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St Peter’s Square: Christmas tree and nativity scene to be inaugurated on 11 December – Vatican News

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By Vatican News staff writer

The virus has not stopped the spirit of Christmas, today ,more than ever, it is important to remain united and empathise with our sisters and brothers until we are able to return to life as we know it.

This is precisely what symbolises the Vatican’s Christmas display this year more than others: hope, trust, love, family, and the awareness that Jesus will come among his people to save and console them.

On 11 December at 4.30 p.m., in compliance with anti covid-19 regulations, as is custom, the Nativity scene, donated by the Italian town of Castelli, the spearhead of the ceramic industry since the 16th century, and the Christmas tree, a 28m high majestic spruce (Picea abies) from Kočevje, in Slovenia, will be inaugurated.

The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello and Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, respectively President and Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State. On the same day, in the morning, the delegations from Castelli and Kočevje will be received in audience by Pope Francis for the official presentation of the gifts.

The nativity scene

The Monumental Nativity Scene is made up of ceramic statues. It is a work created by the pupils and the teachers of the Art Institute “F.A. Grue”, the current state art high school for design, which, in the decade 1965-1975, dedicated its teaching activity to the Christmas theme.

St. Peter’s Square will see only part of the fragile collection, made up of 54 statues, exhibited. 

The tree

The spruce comes from Kočevje, a town on the Rinža river. The region Kočevsko is one of the Slovenian territories where nature is most intact, considering that the forests cover 90% of its territory. Since ancient times it has been a symbol of fertility and in popular tradition it is often used in occasion of ceremonies as for the feast of the 1st of May or for the Christmas solemnity.

The tallest spruce tree in Europe, “Sgermova smreka” measures 61,80 metres and is located on the Pohorje massif in Slovenia. It is about 300 years old, with a perimeter of 3 meters and 54 centimetres and a diameter of over one metre.

The tree and the Nativity scene will remain on display until the end of Christmas time, which coincides with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday 10 January 2021.

Okonjo-Iweala: Buhari in video call with European Council head

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Okonjo-Iweala: Buhari in video call with European Council head

Buhari in video call with EC President over Okonjo-Iweala

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday stepped up his campaign for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian candidate for the vacant seat of World Trade Organisation Director-general.

Buhari had a video conference with Mr Charles Michel, President of the European Council.

The latter reiterated Europe’s support for Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The President is leading Nigeria’s charge for the former finance minister, to emerge as the first Black and female WTO DG.

President Buhari thanked the European Council for its support for Nigeria’s candidate.

Also discussed during the conference were issues bordering on debt relief for Africa, EU-African relations and recharge of the Lake Chad.

Buhari has always seized every opportunity to discuss the recharge of Lake Chad, which has shrunk to less than one-third of its usual size, and thrown about 130 million people, who depend on the Lake, into dire straits.

President Buhari expressed appreciation to Mr Michel for expected positive developments on the issues.

Okonjo-Iweala was presented to WTO council on Tuesday, as the candidate with the broadest support, edging out the South Korean competitor Yoo Myung-hee.

But the United States objected to Okonjo-Iweala and canvassed instead for the Korean.

The 164 member WTO will meet on 9 November, six days after the American election.

By its rules, all the 164 members must support the Nigerian candidate.

140 migrants die in deadliest shipwreck of the year – Vatican News

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By Vatican News staff writer

At least 140 migrants aboard a ship headed towards Europe drowned off the Senegalese coast marking the deadliest shipwreck recorded this year, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement on Thursday.

The vessel, bound for Spain’s Canary Islands, reportedly caught fire a few hours after departing the western Senegalese coastal town of Mbour on Saturday before capsizing on the country’s northwest coast, near Saint-Louis.

According to the statement, the vessel was carrying about 200 migrants. The Spanish and Senegalese navies, as well as fishermen who were nearby were able to rescue 59 people and recover the bodies of 20 others. The others are presumed dead.

The IOM said that it “is deeply saddened by this recent tragedy which follows four shipwrecks recorded in the Central Mediterranean last week and another in the English Channel.”

