The European Union (EU) is backing former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to head the World Trade Organization (WTO), sending a signal of trust in Africa, an EU official said on Monday.
Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee are vying to be the first female leader in the WTO’s 25-year history, replacing Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who quit a year earlier than expected at the end of August.
The EU’s support for Okonjo-Iweala is considered a strong signal to reinforce the multilateral order and a sign of mutual trust between the bloc and Africa, the official said.
The WTO faces dual challenges: criticism from US President Donald Trump‘s administration which froze its appeals body by blocking its appointment of judges, and worsening US-China trade relations.
Confession Email on Court Record Unveils Seattle Law Firm Linked to Erroneous Sentence & Inexplicable Prosecution – Book Publishing Industry Today – EIN Presswire
Confession Email on Court Record Unveils Seattle Law Firm Linked to Erroneous Sentence & Inexplicable Prosecution – Book Publishing Industry Today – EIN Presswire
Latvian prosecutor’s office has sent a request to the president of the European Parliament to consider lifting the immunity of MEP Nils Usakov (Harmony) so the prosecutor’s office could bring charges against him, as the prosecutor office’s press secretary Aiga Eiduka told LETA.
As reported, the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) has turned to the Prosecutor General’s Office with a request to begin prosecution against former Riga mayor and current European Parliament Member Usakovs for possession of a banned video surveillance device.
Although the KNAB now does not mention Usakov’s name directly, last year the bureau admitted to LETA that while conducting procedural activities in a separate criminal case, the KNAB found and removed a device to be used for special operational activities from Usakovs’ office.
Usakovs himself previosly posted on his Facebook account that the removed device was a “some sort of self-made recording device” that was on the shelf. “As I understood from the description, it is a glued album with a built-in camera and microphone,” Usakovs explained. He claimed that the presence of the device in his office was a surprise to him.
The KNAB initiated the Usakovs video surveillance device case on October 7, 2019, separating it from the Rigas Satiksme vehicle procurement case.
Marta Ribele, the head of the European Parliament’s Information Office in Latvia, explained to LETA in general that if a law enforcement agency of a European Union member state suspects that a member of the European Parliament has committed a crime, the MEP should be treated in the same way as a member of that specific country’s parliament.
“This usually means requesting the lifting of the MEP’s immunity. Then the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs comes up with recommendations for the vote in the European Parliament on the lifting of immunity,” she explained.
Prague, SANA- Czech member of the European Parliament, Ivan David affirmed that President of Turkish regime, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is involved in supporting terrorism and stirring up the situations in several countries, the most recent of which is its illegitimate interference in Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In a comment posted on his Facebook page, David pointed out that Erdogan’s regime is carrying out a continuous aggression on Syrian territories and he is regularly supporting terrorists in Idleb.
He added that the Turkish regime is working to ignite the conflict in Libya by supporting the National Accord Government, in addition to implementing frequent shelling attacks on the north of Iraq and constantly violating the territorial waters and airspace of Cyprus and Greek which are member states of the NATO and the European Union, and it immediately joined the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region and sent thousands of terrorists and mercenaries there in order to fuel the conflict.
Due to the second COVID-19 outbreak, the Czech Republic received 30 ventilators from the European Union on Saturday and is currently seeking more support and equipment from its allies to help battle the current health crisis.
The government is also planning to increase the number of beds, equipment, and personnel, including a 500-bed field hospital in Letňany, which is supposed to provide medical help for 15,500 COVID-19 patients at once. The hospital is ready and should be available for use close to November 10th. Currently, the government is considering to build a similar one in Moravia.
The Czech government will bring up to 300 military personnel from the European Union and NATO members to help with the current pandemic. 28 military doctors from the United States will also provide their help to sustain the country’s health service with COVID-related hospitalizations.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic reported 15,252 new registered infection cases of coronavirus as of Oct. 23, which has become a new daily record. Currently, the Czech Republic faces Europe’s fastest spread of the infection.
