European Union drug regulator audits manufacturing site of Serum Institute

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2 March 2021

European Union drug regulator audits manufacturing site of Serum Institute

After the UK drug regulator, it is learnt that the European Union (EU) drug regulator is also auditing the manufacturing site of Serum Institute of India (SII), which is making the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

A person in the know has told Business Standard that if the audit goes well, it can lead to SII supplying the vaccine to the UK as well as to the EU.

AstraZeneca has to deliver 180 million doses to the EU in the second quarter of the year and production constraints have cut down deliveries to the European countries. Recently, AstraZeneca Chief Executive (CEO) Pascal Soriot has indicated that the company may look at factories outside of the EU to meet the supply commitments.

Currently, SII is set to supply Covishield, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, to around 70 countries. Already shipments for the World Health Organization (WHO)-led Covax have left from India. However, SII is mostly committed to supply to the low- and medium-income countries and supplies to the EU was not part of the original contract.

SII, however, declined to comment on the matter.

According to Reuters, a senior EU official involved in talks with AstraZeneca has told the agency that SII could be a potential supplier. However, at present SII is prioritising the huge demand that India has for its own vaccination programme. Last week, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, had tweeted, “Dear countries & governments, as you await #COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient, @SerumInstIndia has been directed to prioritise the huge needs of India and along with that balance the needs of the rest of the world. We are trying our best.”

Last month, a team from the British drug regulator’s office visited SII’s Pune facility for an audit. If the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approves the manufacturing process of SII, it could also open doors for the vaccine to be shipped to countries other than the UK (those that recognise the MHRA approval).

The world’s largest vaccine maker, SII, meanwhile, got the emergency use license from WHO for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

According to the interim distribution forecast released by Covax earlier this month, India will get around 97 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine made by SII. As of now, Covax has not allotted the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for India.

The document highlights that India is in line to receive around 97,164,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine licensed to SII in the first and second quarter of 2021. Covax plan states how the 240 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine would be distributed across countries as well as the 1.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

As for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, which is licensed to SII delivery, is estimated to begin in late February. It was subject to WHO approval that has now come through. Around 40 per cent of the doses would be available in Q1, while the rest would be available in the second quarter.

With inputs from Reuters

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European Citizen’s Prize 2021: apply now | News | European Parliament

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2 March 2021

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European Citizen’s Prize 2021: apply now | News | European Parliament

, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20210225STO98704/

International Women’s Day 2021: Women leading the fight against COVID-19

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2 March 2021

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MEPs and national parliamentarians will discuss women’s key role in fighting the pandemic during an inter-parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday morning.

The annual inter-parliamentary meeting marking International Women’s Day gathers MEPs and national MPs to discuss gender equality and women’s rights issues. This year’s theme is ‘‘We are strong: Women leading the fight against COVID-19’’.

After an introductory word by the Chair of the EP Women’s Rights Committee, Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT), opening speeches will be delivered by EP President David Sassoli, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, followed by a keynote speech by the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

The main panel discussion will deal with ‘‘Women on the frontlines: lessons learnt from the crisis management’’. Khadija Arib, President of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, Dr Isabelle Loeb, Medical Director at Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels, Kristel Krustuuk, Founder and Chief Testing Officer at Testlio, Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality, and Concha Andreu, Rapporteur on the Gender Equality Strategy at the European Committee of the Regions, will participate.

Closing remarks will be delivered by Helena Dalli, Commissioner for equality, and by Evelyn Regner.

France: Banque des Territoires launches online anaerobic digestion toolbox for the agricultural world with EU support

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2 March 2021

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France: Banque des Territoires launches online anaerobic digestion toolbox for the agricultural world with EU support

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An advisory and engineering platform to enable farmers to implement their anaerobic digestion projects under the best possible conditions
This initiative comes under the European Green Deal aimed at making the European Union the first greenhouse gas-neutral economy by 2050.

