EMHJ issue 1 for volume 30 is out
We’re happy to announce that issue 1 for volume 30 of the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is out.
#EMRO #EMHJ #issue #volume #RSS
We’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with Leniese van der Merwe, the Assistant Project Director for MusicEx and Marketing Manager for Gallagher Convention Centre.
In this interview, Leniese shares exciting details about MusicEx, taking place from 26-28 July 2024 at the Gallagher Convention Centre. Discover how MusicEx is set to celebrate South African music and lifestyle with an impressive lineup of performances, workshops, and more!
Leniese provides an insider’s view on what makes this event a must-attend for all music enthusiasts. From the Main Stage in Hall 2 to the intimate Music Lounge, MusicEx offers a dynamic experience for everyone. The event will host performances from top South African artists across three days.
26 July 2024
27 July 2024
28 July 2024
We’re giving away a day ticket to one lucky winner! To enter:
Open to all South African residents. The giveaway closes on 24th July.
The winner will be selected randomly and fairly and will be emailed with details on the tickets. T’s and C’s apply.
Good luck!
For those excited to attend this amazing event with all these artists under one roof for the weekend, tickets are available for purchase here:
Don’t miss out on this extraordinary celebration of South African music and lifestyle.
Get your tickets now and join us at MusicEx for an unforgettable experience!
Giveaway,Headline,lifestyle,Music,MusicEx,News
#MusicEx #Interview #Giveaway #Gaming
The Biden administration has reached a settlement with General Motors after determining that the automaker sold nearly six million cars that emitted more planet-warming carbon dioxide than the company had claimed, violating federal regulations.
G.M. will pay more than $145.8 million in penalties for selling vehicles between model years 2012 and 2018 that were required to comply with Obama-era auto tailpipe emissions standards designed to reduce planet-warming pollution.
An investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency found that in those years G.M. had sold about 4.6 million full-sized pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, and 1.3 million midsize sport utility vehicles, that it claimed met the pollution standards, but in fact hadn’t.
“E.P.A.’s vehicle standards depend on strong oversight in order to deliver public health benefits in the real world,” said the E.P.A. administrator, Michael S. Regan. “Our investigation has achieved accountability and upholds an important program that’s reducing air pollution and protecting communities across the country.”
The company has also voluntarily retired about 50 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution credits, which are issued by the E.P.A. and used by auto companies to make it easier to comply with increasingly stringent federal tailpipe emissions standards. G.M. estimates the value of the loss of the credits at about $300 million, reflecting what it paid for them a decade or so ago. However, the market value of those carbon credits varies, and a more recent government estimate of $86 per credit would put the value at about $4.6 billion.
Among the vehicles cited for the violations were several models of the Chevrolet Silverado, which has historically been one of the nation’s top-selling passenger vehicles, along with several models of the Chevrolet Suburban, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Chevrolet Tahoe, several models of the Cadillac Escalade and the GMC Yukon.
In a statement, the company admitted to no wrongdoing or noncompliance with laws or regulations. “We believe this is the best course of action to swiftly resolve outstanding issues with the federal government regarding this matter. G.M. remains committed to reducing auto emissions and working toward achieving the Administration’s fleet electrification goals,” the statement said.
The settlement comes as the Biden administration has sharply tightened federal tailpipe pollution standards. The new rules, finalized in March, are at the center of President Biden’s strategy to fight climate change. They are designed to dramatically reduce the climate-warming emissions from vehicle tailpipes by accelerating the nation’s transition from fossil-fuel powered vehicles to hybrid and all-electric cars.
Once fully implemented, the new rules are designed to ensure that the majority of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States are all-electric or hybrids by 2032, up from less than 10 percent last year.
The loss of G.M.’s carbon dioxide pollution credits in the settlement could make it more difficult or expensive for the company to comply with those new rules.
The credits are intended to make it easier for automakers to meet the standards: For example, if one company is unable to completely meet the standards in a given year, it could make up the difference by buying credits from another company that exceeded them in that year. G.M.’s loss of credits means that it could be forced to meet the standard by building and selling more low-polluting or all-electric vehicles than it would have otherwise, or by purchasing still more expensive credits.
