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CRF: Bumper 2021 for organic rice

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CRF: Bumper 2021 for organic rice

Cambodia exported 11,200 tonnes of organic milled rice to international markets in 2020, a slight 1.2 per cent increase over 2019, according to the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).

While the milled-rice export sector by and large chalks up 2020’s lacklustre growth performance to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the CRF has only strengthened its resolve to ramp up sales of Cambodian milled-rice abroad.

According to the CRF, more than 90 per cent of the exports were shipped to the European market, while “a small amount” went to the US.

With the Kingdom’s total 2020 milled-rice exports weighing in at 690,829 tonnes, organic rice accounted for just 1.6 per cent.

Song Saran, president of the CRF and CEO of miller and exporter Amru Rice Cambodia Co Ltd, told The Post on January 11 that total milled-rice exports surged 11.4 per cent from 2019, far outshining the growth seen in the organic variant.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries data show that the Kingdom exported 387,000 tonnes of milled rice in 2014, 538,396 tonnes in 2015, 542,144 tonnes in 2016, 635,679 tonnes in 2017, 626,225 tonnes in 2018 and 620,106 tonnes in 2019. Each figure has fallen short of the government’s pledge to export one million tonnes of rice per annum, originally made in August 2010 for 2015.

Saran attributed the uninspiring growth in Cambodian organic milled-rice exports to tariffs levied by the EU, citing the market’s dependence on the bloc.

Cambodia’s rice sector officially lost its import duty exemption granted by the EU in January 2019 after the bloc’s decision to impose tariffs on imports from the Kingdom and Myanmar to protect European rice farmers’ interests.

Saran added that Covid-19 had brought organic rice demand in the EU to a virtual halt.

“While overall milled-rice exports to Europe did not increase due to tariffs, organic milled rice did enjoy a bumper year,” he said. “Without tariff barriers, we’d be even more competitive. Still, the growth we saw is acceptable given the context.

“We’ll strive to find more and larger organic milled-rice export markets, especially in the US, where demand is high and [import] volume remains small. We’ll boost Cambodia’s organic milled-rice exports to around 15,000 tonnes in 2021,” he said.

According to Saran, Amru Rice accounted for 9,000 tonnes, or 80 per cent, of 2020 organic milled-rice exports, which represents a 10-20 per cent gain over 2019.

With its production based on “natural principles” with a “clear control system”, he said organic rice is widely known for its myriad health benefits.

Chan Sokheang, chairman and CEO of Signatures of Asia Co Ltd, another local rice miller and exporter, said Covid-19 had diminished global demand for organic rice.

He said his company exported more than 2,000 tonnes of organic milled rice last year, declining about 20 per cent from the year before, and 22,000 tonnes of regular varieties, up around 30 per cent over 2019.

“Declining incomes during the Covid-19 epidemic have led people to opt for the types of rice they need, with less focus on [the healthier] organic rice, which costs almost twice as much,” he said.

According to Sokheang, organic white milled rice was valued at around $950 per tonne on the international market last year – similar to 2019, while fragrant varieties fetched around $1,200-1,300 per tonne.

“As the global economy remains mired in uncertainties, it’d be ill-conceived to presume what the volume of organic milled-rice exports will look like in 2021, given how concretely interwoven [its performance] is with economic growth acceleration.

“If people’s incomes increase, the purchase volume of organic milled rice will swell up in consonance,” he said.

Concerns and Irony as Leave.EU Moves to Ireland After Brexit to Remain in EU

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Concerns and Irony as Leave.EU Moves to Ireland After Brexit to Remain in EU

The group that campaigned for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union, Leave.EU, has transferred to a registered address in Waterford, Ireland to keep the .EU suffix after Brexit.

Irish Fine Gael politician Neale Richmond commented on the move and said he had “no interest in seeing” the group “using Ireland as a flag of convenience.”

