Bulgarian trace in the theft of a large amount of used oil in France, which is sold for recycling and converted into biofuels, Agence France-Presse reported on 18 June 2023.
The country’s media reported that an organized crime group had been located, specializing in stealing oil from large fast food chains, then selling it for processing in the Netherlands.
The French authorities claim that the price per ton of used oil has risen from 150 to 1,200 Euros per ton in recent years. The gang have found a profitable business precisely in this jump in the market. The oil is filtered and then is usually combined with methanol to create a fuel that traditional diesel engines can run on.
In a special operation, the French police invaded premises used by the Bulgarian gang. They found 250 barrels of used stolen oil, amounting to 36,000 liters. Used fat is sold quite legally in both Belgium and Spain. There are companies buying this oil, which then recycle it using special machines and use it as biofuel.
In 2016, a law was passed in France, according to which all establishments and restaurateurs who use oil and waste fat are obliged to collect it in cans or barrels. The reason – if it gets into a sewer, it can be particularly polluting. If the provision is not followed, violators face up to 2 years in prison and a fine of 75,000 EUR.
On Mar 21, 2023, Luke Whelan reported for express.co.uk that a Bulgarian gang travels 100 miles to steal cooking oil from Morrisons (UK). There has been a surge in the number of thieves posing as recycling workers so they can steal cooking oil. On March 20, the trio were fined £525 each at Norwich Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to attempted theft in October last year.
“So far, the ceasefire between the M23 and the FARDC has held up relatively well and has contributed to some security gains”, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee.
“The relative calm in Rutshuru territory, for example, allowed more than 45,000 people from the Bishusha group to return home”, she said.
She noted, however, that M23’s withdrawal from territory has been “piecemeal, tactical, and political”, while the armed group still controls much of Masisi and Rutshuru, together with the movement of people and goods in these areas.
Moreover, its “offensive repositioning in recent weeks” raises fears that hostilities could resume at any time.
She applauded the efforts of regional leaders to engage the parties concerned in implementing the decisions of the Luanda Road Map and the Nairobi process. She reiterated the readiness of the UN mission in DRC, MONUSCO, to back up Congolese authorities with the “pre-cantonment and disarmament” of the powerful rebel force.
Ms. Pobee said she was pleased to note that last week, MONUSCO, the East African Community Regional Force and the expanded Joint Verification Mechanism had undertaken a reconnaissance mission to the Rumangabo base, to assess the conditions for beginning the disarmament and demobilization process of M23 in earnest.
“For these efforts to bear fruit, it is urgent that the M23 withdraw completely from the occupied territories, lay down its arms unconditionally and join the Demobilization, Disarmament, Recovery and Community Stabilization Programme,” she added.
She noted the security gains in North Kivu are fragile and overshadowed by the deteriorating situation in Ituri province, which has suffered from the security vacuum created by the redeployment of FARDC to North Kivu.
More than 600 people have been killed by armed groups in the past three months, with CODECO, the Zairean militia and the ADF, being the main perpetrators of these atrocities.
The senior UN official urged all armed groups to “cease hostilities” and called for the redeployment of national security forces, particularly in Ituri, to restore State authority.
In response to the ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC, MONUSCO continues to “do everything possible to fulfill its mandate to protect civilians.” In Beni, Bunia, Bukavu and Goma, Mission-supported workshops eased tensions and strengthened local capacity to better respond to security challenges, including disinformation. At the same time, the Mission provided direct physical protection for civilians.
To date, between 50.000 and 70.000 displaced people are being protected by MONUSCO forces in the Roe site, located in Djugu territory, Ituri.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefs members of the UN Security Council.
Often ignored crisis
Insecurity in eastern DRC continued to fuel a long-standing humanitarian crisis often ignored by the international community, said Ms. Pobee.
An estimated 6.3 million people have been displaced within the country and since March 2022, more than 2.8 million have fled their homes in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces due to insecurity.
Currently, around 28 per cent of the population of North Kivu and 39 per cent of Ituri’s regular population are displaced.
This situation has been further aggravated by inflation, epidemics and natural disasters, including last month’s floods in Kahele territory in South Kivu, which killed more than 470 people and left thousands missing. At the same time, nearly 26 million people, more than a quarter of the population, face food insecurity in the DRC.
The top Africa official expressed particular concern about the increasing number of women and girls who are becoming victims of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. Gender-based violence increased by 2.3 per cent across the country and by 73 per cent in North Kivu province alone, compared to the same period last year.
She said the humanitarian response falls far short of the unprecedented level of need, welcoming the start of a system-wide scale-up response in eastern DRC for an initial period of three months.
Pockets of instability
In addition to security and humanitarian challenges in the east, pockets of instability have resurfaced in the west and south of the country. Violence persisted in Mai-Ndombe, Kwilu and Kwango provinces, and has spread to Maluku in Kinshasa province, Ms. Pobee said. Tensions and violence were also reported in Kindu, Tshopo and Katanga.
She urged authorities to hold perpetrators to account and take steps to strengthen social cohesion in order to preserve stability in these areas.
Hate speech continues
She said she was particularly alarmed by “the restriction of civic space and the increase in hate speech” and expressed concern at reports of an increase in violence against women political leaders and activists.
Regarding the scheduled departure of the peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, she said it was necessary to “stay the course for an orderly, gradual and responsible transition“.
“MONUSCO’s departure is planned and initial steps are being taken in several areas. However, MONUSCO’s withdrawal must not compromise the protection of civilians. We must avoid creating security vacuums,” she said.
“An orderly and responsible transition depends on the ability of national security forces to deploy and respond effectively wherever the security situation requires it,” she insisted.
Today, more than 100 armed conflicts are raging worldwide, devastating communities, winding back development, and leading to grave violations of human rights.
Ranging from severe beatings to sexual humiliation and rape, torture iswidely used as a means of war. And often, torture involves the use of tools or instruments, mock executions, and forcing victims to watch family members also being tortured, said the UN human rights chief Volker Türk.
Torture happens in both official detention centres as well as secret sites, away from any scrutiny.
In a video address Mr. Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, recalled meeting a victim of torture whose harrowing story left an indelible mark: “It revealed the horror of what human beings are capable of inflicting on one another. He will carry that deep trauma for the rest of his life.”
Torture is a serious crime, unequivocally prohibited under international law, and never justified under any circumstances.
Under the UN Convention against Torture all States must investigate and prosecute allegations of torture, as well as cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. They are obligated to prevent torture through every possible means.
“Yet in almost all cases, the people who ordered and commit the crime of torture escape justice”, said the OHCHR chief.
The Committee against Torture, a body of 10 independent human rights experts that monitors implementation of the Convention, regularly reminds States of their obligations to educate and inform all military personnel, especially those charged with duties related to detention, about the prohibition.
“States must take a zero-tolerance approach in investigating and prosecuting acts of torture committed by their regular armed forces, and those forces under their effective control,” said Claude Heller, the Committee’s chair, “A vital first step in this is the explicit criminalization of torture at the domestic level.”
Help to the victims
The scale of torture is alarming, with hundreds of thousands of victims spanning prisoners of war, human rights activists, and innocent civilians who can be caught up in random sweeps. Such acts of brutality occur in thousands of locations across countries on every continent, the UN rights chief reminded.
He said it was especially important to ensure that “torture – wherever it takes place – is documented, investigated, prosecuted and punished.”
By establishing the facts and seeking accountability, much needed help can be extended to victims of torture.
“Every torture victim has a right to acknowledgement, justice and redress”, said Mr. Türk.
Over four decades ago, the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture was established to provide social assistance, medical care, psychological support, and to help victims secure justice and deter future acts of torture.
It works with civil society groups in more than 120 countries and has reached over one million survivors. Today, however, the demand for the Fund’s assistance is so high, that thousands of requests for aid have had to be turned down.
“We need more funds to match rising demand,” said the rights chief in a tweet.
Taking away torture tools
The High Commissioner said that another effective way of preventing future cases of torture away from the battlefield, was to go after the trade in instruments of torture.
“I am fully supportive of all efforts to limit trade in items that could be used for torture, including through a new international torture-free trade treaty”, he said.
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.
