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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Newsroom

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22 December 2023

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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

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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

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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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Gaston de Persigny

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21 December 2023

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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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Newsroom

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21 December 2023

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The clergy is also against adoption by same-sex couples

The Holy Synod of the Greek Church stood categorically against the conclusion of marriages and the adoption of children by same-sex couples. The conservative government is not expected to propose a change in the law due to a strong reaction within the party, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Recent opinion polls among Greeks show that they accept same-sex couples living together, but more than half of Greeks are against them marrying and even more against allowing them to adopt children.

According to surveys, 70% of Greeks do not agree with adoption. Over 40% say they would not go to such a wedding.

Yesterday, the Holy Synod of the Greek Church issued a statement that senior clergy are categorically against same-sex marriage. “Children have the right to live in a family with a mother and a father, not with one or two parents,” the Greek church leadership said. Violations of church canons are not tolerated by deeply believing Greeks. Only a cohabitation contract, like all other Greeks, but not marriage with children, is the definitive position of the Holy Synod.

On the opposite side are the organizations that fight for equal rights for monogamous couples. The new SYRIZA leader Kaselakis, who married his partner abroad, cannot legalize it in Greece. After today’s position of the Holy Synod, it is not expected that the conservatives will risk bringing the same-sex marriage law to the parliament, MPs are categorical.

The Roman Catholic Church, for its part, published this month a declaration “Fiducia supplicans” by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The document is not devoted to marriage and homosexual unions, but to the various aspects of the pastoral blessing.

In one of the paragraphs it is noted that the priest can also bless people who turn to him for a blessing, even if he knows that they live in “illegal unions”, be they hetero- or homosexual. This kind of blessing is “offered to all without asking,” helping people to feel that they are still blessed in spite of their faults, and that “their heavenly Father continues to desire their good and to hope that they will eventually open up to the good.” However, the priestly blessing of such people should not have a ritual or liturgical character, but only personal (spontaneous) and in no way create the impression that “their status is confirmed or the Church’s eternal teaching on marriage is changed in any way” . It is also emphasized that “rites and prayers which might create confusion between what constitutes marriage” and “what is contrary to it” are inadmissible, avoiding any suggestion that “something that is not marriage is admits of marriage’. It is reiterated that according to “eternal Catholic doctrine” only sexual relations between a man and a woman in the context of marriage are considered legitimate. People who live in a homosexual union, if they want, can receive a blessing from a priest, but “outside the liturgical framework”.

The opinion reiterates the arguments developed in the Roman Catholic Church’s special document on homosexual relationships, issued two years ago. The new declaration does not cancel the old one.

The official position of the Roman Catholic Church on this matter was formulated in 2021 and it has the status of a doctrinal document. It is titled:

“Response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Dubium (doubt, bewilderment) regarding the blessing of same-sex unions.

PROPOSED QUESTION: Does the Church have the right to bless same-sex unions? ANSWER: Negative’.

The decision specifically justified the refusal to bless homosexual unions and said:

“It is impermissible to bless relationships or partnerships, even stable ones, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage (ie, outside of the indissoluble union of a man and a woman that is open to the transmission of life), as is the case with unions between persons of the same sex. The presence in such relationships of positive elements, which in themselves should be valued and are valued, cannot justify these relationships and make them legitimate objects of ecclesiastical blessing, since the positive elements exist in the context of a union that is not subject to the design of the Creator.

Also, since the blessing of people is related to the sacraments, the blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered legitimate. This is because they would represent some kind of imitation or analogue of the conjugal blessing which is invoked upon a man and woman united in the sacrament of Matrimony, when in reality “there is absolutely no reason to think that homosexual unions are in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and the family.”

The statement that it is illegal to bless same-sex unions is not and should not be a form of unfair discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite and the very nature of the sacrament as understood by the Church.

The Christian community and its pastors are called to accept people with homosexual tendencies with respect and sensitivity and to know how to find the most appropriate ways, consistent with the teaching of the Church, to proclaim the Gospel to them in its fullness. At the same time, these people must recognize the authentic closeness of the Church, which prays for them, accompanies them and shares their journey of Christian faith, and accept the teaching with sincere openness.

The answer to the proposed dubium does not exclude the blessings granted to persons with homosexual inclinations who show a will to live in fidelity to the revealed plan of God, as it is offered to us by the teaching of the Church. Rather, any form of blessing that tends to recognize their unions as such is declared unlawful. In such a case, in practice, the blessing is not an expression of the desire to entrust these people to God’s protection and help in the above sense, but approves and encourages a choice and a way of life that cannot be recognized as objectively corresponding to God’s revealed will. plans for man.