“Leave.EU’s recent move to Waterford must be rigorously scrutinised at every turn. This odious organisation has played a wholly negative role in British, Irish and European civic discourse for a number of years now,” Deputy Richmond said. 

​Richmond reported his concerns to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in Ireland and the European Registry for Internet Domains. 

“Following engagement with ComReg, I am pleased that the matter of whether Leave.EU is eligible for a .eu domain name or not has been referred to EURid… the non-profit organisation appointed by the European Commission as the domain name registry that operates the .eu top-level domain and its variants in other scripts. I have engaged with EURid to establish if Leave.EU have followed all the rules to maintain their lucrative domain name by registering in Ireland,” the politician explained.

Joining Richmond in his concerns has been Guy Verhofstadt, an MEP for pro-European political group Renew Europe.

In response to the concerns of non-compliance, Leave.EU compared their move to a completely lawful action “which thousands of other UK businesses have done.”

​In 2019, Leave.EU, co-founded by businessman Arron Banks and property tycoon Richard Tice, together with one of Banks’ insurance companies, was fined £120,000 over breaches of data law.

Given that the group holds “great swathes of personal information about their supporters and other persons, it must be ascertained if they are doing this in accordance with EU law after their relocation of convenience from the UK to Waterford,” argued Richmond.

Whether Leave.EU is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation after its so-called “convenience move” to Ireland after Brexit could be determined with the help of Ireland’s data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon.

Resilience in Honduras in the face of disaster

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Resilience in Honduras in the face of disaster | BWNS

An emergency committee established by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras early in the pandemic is adapting to assist with new crises.

SIGUATEPEQUE, Honduras — When the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras created an emergency committee early in the pandemic, it set in motion a process that would prove essential months later in its response to the devastating impact of hurricanes Eta and Iota.

In November, when news broke of the approaching category 4 Hurricane Eta, the emergency committee made efforts to raise awareness about the impending disaster. Gloria Perdú, member of the committee, says, “It had been many years since the country was struck by a storm this powerful, and most people were not expecting such devastation. The network we had established earlier in the year allowed us to alert people to the precautions they should take before the storm.”

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The network established by the emergency committee has been instrumental in channeling people and resources to areas of need.

Hurricane Eta made landfall off the coast of Nicaragua on 3 November before moving through Honduras. This was followed by Iota, a category 5 hurricane, just two weeks later, leaving a level of destruction in the region not seen in recent history. Heavy rains caused widespread flooding, while communications, power, and roads were compromised in many areas.

The National Assembly—seeing the immense power of a devotional spirit in creating a spiritual environment and feelings of solidarity during a crises—called on the emergency committee to assist with promoting nationwide prayers.
“At a dark time, the prayer campaign was an act of hope,” says Andrea Castiblanco, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and of the emergency committee. “Though you are frightened, you know—even in the midst of the storm with communications down—that you are joined in a profoundly sacred act by others across the country. And when praying, you derive inspiration from the knowledge that you can take unified action together afterwards.”

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Hurricanes Eta and Iota are among the most severe storms to strike Central America in the past 20 years. Heavy rains caused widespread flooding, while communications, power, and roads were compromised in many areas.

Ms. Perdú explains how the committee has been able to mobilize many people to action. “We looked to local Bahá’í communities across the country that, for decades, have been learning about building capacity in growing numbers of people to contribute to the progress of their society.

“This allowed the emergency committee to rapidly establish a network comprising people and institutions that have organizational skills and a desire to bring people together in harmony and unity.”

Ms. Perdu continues to explain how the network was instrumental in channeling people and resources to areas of need. “Families in less-affected areas, for example, donated any supplies or clothing they could, which were distributed to other areas. The spirit of unity and selfless service with which people have responded has brought tremendous hope in this time of great difficulty.”

Central to the emergency committee’s approach has been its ability to foster capacity in local communities to take the lead in their own response, recovery, and development efforts.

