Washington, DC – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Frederick A. Davie along with USCIRF staff traveled to Abuja, Nigeria from June 4-11 to meet with Nigerian and U.S. government officials, religious communities, civil society representatives, and human rights defenders to assess religious freedom conditions and discuss threats facing Nigerians of a range of faiths and worldviews.
“Nigeria is home to diverse religious and belief communities, and we were fortunate to learn from an array of perspectives about the state of religious freedom in the country. Our meetings highlighted the complexity of the drivers of violence in Nigeria and the intersection of religious freedom and other security and human rights concerns,” USCIRF Commissioner Davie said. “USCIRF looks forward to incorporating the findings from this visit into our foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress relating to religious freedom in Nigeria.”
Leading up to and during USCIRF’s visit, several incidents of violence impacting Christians or Muslims took place in Nigeria. On May 12, a violent mob at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Muslim-majority Kano state stoned Christian university student Deborah Samuel to death and burned her body because they considered remarks she made in a WhatsApp thread insulting to Islam. On May 22, violent actors in the Christian-majority southeast killed pregnant Muslim Hausa woman Harira Jubril and her four children. On June 4, a violent mob in the capital city of Abuja beat, stoned, and burned Muslim local defense force member Ahmad Usman to death for alleged blasphemy. On June 5, armed assailants attacked worshippers celebrating Pentecost Sunday in a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo state, killing at least 40 people.
“USCIRF condemns these attacks and all violence that threatens religious freedom in Nigeria. These incidents were truly horrific and demonstrated the challenges facing Christians and Muslims in Nigeria,” USCIRF Commissioner Davie continued. “Our hearts go out to the families and communities impacted and we implore the Nigerian authorities to spare no expense in bringing the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice.”
Since 2009, most recently in its April 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of international religious freedom. Local authorities have imprisoned and prosecuted several Nigerians on charges of blasphemy in recent years while pursuing at most only minor charges against individuals who incite violence against those who express opposing religious views. Government officials also continue to fail to provide justice to victims of attacks on worshippers and religious communities. USCIRF also catalogued these violations in other reports on Nigeria, including in an Issue Update on Kano State, an episode of the USCIRF Spotlight podcast, and during a hearing held in June 2021.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion or belief.
Discovering new books online is a challenge, which several companies are trying to address.
By Shubhangi Shah
Amazon, the trillion-dollar multinational conglomerate that now deals with e-commerce, cloud computing, streaming services and artificial intelligence, started in 1994 as an online marketplace for books. Although Jeff Bezos wasn’t the first to set up a books market online, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that he enabled buying books at the fingertips of any individual in any part of the world. Three decades since, technology has come to define, to a huge extent, how books are published, marketed, bought, and even read. Although we might have solved these aspects, discovering new books still remain a challenge.
Best-sellers are everywhere, and so are books by celebrities. However, exploring titles by new and lesser-known authors can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. It seems there is no online experience that can replace a library or a bookstore where one can turn the pages of a title that appears interesting to zero down on the one that appeals. Now don’t get it wrong, there is a tonne of recommendations and reviews available on social media and newspapers, but the volume can be overwhelming. If only there was something to filter the noise and help us discover books we might like.
Just like there is a gap, there are companies striving to fill it. The latest is Tertulia, which literally refers to a social gathering with literary or artistic overtones, especially in Iberia or Latin America.
Drawing from its meaning, the company describes the app as: “inspired by the informal salons (‘tertulias’) of Spanish cafes and bars, Tertulia is a new way to discover books through all the lively and enriching conversations they inspire”. “Tertulia serves up book recommendations and book talk from across social media, podcasts, and the web, all in one app,” it says on its website. In simpler words, the app uses tech to aggregate book recommendations and discussion across platforms, such as social media, podcasts, news articles, etc, to come up with recommendations personalised as per a user’s liking. Not just that, users can also order books on the app. Presently, paperbacks and hardcovers are available, and the company plans to sell e-books and audiobooks in the coming months, the New York Times reported. The app has been recently launched and is available on the Apple app store in the United States. The services are yet to be made available in India.
Tertulia is the latest but not the only book discovery platform available. Bookfinity is a website that comes up with book recommendations based on a questionnaire you fill. Starting with a simple name and gender, it straight up asks you to ‘judge a book by its cover’. No, not the idiomatic way but by choosing among the book covers that appear on screen, which you find the most interesting. You go on answering some questions about yourself for the site to come up with recommendations.
