Nov 11 2020

UNICEF: Children need continued support in Beirut – Vatican News

By Vatican News staff writer

It’s been 100 days since a massive explosion tore through the port of Beirut, leaving death and destruction in its wake.

Crucial support

A new report published on Wednesday by the UN children’s agency UNICEF warns that many children and families still remain in need of “crucial support” months on from the disaster.

Entitled “Rising from Destruction. 100 days of UNICEF’s response to the Beirut explosions and the road ahead for children and families,” the findings paint a distressing picture.

Trauma of explosion

The report highlights that many children have been affected by trauma both during and after the explosions, and the charity is working to provide parents, primary caregivers and kids with psychosocial support.

Twelve-year-old Hussein is just one of the children who has received this kind of help.

“I stopped using colour on my drawings that show my life because everything changed on that day,” he said.

Hussein lives in the city’s Karantina neighbourhood which was one of the worst affected. Now ten weeks on from the disaster, Hussein and many children like him are learning to smile again. “The colour is back in my life again,” he said.

Healing wounds

According to UNICEF Lebanon Representative Yukie Mokuo, “While the immediate scars are starting to heal, thanks to extraordinary efforts on the ground, the deep wounds – both visible and invisible – of children and families in a country experiencing multiple emergencies will require sustained solidarity, commitment and support.”

Over the last several weeks, UNICEF and its partners have provided over 22,000 children under age five with essential nutrition supplements, including Vitamin A, high energy biscuits and emergency food rations.

It has also re-established water supply connection in 1,060 buildings, reaching thousands of people, and water tanks have been installed in three heavily affected hospitals.

Although much work has been done to alleviate suffering, the children’s agency stresses that the “sheer number of children, parents, and caregivers who remain in need of support, however, means that increased funding for key programmes, including child protection, is urgently required.”

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Nov 11 2020

Remarks by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides at the press conference on Building a European Health Union

European Commission Speech Brussels, 11 Nov 2020 The past year has taught us how crucially important health is for each and every one of us.

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Nov 11 2020

[Column] The European Parliament has its eye on S. Korea’s National Assembly

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Nov 11 2020

Press Release: The Capital Markets Union: slow progress

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Nov 11 2020

Hubballi: Tipu Sultan was respectful of Hindu religion, says Congress

HUBBALLI: Tipu had handed over his two children to Britishers as hostages in the interest of his state and the nation as well and was treating all religious persons equally, said Altaf Hallur, president, Hubballi-Dharwad City District Congress Committee.
Speaking at the 270th birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, Hallur said Tipu was a pioneer in adopting advanced technology in administration, particularly in the defence sector. “His life is the best lesson to teach to the next generation,” he added.
Former KPCC secretary Mohan Asundi expressed regret over the state government’s move of not celebrating Tipu’s birth anniversary. Another leader Basavaraj Malakari noted that Tipu had great respect for Hindu religion and temples. “However, BJP, a communal party, is trying to present Tipu as anti-Hindu. Chief minister BS Yediyurappa utilised Tipu to woo Muslims when he floated Karnataka Janata Party but is now terming Tipu as anti-Hindu,” he added.
Office bearers Dasharath Wali, Altafnawaz Kittur, Navid Mulla, Rafiq Dargad and others were present.

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Nov 11 2020

‘Don’t like offending anyone’s religion’: Cardi B apologises for goddess Durga look on magazine cover

By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi |

November 11, 2020 4:40:09 pm

Cardi B debuted her Club C Cardi sneaker collection with the magazine cover. (Source: iamcardib/Instagram)

International rap sensation Cardi B posted an apology in an Instagram story for posing as Goddess Durga on the cover of a footwear magazine for its November 2020 issue. The cover features Cardi B with 10 hands, but instead of weapons, she is seen holding a shoe.

In the video, the rapper said, “When I did the shoot, the creatives told me I was going to represent a Goddess; that she represents strength, femininity and liberation, and that’s something I love and I’m all about. And though it was dope, if people think I’m offending their culture or their religion I want to say that was not my intent. I do not like offending anyone’s religion; I wouldn’t like it if someone did it to my religion.”

