MSNBC host Joe Scarborough claimed Monday that President Donald Trump’s supporters had “put down their Bibles” and embraced a new religion rooted in conspiracy theories.
Scarborough lashed out at the media outlets and social media platforms that had amplified Trump’s voice, arguing that they shared in the responsibility for allowing “these conspiracy theories to spread, to spread like weeds.” (RELATED: ‘Why Do You Want To Spread Violence?’: Joe Scarborough Lashes Out At Rand Paul In Angry Rant)
WATCH:
<p>“He has been been begging supporters to engage in violence against the media. And here we see them engaging in violence against the media,” Scarborough said as he showed a clip of rioters attacking members of the media at the Capitol. “Like Donald Trump has been asking them to do for five years. Engaging in violence against his political opponents.”</p> <p>Scarborough went on to argue that the people in charge of media companies and social media platforms should have seen it coming and done something to prevent Trump’s rise or curtail his influence.</p> <p>“This is what every tech company, this is what Facebook should have known was going to happen. This is on them. This is what Twitter should have known was going to happen. This is on them. This is on every media company that has promoted his hate speech. Every media company, new media company that has pushed every tweet out to 60 million people,” <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2020/10/02/joe-scarborough-rips-kayleigh-mcenany-press-briefing-hope-hicks-coronavirus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Scarborough</a> continued, acknowledging his own role as a part of the media. “It’s on all of us. It’s on all of us. But it’s especially on Facebook, Twitter, now Parler and all of those companies that allowed these conspiracy theories to spread, to spread like weeds.”</p> <p>“Like a vicious cancer,” <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2020/11/25/mika-brzezinski-wants-investigations-post-mortem-trump-presidency-the-view/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mika Brzezinski</a> added, and Scarborough agreed.</p> <p>Scarborough then argued that the major problem was the number of people who were getting all of their news from social media platforms and cable news channels that were “spreading the lies.”</p> <p>“That is their reality. They’ve put down their Bibles, right? They don’t read their Bibles anymore. They now read Facebook. They don’t worship Jesus Christ anymore. You can tell by their actions. Jesus said judge a tree by its fruits,” Scarborough said. “They worship Donald Trump. And their Bible is now what they read in the conspiracy theories on Facebook and on Twitter.”</p> <p>Scarborough concluded by once again turning his ire toward social media platforms, saying that people had “begged” them to put a muzzle on Trump and they had failed to do so.</p> <p>“This is what happened. This is what happened, Mark Zuckerberg. This is what happened, Sheryl Sandberg. I hope it was worth it. I hope your billions were worth it,” he said. “Jack, I hope wherever you’re, like, crossing your legs and doing yoga and taking an ice bath or a mud bath, I hope it was worth it.”</p>
President Hoyer reaffirms EIB commitment to Sahel and climate-vulnerable regions in Africa as part of Team Europe
EIB to strengthen financial and technical support for sustainable agriculture, clean energy, water, infrastructure and microfinance to create jobs and resilience
Biodiversity investment in Africa to benefit from pioneering EIB Sustainable Awareness Bonds
The European Investment Bank today announced that it aims to provide new financial and technical support to back sustainable agriculture, clean energy, water, infrastructure and private sector financing in 11 Sahel countries most vulnerable to a changing climate by 2025.
The EIB financing and technical support will enhance the impact of the Great Green Wall initiative to improve biodiversity in the Sahel and better tackle climate and environmental challenges facing the region. Targeted high-impact investment will enable more inclusive economic growth and strengthen resilience in the region to foster peace and stability.
EIB President Werner Hoyer outlined the expected strengthened engagement to back high-impact investment essential to create jobs, improve economic opportunities and increase access to clean energy and water during the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris earlier today.
“Communities across the Sahel are threatened by climate change, increasingly frequent droughts and floods, and unreliable and limited access to energy, water and food. The European Investment Bank, as part of Team Europe and member of the Sahel Alliance, recognises the need to scale up investment that tackles these challenges, delivers sustainable development and improves stability in the region. The EU Bank is pleased to join African and international partners in ensuring that the Great Green Wall biodiversity initiative improves lives and opportunities across the Sahel. Looking ahead, the EIB expects to back transformational public and private sector investment in 11 Sahel states most vulnerable to climate change as part of our commitment to accelerate high-impact investment across Africa. This will complement our broader strategic engagement across Africa and 58 year track record of backing transformational investment on the continent.“ said Werner Hoyer, European Investment Bank President.