#G.M #Sold #Millions #Cars #Polluting #Allowed #E.P.A
Lava Blaze X 5G will be launched in India on July 10, the domestic smartphone brand announced recently. Shortly after Lava revealed the launch date of the new Blaze series phone, leaks about its price range and key specifications surfaced online. The forthcoming Lava Blaze X is said to run on MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC alongside up to 16GB RAM. It could get a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging support. The Lava Blaze X will go on sale through Amazon during the Prime Day sale.
Citing unnamed sources, a Ytechb report states that the Lava Blaze X 5G will be offered in 4GB, 6GB and 8GB RAM variants, with 128GB or 256GB of storage. The base variants are said to be priced under Rs. 15,000.
The upcoming phone could be available in purple and cream or silver shades, according to the report. However, additional details related the pricing of the handsets is currently unknown.
The Lava Blaze X 5G is anticipated to make its debut at a lower price than that of the Lava Blaze Curve in India. The latter was released in March this year with an initial price tag of Rs. 17,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model.
The Lava Blaze X 5G will reportedly be equipped with a Dimensity 7050 processor from MediaTek — the same chip that powers the Lava Blaze Curve. It is said to sport a Full-HD+ curved display and ship with Android 14.
It is also tipped to feature a dual rear camera setup comprising a 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. It may also arrive with a 32-megapixel front camera and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging support.
Lava has already announced that the launch of Lava Blaze X 5G will take place on July 10 at 12:00pm IST. It is confirmed to be available for purchase exclusively via Amazon during the upcoming Prime Day sale that is scheduled to take place on July 20 and July 21. It is expected to go on sale via retail stores in August.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch 7 Battery, Connectivity Specifications Surface on Certification Website
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#Lava #Blaze #Price #Range #Leaked #Ahead #India #Launch #Tipped #Feature #MediaTek #Dimensity #SoC
For months, Paramount’s controlling shareholder and Skydance sought to seal a merger that would transform the media industry, before those talks ground to a sudden halt in June. Now, just weeks later, the two sides have reached a preliminary deal to merge, four people familiar with the negotiations said.
The agreement will still have to be approved by a special committee of Paramount’s board of directors, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as the talks resumed.
If they win that approval, the deal will combine Paramount — the parent company of CBS, MTV and Nickelodeon — and Skydance, the up-and-coming movie studio that helped produce “Top Gun: Maverick,” into a new giant in Hollywood.
An agreement would be a changing of the guard in the media world, as legacy companies like Paramount struggle with the decline of cable TV and with streaming services that bleed cash. Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount through her stake in its parent company, National Amusements, is part of the family that has run the media conglomerate for decades. The new company would be backed instead by big-ticket investors like the private-equity firm RedBird and David Ellison, son of the Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
It would also end a dramatic saga that has played out over months. Paramount and Skydance entered into exclusive negotiations in April only to let them lapse in May without striking an agreement. Their talks continued, even as other suitors emerged.
The two finally seemed to be headed toward a deal in June after a marathon weekend of negotiating. But just as Paramount’s special committee was set to vote on that deal, lawyers for National Amusements emailed Paramount’s special committee to end the discussions.
In the weeks that followed, Paramount outlined what a stand-alone future might look like for the company as it navigated a challenging media landscape. It appointed three executives to succeed Bob Bakish, who stepped down as chief executive in April, through a joint “office of the C.E.O.” role. They said in a recent shareholder meeting that they planned to explore a streaming joint venture and cut $500 million in costs as the media giant grappled with about $14 billion in debt.
The company’s shares have fallen more than 16 percent over the past month, as Paramount’s investors have remained concerned about its prospects.
Paramount has been exploring a deal despite strong headwinds to traditional media. Critics have argued that the company was too late to streaming, leaving it undersized and lagging behind its rivals. They also point to missed opportunities, such as when Mr. Bakish balked at selling trophy assets like Showtime and BET to suitors offering billions in recent months.
Skydance and National Amusements resumed their negotiations not long after a cooling-off period, three of the people said. This latest deal would give Ms. Redstone better financial terms than the previous iteration. National Amusements’ equity would be valued at $1.75 billion, up slightly from $1.7 billion in the last incarnation, three of the people said.