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Volunteers coordinated by the emergency committee transport donated mattresses for families in the hard-hit city of San Pedro Sula, where many people have lost their homes.

A young person from the local Bahá’í community of San Pedro Sula says, “I feel that this is a time to reflect on what is truly important. We’re rebuilding our houses and helping our neighbors rebuild theirs. People are awakening to how much we all must support one another. This is the moment to unite and build something new, not just materially but also spiritually.”

In the weeks since the storms, the committee has turned its attention to long-term needs. Mrs. Castiblanco states: “Many people have been without employment since the start of the pandemic, or had small businesses like baking sweetbread, selling clothes, or hairdressing but lost all of their goods and equipment in the storms. We are looking at establishing a seed fund to help people buy the materials they need to restart their businesses.”

Uzbekistan is making healthy diets a cornerstone of national policy with the help of WHO

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Uzbekistan’s new regulations will make food healthier for all people in the country.

Uzbekistan is taking important steps towards the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) with technical guidance and support from WHO. Recently, the country adopted a series of important measures that can significantly improve food safety and the quality of nutrition, reducing many health risk factors for the population.

Healthier diets as national policy

NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, which are closely associated with risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, remain an urgent public health challenge in Uzbekistan. NCDs are responsible for approximately 79% of all deaths in the country, and cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of premature mortality.

“About a third of the adult population in the country has hypertension, and a fifth is at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke,” stated Dr Lianne Kuppens, WHO Representative to Uzbekistan. “Furthermore, over a quarter of men smoke tobacco and approximately half the adult population is overweight or obese.”

To reverse this worrying trend, in early 2020, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health with support from the Presidential Administration began to work on regulations that would make food healthier for all people in the country. In November, the new approach was adopted in the form of a presidential resolution, making healthier diets an important part of national policy.

Boosted by WHO expertise

In preparing this new approach, the Government of Uzbekistan collaborated with multiple stakeholders. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WHO country offices in Uzbekistan were invited as members of the working group and steering committee. The WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and WHO/Europe’s food safety programme provided technical expertise for the revision of the draft legislative package.

The newly adopted presidential resolution launched a nationwide nutrition policy based on the best evidence-based practices, including:

  • the full fortification of flour to enrich it with micronutrients;
  • free-of-charge provision of micronutrients, vitamins and anthelmintic medications to children and women to support healthy pregnancy and maternity;
  • the introduction of colour labelling for ready-to-eat food products on a voluntary basis from 1 July 2021 and on an obligatory basis from 2025; and
  • the gradual elimination of trans fats with the introduction of new sanitary and epidemiological norms and standards.

Uzbekistan’s firm resolve to tackle NCDs and leave no one behind in ensuring better health and well-being reflects the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO European Programme of Work for 2020–2025, “United Action for Better Health in Europe”.

Further steps for better health

The confirmation of the new policy was on the agenda of the international online conference “Improvement of the support system of the population with safe food products”, held on 30 November 2020. The event gathered international experts from UNICEF, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WHO to discuss the current and proposed reforms to the food safety system in Uzbekistan, as well as more general policies to promote healthy nutrition and food safety.

“The introduction and implementation of these policies are very important achievements for healthy nutrition and lifestyles in Uzbekistan,” said Dr João Breda, Special Adviser to the WHO Regional Director for Europe. “The country has our full support for upcoming steps, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.”

The conference was organized jointly by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. A new draft law on food safety in Uzbekistan was presented at the conference, and will be further discussed with FAO, UNICEF and WHO to align it with international standards.

UNICEF chief: Closing schools should be ‘measure of last resort’ 

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UNICEF chief: Closing schools should be ‘measure of last resort’ 

“Despite overwhelming evidence of the impact of school closures on children, and despite increasing evidence that schools are not drivers of the pandemic, too many countries have opted to keep schools closed, some for nearly a year”, Henrietta Fore said in a statement. 