President Hoyer addressed the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity alongside the Prince of Wales, President of the African Union Commission and heads of the French Development Agency, African Development Bank, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Working with African partners to unlock high-impact investment across the Sahel
During his address to the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity President Hoyer highlighted the impact of recent EIB support for water investment in Mali and Niger, clean energy across West Africa and private sector support with local microfinance and banking partners.
The EIB is currently supporting projects to address land degradation and enhance access to finance by rural communities and small holders in Mali and Ethiopia, and to redress and prevent soil erosion in Nigeria, all initiatives that provide a model for successful biodiversity investment elsewhere in Africa.
EIB harnessing global capital markets to support biodiversity investment
Future EIB investment for sustainable agriculture and environmental projects across Africa will benefit from the EIB being the first international financial institution to issue bonds to support biodiversity investment.
This week the EIB, the world’s largest supranational bond issuer and pioneering of green bonds, will include biodiversity in the eligibility of the established EIB Sustainable Awareness Bonds.
Supporting the Great Green Wall initiative to improve lives and opportunities in the Sahel
The Great Green Wall initiative aims to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes and transform the lives of people living in the Sahel. The 11 countries selected as intervention zoned for the Great Green Wall are Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan
The European Investment Bank is the world’s largest international public bank and owned directly by the 27 European Union member states.
The EIB Group has recently adopted its Climate Bank Roadmap to deliver on its ambitious agenda to support €1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainability investments in the decade to 2030 and to deliver more than 50% of EIB finance for climate action and environmental sustainability by 2025. As part of the Roadmap, all new EIB Group operations will also be aligned with the goals and principles of the Paris Agreement from the start of 2021.
Most palm oil products in Thailand and Asean nations come from small and medium-sized oil palm growers. Supplied/GIZ
Palm oil has long been a major economic backbone of Southeast Asian economies, notably Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. But the undeniable environmental impact of extensive deforestation, haze and forest fires caused by oil palm plantations has given the industry a bad reputation that has been hard to shake.
To pave the way for greener practices and greater economic benefit from the palm oil sector, policymakers, businesses and consumers have key roles to play in supporting sustainable palm oil by demanding it, experts say.
Part of the solution is to help small-scale farmers adopt more responsible practices, which will make it possible for them to obtain global certification standards and gain improved access to international markets.
“Mobilising investments in knowledge and microfinance capacity for oil palm smallholders to shift toward sustainable palm oil production is essential for improving local livelihoods and the global food supply while reducing the climate and environmental impact,” said Matthias Bickel, director of the Agriculture and Food Cluster at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
The Thai unit of the German international development agency works with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension and private partners to promote sustainable palm oil production in Thailand, in line with globally recognised standards set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
Investments in knowledge and microfinance capacity for oil palm smallholders is essential for improving local livelihoods while reducing environmental impact. Supplied/RSPO
The alliance has organised a series of ongoing training sessions to enhance smallholders’ capacity for sustainable practices to achieve RSPO certification.
GIZ recently co-hosted a business forum, “Road to Transforming the Sustainable Palm Oil Market in Thailand”, in Bangkok together with the RSPO under their Sustainable and Climate-friendly Palm Oil Production Project (SCPOPP).
“Through the SCPOPP, we aim to train over 3,000 oil palm smallholders in sustainable practices, as well as reduce 9,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from oil palm cultivation and cut production costs by 20%, within 2022,” Dr Bickel said.
According to participants at the forum, many palm oil producers are sensitive to the criticism the industry receives, and some question why other large-scale agricultural ventures in the region do not receive similar scrutiny.
For example, they say, corn planting in northern Thailand has also caused massive deforestation. As well, sugarcane plantations in Thailand and Cambodia have contributed to environmental devastation from fires set during the harvest season.
PEATLAND UNDER THREAT
They said the biggest environmental concern of the palm oil industry is the expansion of cultivation to rainforests and peatland, known not only as a source of biodiversity but also a major storage point for carbon emissions. Wetlands International, the Netherlands-based conservation group, says that 20% of oil palm planting, especially in Indonesia, takes place on peat soil, which used to be covered by peat swamp forests.
