Europe should not be influenced by other nations in its relations with Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Chinese-EU relations should “not be affected by external interference” but should advance “towards win-win cooperation”, Wang said, adding Beijing regarded the 27-member bloc as a major force for a multipolar world.
“China-EU consensus outweighs differences. The two sides are partners, not systemic rivals. China and the EU should understand and respect the choices of each other’s people, actively expanding common interests and enhancing mutual trust,” he added.
The news comes as officials have hailed the deal as a success, despite criticisms over alleged human rights abuses and forced labour in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), which Beijing has repeatedly denied, the report read.
But according to a recent interview with CNN, the deal has triggered concerns in Washington, where President-elect Joe Biden’s administration aims to boost soured ties between the US and EU, as well as work with European allies.
“We are confident we can develop a common agenda on issues where we share deep concerns about China. And it’s not just on trade, it’s on technology. It’s on human rights. It’s on military aggression,” incoming national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN at the time.
What Are the Four Aspects of Developing China-EU Relations?
The news comes after Brussels and Beijing struck the deal ahead of New Year’s Eve last year, with the agreement being confirmed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was the “most ambitious outcomes that China has ever agreed with a third country”.
The agreement comes just days after the EU and United Kingdom struck a post-Brexit trade deal on Christmas Eve and Beijing inked the 15-member Regional Cooperative Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest deal in history, in November.
CHENNAI: The Madras high court asserted on Wednesday that the right to religion is not higher than the right to life. “Religious rights are subject to public interest and the right to life,” the HC said. If the state decides to take some action by restricting religious functions during the pandemic, we (court) cannot interfere, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said. The court made the observations while hearing a PIL moved by Rangarajan Narasimhan alleging that religious functions and rites that ought to be conducted at Trichy Srirangam Temple are not conducted as per the sacred texts but according to the whims and fancies of the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department. The petitioner wanted the court to direct the state government to constitute a committee comprising religious heads to decide the mode and manner in which such functions should be conducted. When the plea came up for hearing, the bench said when the government imposes certain restrictions to protect the life and health of the public, the same must be adhered to. However, if such religious functions can be performed with minimal participation of the public, the same can be done after following the Covid-19 protocol, the court added. Concurring, the petitioner said there are ways prescribed in the “shastras” to conduct functions in a minimal way. But only religious leaders, who are well-versed with the shastras, can suggest the same, not the joint commissioner or executive officer of the department, he said. Representing the authorities, senior advocate Satish Parasaran submitted that all mandatory religious functions are conducted by adhering to Covid standard operating procedures. The court directed the authorities to consult the religious leaders concerned as to how the festivities would be conducted. However, hygiene and Covid protocol cannot be compromised to conduct such functions, the court added. Noting that the state might consider including the petitioner in the discussions, the court directed it to file a report in six weeks as to the manner in which the functions can be conducted till July.
Multiple news outlets have called one of Georgia’s Senate runoff elections for the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the Democrat who defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
So, on the radio show Wednesday, Glenn Beck looked into what this “radical preacher” has been saying in the past — and what he’ll likely bring to the U.S. Senate in the future.
“Warnock is in one of the most influential and powerful stages of the country. And I use the word ‘stage’ intentionally,” Glenn said. “It’s the pulpit. He’s the guy who says, if you voted for Donald Trump, well, you’re a sinner.”
Glenn introduced a video clip in which Warnock asserts:
If it is true that a man who has dominated the news and poisoned the discussion for months needs to repent, then it is doubly true that a nation that can produce such a man and make his vitriol go viral, needs to repent. I know, no matter what happens next month, more than a third of the nation that would go along with this, has reason to be afraid. America needs to repent for its worship of whiteness!
“So, (according to Warnock) you should be afraid,” Glenn said. “Oh, and whiteness is evil. And, somehow or another, America has been worshiping whiteness … see, critical race theory is now our new national religion.”
Watch the video clip below to hear more from Glenn:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
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KNIGHTSTOWN — Robert Garner’s work these days — 50-some years after he last stepped foot in The Hoosier Gym as a high school senior — is what you might call an inside job.
After decades in the medical field, Garner now is the events coordinator of The Hoosier Gym. He spends days inside the iconic Knightstown relic where the sports movie classic “Hoosiers” was filmed in 1985. Where tour groups from across America show up to catch a glimpse of the place fictional basketball magic took place.
In the silence on the days the gym is empty, as the light pours through the square-paned windows and the hardwood glistens, Garner can re-live scenes from the movie.
On the days when the gym is bustling, filled with chatter as tour groups pass through, Garner talks. He talks about “Hoosiers,” the script, the characters, the story. How the movie was filmed in this gym where they stand.
