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Improve taste and add aroma: what to cook from rose petals

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Rose flowers are edible. Rose petals are good to use in cooking – they are loved by chefs and pastry chefs. For cooking and drinks, you can use rose water, petal jam, various syrups and tinctures. Also, the petals of these flowers can be added to various dishes or candied.

Which roses to choose for use in cooking

Damask roses are well suited for rose water. Garden roses (wrinkled rose hybrids) are traditionally used for desserts. But it should be borne in mind that red and white roses often have a very weak taste and aroma, it is better to choose yellow and pink ones for adding to dishes.

Petals are harvested early in the morning, as soon as the flowers have blossomed. Be sure to cut off the white part at the bottom of each petal – it has a bitter taste.

What to cook with rose petals

In the East, rose petals are put in a mixture of spices along with cinnamon, cloves, cumin, turmeric, pepper, coriander. This is a good option, for example, for marinades for traditional grilled poultry dishes.

In Europe, rose petals are added to salads and to many dishes served with tea or for dessert. These are rose petal jam, almond biscuits or semolina puddings and other desserts. Homemade lemonade from rose petals and cucumbers is also very tasty and fragrant.

Dried rose petals can be added to tea or flavored with sugar. You can also put them in a sweet mixture of muesli with berries and honey.

If you want your baked goods to have a rose flavor, add some rose water or essence to your biscuit mix, pudding, or custard.

How to make candied rose petals

Candied rose petals can be consumed on their own, like candied fruits. Or decorate them with dessert or ice cream. It is very easy to prepare them. Lubricate each petal with beaten egg white, then dip in finely ground sugar. Then lay out the rose petals on waxed paper and leave until they harden.

Roses usually bloom for a week or two. However, there are some varieties that have a much longer flowering period.

Edi Rama presents Kovachevski as Prime Minister of future “Western Bulgaria”

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Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama joked with Macedonian counterpart Dimitar Kovachevski, referring to the dispute between Sofia and Skopje during the Southeast European Co-operation Summit on Friday (June 11th, 2022) in Thessaloniki.

During the meeting, a dinner was organized by the host – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

A video of the cocktail before dinner shows Mitsotakis introducing the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama approaching from behind and jokingly saying that Kovachevski is the prime minister of a country that will be in the future. known as “Western Bulgaria”, BTV reports.

This is not Rama’s first joking comment on the Sofia-Skopje dispute. Exactly a year ago, at the Economic Forum in Northern Macedonia, the Albanian prime minister joked with his then-Macedonian counterpart, Zoran Zaev, that he hoped Sofia would not ask Skopje to “call itself Western Bulgaria”.

Frustrated by their countries’ slow progress towards EU accession, the leaders of Serbia, Albania and the Republic of Northern Macedonia (PCM) met on Wednesday in the Ohrid Open Balkans initiative to discuss further boosting regional economic integration and labor market, the Associated Press reported.

Serbian President Alexander Vucic, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Northern Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski signed agreements on tax administration, tourism and cultural co-operation, as well as mutual recognition of academic degrees for labor market purposes. The prime ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, Zoran Tegeltia and Dritan Abazovic, also attended the meeting.

Kovachevski, who hosted the Ohrid meeting, said the tax deal “will facilitate the movement of goods, capital and services. These are steps being taken to establish practices used by the European Union.” “The Western Balkans must be part of the European Union,” he said. “The war in Ukraine is a risk of increasing the influence of third countries in the region. Leaving a geostrategic gap in this part of Europe is not an option.

The three countries’ initiative, called the Open Balkans, launched in 2019. Other countries in the Western Balkans, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have expressed interest in joining the initiative, but this has not happened since. Kosovo is a staunch opponent of the initiative, although the country was invited because Pristina sees the initiative as a “revival of Yugoslavia”.

Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia are at various stages on the road to EU membership. Serbia has begun negotiations for full membership, while Albania and northern Macedonia are still unable to begin talks due to Bulgaria’s veto against PCM, the Associated Press reported. Albania’s European path is linked to that of northern Macedonia, so Bulgaria’s veto is preventing both sides from moving forward.

Rama from Albania commented on the situation as follows: “Bulgaria will at some point get bored of this game and find another toy to play with,” he said. As for the EU’s position, he said: “If they want a wedding, we are ready. If they don’t, we are still here. No problem.” “I will say this directly,” Rama added. “When I went to Brussels, they encouraged me. Now that I go to Brussels, I am the one who should encourage them.”

Photo: Edi Rama presents Kovachevski as Prime Minister of “Future Western Bulgaria” Staff: YouTube / LifeEvents

Do you know which vitamin supports vision?

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Vitamins and minerals are key to the normal functioning of tissues and organs. Vitamin deficiency has real physical manifestations, unpleasant symptoms related to which vitamin is not enough in the body, and can seriously endanger your health. In order for vitamins to help your specific health problem, you should know which vitamin performs what functions and what benefits it provides to the body. Which vitamin supports vision, for example? We will help you keep your prescription glasses away from your face with useful information about the vitamins that support your eyes.

Which vitamin supports vision? You will probably agree that there is no sense more important than your sight. With age and due to various health problems, vision weakens. It is important to take care of your eyes to preserve your eyesight. Vitamins can be your first helpers. Which vitamin supports your vision and do you supply it to your body in sufficient quantities? In fact, the vitamin that supports the health of your eyes is not one. B vitamins, vitamin A and vitamin E are important for good eyesight.

How does vitamin A help with good eyesight? When we talk about which vitamin helps vision, we should keep in mind that the most important of them is vitamin A, which supports the cornea of ​​the eye. The valuable vitamin also helps to see low light. Its deficiency leads to a number of health problems related to vision, which is why it is recommended to take vitamin supplements, as well as enrich the daily menu with foods that are rich in vitamin A. Among them are leafy vegetables, potatoes and especially carrots. Bite carrots for sharp eyesight and healthy eyes

How does vitamin B3 help with good eyesight? Among the answers to the question of which vitamin helps vision is vitamin B3, also called niacin. Niacin plays a key role in good vision and prevents the development of glaucoma – damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. To get generous doses of the vitamin, eat more legumes, fish, poultry, mushrooms and peanuts.

How does vitamin E help with good eyesight? Vitamin E is known for its powerful antioxidant properties, which block the harmful effects of free radicals on organs and tissues in the body and help maintain good health. Many eye diseases and vision problems are known to be caused by oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and promotes vision. Nuts, avocados and fish are the most valuable sources of vitamin E, which is among the answers to the question of which vitamin helps vision. Vitamin E is also involved in the prevention of cataracts and macular degeneration. In addition to the vitamins we reviewed, keep in mind that lutein is also an invaluable aid to vision. It supports eye health for age-related problems.

The article is for information only and does not replace consultation with a doctor!

How dandelions make decisions

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How dandelions make decisions

An international team of scientists has studied the biological processes in dandelions and discovered the mechanism by which they “make decisions”, writes the journal “Nature Communications”.

Dandelions are known to respond to changes in weather. When it is dry and windy, they open their “parachutes” with seeds – ready to fly and cover a distance of up to 100 kilometers, or close them when it rains. Until recently, however, this mechanism has not been studied.

Each dandelion seed is connected by a thin tube with about 100 hairs that form a parachute-like structure.

It turns out that parachutes are opened or closed with the help of a type of drive that converts signals into motion, without losing energy in the process.

The signals to the propulsion mechanism come directly from the parachutes, which analyze the humidity. This means that they “decide” whether to stay in place or fly when the weather is dry.

For the purposes of the study, the specialists placed dandelions in a room with controlled humidity. The changes that have taken place in the plants have been recorded with the help of a high-speed camera and a microscope.

Researchers have found that the propulsion mechanism has a unique radial structure to which the hairs of the parachutes are attached to allow them to move simultaneously. When its shape changes, the hairs begin to move and the parachutes open or close.

Knowing what makes dandelions spread can help scientists understand how plants respond to climate change, as well as creating new “soft” robots.

A referendum in the Zaporozhye region to join Russia

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Residents of the city of Zaporozhye are currently unable to vote, authorities said

Preparations for a referendum on Ukraine’s accession to the Zaporozhye region have begun. The process is undergoing technical processing, and the final date has not yet been determined. This was stated on June 8 to TASS by Artyom Charlay, assistant to a member of the General Council of the military-civil administration of the district.

“Technical issues are currently being worked out – when to do it, how to do it. We are currently working on this issue because a significant part of the area, where almost half of the population lives, is controlled by the West, by the Nazis. city ​​of Zaporozhye at the moment can not vote, because if they say “yes”, if they say “we want to join Russia”, they will immediately be taken to the torture rooms of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), people live there in fear, “he said.

Charlay added that the question of whether it is right to hold a referendum before the “complete liberation” of the Zaporozhye region is also being discussed. According to him, if an electronic system for voting in the referendum is organized, the inhabitants of the territories controlled by the Ukrainian army will again not be able to vote due to the broken mobile and internet connection.

Earlier, the member of the Main Council of the military-civil administration of the district Vladimir Rogov announced that about 70% of the territory of Zaporozhye district is “liberated”, ie. is under the control of Russian forces. At the same time, however, the regional center remains under the control of the Ukrainian army – the city of Zaporozhye, where almost half of the region’s population lives.

To accompany their father in the underworld. Archaeologists find remains of Tutankhamun’s children

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As it turned out, all this time the find was practically under the noses of the researchers – in the tomb of the pharaoh himself.

Almost 100 years have passed since British archaeologists discovered the lost tomb of the famous ruler Tutankhamun. Searching the Valley of the Kings, where the great Egyptian pharaohs were buried, Howard Carter solved the age-old question of where the boy-king of ancient society lay and quenched the interest of many people, writes Express.

Since the initial discovery, several breakthroughs have been made in research into Tutankhamun’s tomb. Upon discovering Tutankhamen’s resting place, Carter discovered the mummified remains of two children, but at that time DNA identification technology did not exist, so the remains were safely hidden.

They were named 317a and 317b, and each had its own set of inner and outer mummy-shaped coffins, almost identical in design but differing in size.

In the course of their new study, scientists made a DNA analysis, which surprised them very much. As it turned out, these girls were most likely the daughters of Tutankhamen. Both were stillborn, one at the age of about 4 months, the second was almost full-term.

“In the ancient world, the mortality rate of infants and children was so high that it is not surprising. But the fact that they were carefully mummified, wrapped and placed in these coffins and placed in the tomb of their father, that’s what is unusual,” said Egyptologist Salima Ikram from American University in Cairo.

The fact that the bodies of the girls were buried with the pharaoh indicates that there is not only a practical reason for this, but also a ritual one.

Although scientists don’t yet know why the girls were buried next to Tutankhamun, Egyptologist Dr. Joyce Tyldesley said they were most likely some kind of “protector” of their father in the other world. The ancient Egyptians were interested in successfully entering the afterlife, and would not take only one thing with them to protect themselves along the way.

In the end, Tutankhamun was found buried with some 5,000 items, all of which were meant to accompany him to the afterlife, and each had some purpose or function.

“Tutankhamen was very rich, so he could easily afford a separate tomb for his daughters. Therefore, the fact that their bodies were buried with him indicates that there is not only a practical reason for this, but also a ritual one,” explained Tyldesley.

Germany presented its new tank

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Its name is a reference to the Second World War

Rheinmetall has introduced the latest German tank, called the Panther KF51. The name is a reference to one of the most capable tanks in World War II – Panzerkampfwagen V Panther. This armored vehicle was created in response to the Soviet T-34.

Panther KF51, in turn, is a worthy opponent of the latest Russian tank T-14 “Armata”.

Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, the government in Berlin announced that it would invest 100 billion euros in its army. However, the development of the new German tank dates back several years.

The biggest novelty in the Panther KF51 is the possibility of its robotics. The dome of the combat machine can be controlled remotely and there is no need for a separate operator. This reduced the tank crew by one person.

The cannon of the new “Panther” is the largest placed in a modern tank. It is 130 mm and optimized with a number of auxiliary electronic systems to increase accuracy.

By comparison, the last German Leopard-2 tank is armed with a 120-mm cannon, and Russian tanks are equipped with a 125-mm cannon.

The Panther KF51 has a 50 percent longer range than the Leopard-2, and the larger caliber guarantees higher drilling power. According to Rheinmetall, the cannon has an unsurpassed rate of fire due to the operation of automatic loading. In addition, the tank can fire kamikaze drones HERO 120. The main gun is complemented by a 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun.

All weapons are connected to the fire control computer and equipped with an artificial intelligence system.

Panther KF51 relies on a crew of three, but planned upgrades will allow 100% remote control of the tank. The new Panther is also capable of serving as a control station for combat and reconnaissance drones.

The fully digital system allows each crew member to play the role of the other in the event of an injury.

Rheinmetall describes the tank as the first of its kind in terms of defense.

Panther KF51 has active protection, which neutralizes the ammunition fired at the tank. In addition, there is a jet and passive armor of the latest generation.

The weight of the new “Panther” is quite optimized and is about 59 tons. In comparison, the most modern version of the Leopard-2 weighed over 70 tons.

The drive is provided by a diesel engine with a power of 1,475 hp, and with one tank the tank can travel 500 km.

According to military analysts, the new tank, whose name suggests associations with the Wehrmacht, effectively puts an end to plans to create a new-generation joint German-French tank. Rheinmetall was dissatisfied with Paris’ leading position in development and its secondary role.

The Panther KF51 is expected to have very large export potential, but Berlin has not yet revealed the price of the tank.

Israeli politician: If all Arabs could disappear – get on an express train to Switzerland

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“If there was a button that could be pressed and all the Arabs could disappear – get on an express train to Switzerland, I would push it,” said Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana (pic.twitter.com/Edt6leIVC0)

An Israeli politician has been sharply criticized for saying on June 14, 2022 that if he could push a button and the Palestinians disappear, he would push it, the Associated Press reported.

Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana told high school students in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. In a statement recorded on video, he explained that the radically different views of Israelis and Palestinians on the conflict between them were a major obstacle to peace. Therefore, according to him, they have no choice but to live together.

“If there was a button that could be pressed and all the Arabs could disappear – get on an express train to Switzerland, I would push it,” he said in a video that aired on Israeli television. “But what to do, there is no such button.”

“That’s why we seem to be somewhat destined to live together on this earth,” he added.

Kahana is part of the nationalist Yamina (Right) party, which forms the basis of a ruling coalition of eight ideologically different parties. For the first time, a party of Israeli Arabs is coming to power.

In the past year since coming to power, the coalition, which has been plagued by ongoing problems, most notably the withdrawal of members of the ruling majority, has always presented itself as a symbol of Israeli-Arab understanding in a society where Jews and Palestinians often live separately. from each other and rarely come into contact with each other.

The issue of forced evictions is sensitive to Palestinians who were forced to flee their homes during the 1948 Israeli war. During the 1967 Middle East War, a new Palestinian deportation began.

Kahana’s words were condemned by Israeli MPs of Palestinian descent and representatives of the ruling coalition. Opposition MP Ahmad Tibi wrote in a comment on Twitter that he would make Kahana “disappear from the government and the Knesset (Israeli parliament)”. Michal Rosin, a coalition MP from the moderate Meretz (Energy) party, said such statements were “simply inadmissible”.

After the scandal erupted, Kahana wrote on Twitter that parts of his speech “were poorly worded.”

“In it, I explicitly mention that the Jewish and Arab populations will not go anywhere. We, as Jews and Arabs, must strive for peaceful coexistence. Our coalition is a bold step towards this goal,” he said.

CEC to French EU Presidency: Engage churches to bring peace in Ukraine

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CEC to French EU Presidency: Engage churches to bring peace in Ukraine

Press Release No:12/22
15 June 2022
Brussels

In a hybrid meeting on 7 June in Brussels with the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) highlighted Ukrainian church voices, emphasising the need to strength engagement of local religious communities in realising peace in Ukraine.

“The churches in Ukraine are widely respected and trusted, usually more than governmental institutions. This gives them a unique moral authority to promote peace,” said Dr Pavlo Smytsnyuk, director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the Ukrainian Catholic University.

“To actively promote peace, it is pertinent to engage Ukrainian religious communities, as well as their educational institutions and charities. They are able to spread the message of peace in places, inaccessible to political actors,” added Smytsnyuk, who joined the meeting online.

Archbishop Yevstratiy of Chernihiv and Nizhyn from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine reflected on how religion is used to give legitimacy to war, and as an excuse for Russian aggression. “Unfortunately, the idea of restoration of the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire has been used to justify the war,” said Archbishop Yevstratiy, deputy head of the Department of External Church Relations and spokesperson for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

“This neo-imperial idea with roots in the medieval idea of Moscow as the third Rome has been very unhelpful to say the least,” he added.

From left to right: Archbishop Yevstratiy of Chernihiv and Nizhyn and Dr Pavlo Smytsnyuk.

The two Ukrainians in the meeting underlined the continuing efforts of local churches and religious communities to prevent aggression, especially in the context of coexistence between religious and ethnic communities. They emphasised that both Ukrainian and Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine stand together against the war. “Ukraine is a plural society, where all religions cooperate under the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations, despite historic tensions, and together they support Ukrainian sovereignty,” they stressed.

“It is CEC’s unique role to highlight Ukrainian church voices, and convey their stance to the European political institutions,” said CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen. “Not only is this a legacy of CEC, bridgebuilding, promoting reconciliation and peace, but the focus in our current work: to build bridges between churches and the highest political level in Europe.” Since the onslaught of the war in February, CEC has been engaging deeply with the churches in Ukraine.

Together, with its Catholic partner the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), CEC has been traditionally involved with EU Council Presidencies, supported by Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which foresees dialogue between the EU and the churches, as well as religious associations or communities.

The meeting discussed in depth the role of religion in the Ukrainian conflict, which has been a concern to the French Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The meeting was hosted by Ms Pauline Dubarry, Deputy Head of Justice and Home Affairs at the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union and Mr Julien Cécillon, External Action, Advisor, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and attended also by Ms Katerina Pekridou, CEC Executive Secretary for theological dialogue.

Visit our page on Church response to Ukraine

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Naveen Qayyum
Communication Officer
Conference of European Churches
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Agriculture and Fisheries Council – to change course on pesticides

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Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 13 June 2022
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 13 June 2022 - Roundtable

Remarks by Commissioner Kyriakides during the Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) Council – to change course on pesticides.

Marc, Ministers,

Thank you for your intervention and non-paper.

We have been discussing pesticides since my first day in office.

In fact – much before my first day in office, as it was a capital issue for my hearing in the European Parliament.

You know very well that we are fully committed to presenting a proposal to change course on pesticides. 

This change of course on pesticides is not about banning their use.

It is about making sure we make all efforts to avoid their overuse.

It is about protecting human health, the environment and biodiversity by reducing the use and risk of chemical pesticides, where possible.

This is a simple premise that I believe we will all agree on.

And it is a commitment that all of you, and farmers in your countries, have already undertaken, with efforts being made.

Now it is time to do more together. There is a very simple reason why.

And that is because our citizens have been very clear: they want to see less pesticides used. There have been successful European Citizen Initiatives on this issue, we have heard this repeatedly in the Conference on the Future of Europe and I know this issue is also raised vocally in your countries.

Now is the time for our ambition to become reality, and translated into concrete, tangible and measurable actions.

I know many of you are concerned about setting pesticide reduction targets.

I am confident that together we can do this.

I am sure that we you see our proposal, you will see that many of your proposals are already taken into account.

We will take into account the historical progress achieved in your countries.

We will take into account your national specificities and your different starting points.

And we will ensure that we don’t propose on size fits all solutions.

I want to be clear: we will all have to make efforts if we are to get to a 50% reduction at EU level.

I understand the concerns raised about restricting pesticide use in sensitive areas. However, there is clear evidence that this measure would deliver benefits for human health and the environment.

I know we are asking a lot from our farmers and we must give them the tools to be able to achieve these goals.

Having low-risk alternatives on the market is critical.

With your support, we will speed up the assessment process of safer pesticides and increase the availability of low risk substances across the EU.

We are also prioritising the faster delivery of effective, viable and affordable low-risk alternatives, for example by improving approvals systems for micro-organisms. 

Ministers,

We face two challenges here.

First, to ensure that this transition only leaves behind unsustainable practices.

Not our consumers, and certainly not our farmers.

We have the instruments and means to make it so.

Second, to take action now, against a climate and biodiversity crisis that threatens our long-term food security.

We cannot continue business as usual.

Meeting both challenges requires concerted action from us all: national governments, the Commission, food producers, other actors in the food chain and consumers.

Now it’s time to take the tough decisions since we are answerable in the future for our children and grandchildren