EU sanctions include two Orthodox television channels and a private Orthodox military company

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23 December 2023

Two Orthodox television stations and a private Orthodox military company are included in the 12th package of sanctions of the European Union

Two Russian television channels broadcasting “Orthodox content” are included in the latest 12th package of sanctions of the European Union, adopted on December 18 of this year, as fueling Russian aggression against Ukraine. These are the TV channel of the Russian Orthodox Church “Spas” and the TV channel “Tsargrad” of the so-called Orthodox oligarch K. Malofeev.

In addition to them, the list also includes the Andreevsky Cross Private Military Company (PMC), which is said to be a Russian private military company involved in Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and established by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2017. was established to prepare mobilized men for military action. “Since then, it has offered tactical training to Russian fighters engaged in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” After the fighters complete the tactical training offered by the St. Andrew’s Cross PMC, they sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry or the Wagner Group, the ruling said.

Regarding the two TV stations, the ruling said that the official church channel Spas was spreading “pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation about Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.” It also promotes the violation of the territorial integrity of other countries, the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

“Spas” is the first public federal channel, conceived as a missionary project of the Russian Orthodox Church and broadcasting only “Orthodox content”. It was included in the list of sanctions of the European Union, respectively banned from broadcasting on the territory of European countries, because of providing a religious justification for the war against Ukraine, which has been the main topic of television for the last two years.

“Spas” was established in 2005 by the Russian Orthodox Church and is financially supported by the government. It broadcasts all services, events and sermons of the Moscow Patriarch Kirill, films and journalistic shows. Since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine, his main guests have been propagandists of the Putin regime, whose task it is to present this war as a battle for Orthodoxy.

In addition to Spas, the Tsargrad TV channel of the so-called “Orthodox oligarch” K. Malofeev, who financially supported the pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, is also included in the sanctions list. The sanctions were imposed because Tsargrad “spreads disinformation and Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine, supports nationalist narratives and justifies the occupation of Ukrainian territories and the removal of Ukrainian children.”

Companies associated with the “Orthodox oligarch” Malofeev received about 20 billion rubles before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

The decision notes that the two TV stations support Russian military actions in Ukraine and materially.

Back in August, the Current Time (Nastoyashtee Vremya) TV channel reported that the Russian TV channel Tsargrad was blocked in Kazakhstan due to the propaganda of extremism. The Russian propaganda TV channel Tsargrad, owned by oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, was blocked in Kazakhstan. This was reported by Masa.media with reference to the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the republic. The decision to block Tsargrad was made after four warnings about extremist propaganda issued to the channel for publications with the headlines “Kazakh nationalists are terrorizing Russian women on the eve of Victory Day,” “Mambet, who drove the Russians out of Kazakhstan, apologized on camera,” and “Cossack stripes.” discord: in Kazakhstan they want to bring the Russians to their knees?

The Kaz Blocking Tracker service, which monitors the restriction of access to various sites in Kazakhstan, confirmed that at the moment the web resource of the Russian TV channel, located on tsargrad.tv and kz.tsargrad.tv, is completely blocked in the country.

According to Roskomsvoboda, in July 2020, YouTube blocked the Tsargrad channel without the possibility of restoration due to violation of export laws. In 2022, sanctions were introduced against the TV channel as a resource that promotes Kremlin propaganda and justifies Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev, founder of Tsargrad, is also on the sanctions lists of the European Union, the United States and other countries. He has been on the international wanted list for more than six years for financing the so-called “DPR” and volunteer detachments fighting on the side of Russia in Ukraine.

Note: Editorial team created by RFE/RL with the participation of Voice of America “Current Time” TV channel is located in Prague (Czech Republic), and journalists work in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and other countries.

Pakistan uses artificial rain to combat smog

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22 December 2023

Pakistan uses artificial rain — Islamabad, Federal Capital Territory, Pakistan. Photo by Iakub Arifulin: pexels.com

Artificial rain was used for the first time in Pakistan last Saturday in an attempt to combat dangerous levels of smog in the metropolis of Lahore.

In the first such experiment in the South Asian country, planes equipped with cloud-seeding technology flew over 10 districts of the city, which is often among the world’s worst places for air pollution.