Then there is the Cooper app, the social media platform for book lovers, whose beta version was recently released on iOS in the United States. The app brings readers and authors on the same platform striving for a direct interaction between the two. Evidently, it can aid new and lesser-known authors to find an audience and readers to discover new and little-known books.
These are the new ones, but Goodreads remains the oldest in the category. Founded in 2006 and bought by Amazon in 2013, it hosts a virtual library allowing you to discover your next read. You can also post reviews and recommend books to friends.
Another application is Litsy, which seems to be a cross between Goodreads and Instagram. On it, you can share what you think, like, or dislike about a book. A book-lovers community of sorts, it can help your friends to discover their next read given the views are from a credible source.
All these ideas seem great. However, the question still persists if apps are the way to solve the online book discovery problem. Not that there is a lack of information online, but it still remains short of the utility of sieving through books at a bookstore. Another issue here is the mental rush. While checking through books at a bookstore or a library can be a calming experience helping you slow down, the same might not apply to an online experience, which bombards you with a tonne of information at once, overwhelming you. Wouldn’t an app that filters all that and gets to the point be great? Or, we can try live in the physical world more. Better? Maybe.
Asteroid Bennu’s remarkable terrain. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Asteroid Bennu’s boulder-covered surface gives it protection against small meteoroid impacts, according to observations of craters by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx traveled to near-Earth asteroid Bennu and is bringing a small sample back to Earth for study. The mission launched on September 8, 2016, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft reached Bennu in 2018 and will return a sample to Earth in 2023.
“These observations give new insight into how asteroids like Bennu respond to energetic impacts,” said Edward (Beau) Bierhaus of Lockheed Martin Space, Littleton, Colorado, lead author of a paper published in this month’s issue of Nature Geoscience.
Bennu is a “rubble-pile” asteroid, meaning that it formed from the debris of a much larger asteroid that was destroyed by an ancient impact. Fragments from the collision coalesced under their own weak gravity to form Bennu.
The team used unprecedented, high-resolution global data sets to examine craters on Bennu: images from the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite and surface-height data (topography) derived from the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter, a laser-ranging (lidar) instrument on the spacecraft.
This image shows asteroid Bennu’s boulder-covered surface. It was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on April 11, 2019, from a distance of 2.8 miles (4.5 km). The field of view is 211 ft (64.4 m), and the large boulder in the upper right corner of the image is 50 ft (15.4 m) tall. When the image was taken, the spacecraft was over the southern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam far north and to the west. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
“Measuring craters and their population on Bennu was exceptionally exciting,” said David Trang of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, a co-author of the paper. “At Bennu, we discovered something unique to small and rocky bodies, which expanded our knowledge of impacts.”
Planetary scientists can estimate the age of surfaces by measuring the abundance and sizes of craters. Impact craters accumulate over time, so a surface with many craters is older than a surface with few craters. Also, the size of the crater depends on the size of the impactor, with larger impactors generally making larger craters. Because small meteoroids are far more abundant than large meteoroids, celestial objects like asteroids usually have many more small craters than large ones.
Bennu’s larger craters follow this pattern, with the number of craters decreasing as their size increases. However, for craters smaller than about 6.6 to 9.8 feet (around 2 – 3 meters) in diameter, the trend is backward, with the number of craters decreasing as their size decreases. This indicates something unusual is happening on Bennu’s surface.
The researchers think that Bennu’s profusion of boulders acts as a shield, preventing many small meteoroids from forming craters. Instead, these impacts are more likely to break apart the boulders or chip and fracture them. Also, some impactors that do make it through the boulders make smaller craters than they would if Bennu’s surface was covered in smaller, more uniform particles, like beach sand.
This activity causes the surface of Bennu to change differently than objects with fine-grained or solid surfaces. “The displacement or disruption of an individual or small group of boulders by a small impact is probably one of the most fast-acting processes on a rubble-pile asteroid’s surface. On Bennu, this contributes to making the surface appear to be many times younger than the interior,” said Bierhaus.