Cardi B posted an apology video on Instagram. (Source: iamcardib/Instagram)

She added, “When people dress as Virgin Mary and Jesus, as long as they do it in a beautiful, graceful way…. But I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful; maybe I should have done my research. I’m sorry, I can’t change the past but I will do more research for the future.”

Cardi B is seen wearing an off-shoulder red Georges Hobeika dress for the cover photo. The magazine, Footwear News, explained Cardi B’s pose and wrote on Instagram, “…she pays homage to Durga, the Hindu goddess, whose symbols of protection and inner strength resonate as much in modern times as they have through the centuries. Like Durga, Cardi B is a dominant female voice at a critical time.”

Netizens, however, were unhappy with the concept of the photoshoot and called out the rapper for hurting sentiments.

One Twitter user wrote, “Cardi B did not pay ‘homage’ to the Hindu goddess Durga by holding a shoe in her hand, this is plain disrespect and in no way cultural appreciation. She can’t get away with this without addressing and apologizing for mocking our culture.”

Another said, “Apparently this is Cardi B paying ‘homage’ to the Hindu goddess Durga…This is straight-up racist.”

“Coward Cardi B has deactivated her account. Otherwise, we could have taught Cardi B in how many ways she is different from goddess Durga (including she is a human),” wrote yet another user.

Read| Cost of engagement ring to favourite fast food: 7 interesting facts about Cardi B

With the magazine cover, the WAP star has made her first major foray into the shoe industry and debuted her Club C Cardi sneaker collection with Reebok. Here are some of her other looks featured in the magazine.

What is your opinion on the photoshoot?

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Nov 11 2020

EASO holds its 37th Management Board

At its 37^th meeting which took place on 10 November 2020 by videoconference, members of the EASO Management Board discussed a range of issues in relation to the Governance areas, such as the implementation of the EASO Work Programme and Budget 2020, staff recruitment and audit reports.

Members of the EASO Management Board also considered updates on EASO’s operations in the field, in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta and looked at the situation of asylum in the EU+ with a special focus on EASO’s recent analytical work related to the asylum situation in 2020 as well as the emergency measures in place in asylum and reception authorities as a result of the COVID-19 situation.

Members also continued the discussion on identified new alternative options for the deployment of experts across the European Union Member States where EASO provides operational support.

At the end of the meeting, the European Commission gave a presentation on the recently published Pact on Migration and Asylum.

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Nov 11 2020

EU Council adopts conclusions on future EU intellectual property policy

The FINANCIAL — The European Council adopted a set of … key elements of a future EU intellectual property policy. These … within the Commission on an EU intellectual property action plan, … Indications protection systems in the EU. It stands ready to …

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Nov 11 2020

Pope renews Church’s commitment to eradicate clerical sex abuse – Vatican News

By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis on Wednesday referred to the release of the McCarrick Report the day before, and expressed his closeness to all victims of abuse.

Speaking during the weekly General Audience in the Vatican’s Apostolic Library, the Pope also said that following “the Report on the painful case of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick” he renews “the commitment of the Church to eradicate this evil”.

After pronouncing these words, he paused for a moment of silent prayer.

The McCarrick Report, composed of 461 pages of documents and testimonies, is an exhaustive investigation into the knowledge and decision-making regarding Theodore McCarrick during his career as a priest, bishop and cardinal.

The Report, published by the Secretariat of State on the mandate of Pope Francis, is the result of a two-year investigative process.

Speaking upon its release on Tuesday, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said the Report “will also have an effect in this respect: in making all those involved in such choices more aware of the weight of their decisions or omissions. These are pages that encourage us to reflect deeply and ask ourselves what more we can do in the future, learning from the painful experiences of the past.”

