Mediaboss Marketing

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said the continent cannot rely on American military support in the long run, reiterating his previous calls for establishing Europes own integrated military.

It becomes clear that we cannot rely on American defense support in the long run, Juncker told the Austrian Tiroler Tageszeitung newspaper.

Read more

Speaking about the current state of European affairs, he said Europe only became stronger and more inclined to stick together after the British voted to leave the EU in their landmark 2016 referendum.

The 27-member bloc, he said, is steadily recovering from the crises it has faced since 2015, including the mass influx of refugees and the surprise election of Donald Trump as US president.

The veteran politician has consistently suggested that Europe become less dependent on its transatlantic ally in terms of military support. In June, he argued the European Union should cease outsourcing defense matters.

The protection of Europe can no longer be outsourced. Even our biggest military powers and I could count them on one, maximum two cannot combat all the challenges and threats alone, he said at the Prague Defense and Security Conference.

Less than three percent of Europes troops are combat-ready and fit for deployment, he said, while alluding to the creation of European Defense Fund to conduct defense-related research.

Juncker said Washington now believes they are shouldering too much of the burden for their wealthy European allies, which in turn should make Europe more pro-active in defending their interests.

Calls for a greater European military integration have also been voiced by other senior officials. Hans-Peter Bartels, the German parliaments Commissioner for the Armed Forces, said in June there will be a European army in the end, destined to unite disorganized, technically fragmented and duplicate structures.

Read more

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also championed the move to create a joint defense force on a number of occasions. "We should list the issue of security as a priority, and we should start setting up a common European army," he said last August at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Polish, Czech and Slovak leaders in Warsaw.

Though the Treaty on European Union provides for substantial defense integration among member states, Europes own military structures remain embryonic.

There are several joint military formations operating under the auspices of the EU, including Eurocorps, formed by a Franco-German brigade, and a number of smaller battlegroups formed by specific countries across the continent.

The EU Military Staff (EUMS), which is attached to the office of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, oversees external deployments but does not act as a fully-fledged military HQ.

In June this year, the Council of Europe moved to create the so-called Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) to strengthen the EUMS. The new body will assume responsibility at the strategic level for the operational planning and conduct of the EUs non-executive military missions, the council said.

Link:
Europe cannot rely on US support to defend itself EU Commission chief - RT

The Tory activist slammed the European Union for failing to enforce a successful security policy to tackle terrorism because of its open borders.

Speaking to BBC Any Questions, Ms. Perrins questioned the ability of EU member states to address the threat of terrorism while maintaining free movement.

She said: "For too long in Europe, the borders have been far too porous. And the politicians and the elite, especially in Brussels and in Germany, are not willing to admit it.

GETTY/BBC

"Intelligence is probably your most important weapon when you are using unsophisticated weapons. Of course, it's very hard to have intelligence if you don't know who is entering your country."

Ms Perrins was discussing Thursday's terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, that saw 13 people killed and more than 100 injured they strolled around the Las Ramblas district of the city.

The EU should reconsider its current border security policy in order to guarantee the safety of its citizens, she said.

She said: "If you are a country, if you are a nation, you have to have borders. They have to be protected otherwise you don't have a clue who's coming in and out of the country."

Since 2015 Germany has been targeted by terrorists five times, including a similar attack to the one in Barcelona.

In 2016, 12 people died and 56 other injured when a car sped through the crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin.

Terror groups have successfully targeted five EU countries since the start of 2017.

Haras Rafiq, the CEO of counter-terrorism organisation Quilliam, said he was not surprised about the attack in Barcelona because Spain has had issues with terrorism "for a while".

He said: "We know that Spain has been a hub for financing ISIS and plots, recently there were people in April arrested for financing the France and Belgium plots.

"Also we know that Spain is a hub through which people are sent out to join ISIS and to return back to Europe and just because Spain hasn't had an attack for a while, it doesn't mean that all these things have been bubbling underneath."

In 2004, 192 people died when 10 bombs exploded on commuter trains during rush hour in the Spanish capital of Madrid.

Read the original post:
'They won't admit it!' EU savaged for security failures in wake of Barcelona attack - Express.co.uk

Big Bens iconic chimes should bong Britain out of the European Union on the day of Brexit, Leave-backing Tory MPs have said.

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said the bongs would be symbolically uplifting for the country as a row continues to grow over plans to silence the Great Bell for four years.

Earlier this week, Parliament said it would review plans to silence Big Ben for maintenance work to be carried out, after Prime Minister Theresa May joined a backlash against the move.

But the bongs will still be halted after noon on Monday so the work on the Elizabeth Tower and the clock and bell it houses can begin.

