EU aviation stakeholders urge action to protect the industry and back calls for arrivals duty free

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16 November 2020

EU aviation stakeholders urge action to protect the industry and back calls for arrivals duty free

The report calls for urgent action to protect and support aviation in Europe (click to access)

EUROPE. Over 20 associations have joined together to launch a series of proposals for the recovery and relaunch of the European aviation sector, with calls for the European Union (EU) and its Member States to take urgent action and offer financial and other support. Their proposals have been brought together in the European Aviation Round Table Report, published today.

The associations represent airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, aeronautical manufacturing, trade unions, non-governmental organisations for environmental and consumer action, service providers, ground handling services, the duty free & travel retail sector (via the ETRC), airport coordinators, general and business aviation, express carriers, travel agents, tour operators, travel distributors, and the tourism sector.

Key proposals include a European Aviation Relief Programme spanning the EU and its Member States, plus an EU Pact for Sustainable Aviation.

In a chapter on the EU internal market and reinforcing the strength of European aviation on the world stage, a key recommendation reads: “The EU should allow duty free on arrival at EU airports in order to increase airports’ international competitiveness.”

This supports recent calls from the ETRC and ACI Europe to introduce the channel to EU airports to help generate additional business and ‘level the playing field’ with non-EU markets in the post-COVID-era. It also reflects ETRC’s efforts to ensure the duty Free & travel retail sector was considered during the drafting of the report.

The Report notes the importance of “restoring the public’s confidence in aviation” as a priority in ensuring recovery. In addition, the report highlights vital elements such as maintaining connectivity, skills and employment and preserving the European internal market in ensuring aviation’s recovery from COVID-19 and making European aviation more resilient to future shocks.

The travel, tourism, aviation and duty free associations that supported the report; click to enlarge

The associations also announced a joint commitment to working with policy makers to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This aims to build a greener, socially and economically robust future for aviation, while supporting the European Union’s Green Deal objectives.

EU leaders are urged to support an EU Pact for Sustainable Aviation by the end of 2021 “by contributing the policy and financial framework required to enable European aviation to deliver on its sustainability commitments”.

This will ensure that recovery efforts are compatible with European citizens’ expectations about cleaner transport, with aviation employees’ needs for a socially sustainable and responsible aviation sector balanced with aviation stakeholders’ desire for a robust, safe and coordinated recovery from the crisis, said the report.

To further reduce aviation’s environmental footprint and achieve decarbonisation, the Pact calls for, among others:

– An EU legislative framework to promote the uptake, production and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs);
– Funding and investments to enable the acceleration of low-carbon aircraft innovations, such as electric and hydrogen;
– An incentive scheme for fleet renewal, coupled with retirement;
– Increased public co-funding rates for Civil Aviation Research & Innovation (Clean Aviation and SESAR) through EU recovery mechanisms;
– The revision of the Single European Sky (SES) and continuation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme/ CORSIA.

European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager said: “The aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. Since March, we have worked closely with Member States in their efforts to support this industry, which plays an important role in terms of jobs and connectivity. Today’s industry report provides important food for thought both for immediate issues and forward-looking challenges.

“Because environmental sustainability and the role of digitisation is a prerequisite for the modernisation and decarbonisation of the EU aviation system. In this unprecedented situation, we will continue our close cooperation with Member States and the aviation sector, to find workable solutions to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, in line with EU rules.”

European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “I welcome today’s report from the aviation sector and civil society on what is needed to rebuild passengers’ trust, and for the recovery of this hard-hit sector, which remains critical for global supply chains and people’s mobility. It offers a vision of how to make the sector stronger, more sustainable and more forward-looking than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. I applaud the commitment to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and the proposal to create a pact for social sustainability. This is fully in line with our ambitions for the future growth of the EU.”

The report’s authors note that Europe’s aviation sector supports almost 10 million jobs and €672 billion in European Union economic activity, including 4.2% of all EU jobs and 4.2% of the EU’s GDP.

