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Over 600 Undisclosed Workplace Injuries at Elon Musk’s SpaceX

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Newsdesk
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A recent investigation has uncovered over 600 previously unreported workplace accidents at Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX.

These undocumented injuries were severe in their nature. They range from crushed limbs and amputations to burns and electrocutions. Those familiar with this matter say the grave trend reflects the toll of Elon Musk’s aggressive pursuit of space colonization.

The report authors said this investigation revealed a pattern of SpaceX neglecting worker-safety regulations and established practices, and the fact that this negative and dangerous trend is present at its rocket and satellite facilities nationwide.

The investigation primarily covered the time period since 2014 and was based on a number of interviews and government records. Among at least 600 documented injuries, the severity varies, with over 100 cases of cuts or lacerations, 29 instances of broken bones, and 17 cases of crushed hands or fingers, among others.

The report underscores the challenges posed by Elon Musk’s ambitious goals in the space exploration industry and raises concerns about worker safety within SpaceX.

Present and former employees have revealed that these injuries are indicative of a disorderly work environment where often inadequately trained and fatigued staff frequently overlooked basic safety procedures to meet Musk’s ambitious deadlines for space missions.

SpaceX, established by Elon Musk over two decades ago, reportedly maintains a stance that places the responsibility for self-protection on workers, as indicated by numerous current and former employees, including a former senior executive.

Musk himself has, on occasion, displayed a nonchalant attitude towards safety during visits to SpaceX sites. According to four employees, he occasionally engaged in playful activities with a novelty flamethrower and discouraged workers from wearing safety yellow due to his aversion to bright colors.

“Elon’s concept that SpaceX is on this mission to go to Mars as fast as possible and save humanity permeates every part of the company,” commented Tom Moline, a former SpaceX senior avionics engineer. “The company justifies casting aside anything that could stand in the way of accomplishing that goal, including worker safety.”

In total, Reuters conducted interviews with over three dozen individuals knowledgeable about safety practices at Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a majority of whom were current or former employees. Many of these sources chose to remain anonymous due to concerns about potential career or legal consequences.

It’s important to note that the documented injuries, exceeding 600, represent only a fraction of the total case count, a figure not publicly disclosed. Since 2016, OSHA has mandated companies to annually report their overall injury figures; however, SpaceX facilities neglected to submit reports for most of those years.

Notably, approximately two-thirds of the injuries brought to light by this recent Reuters investigation occurred in years when SpaceX did not report this annual data.

The details about the 600-plus injuries were uncovered by analyzing court documents from worker lawsuits, employee medical records, state workers’ compensation claims, public records requests, and emergency-call records.

Written by Alius Noreika

Residents of Belarus must obtain permission from the authorities to live abroad

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Newsroom
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Residents of Belarus who wish to settle and live in another country must send an application to the migration authorities in Minsk, according to a government decree promulgated today, DPA reported, citing BTA.

The office will then review the case and issue a decision within 35 days based on information about tax obligations, mandatory military service and previous convictions. Previously, citizens only had to inform the Belarusian consulate in a given country about the residence permit received there.

The authoritarian former Soviet republic is tightening controls on people living abroad, DPA notes. Recently, citizens were informed that their personal documents will be able to be issued only in Belarus and not abroad. This means that residents of the country will have to return to Belarus at least once every ten years to renew their documents.

Belarusian citizens living abroad number about 1.5 million people, and some of them have fled because of the repression of the country’s leader, Alexander Lukashenko, DPA notes. The population of Belarus is just over 9 million inhabitants.

The number of political refugees from Belarus in Europe has increased significantly especially since the disputed presidential elections in 2020, after which Lukashenko remained in power and ordered the police and judiciary to apply brutal measures against the protesters.

Illustrative Photo by Natallia Rak: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-gathering-in-a-rally-5235341/

Russian Actress Killed While Performing in Occupied Donetsk

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Newsroom
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A Russian actress was killed by Ukrainian shelling while performing for the Russian military in the Moscow-occupied Donetsk region.

The death of Polina Menshikh, 40, was confirmed on the 22 Nov. 2023 to the state-run TASS news agency by regional officials and in a VKontakte post by a St. Petersburg theater.

“It is with great pain that we inform you that Polina Menshikh … died yesterday at a performance in the Donbas as a result of shelling,” the Portal theater said Monday.

Menshikh had been performing at a volunteer concert for soldiers in the village of Kumachovo at the time of the attack, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper said.