The drainage of these carbon-rich organic soils for plantations leads to massive carbon dioxide emissions, soil subsidence, and ecological and social problems. Carbon emissions from unsustainable cultivation are massive.
Key players in the palm oil industry have heeded the criticism and have been making steady progress in improving practices. Their most high-profile initiative is the RSPO, which was established in 2004.
“Ensuring greater inclusion of smallholders in sustainable solutions that positively impact their livelihoods has long been a goal of the RSPO secretariat and our members,” said Beverley Postma, the chief executive officer-designate of the RSPO.
“We recognise the important role smallholders play in market transformation and we see this as a shared responsibility that all players in the palm oil supply chain must commit to supporting.”
The use of new technology such as drones for aerial photography will make traceability of the palm oil supply chain more affordable. Supplied/RSPO
Thailand, for example, has the capacity to produce up to 3.7 million tonnes of palm oil per year. A majority of palm oil products come from small and medium-scale companies. Yet they lack supportive policies such as cheap loans, capacity training and access to modern technology, she pointed out.
“Last year, our membership adopted the RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) Standard, which aims to help more smallholders achieve certification through a stepwise mechanism, while adhering to the key sustainability requirements,” said Ms Postma.
“Although 2020 has been a challenging year for all with the global pandemic, we are seeing positive progress toward ISH certification and we hope to see Thai smallholders attain this in the near future.”
At present, RSPO-certified palm oil represents 19% (17.11 million tonnes) of the total global supply. In Thailand, just 2.8% of the country’s total supply is certified.
Prakarn Verakul, an adviser to the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, said adoption of RSPO guidelines will enable oil palm smallholders to effectively manage their plantations and improve the overall sustainability of the supply chain.
Pornsiri Raknukul is a model sustainable oil palm grower in the southern Thai province of Krabi, under a programme supported by GIZ of Germany. Supplied/GIZ
The majority of palm oil production in Thailand is for domestic consumption and the country has not faced as much criticism related to environmental, labour and human rights issues as Indonesia and Malaysia, which together account for 86% of global supply.
However, RSPO certification is still essential for Thailand as long as the country exports consumer products such as frozen chicken, instant noodles, and soaps which use palm oil in the manufacturing process.
“International markets are moving toward environmentally friendly products, and commitments to transparency and best farming practices,” said Mr Prakarn, a former chairman of the RSPO National Interpretation Working Group.
“If consumer product makers switch to use palm oil that is manufactured based on RSPO principles, we can certainly increase the productivity and competitiveness of the entire value chain, and eventually oil palm smallholders’ production costs will be reduced,” he added.
“Moreover, smallholders could earn additional income from RSPO certification. One smallholder group in Krabi has already earned approximately 700,000 baht from selling RSPO credits.”
The Sustainable and Climate-friendly Palm Oil Production Project aims to train over 3,000 smallholders to adopt sustainable practices in Thailand, says Matthias Bickel, director of the Agriculture and Food Cluster at GIZ GmbH. SUPPLIED
GREENING PRODUCTION
Sanin Triyanon, managing director of Pathum Vegetable Oil Company Ltd, agreed that unlike its neighbouring producing countries, Thailand’s palm oil industry does not face the same international pressure related to environmental concerns.
“There is room for the sustainable palm oil market to grow in Thailand and more consumers in major consuming countries are demanding sustainable palm oil products that support communities and safeguard the environment,” said Mr Sanin, who is also the chairman of the Thai Biodiesel Producers Association.
However, it is still vital that palm oil businesses work with oil palm smallholders in the supply chain to enhance their productivity and improve livelihoods. Besides, raising public awareness about sustainable palm oil consumption is essential for market competitiveness at both the domestic and international levels.
“Collaboration with not only policymakers in setting direction and implementation guidelines, but also the private sector in working directly with small-scale oil palm growers and consumers are key steps to transforming Thailand’s palm oil production to meeting the international standard,” he said.
Pathum Vegetable Oil was the first Thai company certified by the RSPO for responsible oil palm plantation management in 2012. The certification asserts that the company’s business has complied with global demand for sustainable palm oil production.