The government of Senegal and the IOM have both arranged a mission to assess the survivors’ needs and provide assistance.

A dangerous route

In 2020 alone, the IOM estimates that including the victims of this latest tragic incident, at least 414 people have died along this route.

The international body notes that in recent weeks, the number of departures from West Africa to the Canary Islands has significantly increased. In September alone, “14 boats carrying 663 migrants left Senegal for the Canary Islands.” Of this number, “26 per cent were reported to have experienced an incident or shipwreck.”

Compared to figures from previous years, there have been roughly 11,000 arrivals to the Canary Islands in 2020 as opposed to 2,557 arrivals in 2019. However, this is still below the peaks in 2006 when over 32,000 arrived.

In light of this, the IOM calls for “unity between governments, partners and the international community to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks that take advantage of desperate youth,” said Bakary Doumbia, IOM Senegal Chief of Mission.

“It is also important that we advocate for enhanced legal channels to undermine the traffickers’ business model and prevent loss of life,” Doumbia added.

Kenya relief bid begins to avert ‘hunger crisis’ among poor workers hit by COVID 

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Kenya relief bid begins to avert ‘hunger crisis’ among poor workers hit by COVID 

“COVID-19 has caused untold suffering especially to families living in the poor urban areas who normally rely on informal day-to-day employment; many families in the coastal region are struggling just to feed themselves”, said Lauren Landis, WFP’s Kenya Country Director. 

With the help of local and national authorities in Kenya, the World Food Programme (WFP) has begun rolling out aid for more than 400,000 urban poor in COVID-19 hotspots. 

In addition to the 300,000 people in Nairobi receiving aid for the next four months, around 100,000 more in Mombasa will receive three months’ assistance in the coastal city.

“WFP’s support complements other social protection programmes run by the national and county governments”, Ms. Landis explained. “Together, we can avert a hunger and nutrition crisis among poor communities living in urban areas”. 

Monthly support 

Throughout Kenya, some 1.7 million people living in informal settlements have been affected by the COVID crisis amidst surging infection numbers, according to WFP. 

The unemployment rate has doubled to 10.4 per cent, from 5.2 per cent in March when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, according to the national statistics office. 
 
Once a month, each selected family in need will receive around $40 in local currency, enough to cover half of the monthly food and nutrition needs for a household of four.

Coastal crash 

Travel restrictions and partial lockdowns have devastated Mombasa’s coastal economy, which relies heavily on tourism. 

Mombasa County, which is Kenya’s second largest urban area, accounts for 12 per cent of the number of coronavirus infections in Kenya, the second highest number after the capital, Nairobi, WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri said. 

“As a result of rising infections, most of the tourism sector was forced to cut its workforce and many businesses either closed entirely or are struggling to stay afloat”, he told journalists via an online briefing in Geneva.  

The UN agency is also partnering with the national and local government to support malnutrition treatment for some 6,000 children and women in Mombasa. This involves providing a nutritious peanut-based paste for children and fortified flour for malnourished mothers.   

Tough neighbourhood 

Outside Kenya, which is Africa’s third-largest economy, WFP warned that countries with large numbers of urban poor living in crowded slums were also vulnerable. 

These included Nigeria, Africa’s wealthiest nation, where the agency only recently announced measures to help struggling families to cope with the economic fallout of the pandemic in the three urban pandemic hotspots of Abuja, Kano and Lagos.  

In Somalia, where WFP already supports 125,000 in urban areas, the agency plans to assist up to 450,000 internally displaced people who are likely to be impacted by COVID-19. 

WFP has also increased its overall relief plan in response to the triple shock of COVID-19, the desert locust invasion and flooding. 

In South Sudan, on top of regular assistance provided to five million people a month, WFP intends to assist an additional 1.6 million individuals in mainly urban settings who face rising food needs linked to COVID-19. 