Reference: “Crater population on asteroid (101955) Bennu indicates impact armouring and a young surface” by E. B. Bierhaus, D. Trang, R. T. Daly, C. A. Bennett, O. S. Barnouin, K. J. Walsh, R.-L. Ballouz, W. F. Bottke, K. N. Burke, M. E. Perry, E. R. Jawin, T. J. McCoy, H. C. Connolly Jr., M. G. Daly, J. P. Dworkin, D. N. DellaGiustina, P. L. Gay, J. I. Brodbeck, J. Nolau, J. Padilla, S. Stewart, S. Schwartz, P. Michel, M. Pajola and D. S. Lauretta, 7 April 2022, Nature Geoscience. DOI: 10.1038/s41561-022-00914-5
More about the mission and team:
The research was supported by NASA under the New Frontiers Program and the OSIRIS-REx Participating Scientist Program, the Canadian space agency, the French space agency, the Italian space agency, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, and the Academies of Excellence of the Initiative D’ Excellence Joint, Excellent and Dynamic Initiative of Université Côte d’Azur.
Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson, is the OSIRIS-REx principal investigator. The University of Arizona also leads the OSIRIS-REx science team and the mission’s science observation planning and data processing, and built the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built the spacecraft and provides flight operations. The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter was provided by the Canadian Space Agency. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace are responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA’s New Frontiers Program, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The full video of the 2nd session of the 2nd Catholic Youth Convention on the Future of Europe is now available on our YouTube channel. The event, entitled “Sharing our dreams on the Future of Europe”, was held on Thursday 15 June 2022 by COMECE and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Watch the video
It featured a dialogue meeting on ‘Youth and South-East Europe’ between young participants from all over Europe and Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, as well as Branislav Staničeck, Policy analyst for the European Parliamentary Research Service.
The complex reality of the countries in the region of South-East Europe, commonly referred to as “the Western Balkans”, and its aspirations to become part of the European Union, are seen by the young participants as an invitation to play their role in “writing a new page of history, a page full of hope, peace and reconciliation”.
Moreover, the question of future perspectives for peace, prosperity and stability on the European continent has regained greater relevance in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
During the dialogue, Commissioner Varhelyì shared insights in the recent and future EU policy developments with regard to the region of South-East Europe and its European prospects.
A recurring theme was the need for a new, positive narrative for the region, which can contribute to overcome difficulties and look forward with hope and in a spirit of collaboration, solidarity and fraternity. It was also emphasised the crucial role Churches and civil society organisations have to play.
On the occasion of this meeting, the youth were also called to participate in the COMECE Youth Net, a new initiative to start in September 2022.
Today, the Eurogroup endorsed a recommendation by euro area member states to the Council. Ministers agreed with the European Commission’s and the European Central Bank’s positive assessment of Croatia’s fulfilment of convergence criteria. The recommendation proposes that Croatia should introduce the euro on 1 January 2023. This is the first step in a process by which the EU Council adopts legal acts that will enable Croatia to become a member of the euro area and to benefit from using our common currency, the euro, as of next year.
I am very pleased to announce that the Eurogroup agreed today that Croatia fulfils all the necessary conditions to adopt the euro. This is a crucial step on Croatia’s path to become the 20th member of our euro area and a strong signal for European integration. I want to pay particular tribute to the Croatian government for its commitment and hard work to achieve this result over the past few years, in particularly challenging circumstances.
Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
Next steps
This recommendation is set to be adopted by the Ecofin Council (by a qualified majority vote of the euro area member states) at its meeting of 17 June 2022. The Council is also expected to endorse a letter by the President of the Ecofin Council to the European Council. The European Council will discuss the matter at its meeting on 23-24 June.
The process will conclude with the adoption by the Council (after it has consulted the European Parliament and the European Central Bank) of three legal acts that are necessary to enable Croatia to introduce the euro on 1 January 2023. The adoption of these acts is expected to take place in July.
CANADA, June 16 – Kennedy Stewart, mayor, City of Vancouver –
“Vancouver is thrilled to welcome the world to Vancouver in 2026! Following the success of hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, Vancouver is poised to take the next step and host the largest FIFA World Cup ever. With world-class amenities, excellent venues, one of the best stadiums in North America, and Canada’s biggest football fans, we can’t wait to partner with Host First Nations and the Province of B.C. to host the world’s largest sporting event!”
Chief Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Indian Band –
“Soccer is a globally unifying sport. It is an important sport to Musqueam – just like it is important to so many communities around the world. We are thrilled to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in our ancestral territory. There is no doubt that our youth will not only take pride in our involvement, but be inspired to continue playing the game that so many of us love.”