Banque des Territoires, with support from the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) – a partnership between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) – has developed an online anaerobic digestion toolbox that has been accessible since 26 February: https://www.toolbox-methanisation.fr. It provides information and makes tools available to promoters of farm-based anaerobic digestion projects to help them prepare the evaluation and structuring of the basic economics of their project. This toolbox is designed to optimise project organisation and provide advisory services to promoters of small-scale regional anaerobic digestion projects.

This “anaerobic digestion toolbox” is an advisory and engineering platform to enable farmers to implement their anaerobic digestion project under the best possible conditions. It aims to strengthen the partnership forged between Caisse des Dépôts, of which Banque des Territoires is one of the five arms, and the EIB since 2013. It extends their cooperation in the field of technical assistance through EIAH, which has developed since 2016. This initiative reaffirms the commitment of Banque des Territoires and the EIB to the European Green Deal, which aims to make the European Union the first greenhouse gas-neutral economy by 2050.

The toolbox, which can be consulted at https://www.toolbox-methanisation.fr, comprises three pillars:

“Understanding the challenges of farm-based anaerobic digestion”. The aim of this pillar is to explain how the anaerobic digestion process works and the technical aspects required to achieve it, encourage users to ask the necessary questions before embarking on such a project and share video feedback from farmers already committed to the process. A panorama of participants in the farm-based anaerobic digestion ecosystem complements this first step.
“Structuring the project”. The anaerobic digestion toolbox enables the scale of the project to be determined at this stage. Elements are made available to farmers to plot their approach: they can identify the project’s different phases and related legal arrangements (e.g. the types of existing contracts) and seek to grasp the challenges of raising bank debt.
“Mastering the economics of the project.” This pillar involves a teaching dimension and offers the benefits of a true ‘step-by-step’ resource via an online ‘calculator’ and business plan models. The basic concepts are explained and then put into practice using sample projects. Lastly, the users can access directly a simplified business plan simulation.

Anaerobic digestion is a natural biological process of degradation of organic matter by micro-organisms. This degradation leads to the production of biogas and a digestate, the residue from the process, which can be used as a fertiliser. This method serves to recycle agricultural waste, produce renewable energy locally and stabilise or even create local jobs that cannot be relocated, all as part of a circular and sustainable economy.

EIAH will provide more than half of the financing for this advisory tool, with Banque des Territoires contributing the remainder. Banque des Territoires, with the support of the European Investment Advisory Hub (Advisory Hub or Hub) – a partnership between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank – commissioned Naldéo Group to implement this tool.

“The anaerobic digestion toolbox helps to guide promoters of regional projects who are introducing a farm-based anaerobic digestion system. Our contribution, in conjunction with the EIB, forms part of the operational implementation of the Caisse des Dépôts Group’s recovery plan, whose priorities for greater regional sustainability include energy and environmental transition”, said Olivier Sichel, Director of Banque des Territoires.

“This ‘toolbox’ has true engineering value added for the sector, e.g. a ‘calculator’ for users to estimate their digester’s capacity and a tool designed to simulate a future business plan. It enables regional project promoters to ask the right technical, legal, economic and financial questions and provides the structured answers needed for the project to run smoothly”, explained Philippe Leroy, Investment Director and Head of the Environment and Resource Development Division of the Energy and Environmental Transition Department of Banque des Territoires.

“We look forward to the launch of this new portal for farmers so that they can be better advised and supported in their farm-based anaerobic digestion projects, which will enable them to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and diversify their energy mix. Such projects are key for the agricultural world to be able to reduce its carbon footprint in a circular economy”, said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “As the EU climate bank, the EIB is proud to support this initiative through the European Investment Advisory Hub, thus strengthening the Bank’s long-standing partnership with Caisse des Dépôts.”

“This Banque des Territoires project, supported by the EIB and the European Investment Advisory Hub, demonstrates how targeted support can help agricultural businesses to convert their natural methane emissions into biogas and diversify their energy supply”, stated Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission. “It is a real success, both for the environment and for the economy, as local jobs and skills are created thanks to this project.”