In Lombardy, Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Brescia Continue Their Community Outreach

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In Lombardy, Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Brescia Continue Their Community Outreach

In Lombardy, Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Brescia Continue Their Community Outreach – Religion News Today – EIN Presswire

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European Union deploys Election Observation Mission to Ghana

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European Union deploys Election Observation Mission to Ghana
File photo: Voting

In response to an invitation by the Electoral Commission, the European Union (EU) will deploy an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the December 7, general elections. 

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, has appointed Mr Javier Nart, Member of the European Parliament, as Chief Observer.  

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “The deployment of this Election Observation Mission confirms our long-term commitment to supporting peaceful, credible, and transparent elections in Africa and elsewhere around the world.

Under the leadership of Chief Observer, Javier Nart, the EU EOM will provide an independent assessment of the electoral process and work together with Ghanaians to strengthen further the country’s democratic institutions.” 

The Chief Observer, Javier Nart, said: “It is a great honour for me to lead this Election Observation Mission, which I assume with a great sense of responsibility.

“For the third time the EU accompanies the election process in Ghana and I trust that state authorities, political parties and all candidates will play their part in promoting a peaceful and credible process.”

The Core Team of the EU Election Observation Mission consists of 9 election experts who will arrive in Accra on 31 October and stay until the completion of the electoral process.

On 7 November, 40 Long-Term Observers will join the mission and will be deployed across Ghana’s 16 regions. Their capacity will be reinforced by up to 30 locally recruited Short-Term Observers on election day. 

After election day, the mission will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Accra. A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented and shared with stakeholders after the finalisation of the entire electoral process.

This EOM is the EU’s third EOM to Ghana after two in 2008 and 2016, as well as an Election Follow-up Mission in 2019.

 The EU has a long-standing partnership with Ghana. We share a broad common agenda to promote regional economic integration, peace and security, democracy, rule of law and human rights as well as to tackle global challenges.

COMECE Assembly to gather with Cardinal Parolin in light of Pope’s recent message on Europe

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COMECE Assembly to gather with Cardinal Parolin in light of Pope’s recent message on Europe

COMECE Assembly to gather with Cardinal Parolin in light of Pope’s recent message on Europe

 

“I dream of a Europe that is a family and a community, a Europe that is a friend to each and all, a Europe that is inclusive and generous. Europe, find yourself! Be yourself!”, writes Pope Francis on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of COMECE and on the eve of the Assembly of EU Bishops which is starting today.

 

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary since the establishment of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), Pope Francis returns to reflect on Europe once more in a letter addressed to H. Em. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, who will be participating in the Autumn Assembly of the Bishops of the European Union to start today, Wednesday 28 October 2020.

 

The Holy Father calls on all of us to rediscover the path of fraternity that inspired and guided the founders of modern Europe. “Europe, find yourself! Rediscover your most deeply-rooted ideals. Be yourself! I dream of a Europe that is a family and a community, a Europe that is a friend to each and all, a Europe that is inclusive and generous”, states the Holy Father also referring to some of Europe’s most pressuring challenges.

H. Em. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, welcomes the words of Pope Francis and considers them “an encouragement to keep working in dialogue with the EU institutions to build a better world reflecting the dreams of peace and Common Good”.

 

In light of this new comprehensive message on Europe, COMECE Bishop Delegates will exchange on some of EU’s most pressuring challenges mentioned by the Holy Father, including the care for the most vulnerable members of our societies through just social and economic policies, migration and asylum policies and sustainable human development.

 

The COMECE Assembly will also discuss the contribution of the Catholic Church for a speedy and fair recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic through ecological, social and contributive justice.

 

Another crucial point in the agenda of the event will be the role of the Church in the EU and the implementation ofArticle 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), also in the context of Pope Francis’ call for“a  healthy secularism, where God and Caesar remain distinct but not opposed, […] where believers are free to profess their faith in public and to put forward their own point of view in society”.

 

Due to the sanitary measures recently adopted by the authorities of the Brussels Region, the Mass for Europe has been cancelled. The dialogue session with Mr Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, has also been removed from the programme of the Assembly. The Bishops of the EU wish him a prompt recovery from Covid-19.