They highlight the fact that aviation is a key economic sector which has been “hit first and hit hardest” by the COVID-19 crisis, and that requires urgent action to “put it back on a path towards a sustainable recovery and future, operationally, financially, socially and environmentally”.

The report also recognises that the aviation sector “cannot merely wait for a resumption of business as usual and that urgent action is required so that aviation can continue to be a primary enabler of our global economy in the future”.

High-level Inter-parliamentary Conference on Migration and Asylum in Europe | News | European Parliament

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16 November 2020

High-level Inter-parliamentary Conference on Migration and Asylum in Europe | News | European Parliament

, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201113IPR91599/

World Council of Churches calls for peace in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region – Vatican News

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16 November 2020

World Council of Churches calls for peace in Ethiopia's Tigray Region - Vatican News

By Lisa Zengarini

Fighting began in Ethiopia on 4 November, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched military operations in response to an attack on federal troops by armed forces loyal to the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), resulting in heavy casualties and thousands of civilians fleeing the region.

In a statement released after a virtual meeting, the executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) condemned “the numerous brutally violent attacks against churches and communities especially affecting the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, on the members of any community defined by religion or ethnicity, on churches and holy places, and on civilians by armed groups” and mourned “the deaths of so many people.”

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Praying for all

The WCC also expressed concern for the many people displaced by the fighting: “We pray that they may be assured of their security and religious freedom, so that they may return to their homes,” the statement reads.

“We denounce those who seek to foster tensions, division, antagonism and bloodshed among the people of Ethiopia for their own political purposes”, the WCC added, urging all stakeholders to “retreat from the precipice of a new catastrophe and to return to dialogue rather than conflict, to cooperation rather than division.”

The executive committee also conveyed the WCC’s “support and encouragement to all the churches of Ethiopia to raise their prophetic voice for inclusive dialogue, peace, justice and unity against violence and hatred.”

Compounding challenges

Recalling that the current crisis arises against the background of multiple concurrent challenges, including regional tensions associated with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the worst locust invasion in 25 years, serious impacts on food production, and the Covid-19 pandemic, the statement stressed that “such a constellation of crises underscores the necessity of cooperation at this critical time.”

Finally, the statement reaffirmed “the WCC’s commitment to supporting dialogue and cooperation between the churches and religious communities of Ethiopia and Eritrea in the interests of developing peaceful relations in the region.”

Spreading conflict

Tensions between the Federal Government and Tigray regional State had been growing for several months and are of ethnic nature. Many observers fear that the conflict could spread, involving other regions of Ethiopia but also neighbouring Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia.

Following the decision of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to start military operations in the Tigray region, the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia published a statement urging parties to resolve their differences amicably, “in a spirit of respect, understanding” and warning on the risks of a civil war.

After the Angelus prayer of November 8, Pope Francis, too, urged “that the temptation of an armed conflict be rejected” and invited “everyone to prayer and to fraternal respect, to dialogue and to a peaceful resolution to the disagreements”.

The ongoing fight between Ethiopia’s Federal Government and the Tigray forces has also sparked concerns among the bishops of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), who published a statement on Friday, 13 November, calling on the people of Ethiopia to have peaceful dialogue to end their disagreements.

Link religion, education for national development – NCC

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16 November 2020

Link religion, education for national development – NCC

Prof. Adeolu Akande, Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has called for a linkage between education and religion to speed up Nigeria’s quest for national development.

Akande made the call in a paper titled “Religion, Education and National Development’’, which he presented at the Foundation Day Lecture of the Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan.

“Nigeria’s national life suggests a disconnect between religion, education and quest for national development.

“ If we are desirous of charting a new developmental path for the nation, we must realise the place of religion in education.

“Religion, if not well managed, can promote conflict and violence which are the very enemies of development as peace and security are the foundation of development,’’ he said.

Akande said that religion was the foundation of the society and could be positively deployed for national development just as its mismanagement could become a hindrance to national development.