The “gift” was provided by the United Arab Emirates, Punjab’s caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi said.

Teams from the UAE, along with two planes, arrived here about 10-12 days ago. They used 48 flares to create the rain,” he told the media.

According to him, by Saturday evening the team will find out what the effect of the “artificial rain” was.

The UAE is increasingly using cloud seeding, sometimes called artificial rain or bluesking, to create rain in dry areas of the country.

Weather modification involves dropping common salt – or a mixture of different salts – into the clouds.

The crystals promote condensation, which forms as rain.

This technology has been used in dozens of countries, including the US, China and India.

According to experts, even very light rain is effective in reducing pollution.

Air pollution in Pakistan has increased in recent years as a mixture of low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal crop burning and cold winter temperatures coalesce into stagnant clouds of smog.

Lahore suffers the most from the toxic smog that suffocates the lungs of more than 11 million Lahore residents during the winter season.

Breathing the poisonous air has disastrous health consequences.

According to the WHO, prolonged exposure can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.

Successive governments have used various methods to reduce air pollution in Lahore, including spraying water on roads and closing schools, factories and markets on weekends, with little or no success.

Asked about a long-term strategy to combat smog, the chief minister said the government needed studies to formulate a plan.

But some experts say it is a complicated, expensive exercise whose efficacy in battling pollution is not completely proven, and that more research is needed to understand its long-term environmental impact.

The Strauss dynasty with a new interactive museum in Vienna

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22 December 2023

“Strauss House” is not just a museum. Concerts will be held in it, and those who wish can take on the role of conductors

A new interactive museum dedicated to the Strauss musical dynasty has opened its doors in the Austrian capital, the Vienna Tourist Board announced in a December Press Release.

It pays tribute to the famous Austrian musical dynasty. Johann Strauss-father and his three sons remain in the world’s musical memory. Two generations of genius artists composed hundreds of marches, polkas, waltzes, mazurkas, operettas, ruling more than two centuries in ballrooms and theaters on all continents, the announcement states.

The museum is located in the building of the restored Casino Zögernitz, which opened its doors to the Viennese high society in 1837. In it, the great musicians performed their works in front of a sophisticated audience.

Nowadays, the museum wants to attract the young audience as well. The exhibition transports visitors to the 19th century. In one of the salons, the original piano of Eduard Strauss is on display, and on the walls there is information about the life of the musicians.

“Strauss House” is not just a museum. Concerts will be held in it, and those who wish can take on the role of conductors. Before attempting to conduct, they have the opportunity to measure their “waltz pulse”.

Information about the “Danube Waltz” and “Radetsky March”, their scores and the musical works themselves are accessible through the touch screen.

With the help of a multimedia installation, animated graphics and visual effects, everyone can immerse themselves in the spirit of the era. Of course, the museum does not lack a replica of the golden statue of Johann Strauss-son from the Vienna Stadtpark, which is an ideal place for selfies.

The heart of the “Strauss House” is the ballroom with a portrait of Strauss by Gottfried Helnwein, where concerts will be held from next year. The restorers have managed to revive the splendor of the bygone era with marble floors, opulent crystal chandeliers, original Viennese Thonet chairs, wallpaper and ceiling frescoes.

In the future, guests will be able to combine a visit to the museum with a breakfast named after Strauss or a fine dinner served with Strauss wine.

An interesting detail is that the audio guide was recorded by the great-great-great-grandson of Johann Strauss-father. A short film at the beginning of the visit presents the most important facts from the life of the musical family and the era in which they lived and worked.

The heir to the Hermès empire plans to adopt his 51-year-old gardener and leave him half of his $12 billion

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22 December 2023

Nicolas Puech, the 80-year-old heir to the Hermès fortune, is reportedly planning to distribute his fortune in an unexpected way.

According to Swiss publication Tribune de Genève, cited by the New York Post, Puech plans to name his “former gardener and handyman,” an unnamed 51-year-old man, as his successor. Pueh, who is unmarried and has no children of his own, will transfer billions of dollars from the Hermès fortune, which is currently valued at more than $220 billion.