 

The COMECE Assembly will take place exclusively in a digital format and Chatham House Rules will be applied. Journalists and media operators interested in covering the event are invited to contact the COMECE Communication Officer.

Read it in: FR – DE – IT – ES

Photos: A. Tarantino & M. Migliorato

COMECE Communication Officer

Alessandro Di Maio

[email protected]

+32 (0) 2 235 05 15

EU Delegation, EU member states kick off ‘Cine Europa’ film fest at MOA Drive-in Cinema

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EU Delegation, EU member states kick off ‘Cine Europa’ film fest at MOA Drive-in Cinema

The European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines, along with its EU member states, will kick off tomorrow, October 31, the annual Cine Europa film festival to be presented at a drive-in theater setting amid the challenge posed by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

Touted as Europe’s biggest and most exciting film festival, Cine Europa will feature in its premier night the German film “Sweethearts” at the SM MOA Drive-in Cinema along Seaside Blvd. in Pasay City.   

Directed by renowned German actress Karoline Herfurth, “Sweethearts” is a comic-thriller about professional criminal Mel and her easily-panicked hostage Fanny. Forced together by fate and an ill-executed diamond robbery, the couple is trapped in a race against time. Soon pursued by a relentless detective and the greedy Berlin underworld, they are left with no other choice than to work together.

This year’s Cine Europa assembles 19 films from 20 European countries for 30 days and made accessible by signing up at www.cineeuropaph.com.

Despite the virtual environment, Cine Europa will maintain its strong relations with its loyal patrons including those from the various provinces across the country.

The unique feature in this 23rd edition of Cine Europa is the use of Festival Scope, the EU’s library of quality films, that will allow the Delegation to show films from countries not represented in the Philippines. The roster of films adds up to those individually provided by European embassies in Manila. 

The EU Delegation, the European Union member states embassies and Embassy of Switzerland, cultural institutes including  Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes Manila, Philippine-Italian Association, continue to value the support of the Filipino movie-going public and have endeavored to curate a sample of films showing the diversity of the European film industry.

Also featuring in Cine Europa 23 are three animated films for families and children. These value-laden films are expected to share lessons that all viewers can relate with. 

Rafael de Bustamante, First Counselor of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, said that Cine Europa aims at exposing the Filipino public to films that rarely make it to the commercial theaters. Cine Europa, he added, “wants to increase cooperation between, our creative industries and to maximize reach by the use of new platforms.”  

Bustamante said that the “celebration of the cultural partnership between the EU and the Philippines continues with Cine Europa which is getting bigger every year”.

“The EU wants to sustain its tradition of providing highly-acclaimed European films to the Filipino moviegoers”.  


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JCTR concerned about Zambia’s debt crisis – Vatican News

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JCTR concerned about Zambia's debt crisis - Vatican News

Vatican News English Africa Service – Vatican City

JCTR says it is deeply concerned with the rapidly weakening economy in Zambia now threatening the economic and social survival of ordinary citizens, especially the poor, the marginalised and the vulnerable. Speaking on the occasion of Zambia’s 56th Independence Day commemoration, recently, Jesuit priest, Fr. Alex Muyebe who is JCTR Executive Director, said the government needs to be more transparent about the debt crisis.

Zambia’s debt now equivalent to its GDP

“The irony is that as we celebrate our country’s Independence Day, we cannot but lament the current shrinking fiscal space in Zambia. Zambia’s total external debt stock now stands at 27 billion dollars, which, literally is equivalent to the country’s GDP,” said the JCTR Executive Director. He advised the Zambian Government to put in place a transparent debt contraction mechanism and to stop further borrowing.

Fr. Muyebe said, “This is not the first time Zambia has found herself in a debt crisis. The Government must learn from these experiences and come up with a lasting solution to avoid finding ourselves in this same bad place over and over again. Government must pursue fiscal consolidation and stop further borrowing,” he said. Adding, “Government must put in place a transparent debt contraction mechanism and a robust and workable debt management and debt sustainability strategy.”

JCTR observes that from the 2021 national budget, it is evident that funds allocated to the social sector had decreased significantly, thereby affecting the ordinary person’s access to health, education, clean water and sanitation.