Sxwíxwtn, Wilson Williams, spokesperson, Squamish First Nation –
“The Squamish Nation is thrilled the FIFA World Cup will kick off on our shared traditional territories in 2026! We look forward to working with our partners to make this world cup the biggest and best one yet. This event will promote Coast Salish cultures and languages to billions of soccer fans around the world and will inspire all Indigenous athletes to compete on the global stage.”
Chief Jen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation –
“Soccer is incredibly important to the Tsleil-Waututh community, and we are pleased that this tournament will be hosted in our territory in 2026. Sport is like medicine to our people and can help heal and inspire our communities. We are excited to collaborate on these games and look forward to the opportunities they will bring to our people.”
Jason Elligott, executive director, BC Soccer –
“We are very pleased to hear the positive news that Vancouver was selected as a host city for FIFA World Cup 2026. Having matches held here in B.C. as part of a tournament of this magnitude is amazing for soccer and for the people in our province. These matches will bring the highest level of competition to B.C. and will most definitely provide inspiration into our game.”
Gwendolyn Point, chair, B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) board of directors –
“We are tremendously proud to be named as a Canadian host city for FIFA World Cup 2026. This event represents the highest level of international soccer competition, and we are excited to welcome the world to BC Place Stadium, Canada’s premier sporting venue, and Vancouver. BC Place has long served the province as a hub for sport, culture and community, and now as part of the historic legacy of the FIFA World Cup, we look forward to providing an inclusive and unforgettable experience for not only British Columbians but fans all across the globe.”
Richard Porges, CEO, Destination BC –
“We’ve seen the incredible and lasting impacts that events of this scale can have on a destination, generating social, cultural and economic benefits, not only for the host city, but across the entire province – benefits that are more crucial than ever as our hard-hit tourism sector works toward immediate recovery and long-term renewal. As the international gateway to British Columbia, rich in culture, natural beauty and remarkable experiences for every traveller, Vancouver is a consummate host city for this tournament. We are thrilled to welcome the world to B.C. for FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Tamara Vrooman, president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority –
“Hosting one of the world’s most celebrated sporting events, the FIFA Men’s World Cup, is an honour, one that we at YVR are incredibly proud to be a part of. As the first and last impression of our region, we will continue to do what we do best – provide a safe, seamless and exceptional airport experience for the many athletes, officials, media, fans and partners who travel to Vancouver to enjoy the beautiful game in our beautiful city.”
Royce Chwin, president and CEO, Destination Vancouver –
“GOAL! The beautiful game’s greatest spectacle is coming to Vancouver, and we could not be more thrilled. FIFA World Cup fans ‘put the fan in fandom’ and the diversity of support we’ll see in this multicultural city will be amazing. An investment in an event of this scale will showcase Vancouver’s appeal as a global destination of choice and a critical step to building a vibrant and resilient visitor economy.”
Brenda Baptiste, chair, Indigenous Tourism BC board of directors –
“Congratulations to Vancouver for being selected as one of three host cities for FIFA World Cup 2026. Hosting the world’s largest single sporting event will surely have positive impacts for tourism, arts, culture and sport in B.C., including Indigenous tourism and athletics. Excellence in sport is a cultural principle for Indigenous Peoples, and soccer is world-renowned for being a sport with relatively few barriers. Sport brings people together. We look forward to working with our partners to host a tournament that will not only attract global visitors and boost the B.C. economy, but also inspire Indigenous youth to achieve success in sport.”
Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Industry Association of BC –
“British Columbia’s stellar reputation for hosting major events has been further bolstered by today’s exciting announcement. Thanks to the Province and indeed all levels of government, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will not only draw international attention to our destination, but also bring visitors from around the world to B.C., providing tremendous benefits to our visitor economy before, during and after this prestigious event.”
Ingrid Jarrett, president and CEO, British Columbia Hotel Association –
“Large-scale events, such as the FIFA World Cup, have the power to bring together communities, support our province’s economic growth and keep our tourism and hospitality community competitive for decades to come. Following two years of significant pandemic losses, our province’s accommodation industry is delighted to welcome guests from across the globe and is looking forward to showcasing our uniquely British Columbian hospitality on the world stage once again.”
Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade –
“We are thrilled that Vancouver will be an official host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Local businesses across Metro Vancouver are excited for the substantial economic benefits to come from jointly hosting the world’s biggest tournament. Through collaboration with Indigenous partners, the 2026 FIFA World Cup presents us with an opportunity to show the world everything our incredible region has to offer.”