“Religion provides believers with guidelines about life and the life-after which serves as the much-needed incentives for indulging in productive activities during one’s life time.

“Religion also promotes growth as it directs adherents towards such virtues as hard work, honesty, truthfulness and avoidance of harmful activities against fellow men and society.

“Such virtues promote the right ethics for economic growth and prosperity,” he pointed out.

On education, which he defined as the process of acquiring physical and social capabilities demanded to function in the society, Akande noted that its fundamental aim was the physical, intellectual, emotional and ethical interaction of the individual as a social instrument for developing human resources and for human capital formation.

He said that education was the most important factor for development as well as for empowering people.

“While religion deals with the moral and spiritual component of education, education remains the driver of development.

“It is also particularly important to note that religion develops the appropriate values and attitude for citizens to live meaningful lives,” he explained.

He defined national development as a process of economic and social transformation that was based on complex cultural and environmental interactions making it imperative that religion and education must be in harmony for the desired change to happen since the major goal was to reduce poverty, inequality and unemployment.

Akande described national development as the ability of a country to improve the economic and social welfare of the people by providing social amenities like quality education and portable water.

He listed other amenities to include transportation infrastructure, medical care, and employment for citizens, among others. (NAN)

– Nov. 16, 2020 @ 16:47 GMT |

Polish Cardinal Gulbinowicz dies at age of 97 – Vatican News

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16 November 2020

Polish Cardinal Gulbinowicz dies at age of 97 - Vatican News

By Vatican News

The Polish Bishops’ Conference announced the death of 97-year-old Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz, Archbishop emeritus of Wrocław, via a tweet on Monday morning.

Hneryk Roman Gulbinowicz was born on 17 October 1923 in Sukikes, in the Archdiocese of Vilnius, and received priestly ordination on 18 June 1950.

On 12 January 1970, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Vilnius for the territory included in the Polish political borders. On 8 February, he received episcopal ordination. On 3 January 1976, he was appointed Archbishop of Wrocław (Wrocław).

In the consistory of 25 May 1985, he was created and published Cardinal with the title of the Immaculate Conception of Mary at Grottarossa. On 3 April 2004, he resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese.

Ten days ago the Polish Cardinal was subjected to sanctions issued by the Holy See, after an investigation into charges of harassment, homosexual acts, and collaboration with the then Security Service.

In particular, disciplinary actions against him included being “prohibited from taking part in any public celebration or meeting; prohibited from using the episcopal insignia; and prohibited from the funeral service and burial in the cathedral.”

Ghana: Bishop appeals to politicians to stop dividing people – Vatican News

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16 November 2020

Ghana: Bishop appeals to politicians to stop dividing people - Vatican News

Angela Ofosu Boateng – Accra, Ghana

Archbishop Naameh, who is the Ordinary of Tamale made the remarks when he addressed politicians, traditional leaders, priests, the religious and the lay faithful gathered at the St. Catherine Senior High School at Akatsi for the opening ceremony of the 2020 Plenary Assembly of the GCBC, recently. The Archbishop referenced recent disturbances that took place in Western Togoland.

There have been disturbances in Ghana’s Western Togoland as separatist groups agitate for secession from Ghana.

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Use conciliatory language

The Archbishop reminded Ghanaians that in addressing the disturbances, care must be taken so as not to step on the toes of anyone but ensure a win-win outcome for a united and stable Ghana.

Archbishop Naameh said, “it is for this reason that we call on all, especially those prominent politicians who go out of their way to refer to some Ghanaians as ‘foreigners’ to desist from those unguarded comments.”

He explained that such unfortunate utterances worsened the already existing threat to the unity of the nation, stressing that “all divisive comments must cease if we intend to make any progress in our attempt to address the current threat posed by the secessionists.”

Archbishop Naameh called on the government to do all within its means to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Give the word of God space

Speaking on the theme of the Bishops’ Plenary, The Word of God: Christian Formation for Transformation in Ghana, Archbishop Naameh said Christians must at all times become the source of light to the world by avoiding deceit, corruption, materialism, greed for money, power and fame among others.