Video published by the Astra Telegram news channel appears to show the moment of the attack. 

In the footage, a woman is seen singing to an audience that appears to include members of the military before the performance is interrupted by a loud noise and the screen goes dark.

Donetsk occupying authorities have reported other civilian deaths as a result of Ukrainian shelling in recent weeks, as Ukrainian forces have made inroads into other Russian-occupied areas.

Russia-backed officials in Donetsk said that the 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade under Colonel Dmitry Khrapach was responsible for the attack. 

They also said that Ukraine used U.S.-supplied M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) had been used, as well as other missiles.

A Telegram post by Platon Mamadov, a onetime pro-Kremlin troll now volunteering for the Russian war effort, said HIMARS first hit volunteers’ cars, a stage, and the artists’ dressing room. A second attack hit those who came to pull people out of the rubble and provide first aid, he said.

The DNR officials said two apartment buildings and four “civil infrastructure” buildings had been damaged, but mentioned no deaths beyond Menshikh.

The independent Holod news website and Newsweek reported that 25 Russian soldiers had also been killed in the attack, citing Ukrainian military sources.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said Monday that it planned to open an investigation into the death of a civilian.

Source: The Moscow Times

Illustration: Mosaic Cain kills Abel

Where do snakes hibernate?

By
Gaston de Persigny
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0

Snakes are known both for their love of the sun and choosing warm and sunny places to bask, and for the fact that they themselves are called cold-blooded. Are cold-blooded animals colder in the winter than warm-blooded animals and how do snakes survive the winter?

The habitats of hissing reptiles in the summer are familiar to most people – you’ve probably heard: “Don’t walk in the grass or beware of stones heated by the sun, snakes can hide there”, but where these reptiles hibernate remains a little known fact to the general public .

What do snakes do in winter?

You certainly haven’t seen a snake in the winter, which makes you wonder if they’re actually hibernating. Reptiles, including snakes, stop feeding in winter, their activity drops dramatically, their metabolism slows down and they fall into a state close to hibernation. During this kind of hibernation, which is different from the hibernation of mammals, snakes do not sleep deeply, they use the milder winter days to come out of their burrows to the surface and look for water.

However, feeding does not resume until spring, when temperatures rise. Where do snakes hide in winter? Snakes are hypersensitive to the cold, and as temperatures drop, they seek a place underground to hide from surface temperature changes, snow, moisture and ice.

It is known that underground the temperature remains relatively constant and the reptiles are protected from the cold. Very rarely do snakes crawl out of their burrows in the winter when the weather is unseasonably warm to drink water. However, the first feeding after the beginning of the cold months for snakes is only in the spring. Their low activity and the fact that they slow down their metabolism helps them not need food during the winter months. Where snakes hide in winter depends on their habitat, continent, lifestyle and species, writes actualno.com.

Usually, and in the general case especially when we talk about snakes in our latitudes, among the preferred winter habitats and hiding places from the cold of these reptiles are abandoned rodent holes, cracks or holes in rocks, haystacks, tree roots, etc. And though the place is secluded and hidden, the snakes’ hibernation itself is far from secluded and lonely. A curious fact is that they do not winter alone, but in groups, forming a ball.

Fun facts about snakes in winter:

A curious fact about the hibernation of snakes is that, of all species of hissing reptiles, garden snakes are the first to wake up in the spring and the last to go to sleep in late autumn. This is due to their higher resistance to cold. They retain their vitality even at temperatures slightly lower than 14 degrees and fall asleep when the degrees permanently fall below 14. In our folk art, traditions and customs, a curious name has been preserved for one of the Saturdays in late autumn – snake Saturday – the day, in which snakes enter their burrows and shelters, form a ball and fall into hibernation, lasting until spring, when the warm rays of the sun will warm and awaken both the earth and the plants and the snakes.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-2-snake-87428/

Russia, A defendant in the case of military “fakes” told about humiliation and torture in a psychiatric hospital

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Newsdesk
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Male psychiatrist leads female patient in straitjacket, mental hospital. Woman in strait jacket undergoing "treatment" in clinic for the mentally ill

St Petersburg. Last November 15th, OVD-info reported that a defendant in the military “fakes” case has told about humiliation and torture in a psychiatric hospital.

