The UN hope the corridors will enable access to civilians after two weeks of fighting. They are currently hoping to raise U$200 million to cover food, shelter and other urgent needs.
The UN is planning for up to 200,000 refugees over the next six-months. Babar Baloch, spokesman of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said: ‘A temporary ceasefire with immediate effect is needed to allow humanitarian corridors to be established.’
Meanwhile, aid agencies are scaling up the humanitarian response in eastern Sudan, where more than 30,000 people fleeing the fighting have arrived over the past fortnight.
Will Carter, the Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said people were sleeping out in the open.
‘There are no tents, just blankets. There is some food, like porridge and water, but there are no toilets, showers or health services. Many families arrived with nothing more than the clothes on their back. They are essentially arriving with nothing, to nothing’.
In a separate development, forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region have fired rockets into the city of Bahir Dar but no casualties or damage were reported.
Bulgaria is set to receive over EUR half a billion in EU funds to cover the initial expenses related to the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
Bulgaria will receive this amount as soon as the report under this new instrument is approved by the European Parliament at second reading, Bulgaria’s MEP Andrey Novakov said for BNR. “This instrument grants financing retrospectively for ongoing projects aimed to cope with the Covid-19 crisis”. MEP Novakov added.
Every year on November 21, World Fisheries Day is observed to highlight the importance of the marine-based labour sector.
An estimated 59.5 million people are employed in this industry, and one out of two workers is a woman.
A message issued on Friday to mark World Fisheries Day by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Peter Turkson, highlights that “Asia has the highest number of workers, in this sector, and contributes some 85 per cent of the world total labour force; and with 3.1 million vessels, it accounts for 68 per cent of the global total fishing fleet.”
As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardinal Turkson notes that the outbreak has had “dramatic consequences for the economies of many countries and a severe impact upon more vulnerable sectors such as fisheries.”
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Martin Foley, Chief Executive Officer and European Regional Coordinator of Stella Maris UK, an agency of the Catholic Church which offerspractical and pastoral care to all seafarers, welcomed the Cardinal’s message.
“It demonstrates the support of the Church through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, for fishers and their families that during these challenging times the Church through Stella Maris’ mission to seafarers and fishers remains close to them.”
As the world grapples with this global pandemic, one of the problems that have been laid bare is a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for fishers. Addressing this issue, Mr Foley said that even pre-pandemic “many fishers were denied adequate PPE. Now with the added risks posed by the pandemic, it’s even more important that fishers are supplied with adequate PPE.”
He went on to say that Stella Maris’ Chaplains in many ports around the world are giving face masks to fishers and helping them with basic hygiene measures. The CEO also stressed that providing this equipment was “primarily the responsibility of their employers”.
Rights for fishers
As the world grapples with this global pandemic, one of the problems that have been laid bare is a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for fishers. Addressing this issue, Mr Foley said that even pre-pandemic “many fishers were denied adequate PPE. Now with the added risks posed by the pandemic, it’s even more important that fishers are supplied with adequate PPE.”
He went on to say that Stella Maris’ Chaplains in many ports around the world are giving face masks to fishers and helping them with basic hygiene measures. The CEO also stressed that providing this equipment was “primarily the responsibility of their employers”.
LWF and WCRC call on Indonesian president to better protect Christian communities
(LWI) – Following the recent reports about attacks on churches and Christian communities in Indonesia, the General Secretaries of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) have urged Indonesian President Joko Widodo to better protect Christian communities in the country.
Worshipping together, and in line with current regulations on COVID-19 prevention, should be available to all faiths in Indonesia, wrote LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Martin Junge and WCRC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson in a letter to the President Widodo.
Disturbing reports of violence
“In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, people and communities are facing significant challenges for which spiritual guidance and nourishment is necessary,” the two General Secretaries said.
In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, people and communities are facing significant challenges for which spiritual guidance and nourishment is necessary.
“We have been in communication with our member churches in Indonesia, who have confirmed the struggles they are facing, including the recent attacks against their houses of worship and their ability to offer online worship.” They refer to “deeply disturbing” reports of church destruction and demolition as well as restrictions on offering online or alternative worship arrangements specifically aimed at Christian churches.
