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Glitter, glam, and ethnic nationalism: The tricky politics of the South Caucasus come to Eurovision.

Place:         Justus Lipsius building, Brussels

Chair(s):    Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

All times are approximate and subject to change

 

+/- 14.45 ttbc   Doorstep by High Representative Mogherini

+/- 15.00           Beginning of the Foreign Affairs Council (Development) meeting

                           Adoption of the agenda

                           Adoption of A Items

+/- 15.30           Post 2015/Financing for Development  

+/- 17.00           Gender and Development

+/- 17.30           Migration and Development 

+/- 18.30           Capacity Building in support of Security and Development 

+/- 19.30           Dinner with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Tuesday 26 May 2015

16.45 Meeting with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer 

Wednesday 27 May 2015

16.30 Meeting with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (photo opp)

Thursday 28 May 2015

Tokyo
18.00 Opening of the EU Film Days 2015 in Japan 

Friday 29 May 2015

Tokyo
14.00  Audience with the Emperor Akihito of Japan 

EU-Japan summit
18.00 Plenary meeting
19.00 Press conference
19.15 Working dinner

On 22 May 2015 the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Council (Coreper) endorsed the terms of an agreement between the Latvian presidency and European Parliament representatives on the reform of the Travel Package Directive. The Competitiveness Council will be invited to confirm the political agreement at its meeting on 28 May.  

The new directive will update current EU rules on package holidays by aiming to adapt to travel market developments in order to meet the needs of consumers and businesses in the digital era.  

Current rules for package travel are difficult to apply in the digital age where consumers are increasingly booking customised packages online, either from one trader or several traders commercially linked. This often leaves buyers uncertain about their level of protection and traders unclear about their obligations. 

For that reason, the  new directive will extend the protection for traditional packages to combinations of separate travel services, in particular if sold online. 

Furthermore, the new rules will increase transparency and strengthen consumer protection in relation to: 

• packages where two or more travel services are purchased either from the same trader on a website or from a high street travel agent under one contract;
• "click-through" sales where two or more services are purchased from multiple on-line traders under separate contracts but where the traveller's name, e-mail address and payment details are transferred directly between traders within 24 hours; and
• linked travel arrangements, where at least two different travel services which are sold by a trader facilitating the travel arrangements for the purpose of the same trip or holiday.

 The future directive will contain other main features such as: 

 Improved pre-contractual information requirements. Before the conclusion of the package travel contract the traveller will be entitled to get clear and concise information on the main rights and obligations including specific standard information on the envisaged package travel or corresponding offer. 

Fairer and more predictable prices for package travels, with stricter controls on price changes (termination rights in case of price increase more than 8% and a requirement to pass on price reductions in equivalent circumstances). 

Improved termination rights. Travellers will enjoy more flexibility by being able to terminate the contract before the start of the trip. In that case the traveller may be required to pay to  the organiser an appropriate and justifiable termination fee. Travellers will be able to terminate the contract free of charge, before the departure in the event of natural disasters, civil unrest or similar serious situations at the destination that would significantly affect the holidays. 

Higher protection in cases where the traveller's return is impossible because of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. Travellers will be entitled to compensation of up to three nights accommodation if they can not return home. 

More effective rules on insolvency protection for travellers in case of the trader's insolvency. A network of central contact points in the member states will be created to facilitate cross-border cooperation. 

Stricter liability of traders in case of underperformance of the package. The directive also lays down rules for cases of lack of conformity of the package, alternative arrangements, termination of the contract, repatriation or compensation of damages. 

The new conditions will also favour a level playing field for businesses by harmonising rules, removing obstacles to cross-border trade. This will open up more opportunities for companies, particularly SMEs, to expand their activities across borders. 

This will generate a broader choice for booking holiday products and may therefore lead to cheaper prices for consumers.   

Good afternoon. Before anything else, let me first express my sincere gratitude to honestly host, to you Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma and to the Latvian Presidency, for all the work undertaken in preparing the Summit. I am glad to see such a high level of participation from all. It sends a very strong message about our commitment to the Eastern Partnership.
 
This message of our continued, consistent and strong commitment to the Eastern Partnership and each of our partner countries is the main message of this summit. And it is a necessary message in light of the last years' turmoil, aggression, intimidation and even war in this part of Europe. The Eastern Partnership is our framework of engagement that offers closer political association and economic cooperation with the European Union. It is based on mutual interests and commitments as well as the free will, sovereignty and independence of all parties.
 
Today, we all reaffirmed our common interest to continue developing strengthened, closer, differentiated relations with each of our partners to help them become more resilient in the face of increasing challenges to stability and security in the region and to make sovereign choices. Strengthened and more transparent institutions, free from corruption, will make our partners stronger and help us maintain the Eastern Partnership relevant for all. This is the second main message of the summit.
 