The staff of the psychiatric hospital No. 3 named after I. I. Skovortsov-Stepanov abuse Victoria Petrova, a defendant in the case of military “fakes” from St. Petersburg. This is reported in her Telegram channel by her lawyer Anastasia Pilipenko.

As Petrova told her, she was forced to undress for a “bodily examination” in front of male staff, with women nearby at the time. Afterwards, the hospital staff mocked and laughed at her in response to her request to change her pad before the examination, as she was bleeding on her legs due to menstruation.

Petrova’s hands were then clasped when she refused to take a shower in front of everyone present and asked to be left only with the women, as was the case in the pre-trial detention centre. The girl was then tied up and shaken “like a mutt” and promised to be beaten “just as a welcome to the new place”.

In addition, Petrova was tied to the bed by her hands and feet and injected with medication that made her unable to speak for two days. While she was under the influence of the medication, the hospital staff threw her clothes over her face.

The case against Petrova was initiated in May 2022 because of a video in VKontakte dedicated to the war in Ukraine. She was charged with spreading military “fakes” on the grounds of political or ideological hatred (item “e” part 2 of article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). In the same month she was detained and sent to pre-trial detention centre. In October this year, the court transferred the girl to a psychiatric hospital. In addition, the girl was appointed a legal representative – her uncle became her legal representative.

18 November Petrova’s lawyer Anastasia Pilipenko said that the girl was transferred to another ward. She was no longer beaten, humiliated and tied to the bed, as well as injected with tranquilisers.

“Once again I am convinced that the main thing that can change the situation in such a closed institution is close attention from the outside,” Pilipenko commented.

Since 24 February 2022 – the first day of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine – residents of Russian cities have been going on anti-war rallies every day and speaking out about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become a reason for criminal prosecution. So far, more than 750 people have been prosecuted for protesting against the war with Ukraine. Read more about it in our infographic.

Article 207.3 (Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation) was included in the Criminal Code in March 2022 – this is how the authorities responded to anti-war speeches and statements, as well as the dissemination of information about the war that does not come from official Russian sources. The maximum penalty under the article is 15 years in prison.

“Anti-war case”

Since the first day of the invasion of Ukraine, residents of Russian cities have been holding anti-war actions and speaking out about the “special operation” on social networks. These actions become a reason for criminal prosecution.


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The Human Fingerprint on Greenhouse Gases

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United Nations News
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The Human Fingerprint on Greenhouse Gases
Photo de Danting Zhu sur Unsplash

Greenhouse gases occur naturally and are essential to the survival of humans and millions of other living things, by keeping some of the sun’s warmth from reflecting back into space and making Earth livable. But after more than a century and a half of industrialization, deforestation, and large scale agriculture, quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen to record levels not seen in three million years. As populations, economies and standards of living grow, so does the cumulative level of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions.

There are some basic well-established scientific links:

  • The concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average global temperature on Earth;
  • The concentration has been rising steadily, and mean global temperatures along with it, since the time of the Industrial Revolution;
  • The most abundant GHG, accounting for about two-thirds of GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO2), is largely the product of burning fossil fuels.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment to provide an objective source of scientific information.

Sixth Assessment Report

The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, to be released in March 2023, provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the science of climate change, emphasizing new results since the publication of the Fifth Assessment Report in 2014. It is based on the reports of the three Working Groups of the IPCC – on the physical science; impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and mitigation – as well as on the three Special Reports on Global Warming of 1.5°C, on Climate Change and Land, and on the Ocean and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.

What we know based on the IPCC reports:

  • It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.
  • The scale of recent changes across the climate system as a whole – and the present state of many aspects of the climate system – are unprecedented over many centuries to many thousands of years.
  • Human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has strengthened since the Fifth Assessment Report.
  • Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change.
  • Vulnerability of ecosystems and people to climate change differs substantially among and within regions.
  • If global warming transiently exceeds 1.5°C in the coming decades or later, then many human and natural systems will face additional severe risks, compared to remaining below 1.5°C.
  • Reducing GHG emissions across the full energy sector requires major transitions, including a substantial reduction in overall fossil fuel use, the deployment of low-emission energy sources, switching to alternative energy carriers, and energy efficiency and conservation.

Global Warmhttps://europeantimes.news/environment/ing of 1.5°C

In October 2018 the IPCC issued a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, finding that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, the report found that limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society. While previous estimates focused on estimating the damage if average temperatures were to rise by 2°C, this report shows that many of the adverse impacts of climate change will come at the 1.5°C mark.