A high cost 

The UNICEF chief highlighted that the cost of closing schools has been devastating, with 90 per cent of students globally facing shutdowns at the peak of the COVID disruptions last year, leaving more than a third of schoolchildren with no access to remote education. 

“The number of out-of-school children is set to increase by 24 million, to a level we have not seen in years and have fought so hard to overcome”, she said. 

“Children’s ability to read, write and do basic math has suffered, and the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century economy have diminished”, Ms. Fore added. 

Closure a ‘last resort’ 

Keeping children at home puts their health, development, safety and well-being at risk – with the most vulnerable bearing the heaviest brunt, she said. 

She pointed out that without school meals, children are “left hungry and their nutrition is worsening”; without daily peer interactions and less mobility, they are “losing physical fitness and showing signs of mental distress”; and without the safety net that school often provides, they are “more vulnerable to abuse, child marriage and child labour”. 

“That’s why closing schools must be a measure of last resort, after all other options have been considered”, stressed the top UNICEF official. 

Evaluating local transmission 

Assessing transmission risks at the local level should be “a key determinant” in decisions on school operations, Ms. Fore said. 

She also flagged that nationwide school closures be avoided, whenever possible. 

“Where there are high levels of community transmission, where health systems are under extreme pressure and where closing schools is deemed inevitable, safeguarding measures must be put in place”, maintained the UNICEF chief. 

Moreover, it is important that children who are at risk of violence in their homes, who are reliant upon school meals and whose parents are essential workers, continue their education in classrooms. 

After lockdown restrictions are lifted, she said that schools must be among the first to reopen and catch-up classes should be prioritized to keep children who were unable to learn remotely from being left behind. 

“If children are faced with another year of school closures, the effects will be felt for generations to come”, said Ms. Fore.

Zelensky, Sandu urge EU to develop EU + 3 Associated Partners cooperation format

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Zelensky, Sandu urge EU to develop EU + 3 Associated Partners cooperation format

14:53
12.01.2021

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation to strengthen the Eastern Partnership initiative, especially in the context of preparations for the 2021 Eastern Partnership Summit.

“We consider it necessary to further develop the EU + 3 Associated Partners cooperation format and call on the European Union to deepen the dialogue on the DCFTA [Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas between Ukraine and the EU] and extend it to other aspects of cooperation and gradual sectoral integration, including in the spheres of justice, digital economy, energy, transport and the environment,” the presidents said in a joint statement following the talks in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Cavusoglu threatens with new provocations if the EU supports Greece again

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Cavusoglu threatens with new provocations if the EU supports Greece again


Continental shelf, territorial waters, airspace, demilitarization of islands, island and islet sovereign status, air traffic control centers (FIR) and jurisdiction of search and rescue operations are on Ankara’s agenda, according to the Anadolu news agency.

“Turkey and Greece begin exploratory talks on Aegean and Mediterranean after five years” is the headline.

The aim, according to the article, is the laying of “the foundations for a just and comprehensive solution in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean”.

In the same time, Turkish President Erdogan referred to the “difficult 2020” for EU-Turkey relations and the obstacles placed by “unilateral actions of Member States” on Turkey’s accession corridor to the Union.

He spoke again about the “strategic blindness” on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue, where his country was “wronged”, while they tried to “imprison Turkey on its shores”.

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Regarding relations with Greece, he accused Athens of “airspace violations and illegal activities on the islands in recent years” and called on it to let go of tensions, in order to begin “a new era with the exploratory contacts, in January 25”.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, however, threatened Greece and the EU again in view of the start of the 61st round of exploratory contacts.

During his meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union countries, he stated that in case the United Europe supports Greece “as it did at the summit of October “, then Turkey will do what it did until recently, implying that it will return to the tactic of escalating the tensions in the area.

Pope Francis changes canon law, officially giving women more access to altar

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Pope Francis changes canon law, officially giving women more access to altar
(Photo: Vatican News)A lay woman reads at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican on Feb. 4, 2020.