Religious freedom a human right
In the joint-letter, which follows earlier letters issued by the Indonesia Council of Churches (PGI) and the LWF National Committee in Indonesia (KNLWF), the LWF and WCRC General Secretaries call upon the Indonesian president to ensure that churches are able to worship in a safe way, that also conforms with public health guidance to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“This is an important right that is enshrined in International Human Rights Law and is rooted in justice.” they write. “Just as we have continued to ask governments all over the world to ensure that this right is fully enjoyed by all citizens, we urge you to take decisive steps to address any policies, laws, and actions that prevent minority religions in Indonesia from exercising their right to practice their religion.”
LWF in Indonesia has 13 member churches, the majority of them located on Sumatra. WCRC and LWF together represent more than 200 million Christians in 100 countries.
South Africans looking for an offshore base, visa-free access to Europe and the possibility of dual-citizenship, are increasingly investing in property in Portugal, says migration, wealth and forex specialists, Sable International.
The Golden Visa Programme developed by the Portuguese government, which offers a financially accessible and efficient process, whereby non-EU citizens can obtain Portuguese residence permits and citizenship via investment in the country, remains very popular and in fact during the 2020 Covid crisis has shown no sign of tapering.
By mid-2020, over 8,736 residence permits had been issued since the start of the programme, equating to 14,936 residence permits if the family members of the main applicant were included.
With the visa, applicants and their families can live and work in Portugal as well as travel visa-free throughout the European Schengen Area. “A key benefit of the programme is that applicants don’t need to immigrate to Portugal to hold the Golden Visa.
They only need to spend (on average) seven days a year in Portugal to meet the residency requirements of the programme,” said Andrew Rissik director at Sable International.
“It means you can make a sound offshore investment and secure your family’s future without the hassle of relocating to a completely new country.”
The Golden Visa not only allows the holder to live and work in Portugal, but also affords them the right to visa-free travel throughout the European Schengen Area.
This has been especially attractive to executives wishing to work within the European Union (EU). Through the Portuguese residency programme, South Africans can qualify for permanent residence after five years. Portuguese citizenship (an EU passport) gives you the right to live and work in the EU, which currently includes the United Kingdom.
Rissik said that South Africans are mostly attracted to the prospect of dual residency, visa-free travel in Europe, the option to invest a relatively affordable overseas property, and the great tax benefits.
Getting the Golden ticket
To qualify for the programme, applicants need to make an investment in the Portuguese economy. “There are a few routes available to investors – the most popular are the €350,000 private equity capital investment and the purchasing of property with a value of €500,000 or €350,000,” said Rissik.
“Once you have invested, you will be granted a residency permit, which allows you to enter and/or live in Portugal and travel freely within most EU countries. Your Golden Visa is valid for an initial period of two years and is renewed for a further two years every two years.”
To become eligible for permanent residency or citizenship, applicants need to hold their investment alongside their visa for a full five-year period. “Applicants will have to spend time in Portugal over the course of the visa period; but it isn’t extensive ranging from one to two weeks a year,” said Rissik.
As a resident holder, you are required to spend a minimum of 35 days in Portugal over this five-year period.
Why Portugal
Rissik said that most South Africans are attracted by the secure lifestyle. It was voted as the third safest country in the world in the Global Peace Index 2019.
“The tax benefits are also compelling – Portugal has one of the most favourable tax regimes in the EU for foreigners looking to become tax resident. Individuals who are not tax residents only pay tax at source on income derived in Portugal.
“However if one becomes tax resident and spends more than 183 days a year in the country, you are exempt from almost all foreign source income tax under the so-called NHR tax scheme. There’s also no inheritance, gift or wealth tax,” said Rissik.
Covid-19 aside, Portugal has a robust economy, he said. Since the global financial crisis, Portugal’s economy has been transformed from 2008 –2020 to one of the fastest growing in Europe. Portugal has had above-average GDP growth. It has a leading tech hub and a strong manufacturing sector.
