With a deepening refugee crisis, security breakdowns and conflicts, urgent action is required to address the escalating challenges faced by millions forced on the run worldwide.
“We are witnessing a concerning increase in the number of refugees in need of resettlement in 2024. Resettlement remains a critical lifeline for those most at risk and with specific needs,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Asia region tops the list, with nearly 730,000 refugees likely requiring resettlement support, representing around 30 per cent of the total.
Urgent assistance
With the Syrian war extending into its 13th year and remaining the world’s largest refugee situation, refugees there continue to need the most resettlement support for the eighth consecutive year, with around 754,000 requiring urgent assistance.
Refugees from Afghanistan are estimated to have the second-highest level of needs, followed by refugees from South Sudan, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“I ask all States with the means to step up and provide sustainable and multi-year resettlement commitments to offer safety and protection to those in need and to share the international community’s responsibility for refugees”, urged Mr. Grandi.
Resettlement provides a lifeline of hope and protection to those facing extreme risks by offering a durable solution while at the same time playing a pivotal role in relieving the pressure on host countries and strengthening the broader protection framework.
“About five million children under the age of five are estimated to be facing acute malnutrition in 2023 in the Horn region, in the Greater Horn. That is about 10.4 million, that is just a staggering figure,” said Liesbeth Aelbrecht, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) incident manager for the greater Horn of Africa emergency.
“What our colleagues are seeing in clinics and in hospitals, since the beginning of this year, are the highest level of severely malnourished children who are now coming to these facilities with medical complications since the crisis began three years ago.”
Echoing that alert, World Food Programme (WFP) Senior Emergency Officer Dominique Ferretti said that almost three years of drought had given way to rains and devastating flash floods: “While we just concluded a rainy season which performed better than predicted, one rainy season is not enough to bring an end to the crisis.”
Women collect water in drought-stricken Marsabit in northern Kenya.
Although long-awaited rains arrived in March across the eight-member Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region – encompassing Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda – and with it the hope of relief, flash-flooding inundated homes and farmland, washed away livestock and closed schools and health facilities.
The result was the highest number of reported disease outbreaks in the greater Horn of Africa so far this century. Their frequency can be linked directly to extreme climate events, according to the UN health agency.
Ms. Aelbrecht noted ongoing outbreaks of cholera and measles, together with “very high numbers” last year and this year, including malaria cases.
“So, with the impact of flooding, we see these diseases worsening. Malaria, I would like to remind you, is one of the biggest killers in the region.”
Climate complications
Climate concerns are key to food security in the coming months, the UN Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) noted at a press conference in Geneva.
Global forecasts indicate that El Niño weather pattern conditions are already present and will strengthen through the rest of the year, which could bring above-average rains during the October to December rainy season across eastern parts of the region, including much of Kenya, the Somali region of Ethiopia and Somalia.
“El Niño may somewhat reduce the risk of flooding in flood-prone areas such as South Sudan,” said Brenda Lazarus, Food Security and Early Warning Economist at FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa.
Nevertheless, she indicated that “on the risk’ side, below-average rains and dry spells, along with other drivers of food insecurity would likely negatively impact agricultural production and increase already alarming levels.
Investing is key
FAO emphasized the need to shift from a system focused mainly on emergency response, to anticipating and mitigating crises through investments such as in rainwater harvesting, soil and water conservation, or the use of more drought tolerant crops – and ensuring seeds are locally available.
Involving young people in building silos could also boost community resilience, the UN agency noted.
The 60 million severely food insecure include more than 15 million women of reproductive age, 5.6 million adolescent girls and close to 1.1 million pregnant women.
Close to 360,000 of them are expected to give birth in the next three months, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Women who are forced to look for food just to survive “do so on the expense of their own health,” said Michael Ebele, UNFPA Regional Humanitarian Adviser for East and Southern Africa.
Increased risk of deaths
“So, we are seeing pregnant women not being able to go for antenatal care, not attending to other illnesses they may be having. And then, that comes with risks of complications…then the risks of maternal deaths increase.”
Malnutrition among pregnant and lactating mothers puts their unborn and breast-feeding children at risk of malnutrition and propagates malnutrition through entire life cycles in communities.
Malnourished mothers are also less able to withstand complications in pregnancy which put them at greater risk of losing their child.
“Because of the limited amount of resources, we have seen an increase in the risks of survival sex”, said Ms. Ebele, “increasing the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly of women and girls”.