The report also highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5ºC compared to 2ºC, or more. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C compared with 2°C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with 2°C. Coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas virtually all (> 99 percent) would be lost with 2ºC.

The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air.

United Nations legal instruments

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The UN family is at the forefront of the effort to save our planet. In 1992, its “Earth Summit” produced the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a first step in addressing the climate change problem. Today, it has near-universal membership. The 197 countries that have ratified the Convention are Parties to the Convention. The ultimate aim of the Convention is to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system.

Kyoto Protocol

By 1995, countries launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed country Parties to emission reduction targets. The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. The second commitment period began on 1 January 2013 and ended in 2020. There are now 198 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol

Paris Agreement

Global Sikh Coun­cil Cham­pi­ons Truce in Is­rael-Pales­tine Con­flict

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EuropeanTimes
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Global Sikh Coun­cil Cham­pi­ons Truce in Is­rael-Pales­tine Con­flict

While there are fewer Sikh activists and bodies talking about peace or taking sides in the Israel-Palestine war which is endangering world peace, the stand of the Global Sikh Coun­cil in making an appeal for an immediate truce in the Israel-Palestine conflict during its recently held annual general meeting convened online is likely to reverberate among the Diaspora Sikh communities and even through international humanitarian corridors

Rep­re­sen­ta­tives of Sikh or­ga­ni­za­tions and ac­tivists from across 31 coun­tries, dur­ing the re­cent Global Sikh Coun­cil dig­i­tal sum­mit, passed a res­o­lu­tion im­plor­ing the United Na­tions Se­cu­rity Coun­cil to spear­head ef­forts for a cease­fire in the Gaza re­gion. This call comes amidst es­ca­lat­ing ten­sions that have seen nu­mer­ous civil­ian ca­su­al­ties, in­clud­ing women and chil­dren. The Global Sikh Coun­cil’s voice adds a sig­nif­i­cant moral weight to the global out­cry for peace and hu­man­i­tar­ian aid in this be­lea­guered zone.

Echo­ing the coun­cil’s com­mit­ment to global hu­man­i­tar­ian causes, tran­scend­ing ge­o­graphic and cul­tural bound­aries, she stated, “Our heart goes out to those suf­fer­ing in this con­flict. It’s high time for a peace­ful res­o­lu­tion, and the UN must step in with both aid and diplo­macy.”

The Global Sikh Coun­cil re­solved that “The re­ports of deaths and in­juries to thou­sands of women and chil­dren are deeply dis­tress­ing. While every na­tion has the right to safe­guard its coun­try from any for­eign ag­gres­sion killing in­no­cent women and chil­dren is a crime against hu­man­ity. Global Sikh Coun­cil calls upon the world lead­ers and the United Na­tions to put an end to this mis­ery of the peo­ple in Gaza and work for a peace­ful set­tle­ment.”

Lady Kanwaljit Singh

Lady Singh of Wim­ble­don, Dr. Kan­waljit Kaur -wife of the il­lus­tri­ous Lord Singh of Wim­ble­don In­dar­jit Singh and Pres­i­dent of the Global Sikh Coun­cil, de­liv­ered a res­olute mes­sage, con­demn­ing the air strikes rav­aging Gaza.

Namur, the city of festivals: a rich program throughout the year

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NewsdeskTET
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Namur, the city of festivals: a rich program throughout the year

Namur, the capital of Wallonia in Belgium, is a city that vibrates to the rhythm of festivals throughout the year. Whether you’re passionate about music, cinema, theater or the visual arts, you’re sure to find an event you enjoy in this dynamic city.

One of the most emblematic festivals in Namur is undoubtedly the Festival International du Film Francophone. Every year, in September, this festival attracts film buffs from all over the world who come to discover the latest productions of French-speaking cinema. Competitions, outdoor screenings and meetings with directors make this event an unmissable event for all cinema lovers.

In summer, the city of Namur transforms into a real musical scene with the Namur Music Festival. For several weeks, internationally renowned artists perform in emblematic places in the city such as the citadel or the royal theater. From jazz to classical music to rock, there is something for all tastes and ears.

Visual arts lovers will not be left out in Namur. The International Comic Strip Festival takes over the city every year in January. Exhibitions, meetings with authors and signings are on the program for this event which highlights the ninth art. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover new talents and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of comics.