The deal would also give National Amusements a greater degree of protection against potential shareholder lawsuits over the deal. That had been a sticking point in earlier negotiations, given significant shareholder angst about the transaction.
The deal is expected to offer Paramount a 45-day “go shop” period in which it can talk to other suitors about a potential deal, three of the sources said. The billionaire Barry Diller and his digital media conglomerate, IAC, have expressed interest in National Amusements, as has Edgar Bronfman Jr., the media and finance executive, and Steven Paul, the Hollywood executive best known for his work on the “Baby Geniuses” franchise.
The Paramount board committee will now evaluate whether those new terms will be sufficiently palatable for shareholders.
#Paramount #Skydance #Merger #Deal
More than that, the moment was necessary. Both the performance and surprise promotion gave a needed jolt to Ballet Theater’s summer season, a sleepy one so far that has included the company premiere of Wayne McGregor’s ponderous three-act “Woolf Works,” and more traditional repertoire: “Onegin” (with its melodrama and big lift energy) and “Swan Lake” (from 2000 and in need of an overhaul).
In “Swan Lake,” Misseldine, dancing with an impressive Aran Bell as Prince Siegfried, showered the stage with glittering dancing, first as Odette — a princess who has been turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer, von Rothbart — and then as Odile, his deceptive daughter who tricks Siegfried at the ball.
Dancers tend to shine in one role or the other, but Misseldine, 22, was astonishing in both, giving her Odette a translucent splendor and her Odile a burst of daring and seduction — even some side-eye humor. At 5 feet 9 inches, Misseldine is all legs and arms, which she used, along with her elegant fingers, to willowy effect. Her body filled out the music, spinning with jaw-dropping speed and steadiness in supported pirouettes or angling to press softly into every last note.
Her ability to change dynamics, to shift from slow to fast, to show pathos and glee feels connected to how she uses music as a primary source of flow. Sometimes it seems her dancing is made of water; it shimmers with a kind of lightness imbued with grandeur.
When Misseldine floats her arms upward, stretching from her fingertips to her toes, it’s not of this earth. When she unfurls a leg, stretching it high to the side, the spaciousness of her dancing is what transports you, not just her extension. Yet beyond her physicality is an access to expression that seems drawn wholly from instinct, as if emanating from an unseen force. Misseldine is not into affectation. With unselfconscious glamour, she was a princess trapped in a swan’s body: stretching, breathing, crying through her body to escape.
#Principal #Takes #Bow #American #Ballet #Theater
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the summit, where she will address the heads of state or government around 14.45 and hold a press conference after her speech.
When: Press conference around 15:30/16:00 on 27 June.
Where: European Council press room and on Parliament’s multimedia centre and EbS.
At their meeting in Brussels, heads of state or government will continue discussions on the next institutional cycle, including the appointments to the EU’s top jobs. Russia’s war against Ukraine, the latest developments in the Middle East, security and defence issues, competitiveness and migration will also feature, among others, on the summit agenda.
European Elections
The European elections took place from 6 to 9 June. Provisional results are published on the European elections website and will be regularly updated until the constitutive session of Parliament’s tenth legislative term on 16-19 July in Strasbourg.
In order to “Europeanise” the elections and to boost the democratic legitimacy of EU decision-making, ahead of the 2014 European elections Parliament called on the European political parties to nominate candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission. The aim was to allow citizens to influence directly, through their vote in the European elections, the choice of the head of the European executive. Before this year’s European elections, Parliament confirmed the importance of applying the lead candidate mechanism (or “Spitzenkandidaten” system) and laid out its position for the upcoming elections in December 2023.
MEPs insist that a clear and credible link between the choice of voters and the position of the Commission President is necessary. They say that, based on the EU Treaties, this choice should depend on the candidate that secures majority support in Parliament and call on the European Council to end the practice of making deals behind closed doors.
Speaking at the informal EU summit on 17 June, EP President Roberta Metsola reiterated “the European Parliament’s full cooperation and strongest commitment to ensuring the smooth running of the process leading to the election of the President of the European Commission. In the European Parliament, our work has already started – and will continue – in that regard.”