And the more he talked — Garner took the job in 2015 — the more his talk became less about sports. The more he talked, the less it became about basketball and winning and losing and coaching.
The more it became about life.
He listened over and over again as visitors told him of the impact the movie had on their lives. What it taught them.
One day, Garner picked up a pen and from his inside job at The Hoosier Gym wrote a book on what the movie “Hoosiers” is really about.
Garner first saw “Hoosiers” when the world first saw it, November 1986. He sat inside Castle Theatre, a now shuttered relic of the bustling Chrysler town of New Castle, the month the movie was released.
Garner was in his late 30s. He had graduated from Knightstown High in 1966, the final year the Panthers played in The Hoosier Gym. He watched in awe on the big screen as Hollywood took over the tiny court where he and his classmates had played.
He will never forget seeing Peg Mayhill, who was like a second mother to him, sitting in the bleachers as an extra.
“Hoosiers” was, no doubt, a mesmerizing movie. Sports and victory and perseverance at their best.
But Garner has uncovered something deeper in the movie: 11 very definite life lessons. The book, “Hoosiers: Eleven Life Lessons,” is short and sweet — 65 pages and 12 chapters.
The format: Replay scenes, characters and lines from the movie then detail the life lesson. Among them: trust, forgiveness, second chances and redemption.
Since the book published six months ago, “Sales have exceeded my wildest expectations,” said Garner. He isn’t, after all, a writer by trade.
Garner was still in high school when he got his start crafting words. It was 1965 and the late Tom Mayhill, longtime owner and publisher of the Knightstown Banner, let Garner cover a high school basketball game.
“In spite of that first disaster, that he destroyed with red ink, he continued to give me opportunities,” Garner writes in the book.
After a year of working with Mayhill and soaking in his wisdom and advice, Garner was told by Mayhill he should be a writer. This book, 55 years later, is his first attempt.
Garner said he hopes those who read the book and adopt the lessons “have the foundation for a life of value.”
“The 11 life lessons I discern might be different from yours,” he said. Which is why the 12th chapter of Garner’s book is titled, “You’re the Author,” an encouragement to readers to watch the movie and consider what they’ve learned.
“What lessons have I missed?” Garner writes. “It is time for you to put them in writing.”
What they’re saying about the book
Sam Chase, an Indiana Basketball Hall of Famer and real life “Hoosiers” star, led Knightstown to its first sectional title at just 14 years old.
After reading Garner’s book, Chase said it reminded him of the “values I followed to help me succeed not only as a basketball player but in life.”
“It also brought back memories of all the hours I spent practicing and playing in what is now the famous Hoosier Gym. I encourage you to read and take the lessons to heart.”
Brad Long, who played the character of basketball team captain “Buddy” Walker in “Hoosiers” said: “Bob has captured the essence of the lessons taught throughout the fabric of this movie. He is a true Hoosier.”
And from Mervin Kilmer, a 25-year Hoosier Gym volunteer whom Garner said “has been a consistent source of knowledge and was relentless in pushing me to write this book.”
“Life, yours and mine, from birth to death is impacted by a variety of people, thoughts and experiences. Some result in changing our lives. The movie “Hoosiers” and this book can (and) may change your life.”
Learn more about “Hoosiers: Eleven Life Lessons” or purchase the book.
As Vanuatu celebrates 40 years of independence, questions about the need for moral education have come to the fore.
PORT VILA, Vanuatu — As Vanuatu celebrates its 40 years of independence and looks to the future, a national conversation about the direction of the education of children and youth is gaining momentum.
To contribute to these discussions, the Bahá’ís of the country recently brought together representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Education, village chiefs, and different social actors to reflect together on the role of moral education in society.
Gregoire Nimbtik, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, expressed the sentiments of other participants, saying: “We wish to have a society where happiness is sustainable, where there is no disunity, where everyone lives in a peaceful environment, and where everyone cares for each other. The question is how can we build the capacity of our young ones and enable them to build this kind of society? Education has a vital role in this regard.”
Slideshow 4 imagesMany activities in Vanuatu have been permitted by the government, including in-person gatherings, as the country has remained largely free of the coronavirus. The Bahá’ís of Vanuatu recently brought together representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Education, village chiefs, and different social actors to reflect together on the role of moral education in society.
This question has been at the heart of Bahá’í educational efforts in Vanuatu for decades, including literacy programs, formal schools, and initiatives at the grassroots that develop the capacity of children and youth to serve society.
Henry Tamashiro, a member of the Bahá’í community of Port Villa and one of the organizers of the event, says, “In discussions with village chiefs and community members about the challenges facing our country, we all arrive at one question: How can the moral character of the individual be elevated?