But Namur is not limited to cultural festivals. The city also hosts renowned sporting events. The Grand Prix de Wallonie, a professional cycling race, attracts international riders and thousands of spectators each year. The streets of Namur are transformed into a demanding and spectacular course for this competition which is part of the International Cycling Union calendar.

In December, Namur is adorned with its most beautiful lights to host the Illuminations Festival. For several weeks, the city is transformed into a real fairy tale with magical illuminations, street shows and activities for the whole family. It’s a magical time when young and old can immerse themselves in the warm atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations.

Namur is therefore a city with no shortage of activities throughout the year. Whether you are a fan of arts, music, cinema or sport, you will find a festival in Namur that will meet your expectations. In addition to these events, the city also offers many tourist attractions such as the citadel, the Saint-Aubin cathedral and the Namurois Museum of Ancient Arts.

If you are planning to visit Namur, it is advisable to find out in advance about the festivals that will take place during your stay. Hotels and restaurants are often busy during these times, so it is best to book in advance. Additionally, some events require tickets to be purchased in advance, so it is important to plan accordingly.

Namur, the city of festivals, is a true paradise for lovers of culture and entertainment. Whether you are attracted by cinema, music, visual arts or sport, you will certainly find what you are looking for in this city full of life. So don’t hesitate any longer, come discover Namur and let yourself be carried away by the magic of its festivals throughout the year.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

International conference Iranian nuclear power: realities and prospects for sanctions

By
Robert Johnson
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0

A international conference entitled “ Iranian nuclear power: realities and prospects for sanctions”  was organised in Paris on November 21st 2023 from 6h30 till 8 p.m at the Paris School of Business with the presence of high level experts ,journalists, researchers and students .

The debate was introduced by Professor Frédéric Encel who started by mentioning that We  approach a very controversial issue today given the international situation regarding iran because we rarely speak about Iran and its economic policy both internal and external through the sanctions. I would like to remind you that January 1st 2007, the Islamic Republic of Iran was sanctioned internationally and I would like to focus on this level because all the members of the UN Security Council validated these sanctions not only Washington, Paris London but also Moscow and Pekin and then they continued to maintain these sanctions even though some countries like China help through economic aid and oil contracts.

He added that president Ahmadi Nijad at that time just handed a document which was not accepted by the UN council and after this deadline rejected by Iran, the international community took a series of sanctions against The Islamic Republic of Iran. The support of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Bachar Alassad’s regime needs a lot of economic and technological abilities.

Hamdam Mostafavi, Editor in Chief at the Express France highlighted that  It has been more than 20 years since she has been  working on the Iranian regime and the economic sanctions.

Are the sanctions responsible for the terror attacks of the regime and working in the black market? Did they push them to be close to China and Russia and support terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas? Do they stop the regime from the repression of its own population? We think that the sanctions are counter-productive and we know that they affect heavily the Iranian population. Iran stopped its nuclear program and the economic sanctions were lifted to allow the country to have economic relief.

Another important element in the development of the nuclear power by the Iranian regime is the scientific research made by scientists.

It is sufficient to prevent Iran from supporting military groups in the Middle East like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. The sanctions have a few effects on the economy of the Iranian regime which created another system to finance its militia and support it as well as arm its military groups.

Heloise Hayet, a researcher at IFRI, mentioned that Iran uses proxies to make war on the neighboring countries. The nuclear program in iran was stopped by a UN resolution 2231. This resolution obliges Iran not to develop ballistic missiles for the sake of creating a nuclear weapon. More importantly, this resolution ends the 18th of October 2023 but nobody speaks about it because we were focusing on another conflict in the Middle East in which iran was implicated too. France, UK and Europe decided to maintain this agreement regarding the development of ballistic missiles. However, Russian and Chinese sanctions are over which means that Iran could send ballistic missiles to Russia and vice versa which was the case in the war on Ukraine.

Emmanuel razavi, a reporter at Paris Match magazine, expert in Iran started his speech by focusing on the fact that Iran is a state which sponsors terrorism. Iran finances its proxies mainly Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. There is a definition of a terrorist organization and this fits into the context of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis which take hostages and do targeted terrorist attacks. Razavi made reports for Paris Match on the Houthis in Yemen and the Iranian revolution. Iran has institutionalized a parallel economy. The sanctions have a few effects on the economy of the Iranian regime which created another system to finance its militia and support as well as arm its military groups. Some arms are given by the Iranian regime to the Houthis in Yemen but some arms are given to Isis according to intelligence services mainly French and American. This business is not only serving Iran’s proxies but also other terrorist groups such as Isis and other organizations which are not necessarily Shia but also Sunni such as Hamas.

