

Ms Rogers later added that the company was "listening and responding" to feedback both from customers and regulators.

The technology giant also published a list of DPA claims that it said were inaccurate.

Source – bbc.com

There is no doubt about that fact that excess of sugar is not good for health. This thing has been publicized so vividly that people have started thinking that anything which has a sweet taste is not good for health. Refined sugar is not good for health and no one can deny this fact. But nature has been providing us with delicious assemble of natural sugars in the form of fruits, honey, and root veggies.

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All of these things help us in nourishing the body and also promotes good health. Honey is the simplest and one of the most powerful nurturers of your body. As Hippocrates said: “Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Whenever you are looking for a sweetener, go for organic honey always.

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Consuming honey will improve your health in the most amazing way. Some of the benefits honey will bring in your life and your body are given below:

8. Weight loss:

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Honey helps you in losing those extra kilos from your body in the most amazing way. When you are on a weight loss regime, doctors and your fitness trainers advise you to exclude all the sugar-containing items from your diet. But they will never ask you to cut off honey. Because the composition of honey is very much different and healthy than the normal sweeteners. Honey has a lot of good effects on your body including fast metabolism. Honey also serves as a detox. If you will drink honey with warm water and lemon in the morning on an empty stomach that will help you to cleanse your liver, all the toxins and saying bye to the excess fat from your body.

7. Clear Skin:

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Honey is an amazing antioxidant, it means the regular consumption of honey helps in cleansing your body. Along with that, the antibacterial properties helps in improving your skin condition. Honey is also an organic skincare thing. Apply honey on your face to get rid of all the blemishes. Honey is an excellent treatment for some other diseases such as ringworm, and psoriasis. Honey also helps in inflammation and relieve dryness.

6. Low Cholesterol Level:

There is zero amount of cholesterol present in honey. Whereas all the sweet containing things help in increasing the cholesterol level of your body. On the other hand, all the vitamins and constituents present in honey help in lowering the cholesterol level. If you will consume honey daily it will be very much beneficial as honey fights against the antioxidant compounds present in your body which eventually helps in controlling the excess amount of cholesterol present in your body.

5. Sharp Memory:

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Honey helps in improving your memory as well. Researchers have proven that honey has the ability to fight against the stress. It helps in restoring the cellular antioxidant system of defense, which eventually results in increasing your memory. Also, there is calcium present in honey which is ingested by the brain so easily. As honey has an amazing effect on its functioning as well.

20 Times Relationships Were Hilariously Unpredictable

4. Sound Sleep:

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Everyone loves sleeping. But if there is a little disturbance in anything and you do not get to sleep well your whole day goes fruitless. But you should stop worrying about that issue because the solution is present in honey. The sugar which is present in honey helps in increasing the level of insulin in your blood which eventually excretes serotonin. After that, the serotonin again changes into melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone whose purpose is to provide sound sleep.

3. Prevention From Heart Diseases:

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The antioxidants present in honey helps your arteries from narrowing down. Narrowing of the arteries leads to memory deterioration, cardiac failure, and even headache. So to prevent heart disease take honey and mix it with cinnamon. This helps in revitalizing the arteries and veins of your heart. Even if you have faced some heart disease earlier try using this to prevent from such diseases in future. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey along with 1/3 teaspoon of cinnamon in warm water. Drink this daily and observe the changes yourself.

2. Stress Released:

Image Credits: iStock

Honey is a very strong antiseptic. Therefore, it is recommended that you should eat a spoonful of honey whenever your stomach is empty. Honey also soothe your nerves and it also relieves all the fatigues from your body. Honey has glucose present in it which is essential for the proper working of your neurons. Honey is quickly absorbed in the blood and because of that it makes you feel relaxed and prevent from all the psychological disorders.

1. Healthier Stomach:

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Honey, as mentioned above, serves as an antiseptic. Eating honey daily prevents your body from all the diseases which are associated with your digestive tract. Honey when passes from the stomach, destroys all the germs present in the stomach. Honey also helps in healing the small wounds present in the mucous membrane.

Honey With Garlic:

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When honey is combined with some other natural remedy which has strong antiseptic properties the worth of honey increases tenfold. When honey is mixed with garlic, it will boost your immune system. Start taking a clove of garlic with honey and you will feel energized like you never felt before.