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Nov 11 2020

137/2020 : 11 November 2020 – Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-61/19

Orange Romania

Approximation of laws

A contract for the provision of telecommunications services containing a clause stating that the customer has consented to the collection and storage of his or her identity document cannot demonstrate that that customer has validly given his or her consent where the box referring to that clause has been ticked by the data controller before the contract was signed

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Nov 11 2020

Romania and the Republic of Moldova stand together to tackle COVID-19

Since the onset of COVID-19, Romania and the Republic of Moldova have been working together to find ways to protect the health of their citizens.

Solidarity in action

The cooperation which already existed between the health authorities and health systems of the two countries intensified as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In early spring, with WHO assistance, Romania sent medical supplies and equipment to support the medical system of its neighbour.

“Romania’s relationship with the Republic of Moldova is unique. Adding a robust health response to our partnership only strengthens the existing tie between our countries,” said Dr Andrei Baciu, Deputy Minister of Health of Romania.

In addition to the donation of equipment, a team of 42 doctors and nurses was deployed from Romania to support their colleagues in the Republic of Moldova. The team carried out a 2-week mission, providing medical assistance and care for COVID-19 patients, and training for medical staff in the health facilities of Bălți, Chișinău and Cahul.

“This is only one of many examples of our cooperation, which dates back to long before COVID-19,” explains Dr Miljana Grbic, WHO Representative in Romania. “Working together will ensure the best possible protection and care for citizens in both countries.”

Overcoming obstacles

Common challenges have also been discussed and solutions found through virtual platforms. In August, an online session on disease management was arranged, with leading physicians sharing experiences of treatment of COVID-19 patients, as well as of preparedness plans, treatment protocols and how to optimize human resources to respond to the pandemic. The session was hosted by the Ministry of Health of Romania and supported by WHO.

“This webinar was arranged in order to optimize our health response, exchange best practices and also share concerns,” said Dr Igor Pokanevych, WHO Representative in the Republic of Moldova. “Leading experts from both countries took part, and we were able to discuss both challenges and successes.”

Continued response

Both the Republic of Moldova and Romania are currently facing an increase in cases of COVID-19.

“Each country has had to gradually adapt its measures and actions to control the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on the epidemiological situation. And each country’s experience in detecting, treating and monitoring cases is very important at this stage,” said Alexandru Holostenco, State Secretary, Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova. “As we move into autumn and flu season, sharing available resources, information and experiences is essential,” added Mr Holostenco. “I thank my colleagues from Romania for all the support provided during this period and going forward.”

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Nov 11 2020

Gov’t restrictions on religion reach highest level globally in 10 years – report

In 2018, the global median level of government restrictions on religion such as laws, policies and actions by officials that impinge on religious beliefs and practices continued to climb, reaching an all-time high since Pew Research Research Center began tracking these trends in 2007.

In its 11th report, Pew Research showed that even if the increase in government restrictions from 2017 to 2018 was relatively modest, it still contributed to a substantial rise in government restrictions on religion over more than a decade, as well as a rise in the number of governments using force, such as detentions and physical abuse, to coerce religious groups.

In this report, for the first time, Pew Research Center combined its data on government restrictions and social hostilities involving religion with a classification of regime types, to discern whether there is a link between different models of government and levels of restrictions on religion. In other words, whether restrictions on religion tend to be more or less common in countries with full or partial democracies than in those with authoritarian regimes.

The analysis found a strong link between authoritarianism and government restrictions on religion. While there are many exceptions to this pattern, authoritarian regimes are much more common among the countries with very high government restrictions on religion. Among countries with low government restrictions on religion, meanwhile, just 7% are authoritarian.

The total number of countries with “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions has been mounting. Most recently, that number climbed from 52 countries in 2017 to 56 countries in 2018, according to the report.

As of 2018, most of the 56 countries with high or very high levels of government restrictions on religion are in the Asia-Pacific region, with 25 countries which represent half of all countries in that region, or in the Middle East-North Africa region with 18 countries, which represent 90% of all countries in the region. While Asia and the Pacific had the largest increases in their Government Restrictions Index scores, the Middle East and North Africa region still had the highest median level of government restrictions, and at its highest point since the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2012, according to the Pew Research report.