In real estate, Portugal was ranked the ‘Hottest’ property market in Europe (Bloomberg 2019), with high affordability, boasting one of the lowest House Price-to-Income ratios in Europe. Forbes’ named Portugal the Most Investible Country of 2020 and ‘Knight Frank’ forecast best price growth in Portugal for 2020-2021 post Covid-19.
Buyer beware
“We are seeing a strong uptake for Portugal investments even through Covid, but the high demand also means there are a lot of unscrupulous operators out there selling properties that are bad investments or that do not actually qualify for the Golden Visa,” said Rissik.
“We have been on the ground in Portugal doing property and visas since 2012, and we have the highest number of South Africans invested there.
“You also need to look at all the options, is this this just a Plan B, or do you plan to relocate and start a business or work there or do you want to retire in Portugal – you might find that a Retirement Visa is better for your purposes than applying for a Golden Visa.”
The European Union has pledged to spend €1.05 million (roughly 60 million Philippine Peso) in humanitarian aid funding to deliver emergency relief assistance to families affected by typhoon Vamco. Known locally as “Ulysses”, it is the latest in a series of destructive typhoons to hit large parts of the Philippines’ most populous island of Luzon, including the national capital, Metro Manila, in recent weeks.
“The EU is scaling up its humanitarian assistance in the Philippines in response to the devastating typhoons that have hit the country over the past month,” *said Arlynn Aquino, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian response in the Philippines. *“The additional contribution will help to get much-needed aid to the most vulnerable people to help them go through this difficult time”.
Vamco hit the country whilst it is still struggling to cope with the devastating impact of powerful typhoon Goni (locally known as “Rolly”), which struck in early November. It has so far affected more than three million people, with more than 440,000 already forced to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere, including in evacuation centres.
The EU funding will support humanitarian aid partners who are already on the ground to respond to the immediate needs of those most in need. This includes shelter, food, health care and access to clean water, safe sanitation and good hygiene, as well as other vital aid.
The funding is part of the EU’s Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT).
Background
*Typhoon Vamco, locally known as “Ulysses”, is the fifth storm to hit the archipelago nation over the past three weeks. It made landfall in several towns across Quezon province in Luzon on the evening of 11 November. With maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour, the system caused heavy downpours and severe flooding across the region, damaging more than 65,000 houses. In Metro Manila, floodwaters of up to 4.5 feet left many parts of the capital submerged, impacting in excess of 50,000 people. Widespread power shortages and infrastructural damage have also been reported. *Central Luzon, located two hours north of Manila, is the worst-hit region where more than 1.7 million have been people affected. As assessments are still underway, the true scale of the damage is currently unclear.
The acute large emergency response tool (ALERT) is used to respond to large natural disasters where over 100,000 people or over 50% of the population are affected. Depending on the type of disaster, the aim is to allocate funds within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of the emergency.
Contact:
Peter Biro, Regional Information Officer for Asia and the Pacific, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations: [email protected](link sends e-mail) (+66 2 305 2768).
ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order limiting the size of a congregation for in-person services at Catholic churches and other houses of worship does not target religious gatherings on “the basis of their beliefs,” but is based on “the documented fact of their COVID-19 super-spreader potential.”
This is the argument New York Attorney General Letitia James, representing Cuomo, laid out in the state’s response to the Brooklyn Diocese’s Nov. 12 filing with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking an injunction against the governor’s order.
The diocese is challenging Cuomo’s order on religious freedom grounds. The state of New York filed its response by the Nov. 18 deadline set by the court.
The diocese said the order’s provisions “violate the free exercise clause” of the First Amendment by limiting “in-person ‘house of worship’ attendance to 10 or 25 people” but allowing “numerous secular businesses to operate without any capacity restrictions.”
“There is nothing more important than the safety of our parishioners. That is why we have worked diligently to implement strict COVID-19 safety rules that go above and beyond state requirements,” Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said in an October statement, after Cuomo issued his executive order.
When he issued his order Oct. 6, James said, Cuomo “went to great pains” to say it was not aimed at religion and was “about mass gatherings. One of the prime places of mass gatherings are houses of worship.”