Pope Francis has formally changed the Code of Canon Law to allow in practice the access of lay women to serve at the altar in the Catholic Church.


“There is nothing new about women proclaiming the Word of God during liturgical celebrations or carrying out a service at the altar as altar servers or as Eucharistic ministers,” said Vatican News on Jan. 11.

“In many communities throughout the world these practices are already authorized by local bishops.”

Pope Francis wanted to formalize and institutionalize the presence of women at the altar said Vatican News.

The ordained priesthood will still be the preserve of men, Francis stressed in the decree., the BBC reported.

It said the law change is official recognition of roles already performed by women in some Catholic services, especially in Western countries.

The announcement is expected to force conservative church leaders to accept greater involvement of women in the liturgy.

NO WOMEN PRIESTS

Although the move is far from the more significant step of admitting women to the priesthood, Francis said it was a way to recognize that they can make a “precious contribution” to the church, The Washington Post reported.

The Post said the new law merely formalizes a role that women in many parts of the world, including the United States, have already been holding.

But until now, they had been serving as acolytes and lectors — as the positions are known — at the discretion of local bishops or priests.

In some cases, conservative bishops have made a point of enforcing male-only altar services, something they will no longer be able to do, said the newspaper.

“Francis, on one side, is merely acknowledging reality on the ground, as it is right now,” said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University was quoted as saying.

“But this is important because the [conservative] bishops have been contradicted, openly, by Pope Francis.”

Cristina Simonelli, president of an Italian association of female theologians, said Francis’s move Monday was a “minimal thing” but still significant, “if you look at how absurd the situation was.”

“We’re still 100 steps behind the historic moment that we live, but [this is] always better than standing still,” Simonelli said.

Buddhist Times News – Suriname’s Indian-Origin President to be Republic Day Chief Guest

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Buddhist Times News – Suriname’s Indian-Origin President to be Republic Day Chief Guest

By  —  Shyamal Sinha

President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade on January 26, sources in the central government told News18 on Sunday, days after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India. Sources confirmed that Santokhi, who is of Indian origin, will be attending the Rajpath parade.

Earlier this week, Santokhi was the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, held by the Ministry of External Affairs and he delivered the keynote address.

India had initially invited Boris Johnson to be the chief guest but the British PM had to cancel his visit in view of the grim coronavirus situation back home.

Santokhi was sworn in as the president of Suriname in July, 2020, when his party, the Progressive Reform Party, won 20 of the 51 seats in the elections. His win also brought an end to the dictatorial rule by Dési Bouterse. The PRP, known in the Dutch language as Vooruitstrevende Hervormingspartij or VHP by its initials, largely represents the Indian community and had originally been called the United Hindustani Party.

Suriname is a former Dutch colony where people of Indian descent make up the largest ethnic group comprising 27.4 per cent of the population of 587,000.

In an address at the virtual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations, the Indian-origin president expressed readiness to take the first step to end visa permits for visitors from India to Suriname.

‘Suriname is prepared to take a first step in doing so by ending visa permits for visitors from India to Suriname,’ he said.

Santokhi said there is scope to expand cooperation in areas of business, trade and tourism.

Elaborating on historical links between the two countries, the president said the Suriname diaspora is part of India’s soft power and India is also part of Suriname’s soft power.

Large numbers of Indian workers were taken to Suriname to work as indentured labourers in the 19th century.

He said Suriname and India have historical connections going back 148 years, which has shaped the lives of many who travelled from India.

‘I also feel pride in being of Indian heritage, a heritage and culture which was passed on by my parents and grandparents, who 148 years ago, started this adventurous journey from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and sailed from Kolkata in search of their dreams for a better life in Suriname,’ he said.

2021: the European Year of Rail | News | European Parliament

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2021: the European Year of Rail | News | European Parliament

, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20210107STO95106/

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