Aside from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East-North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa was the only other region to experience an increase in its median level of government restrictions in 2018 (from 2.6 to 2.7), reaching a new high following a steady rise in recent years.

While government use of force against religious groups decreased in the region, both harassment of religious groups and physical violence against minority groups went up.

More than eight-in-10 countries in the sub-Saharan region experienced some form of government harassment of religious groups, and 14 countries (29%) had reports of governments using physical coercion against religious minorities.

Europe experienced a small decline in its median level of government restrictions, although government use of force increased slightly. The median level of government restrictions in the Americas, meanwhile, remained stable between 2017 and 2018, as the region continued to experience the lowest levels of government restrictions compared with all other regions.

In terms of social hostilities involving religion, the picture is more mixed – which makes sense given that social hostilities look at actions by private individuals or social groups and do not directly originate from government actions.

The five countries categorized as full democracies with high levels of social hostilities are all in Europe, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and all had reports of anti-Muslim and antisemitic incidents.

To measure global restrictions on religion in 2018 – the most recent year for which data is available – the study rates 198 countries and territories by their levels of government restrictions on religion, based on their GRI, and social hostilities involving religion based on their SHI. The new study is based on the same 10-point indexes used in the previous studies.

The Government Restrictions Index (GRI) measures government laws, policies and actions that restrict religious beliefs and practices, while the Social Hostilities Index (SHI) measures acts of religious hostility by private individuals, organizations or groups in society.

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Nov 11 2020

EU parliament, governments reach deal on EU 2021-2027 budget

…
Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU governments agreed the details … endorsed by EU governments and the European Parliament.
This may … because they are under EU scrutiny for undermining … and government negotiators raises EU spending on health, …

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Nov 11 2020

European Union holding the 5th European Film Festival in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan on November 9 opened the 5th European online Film Festival in Kazakhstan. The Festival will last until November 29 and will present 18 films produced by the European Union Member States, the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan reported.

Together with films, the Festival will host exclusive discussions, master-classes, and meetings with the European and Kazakh filmmakers. The Festival aims to acquaint the Kazakh audience with European cinema, raise public interest in cinematographic art, and strengthen international cooperation.

The opening ceremony was attended by the EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sven-Olov Carlsson, Italian Embassy Cultural and Commercial Attaché Emilio Sessa, and special guests of the Festival – filmmakers Carlo D’Ursi (Italy) and Rain Rannu (Estonia), Kazakh director, member of the European Film Academy Adilkhan Yerzhanov, and Kazakh cinema expert and critic Gulnara Abikeyeva. During the panel discussion, the participants exchanged views on key trends, challenges, and common features of contemporary European and Kazakh cinema.

Most of the Festival’s films are the winners of prestigious international film festivals, including the winner of Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize winner – “Diamantino,” the winners of Venice Film Festival for Best Actor – “Tel Aviv on fire” and “Saint George,” the winner of German Film Critics Association Awards for Best Film and Best Actor – “Western,” the winner of Florence film festival for Best Feature Film – “Sawah,” the winner of Amsterdam and Madrid International Documentary Film Festivals awards – “Stranger in Paradise,” and the winner of the Kyiv International Film Festival Award of the film program for teenagers “Youth” – “Too far away”.

“This year, our Festival is organized for the first time in an online format, making European cinema even closer and more accessible for the Kazakh audience. The festival program includes films of various genres, from drama and comedy to animation and documentary films. I believe that European cinema will not leave anyone indifferent because it raises acute social issues and touches people’s deepest feelings and concerns; This a tale about all of us. I am also pleased that Kazakhstani cinema is rapidly developing and winning prestigious awards at European film festivals. This is an excellent opportunity to exchange experience and show the European viewers the stories of Kazakh people,” EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sven-Olov Carlsson said.

The Festival program was opened by a film by Italian director Jonas Carpigniano “A Ciambra,” which premiered at the 70th Cannes Film Festival, won the Europa Cinemas Label Award, and gained two David di Donatello Awards. The film was also selected as the Italian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards. It is a story of adolescence to adulthood of a Romani teen living in Calabria, Southern Italy. A discussion about the film with its director Jonas Carpigniano will be held online on 12 November.

