The Bible Speaks Today: Earthquakes and wars are part of living in this world
Whenever several natural disasters occur in a row, people get anxious.

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Viviane Reding speaks to press at EU hearings Country: Luxembourg: Position: commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding, the commissioner-designate for the new portfolio of justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, opened her European Parliament hearing, on 12 January, by setting out three priority areas that she will focus on if confirmed in the post: strengthening the European Unions position in protecting citizens privacy in all EU policies … Viviane …

László Andor speaks to press on EU hearings Country: Hungary Position: Employment and Social Affairs. As a result of the financial and economic crises, László Andor, Hungary’s commissioner-designate for employment and social affairs, expects to become a heavyweight in the Barroso II executive. “Employment and social issues will be key areas of EU policy, both in the short and long term,” Andor declared in a recent hearing before the Hungarian parliament. For more: www.euractiv.com … László …

Janez Potocnik speaks to press on EU hearings Country: Slovenia Position: Environment Commissioner The EU’s incoming Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik, has pledged to bring a renewed focus on biodiversity to his new job, saying it may have been sidelined in the past. During a 13 January hearing in which MEPs greeted him with repeated bursts of applause, the Prius-driving Slovenian native said, “Doubling the forces in the Commission, which will take care for climate and the environment …

Joaquin Almunia speaks to press on EU hearings Country: Spain Position: Competition CommissionerThe commissioner-designate for competition, Joaquin Almunia, will not ease the EU’s stance towards banks which received state aid during the financial crisis. Credit institutions will have to reimburse the aid by the end of 2010 and cannot use this financial support to increase bonuses, Almunia made clear during his hearing in front of the European Parliament. For more: www.euractiv.com …

Stefan Fule speaks to press on EU hearings Country: Czech Republic Position: Enlargement Commissioner BRUSSELS — The first Eastern European to be trusted with a significant foreign-policy role in the European Union went through his confirmation hearing today and stuck closely to the established political consensus within the bloc on future expansion, arguing that all current candidates should be admitted Stefan Fule is a former Czech diplomat and Europe minister who will work under the EU’s …

Olli Rehn says he feels like “grilled chicken” when talking to the press after his EU Hearing at the European Parliament on Tuesday. Country: Finland Position: Economic and Monetary Affairs lli Rehn admitted to feeling like a chicken who has been grilled after emerging from a hearing with MEPs in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), on 11 January. Greeces burgeoning budget deficit was high on the minds of the deputies, despite Rehns best efforts to change the subject. It is …

Algirdas Semeta speaks to press on EU hearings Country: Lithuania Position: taxation and anti-fraud commissioner Algirdas Semeta, Lithuanias nominee for the European Commission, may be the first victim of the European parliaments confirmation hearings after he was strongly criticised by MEPs on Tuesday. Mr Semeta, nominated for the taxation and anti-fraud portfolio, was accused by socialist MEPs of giving unconvincing and inadequate answers on issues relating to tax havens, management of …

Karel de Gucht speaks to press on EU hearings Country: Belgium Position: Trade Commissioner The European Parliament hearing for Karel De Gucht went smoothly, on 12 January, with his main challenges being to set out his vision for handling the trade commissioners portfolio following the Lisbon Treaty and the financial crisis. The former member of the European Parliament, outgoing development commissioner and former Belgian foreign minister was barely quizzed on his personal qualifications for …

Andris Piebalgs speaks to press on EU hearings Position: Development Commissioner Country: Latvia The well-orchestrated hearing of the candidate assigned the development portfolio, Andris Piebalgs, presented no real surprises, on 11 January. It was not the European Parliaments first grilling of the 52-year-old Latvian, who has served as energy commissioner for the last five years. Given his past experience, he was at ease with MEPs questions, sometimes even venturing a few notes of humour …