She also stated that the election results “show a majority of our citizens have called for the defence of our values and for security to remain a top priority. Our support to Ukraine must continue. Everyone must benefit from the twin transitions. The green deal needs to be a driver of economic growth without burdens, bureaucracy and red tape. We need to move from being in ‘crisis mode’ to thinking long term, building on our greatest asset, the single market and prioritising the EU’s competitiveness. That is how we cement Europe’s place in the world.”
During the constitutive plenary session in Strasbourg, Parliament will elect its President, 14 Vice-Presidents and five Questors. MEPs will also decide on the number and size of Parliament’s standing committees and sub-committees and who will sit on them.
The final agenda for the session, with possible additions besides the election of Parliament’s leadership, will be adopted by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) during their meeting on 11 July.
Further reading
European Parliament ready to engage, President Metsola tells the European Council
Election Press tool Kit
MEPs propose lead candidate system rules ahead of European elections
MEPs to contact
Sven Simon (EPP, DE), rapporteur
Domènec Ruiz Devesa (S&D, ES), rapporteur
Russia’s war against Ukraine
In a joint statement issued on 23 February, the Presidents of the EU institutions stressed that “the European Union will always support Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and its global consequences, as well as for the serious crimes committed. We remain determined to hold them to account, including for the crime of aggression. (…)
The European Union will continue its strong and unwavering political, military, financial, economic, diplomatic and humanitarian support to help Ukraine defend itself, protect its people, its cities and its critical infrastructure, restore its territorial integrity, bring back the thousands of deported children, and bring the war to an end.
We will continue to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs, including deliveries of urgently needed ammunition and missiles. (…) We are also working on future security commitments which will help Ukraine defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future.”
In a resolution adopted on 29 February, MEPs took stock of the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Highlighting how the war has fundamentally changed the geopolitical situation in Europe and beyond, they say the main objective is for Ukraine to win the war, warning of serious consequences if that does not happen. MEPs say that other authoritarian regimes are watching how the conflict develops to assess their own leeway for enacting aggressive foreign policies.
For Kyiv to win the war, there should be “no self-imposed restriction on military assistance to Ukraine”, with Parliament reaffirming the need to provide the country with whatever is needed to regain full control over its internationally recognised territory.
All EU and NATO allies should support Ukraine militarily with no less than 0.25% of their GDP annually, MEPs argue, while urging EU countries to immediately enter into dialogue with defence companies to ensure increased production and deliveries of ammunition, shells and missiles to Ukraine, which should be prioritised over orders from other third countries.
The resolution underlines the urgent need for a solid legal regime to allow Russian state-owned assets frozen by the EU to be confiscated and used for reconstruction in Ukraine and to compensate victims of the war. Russia must be obliged to pay reparations imposed on it to ensure that it contributes substantially to rebuilding Ukraine.
Sanctions
On 12 March, Parliament adopted a directive, agreed with member states, on criminalising the violation and circumvention of EU sanctions. It will introduce a common definition of, and minimum penalties for, violations.
EU sanctions can consist of freezing funds and assets (including crypto-assets), travel bans, arms embargoes, and restrictions on business sectors. While sanctions are adopted at the EU level, enforcement relies on member states, amongst which the definitions of sanction violations and associated penalties vary. The new law sets consistent definitions for violations, which would include acts such as not freezing funds, not respecting travel bans or arms embargoes, transferring funds to persons subject to sanctions, or doing business with state-owned entities of countries under sanction. Providing financial services or legal advisory services in violation of sanctions will also become a punishable offence.
The directive ensures the punishment for violating and circumventing sanctions is dissuasive by making them criminal offences carrying prison sentences of a maximum of five years in all member states.