Grain initiative threat
Asked by journalists how badly the Horn of Africa would be affected if the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative to facilitate Ukrainian grain exports to the world’s markets is not renewed next month, WFP’s Mr. Ferretti replied that “the reality is that Ukraine is the breadbasket, it is a major supplier and it would hit us hard if this Black Sea initiative was not renewed”.
Bureau decision will increase transparency on interest representatives’ participation in some 12 000 events held on Parliament’s premises.
The Bureau also stated its firm commitment to full and rapid implementation of the reform plan.
Implementing the reform plan endorsed by Parliament’s Group leaders and proposed by President Metsola to increase integrity and accountability, the Bureau adopted clear rules regulating the participation of interest representatives in any event held on Parliament’s premises.
The decision adopted today strengthens existing rules. It requires registration in the transparency register as a pre-condition for all interest representatives to participate in any events organised by Parliament bodies or services taking place on Parliament’s premises, when they take part as invited active guests and/or co-host events (including when co-hosting events with groups and Members). This completes the already existing rules requiring the registration of interest representatives in the transparency register to have access or be invited to speak at public hearings organised by committees. The decision will put some estimated 12 000 extra events per year under the stricter transparency rules.
State of play
Under the reform plan, the Bureau has already adopted a new revolving door policy, which entered into force on 1 May, 2023. It has also revised the rules on former Members on 17 April, 2023, and the rules on the access to the Parliaments on 8 May, 2023.
The Institution has reinforced its cooperation with national judicial and law enforcement authorities, and Group leaders have also clarified the rules regarding human rights urgency debates in plenary with direct implementation.
Group leaders in the Conference of Presidents also approved guidelines to support the Members of the EP and staff in their relations with third countries representatives (diplomats and state representatives). These guidelines clarify practices for access, missions and meetings with some countries that are either EU sanctioned, sanctioning MEPs, named in on-going judicial procedures linked to EP.
In parallel, the implementation of a number of measures that require changes to the Parliaments Rules of Procedure is ongoing. Debates in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) continue in order to enable a vote on all the changes in Plenary in July 2023. .
The measure to centralise information related to integrity of parliamentary work for clearer information to the public is under technical implementation by EP services, and expected to be on-line in July, 2023.
To accompany all the actions mentioned above, Parliament runs regular awareness-raising campaigns on obligations for MEPs and staff. Over 200 participants have already participated.
At its next meeting the Bureau will be dealing with the revision of the internal rules on whistleblowing.
Mid-term
This first set of reforms aims at strengthening the Parliament’s integrity, independence and accountability, while protecting the free mandate of Members. Other medium and long-term measures have been proposed by the special Committee responsible established in February plenary (ING2) and will be debated and voted in July 2023. In addition, general modernisation of EP’s ways of working are considered in a wider reform process, launched by the Conference of Presidents in January 2023 on legislative, budgetary, scrutiny, plenary and external dimensions of Parliament’s work.
An overview about the state of play of the reforms is available here.
In the human world, siblings often grow up under the same roof and share a special bond throughout their lives. But what about the dogs? Are quadrupeds able to recognize their relatives from whom they were separated a few days after birth?
Do dogs feel an innate bond with their siblings?
Although there is no concrete evidence to suggest that sibling dogs can recognize each other later in life, Stephen R. Lindsay, author of the book “Handbook of Applied Dog and Cat Behavior and Training,” suggests that it is actually not impossible. According to Lindsey, it’s not out of the question that a quadruped could recognize its parents, siblings, even people it interacted with in the first months of its life and then hasn’t seen for years. All this provided that they were together during the critical phase of socialization – between the third and the 16th week of his life.
Although it sounds logical, there are exceptions to this theory. Pups who were separated before the 16-week mark are unlikely to recognize each other later in life if they don’t meet for the first six or seven years afterwards, experts say.
A dog’s nose remembers
It is possible for a dog to recognize a sibling by smell, the American Kennel Club writes. Our pets’ sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times superior to that of humans, so perhaps it’s this unique ability that allows our furry companions to detect a littermate they haven’t seen or met in years.
Does shared DNA play a role?
As in humans, relatives in the canine world share similar DNA, and it is possible that this factor prevents (in some cases) an animal from mating with a sibling. According to evolutionary theorists, all living things are innately programmed to behave in such a way as to ensure the survival and transmission of our genetic material to the next generation. Therefore, individuals of all species will look after their blood relatives first. Which in turn suggests that non-human species not only recognize, but prefer and help members of their own family.
In dogs, this theory is a bit more complicated to apply. For in order to prefer their brothers and sisters to others, they must first recognize them.
Are there signs that a dog has recognized its relatives in a chance meeting?