Background information

About the European Investment Advisory Hub

The European Investment Advisory Hub is a partnership between the European Investment Bank Group and the European Commission established under the Investment Plan for Europe. This hub is designed to serve as a single point of access for various types of advisory and technical assistance services. Its remit is to help identify, prepare and develop investment projects across the European Union. Its advisors work directly with project promoters to formulate a set of tailored advisory services in support of investment projects.

About Banque des Territoires

Set up in 2018, Banque des Territoires is one of the five arms of Caisse des Dépôts. It brings in-house regional expertise together within a single structure. It is a single point of entry for clients, providing made-to-measure advice and financing solutions for loans and investments to meet the needs of local authorities, social housing associations, local public enterprises and legal professionals. It is aimed at all French regions, from rural areas to large cities, with the objective of eliminating social and regional inequalities. Banque des Territoires is represented by 16 regional offices and 35 local branches of Caisse des Dépôts to enhance visibility and proximity to its client base.

COVID‐19, Virtual Church Services and a New Temporary Geography of Home

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2 March 2021

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The COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures implemented by the United Kingdom government from 23 March 2020 led to unprecedented adaptations from individuals and communities including places of worship, their clergy and congregations. This paper through a multi‐disciplinary dialogue between human geography and theology explores the interrelations between place, space and the spiritual. It identifies the bricolage mechanisms that were developed rapidly by churches to shift towards providing virtual church services. This was an uncommon practice by Christian denominations in the UK. COVID‐19 changed the rules requiring new practices to emerge resulting in a new form of infrasecular space to emerge. Such rapid transformations through the provision of online services and virtual embeddedness blurred the lines between sacred and secular spaces. During virtual services, the minister’s home is temporally linked to the homes of congregants forming an intersacred space. Homes and spaces within homes are transformed into temporary sacred spaces.

For more see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7361358/

European parliamentarians warn against de facto West Bank annexation

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2 March 2021

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A group of 442 parliamentarians from 22 European countries have urged the European Union to take action to prevent de facto Israeli annexation of the West Bank.“The recent regional normalization agreements with Israel have led to the suspension of plans to formally annex West Bank territory,” the European parliamentarians said in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell and the EU’s 27 foreign ministers.

“However, developments on the ground clearly point to a reality of rapidly progressing de facto annexation, especially through accelerated settlement expansion and demolition of Palestinian structures.”The parliamentarians asked the EU to take advantage of the Biden administration’s disapproval of settlement activity, and its desire to reengage with Palestinians, by working with the US to “renew efforts” to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Europe must work with the Biden administration, countries in the region and the parties on the ground to prevent unilateral action from undermining the possibility of peace,” they wrote.

The EU’s member countries should make use of available diplomatic tools such as the 2016 UNSC Resolution 2334 that requires nations not to recognize the settlements as part of Israel, the parliamentarians said. That means “diplomatic, legal and financial support for Palestinian communities at risk of demolition and forcible transfer should be increased,” they explained.“Active European support for Palestinian reconciliation and elections across all the Palestinian territory is vital,” also for ending the isolation of Gaza,” they added.

The letter was the initiative of four Israelis; former attorney-general Michael Ben-Yair, former Labor MK Avraham Burg, former New Israel Fund president Naomi Chazan and former Meretz Party head Zahava Gal-On.

The parliamentarians who signed onto the letter were from: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The European Union has already called on Israel to halt the demolition of illegal Palestinian structures in Area C of the West Bank and to stop settlement activity.

Last Friday seven European countries with current and past membership in the United Nations Security Council stated their opposition to demolitions and settlement activity.

“We recall our firm opposition to Israel’s settlement policy and actions taken in that context, such as forced transfers, evictions, demolitions and confiscations of homes and humanitarian assets, which are illegal under international law… and are an impediment to a viable two-state solution.

”The seven ambassadors who signed onto the statement were from Estonia, France, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.

‘We sink or we swim together’: 5 things you need to know about COVAX

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2 March 2021

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‘We sink or we swim together’: 5 things you need to know about COVAX

Table of Contents

1) What is COVAX?

COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) is the vaccines element of the ACT-Accelerator programme, led by the WHO and international partners, to develop a set of tools to fight the virus. WHO says that the programme has supported the fastest, most coordinated, and successful global effort in history to fight a disease.

The aim is to distribute two billion doses, mostly to poorer countries, in 2021, and immunise 27 per cent of their citizens.

“No one is safe until everyone is safe”, has been a World Health Organization (WHO) mantra since the beginning of the global COVID-19 health crisis. However, richer countries had the resources to pre-order vast quantities of vaccines, ensuring that their populations were first in the queue when pharmaceutical companies got the green light to deliver doses, prompting UN human rights experts to warn against “vaccine hoarding”, and insist that vaccines must be available for all.

2) How does it work?

Funded by richer countries and private donors, who have raised more than $2 billion, COVAX was launched in the early months of the pandemic, to ensure that people living in poorer countries would not be left out, when successful vaccines came onto the market. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the UN’s Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is taking the lead in efforts to procure and supply doses.

Some 92 low and lower-income countries are purchasing vaccines with support from COVAX, and it is expected that the poorest citizens will be vaccinated free of charge. Around 80 higher-income economies have announced that they will finance the vaccines from their own budgets.

3) Which vaccines are being distributed through COVAX?

By the end of 2020, the WHO had lined up almost two billion doses of existing and candidate vaccines for use worldwide. Not all of those vaccines will be effective against the virus, but assembling such a huge vaccine reservoir meant that the UN health agency can say with confidence that COVAX will distribute enough doses to protect health and social care workers in all participating countries by mid-2021.

Some 1.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which requires ultra-cold chain storage are to be delivered to 18 countries in the first quarter of 2021, out of an agreed total of 40 million. A much larger rollout of around 336 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford jab will be dispatched to nearly all countries that have signed up to the COVAX scheme, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

4) Which countries are receiving the first COVAX doses?

On 24 February around 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, produced under licence in India, arrived in Ghana, welcomed by WHO as a historic step towards the goal of ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines worldwide. This shipment was swiftly followed by the arrival of more than half a million AstraZeneca/Oxford doses in Côte d’Ivoire.

These initial shipments are part of an initial 90 million doses due to be sent to Africa from the COVAX facility in the first half of 2021, supporting the inoculation of around three per cent of those most in need of protection, including health workers and other vulnerable groups.

By the end of 2021, it is hoped that, with the availability of more vaccines and increased production capacity, 600 million doses will have been rolled out, and some 20 per cent of the African population will have been vaccinated.

5) Why is it important?

The COVID-19 virus has taken a huge human toll. More than two million people worldwide have succumbed to the virus. Many more have been hospitalized, and suffered ongoing debilitating consequences. COVAX is intended to stem this tragic loss of life and chronic illness.

In addition, billions of lives have been disrupted by the travel restrictions, lockdowns and other measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus. Millions of jobs have been lost as the global economy has slowed down, and health services have been overwhelmed, making it harder for patients with non-COVID-related ailments to receive treatment.

It’s hoped that the vaccines provided by COVAX will contribute to reversing those damaging trends and return the world to normality, whatever that might look like.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghrebeyesus has pointed out that COVAX is not a charity effort: in a highly inter-connected global economy, effective vaccines, widely available in all countries, are the fastest way to end the pandemic, kick-start the global economy, and ensure a sustainable recovery. In the WHO chief’s words, “we sink or we swim together”.

UN’s nuclear watchdog agency will not be ‘bargaining chip’ in Iran nuclear deal

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1 March 2021

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UN’s nuclear watchdog agency will not be ‘bargaining chip’ in Iran nuclear deal

After speaking to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors, Director General Rafael Grossi told a press conference that while the agency had opened a window of opportunity for diplomacy in Iran, it should not be put in the middle of negotiations between Iran, the United States and other nations over the deal.

On 15 February, Iran announced that it would stop implementing “voluntary transparency measures” in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal, along with other arrangements in Iran’s Safeguards Agreement.