Earlier this year, Downing Street said Britain would leave the EU "when Big Ben bongs midnight" on March 29, 2019, the deadline for the two-year Article 50 withdrawal process.

But Commons authorities could not confirm when the chimes would start up again, or whether Big Ben would bong on Brexit day.

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Daily Mail: "I think Big Ben ought to be kept striking as much as possible during the repairs as long as it doesn't deafen the work force.

It would be symbolically uplifting for it to sound out our departure from the EU as a literally ringing endorsement of democracy."

Party colleague Peter Bone said: "Big Ben should bong when we come out of the EU, absolutely.

Big Ben maintenance man slams plans to silence clock as 'nonsense'

"We are being liberated from the European Union superstate and Britain will again be a completely self-governing country. Where will the eyes of the world be? On Parliament and Big Ben. It would be very strange if at midnight on that day it does not chime out, very bizarre. It is the heart of our nation."

And fellow Tory Andrew Bridgen added: "It would be very fitting if Big Ben was to chime us out of the EU. We need to go out with a boom as we regain a sovereign parliament once again."

A Commons spokesman said: "On Monday, following the 12 noon chimes, Big Ben's bongs will temporarily cease.

"We cannot yet give a confirmed date for when chiming will resume, however the intent is to maintain striking for important events, such as Remembrance Sunday and New Year's Eve.

"The clock mechanism will continue to function for the immediate future, and we will aim to have at least one working clock face visible throughout the works.

"When Parliament returns, the House of Commons Commission will consider the length of time that the bells will fall silent.

"Of course, any discussion will focus on undertaking the work efficiently, protecting the health and safety of those involved, and seeking to ensure resumption of normal service as soon as is practicable given those requirements."

If the bell does not bong for four years, it would be the longest period Big Ben has been silenced in its 157-year history.

The 13.7-tonne Great Bell was last stopped for maintenance in 2007 and before that was halted for two years in 1983 for refurbishment, but has been stopped on a number of other occasions since it first sounded in 1859.

Parliamentary officials have insisted workers' hearing would be put at "serious risk" if the bell continued chiming. They warned that those using the 100-metre-high scaffolding around the tower could also be startled by the 118-decibel bongs.

And they have dismissed suggestions the chimes could be restored during the hours that work is not being carried out as the process takes about half a day to complete.

The 29 million renovation includes the installation of a lift and repairs to the clock's hands, mechanism and pendulum.

View original post here:
Big Ben should bong Britain out of European Union, Brexit-backing MPs say - Evening Standard

Thats all kinds of scary. If theres one place on Earth that would be the worst possible spot for a giant volcanic chain, its beneath West Antarctica. Turns out, its not a great situation to have a bunch of volcanoes underneath a huge ice sheet.

In a discovery announced earlier this week, a team of researchers discovered dozens of them across a 2,200-mile swath of the frozen continent. Antarctica, if youre listening, please stop scaring us.

The study that led to the discoverywas conceived of by an undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, Max Van Wyk de Vries. With a team of researchers, he used radar to look under the ice for evidence of cone-shaped mountains that had disturbed the ice around them. They found 91 previously unknown volcanoes. We were amazed, Robert Bingham, one of the studys authors, told the Guardian.

The worry is that, as in Iceland and Alaska, two regions of active volcanism that were ice-covered until relatively recently, a warming climate could help these Antarctic volcanoes spring to life soon. In a worst-case scenario, the melting ice could release pressure on the volcanoes and trigger eruptions, further destabilizing the ice sheet.

The big question is: how active are these volcanoes? That is something we need to determine as quickly as possible, Bingham said.

Read the original here:
The European Union is considering an electric car mandate. - Grist

In May 2017, 120 grade 7 students from the Saida and Burj Shemali areas visited three newly renovated UNRWA health centres, all of which were rehabilitated and refurbished with European Union (EU) support: the Ein El Hilweh Health Centre II, the Saida Polyclinic and the Burj Shemali Health Centre. The aim of the visit was to teach students about the Agencys health-care services and see them in action, as well as to expand their knowledge of key health issues.

For Palestine refugees in Lebanon, access to affordable health services is difficult. Palestine refugees do not enjoy public health coverage in the Lebanese health system and are not recognized under any of the Ministry of Public Health programmes. On average, Palestine refugees spend around 12 per cent of their total expenditures on health (AUB Survey 2015). As such, the primary health-care services that UNRWA provides free of charge to Palestine refugees are critical, as are the Agencys efforts to raise awareness in the community about public health issues and our services.