One of the big challenges facing corporations is tracing palm oil through a massive and complicated supply chain. The use of new technology such as drones is helping, but more is needed.
Easier access to loans is required to help small and medium-sized producers acquire the technology that will make traceability of the palm oil supply chain more reliable and affordable.
Salinla Seehaphan, corporate affairs director of the retail giant Tesco Lotus, said the company has been part of the Thai economy for 20 years. It is promoting Thai exports in growing markets such as Malaysia, after the success in exporting Thai products through more than 6,500 Tesco stores in Britain, Central Europe and Asia.
“Apart from exporting fresh food, Tesco Lotus is working closely with Thai manufacturers to develop high-quality products for export. As one of the world’s leading retailers, we hope to use our expertise to help Thai businesses successfully enter the global market,” she said.
Tesco Lotus is pioneering in using 100% certified sustainable palm oil in its own-brand cooking oil in Thailand. “With this attempt, we wish to deliver good quality products to consumers while safeguarding the environment,” she added.
“Innovation can help oil palm smallholders, millers and refineries improve operational efficacy as consumer behaviour is changing rapidly, and support the lifestyle needs and demands of customers in the digital era.”
Smallholders can earn additional income from RSPO certification by selling RSPO credits, says Prakarn Verakul, adviser to the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards. SUPPLIED
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Khor Yu Leng, a political economist and agribusiness analyst at the London School of Economics, who has been tracking sustainability of certification practices, said palm oil players could move toward having more than one type of certification to meet different market needs.
Malaysia, for instance, has set up its own certification body, the Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), which is a mandatory national standard. It is aimed at improving the accountability of local palm oil products as well as promoting domestic consumption of sustainable palm oil.
Nowadays, more and more buyer brands in Asian countries such as Japan, India and China are aware of sustainable palm oil and are demanding it. But production of sustainable palm oil in Thailand is relatively low and thus the country is not well-placed to meet this growing demand.
However, she believes producers in Thailand will still take the principal RSPO standards into account. Achieving RSPO certification requires high investment cost and can be time-consuming for smaller-scale producers.
Buyers and other stakeholders including retailers and consumers need to share the costs, commitment and responsibility for the sustainable palm oil journey if sustainability is the ultimate goal.
Tesco Lotus is using 100% certified sustainable palm oil in own-brand cooking oil in Thailand, says Salinla Seehaphan, corporate affairs director. SUPPLIED
Melbourne, Australia: Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) has received notice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of positive opinions for all three Orphan designation applications that were submitted for NNZ-2591 in Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Angelman syndrome and Pitt Hopkins syndrome.
Under the Orphan procedure timetable, the European Commission is scheduled to issue the decisions in January. Orphan designation in the EU enables sponsors to benefit from incentives including free protocol assistance, fee reductions and 10 years of market exclusivity plus two additional years if approved for paediatric use. During that exclusivity period, the EMA and the EU Member States shall not accept another marketing authorisation application for a similar medicinal product in the same therapeutic indication.
Neuren plans to commence Phase 2 trials in patients with each of Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Angelman syndrome and Pitt Hopkins syndrome in 2021 to confirm the potential of NNZ-2591 to address the urgent unmet need in these three serious childhood disorders. Neuren CEO Jon Pilcher commented:
“We are pleased to have received no questions following the EMA review of our compelling pre-clinical results and the rationale for treatment with NNZ2591. We move forward to Phase 2 trials with increased confidence now that we have Orphan designation for all three indications in the two largest markets. We look forward to engaging with both the FDA and the EMA as we strive to develop an effective treatment for patients and families living with these debilitating conditions.”
The Government has denied reports it rejected an offer of visa-free tours by musicians in the European Union, saying it pushed for a ‘more ambitious agreement’ during negotiations.
The UK’s post-Brexit travel rules, which came into force on January 1, do not guarantee visa-free travel for artists and other creatives throughout the EU’s 27 member states.
Industry bodies, including trade group UK Music, have warned that performers who have to secure individual visas for each country they visit may face extra costs.
Citing an EU source close to negotiations, the Independent reported that a ‘standard’ proposal to exempt performers for 90 days was turned down by the UK, prompting anger from some musicians.