At the same time, the Church reminds us that God Himself does not stop blessing each of His wandering children in this world, because “we are more important to God than all the sins we can commit”. However, He does not bless and cannot bless sin: He blesses the sinful man to realize that he is part of His plan of love and to allow him to change. In fact, He accepts us as we are, but He never leaves us as we are.’

Illustration: St. Peter, fresco.

Gaza: UN welcomes deal for pause in fighting, hostage-release pact

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United Nations News

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21 December 2023

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Gaza: UN welcomes deal for pause in fighting, hostage-release pact

“This is an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done,” Mr. Guterres said via a statement from his spokesperson Farhan Haq.

The top UN official leading efforts to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, echoed those comments and also welcomed the announced 96-hour “humanitarian pause” in war-shattered Gaza.

“This pause must be used to its fullest extent to facilitate the release of hostages and alleviate the dire needs of Palestinians in Gaza.”

The development comes as UN humanitarians reiterated that they remain ready to seize the opportunity to ramp up lifesaving aid to the enclave.

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‘Ocean of need’

Following the four-day ceasefire announcement the UN World Health Organization (WHO) issued fresh calls for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access in the Strip.

“The fighting needs to stop so that we can quickly scale up our response,” said Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “We cannot keep providing drops of aid in Gaza in an ocean of need.”

Meanwhile, WHO said that a new evacuation was under way at Gaza City’s embattled Al-Shifa hospital, with more to follow in northern Gaza.

‘Senseless conflict’

According to media reports, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was due to begin within 24 hours of its announcement. In his statement, Mr. Wennesland welcomed the efforts of the Governments of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in “facilitating” the agreement.

WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, said that any news of a humanitarian pause and of a release of hostages was welcome, but that a true end to the fighting was needed.

At the same WHO press conference in Cairo, Dr. Al-Mandhari called for a “permanent ceasefire” and said that the parties to the conflict should “put the welfare and health of their people as their first priority”.

The UN health agency official also led a minute of silence to honour WHO staffer Dima Alhaj, killed in Gaza on Tuesday, along with many relatives. “As we grieve, we are reminded of the senseless nature of this conflict and of the fact that in Gaza today nowhere is safe for civilians, including our own UN colleagues,” he said.

Since the start of Israel’s retaliation of Hamas’ 7 October massacres which left 1,200 dead in southern Israel and some 240 hostages abducted, 108 UN staff members have been killed in the Strip.

New hospital evacuations under way

Dr. Peeperkorn revealed on Wednesday that a mission was under way in close coordination with humanitarian partners the Palestinian Red Crescent and Médecins Sans Frontières, to evacuate patients and health workers remaining in Al-Shifa.

The mission follows the initial inter-agency evacuation of 31 premature babies on Sunday. Out of the 220 patients and 200 health workers still at the hospital, the priority evacuees would be 21 dialysis patients, 29 patients with spinal injuries and those in intensive care, Dr. Peeperkorn said.

He also informed that in the meantime, the UN health agency has received evacuation requests from three other hospitals in northern Gaza: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital, and planning was under way, with WHO and its partners sparing no efforts to “make sure this happens in the coming days”.

He explained that such evacuations are only undertaken upon request and as a last resort.

Attacks on healthcare

Dr. Al-Mandhari deplored the fact that even hospitals are not being protected from the “horrors” of the conflict in Gaza. WHO has documented 178 attacks on healthcare in the Strip since 7 October and out of the enclave’s 36 hospitals 28 are not functional anymore, his colleague Dr. Peeperkorn told journalists.

The eight remaining hospitals, all in the south, are “overwhelmed”, he said, and all efforts must be made to keep them functional and expand their bed capacity.

The enclave had some 3,500 hospital beds prior to the current escalation and that number is now down to less than 1,400.

People seek refuge in the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza. (file)

Much more aid required

The perspective of a ceasefire has raised hopes for improved access to desperate Gazan civilians and an increase in the volume of relief items coming through.

According to UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA, the aid trucks which have been entering Gaza since 21 October represent barely 14 per cent of the monthly volume of humanitarian and commercial transport reaching the enclave before the start of the current hostilities; this excludes fuel, which had been completely banned by the Israeli authorities until just a few days ago.