Currently, the official number of registered cases of COVID infections in the country is well over 250,000 and shows a steady increase on a daily basis while the overall number of deaths remains in the 2000 – 2100 range.
The A-G also highlighted that there was no confusion in religion, as they were all brothers and sisters in humanity.
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (fourth from left) with the residents of Tangnikula at Wainikoro Jame Masjid on October, 25, 2020.
The fundamental preaching of the Prophet Muhammad were highlighted by the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum as he gathered with devotees to mark Eid Milad un-Nabi on Sunday. The event was held at Fiji’s oldest mosque at Wainikoro.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the idea of celebrating how the prophet lived his life means one must show empathy and know how to interact with others.
“Every year when we celebrate the Prophet’s birthday; if not doing on daily basis it is the time for us to look at ourselves what we are doing,” he said.
The A-G also highlighted that there was no confusion in religion, as they were all brothers and sisters in humanity.
He said the constitution gives us the privilege as a secular state so that every Fijian has the opportunity and right to practice their own religion.
He added that it was important to use religion as a way to make friends and live in harmony rather than use it as a fighting tool.
Bahá’í radio stations have found a renewed purpose during the pandemic, acting as a source of critical information and an anchor of community life.
TALAVERA, Philippines — Radio stations operated by Bahá’í communities in several countries have found a renewed purpose during the pandemic, acting as a source of critical information and an anchor of community life when other forms of interaction have been limited.
Radyo Bahá’í in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines has played a significant role during the health crisis in creating a sense of togetherness through participatory programs dedicated to prayer and uplifting music reflective of the culture of the region. Its broadcast radius of 90 kilometers has also allowed the station to transmit crucial messages to remote areas which would otherwise be difficult to reach.
Christine Flores, director of Radyo Bahá’í, says, “Families are spending so much more time together, and we hope to contribute to a home environment characterized by unity and cooperation. For example, prayers and songs are broadcast every hour during the day, many contributed by listeners. Praying regularly is key to upliftment and inspiration. We are spiritual beings, and it is natural for us to connect with our creator in our homes.”
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14 imagesRadyo Bahá’í in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines has played a significant role during the health crisis in creating a sense of togetherness and transmitting crucial messages to remote areas within its broadcast radius of 90 kilometers.
The station is also assisting with educational needs in the region by collaborating with the country’s Department of Education. Regular broadcasts of education materials by Radyo Bahá’í reach thousands of children whose schools are closed because of public health measures. These educational broadcasts are supplemented with songs and stories inspired by the Bahá’í teachings on such themes as truthfulness, generosity, patience, and kindness.
“The radio has been an important instrument in fostering a sense of belonging and connection between people during a time of distancing,” says Mrs. Flores. “A collective spirit is needed to face this crisis. A shared identity is strengthened when people hear programs reflecting their culture in their own local language and when they are contributing to content. Normally, information and ideas are passed around as people meet each other, but now the radio station is helping fill this need in our region.”
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14 imagesThe public schools district supervisor during a broadcast of educational programs that reach thousands of children whose schools are closed because of public health measures.
Across the Pacific Ocean, a Bahá’í-inspired radio station in Panama has focused on inspiring acts of service and attending to practical needs during the pandemic. Listeners are given the opportunity to offer support to those living in rural areas struggling to access public services given the restrictions on movement.
Fabio Rodriguez, coordinator of the station, says, “Our programs emphasize service and the idea that all people have the right to contribute to society. The station welcomes people from the area to assist in the production of programs, who are able to convey the reality of their shared experiences and their hopes in a way that speaks to the hearts of their fellow community members. This in turn encourages more people to see themselves as active participants in shaping the life of their communities.
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14 imagesPhotograph taken before the current health crisis. One area of focus of Chile Bahá’í Radio has been the preservation of language and culture of the Mapuche people.
