, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210111IPR95309/
Step up vigilance for emerging coronavirus variants, WHO urges
Alongside monitoring, virus and serum samples should be shared via globally agreed mechanisms so that critical research can be promptly initiated each time, according to the agency.
“Our collective goal is to get ahead of the game and have a global mechanism to quickly identify and study variants of concern and understand their implications for disease control efforts,” said Ana Maria Henao Restrepo, Head of WHO’s R&D Blueprint.
She was speaking at a virtual meeting of scientists from around the globe, convened by the UN health agency, attended by over 1,750 experts from 124 countries.
Participants noted the importance of research to detect and understand early on the potential impact of emerging variants on diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, and highlighted the importance of integrating new SARS-CoV-2 variants research into the global research and innovation agenda, according to WHO.
Normal for viruses to mutate
It is normal for viruses to mutate, but the more the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. High levels of transmission mean emergence of more variants should be expected, according to WHO.
Of the significant variants reported so far, some are associated with increases in transmissibility but not disease severity. Research is ongoing to address whether the changes impact public health tools and measures.
“So far an astounding 350,000 sequences have been publicly shared, but most come from just a handful of countries. Improving the geographic coverage of sequencing is critical for the world to have eyes and ears on changes to the virus,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Technical Lead on COVID-19.
New variants of the coronavirus have been detected in the UK, South Africa and Japan, which appear to be more transmissible, although health officials have said that there is no evidence it is more deadly, or that it would not respond in the same way to the vaccines cleared for emergency use.
Information sharing critical
Genomic sequencing has been critical in identifying and responding to new variants, and increasing sequencing capacity across the world is a priority research area for WHO.
Better surveillance and laboratory capacity to monitor strains of concern needs to be accompanied by prompt sharing of virus and serum samples via globally agreed mechanisms so that critical research can be promptly initiated each time, the agency added.
Watchdogs across EU should be allowed to challenge Facebook, EU court adviser says
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The adviser to the EU’s top court has issued a recommendation to allow data protection agencies in any EU country to take legal action against Facebook or any other tech firm even if their regional headquarters are in a different EU state.
The recommendation was issued after Facebook sought to rebuff Belgium’s privacy regulator in a data case by saying its European Union headquarters were in Dublin and so Ireland was the lead authority in the EU for the U.S. social media giant.
Advocate-General Michal Bobek, the adviser to the Court of Justice of the European Union, recommended that the data protection agency in any EU country should be able to take legal action in various situations even if they were not the lead authority.
If the recommendation is followed, it could prompt action by national agencies in the 27-member EU against other U.S. tech companies, such as Google, Twitter and Apple, which also have their EU headquarters in Ireland.
Facebook did not provide an immediate comment.
EU judges often follow advocate-general opinions but do not have to. They usually deliver a ruling in two to four months.
Belgium’s regulator sought to stop Facebook gathering data on the browsing behaviour of Belgian users to show them targeted advertising without their valid consent. The regulator said this took place even if the user did not have a Facebook account.
Facebook challenged this on the basis that the Irish privacy watchdog is the lead authority for Facebook.
Bobek said the lead authority had a general competence over cross-border data processing and the power of other authorities to start legal proceedings was curtailed in cross-border cases based on the “one-stop-shop” mechanism enshrined in EU rules.
But he said the lead authority needed to cooperate closely with other data protection authorities, which he said could still bring cases to their courts.
EU privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), give leeway for other national privacy regulators to rule on violations limited to a specific country. France and Germany have already done this.
Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Edmund Blair
European Union provides LKR 8.26 billion in grants to Sri Lanka
The European Union (EU) announced the signing of three grants worth EUR 35.75 million (LKR 8.26 billion) which will support Sri Lanka’s justice sector, help improve food safety, and strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change. The grants were signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka by Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. S.R. Attygalle and were presented by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka H.E. Denis Chaibi.
Appreciating the continued close collaboration and the very cordial partnership and support for Sri Lanka extended by the EU, the Secretary to the Treasury said that these grants will reinforce the Government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Sri Lanka and to improve food safety and quality targeting exports.
“These three grants are a tangible pledge of support by the European Union to Sri Lanka targeting three priority areas,” said Ambassador Chaibi. “The coronavirus pandemic has underscored the importance of strengthening a country’s justice system to ensure citizens are able to access justice in a timely, effective, and fair manner”. Ambassador Chaibi noted that EU support to improving food safety will benefit producers and consumers alike, while boosting the potential export of organic agricultural products to the EU and other markets. He added that the EU and Sri Lanka will continue to work together to tackle the common challenges of climate change, a major EU priority.
The EUR 18 million (LKR 4.16 billion) Justice Sector Support programme, designed in close consultation with the relevant actors and institutions, will focus on providing capacity development and technical assistance. The overarching goal is to increase efficiency and effectiveness, reduce caseloads in the courts, and in particular to improve access to justice. The programme will be mainly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
EUR 10 million (approx. LKR 2.31 billion) will help improve food safety, quality, and promote organic agriculture. The components, to be implemented by FAO and UNIDO, will strengthen the competitiveness of the agriculture sector through the adoption of good agricultural and hygienic practices, an updated risk-based food control system, and increased consumer awareness. Implementing partner GIZ (Germany) will also support the local organic market, including small and medium-sized businesses to produce at higher volumes and better quality. The standards required to access major EU markets will be promoted through the National Organic Control Union and the Export Development Board.
The EUR 7.75 million (LKR 1.79 billion) Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Industrial Sector project, implemented by UNIDO, is in response to a request by the Ministries of Environment, Power, and Industry, to support a shift towards a competitive, resource efficient, low carbon, and climate resilient industrial sector in Sri Lanka. It will help large, medium, and small industries to increase their environmental compliance and reduce emissions, and enable the Government to achieve its international commitments pledged during the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change.