If your dog accidentally (or with your help) encounters a relative and recognizes it, it may spend more time sniffing it. Although not universal to all quadrupeds, some of the signs that a quadruped has recognized its relatives may include playful nudging, sniffing of the muzzle and mouth, circling, friendly body language and invitations to play, tail wagging.
In some dogs, different behavior is observed if they recognize a sibling, as well as when meeting a parent (mother or father) – they can “freeze” in place, remain motionless and gasp for air.
However, the truth of the matter is that no one knows for sure whether a dog recognizes another four-legged friend as its sibling. Maybe one day we will be able to find out if our pet actually feels the blood connection it has with another animal. But until that happens, we can only make our best guesses.
Photo by Blue Bird: https://www.pexels.com/photo/unrecognizable-woman-walking-dogs-on-leashes-in-countryside-7210754/
50,000 sterile male insects in Zagreb for population control.
This pilot project is also implemented in Portugal, Spain, Greece.
In Zagreb’s Cvetno district, 50,000 sterile male tiger mosquitoes were released for the first time as part of a pilot mosquito control project using a method used in several EU countries and Serbia, Tanjug said.
It is a biological method of fighting mosquitoes, which is carried out by releasing sterile males into nature.
“They mate with wild females of the same species in the area where they are released, with the result that the females create and hatch eggs from which no new mosquito individuals will develop,” explained the head of the Department of Disinfection, Disinsection and Deratization ” at the Department of the Educational Institute for Public Health “Dr. Andria Stampar” Ana Klobuchar, reported the Croatian portal Index.
The first 50,000 specimens of sterile mosquitoes were released last night, and next week another 50,000 will be released in the Tsvetno district.
Croatia imported sterile male mosquitoes from Italy, where the same technique is used. This pilot project is also being implemented in Portugal, Spain, Greece and Serbia.
The project is financed by the city of Zagreb, and the implementation of all activities by the Institute of Public Health costs about 10,000 euros.
In an extraordinary meeting organized by the “International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism” (LICRA), and a member of the French Senate Nathalie Goulet, a number of prominent personalities met with the Leader of the Third Lebanese Republic initiative, Omar Harfouch, who announced his defiance of the controversial law that prohibits the accidental presence of any Lebanese with any Israeli citizenship even by accident .
David Olivier, President of LICRA ( the international league against racisme and antisemitism ), expressed his concerns about the economic situation in Lebanon, acknowledging that conditions are deteriorating. He welcomed Harfouch as a guest of honor at the meeting at the French Senat, acknowledging his courage and continuous efforts for reform in Lebanon.
For his part, Harfouch announced his categorical rejection of choosing people on the basis of their religion or origin and the need to cancel a Lebanese law that prohibits the presence of any Lebanese in the same place with any Jew, Israeli or pro-Israel even inadvertently, and he invited the Lebanese, especially the diaspora, to speak and influence their government. And advocates in their regions for the abolition of this law.
Frederic Dabi, director of the French Institute of Public Opinion, expressed his solidarity with Harfouch and the discrimination he faces. He said that the issue should be of concern to French public opinion, and that the struggle that Harfouch is going through is a republican struggle that should concern everyone.
Hassan Chalghoumi, head of the Union of Imams in France, called for courage in supporting Harfouch’s cause, and expressed his full solidarity with him, hoping that Harfouch’s battle would contribute to the liberation of the entire Arab world.
French Senator Andre Reichart praised Harfouch and expressed his willingness to contribute to his fight, which he described as “a fight for all of us”.
Finally, French MP Bruno Fuchs, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his support for the rebellion against injustice, and called for the fight against racism in Lebanon and the entire Arab world.
He affirmed LICRA’s commitment to strengthening efforts in this field, calling for the implementation of what was identified during the meeting.
The meeting was an embodiment of global solidarity with Harfouch and the Lebanese people. Although the road ahead is long, the support they received during this meeting indicates hope for a more pluralistic and tolerant future in Lebanon.
New rules boosting rail passenger rights across the EU, including better support in case of delays and more assistance for people with a disability, came into effect in June 2023.
The update of rail passenger rights covers several key areas and applies to all EU countries and for all types of rail service. Find out what this means for you.
Better rights for people living with disabilities
All EU rail companies have to guarantee free assistance to people living with disabilities or reduced mobility. People with disabilities needing assistance should notify railway companies 24 hours before travelling instead of 48 hours. If they need someone to accompany them, that person can travel for free. Access must be guaranteed to assistance dogs accompanying passengers with reduced mobility.