Further reading
MEPs approve trade support measures for Ukraine with protection for EU farmers
Joint Statement by the Presidents of the European Union Institutions on the occasion of the 2 year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia
EU sanctions: new rules to crack down on violations
MEPs: EU must actively support Russia’s democratic opposition
Yulia Navalnaya: “If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang”
Debate 12 March 2024: Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024
Debate 13 March 2024: Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia
Parliament wants tougher enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia
A long-term solution for Ukraine’s funding needs
How the EU is supporting Ukraine
MEPs to contact
David McALLISTER, (EPP, DE) Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) Standing Rapporteur on Ukraine
Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT) Standing Rapporteur on Russia
Sophie in ’t Veld (Renew, the Netherlands), rapporteur on the violation of Union restrictive measures
War in the Gaza Strip
In a resolution adopted on 25 April, MEPs strongly condemn the Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel and call for further sanctions against Iran. Parliament voices serious concern over the escalation and threat to regional security. MEPs reiterate their full support for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens and condemn the simultaneous rocket launches carried out by Iran’s proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen against the Golan Heights and Israeli territory before and during the Iranian attack.
At the same time, they deplore the attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on 1 April, which is widely attributed to Israel. The resolution recalls the importance of the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, which must be respected in all cases under international law.
In a resolution adopted on 14 March, MEPs call on Israel to immediately allow and facilitate full aid delivery into and throughout Gaza via all existing crossings, underlining the urgent need for rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
They reiterate their call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to address the looming risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be given immediate access to all Israeli hostages being held in Gaza to provide them with medical care.
There can be no prospect of peace, security, stability and prosperity for Gaza or for Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation, MEPs warn, as long as Hamas and other terrorist groups play any role in Gaza.
Parliament also strongly condemns the rise in extremist settler violence and attacks by the Israeli armed forces against Palestinians in the West Bank, attacks that have already killed hundreds and injured thousands of Palestinian civilians. MEPs strongly condemn the acceleration of the illegal settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law. They are deeply concerned about the risk of escalation in the conflict, in particular in Lebanon.
Further reading
Parliament condemns Iran’s attack on Israel and calls for de-escalation
Parliament calls on Israel to open all crossings to Gaza for humanitarian aid
Israel-Hamas war: MEPs call for a permanent ceasefire under two conditions
MEPs condemn Hamas attack on Israel and call for a humanitarian pause
Resolution: The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza
President Metsola at the European Council: EU must remain coherent and united
Leading MEPs condemn attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel
MEPs to contact
David McALLISTER, (EPP, DE) Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
European security and defence
In two reports on the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy, adopted on 28 February, MEPs warn that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has sparked a series of global economic shocks and added significant destabilising pressure on countries in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership.
They want the EU to reform its neighbourhood policy and accelerate the enlargement process, while advancing institutional and decision-making reforms, including the publication of a roadmap for future work by the summer of 2024. MEPs urge the EU to improve its capacity to act in response to, as well as to pre-empt, global crises.
With US-China competition as a backdrop, Parliament is concerned about the increasing relevance of more exclusive formats of cooperation and emphasises that traditional multilateral forums – in particular the UN and its agencies –should be the EU’s preferred forums for cooperation.
With the focus on Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, Parliament highlights the role played by Iran, Belarus, North Korea and China in supporting the Kremlin’s war machine. MEPs say Russia’s war is part of a wider strategy to undermine the rules-based international order and underline that the EU will continue to support Kyiv with the necessary military means to end the conflict.
MEPs also demand an increase to and acceleration of the EU’s financial and military assistance, stressing that Ukraine’s military victory and the country’s future integration in the EU and NATO are necessary to guarantee Europe’s security, stability and sustainable peace.
Further reading
Foreign policy, security and defence: the EU should focus on strategic alliances
MEPs to contact
Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee and rapporteur on the Common Foreign and Security Policy
Sven Mikser (S&D, Estonia) rapporteur on the common security and defence policy
Competitiveness
On 25 April, Parliament approved the net-zero industry act to bolster EU production in technologies needed for decarbonisation. It sets a target for Europe to produce 40% of its annual deployment needs in net-zero technologies by 2030, based on National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and to capture 15% of the global market value for these technologies.
Technologies to be supported include all renewable technologies, nuclear, industrial decarbonisation, grid, energy storage technologies, and biotech. The law will simplify the permitting process, setting maximum timelines for projects to be authorised depending on their scope and output.
The Act provides for the creation of “Net-Zero Acceleration Valleys” initiatives, speeding up the permitting process by delegating parts of the evidence collection for environmental assessments to member states.