Real Talk Kim shares how to shut Hell up: ‘Religion doesn’t get you into Heaven’
Pastor Kimberly Jones, better known as “The Real Talk Kim,” released a new e-course series to go along with her latest book, Shut Hell Up: When the Enemy Brings Up Your Past, and explained why she broke free from her religious past and found freedom in Jesus.
Real Talk Kim travels the world with the goal of “loving people back to life.” The bestselling author has gained national recognition with appearances on “The Doctor Oz Show,” “Preachers of Atlanta,” “CNN,” “Nightline,” and numerous radio shows.
Now her first e-course is said to provide a learning experience where students can watch or listen to her teachings as she offers practical tools to help people shut the devil up and embrace who God says they are.
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Real Talk Kim said she brought in the new year at her Limitless Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. They all had “a Holy Ghost Party,” she said.
The book, Shut Hell Up, was birthed out of the lessons she learned to silence the lies of the enemy. Now she hopes her e-course will help others delve deeper as well.
“My whole life I struggled with crazy fear and self-talk. Always afraid of not measuring up to whatever crazy expectations I had placed on my life and what I felt others expected of me,” Real Talk Kim told CP.
She added, “I finally discovered how to shut the hell up in my own mind and thoughts at about 40 years old, and it changed my life. I knew I had to put this in print as a tool to help others conquer that enemy in between their ears. We are victorious!!”
The minister was raised United Pentecostal where she was not allowed to wear pants, makeup but has noticeably departed from the religiosity that came from her upbringing. Now, the Real Talk Kim’s unique style and look have helped her popularity among certain Christians circles, particularly among women.
“When I truly found Jesus for myself, it became my lifestyle to be like Jesus, not just act like Jesus,” she shared of why she departed from her upbringing. “My focus became paying attention to my heart posture instead of my works. I learned how to love like Christ loves. It was a game-changer for me.”
“Religion doesn’t get you into Heaven,” she maintained, adding that a “relationship with Jesus is the most incredible gift on this planet.”
Real Talk Kim stressed that “religion judges” but “Jesus loves.” She emphasized that the more people “speak the promises of God over your life, the more power and victory you see being fulfilled in your life.”
The mother of two also emphasized that in an age of distraction it’s important for individuals to “pay attention” to their heart posture.
She maintained, “Do a heart check. Your responsibility is that!”
Real Talk Kim went on to share advice for anyone struggling with their faith coming into the New Year because of the lies of the enemy.
“Stop focusing on what we are going through in the natural and focus on what God is doing,” she advised. “Even when we can’t see Him moving on our behalf He is. Stop telling your God how big your mountain is and begin telling your mountain how big your God is!”
The Georgia resident appeals to all cultures and races.
She equates her reach to everyone to her “heart posture for Jesus.”
“I made sure it’s never about me and always about changing and pointing everyone to Jesus,” Real Talk Kim concluded. “He’s the answer!”
For more e-course information and registration visit the website.
Supreme Court Justice Cites Taylor Swift Sexual Assault Verdict Amid Religion-Related Case
Taylor Swift’s sexual assault verdict has been brought up as the Supreme Court is considering whether to resume a lawsuit filed in 2016 by Georgia college student Chike Uzuegbunam against his school for allegedly restricting him from speaking about his religious views.
According to Uzuegbunam’s appeal, members of his college staff violated his First Amendment rights by forcing him to refrain from talking about his Christian faith on campus grounds. Gwinnett College in Georgia later reconsidered the strict speech code and the legal appeal was dismissed in 2017 by a district court judge, saying the case was moot.
After the US Court of Appeals confirmed that ruling, Uzuegbunam decided to appeal to the Supreme Court.
“In July 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit agreed with that ruling. It was as though what had happened to me didn’t matter. But how important is freedom if those who impinge on it are never told that their rules are unconstitutional, are never put on notice that they can’t simply change the rules when someone protests and are then free to return to their unconstitutional ways whenever they like? I decided to continue fighting for legal recognition that what happened to me violated my constitutional rights. I wasn’t seeking money; I just wanted to make sure that my college and other public institutions know that they are legally bound to honour the Constitution”, Uzuegbunam wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court justices debated about whether the case can move forward. Uzuegbunam is demanding just $1 and a declaration from the school that they acted unlawfully. Chief Justice John Roberts noted that the case is problematic due to its minuscule payout.
Justice Elena Kagan pointed out that “people can’t bring a suit for pure vindication alone … for the psychic satisfaction that it gives to hear a court say that”. She mentioned the Taylor Swift sexual harassment case, describing it as “the most famous nominal damages case in recent times”, as the singer had asked the court for $1 in a symbolic move.
According to Justice Kagan, the pop star was “not really interested in your money” while a dollar was a representation of something both to her and to the women who have experienced sexual assault.
“That’s what happened. The jury gave her $1. Why isn’t that the same as this? The petitioner here says he was harmed. He wasn’t able to speak when he should have been able to speak…He’s just asking for $1 to redress that harm”, Kagan said.
In 2013, Taylor Swift and David Mueller, who worked as a radio host, met at a photoshoot when he, according to the singer, suddenly put his hand under her skirt and groped her. Swift did not stir up a scandal, but reported the inappropriate behaviour to the station direction, and he was fired. Mueller sued Swift for pressing his bosses but the pop star filed a counterclaim of sexual harassment. Mueller’s appeal was rejected while Swift won the case.
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
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
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.”
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.”
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.
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
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.