Help in case of delays or cancellations
If there is a delay of more than 60 minutes, passengers can choose between a full reimbursement of the ticket cost, continuing their journey or re-routing under similar conditions, without additional costs. If necessary, operators must provide meals and refreshments and reimburse the cost of accommodation.
If after 100 minutes from the scheduled departure passengers are not informed about rerouting options, they can arrange travel by public transport themselves, for which they will be reimbursed.
More information
Rail companies have to provide travellers with more information about existing rules, for example by including detailed information on passengers’ rights on the tickets. They will also have to be more transparent about deadlines and procedures for complaints.
Bike-friendly trains
At the moment there is not enough spaces for bikes on trains. According to the rules, all new and refurbished trains will have to have dedicated storage areas for bicycles to encourage their use.
Background
The new rail rules, approved by Parliament in April 2021, have been in force since 7 June 2023. The rules on bicycles will come into effect on 7 June 2025.
MEPs have raised concerns about the abuse of spyware like Pegasus and called for action.
In June 2023, Parliament adopted recommendations for future action against the abuse of spyware. MEPs want EU rules allowing the use of spyware only when strict conditions are fulfilled, thorough investigations into suspected abuse and help for people who have been targeted. They also called for the creation of an EU Tech Lab to help uncover illicit surveillance and co-ordination with non-EU countries such as the US and Israel.
Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew, Netherlands), who guided the report through the Parliament, explains more about the dangers of spyware in the video. You can read excerpts below.
What is Pegasus?
Pegasus is a brand of spyware. It completely takes over your phone. It has access to your messages. It can activate your camera, your microphone. It has access to your images, to your documents, to your apps: everything. There are also other brands of spyware.
What is the danger of Pegasus and other spyware?
It’s not just an attack on our privacy. It’s also an attack on democracy. Because we need journalists who can investigate and expose crime and wrongdoing. We need opposition politicians, we need critical NGOs, we need lawyers. We need people who can freely scrutinise power, hold power to account. It’s democratic control.
What happens if such people are spied on?
They can be blackmailed, they can be discredited, they can be harassed. There’s a chilling effect. People are not so outspoken anymore, they’re worried about who they meet, what kind of information they store on their devices.
Could the abuse of spyware affect the EU elections?
The abuse of spyware is definitely a threat to the integrity of elections. And it’s not just about politicians, because how can elections be fair if journalists are unable to scrutinise government and to report on what the government has done well and what it has done wrong?
What is Parliament doing about the abuse of spyware in the EU?
The role of parliamentary watchdog is one of the of the European Parliament’s important tasks. There’s a handful of governments abusing spyware. European laws have been violated and the European Commission has not acted. The European Parliament really has to put pressure on the Commission for it to do its job.
The European Parliament’s work against abuse of spyware
The recommendations were drafted by a committee investigating Pegasus and other spyware, set up by the Parliament following revelations that several EU governments used the Pegasus spyware software against journalists, politicians, officials and other public figures.
In its final report adopted in May, the inquiry committee raised concerns about the impact of spyware abuse on democracy, civil society and the media in several Ehttps://europeantimes.news/europe/U countries.
Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that originated in Valencia. It is a rice-based dish that can be made with different ingredients, such as seafood, meat, vegetables, or a combination of them. Paella is usually cooked in a large shallow pan over an open fire or a gas burner. The rice absorbs the flavours of the broth and the ingredients, creating a delicious and satisfying meal.
Will see how to make one, but, where does the word come from?
The word paella comes from the Catalan language, which is spoken in the Valencian Community, where this dish originated. It means “frying pan” and refers to the wide, shallow pan that is used to cook the rice and other ingredients over an open fire. The word paella is derived from the Old French word paelle, which in turn comes from the Latin word patella, meaning “small pan” or “platter”.
Some people claim that the word paella has a different origin, based on the Arabic language that was spoken by the Moors who ruled Spain for several centuries. They say that the word paella comes from the Arabic word baqaayya, meaning “leftovers”. According to this theory, the dish was created by the servants of the Moorish kings, who would take home the rice, chicken, and vegetables that their employers did not finish at the end of their meals.
However, this claim is not supported by historical evidence or linguistic analysis. The word baqaayya does not appear in any Arabic documents from Spain, and it does not match the phonetic evolution of Catalan words from Arabic. Moreover, the dish of paella was not documented until the 19th century, long after the Moors had left Spain. Therefore, most experts seem to agree that the word paella comes from the Latin word patella, through Old French and Catalan.