“Gatherings like this allow diverse segments of society to talk about a missing part of the educational system: what the traditional leaders call the education of the heart, educators call moral education, and faith communities refer to as spiritual education.”
Chief Ken Hivo of Freshwota, one of the largest localities in the Port Vila area, said at the meeting, “Moral education is of the utmost importance. Our present education system is often seen as no more than an instrument to prepare our children for employment and is focused on the education of the mind. But pure hearts are needed for an effectively functioning community. Spiritual principles need to guide a person. Societies that are governed solely by materialistic principles will only deteriorate further and further. But many of our social issues will disappear if spiritual principles also govern our communities.”
Andrea Hinge of the University of the South Pacific echoed this thought, stating: “This means having teachers who are not focused only on helping a child pass an exam, but also on teaching students about how to live with others in society.”
Slideshow 4 imagesMany activities in Vanuatu have been permitted by the government, including in-person gatherings, as the country has remained largely free of the coronavirus. A forum in Namasmetene, Tanna, organized by the Bahá’í community where leaders and community members, including youth, discussed themes related to the material and spiritual progress of their community.
Representatives of the Bahá’í community at the gathering explained that when children learn about the concept of selfless service early on, they are able to make meaningful contributions to social progress from a young age. Among the many examples provided were efforts of youth engaged in Bahá’í educational initiatives who are managing conservation areas in the forests around their villages in order to preserve native species.
Looking to future gatherings, Mr. Tamashiro says that “This dialogue is opening a new door. Participants came to this meeting somewhat downhearted about the condition of society, but when they saw that they are not alone in their desire to address the challenges facing young people and that there is an effective path forward, everyone became very hopeful.”
(Screenshot from TV footage of Trump using the Bible as a prop.)
Violence mounted in Washington, DC on the day many Orthodox Christians were celebrating Christmas.
The U.S. capital erupted into violence over its November presidential election after a speech by President Donald Trump that said his election defeat was a fraud and he encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol.
Church leaders worldwide denounced the rioters actions on Jan. 6 at the meeting place of the U.S. Congress.
Officers from Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department said that 4 people had died in connection with the violent riots at the U.S. Capitol, Newsweek reported.
World Council of Churches interim general secretary Rev. Ioan Sauca expressed “grave and mounting concern” at the latest developments as protestors calling themselves patriots invaded the US. Capitol building in Washington DC.
“The divisive populist politics of recent years have unleashed forces that threaten the foundations of democracy in the United States and—to the extent that it represents an example to other countries—in the wider world,” said Sauca.
U.S. mega-church paster Rick Warren tweeted @RickWarren, “Armed breaching of capitol security behind a confederate flag is anarchy, unAmerican, criminal treason and domestic terrorism. President Trump must clearly tell his supporters ‘We lost. Go home now.'”
Warren noted, “Here’s what God says: ‘When the leader is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will ruin his country.’ Proverbs 29:4 (TEV)”
Jim Winkler, president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches (USA), released a statement on the “Mob Attack of the US Capitol” that condemned and repudiated the actions of pro-Trump protesters.
‘DEMOCRACY UNDER SIEGE’
“Chaos reigns, guns have been drawn, and our democracy is under siege. This is outrageous, unacceptable, shameful and a disgrace,” Winkler said. “Every effort must be made by law enforcement to restore order immediately.”
A chaotic and violent scene unfolded at the Capitol in Washington DC as supporters of President Donald Trump swarmed the building to protest the U.S. Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and many confrontations with police,
The police did not have the numbers to hold back the protestors as a mob stormed the U.S. Congress some of whom were dressed in U.S. military uniforms, USA Today reported in zn incident described by a CNN broadaster as “domestic terrorism.”.
The House and Senate were less than an hour into debating the first Republican Party a contested state election when they were forced to abruptly recess following a rally by Trump.
Mostly maskless rioters crowded into the hallways around each chamber and rioters boke into the U.S. Congress as members of both the Democratic Party and the Republicans codemned the storrming of the institution reprseneting U.S. democracy.
“Within minutes of the mob breaching the Capitol complex, rioters were pounding on the doors of the House gallery, where a group of lawmakers were trapped,” the New York Times reported,
The chaos erupted in Washington as Trump supporters swarmed the Capitol building, prompting Vice President Mike Pence to be swept to a secure location and the Senate chamber to be evacuated.
The WCC urged those responsible for the Jan. 6 violence to desist and to return to civil discourse and established democratic processes, calling on all parties to resist short-term political interests and to act in a manner responsible to others and accountable to the wider society.
“We pray that the churches of America be empowered with wisdom and strength to provide leadership through this crisis, and on the path of peace, reconciliation, and justice,” said Sauca.
Police found a cooler full of Molotov cocktails and two pipe bombs at the nearby headquarters of the Republican and Democratic Paries national committees.