“The diocese’s interest in holding indoor religious gatherings of potentially hundreds of people … does not outweigh the need to prevent” the spread of COVID-19 in already severely affected areas, said James, who told the Supreme Court the diocese’s application for a writ of injunction “should be denied.”
On Nov. 16, Agudath Israel of America, an umbrella organization that represents affiliated Orthodox Jewish congregations across the U.S., and two Orthodox congregations in New York City filed an emergency application with the high court for an injunction to stop Cuomo’s order. The state had to file a response by Nov. 20.
In the meantime, the Brooklyn Diocese announced Nov. 18 that its 69 Catholic schools and academies in Brooklyn and Queens, the two New York boroughs that make up the diocese, will continue in-person learning.
The announcement came in response to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to close New York City public schools indefinitely starting Nov. 19.
“I am frustrated that the mayor’s announcement was made as Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens were dismissing our students” for the day, said Thomas Chadzutko, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “I want to make it clear to parents, teachers, staff and students that the mayor’s announcement only pertains to New York City public schools, and our schools will be open tomorrow (Nov. 19).”
He added, “We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our school community remains safe for everyone, and we will continue to ensure strict compliance with all health and safety protocols.”
ally Rooney, Zadie Smith, and Toni Morrison. Composite: Patrick Bolger, Getty, Murdo MacLeod
Elena Ferrante, the bestselling pseudonymous Italian author behind My Brilliant Friend, has named her favourite 40 books by female authors around the world, with Toni Morrison, Sally Rooney and Zadie Smith all making the cut.
The author, whose quartet of Neapolitan novels has sold 13m copies worldwide, has published her list on Bookshop.org, the online store that recently launched in the UK and gives a proportion of sales to independent booksellers. Ferrante’s UK publisher, Europa Editions, is returning their 10% sales commission from Ferrante’s list to Bookshop.org so it can be shared among the 300 independent bookshops that have signed up to the site so far.
Ferrante described her choices as being united by the theme of “stories of women with two feet, and sometimes one, in the 20th century”. All of the books are available in English, but span the world: Japan to Nigeria, India to Brazil.
The list include Pulitzer winners – Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge and Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies – and Booker winners such as Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. It also includes several Italian bestsellers: Arturo’s Island by Elsa Morante, first published in 1957, about a boy coming-of-age on the Neapolitan island of Procida; Accabadora by Michela Murgia, following a girl adopted by a secretive Sardinian woman; Anna Maria Ortese’s short story collection Evening Descends Upon the Hills; Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg, a novel-cum-memoir first published in 1963 and translated to English in 2018; and Donatella Di Pietrantonio’s A Girl Returned, about an orphan who is returned to her birth mother and a life of poverty.
Natalia Ginzburg, author of Family Lexicon. Photograph: Public domain
Several of the authors voiced their pleasure at being chosen by Ferrante. Smith, whose 2000 debut White Teeth made the list, said: “Reading all of Ferrante slowly, in Italian, and then with obsessive speed, in English, have been two of the great reading experiences of my life. I am thrilled to be included in this wonderful initiative on behalf of independent bookshops.”
US author Sheila Heti said: “It means so much to me that she connected with my book, Motherhood. My favourite of hers is The Days of Abandonment – excruciating and perfect.” And Mieko Kawakami, the Japanese author of Breasts and Eggs, also selected by Ferrante, described her as “a writer who continually creates lives and worlds with strokes both delicate and grand. To hear that she has read my work, and that it has somehow touched her creative world, brings me the greatest joy and fills me with courage.”
Women’s prize founder Kate Mosse said she was “delighted to see Ferrante celebrating so many exceptional books by her fellow women writers – we all love to have a sneak peak into what our favourite authors love to read, what they value, and this list is magnificent.”
Bookseller Claire Harris, of independent bookshop Lutyens & Rubinstein, called it “a great list”. “I would happily read my way through it, some of them again and others I’d like to give a go,” she said. “There are authors on the list that probably wouldn’t be read without someone like Ferrante bringing attention to them, and she has a really good balance of famous and the not-so-well-known on this list. There is something for everyone.”
Elena Ferrante’s top 40 books by female authors
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Fourth Estate)