Conclusion:

Image Credits: iStock

Honey has so many advantages which a lot of you must be unaware of until now. But now, in a nutshell, it can be said that you know the worth of honey and how much honey is beneficial for a healthy family. So, include honey in your routine and you and your family will live a happy life.

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Article By: Born Realist

The post Here Are 8 Things That Will Happen To Your Body If You Start Eating Honey Daily appeared first on Born Realist.

Source – bornrealist.com

France minister Schiappa plans anti-street harassment law

France's gender equality minister has set out plans for a new law cracking down on sexual violence and harassment.

Marlène Schiappa's proposals include on-the-spot fines for catcalling and lecherous behaviour in public.

The mounting sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein have revived debate about male predation in France.

President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he would be stripping the Hollywood producer of the prestigious Legion D'Honneur award.

During his first in-depth television interview, Mr Macron also said his government would take steps to better define acts of sexual violence under the law.

Under Ms Schiappa's plans announced on Monday, a taskforce of politicians will work with police and magistrates to establish what sort of behaviour constitutes sexual harassment.

"The idea is that society as a whole redefines what it is acceptable or not," she told La Croix newspaper (in French).

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Street harassment and catcalling are already illegal in some countries including Portugal and Argentina.

But in speaking to RTL, Ms Schiappa said the French bill, which will be voted on by MPs next year, was "completely necessary because at the moment street harassment is not defined in the law… We can't currently make a complaint".

Discussing what constitutes harassment, Ms Schiappa cited an example of a man following a woman for several blocks, or "asking for your number 17 times".

"We know very well at what point we start feeling intimidated, unsafe or harassed in the street."

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Ms Schiappa is new to national politics and one of President Macron's rising stars from civil society. Before joining his centrist party, she was best known for setting up a network of working mothers and was deputy mayor of the city of Le Mans.

As well as cracking down on harassment, the new legislation will also give people who experienced sexual assault as a child more time to make a police complaint, and toughen laws on sex with minors.

The escalating scandal about Harvey Weinstein has prompted women and men around the world to share their own experiences of sexual harassment on social media.

As well as those posting "me too" on Facebook and Twitter, people in France have been using #balancetonporc – which roughly translates as "rat on your dirty old man" – to encourage women to name and shame those responsible.

In a discussion about the social media response in France on Monday, the country's economy minister caused controversy by saying he would never publicly denounce a politician who he knew to be guilty of harassment.

Bruno Le Maire later apologised on Twitter (in French), saying: "It goes without saying that if I were aware of a case of sexual harassment against a woman, I would be the first to report it."

Source – bbc.com

Lisa Wilkinson: Top Australian presenter quits in 'equal pay row'

The female presenter of one of Australia's most prestigious TV news shows has moved to a rival channel amid reports that she was not able to get pay parity with her male co-presenter.

Lisa Wilkinson, 57, announced that because the Nine Network had been "unable to meet her expectations", she was joining Channel Ten's The Project.

Her announcement brings an end to six months of contract negotiations.

Wilkinson made her last appearance on the Today show on Monday.

The talks between her and the Nine Network were held up because of her demand to have pay parity on the breakfast programme with her co-host, Karl Stefanovic, The Daily Telegraph and other media outlets reported.

The paper, quoting "well-placed sources", said that Stefanovic earns about $A2m (£1.2m; $1.5m) a year compared to about $A1.1m (£650,000; $870,000) earned by Wilkinson.

Nine was reported to have offered to increase her salary to a $A1.8m annual package, which it says would have put her and Stefanovic "on the same pay scale".

The station has denied pay inequality between the two presenters, arguing he would only have earned more under the new arrangement because he has "extra commitments".

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Wilkinson's transfer to the rival station will result in her becoming one of the highest paid female presenters in Australian television, officials say.

The contract talks between the two parties were reported to have been "abruptly terminated" on Monday during a hastily arranged meeting in which "the Nine boss decided not to renew Wilkinson's contract which expires at the end of the year", The Daily Telegraph said.

Soon after she made the announcement, Network Ten announced the host would join them in January. Its award-winning news and current affairs The Project programme is due to be expanded to six nights a week.