Puech reportedly owns between 5% and 6% of the company, putting his net worth between $11 billion and $12 billion, and the Swiss publication reports that he may pass on half of his inheritance to his former gardener. He is said to still be rearranging the benefactors of his estate and may transfer the rest of his money elsewhere.

According to the Tribune de Genève, Puech has already started legal proceedings to make the man his successor. The unidentified man is reportedly of Moroccan descent, married to a Spanish woman and has a family of his own. He will also inherit properties from Puech in Marrakech, Morocco, and Montreux, Switzerland, valued at $5.9 million.

Puech is a fifth-generation heir to Thierry Hermès, who founded the fashion house – best known for its Birkin bags – in 1837 in Paris. He left the supervisory board in 2014 on less than favorable terms when LVMH acquired 23% of Hermès, according to Fortune.

“He resigned because he felt besieged for several years by members of his family who attacked him on several fronts, not only regarding LVMH,” a Puech spokesman said at the time, Fashion Network reported via AFP.

“He had some very bad experiences and he felt very bad and he felt strongly criticized on many occasions, even though he is very attached to Hermès.”

A fine of 41.7 million euros for the largest banks in Greece

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22 December 2023

The Greek Commission for the Protection of Competition has imposed the largest fine imposed so far in the amount of 41.7 million euros on several banks in Greece, the Greek TV channel Sky reported.

Piraeus Bank is obliged to pay EUR 12.9 million, National Bank of Greece – EUR 9.9 million, Alpha Bank – EUR 9.1 million, Eurobank (EFG Eurobank) – 7.9 million euros, Attica Bank – 143 thousand euros, and the Hellenic Union of Banks – 1.5 million euros.

The television specified that the fine would have been even higher if the banks had not confirmed that they were in breach and if they had not agreed to the Commission’s terms.

Among the violations of the banks is the imposition of a commission for withdrawing money from an ATM of a foreign bank in the amount of up to 3 euros. The Greek Competition Commission has found that this practice has been going on since 2018.

The banks say that in two-thirds of the cases, these charges affected tourists, as Greek consumers sought to withdraw from their banks’ ATMs.

Another violation was joint arrangements between banks in 2018-2019 on whether to impose fees for a number of banking operations for which amounts were not charged until then, such as issuing and accepting accounts and payment cards, cashiering, credit operations and etc. There was also an idea to introduce identical packages of banking services. In the end, no fees were imposed, emphasize the banks, which admit that there were discussions.

The Hellenic Union of Banks was fined for the organization of these talks as an intermediary.

The Greek Competition Commission began investigating the banks in November 2019.

In addition to the inspections, the financial institution VIVA filed a complaint that its entry into the market was prevented.

As well as having to pay their fines, the banks have also agreed to a number of conditions, such as reducing their transaction fees from 1 January 2024 and not changing them for three years. Piraeus Bank will reduce the corresponding fee from 3 to 2 euros, the National Bank of Greece – from 2.60 to 1.90 euros, Alfa Bank and Eurobank – from 2.50 to 1.80, and Attica Bank – from 2 to 1. 50.

Regarding the “arrangements” made, sources from the banking sector, whose members were meeting late last night, emphasized that the exchange of information was part of the need for a dialogue with VISA and Mastercard regarding the change in the way some transactions are priced, mainly at the European level. They have indicated that in no case was there any coordination in the setting of tariffs.

Illustrative Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-photograph-of-the-parthenon-during-daytime-164336/

33 pythons found on a train from Bulgaria to Turkey

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22 December 2023

Turkish customs officials found 33 pythons on a train traveling from Bulgaria to Turkey, Nova TV reported.

The operation was at the Kapakule border crossing.

The snakes were hidden under a passenger’s bed. Two of the reptiles were already dead upon physical examination.

Each of the pythons was netted and covered with a coat.

A Turkish citizen is suspected and detained for the illegal traffic.

Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated against the suspect, and the pythons have been handed over to conservationists.

The man who tried to smuggle the reptiles into Turkey has been fined more than 26,000 Turkish liras by the Edirne Branch Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.

This is not the first case of foiled snake smuggling on Kapukule. In June of this year, 32 small pythons were found in a truck that entered Turkey from Bulgaria.