The unnamed EU source close to negotiations told the Independent: ‘It is usually in our agreements with third countries, that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but the UK said no.
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is among musicians who have hit out at the Government over claims they rejected arrangements for visa-free travel for touring musicians on the continent
The source went on to say that the UK refused to agree because ‘they said they were ending free moment’, adding that it was ‘untrue’ to say they asked for something more ambitious.
Without a bloc-wide agreement for visa-free travel, it will be up to each member state to decide the entry requirements for musicians travelling in their country, an arrangement which campaigners say will lead to added costs and bureaucracy.
A Government spokesperson described the reports as ‘misleading speculation’.
They said: ‘The UK pushed for a more ambitious agreement with the EU on the temporary movement of business travellers, which would have covered musicians and others, but our proposals were rejected by the EU.’
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, composer Nitin Sawhney and Charlatans singer Tim Burgess were among those who voiced criticism.
Burgess described the reports as ‘the great rock n roll swindle’ in a tweet, adding: ‘We need to get answers to this and not let them sweep it under the carpet – they shouldn’t be let off the hook for treating artists with such contempt.’
Dua Lipa is among high-profile musicians who have supported a call for visa-free travel for musicians who are touring in the EU
A petition calling on the Government to negotiate a ‘free cultural work permit’ to ensure ease of travel throughout the EU has received more than 235,000 signatures.
Stars including One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, former Boyzone member Ronan Keating and singer-songwriter Laura Marling have encouraged their fans to support the campaign.
The Liberal Democrats called on the Government to disclose what was offered by the EU during negotiations.
A spokesperson said: ‘These new restrictions are a blow to the music industry, which has already suffered so much during the pandemic, and will disadvantage young aspiring musicians the most and may make touring financially impossible for some.’
Horace Trubridge, general secretary of the Musicians’ Union (MU), said: ‘With the British music business having been devastated by Covid-19 and with no end in sight to the black hole of cancelled concerts, tours, festivals and regular gigs that is the very bedrock of our world-class industry, the news, if true, that our own elected representatives chose to turn down such an offer is nigh-on unbelievable.
‘Ever since the result of the referendum in 2016, the MU has campaigned and lobbied for a Musicians’ Passport that would allow our members and their support crew to make a successful living across Europe.’
Earlier this week, Cabinet Office minister Lord True said talks with Brussels over visa-free travel for artists were ‘unlikely’ to restart in the near future.
It comes as Cabinet Minister Michael Gove has been warned that confusing post-Brexit rules threatened to cause export chaos.
According to the Guardian, British manufacturing and trade organisations met with Gove in an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss problems with the deal struck by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in December.
Empty shelves at a Marks & Spencer’s store on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, with retailers ‘experiencing some disruption after Brexit’ and Marks and Spencer has temporarily withdrawn a small proportion of product lines to ensure its delivery lorries are not turned away at ports
A source told the newspaper that one leading figure involved in the meeting described the new rules as ‘a complete s***show’ while another said Gove seemed ‘very concerned’.
The source added: ‘He [Gove] seemed to realise the full gravity of the situation that is unfolding and about to get worse.’
On Friday, Gove admitted there would be ‘significant additional disruption’ at the UK border as a result of Brexit customs changes in the coming weeks.
He said efforts to assist would be ‘redoubled’ as traders were urged to ensure their paperwork was in order, with cargo traffic at Dover expected to reach pre-Christmas levels again next week.
It comes as major parcel courier DPD paused some delivery services into Europe – including Ireland – because of pressure caused by new post-Brexit red tape.
Marks & Spencer also revealed that its popular Percy Pigs sweets were struggling to find their way across the Irish Sea to supermarket shelves in Ireland.
Empty fresh fruit shelves at a Marks & Spencer’s store on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, with retailers ‘experiencing some disruption after Brexit’
The retailer said the new rules and regulations are set to ‘significantly impact’ its overseas ventures in Ireland, the Czech Republic and France.
Mr Gove told broadcasters on Friday: ‘So far disruption at the border hasn’t been too profound but it is the case that in the weeks ahead we expect that there will be significant additional disruption, particularly on the Dover-Calais route.