The students visiting the health centres were accompanied by health tutors, who are sponsored through the EU regional trust fund 'MADAD,' and taken on an interactive tour of the health centres by the head nurse. The MADAD Fund is used by UNRWA to support the needs of Palestine refugee children from Syria in Lebanon and covers educational material (including health materials) and recreational activities. The Fund ensures the dignity of Palestine refugee students from Syria and that they receive quality and inclusive education. The Fund also promotes healthy living by supporting health tutors who lead the children through the health curriculum, which covers healthy eating, proper hygiene and oral health.

The students visiting the health centres engaged with the medical staff and learned about their operations and good health practices from the doctors. All of the participating students wrote about their experience you can read some of their accounts about what they learned during these visits below.

The European Union and UNRWA have been long-time partners in offering affordable and high-standard health care and providing a decent standard of living for the most vulnerable Palestine refugees through the rehabilitation of shelters and health centres. The three health centres were rehabilitated to better serve the needs of the camp inhabitants, allowing for better utilization of space and for the adaptation of the Family Health Team approach, focusing on the comprehensive history of the patient rather than treating the specific ailment and allowing for a more person-centered approach to their health-care needs.

BY FATIMA IDRIS

The Health Centre is an organization that delivers medical services to Palestine refugees in Burj Shemali camp. We visited the centre one day and the nurse, Sheikha, welcomed us with love and respect. We entered the first room and it was full of files and lockers for the patients who wanted to heal. Then we met all the doctors, and every doctor is assisted by a nurse. We also went into the drugs room that was filled with drugs, the dentists room, the delivery room and the laboratory. In my opinion, the Health Centre is perfect and has no problems. It helps keeps us and our families healthy and safe.

BY HALA ARDAT

I went with some students with our teacher Lina Jaafar and the health counsellor Zahra El Hussein to the UNRWA Health Centre to learn about its sections. When we got there, the chief nurse Sheikha welcomed us and updated us. She explained to us how patients are treated; each family has its own file. We went into all the rooms and learned about the changes they underwent. Each nurse has a specific room in which they treat the patients. I thank teacher Lina and Miss Zahra because I learned details about the Centre I did not know about.

BY HAMLEH OTHMAN

On May 3rd, 2017, we, the students in Grade 7, Qibya school, visited the UNRWA clinic in Ein El Hilweh camp. We listened to a lecture from the doctor in charge about the services that UNRWA secures for the Palestinian refugees. The doctor told us new information about personal [cleanliness], lice infection and healthy food. At the end, we [advise] other [classes] to visit the clinic in the future.

BY REEM MAHMOUD

On 3rd May, 2017, we made a visit to [Ein El Hilweh] camp to have a lecture about health education. One of the doctors gave us a lecture on three topics:

How to protect ourselves from lice infection Personal hygiene Healthy food At the end, many of us asked the doctor many questions. He was very kind and cooperative. We were very happy to have this kind of visit and hope we have similar visits in the future.

UNRWA HEALTH CARE IN LEBANON

UNRWA provides primary health-care services through 27 health centres in Lebanon, with 12 centres located inside the camps and 15 located in Lebanese cities and Palestinian gatherings in Lebanon. UNRWA provides a comprehensive package of both curative and preventive services, which include consultations with general practitioners, ante- and post-natal health care, family planning, and specialist care (e.g. cardiology, gynaecology and ophthalmology). Essential drugs and a range of simple diagnostic tests (laboratories and radiology) are also provided. In addition, with the influx of Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) into Lebanon since 2012, UNRWA has significantly expanded its beneficiary caseload for its health services, supporting some 32,000 PRS (as of December 2016) and providing them with direct access to basic primary health care and hospitalization services.

THE EU MADAD FUND

The EU regional trust fund MADAD provides concrete assistance for refugees and host communities for basic education and child protection, training and higher education, better access to health care, and improved water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as support for projects promoting resilience, economic opportunities and social inclusion in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

EU AND UNRWA: TOGETHER FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES

Since 1971, the European Union and UNRWA have maintained a strategic partnership governed by the shared objective to support the human development, humanitarian and protection needs of Palestine refugees and promote stability in the Middle East. Today, the European Union is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees. This reliable and predictable support from the European Union enables UNRWA to provide core services to more than 5 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza, including quality education for roughly half a million children and primary health care for more than 3.5 million patients. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are also among the largest contributors to the Agencys humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. The partnership between the European Union and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be better educated, live healthier lives, access employment opportunities and improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of the entire region.

Follow this link:
UNRWA and the European Union promote good health practices among Palestine refugee students in Lebanon - ReliefWeb