Photo/Stop motion: New TV

Editrice Vaticana presented a book on Mama Antula, the new Argentinean saint

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Newsdesk

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21 December 2023

Published in Italian by the prestigious Editrice Vaticana, the book illuminates the life and work of María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, known as Mama Antula, who will be canonized on February 11, 2024, as announced by Pope Francis on Saturday 16 December.

“Mama Antula, the most rebellious woman of her time” written by Nunzia Locatelli and Cintia Suárez, was presented on Tuesday afternoon at an exclusive meeting at the Vatican Film Library a few meters from Pope Francis’ residence.

The presentation was attended by Andrea Tornielli, Vaticanist of great international prestige; Paolo Ruffini and Monsignor Lucio Ruiz, Prefect and Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, respectively; Maria Fernanda Silva, Argentinean Ambassador to the Holy See and great promoter of the cause of Mama Antula, Nunzia Locatelli, and Cintia Suarez, authors of the publication.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Editrice Vaticana presented a book on Mama Antula, the new Argentinean saint — **The authors together with the organisers of the presentation**.

“Mama Antula had to overcome adversities and all the rejection of the authorities until she obtained permission to return with the Ignatian spiritual exercises in the midst of the prohibition of everything Jesuit,” said Nunzia Locatelli about the importance of this lay woman who carried out a risky activity in the middle of the 18th century. The Italian journalist also highlighted the value of Mama Antula’s letters, which are in the Archivio di Stato di Roma and which contain part of the colonial history in which Mama Antula lived.

This saint from Santiago del Estero is portrayed in the book not only for her religious devotion but also for her rebellious spirit and her lasting impact on Argentine and religious history. The prologue of the book was written by Governor Gerardo Zamora, who emphasized the importance of spreading the history and legacy of the new saint, stating that “it is a source of pride that she is an Argentinean woman, and for us, a blessing that she is a daughter of our land, a standard bearer of this believing and pilgrim people” who represents the “qualities that forge our identity: she is a founding part of our moral, cultural and religious reserves that make our Mother of Cities a meeting point for different cultures, traditions, religions, and histories, respecting differences”.

For her part, Cintia Suárez, from Santiago, spoke about the importance of Mama Antula as the spiritual mother of the Argentinean homeland, since the heroes of May, Cornelio Saavedra, Alberti, and Moreno, passed through the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises in Buenos Aires, explained the Quichua origin of the saint’s name and related the prodigious events that the saint carried out during her lifetime. She also emphasized her emotion as a santiagueña to have the possibility of presenting this book in the Vatican.

“As an Argentinean and from Santiago, I feel very honoured to represent my country through Mama Antula in the Vatican. I am grateful to Pope Francis for this opportunity, who has made it possible for Mama Antula to be canonised very soon.”

The Argentinean presence included Federico Wals and Gustavo Silva, promoters of Mama Antula’s cause and organizers of the event together with the Vatican. Both are recognized together with the famous architect Fabio Grementieri for the creation of the Educational Theme Park “Parque del Encuentro” in the city of Santiago del Estero. Gustavo Guillermé, President of the World Congress of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, Carlos Trelles, CEO of AXON Marketing & Communications, and businessman Kevin Blum also participated, contributing to the Argentinean representation with their presence and support, along with diplomats from various Latin American countries, international guests and personalities along with teachers, school headmasters, lawyers, civil society and some representatives of other churches, among them Iván Arjona, who is Scientology’s representative to the EU, UN, and interfaith relations.

This launch is not only a tribute to a crucial historical figure in Argentina but also reflects the country’s continued commitment to promoting its rich cultural heritage on the international stage.

The news in the background.

In a significant announcement for Argentina, the Holy See confirmed that Pope Francis will canonize María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, better known as Mama Antula, on Sunday, February 11, 2024. This decision follows the approval of a miracle attributed to Mama Antula’s intercession at the end of October. The Vatican, after a regular consultation with the College of Cardinals, informed us that the canonization ceremony will take place on a symbolic date: the IV Sunday and the anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes.

Deal on new EU rules to reduce road transport emissions

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EuropeanTimes

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21 December 2023

Deal on new EU rules to reduce road transport emissions — Photo de Aleksandr Popov sur Unsplash

On Monday, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new rules (Euro 7) to reduce road transport emissions for passenger cars, vans, buses, trucks and trailers.