‘It is our responsibility in Government to make sure that business is as ready as possible, and hauliers and traders have already done a lot but we have to redouble our efforts to communicate the precise paperwork that is required in order to make sure that trade can flow freely.
‘So over the course of the next few days, Government will be stepping up that communications effort to make sure that business knows what is required.’
The latest Government figures show that around 700 lorries have been turned away from the border since new rules came in to force after the end of the transition period with the European Union on January 1.
About 150 fines have been handed out for non-compliance with new rules designed to reduce truck queues in Kent.
But officials said those numbers could increase as the flow of lorries heading through Kent increases, with traffic drastically reduced at present.
Leading figures in British manufacturers and trade experts met with Michael Gove (pictured) on Thursday to warn that confusion over post-Brexit rules could cause export chaos
Over the past week, there has been an average of 1,584 lorries per day attempting border crossings, which is only around 40% of historical norms, according to the Cabinet Office.
As well as requiring the correct paperwork, including export declarations and the extra certificates needed for products such as plant and animal products, hauliers must secure a negative Covid-19 test and a Kent Access Permit before embarking on their travels onwards to Europe.
The increased push by Government to ready businesses comes as a host of sectors complained about the added complexity that they were having to wade through to trade with Europe.
A Government spokesman said: ‘Although many businesses have moved goods successfully since January 1, we are aware of some issues, and are providing guidance and support.’
Its Director General Habibullah Shirajee told bdnews24.com about the cultural affairs ministry’s decision on Sunday night that the fair cannot be held in the month of the Language Movement despite the publishers’ push.
A new schedule will be fixed when the situation improves, he added.
Gyan O Srijanshil Prokashok Samiti or the Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh, one of the organisers of the fair, had asked during a meeting on Jan 5 that the fair be organised within March, if not from the beginning of February.
Asked about their demand, Shirajee said, “We have postponed the book fair for now. Decisions will be made in light of the situation after talks with the publishers.”
The academy last month appealed to the cultural affairs ministry to suspend the book fair this time considering the pandemic situation.
But the publishers’ association rejected the proposal, saying that they wanted to arrange the fair in the same way as every year under the open sky.
Earlier, the cultural affairs ministry and the health ministry exchanged letters on the issue. The health ministry recommended organising the fair virtually, an official said. But the publishers dismissed the idea out of hand.
“We haven’t decided whether the book fair will be held on a virtual platform. We will disclose our plans soon on how the discussions and other events can be conducted,” said Shirajee.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid did not respond to bdnews24.com request for comments.
“We know nothing about it,” said Farid Ahmed, the president of the publishers’ association, when reacting to the latest development.
“We wanted the fair to begin in mid-February and end in March. We sent our proposal to the cultural affairs ministry as well. We don’t know if the ministry has decided not to hold the fair as per the previous schedule,” Farid added.
The fair has its roots back to the days when Chittaranjan Saha, the owner of Muktodhara Prokashoni, began selling books by setting up a shop on a piece of cloth at the gate of the academy during the Feb 21 Language Martyrs Day event in 1972. Many others joined him in 1977.
Ashraf Siddiqui, the then DG of the academy, involved it with the fair the following year. After another year, Bangladesh Book Sellers and Publishers Association joined the fair.
In 1983, during the term of DG Quazi Muhammad Manjoor-E-Mawla, the academy took the initiative to organise the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela, but did not go ahead with the plan. Finally, the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela began at the academy premises in 1984.
Now, the month-long fair has become an integral part of Bengali culture.
This year, the fair was delayed by a day due to the city corporation elections in Dhaka.
The fair ended without any hindrance as Bangladesh did not report any confirmed coronavirus cases at the time after the pandemic began in China in late 2019.
<a title="Turkey" href="/search/Turkey">Turkey</a>’s President Recep Tayyip <a title="Erdoğan" href="/search/Erdoğan" rel="nofollow">Erdoğan</a> and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Jan. 9 discussed the steps aimed at enhancing the relations between Turkey and the European Union, the Turkish authorities have said.
In a video conference, Erdoğan and the EU official discussed the ways to develop relations between Turkey and the EU and addressed regional developments, Turkey’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.