“In a society where honest and dedicated hardworking people are scarce commodities; where probity and accountability are acts of witch-hunting; where ritual murderers operate with ease; where the youth practise Sakawa (Internet fraud); where contract killings for various reasons are on the increase and where the young disrespectfully address their leaders -the Word of God must be given space to define, direct and shape the beginning and future of our society. We need more than ever to sow the Word of God, so as to experience the transforming power of His Word,” said the Archbishop.

Apostolic Nuncio: Pay attention to the neglected and downtrodden

In his address, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński, explained that human existence could be understood as a dialogue with God, hence, the Church is entrusted with the mission to proclaim the Word of God always and everywhere.

He noted that through His Word, God continues to speak to people as he did with the Prophets and Apostles. The Apostolic Nuncio, however, emphasised that there was need for faith and obedience on the part of human beings.

VITAFIBER® IMO, CANADIAN BIONEUTRA’S POPULAR HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO SUGAR, IS NAMED THE WORLD’S TOP BEVERAGE INGREDIENT

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16 November 2020

VITAFIBER® IMO, CANADIAN BIONEUTRA’S POPULAR HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO SUGAR, IS NAMED THE WORLD’S TOP BEVERAGE INGREDIENT – Organic Food News Today – EIN Presswire

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JASWANT SINGH KHALRA MEMORIAL LECTURE & BOOK LAUNCH

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Robert Johnson

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16 November 2020

Nearly 100 people stayed glued in the Zoom room as the Jaswant Singh Khalra Memorial Lecture was delivered on 3rd Nov 2020. First the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, addressed the audience, which included hundreds others who watched the event on KTV satellite channel, YouTube channels of UNITED SIKHS, BOSS ( British Organisation of Sikh Students), Khalas TV and Basics of Sikhi.

Then Satnam Singh Bains, Barrister, delivered the Memorial Lecture, on how his team has carried on Jaswant Singh Khalra’s work in the Indian courts. What followed was a touching vote of thanks from Navkiran Kaur, Jaswant Singh Khalra’s daughter.

The event culminated with the launch of Gurmeet Kaur’s book ‘The Valiant- Jaswant Singh Khalra’ , by Mr Shaheed, followed by Gurmeet Kaur’s reply to: ‘Why did I write the book?’

We also heard a tribute from Jaswant Singh Khalra’s brother, Rajinder Singh.

The book may be ordered by leaving a phone message on +44 870 1993328 or email [email protected]

Ayo Fayose bio: Age, educational background, religion, children

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16 November 2020

Ayo Fayose bio: Age, educational background, religion, children

Although not much is known about his siblings, in Sep 2020, Ayo Fayose lost his immediate elder sister, Mrs. Moji Ladeji.

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How old is Fayose?

The politician was born in 1960, which means that Ayo Fayose age is 60 years old (as of 2020).

Where is Ayo Fayose from?

Fayose grew up in Oyo state but originally hails from Afao Ekiti in Irepodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Ayo Fayose educational background

Ayo Fayose began his early education at Saint Leo’s Catholic Primary School, Ibadan, in 1966 and obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1972. He proceeded to the Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo State, in 1973, where he sat for and passed the School Certificate examination in 1979.

He was admitted for a one-year pre-National Diploma (Pre-ND) program at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, leading ultimately to a two-year Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program in Science Laboratory Technology, which he successfully completed in 1984.

He underwent his one-year mandatory industrial attachment at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan. He produced body and hair products during this period, naming them ‘Spotless.’

In 1985, Fayose was admitted for a Higher National Diploma (HND) program in Biological Sciences/Applied Medical/Biology by The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and graduated in 1987. He had his National youth service at Pepsi Nigeria Limited, Ibadan.

Ayo Fayose religion

The politician was born to a pastor and a prophetess, concluding that he grew up in a religious home.