On 10 November 2022, the Commission proposed more stringent air pollutant emissions standards for combustion-engine vehicles, regardless of the fuel used. The current emission limits apply to cars and vans (Euro 6) and to buses, trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI). As a novelty, the Euro 7 proposal tackles non-exhaust emissions (microplastics from tyres and particles from brakes) and includes requirements concerning battery durability.

The regulation for the type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles (Euro 7) aims to support the transition towards clean mobility and keep the prices of private and commercial vehicles affordable for citizens and businesses. Vehicles will need to comply with the new standards for longer, ensuring they remain cleaner throughout their lifetime.

Updated limits for exhaust emissions

For passenger cars and vans, negotiators agreed to maintain the current Euro 6 test conditions and exhaust emissions limits. At Parliament’s request, the number of exhaust particles will be measured at the level of PN10 (instead of PN23, thereby including smaller particles).

For buses and trucks, the agreed text includes stricter limits for exhaust emissions measured in laboratories (e.g. NOx limit of 200mg/kWh) and in real driving conditions (NOx limit of 260 mg/kWh), while maintaining the current Euro VI testing conditions.

Fewer particle emissions from tyres and brakes, increased battery durability

The deal sets brake particles emissions limits (PM10) for cars and vans (3mg/km for pure electric vehicles; 7mg/km for most internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles and 11mg/km for large ICE vans). It also introduces minimum performance requirements for battery durability in electric and hybrid cars (80% from start of life to five years or 100 000 km and 72% up to eight years or 160 000km) and vans (75% from start of life to five years or 100 000 km and 67% up to eight years or 160 000km).

Better information to consumers

The text foresees an Environmental Vehicle Passport, to be made available for each vehicle and containing information on its environmental performance at the moment of registration (such as pollutant emission limits, CO2 emissions, fuel and electric energy consumption, electric range, battery durability). Vehicle users will also have access to up-to-date information about fuel consumption, battery health, pollutant emissions and other relevant information generated by on-board systems and monitors. Moreover, car manufacturers will have to design their vehicles so as to prevent tampering with emissions control systems through the digitalisation of automobile monitoring.

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Rapporteur Alexandr Vondra (ECR, CZ) said: “Through this deal, we have successfully struck a balance between environmental goals and the vital interests of manufacturers. The aim of the negotiations was to ensure the affordability of new smaller cars with internal combustion engines for domestic customers and at the same time enable the automotive industry to prepare for the expected overall transformation of the sector. The European Union will now also be addressing emissions from brakes and tyres and ensure higher battery durability.”

Next steps

Parliament and Council need to formally approve the agreement before it can enter into force. The regulation will apply 30 months after its entry into force for cars and vans, and 48 months for buses, trucks and trailers (for vehicles constructed by small volume manufacturers, it will apply from 1 July 2030 for cars and vans, and from 1 July 2031 for buses and trucks).

Coal use set to record in 2023

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21 December 2023

Global coal supply is expected to hit a record high in use in 2023 on the back of increased demand from now with emerging and developing economies. This is according to a report, published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), and cited by Reuters.

This year saw an increase in demand for coal by 1.4 percent, and for the first time the quantities used on a global scale will be more than 8.5 billion metric tons. This comes against the backdrop of forecasts for a reduction in coal production in India (by 8 percent) and in China (by 5 percent) due to the increase in demand for electricity in these countries in the conditions of weak production from hydroelectric centers, the IEA said.

However, in the low union countries and the US, the effect of coal is on track to decrease by 20 years each in 2023, according to the report of the International Energy Agency.

Coal use a global problem is not expected to decline until 2026. Against the backdrop of significant increases in renewable energy capacity, coal consumption should fall by 2.3 percent over the next 3 years compared to its amount in 2023. However, this amount of coal will be, which is expected to be used in 2026, is expected to be significantly more than 8 billion metric tons, the report stated.

To meet the goals of the other Paris climate agreement, before 2015, which limits limiting global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, the amount of coal must be limited much faster, notes the International Energy Agency.

Illustrative photo by Dominik Vanyi (@dominik_photography).

Greek Synod anathematizes gay marriage

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21 December 2023