A delegation of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voiced concerns over pressure on media, recent violence on political party premises and highly disproportionate coverage of different political parties by state-owned media during their meeting in Ankara Oct. 5-6.

A seven-member cross-party delegation of PACE noted the early parliamentary election campaign is being conducted in a dramatically changed environment, compared to the June 7 elections, in a statement released after a pre-electoral visit. 

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has specified its communication guidelines ahead of the Nov. 1 general election, asking members to “avoid all statements that intimidate ethnic or religious minorities.” 

It also requested that party members avoid placing placards and posters at historic, cultural or religious buildings for propaganda purposes. 

Malik Asad.-

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday challenged the suspension of a Rs341 billion relief package for farmers.

The implementation of portions of the National Kissan Relief Package was suspended by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week. The package was announced less than three weeks after the schedule for local government elections had been issued in Punjab and Sindh.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to change the makeup of his governing coalition if right-wing ministers continue to attack his handling of the current wave of Palestinian terrorism, sources close to him said on Tuesday.

Channel 2 reported that Netanyahu told Bayit Yehudi leaders Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked during Monday night’s closed-door security cabinet meeting that if they criticize him like Bennett did during Operation Protective Edge, the composition of his coalition would be changed.

The succot have come down. The mahzorim have been put away. The refrigerator is full of leftovers. And starting Wednesday, the children will finally start going to school each and every weekday morning.

Yes, the period known in Israel as aharei hahagim – after the holidays – has arrived.

It is common in Israel to postpone any project, any big decision, any serious work really until “after the holidays,” which ahead of Rosh Hashana seems so far off in the future.

After all, it is at least eleven chicken meals away.

The Supreme Administrative Court upheld on Wednesday decisions preventing two controversial candidates -- steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz and belly dancer Sama El-Masry -- from running in the approaching parliamentary elections.

Both candidates lodged appeals against their elimination from the polls, only to be turned down in court.

Ezz's national post office account -- where he had deposited his money -- was frozen in September by a decree of the prosecution and the country's elicit gains authority. He was eliminated from the electoral race as a result.