OCHA said that on Tuesday, 63,800 litres of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt, following an Israeli decision from 18 November to “allow the daily entry of small amounts of fuel for essential humanitarian operations”.

The incoming fuel is being distributed by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, to support food distribution and the operation of generators at hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, shelters and other critical services.

No food in the north

News of the ceasefire agreement came amid fears of hunger spreading in the north, which has been sealed off from the south by Israeli military operations. Humanitarian agencies have been unable to deliver assistance there since 7 November. Due to the lack of cooking facilities and fuel, “people are resorting to consuming the few raw vegetables or unripe fruits that remain available to them”, OCHA said, while no bakeries are open.

OCHA also warned that livestock in the north “is facing starvation and the risk of death” due to the shortage of fodder and water, and crops are being “increasingly abandoned”.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said 10 days ago that it considered the entire civilian population in Gaza to be food insecure.

Mental health needs ‘skyrocketing’

The distress caused by constant bombing, displacement and massive overcrowding in the UNRWA shelters, in some of which 400 people have to share a toilet, has been taking a heavy psychological toll on Gazans. OCHA said that mental health care needs are “skyrocketing”, especially for the most vulnerable: children, persons with disabilities and those with pre-existing complex conditions.

“Only limited psychosocial support services and psychological first aid is being provided in some shelters across Gaza where protection actors are sheltering and have capacity to respond”, OCHA said. Many services have reportedly been destroyed and many staff are unable to work.

OCHA also highlighted an increase in the movement of unaccompanied children and separated families. The UN Office said that an interagency plan is being developed to respond to this situation, including the registration of cases.

Humanitarians stand ready

The OCHA chief, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths, issued a statement welcoming the agreement.

“I hope it brings some respite to the people of Gaza and Israel and some relief to the hostages and detainees who will be released and to their families. I also hope it allows grieving families to honour their dead and bury them with dignity,” he said.

Humanitarian agencies are mobilized and ready to increase the volume of aid brought into Gaza and distributed across the Strip, he added.

He said that as they wait for the pause to come into effect, they renew their call for full adherence to international humanitarian law, safe and unimpeded access to deliver aid to people in need, protection of civilians, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

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World News in Brief: Wave of ‘fear and dread’ in Ukraine, UN expert slams Navalny disappearance, youth leaders for nuclear disarmament meet

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United Nations News

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21 December 2023

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World News in Brief: Wave of ‘fear and dread’ in Ukraine, UN expert slams Navalny disappearance, youth leaders for nuclear disarmament meet

That’s according to UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director Regina De Dominicis who said in a statement on Monday that bombardment was “particularly unrelenting” in the east and south of the country.

The UNICEF official said the past week provided a concerning trend with an increase in ballistic missiles and mass drone attacks, including widespread targeted attacks on Kyiv’s infrastructure.

“These attacks have caused injuries among children, sent an intensified wave of fear and dread through already deeply distressed communities, and left millions of children across Ukraine without sustained access to electricity, heating and water, exposing them to additional serious harm as temperatures plummet”, she said.

“Children and families most at risk are those who already have the least access to basic, life-depending resources to start with, and who have already endured immense hardship”, she added. “These children and their families have nothing to fall back on.”

Winter temperatures regularly go as low as -20°C.

“Children simply cannot withstand these conditions without energy”, she warned.

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Blackouts

“Blackouts and power cuts make it extremely challenging for health facilities to provide critical services, another dire situation given the rise in cases of pneumonia, seasonal influenza and waterborne diseases among children across Ukraine.”

Around 1,800 children have been killed or injured since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.

“UNICEF is providing generators and other equipment to support the Government of Ukraine in keeping water supply, heating, health and education facilities running”, said Ms. De Dominicis. “In the hardest hit areas, UNICEF is providing winter clothing sets for children along with blankets for their families. We are also reaching families with cash assistance.”

Russia: Rights expert slams Navalny’s ‘enforced disappearance’

Jailed Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny should be immediately released and “provided remedies and reparations for all the harm suffered” in accordance with international law, a UN-appointed independent rights expert said on Monday.

Mr. Navalny’s whereabouts have been unknown for over 10 days, which according to Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, amounts to enforced disappearance.

“I am greatly concerned that the Russian authorities will not disclose Mr. Navalny’s whereabouts and wellbeing for such a prolonged period of time,” she said.

A Friday court hearing on the violations of Mr. Navalny’s human rights in detention did not take place and Mr. Navalny’s lawyers were reportedly told by the court that their client is no longer held in the Vladimir region.