The channel's Chief Content Officer Beverley McGarvey described Wilkinson as "one of the most respected journalists and television presenters in Australia".

Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs Darren Wick said that efforts had been made to negotiate a new contract for nearly six months, but the two parties could not come to terms.

Wilkinson in a tweet said she was "absolutely thrilled" to begin her new role.

Source – bbc.com

Kirkuk: Iraqi forces capture key sites from Kurds

Iraqi government forces have captured key installations outside the disputed city of Kirkuk from Kurdish fighters.

A military statement said units had taken control of the K1 military base, the Baba Gurgur oil and gas field, and a state-owned oil company's offices.

Baghdad said the Peshmerga had withdrawn "without fighting", but clashes were reported south of Kirkuk.

The operation was launched a month after the Kurdistan Region held a controversial independence referendum.

Iraq's prime minister has said the vote – in which residents of Kurdish-controlled areas, including Kirkuk, overwhelmingly backed secession – was unconstitutional.

• Iraqi Kurds decisively back independence
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The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) insisted it was legitimate.

US officials said they were "engaged with all parties in Iraq to de-escalate tension".

What does the government want?

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement that the operation in Kirkuk was necessary to "protect the unity of the country, which was in danger of partition" because of the referendum.

"We call upon all citizens to co-operate with our heroic armed forces, which are committed to our strict directives to protect civilians in the first place, and to impose security and order, and to protect state installations and institutions," he added.

Earlier, the Iraqi military announced that elite units had been "re-deployed" at the K1 base, about 5km (3 miles) north-west of the city of Kirkuk, and that other troops had taken control of the nearby Leylan area, the Baba Gurgur oilfield, and the headquarters of the North Oil Company.

The military also said troops had taken control of a military airport, police station, power plant and several industrial areas, as well as key bridges, roads, junctions.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council accused Baghdad of launching an "unprovoked attack" and said the Peshmerga would "continue to defend Kurdistan, its peoples and interests".

Peshmerga had destroyed five US-made Humvees used by the Popular Mobilisation, a paramilitary force dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias, it added.

Skip Twitter post by @KRSCPress

Footage today shows Iranian-backed PMF deployed near Maktab Khalid, SW of Kirkuk, using US equipment for attack on Kirkuk. #SupportKurdistan pic.twitter.com/bajU2YPvzp

— KR Security Council (@KRSCPress) October 16, 2017

Report

End of Twitter post by @KRSCPress

Peshmerga spokesman Brig Gen Bahzad Ahmed told the Associated Press that the fighting south of Kirkuk had caused "lots of casualties". He alleged that pro-government forces had also "burnt lots of houses and killed many people" in Tuz Khurmatu, 75km south of Kirkuk, and Daquq.

There was no way of verifying the reports, but a doctor at a hospital in Tuz Khurmatu told AFP news agency that two people had been killed by artillery fire.

The US-led coalition against IS, which supports both Iraqi government and Peshmerga forces, said it had so far only seen "co-ordinated movements" by military vehicles around Kirkuk and "not attacks".

A limited exchange of fire before dawn was the result of a "misunderstanding and not deliberate as two elements attempted to link up under limited visibility conditions", a statement added.

What's happening inside Kirkuk?

By Orla Guerin, BBC News

On the streets of Kirkuk we have seen armed Kurdish civilians – old and young, but almost no Kurdish security forces. One man told us he was ashamed the Peshmerga had abandoned some positions outside the city overnight.

Image Copyright @OrlaGuerin @OrlaGuerin Report

We have heard plenty of defiance from locals. "If we have to die, we will die here in our city," one man said.

But the city has been shutting up shop in the past few hours, with the roads emptying and people rushing for home.

Image Copyright @DuncanCStone @DuncanCStone Report

As we filmed at the main checkpoint at the southern edge of Kirkuk there was a sudden burst of automatic gunfire. It seemed to come from a location where Shia militia units are in position.

Why is Kirkuk disputed?

Kirkuk is an oil-rich province claimed by both the Kurds and the central government. It is thought to have a Kurdish majority, but its provincial capital has large Arab and Turkmen populations.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of much of the province in 2014, when Islamic State (IS) militants swept across northern Iraq and the Iraq army collapsed.