On 23 April, MEPs approved a revamp of EU fiscal rules making them clearer, more investment-friendly, better tailored to each country’s situation, and more flexible. MEPs significantly beefed up the rules to protect a government’s capability to invest. It will now be more difficult for the Commission to place a member state under an excessive deficit procedure if essential investments are ongoing, and all national expenditure on the co-financing of EU-funded programmes will be excluded from a government’s expenditure calculation, creating more incentives to invest. Countries with excessive debt will be required to reduce it on average by 1% per year if their debt is above 90% of GDP, and by 0.5% per year on average if it is between 60% and 90%. If a country’s deficit is above 3% of GDP, it would have to be reduced during periods of growth to reach 1.5% and build a spending buffer for difficult economic conditions
Further reading
MEPs adopt plans to boost Europe’s Net-Zero technology production
New EU fiscal rules approved by MEPs
MEPs to contact
Christian Ehler (EPP, DE), rapporteur Net-Zero industry Act
Markus Ferber (EPP, DE), co-rapporteur on new fiscal rules
Margarida Marques (S&D, PT), co-rapporteur on new fiscal rules
Migration
On 10 April, Parliament adopted ten legislative texts to reform EU migration and asylum policy. The new regulation on asylum and migration management aims to improve support for EU countries subject to migratory pressure, whereby other member states will have to contribute by relocating asylum applicants or beneficiaries of international protection to their territory, making financial contributions, or providing operational and technical support.
The crisis and force majeure regulation establishes a mechanism to respond to sudden increases in arrivals, ensuring solidarity and support for member states facing an exceptional influx of third-country nationals. The screening regulation establishes that people who do not meet the conditions to enter the EU will be subject to a pre-entry screening procedure, including identification, collecting of biometric data, and health and security checks, during a period of up to seven days.
A new common procedure across the EU to grant and withdraw international protection was also adopted, with the objective of making processing asylum claims at EU borders faster, with shorter deadlines for unfounded or inadmissible claims. Parliament also backed new uniform standards for all member states for recognising refugee or subsidiary protection status, and regarding the rights granted to those qualifying for protection.
The reception condition directive makes sure that member states have equivalent reception standards for asylum seekers when it comes to, for example, housing, schooling and health care. Finally, according to the new EU resettlement framework and humanitarian admission, member states will, on a voluntary basis, offer to host UNHCR-recognised refugees from third countries, who would travel to EU territory in a legal, organised and safe way.
Further reading
MEPs approve the new Migration and Asylum Pact
MEPs to contact
Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), rapporteur for the Asylum and migration management regulation
Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), rapporteur for the Crisis and force majeure regulation
Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur for the Screening regulation
Fabienne KELLER (Renew, FR), rapporteur for the Asylum procedure regulation
Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SL), rapporteur for the Qualification regulation
Sophia IN ‘T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur for the Reception conditions directive
Jorge BUXADÉ (ECR, ES), rapporteur for Eurodac
Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE), rapporteur for the Union resettlement framework.
productType:PRESS_RELEASE
#European #Parliament #Press #Kit #European #Council #June #News
A Tanzanian portrait artist, who was accused of burning a photo of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of $2,000 (£1,600) after being found guilty of cybercrimes.
Shadrack Chaula was arrested for allegedly recording a viral video, showing him burning a picture of President Samia while verbally insulting her.
The 24-year-old painter admitted committing the crime and failed to defend his action in court.
His arrest sparked legal controversy, with some lawyers saying that no law was broken in burning the picture.
Some social media users have started an online drive to raise money to pay Chaula’s fine so he can be freed from jail.
In 2018, Tanzania enacted tough laws against the spread of “fake news”, which critics see as a way of curbing freedom of expression.
Police said Chaula used “strong words” against the president in the video he posted on his TikTok account on 30 June in Ntokela village, in the south-western city of Mbeya.
Local police chief Benjamin Kuzaga on Tuesday told journalists that the artist’s offences included burning the president’s portrait and disseminating offensive content online.
“It is not the culture of Mbeya people to insult our national leaders,” Mr Kuzaga said.
Some lawyers said there was no law that criminalises burning a picture of the president.
“Was the picture taken by a government photographer? Let them come out publicly and explain their impact on society and the nation. Who can show the law that burning a picture is an offence?” lawyer Philip Mwakilima told the Mwananchi newspaper.