Ms. Katzarova cited concerns about Mr. Navalny’s “persistent” ill-treatment in detention and lack of access to adequate medical care since January 2021.

On 4 August 2023 he was sentenced to an additional 19 years on “extremism” charges, a term which, according to the independent expert, “has no basis in international law”.

Following sentencing Mr. Navalny was being prepared to be transferred to a harsher regime penal colony. Three of his lawyers were arrested in October.

Human Rights Council-appointed independent experts, including Special Rapporteurs, serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work, nor are they UN staff members.

Nuclear disarmament youth leader programme gets underway

The 100 young people selected to serve on the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons, met together for the first time on Monday.

Representing over 60 countries and selected from over 2,000 applicants from around the world, “they will spend the next year learning about nuclear disarmament and developing their skills to become changemakers for a world without nuclear weapons – the most destructive weapons on earth”, said the UN disarmament affairs office (UNODA) in a news release.

As part of this innovative training programme, made possible by the generous support of Japan and implemented by UNODA – with support from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research – they will take part in interactive online learning, engagement with experts from the field and an immersive study tour to Japan, including participation in a youth-led conference.

As the programme kicked off on Monday, the future changemakers heard from the Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Fumio Kishida, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Prime Minister Kishida, a native of Hiroshima, has been a strong advocate for keeping alive the lessons of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – which wrought tremendous death, suffering and devastation.

“No matter how difficult the path to a world without nuclear weapons may be, we should not stop our steps. Now is the time when we need the power of young people like you, the bearers of our future”, he told the group.

Safeguarding ‘our common future’

In his message, Mr. Guterres encouraged the participants to tap into their energy, innovative ideas, and creativity to help usher in a new era of a world free of nuclear weapons.

“In the name of our common future – in the name of humanity – let us spare no effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons, once and for all”, he said.

In recent years, the Secretary-General has made a major push to empower youth, recognizing their role as the ultimate force for change and noting they have become a strong and powerful force in support of disarmament.

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Legal migration: Council and Parliament reach deal on a single permit directive

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Council of the EU and European Council

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20 December 2023

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Legal migration: Council and Parliament reach deal on a single permit directive

Today member states’ representatives to the Council (Coreper) confirmed the provisional agreement between the Spanish presidency of the Council and the European Parliament on an update of an EU law that deals with legal migration to the EU labour market.

The updated rules streamline the procedure to apply for a permit to reside for the purpose of work in the territory of a member state. This will give a boost to international recruitment of talent. In addition, more rights for third-country workers and their equal treatment compared to EU workers will reduce labour exploitation.

Many employers are facing a tense labour market situation. The proposal we have agreed on today is a response to this
situation of shortages as it will result in a smooth and predictable process for third-country nationals to apply for work and residence permit in one go.Elma Saiz, Spanish Minister for the inclusion, Social security and migration

Elma Saiz, Spanish Minister for the inclusion, Social security and migration

The single permit directive sets out the application process for EU countries to issue this single permit and establishes common rights for workers from third countries. Member states keep the final say about which and how many third-country workers they want to admit to their labour market.

Application procedure

A third-country worker can submit an application from the territory of a third-country or, according to the agreement reached between the co-legislators, from within the EU if he or she is a holder of a valid residence permit. When a member state decides to issue the single permit this decision will serve both as residence and as work permit.

Duration

The Council and European Parliament decided that issuing a single permit should be made within three months after receipt of the complete application. This period also covers the time needed to check the labour market situation before a decision on the single permit is adopted. Member states will then issue the requisite visa to allow initial entry into their territory.

Change of employer

Single permit holders will have the possibility to change employer, subject to a notification to the competent authorities. Member states may also require a minimum period of time during which the single permit holder is required to work for the first employer. In case of loss of employment, third-country workers are allowed to remain in the territory of the member state if the total period of unemployment does not exceed three months during the validity of the single permit or six months after two years of the permit.

Background and next steps

The current single permit directive dates back to 2011. On 27 April 2022, the Commission proposed an update of the 2011 directive.

The proposal is part of the ‘skills and talent’ package which addresses the shortcomings of the EU as regards legal migration and has as objective to attract the skills and talent the EU needs.

Eurostat data from 2019 show that 2 984 261 single permit decisions were reported by member states of which 1 212 952 were for issuing first permits. The other decisions were for renewing or changing permits.