The IAEA chief said to the 35-nation board that a “temporary bilateral technical understanding” had been agreed upon during his visit to the country last month that would enable the UN agency to “resume its full verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA if and when Iran resumes its implementation of those commitments”.

Table of Contents

Serious concern

The IAEA chief also raised the alarm that nuclear activities in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, remains “a cause for serious concern”.

“The continuation of the DPRK’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable”, Mr. Grossi said, adding that the Vienna-based agency was intensifying its readiness “to play its essential role in verifying North Korea’s nuclear programme”.

Reviewing nuclear safety

The IAEA chief also drew attention to the agency’s Nuclear Safety Review 2021, which provides an overview of the agency’s activities and global trends in nuclear, radiation, transport and nuclear waste safety protcols, as well as in emergency preparedness and response.

“This year, it also identifies the priorities in these areas, and provides an analytical overview of overall trends”, he said.

Strengthen preparedness

Moreover, the UN official flagged IAEA’s work in strengthening global preparedness for future pandemics through its Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative on diseases, that jump from animals to humans – the common path for viruses such as COVID-19.

He said the initiative will help to reduce the chance that the next outbreak will wreak “the deadly destruction we are suffering today”.

And Mr. Grossi informed the members that last week, IAEA signed revised arrangements with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to “help Member States respond to emerging challenges from climate change to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases”.

Climate on the table

As the Agency prepares for the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, scheduled for November in Glasgow, Scotland, Mr. Grossi said that he would personally deliver the message that “nuclear energy has a seat at the tables when the world’s future energy and climate policies are being discussed”.

“Almost five years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, governments are becoming increasingly aware that they must shift from fossil fuels to nuclear and other low-carbon technologies, if they are to reach their net zero objectives”, Mr. Grossi said.

The Director-General concluded by assuring that the agency was continuing its work on advancing gender equality, and invited Member States to join a panel discussion with some of the IAEA’s early women pioneers on 8 March, International Women’s Day.

COVID-19 cases rise for first time in seven weeks: WHO

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1 March 2021

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COVID-19 cases rise for first time in seven weeks: WHO

Four of the agency’s six regions reported a rise in numbers, with Africa and the Western Pacific excluded.

“This is disappointing, but not surprising”, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking during his biweekly press briefing from Geneva.

“Some of it appears to be due to relaxing of public health measures, continued circulation of variants, and people letting down their guard.”

The jump in cases comes as the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines continues.

“Vaccines will help to save lives, but if countries rely solely on vaccines, they’re making a mistake”, Tedros warned, underscoring the importance of basic public health measures such as testing, contact tracing, wearing masks and avoiding crowds.

Table of Contents

‘Encouraging’ signs

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire began vaccinating health care workers on Monday, becoming the first countries to benefit from a global mechanism for ensuring vaccine equity.

Through the COVAX Facility, WHO and our partners are working to ensure every country can begin vaccination within the first 100 days of the year.

COVAX will deliver 11 million doses to countries this week. By the end of May, some 240 million doses will be allocated to 142 participating countries.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s Chief Scientist, pointed to “encouraging” signs as the world continues to gear up for what is the largest vaccine deployment in history.

“We’ve seen early data from countries where vaccination campaigns started months ago, the impact that this is having on reducing hospitalizations, reducing deaths, particularly in the older age groups, amongst the vulnerable. We’ve even seen very encouraging data in reduction in infections among health care workers who have received the vaccine”, she said.

“So, these are still early days, but the signs are encouraging; the safety profile is encouraging. About 250 million doses have been given worldwide, and so far, there have been no major safety signals, so that is reassuring as well.”

Concern for Tigray region

WHO explained that some countries have received COVAX vaccines early due to several factors such as the level of government preparedness, but logistical challenges in distributing vaccines, which include labelling, packaging and shipping, can also affect deployment.

Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director, spoke about the difficulty in reaching conflict areas such as the Tigray region in Ethiopia, where government and regional forces have been fighting since November.

He said the situation is of grave concern, as water, sanitation, essential health services and COVID-19 intervention have been disrupted. Many people are living in displacement camps, increasing risk of diarrhoeal disease, malaria and other illneses.