The Iraqi parliament asked Mr Abadi to deploy troops to Kirkuk and other disputed areas after the referendum result was announced, but he said last week that he would accept them being governed by a "joint administration" and that he did not want an armed confrontation.

On Sunday, his cabinet accused the KRG of deploying non-Peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk, including members of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it said was tantamount to a "declaration of war". But KRG officials denied this.

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Why does this matter?

By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent

These are the opening moves in what threatens to be a new conflict in Iraq; a battle for the control of territory captured from IS.

Kurdish fighters are emboldened by the recent referendum which saw a huge vote for Kurdish independence.

The Baghdad government will take the view that it is simply seeking to restore the status quo prior to the emergence of IS.

To say things are complicated is an understatement.

The Kurds themselves are divided. Other ethnic militias have their own interests to defend.

And the US seems unable to halt the fighting as it watches US trained and armed Iraqi units confront Kurdish groups who are also Washington's allies.

Source – bbc.com

Portugal and Spain wildfires: Death toll soars to dozens

At least 31 people have died in a series of wildfires in Portugal, the country's civil protection service says.

A spokeswoman for the agency told reporters that firefighters were still tackling 145 separate fires – dozens of which were still considered serious.

Across the border in Spain's Galicia region, at least three people are dead.

More than 50 people have also been injured on the Portuguese side of the border.

Local media reports about the victims say several people are still missing in Portugal, including a one-month old baby, while in Spain, two of the victims were found in a burned-out car by the side of the road.

Thousands of firefighters are battling the flames, which erupted across north-eastern Portugal and parts of Spain over the weekend after a hot dry summer.

Conditions were worsened by Hurricane Ophelia, which is approaching Europe's western coast, bringing strong winds to fan and spread the flames.

Rain is forecast for the affected regions late on Monday.

In Portugal, a state of emergency was declared north of the Tagus river – about half the country's land area. More than 6,000 firefighters in 1,800 vehicles were deployed by early Monday morning.

• Why are Portugal's wildfires so deadly?

Galician leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo has claimed the fires were deliberately set by arsonists, in what he called "terrorist acts".

Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said several people had already been identified in connection with the fires, and appealed for anyone with further information to share it with the national protection service.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he was travelling to Galicia, and expressed solidarity with the victims.

The wildfires follow a massive forest blaze in Portugal in June which killed 64 people and injured more than 130. Firefighters tackling that blaze also alleged it had been started by a "criminal hand".

But in the aftermath, questions were raised about the speed of the response and the readiness to tackle such a fire. It also emerged that the country's rescue network, a public-private partnership, failed to connect several emergency calls to firefighters.

Are you affected by the wildfires? Email us with your story at [email protected].

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285
• Send pictures/video to [email protected]
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Or use the form below

Source – bbc.com

Catalonia leader Puigdemont 'unclear' on independence – Spain

The Spanish government has said that the head of the Catalonia region has failed to clarify whether he declared independence last week.

In a letter to Madrid on Monday, Carles Puigdemont instead called for negotiation over the next two months.

Spain's Deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Mr Puigdemont now has until Thursday to clarify his position.

The Spanish government has warned that Catalonia must revoke the declaration or face direct rule from Madrid.

Last week Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence, but halted its implementation to allow negotiations.

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'Still no clarity'

Ms Sáenz de Santamaría said on Monday that Madrid "deeply regrets" that the Catalan government had "decided not to respond" to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's request for clarity on the region's independence decision.

Speaking at the official residence of the Spanish prime minister, the Moncloa Palace, she said that any future dialogue between Madrid and Catalonia's regional government must take place "within the law".

Ms Sáenz de Santamaría added that the Spanish government's handling of the Catalonia crisis was widely backed in the Spanish parliament.

Spain's Justice Minister Rafael Catalá earlier said that Mr Puigdemont's response to the Madrid deadline was "not valid", Spanish news agency Efe reported.

Mr Catalá said the letter had failed to clarify Catalonia's position or explain what measures Mr Puigdemont's regional government was planning in order to fulfil Madrid's demands.

What was in the letter?