On 18 November, Carlo D’Ursi will deliver a master-class for Kazakhstani filmmakers, students, and all interested public. Carlo D’Ursi is a director, producer, actor, who has more than a decade of experience in the film industry and heads the Potenza Producciones production company, which accumulated more than 400 awards, focuses on international coproduction and helps the films to compete at the film festivals like the ones in Cannes, Venice, Málaga, and Montreal.

On 28 November, the Festival will be closed by Rain Rannu’s (Estonia) feature film “Chasing the Unicorns.” This movie is based on real stories of Estonian eco-startups and narrates about a female founder trying to conquer a male-dominated tech world – from Estonia to Silicon Valley. The event is supported by the Embassy of Estonia in Nur-Sultan.

These 18 films are selected in cooperation with the prominent European cinema portal Cineuropa and supported by the Embassy of Estonia in Nur-Sultan, Goethe Institute, and the Institut Français.

All films are screened in the original language with Russian and English subtitles.

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Nov 11 2020

The European Union analyzes the consequences of the war in Nagorno Karabakh

“The European Union welcomes the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh,” the Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano told at a briefing on Tuesday in Brussels, according to TASS news agency.

“We have been calling for this since the beginning of military actions. We are now analyzing the consequences of the war and the situation in the region, after which we will make a separate statement,” he said, as quoted by the source.

Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

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Nov 11 2020

European parliament, EU governments reach deal on EU 2021-2027 budget

European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 19, 2020. Picture taken February 19, 2020. — Reuters pic

BRUSSELS, Nov 10 — European Parliament and EU governments’ negotiators agreed today the details of the EU’s 2021-2027 budget, clearing a crucial step for the activation of the bloc’s €1.8 trillion (RM8.7 trillion) recovery package to make the economy greener and more digital.

“A deal for Europe — Council and European Parliament negotiators reach political agreement on the EU budget & recovery package,” the spokesman for the German presidency of the EU Sebastian Fischer said on Twitter, adding the agreement still needed formal endorsement.

The deal, which took almost four months to negotiate, makes clear that governments can only get EU money if they observe the rule of law — a condition Poland and Hungary have opposed because they are under EU scrutiny for undermining the independence of the judiciary.

It raises EU spending in the 1.1 trillion budget on health, education and security by €16 billion compared to the original agreement of EU leaders from July.

It also establishes new, dedicated revenues for EU coffers so the bloc can repay the €750 billion +it plans to borrow to help the recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“By 2026, we will have a basket of new revenues that should be sufficient to cover the cost of the Recovery Fund’s debt with the aim of not having cuts in funds and programmes,” one of the parliamentary negotiators Jose Manuel Fernandes said.

Over the next weeks, talks between EU lawmakers and governments will continue on the details of the €750 billion borrowing, of which €672.5 billion is to be distributed among governments as loans and grants on the basis of their national recovery plans listing various projects and reforms.

The parliament wants more of that money to be paid out up front, before the projects reach agreed milestones and targets, and more of the cash to be earmarked for projects that help reduce CO2 emissions.

Lawmakers also want the cash, for which governments can apply through national recovery programmes, to be available longer — four years instead of three.

Once governments and parliament have an agreement on that, the deal can be ratified by national parliaments in the EU’s 27 countries and the money is to start flowing in the second half of next year.

“The budget, the Recovery Fund, new revenues and the rule of law conditionality are one package for us,” said Siegfried Mursan, a senior MEP responsible for budgetary issues.

“Parliament will ratify today’s deal only if Member States stick to all parts of the agreement,” he said. — Reuters

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Nov 11 2020

Jenny Bienemann’s Haiku Milieu Book Release Virtu-Concert

Jenny Bienemann’s Haiku Milieu Book Release Virtu-Concert – Book Publishing Industry Today – EIN Presswire

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Crucial support

Trauma of explosion

Healing wounds

Solidarity in action

Overcoming obstacles

Continued response