But the act, which is deemed unethical in Tanzania, sparked public outrage.
On Thursday, magistrate Shamla Shehagilo found Chaula guilty of distributing videos on TikTok that contained false information in violation of the country’s cyber laws.
The court ruled that his actions constituted cyber-harassment and incitement.
Chaula remained silent when given the chance to defend himself against the charges, local media reported.
The prosecutor had urged the court to impose a harsh penalty on him in order to deter others from “disrespecting” the president.
The case has sparked a debate in the country with critics saying the sentence is too harsh and a reflection of the government’s crackdown on dissent.
President Hassan, who came to power in 2021, has introduced reforms that have opened up the political and civic spaces.
But the opposition and rights groups have expressed concerns that the country is sliding back to retrogressive policies.
#Tanzanian #artist #jailed #insulting #president
A sealed case filled with unopened boxes of Canadian hockey trading cards sold for $3.72 million on Sunday after a father and son found them while cleaning the father’s house in Saskatchewan.
The high price takes into account the mystery inside: The case could contain as many as 30 of the holy grail of collectible hockey cards, a Wayne Gretzky rookie card from 1979. Or it might not.
The buyer is likely content with the uncertainty, and prepared to never know the answer, explained Jason Simonds, a sports card specialist at Heritage Auctions, the Dallas-based auction house that brokered the sale.
“The person who buys this, one night could crack open a couple beers and open up the case and then go to town on these 16 boxes,” Mr. Simonds said. “But chances are it’ll stay as a case for at least the foreseeable future.”
This is because unopened boxes are not purchased just for the potential riches inside. Some people appreciate the nostalgic value of boxes from the 1970s and 1980s and might display them as they are. Others buy unopened boxes as investments. If the Gretzky card and others continue to increase in value, so will the case sold on Sunday, Mr. Simonds said.
“When it comes to card collecting, a lot of times it’s not just purely for profit,” Mr. Simonds said. “It’s because they have some sort of draw toward Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth or Joe DiMaggio or, in this case, Wayne Gretzky, which is the hockey equivalent of those guys.”
The 1979 Wayne Gretzky card issued by O-Pee-Chee is prized by collectors. In May 2021, one of the cards sold for $3.75 million in a private sale that was brokered by Heritage Auctions.
Mr. Simonds said that the case sold on Sunday, the kind that would have been shipped to a corner store or other card distributor, could include 25 to 30 of the Gretzky cards and that it would be a “statistical anomaly” for the box not to contain any based on how many cards are inside.
The case was found while a father and son in Saskatchewan, who remained anonymous, were cleaning out the father’s house, which had a storage room stacked floor to ceiling with boxes, Mr. Simonds said. He said that the father was an “avid” collector in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, often purchasing a couple of cases of cards each year from a distributor and selling or trading the cards inside. He never got around to examining the case that sold on Sunday, which would have cost him about $150 in 1979, Mr. Simonds said.
The box went to an anonymous buyer in Canada, Mr. Simonds said, breaking the record for the most money spent on unopened sports cards and the most anyone has spent on a hockey collectible.
Baseball Card Exchange, an authenticator that specializes in unopened vintage sports cards, confirmed that 16 wax boxes were inside the case. Each box contains 48 packs of cards, with 14 cards per pack, for a total of more than 10,000 cards. The set contains 396 different player cards, which means that if the assortment were perfectly random, it would contain 27 Gretzky cards, according to the auction house’s listing.
If the case does contains a couple dozen of the prized Gretzky cards, they might not be in good condition, Mr. Simonds warned. The cards could be slightly off-center, have ink smudges or other flaws.
The buyer might never find out.
Mr. Simonds said that if the case were to be opened, it would likely be to sell the individually sealed boxes inside. “There’s not a lot of people that are willing to spend $4 million on a case of hockey cards,” he said, “but at a quarter-million dollars a box, there’s a slightly larger audience.”
#Unopened #Case #Hockey #Cards #Sells #Million
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Melbourne’s coffee standards are among the highest in the world. Starting a coffee label can be a gruelling endeavour – let alone a brand based in, and named after, a city full of world-renowned coffee critics!