Axel Schuster, CEO and sporting director, Vancouver Whitecaps FC –
“We are ecstatic that Vancouver has been named a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is an incredible opportunity to welcome everyone back to Vancouver, as we did for the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and once again celebrate our special city. Vancouver Whitecaps FC are excited to support our partners at the Province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, and BC Place Stadium as we get set to host the world in our home city and stadium.”
Stefan Szkwarek, president, Comox Valley United SC –
“We at the Comox Valley United SC are delighted that Vancouver has been selected as a host city for the 2026 Men’s World Cup! This is a fantastic opportunity to witness the world’s largest sporting event, first-hand. This will be especially important for grassroots clubs such as ourselves, as witnessing the pinnacle of our sport locally will certainly inspire millions to take up the beautiful game. We are genuinely thrilled to watch one of our national teams play at the highest stage!”
Aaron Walker-Duncan, president, Gorge Soccer Association –
“Having the World Cup on our doorstep will be an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience. This will be such a great opportunity for the growth of soccer in our local community and will inspire future generations of players.”
Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. —Genesis 2:7
According to Jewish law, life begins at the first breath. The basis for this position is the passage cited above from Genesis. It is upon that line and others that Judaism takes the position that identity and the rights of personhood come into being at the first breath and not before. Moreover, the Talmud, the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law, asserts that a fetus is a part of its mother throughout the pregnancy, dependent fully on her for its life. So, therefore, a pregnant woman convicted of murder, for example, may be executed without fear that more than one human life is being taken. And, though it is widely agreed that abortion is permitted if continuing the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the mother, the precise definition of “threat to the life” has varied widely among scholars, some including the mental as well as the physical health of the mother, as in the case of rape and incest.
The synagogue contends that the law “prohibits Jewish women from practicing their faith free of government intrusion and this violates their privacy rights and religious freedom,” adding that people who “do not share the religious views reflected in the act will suffer” and that it “threatens the Jewish people by imposing the laws of other religions upon Jews.”
Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor’s Rabbi, Barry Silver, observed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law at an evangelical church. Concerned that when the line between religion and government begins to blur those who suffer most are the minority religions.
“Every time that wall starts to crack, bad things start to happen,” Rabbi Silver said.
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, scholar in residence at the National Council of Jewish Women agrees. “This ruling would be outlawing abortion in cases when our religion would permit us,” she said, “and it is basing its concepts of when life begins on someone else’s philosophy or theology.”
The lawsuit filed by Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor poses some weighty questions: What happens when religious freedom for one faith violates that of another’s? And to what degree may the state be the final authority on morality?
A recent Pew Research survey found that 85% of Jews favor abortion in most or all cases, or more than any other religion surveyed. But only 2.4% of American adults identify as Jews. These percentages lead to a third question: Does majority rule also apply to whatever is the religious majority?
In signing the Florida bill into law Governor DeSantis has opened the floor to a problem that will need a truly Solomonic resolution.
Jehovah’s Witnesses acquitted on appeal for alleged discrimination and incitement to hatred
On 7 June 2022, the Ghent Court of Appeal acquitted the Belgian Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses of all charges of discrimination and incitement to hatred, after they had surprisingly been fined 96,000 euros by the Ghent Criminal Court in March 2021.
In 2015, a former Jehovah’s Witness went to the public prosecutor’s office, claiming that once members left the community, they were ostracised and completely socially isolated by order of the organization.
The public prosecutor’s office in Ghent had summoned Jehovah’s Witnesses on four counts: incitement to discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs against a person, and against a group, and incitement to hatred or violence against a person, and against a group.
In the first instance, the Belgian Association was found guilty of inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against former members who had left the community but it appealed the decision.
The Court of Appeal of Ghent hereby confirmed on 7 June 2022 that Jehovah’s Witnesses’ biblical practice of limiting or avoiding contact with former followers, also called shunning, was legal and does not incite discrimination, segregation, hatred or violence.
Human Rights Without Frontiers largely covered the judicial proceedings in 2021 in Bitter Winter, addressing the following issues:
Ghent Appeal Court decision in line with Belgian and European jurisprudence
The decision on appeal is in line with the opinion of leading scholars who have followed this case. It is also in conformity with previous rulings by Belgian courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation on the same issue.
On 10 January 2012, the Court of Appeal of Mons rejected the discrimination claim of J.L., a former Jehovah’s Witness.