In a letter to Mr Rajoy on Monday, Mr Puigdemont said his "suspension of the political mandate given by the polls on 1 October demonstrates our firm will to find a solution and not confrontation".

"For the next two months, our main objective is to bring you to dialogue," he said, asking for a meeting as soon as possible.

"Let's not let the situation deteriorate further. With good will, recognising the problem and facing it head on, I am sure we can find the path to a solution," Mr Puigdemont wrote.

What happened with the declaration?

In a speech to the Catalan parliament on 10 October, Mr Puigdemont said that he had been handed a clear mandate to move towards secession.

"Today I assume the mandate for Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic," he said.

However, despite signing a declaration of independence, Mr Puigdemont said that parliament would "suspend the effects" of the move to allow negotiations to take place.

"We're suspending the declaration of independence for a few weeks because we want a reasonable dialogue, a mediation with the Spanish state," he said.

Mr Puigdemont added that Catalonia had "won the right to be independent, to be listened to and to be respected".

• Catalan leader calls for mediation

Why is the vote so divisive?

Catalonia's controversial independence referendum result, which was immediately rejected by the Spanish government, has plunged Spain into turmoil.

The vote was declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court.

Catalan authorities said that slightly fewer than 90% of voters backed independence, although the turnout for the poll was only 43%.

Polling day was marred by scenes of violence as Spain's police confiscated ballot boxes and attempted to prevent members of the public entering polling stations.

• The view from Barcelona v Madrid
• The reasons for the referendum

What measures can Madrid take?

Article 155 of Spain's 1978 constitution allows Madrid to impose direct rule in a crisis, but it has never been invoked in democratic Spain.

It would be Spain's Senate – the upper house of parliament, controlled by Mr Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) – that would launch the transfer of powers from Catalonia to Madrid.

Madrid may also decide to call new regional elections, hoping to thwart the independence drive.

Some 4,000 national police who were dispatched to Catalonia during the crisis have remained there since polling day.

• Catalonia crisis: What are the options now?
• Why these are uncharted waters for Spain

Source – bbc.com

Philippines military 'kills Islamist Isnilon Hapilon'

Troops in the southern Philippines say they have killed Isnilon Hapilon, the Abu Sayyaf militant seen as Islamic State group's leader in southeast Asia.

Hapilon, who is on the US list of "most wanted terrorists", was killed in Marawi along with another wanted militant, Omar Maute, the army said.

The city has been partly held by insurgents since a rebel attack in May.

The reported deaths came amid an army push to end the siege after months of fighting between troops and militants.

The region is home to a number of Muslim rebel groups, many of which have in recent years sought alliance with so-called Islamic State (IS).

"It will be just a matter of days before it will finally be declared that Marawi has been liberated from the clutches of terrorists," army chief of staff General Eduardo Ano told a news conference. "There will be no let up."

He held up photos of two bloodied faces he said were those of Hapilon and Maute, one of two brothers who head the region's Maute insurgency group.

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Hapilon was shot in the head and Maute died of a chest wound during a night-time operation, officials said. A freed hostage tipped off the authorities about their whereabouts.

Who was Isnilon Hapilon?

• A leader of Abu Sayyaf, a group notorious for kidnapping, piracy and for beheading hostages, including foreigners
• Factions of the group aim to create an Islamic caliphate in the southern Philippines, while others have pursued criminal activity
• Isnilon Hapilon pledged allegiance to IS in 2014 – IS later urged all Muslims in southeast Asia to unite under his leadership
• The US has offered a bounty of up to $5m for him
• Has links to the Maute group, another local insurgency group which has declared allegiance to IS

Observers say the occupation of Marawi stoked fears that militant Islamist ideology is more prevalent on the island of Mindanao than had previously been imagined.

The region is the only Muslim-majority part of the otherwise largely Catholic Philippines.

Gen Ano said troops were still fighting dozens of Islamist fighters in the area and had rescued about 20 hostages

He said the bodies of the two militant leaders had been identified by experts and former rebels.

Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters that following Hapilon's reported death, "the Marawi incident is almost over and we may announce the termination of hostilities in a couple of days".

He added that the bodies of the two were undergoing DNA tests.

Source – bbc.com