Following today’s approval, the text will now have to be formally adopted by both the Council and European Parliament.

UN agency heads unite in urgent plea for women and children in Gaza

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United Nations News

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20 December 2023

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UN agency heads unite in urgent plea for women and children in Gaza

Briefing the Security Council, Sima Bahous, Catherine Russell and Natalia Kanem – heads of UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA), respectively – also welcomed the agreement on the release of some of the hostages taken during the Hamas attack on Israel and emphasized the need for a lasting truce.

They also stressed the importance of Security Council resolution 2712 that was adopted last week and calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout Gaza to save and protect civilian lives.

Table of Contents

‘They continue caring’: UN Women head

Speaking first, Ms. Bahous highlighted the intensity of violence in Gaza and the devastating impact on its population, in particular women and girls, who are estimated to account for 67 per cent of the 14,000 fatalities in the enclave.

She also expressed deep concern for pregnant women and those who delivered babies without medical supplies, painkillers, anaesthesia for C-sections, or water.

“Yet, they continue caring for their children, the sick, the elderly, mixing baby formula with contaminated water, going without food so that their children can live another day, enduring multiple risks in severely overcrowded shelters,” she said.

Working under severe constraints

Ms. Bahous said that Gaza’s only two women’s shelters are now closed but women-led organizations continue to operate there, though under severe constraints, using their networks to source and distribute emergency items and to document and respond to protection concerns.

In her briefing, the head of UN Women also spoke of an escalation in the West Bank, where demolitions of public infrastructure, revocation of work permits, increased settler violence, and detentions have “significantly impacted” the lives and livelihoods of women.

She also said that UN Women met with Israeli women who shared their work in documenting gender-based atrocities, as well as sharing their hope for peace, with women – both Israeli and Palestinian – at the table.

Most dangerous place to be a child: UNICEF chief

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, highlighted the severe impact of the crisis on children and noted that over 5,300 Palestinian children have been reported killed in 46 days, accounting for 40 per cent of deaths in the enclave.

“This is unprecedented. In other words, the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child,” she said.

She added that the children who survive the war are likely to see their lives irrevocably altered through repeated exposure to traumatic events.

“The violence and upheaval around them can induce toxic stress that interferes with their physical and cognitive development,” she said, noting also that one million children – or all children inside the territory – are now food insecure, “facing what could soon become a catastrophic nutrition crisis.”

True cost measured in children’s lives

Ms. Russell also emphasized that the “true cost” of the war will be measured in children’s lives: those lost to the violence and those forever changed by it.

“Without an end to the fighting and full humanitarian access, the cost will continue to grow exponentially,” she said, adding that the destruction of Gaza and killing of civilians will not bring peace or safety to the region.

“The people of this region deserve peace. Only a negotiated political solution – one that prioritizes the rights and wellbeing of this and future generations of Israeli and Palestinian children – can ensure that,” she said.

Joy overshadowed by death, destruction: UNFPA head

Also briefing, Ms. Kanem outlined the challenges in Gaza, emphasizing the critical lack of healthcare, with hospitals shutting down, leaving thousands of pregnant women and those who delivered recently at risk.

“At a moment when new life is beginning, what should be a moment of joy is overshadowed by death and destruction, horror and fear. The situation is most dire for women facing obstetric complications – some 15 per cent of pregnant women,” she said.

“Their lives are at risk due to severely limited access to healthcare and emergency obstetric care,” she added.

Ms. Kanem also voiced deep concern over lack of clean water and sanitation, which creates multiple health risks, including for women who have no access to menstrual hygiene.

Lack of food and water across Gaza will have adverse impacts on the health and wellbeing of pregnant and breastfeeding women who have higher daily water and caloric intake requirements, she said.

An urgent test of humanity

The head of UNFPA underscored the need for protection of humanitarian workers in Gaza, “who risk their lives in the service of others”, and mourned the loss of over 100 staff members of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA), and scores of aid workers killed in the conflict.

In conclusion, she emphasized that the fate of humanity does not belong in the hands of those wielding weapons, “it rests with women and young people and allies standing together waging peace.”

“In this urgent test of humanity, women and girls desperately need peace to prevail. I call upon the Security Council to do everything in your power to make that peace happen,” she said.

Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

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Background and next steps

‘They continue caring’: UN Women head

Working under severe constraints

Most dangerous place to be a child: UNICEF chief

True cost measured in children’s lives

Joy overshadowed by death, destruction: UNFPA head

An urgent test of humanity

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