Political observers say the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened Zambia’s debt situation.

Growing political violence and intolerance

Another factor worrying JCTR concerns the increase in political violence and prevalent intolerance of divergent political opinion in Zambia.

“Over the last 56 years of Independence, Zambia has enjoyed the long-earned reputation of peace on the continent and beyond. However, JCTR is concerned with the rate of political violence threatening this long-earned reputation. The Centre implores government to take the lead in sensitising citizens to reject all forms of violence in our society,” said Fr. Muyebe.

The challenge of winter during COVID-19 for poor families

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The challenge of winter during COVID-19 for poor families

This winter will present the unprecedented public health challenge of having to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the flu season at the same time. The colder months bring challenges for less affluent households to heat their homes adequately, thus increasing their exposure to health risks. On World Cities Day, 31 October, we take a moment to value our cities and communities, especially those most vulnerable in cold weather, and consider what can be done to reduce their risks.

In most countries in the WHO European Region, inequalities related to keeping a home warm in winter have increased in recent years, as have inequalities in the ability to afford heating costs. In almost all European countries, the poorest households are 4 to 5 times more exposed to cold homes than the most affluent ones, and in several countries more than 30% of low-income households are unable to keep their homes warm. The resulting fuel poverty is often associated with polluting and unsustainable fuel choices.

The use of polluting solid fuels for indoor heating and cooking is also unequally distributed and mostly seen in rural areas and low-income households. Solid fuel use may increase the risk of premature death due to long-term exposure to particulate matter from the burned material, and also due to acute poisoning caused by carbon monoxide exposure from poorly maintained heating devices and limited ventilation. The burden of disease due to indoor air pollution from household activities, such as heating or cooking, was estimated to be 55 000 premature deaths in the WHO European Region in 2016.

COVID-19 related restrictions particularly affect those already more vulnerable

The topic of affordable and clean indoor heating is particularly important this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Households need to anticipate possible restrictions on movement or lockdowns in addition to home schooling and home office work. This will increase the time spent in the home and further enhance the impact of low indoor temperatures as well as potential indoor air pollution, especially for low-income families.

Such increased exposure will especially affect population groups that are already more vulnerable, such as the elderly, children or persons with pre-existing medical conditions, if restricted to their home, and in households in which a family member is requested to go into home-based quarantine or isolation. The situation might be further exacerbated by the economic crisis that, in many countries, has resulted in job losses and furlough schemes, significantly increasing the number of people suffering from energy poverty and its consequences.

Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, extended presence in indoor, crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces may affect the risk of community transmission, as the virus spreads from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe heavily.

These transmission patterns further raise the importance of good indoor ventilation during the winter, despite a tendency to keep the house sealed to reduce energy consumption and keep it warm. This is most critical in large households with little floor space, as crowding and reduced possibility of maintaining physical distance increases transmission risk. Crowding is of concern predominantly for poor as well as single-parent households. For example, in some Eastern European countries, nearly 3 out of 4 single-parent households with a low income are affected by crowding.

What can be done?

At the individual level, we should continue washing our hands with soap, covering our cough, keeping safe distance from other people, and – where this is not possible – wearing a mask. We know that these measures are essential to breaking the chain of transmission, and – especially in winter – remain the most effective way to protect yourself and other household members. Good ventilation of indoor environments will also add to people’s protection, particularly at this time of the year.

Working with national governments, cities can play an important role in reducing these risks by supporting adequate and affordable energy supply for the coming winter and preparing support schemes for those who cannot afford heating. Preparing well in order to avoid local and national disruptions in supplying heating services and in infrastructure can further reduce risks and health effects related to heating shortages. Finally, local authorities can increase their awareness of the distribution of housing problems related to thermal comfort, energy use and crowding, all of which affect health and well-being for disadvantaged households and may contribute to increased transmission risk during lockdown periods.

By planning ahead, individuals and authorities can reduce the health burden on health care systems during the cold season, especially now when they are already severely stretched to treat COVID-19 patients.

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