The EU is on the priority of Turkey’s agenda, Erdoğan told von der Leyen, reiterating that Turkey sees its future in Europe.
He also pointed out the importance of resuming regular Turkey-EU summits and high-level dialogue meetings.
Turkey wants to open a new page in relations with the EU in the new year, Erdoğan said, adding that the year 2020 could not be made enough use of due to the whims and artificial problems that some EU members produced, according to the statement.
He added that this situation was not sustainable not only in terms of maintaining future relations but also in terms of the broad common geography. Erdoğan also said that updating the 2016 refugee deal would be the first step for a positive agenda on Turkey-EU relations.
Turkey and the EU signed a refugee deal in 2016, which aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of nearly four million Syrian refugees in Turkey. Erdoğan pointed out that the year 2021 offers a productive environment for new cooperation to be initiated in the field of migration.
The Customs Union agreement between Turkey and EU should be updated, Erdoğan stated, adding that Turkish nationals should be allowed visa-free travel within the Schengen area and steps should be taken in talks on Turkey’s EU accession.
He also mentioned reestablishing mutual trust and rerunning the consultation mechanism. Erdoğan underlined the need for an end to “exclusionary and discriminatory rhetoric” against Turkey.
Von der Leyen, for her part, said on Twitter: “Good exchange with Turkish President @RTErdoğan. We exchanged on the #COVID19 situation, the economic recovery, and the implementation of tasking of the European Council of December 2020.”
Turkey is working to turn new chapters in its relations with the EU, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Jan. 7, noting that European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were expected to pay a visit to Turkey.
The top Turkish diplomat is expected to visit Brussels to hold talks with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, on Jan. 21.
Following months of strain due to Turkey’s search for hydrocarbon resources in the eastern Mediterranean, Ankara and Brussels stepped up for better dialogue last month.
Last month, at the EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels, it was decided to draw up a list of Turkish targets for sanctions over Ankara’s “unilateral actions and provocations” in the eastern Mediterranean, believed to be rich in energy resources. But they postponed their further decisions such as on trade tariffs or an arms embargo until they have consulted with the upcoming U.S. administration.
Turkey, which has the longest continental coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, has rejected maritime boundary claims of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration and stressed that these excessive claims violate the sovereign rights of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.
(Photo: REUTERS / Adnan Abidi)People watch a religion conversion ceremony, where devotees are converted from Christianity to Hinduism, at Hasayan town in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh August 29, 2014.
It’s only a small village, but police in India’s southern Karnataka state have placed a ban on 5 Christian families from gathering for worship services.
They based the ban on the assumption that they must have been coercively or fraudulently converted, as they are not Christian by birth.
International Christian Concern said on Jan. 8 that the police had banned the Christians from gathering for worship services indefinitely.
They justified what ICC said is unconstitutional action by claiming that none of the approximately 50 Christians were Christian by birth and must have been coercively or fraudulently converted to Christianity.
On Jan. 4, Christian families in Bannimardatti village, in the Hassan District, were summoned to a meeting with the Deputy Superintendent of Police along with other police officials.
At the meeting, the DSP asked the Christians to show evidence that they were Christian and accused them of collecting government benefits as both Christians and Hindus.
The police officer then banned the Christians from gathering for worship in Bannimardatti village.
“This is the final attempt of Hindu radicals using the state police to clamp down on Christian activities,” a local Christian told ICC on the condition of anonymity.
“They have tried everything, including social boycotts and physical beatings. However, local Christians remained faithful in the midst of continued harassment.”
ICC said that the police deputy superintendent’s order is in direct conflict with India’s citizens’ religious freedom rights under Article 25 of the constitution.
Article 25 says that Indian citizens have the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice.
“There is no freedom whatsoever to gather for worship and practice the faith of our choice,” a local pastor told ICC.
“The divide between communities is growing, and the anti-conversion law that the state government of Karnataka is trying to enact will worsen the situation for religious minorities.”
Karnataka’s state government is led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians, who pledged to enact a law to regulate religious conversions and criminalize fraudulent religious conversions.
William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern are deeply concerned by the actions taken by police in Karnataka.
“India’s police should be protecting the rights of the country’s citizens, not unilaterally stripping citizens of their rights due to their religious identity.”