Elsewhere in Latin America, Chile Bahá’í Radio based in Labranza, Chile, has been in close dialogue with surrounding indigenous communities to ensure that programs speak to their needs and aspirations. One area of focus of the station has been the preservation of language and culture of the Mapuche people.
“The radio plays a vital role in promoting the noblest aspects of the Mapuche people, and contributes to a sense of hope and comfort in this crisis,” says the coordinator of the station, Alex Calfuquero.
“Early morning prayer is a fundamental tradition, and Mapuche prayers are often included in the station’s devotional programs, which are sometimes broadcast from the Bahá’í temple in Santiago.”
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14 imagesPrayers in the indigenous Mapuche language are a part of regular broadcasts of Chile Bahá’í Radio.
Katty Scoggin, who collaborates with the radio stations in Chile and Panama, reflects on recent experiences: “These Bahá’í radio stations have been operating for years and years. They have been a part of the local culture. These initiatives are not just a one-sided broadcast service, they have a meaningful presence in the communities they serve.
“In media, there are the people who create something, and the people who consume content—usually just as recipients. We are trying to learn about something different. These radio stations assist with raising capacity for service to society and give a voice to the whole community.”
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14 imagesDuring the health crisis, Radyo Bahá’í in the Philippines has been creating a sense of togetherness through participatory programs dedicated to prayer and uplifting music reflective of the culture of the region.
A broad spectrum of churches and a major Buddhist group have hailed the ratification of Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which seeks for the first time to establish a comprehensive ban on atomic weapons.
The treaty aimed at destroying all nuclear weapons and prohibiting their use forever crossed a decisive milestone Oct. 24, signaling its entry into force in 90 days.
The ratification by Honduras of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or TPNW, becoming the 50th nation to do so and the minimum needed for it to enter into force as international law.
“The Holy See and the popes have vigorously supported the effort of the UN and the world against nuclear weapons,” Vatican News reported.
“In a video message on September 25 on the occasion of the UN’s 75th anniversary this year, Pope Francis reiterated his call for increased support for the principal international and legal instruments on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and prohibition.”
The World Council of Churches, representing more than 550 million mainly Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant Christians on Oct. 26 welcomed the ratification of the prohibition treaty.
“It has now triggered the 90-day period after which the treaty will enter into legal force, meaning that a new normative standard in international law has been created, and that – for those States which are parties to it – the treaty must now be implemented,” said Peter Prove, director of the WCC’ Commission of the Churches on International Affairs.
The governments of the nine countries which continue to hold and develop nuclear weapons have been critics of the TPNW.
The WCC said that those of countries which believe themselves to be protected under the “umbrella” of nuclear-armed States – seek to minimize its significance by pointing to the fact that the States which have ratified the Treaty do not have any nuclear weapons anyway.
Although the TPNW does not bind the States that are not parties to it, the treaty creates a new global norm towards rejecting nuclear weapons, which is expected to influence and constrain their behavior
The Soka Gakkai Buddhist group also welcomed the UN nuclear ban treaty when it posted a statement on its Facebook page.
Soka Gakkai international director-general for Peace and Global Issues Hirotsugu Terasaki said, “The entry into force of the TPNW establishes the fundamental norm that nuclear weapons are subject to comprehensive prohibition. This has a profound historical significance.”
The Buddhist group’s statement called upon nuclear-weapon and nuclear-dependent states, including Japan – the only country to have experienced the devastation caused by nuclear bombing during wartime – to attend as observers the first meeting of parties to the TPNW to be held within one year from its entry into force.
The 50 member ratification threshold was reached a little more than three years after the treaty was completed in negotiations at the UN’s New York headquarters.
UN Secretary General António Guterres described the ratification as “the culmination of a worldwide movement to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.”
The UN’s announcement was hailed by anti-nuclear activists but the United States and 8 other nuclear-armed countries have strongly opposed it.
Guterres commended all the countries whose ratification of the accord, approved by 122 nations at the General Assembly on July 7, 2017, has helped bring the ban on weapons this far, singling out the work of civil society groups.