WHO has worked to provide essential supplies to cover 450,000 people, or roughly 10 per cent of the population, for three months, Dr. Ryan told journalists.

“Our primary aim as an organization, wherever we work, is to ensure that all people have access to the basic, essential human right of access to basic health care”, he said.

“We will work with the Ministry of Health; we will work with health cluster partners and anybody else who can help us to provide better access to the population there.”

Hooked On Books: Easter & Lent Devotionals

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1 March 2021

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Hooked On Books: Easter & Lent Devotionals

        As I began preparing my heart for Easter and the 40 days of Lent, I came across many devotional books that are perfect resources to redirect our focus during this important season. Easter is one of my favorite holidays because it truly centers around family and God. As I tried to carve out some quiet time to reflect on the days that led up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, I found myself distracted with the multiple things going through my head. My phone is sitting within reach—maybe I should check my emails first.

Maybe I need to look to make sure I paid that bill. I should text my friend to see how she’s doing. All these things are begging for my attention. Then I realized, this may be similar to how Jesus was feeling with all the commotion surrounding him. He went to clear his mind for 40 days in the wilderness. Even Jesus needed to remove his distractions. We may be overwhelmed, preoccupied or tired—and that’s OK sometimes.

Try to take a few minutes each day during the Lenten season and focus on gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Clear your mind with these heartfelt devotional books that will guide you by faith and connect you on a remarkable and personal Lenten journey.

Journey to the Cross: 40 Days to Prepare Your Heart For Easter
Edited by Mary Carver

Prepare your heart for Easter with 40 days of encouragement. Scripture, short essays, stories, quotes, questions, reflections and prayers will kindle a spirit of gratitude to the Lord and remove whatever is standing between you and God so that you can fully experience His love. This beautiful coffee table-style book makes a wonderful gift.

Uncovering the Love of Jesus: A Lent Devotional
By Asheritah Ciuciu

Prepare your family spiritually and emotionally to commemorate Jesus’ death and resurrection. Inviting you to reclaim the Lenten season, the 40 Scripture-based reflections help you contemplate, engage with and be transformed by Jesus’ love. It includes family celebrations and activities.

The Promise of Lent Devotional: A 40-day Journey Toward the Miracle of Easter
By Chris Tiegreen

Though Lent is a time of remembering Christ’s sacrifice, it is not a season of sorrow. During this 40-day holy season, we reposition our hearts toward Jesus. Each of the 40 readings is based on a brief biblical passage and is followed by a prayer, reflection questions and thoughts. Learn to grow closer to God daily through each passage.

Daily Guideposts: 40 Devotions for Lent
By Zondervan Publications

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter when we reflect on Jesus’ life and sacrifice, renewing our hearts in remembrance of His Resurrection. This year, experience the love of Christ in a personal new way with this Lenten book drawn from Daily Guideposts, America’s favorite annual devotional. In just five minutes a day, you’ll enjoy a Scripture verse, a personal story and a prayer.

Latest news of Europe and the world.

European Union drug regulator audits manufacturing site of Serum Institute

Dear Reader,

European Citizen’s Prize 2021: apply now | News | European Parliament

International Women’s Day 2021: Women leading the fight against COVID-19

France: Banque des Territoires launches online anaerobic digestion toolbox for the agricultural world with EU support

COVID‐19, Virtual Church Services and a New Temporary Geography of Home

European parliamentarians warn against de facto West Bank annexation

‘We sink or we swim together’: 5 things you need to know about COVAX

1) What is COVAX?

2) How does it work?

3) Which vaccines are being distributed through COVAX?

4) Which countries are receiving the first COVAX doses?

5) Why is it important?

UN’s nuclear watchdog agency will not be ‘bargaining chip’ in Iran nuclear deal

Serious concern

Reviewing nuclear safety

Strengthen preparedness

Climate on the table

COVID-19 cases rise for first time in seven weeks: WHO

‘Encouraging’ signs

Concern for Tigray region

Hooked On Books: Easter & Lent Devotionals

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