But Thalia and George Dardamanis are onto a good thing. After launching Melvourni in 2022, the couple has already built a name for themselves with stockists across the city and support streaming in from the community.
We recently spoke with Thalia and George about their journey to creating the world’s only Greek coffee that is specialty-grade, organic and ethically sourced, locally produced here in Melbourne, and now available at the Hellenic Museum shop!
We officially launched Melvourni in 2022, but the idea started way back in 2016.
We’re both Greek-Australians. Thalia moved here when she was quite young, and has kept a strong connection with her roots in Siatista Kozani, while George’s family hails from Mytilini. We also have a fond spot for Crete where we holiday as a family!
It was family that inspired the business. Thalia was used to working long hours as a lawyer, so when she took maternity leave for our first child in 2016, she found herself with more time and space to be creative. A new baby also meant lots of visitors – and Greek coffee! It was then we realised we couldn’t find a Greek coffee to serve friends and family that was equivalent to the quality of espresso coffee that we were used to in the Melbourne coffee scene.
We started to research what was available, to no avail. On trips to Greece, we found a few organic options, but none that were made with premium or speciality grade beans or ethically sourced. Almost everyone is aware of the ethical issues surrounding coffee these days, as the conversations and transparency around fair trade have grown. So finding an ethical brand was non-negotiable for us.
When we realised there was a gap in the market, we started the process of finding
ethically sourced, specialty-grade, organic coffee beans from the best regions around the
world and then locally roasting these to our specifications, to develop our Greek coffee. It seemed like a lot of boxes to tick, but the more research we did, the more reasons we found to pursue the project and the more passionate we became. Fuelled by Thalia’s creativity, George’s 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and our joint passion, Melvourni was born.
It’s been quite the journey, including a pandemic and a second baby! This is part of the reason Melvourni was something of a hobby until relatively recently. Things really kicked off in 2022, and we now have a flourishing business and an amazing network of friends, family, locals and stockists who deeply understand, and believe in our mission. We can’t wait to see where it takes us!
For those who might not know, ‘Melvourni’ is Greek for Melbourne. This beautiful city is built on a fusion of cultures and an intense love of coffee. We wanted to honour that, as well as the Greek culture which thrives in this city and throughout the generations of our family – while also being a twist on tradition! Our brand is truly Melbourne and uniquely Melvourni.
An excellent coffee! But in all seriousness, the Melvourni range includes Greek coffee in Classic and Decaf (ground extra fine, using traditional stone methods) and Freddo in Classic and Decaf (available as whole beans or espresso ground.) The entire range uses organic, ethically sourced, specialty-grade arabica beans roasted right here in Melbourne. All of the farms we work with are completely chemical-and pesticide-free.
Our signature Classic Greek coffee uses single-origin Arabica beans grown 1600M above sea level on a farm in Brazil. When boiled It produces a rich kaïmaki that one hopes for and loves from Greek coffee. On the tail end, it’s like sipping on a specialty brew – smooth and delicately sweet with no bitter aftertaste that is typically found in traditional Greek coffee.
For Greek coffee, Thalia likes hers diplo kai sketos (a double coffee without sugar)
and George likes his metrios (a single coffee with one teaspoon of sugar).
For Freddo coffee (a cold espresso coffee drunk as an alternative to the instant coffee used
for Frappe), Thalia likes a Freddo cappuccino metrios (cold foamed milk and two teaspoon
of sugar) and George likes a Freddo espresso metrios (no milk and two teaspoons of sugar).
Since Greek coffee is often drunk socially, and enjoyed with family and friends when they
visit, Thalia would choose to sit nearby one of the marble statues in the museum’s foyer – a welcoming and social spot that represents how Greek coffee should be enjoyed. George
would choose the Henson Gallery with his Greek coffee and a tavli (backgammon) set to
play while taking in the exhibition.
We have so many ideas to launch. Collaborations and new products are on their way.
This June, we are off to Athens to showcase our classic and decaf Greek coffee at the World
of Coffee 2023 trade show by the Specialty Coffee Association. We cannot wait!
#George #Thalia #Dardamanis #Melvourni #Coffee
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