Khater  Abou Diab,Dr in international relations, evoked the difficult situation in the Middle East due to Iran implication in instability in the region. It is a difficult moment to speak about the situation in the Middle East but Iran is implicated and it is even the one which profits from this chaos. They always try to negotiate the sanctions.what is important is how the West manages the sanctions on Iran.Why is Iran so strong despite all the sanctions? The strength of the Iranian regime comes from its islamist ideology and its proxies, its militia including the Houthi, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Bachar Alassad’s regime, both Shia and Sunni groups with an extension to Africa. In France, there was a presidential candidate in the North of France which supports Hamas and financed by Iran .Iran is everywhere and that is why speaking about sanctions touches upon the human rights, the nuclear program and financing terrorism.

Iris Faronkhondeh, Doctor in Indian and Iranian studies in Paris 3 University, highlighted the influence of Iran in using hostages policy and persecuting opposition leaders is complicated. How can we deal with such a regime. we cannot have a deal with a criminal state unless there is a regime change. The Iranian population suffers from poverty and marginalization. However, the regime has a lot of financial means that it uses to finance its militia and create instability in the region and create nuclear weapons. The tunnels of the Hamas are also constructed thanks to the Iranian regime help and there are links in terms of the techniques used by the regime and those used by Hamas.

The debate ended with a series of questions by the students who were intrested in getting answers from the experts regarding stability security and nuclear program in iran  as well as its impact on the region and  on the EU in particular regarding the fight against terrorism and the rise of extremism.

Saudi Arabia is building a ski resort in the desert

By
Gaston de Persigny
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0

The resort will host skiers for three months of the year, and during the established time tourists will be able to practice water sports and mountain biking

As part of Saudi Arabia’s impressive project to build the city of Neom – the “city of the future” – a ski resort worth 461 billion euros will also be built. The new project is located in Tabuk province. The winter resort will be called Troyena and will be a mixture of dizzying real and virtual architecture, an artificial lake and mesmerizing views.

The idea of skiing the slopes of Neom in Saudi Arabia sounds absurd – yet Clark Williams, who manages marketing and communications for Neom, tells Euronews Travel that it’s easier than you think.

People are like, wait a minute, does it snow in Saudi Arabia?” Williams says. “The truth is we only need -3 degrees Celsius to create snow in Neom and we can do that for three months of the year.”

In the mountains near Neom, the temperature naturally drops below 0 degrees in winter.

“In our snowmaking, we’re going to use as many sustainable resources as possible, whether that’s solar or wind,” explains Williams. “We will also use water from our desalination plant, which is a cutting-edge solution, and we will try to collect as much water as possible from melting snow.”

Wonderland

In addition to a skiing experience, the resort will also offer the opportunity to practice all kinds of water sports thanks to an artificial lake that will be built. Other sports options include cycling.

Troena promises everything that tourists could find in a normal mountain village.

The concept behind the ski village is to take what you would see in a classic mountain village and put it in one building,” says Williams.

This includes restaurants and even a luxury wellness spa for those who need a break from the track.

The ski resort will include several hotels that will immediately be able to receive visitors when the centre opens in late 2026 or early 2027.

“That’s pretty soon when you consider that we’re creating a whole new landscape there, with streets, bars, restaurants and hotels all rolled into one village.”

The “City of the Future” project

Troena is only one of the four main parts of Neom. As part of the grandiose “city of the future” project is the creation of the luxury island of Sindala in the Red Sea – the first destination to open in 2024. The creation of a futuristic, floating industrial metropolis is also planned, as well as a 170-kilometre city, which will eventually accommodate up to 9 million residents.

“Neom is one of the mega projects that were announced as part of the Saudi crown prince’s vision for 2030,” said Niall Gibbons, Neom’s head of tourism. “It is the size of Belgium and will welcome approximately 3.5 million tourists by 2030.”

Neom will initially focus on domestic tourism and later expand to international visitors, with 60 per cent of people coming from outside Saudi Arabia by 2030, according to Gibbons.

Illustrative Photo by Volker Meyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-yellow-jacket-and-red-riding-on-snow-ski-3714137/

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