On 5 November 2018, the Court of Appeal of Brussels confirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal of Mons and rejected again the said discrimination claim.
Last but not least, on 7 February 2019, the Court of Cassation also rejected the appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Brussels.
The European Court of Human Rights had also previously emphasized that determining doctrinal or behavioral standards to which members of a religious community must conform in their private lives is a feature common to many religions.
Referring to these well-established legal principles, Holly Folk, associate professor at Western Washington University, observed as well: “It is not the role of governments to intervene in the choices that consenting adults make. And the reality is that many religions have a norm of no longer having strong ties to people who leave their religious traditions.”
Verdict: Charges not proven and claims of the civil parties unfounded
About the criminal charges, the Court of Appeal of Ghent declared that the charges against the Christian Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses had not been proven and discharged it from prosecution.
About the civil field, the Court of Appeal dismissed as unfounded the claims of the civil parties and the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Discrimination and Racism, a public institution having taken sides against Jehovah’s Witnesses in the case.
Whilst the condemnation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in first instance was widely covered by printed media, radio and TV, their acquittal was ignored by almost all of them. The media and journalists should avoid stigmatization of any religious group and sensationalism but devote the same attention and importance to a final acquittal.
French President Emmanuel Macron did not want to go to a hotel in Constanta during his visit to Romania, but preferred to sleep in a tent at the Mihail Cogalniceanu military base, Romania’s Digi 24 television reported. The information was confirmed by the Elysee Palace.
Macron arrived in Romania yesterday to visit the French military, based at the Mihail Cogalnicanu base near Constanta, which is part of a mission to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. France leads a NATO battle group in Romania of about 800 troops, including 500 French troops, along with others from the Netherlands and Belgium. Paris has also deployed a surface-to-air missile system.
In the morning, before the start of the official program of the visit, Macron did a jog and then had breakfast with the military, reports the French television TV5 Monde.
Last night, Macron had dinner with the French and Belgian military from the NATO Response Force, and the menu included dishes from authentic Romanian cuisine.
Yesterday morning, French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Romanian counterpart, Klaus Johannes, to discuss the situation in Ukraine, support for the Republic of Moldova and Romania’s accession to the Schengen area. Macron then went on a visit to the Republic of Moldova.
The French leader has been criticized by Ukraine and its Eastern European allies for what they see as its ambiguous support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
In recent days, French officials have sought to boost public relations, while Macron seems to have taken a firmer stance when he was with his troops.
“We will do everything we can to stop Russia’s military forces, to help the Ukrainians and their army, and to continue negotiations,” he told French and NATO troops at a military base in Romania.
“But in the foreseeable future, we will have to defend, dissuade and be present,” he said.
In recent weeks, Macron has repeatedly said it is vital not to “humiliate” Russia so that a diplomatic solution can be found when the fighting is over, and he has continued to keep channels of communication with the Kremlin open, annoying more Allied hawks.
This is the French president’s first tour of Southeast Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
But the authorities do not like the strength of the ruble. However, they do not know how to tame it.
The Russian ruble was flat in Wednesday trading as stocks edged higher, protected from a wide-ranging global sell-off in recent days by Moscow’s capital controls.
At 14:20 Moscow time, the ruble was unchanged against the dollar at 56.58 and added 0.1% to trade at 59.1 against the euro.
The currency remains near multi-year highs thanks to Russia’s widening current account surplus and the recently relaxed capital controls that Moscow imposed after Western sanctions were imposed in an attempt to stem the ruble’s fall.
Isolated from the turmoil in world markets, Russian stock indices rose in trading in Moscow. The dollar-denominated RTS index rose by 0.56% to 1280.3 points. The Russian MOEX index, denominated in rubles, grew by 0.52% and amounted to 2,301.7 points.
The Russian political and business elite arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday for the annual Russian Economic Forum.
Once emblematic of the Kremlin’s openness to international investment, this year’s conference includes discussions on sanctions and the exit of Western businesses.
Hundreds of companies have left Russia in response to Moscow sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine as part of a special military operation.
At the same time, the authorities cannot yet stop the ruble from strengthening. The strengthening ruble is a challenge for the Russian economy, Maxim Reshetnikov said. Inflation and economic recession may be lower than expected; the country is going through the crisis better than expected in March, this may be the basis for adjusting the forecasts, in June the MED will reassess, he added.