Here are some steps to prepare and cook a paella with more details
Choose your ingredients. There are many variations of paella, but some of the most common ones are paella de marisco (seafood paella), paella de carne (meat paella), and paella mixta (mixed paella). You can also customize your paella according to your preferences and the availability of ingredients.
Some of the essential ingredients are rice, broth, saffron, olive oil, onion, garlic, salt, and paprika. Other ingredients can include chicken, rabbit, pork, chorizo, shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, peas, green beans, artichokes, tomatoes, peppers, and lemon wedges. You will need about 4 cups of rice and 8 cups of broth for a large paella that serves 8 to 10 people.
Prepare your ingredients. Wash and chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on for presentation. Scrub and debeard the mussels and clams under cold running water. Discard any that are open or cracked. Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper. You can also marinate the meat or seafood with some lemon juice, garlic, and parsley for extra flavour. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This will remove some of the starch and prevent the rice from sticking together.
Heat the oil in a large paella pan over medium-high heat. A paella pan is a round metal pan with two handles and a slightly concave bottom that allows the heat to distribute evenly. If you don’t have a paella pan, you can use a large skillet or a roasting pan instead. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Add the paprika and saffron and stir to coat the onion mixture. Saffron is a spice that gives paella its characteristic yellow colour and aroma. It is expensive but worth it for an authentic paella. You can also use turmeric as a substitute if you don’t have saffron. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil and spices. Cook for a few minutes until the rice is slightly toasted.
Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Do not stir the rice during this time, as this will make it mushy. You can gently shake the pan from time to time to distribute the heat evenly. You can also adjust the heat as needed to make sure the rice is cooking at a steady pace.
What is a paella and how to prepare and cook one? 3
Arrange the meat or seafood on top of the rice in a single layer. Cover the pan with a lid or aluminium foil and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meat or seafood is cooked through and the rice is tender. You can also add some water if the rice looks too dry.
Add the vegetables on top of the meat or seafood and cook for another 5 minutes, or until heated through.
Remove from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavours to meld together and create a crusty layer of rice at the bottom of the pan called socarrat.
The explosion of ethnic violence in Darfur largely by nomadic “Arab” groups in alliance with the RSF who have been battling national army forces for control of the country since mid-April, has led tens of thousands to flee into neighbouring Chad.
In a statement,OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said interviews with people fleeing the decimated city of El-Geneina have revealed “horrifying accounts” of people being killed on foot by the RSF-supported militia.
“All those interviewed also spoke of seeing dead bodies scattered along the road – and the stench of decomposition”, she said. “Several people spoke off seeing dozens of bodies in an area referred to as Shukri, around 10km from the border, where one or more of the Arab militias reportedly has a base.”
She said immediate action to halt the killings was essential.
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the RSF leadership to immediately, unequivocally condemn and stop the killing of people fleeing El-Geneina, and other violence and hate speech against them on the basis of their ethnicity. Those responsible for the killings and other violence must be held accountable.”
Safe passage
She added that people fleeing El-Geneina must be guaranteed safe passage and humanitarian agencies allowed access to the area so they can collect the bodies of the dead.
“Out of 16 people we have so far been able to interview, 14 testified that they witnessed summary executions and the targeting of groups of civilians on the road between El-Geneina and the border – either the shooting at close range of people ordered to lie on the ground or the opening of fire into crowds.”
The civilian exodus from the city intensified following the killing of the state governor on 14 June just hours after he accused the RSF and militias of “genocide” – raising the spectre of the hundreds of thousands killed between 2003-2005 during a Government-orchestrated campaign of violence.
Ms. Shamdasani said the testimonies recounted killings that took place on 15 and 16 June, but also during the past week.
Deadly hate speech
“We understand the killings and other violence are continuing and being accompanied by persistent hate speech against the Masalit community, including calls to kill and expel them from Sudan.”
One 37-year-old told the UN that from his group of 30 people fleeing to the Chad border, only 17 made it across, the Spokesperson recounted.
“Some were killed after coming under fire from vehicles belonging to the RSF and ‘Arab’ militia near the Chad border, while others were summarily executed, he said. Those who survived had their phones and money looted from them by armed men shouting: ‘You are slaves, you are Nuba’”.
A 22-year-old woman gave similar accounts of killings. She told how one badly wounded young man had to be left on the ground: “We had to leave him because we had only one donkey with us”.
“El-Geneina has become uninhabitable”, said Ms. Shamdasani with essential infrastructure destroyed and movement of humanitarian aid to the city, blocked.
“We urge the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Chad and El-Geneina, and safe passage for civilians out of areas affected by the hostilities.”