Three other BJP-led states, including Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Haryana, have made similar pledges after Uttar Pradesh, another BJP-led state, promulgated India’s newest anti-conversion law in November 2020.
“Radical Hindu nationalists have used the specter of mass religious conversions to Christianity as justification to pass similar laws limiting religious freedom.
“According to these nationalists, Indian Christians are accused of converting poor Hindus to Christianity in mass by fraudulent means,” said ICC.
It pointed out that India’s own population data does not support this conspiracy. In 1951, the first census after independence, Christians made up 2.3 percent of India’s population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data available, Christians still make up 2.3 percent of the people.
The annual National Prayer Vigil for Life in the United States will take place from January 28 to January 29 in a virtual format, due to the Covid-19 crisis. The vigil is organized annually in January by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to commemorate the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s “Roe v. Wade” and “Doe v. Bolton” decisions which legalized abortion in the country in 1973. Since then over 60 million abortions have been performed legally in the US.
In normal circumstances, the prayer vigil is hosted by the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat and the Catholic University of America’s Office of Campus, in Washington D. C., and is followed by a March for Life in the city, with thousands of pilgrims convening to pray for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life.
Taking turns to lead live-streamed prayers all night
However, due to local attendance restrictions imposed because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the National Shrine will be closed to the public this year. So, for the first time ever since 1974, in addition to the televised Mass, bishops in dioceses across the Country will be taking turns leading live-streamed holy hours every hour on the hour throughout the all-night vigil. As reported by the USCCB web-site, the vigil will begin with a live broadcast at 8:00 PM on Thursday, January 28 from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. with a rosary, followed by Mass opening the National Prayer Vigil for Life. The principal celebrant and homilist for the opening Mass will be Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City , who is chairman of Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the USCCB. After the Mass and throughout the night, holy hours led by bishops from various dioceses around the country will be broadcast on the USCCB’s website. The vigil concludes at 8:00 AM on January 29 with Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore. Archbishop Naumann has invited all Catholics to join the vigil, saying that: “Now, more than ever, our nation is in need of prayer for the protection of the unborn and the dignity of all human life”.
History of Vigil Prayer and March for Life
The first Vigil Prayer and March for Life took place in 1974 with the participation of twenty thousand people. Over the years the number of participants has grown constantly reaching 300 thousand people in 2011, showing increasing awareness on life issues in the United States. Since 2013 the vigil is also preceded by a Novena of prayer and penance.
Musicians and other members of the culture sector are reacting with fury over the news that the UK government “rejected” an offer from the EU to waive touring visas for British musicians.
The Independent understands that this is because the government is insisting on denying that same right to EU artists visiting the UK to perform, in part due to home secretary Priti Patel’s harsh stance on immigration.
“It is usually in our agreements with third countries, that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but the UK said no,” an EU source close to the negotiations said.
On social media, artists and music fans have condemned the government for its failure to help protect the industry, which in 2019 contributed an estimated £5.8bn to the UK economy.
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke called MPs “spineless f***s” in a tweet, while Tim Burgess said the industry and fans were “owed an explanation”.
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Actor, comedian and director David Schneider said the decision was “unforgiveable”.
“It’s like they’re determined to destroy every successful industry we have,” he said.
Actor and director Samuel West tweeted: “I’ve woken up crushed by the mulish perversity of this decision. To make it so much harder to speak the international language of music across borders feels like spite.”
Ivor Novello award-winning musician, producer and composer Nitin Sawhney said: “Why the hell is this government so keen on destroying the music industry??? They give no money to struggling artists (none of the £1.7 billion was for artists themselves) and then this after lockdown robs musicians of live performance income. Why???”
“This is an unbelievably sad and harmful decision for all musicians in this country,” artist Felix White said.
Labour MP Angela Rayner said the government’s decision was “unforgiveable”, and accused the Conservatives of using musicians and performing artists as “a political football”.
“We need to be doing everything we can to support our brilliant musicians, music sector and creative industries,” she said.
UK music festivals suffered a drop in revenue of 90.2 per cent last year, with festival organisers still uncertain as to whether they will be able to hold events this summer.
The head of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) told The Independent that she was “horrified” by the evidence that an offer on music was spurned, while Labour said fans would “not forgive” the government.