Throughout the year, the maritime transport industry has managed stay afloat, allowing food, medicine and other essential goods to be transported across the world, to stock the shelves even during the strictest lockdowns.
However, many seafarers were forced to stay at sea for several months longer than planned, sometimes for over a year: as 2020 comes to a close, the UN maritime agency (IMO), estimates that some 400,000 seafarers, from all over the world, are still on their ships, even though their contracts have ended, unable to be repatriated. Another 400,000 are thought to be stuck at home due to the restrictions, unable to join ships and provide for their families.
Chief Engineer, Matt Forster, was unable to travel home once his contract had ended due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions.
The mental health of seafarers has been sorely tested, as Matt Forster, an English Chief Engineer, based mainly on an oil tanker in the Middle East and Asia, told UN News in July. His contract was well overdue at the time, and he was having difficulty coping with the separation from his two small children.
“I’ve done long contracts before, but this is different”, he said. “It has a psychological effect, as there is no end in sight. It affects family life a lot more. My children are always asking me when I am coming home. It’s difficult to explain to them”.
Mr. Forster is now back in England, reunited with his children, but his experience has made him think twice about his choice of career. “We wanted to go to work, do our bit, and then come home. We didn’t sign up for what felt like an unwanted prison sentence”, he says.
“I don’t want to go back if I am going to get stuck again for another six months. And it’s not just me: a lot of other seafarers around the world feel the same way. It’s going to cause people to leave the industry.”
We have rights as human beings
IMO
The IMO has called on governments to designate seafarers as essential workers.
The plight of seafarers this year has been described by IMO as an infringement of human rights. Speaking on Human Rights Day, in December, the head of the agency, Kitack Lim, paid tribute to maritime “frontline workers”, and invited countries to ensure that their rights to safe and decent work conditions are recognized, respected and protected.
Hedi Marzougui, an American captain, echoed Mr. Lim’s calls, and expressed his concerns about the mental health strain exerted on crews by the extended period on board.
“The longer you stay out there, the more fatigued you get physically. The hours, weeks and months start to add up, you get very tired, and you are not as sharp,” he said, adding that exhaustion can lead to accidents.
“We also have rights as human beings, we have families of our own. We have a life to get back to”, added Captain Marzougui. “We’re not robots, we shouldn’t be seen as second-class citizens”.
A European Court ruling widely interpreted to mean that all gene-edited organisms are GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) may not be as prescriptive as many first assumed.
The view emerges in an article co-authored by John Innes Centre scientists Professor Wendy Harwood and Dr. Penny Hundleby alongside EU scientists and law academics.
In the ruling of July 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) confirmed that organisms obtained by newer methods of directed mutagenesis such as genome editing are not excluded from the scope of the EU GMO directive.
Following the ruling many in the scientific community assumed that it meant that all genome edited organisms are to be treated as GMOs under the GMO Directive. But this new article, published today in the European Journal of Risk Regulation, challenges this prescriptive interpretation.
A key factor in interpreting the ruling, the authors argue, has been determining whether organisms fall under the GMO definition in the first place, because if they do not, then the exemption—and therefore the ruling—is not relevant to them. The EU definition of a GMO is where: ‘the genetic material of the resulting organisms has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.”
Providing an in-depth analysis, the authors conclude that for an organism to be a GMO in the sense of the directive, the technique used as well as the genetic alterations of the resulting organism must be considered. In short, not every mutation results in a GMO.
Modern gene editing techniques such as CRISPR can be used to give different types of changes, from single base pair changes and deletions, which can occur naturally, to additions and more complex changes which would not. The former therefore is not a GMO as the EU defines it.
One of the authors Dr. Penny Hundleby, from the John Innes Centre, said: “The concern among many in the scientific and plant breeding community at the CJEU ruling has been clear. We hope that this article, by analyzing the ruling and the GMO definition in detail, will contribute to future policy development and provides a timely contribution to the on-going debate.
“The European scientific community needs the best possible tools to tackle the challenges ahead of climate change, food security and sustainable food production. For this reason, it is imperative that the regulatory status of organisms developed through novel genomic techniques is clarified as a matter of urgency.”
The European Commission, at the request of the European Union, is currently undertaking a study regarding the status of novel genomic techniques under Union Law which is due to be published in April 2021.
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<a class="text-medium text-info mt-2 d-inline-block" href="https://phys.org/news/2018-07-eu-court-techniques-gmos.html" rel="nofollow">EU top court rules new breeding techniques count as GMOs</a>
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… the semi-autonomous territory. EU spokesman Peter Stano told … against China, saying that EU authorities and member nations are … only days after the European Union sealed a business investment … situation in the country. EU Commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer …
