During a ceremony at the European Parliament Office in Valletta today, the President of the European Parliament and the Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, signed a Letter of Intent as a sign of Parliament’s strong commitment to boost cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus.
On the occasion, President Metsola said: “This is a strong signal of Parliament’s determination to strengthen our ties, to manifest our support for the democratic forces and civil society of Belarus, in their struggle for a free, independent and democratic country.”
Before the ceremony, President Metsola and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a bilateral meeting during which they discussed the urgent need for the democratic world to stand firmly and in solidarity with the democratic forces in Belarus.
“Belarus will not become the forgotten corner of Europe,” said President Metsola.
In her comments, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and the Members of the European Parliament for providing practical and tailored support to the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society.
Both leaders called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus.
As we approach the European Elections in June, Parliament’s press services will be publishing a weekly newsletter, highlighting the main election-related news of the week so that you don’t miss anything or need a reminder of what information is available and where to find it. The Newsletter will be published each Friday until 7 June.
Mark your calendars
Brussels’ EU institutions open their doors to the public on Saturday 4 May.
On8 and 9 May, landmark buildings across the EU will be illuminated to mark Europe Day and “one month to go” to the last day of voting.
The official Eurovision debate between the lead candidates for the job of European Commission President will take place in the Brussels plenary chamber on 23 May – click here for information on how journalists can watch or attend this debate – they have until 16 May to reserve a seat in the chamber or book audiovisual services and facilities.
From 6 to 9 June European citizens elect Members of the European Parliament. The results will be available in real time on the European elections results website. Journalists can also follow the results live in Brussels where the plenary chamber will be converted into a pressroom. Find more information here – the deadline to submit requests for a place in the chamber on election night is 24 May.
Use Your Vote or others will decide for you
The European Parliament launched the second phase of its campaign this week and released a 4-minute “Use your Vote” film featuring senior citizens from different EU countries sharing their stories with the younger generation, highlighting that democracy should never be taken for granted.
Additional campaign material is available to download and use here.
Good to know
What does the European Parliament look like at the end of the 9th legislature (2019-2024)? Did you know that 60% of MEPs in the 9th legislature were new? How did the turnout evolve since 1979, when MEPs were directly elected for the first time? The EPRS recently updated their “Facts and figures” briefing which provides a broad range of key data about the Parliament – including a historical perspective.
Partnerships
The European Parliament works with civil society organisations to increase and widen its messaging to different audiences. We are in contact with more than 500 pan-European umbrella organisations and many others at national level who have promoted EU values and the importance of the European elections. Some of these organisations are signatories of the partnership agreement, making them communication partners for the European elections. On 6 May, President Metsola will meet with them to mark this achievement.
The Press Tool Kit contains information on this and much more.
In other news
Professional journalists whose work has been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries can submit their entries to the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for journalism. Every year, this prize rewards outstanding journalism which promotes or defends the EU’s core principles and values. Journalists can submit their articles here by 31 July 2024, 12PM (CET).
The Prize rewards on a yearly basis outstanding journalism that promotes or defends the core principles and values of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Journalists must be free to do their work. That is non-negotiable. Each year the European Parliament renews its commitment to uphold media and press freedom, in tribute to the fearless journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Daphne was assassinated, but her spirit endures in the work of journalists who, just like her, champion truth, pluralism and justice. This prize belongs to them”.
The Prize is open to professional journalists and teams of professional journalists of any nationality, who can submit in-depth pieces that have been published or broadcast by media based in one of the 27 EU countries. The aim is to support and highlight the importance of professional journalism in safeguarding human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, and human rights.
An independent jury composed of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member states, as well as representatives of the main European Associations of Journalism, will choose the winning entry. The award ceremony takes place each year around 16 October, the date Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated.
The prize and the €20 000 prize money demonstrates the European Parliament’s strong support for investigative journalism and the importance of a free press. Over the last few years, Parliament has warned about attempts both in the EU and beyond to undermine media pluralism.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist who reported extensively on corruption, money laundering, organised crime, sale of citizenship and the Maltese government’s links to the Panama Papers. Following harassment and threats, she was murdered in a car bomb explosion on 16 October 2017. The outcry over the authorities’ handling of her murder investigation ultimately prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Critical of failings in the investigation, in December 2019, MEPs called on the European Commission to take action.
Europol announced in The Hague that a gang of experienced thieves of valuable antiquarian books had been broken, DPA reported.
Nine Georgians have been arrested during actions in Georgia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and France, the law enforcement agency of the European Union announced.
The gang was responsible for the theft of at least 170 books, causing about 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) in damage and “immeasurable legacy loss to society,” Europol said.
Some of the books were auctioned in St. Petersburg and Moscow, “making them virtually irretrievable,” the EU law enforcement agency added.
Thieves have focused on rare books by Russian authors such as first editions of Pushkin and Gogol.
About 100 agents were deployed in Georgia and Latvia, searching 27 locations. They seized 150 books to check their provenance.
Describing the gang’s modus operandi, Europol said the thieves visited libraries asking to see the antiquarian books, then photographed and carefully measured them.
Weeks or even months later, they return with a similar request, this time to exchange painstakingly crafted copies for the antiquarian books.
Experts have found that the copies were of exceptional quality.
In other cases, they simply break in to steal the books they’ve checked out in the past.
The international investigation began after a request for information from France prompted other countries to report stolen books.
Illustrative Photo by Suzy Hazelwood: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stacked-books-1333742/
The whole world is waiting for the Olympic Games in Paris, which are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 this year. The French capital is preparing to welcome more tourists than ever – a mix of sports lovers and culture connoisseurs. At the same time, for the first time in 6 years, the Louvre raised the price of the entrance ticket.
The museum’s annual financial report showed that revenue from ticket sales at the Louvre for the past year amounted to 76.5 million euros. This covers only a quarter of the operating costs, the rest being financed by the Ministry of Culture and other sources, including sponsors.
The museum team emphasized that more than half of French visitors enter for free, as entry is free for people under 25, the unemployed, the socially disadvantaged, the disabled and their guardians, teachers, cultural specialists and journalists.
The director of the Louvre, Laurence de Carre, said that 80% of visitors to the museum come to see the “Mona Lisa” and take pictures with her. That is why the Louvre foresees another change – the masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci, which is now located in the most spacious hall of the museum, will be exhibited in a separate room.
Regarding the upcoming World Olympics, Laurent de Carre states that the Louvre is proud to be associated with the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. On this occasion, the museum will encourage the dialogue between sport and art with special events.
A thematic exhibition will present the development of the Olympic movement from Greek antiquity to the present day.
Visitors will discover how and in what political context the first modern Olympic Games came into being in the late 19th century, the iconographic sources on which they were based, and how the organizers set out to recreate the sporting competitions of ancient Greece.
The museum is also planning something surprising – sports training, dance and yoga sessions in the gallery spaces. These events will be part of the city program accompanying the Olympic Games. An amazing chance to exercise surrounded by masterpieces of fine art and sculpture.
Details of the special sessions and the museum’s new Olympics-themed exhibition are available on its website.
Illustrative Photo by Silvia Trigo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-the-louvre-museum-in-paris-france-2675266/
Since February, authorities have imposed a series of new taxes and charges at border crossings and within the country.
These measures have impacted over 60,000 people, particularly in remote areas where humanitarian operations are already limited. This number is expected to rise to 145,000 by the end of May if the measures remain in place.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, underscored the urgent situation, stating that UN agencies have been forced to halt lifesaving airdrops of food assistance due to dwindling fuel supplies.
“We call on the Government of South Sudan to uphold all agreements with humanitarians, including our NGO [non-governmental organizations] partners, and immediately remove new taxes and fees so that we can continue to support people in need,” she said on Sunday.
Her office further noted that the new taxes contravene the Status of Forces Agreement signed by individual agencies with the South Sudanese Government as well as Section 7 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN, which exempts the UN from all direct taxes and duties on imports of supplies for its official use.
According to the Humanitarian Coordinator’s office, the new measures would increase the cost of food assistance and the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) operations by $339,000 per month.
This amount could otherwise be used to feed over 16,300 people for a month.
“It is vital that our limited funds are spent on saving lives and not bureaucratic impediments,” she stressed.
Government assurances
Ms. Gbeho acknowledged assurances by many members of the Government of South Sudan that humanitarians are exempt.
However, there have been no written commitments to date, her office added.
Humanitarian situation
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains dire, with approximately nine million people, including 1.6 million children, requiring assistance and protection due to ongoing insecurity and conflict.
Since the war in Sudan began in April 2023, coupled with violence and the cessation of food distribution in parts of Ethiopia, thousands of people have returned to South Sudan, often arriving in underdeveloped areas as highly vulnerable populations.
Despite increasing needs, funding for humanitarian efforts remains inadequate. The $1.8 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2024, aimed at supporting six million of the most vulnerable, is currently only 18.5 per cent funded.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets for days to protest the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which would require media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving more than 20 per cent of funding from abroad to register as “organizations acting in the interest of a foreign power”.
Mr. Türk voiced concern over reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against demonstrators and media personnel in the capital, Tbilisi, this week.
He urged the authorities to fully respect and protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Any restrictions to these rights must abide by principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. The use of force during protests should always be exceptional and a measure of last resort when facing an imminent threat,” he said.
Investigate abuses, drop charges
Mr. Türk called on the authorities to conduct prompt and transparent investigations into all allegations of ill-treatment during or after protests or in detention.
“All those who were detained arbitrarily for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be released immediately. Charges against them must also be dropped,” he said.
At the same, he appealed for demonstrators and protest organizers to exercise their rights peacefully and not to resort to violence.
The UN rights chief called on the authorities to withdraw the draft law and engage in dialogue, including with civil society and media organizations.
“Labelling NGOs and media outlets receiving foreign funding as ‘organizations acting in the interest of a foreign power’ poses serious threats to the rights to freedom of expression and association,” he said.
The gaming industry has witnessed the rise and fall of various consoles over the years. From Nintendo’s groundbreaking innovations to Sony’s dominance in the market, each era has brought its own set of challenges and triumphs. In this article, we’ll delve into the evolution of consoles, highlighting key moments and assessing their impact on gaming culture.
Gaming consoles. Illustrative photo. Image credit: cottonbro studio via pexels.com, free license
Nintendo, originally a trading card and toy company, made its mark in the gaming industry with the release of the Color TV-Game series, followed by the iconic NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). Despite the limitations of first-generation consoles, Nintendo’s focus on historical importance and game quality laid the foundation for future success.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES): pushing boundaries
The SNES introduced advanced technology like Mode 7 graphics and refined gameplay, setting a new standard for 2D platforming. With classic titles like Super Mario World and innovative features, the SNES solidified Nintendo’s position as a leader in the industry.
Nintendo’s ups and downs
From N64 to Wii U Nintendo faced challenges with the N64 due to its proprietary cartridges and limited third-party support. Despite notable titles like Ocarina of Time and Mario 64, the system fell short in some areas. The GameCube marked a turnaround with improved developer relations, but the Wii U struggled to find its footing, overshadowed by competitors.
The Switch: Nintendo’s hybrid success
The Nintendo Switch revitalized the handheld gaming market with its innovative design and impressive game library. Offering versatility and portability, the Switch garnered widespread acclaim and became a top choice for gamers worldwide.
Sony’s entry: The PlayStation revolution
Sony’s foray into gaming began with the PlayStation, challenging industry norms and reshaping the landscape. Despite initial setbacks, the PlayStation’s extensive game library and technological advancements propelled it to unprecedented success.
PlayStation 2: a cultural phenomenon
The PS2 emerged as a cultural phenomenon, boasting backward compatibility and a diverse range of titles. With record-breaking sales and a vast library of games, the PS2 solidified its status as the best-selling console of all time.
Sony’s evolution: PS3 to PS5
The PS3 faced challenges initially but rebounded with standout exclusives and improved performance. The PS4 continued Sony’s winning streak, dominating the market with its gaming-focused approach. As the PS5 enters the scene, Sony aims to build on its legacy while adapting to changing trends.
Microsoft’s journey: from Xbox to Xbox Series X
Microsoft entered the gaming arena with the Xbox, leveraging its strengths in technology and online services. The Xbox 360 further solidified Microsoft’s presence, offering a robust gaming experience and expanding its reach. However, missteps with the Xbox One led to setbacks, paving the way for renewed focus with the Xbox Series X.
Other contenders: Atari, Sega, and beyond
Atari and Sega played pivotal roles in shaping gaming history, with consoles like the Atari 2600 and Sega Genesis leaving a lasting impact. While some systems achieved success, others faltered due to poor decisions and lackluster libraries.
Conclusion
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, the legacies of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft endure, shaping the future of interactive entertainment. With each new console generation, players embark on a journey filled with innovation, nostalgia, and endless possibilities.
After Venice introduced a visitation fee and the Cinque Terre made the area’s tourist routes one-way, now another Italian city is entering the battle against overtourism. Finding the best ice cream while walking through the small streets of Milan is part of the experience not only for tourists but also for the residents of Italy’s fashion capital. But soon that will change.
However, a new law could put an end to this long-standing tradition. Marco Granelli, the city’s deputy mayor for security, recently announced plans to ban the sale of takeaway food and drink after midnight to preserve “peace” in 12 of the city’s busiest neighborhoods, CNN reported.
“Our goal is to seek a balance between sociability and entertainment and the peace and health of residents,” Grenelli wrote on social media. He added: “We believe in the living city, where both young and old have spaces they can share together.”
The ban, which the city says is necessary to deal with excessive noise in residential areas, will also prevent establishments from serving food and drink outside between 12:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and between 1:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekends.
Critics say the ban goes against Italian culture and are calling for the law to be changed. If approved, the ban would go into effect as early as next month and last until November, after the busy tourist season ends.
Milan’s gelaterias are known as some of the best in the world. According to Luca Finardi, general manager of the city’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Italians passionately debate which gelateria is the best in town.
“We all have at least one we prefer,” he says. Brera, the city’s arts district, and Garibaldi, known for its high-end shopping, are among the 12 areas in the city expected to be controlled by the new rules.
The other districts are: Nolo, Lazzareto, Melzo, Isola, Sarpi, Cesariano, Arco della Pace, Corso Como-Gae Aulenti, Tichinese and Darsena-Navigli.
Fine for buying pizza
For some, sanctions are too radical a step. Marco Barbieri, secretary general of the Milan branch of the Italian retail association Confcommercio, told CNN that the ban goes against “common sense”.
“If an Italian family goes out for pizza and then wants to go for a walk and eat ice cream, they will be fined under this ordinance,” he says. He accepts that some residents are disturbed by the noise, but adds that there is room for compromise, such as keeping parks and other spaces open for longer.
“In Milan, there are many areas that are perfect for ‘movida’ (parties) that will not disturb the residents, they should be open later, not close earlier,” he says.
Barbieri also thinks midnight is too early to stop sales. He says most young people in Milan don’t even think about going out for dinner before 10pm, especially on summer evenings.
The expert is adamant that the new proposal will be accepted, but he hopes it will be in a modified form. “We’re hoping they’ll take ice cream, water and pizza off the list. Leave the late-night alcohol ban,” he says.
However, a change in the law is not guaranteed. Similar plans to tighten the ban were proposed by local authorities back in 2013, but had to be abandoned after a significant public backlash and the formation of a protest movement called “Occupy Gelato”.
It is unclear whether there will be the same level of resistance this time around. Town residents have until next week to have their say on the new proposal before the fate of the late-night ice cream walk is finally decided.
Illustrative Photo by Muffin Creatives: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-person-holding-pizza-1653877/
The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, reached one of its now-abandoned schools in Khan Younis at the weekend, where thousands of people appeared to have left at a moment’s notice, fearing further intense Israeli bombardment.
“They used to shelter inside the school yard here, inside the classrooms, using all the external space. Now, there’s nothing left. Everybody evacuated very quickly,” said UNRWA communications officer Louise Wateridge.
Writing in a social media post on X that abandoned children’s shoes were “everywhere” at the school, the UNRWA officer also pointed to rubble and smashed concrete blocks that fell from the roof after a direct hit.
Lives upended
“There’s nobody here now, but you can see how quickly people left. There’s shoes on the floor, there’s hairbrushes, toothbrushes, even bits of food just left behind,” Ms. Wateridge said, her mobile phone footage indicating massive damage to buildings next to the UNRWA facility, including a block whose entire top floor had been upended and smashed wide open.
At a training centre in Khan Younis, where she said that at least 40,000 people sheltered when it came under direct fire and was subsequently besieged, she described “entire rooms burnt out, belongings scattered everywhere…Graves of children in the yard read “Your sister misses you’”.
Lasting impact
According to UNRWA, the war in Gaza has impacted 165 of its installations in the enclave since Israeli strikes began in response to Hamas-led attacks on 7 October that killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and left more than 250 taken hostage.
The latest data from the Gazan health authorities indicate that at least 34,480 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing violence and more than 77,640 wounded. As part of the continuing UN humanitarian response, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – which said that over 13,000 youngsters have been reportedly killed – has distributed more than 203,000 items of clothing for newborns to 17-year-olds.
UNICEF has reported that at least 17,000 children in Gaza are now unaccompanied or separated from their family after nearly seven months of war, with at least seven in 10 houses believed damaged or destroyed.