Career

Ayo worked as the chief executive officer at Spotless Investment Limited, a group of companies, from 1988 until his election as the Governor of Ekiti State in 2003.

Before his election, Fayose served as Chairman of a Facts-Finding Committee set up by the Peoples’ Democratic Party and assigned to Kaduna State in 2003. He had served twice as a national delegate to the PDP national convention.

Ayo came to the limelight when he became the second executive governor of Ekiti state on May 29, 2003, after defeating the then incumbent governor, Niyi Adebayo. He was impeached on 16 October 2006 but came back to contest in 2014.

During the 2014 Governorship election in Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose was again the PDP flag bearer. He won the election and was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the new Governor, Ekiti State; he was inaugurated on 16 Oct 2014.

Fayose boasts of being the only Nigerian to defeat an incumbent two times historically.

Previous appointments

Here is a summary of his previous appointments:

Staff – Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State (Industrial Attachment)
Staff – Pepsi Nigeria Limited, Ibadan, Oyo State (National Youth Service Corps)
Chief Executive Officer, Spotless Investment Limited, 1988 to 2003
Governor, Ekiti State, May 29, 2003 to October 16, 2006
Chairman, PDP Adhoc Committee, 2006
Governor, Ekiti State, October 16, 2014 to October 16, 2018

Awards

The politician has received these awards:

Ekiti State “Leaders in Achievement” Honour Award (2002)
Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa) University of Ado-Ekiti (2004)
Fellow of the Polytechnic Ibadan (FPI) 2005
Most Distinguished Alumnus of the Faculty of Science of the Polytechnic, Ibadan (2005)
Outstanding Governor of the year 2004 by the Ekiti Kete Association in North America (EKAINA)
Ekiti State “Leaders in Achievement” Award 2002
Captain of Reform Agenda for the Grassroot
Best Governor of the Year 2004 by the PDP, U.K. Branch
Most Practical Governor in the South West (2005)
Best Governor in the South West 2005 by the Global Excellence Magazine, Lagos
Best Governor Nigeria 2006 by the City People Magazine, Lagos.

Personal life

Ayo Fayose got married to his lovely wife, Feyisetan Fayose, in 1988. Feyisetan is four years younger than him – she was born in 1964, while the politician’s birth year is 1960. She is a human rights activist, as well as a generous philanthropist. She is especially concerned about female rights.

Ayo Fayose children

Ayo and Feyisetan’s marriage is blessed with 5 children:

Joju
Nigba
Boluwatife
Rogba
Tomiwa

Blocked bank accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission froze four Zenith Bank accounts allegedly used by Fayose to launder money for his Ekiti governorship election in 2014.

The judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, had granted the EFCC on June 24 2016 an order freezing all the funds in the said accounts in Zenith Bank. 2 of the accounts belong to Ayo while the third belongs to his hotel Spotless Hotel in Ado Ekiti. The fourth account was operated by one of Ayo’s aides, Abiodun Agbele.

The EFCC alleged that those accounts possessed funds, said to be about N4.7 billion, stolen from the office of the National Security Adviser, with most of the money secretly retained by Ayo for his personal use after the election.

Ayo Fayose is an outspoken politician who is also the former governor of Ekiti State. The politician is known for being fearless when it comes to matters affecting the Nigerian people.

READ ALSO: Fireboy DML biography: Age, real name, girlfriend, Apollo album

Legit.ng recently covered the story of Fireboy DML, one of the fast-rising Afro-Life singers from Nigeria. The musician became popular following the success of his single titled Jealous. You will be surprised to find out that the celebrity is only 24 years old, but he has made significant achievements in his career.

The musician recently released his sophomore album, Apollo. Apollo was released on August 20, 2020, under the YBNL Nation record label. The 17-track album comes after the success of his debut album Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps, which was released on November 29, 2019.

EU Derivative Clearing Showed Strong Growth In 2019

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16 November 2020