During the summit we took stock of achievements we have witnessed since Vilnius and set out a positive agenda for the future.
 
Since the Vilnius Summit, we have signed Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (AA/DCFTAs) with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. This has brought our cooperation to a new level. The AA/DCFTAs are already provisionally applied, except for the DCFTA part for Ukraine which will enter into force as of 1 January 2016.
 
We reviewed the early stages of the implementation of AA/DCFTAs and demonstrated our strong commitment to deepen our cooperation.
 
We reiterated our support to others who are seeking more tailor-made relations. We have reached an understanding with Armenia on the scope of our future relationship. We should also be able to take some steps forward in deepening our critical engagement with Belarus. And we have received Azerbaijan's suggestions regarding the renewal of the contractual basis for its relations with the EU.
 
Let me stress that the Eastern Partnership is more than just the sum of our bilateral relations. Our multilateral framework will continue to be critical to keeping our partnership together.
 
Over the past six years the multilateral dimension of the EaP has established a dense network of contacts, e.g. through Informal Partnership Dialogues. We have taken the Eastern Partnership beyond governments, to parliaments, local authorities, civil society and businesses. And today we confirmed our intention to make energy and transport cooperation distinct priorities for the coming years.
 
Overall, we agreed to advance our cooperation in those areas which bring tangible benefits to our partners' societies and economies, in particular in state building, mobility and people-to-people contacts, market opportunities and interconnections.
 
With regard to mobility issues, we welcome the positive impact the visa-free regime with Moldova has had on travel and people-to-people contacts, with around 500,000 people having benefited from this opportunity during its first year. Progress is also being made with Armenia and Belarus. With regard to Georgia and Ukraine, which are the closest in line to achieve the objective of visa-free travel, President Juncker and myself are determined to be as ambitious as possible in terms of seeing this process to a successful finalisation. But it is of course also up to Georgia and Ukraine to set the pace when it comes to fulfilling the necessary steps.
 
We also agreed to continue to improve our communication efforts to better explain the benefits of the Partnership to the general public.
 
In addition I praise the fruitful meetings of side events in the margins of the Riga Summit: The Business Forum, Civil Society Conference and Media Conference.
 
To conclude - and repeat. The European Union is a partner for the long-haul. Our partnership, as well as the Riga Summit itself, are not about dramatic decisions or taking giant steps forward. No, our relationship is built on free will, respect and equality. And our partnership will go forward step-by-step,  just as the European Union has been built. Through concrete progress on matters such as trade, energy, transport, mobility and reforms our partnership will grow increasingly closer and offer by far the best prospects for Europe as a whole.

Thank you

With the deadly suicide bombing of a Saudi mosque, the Islamic State may be debuting a new strategy: lone-wolf attacks inside the kingdom.

Obstetric fistula is a devastating yet completely preventable and, in many cases, treatable injury of childbirth, affecting at least two million women and girls worldwide and leaving them isolated from communities, the United Nations spotlighted ahead of the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 22,2015 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Ethiopian government has continued to evacuate thousands of citizens who are stranded in Yemen's roiling violence.

Spokes person for the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs, Tewelde Mulgeta on Thursday said some 2,000 nationals have arrived home during the past week alone.

Up on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole international Airport, the repatriates are being welcomed on daily basis by government officials from the ministry of foreign affairs.

Approached by Sudan Tribune, arrivals, who most are women were overwhelmed with gratitude to the urgent response by the Ethiopian government and called for more coordinated effort to evacuate for those thousands who remained behind.

According to the government official, hundreds more will be repatriated via Saudi Arabia in the weeks to come.

The repatriation operation is underway in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The horn of Africa's nation intends to evacuate at least 50,000 Ethiopians stranded following the fighting erupted in March between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted president.

According to the UN refugee agency at least some 200,000 refugees from the east African region are trapped in Yemen left almost with no option for escape route.

Every month hundreds of Ethiopians and thousands of others from Eritrea and Somalia take dangerous sea journeys to Yemen, a country seen as a gate way to the wealthier Arab nation of Saudi Arabia where they hope to get a lucrative job.

However thousands of them every year drown and perish at the Arabian Sea off the coast of Yemen while travelling in a crowded and unsafe boats.

(ST)

May 22, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The South Sudanese rebel faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, claimed their forces have captured Mundri town in Western Equatoria state.

Western Equatoria's information minister Charles Kisanga (ST/File photo)

“The spokesperson in the office of the chairman and commander-in-chief,SPLM/SPLA, do hereby announce the capture today [Friday] of Mundri town in Western Equatoria state by our gallant forces under the overall command of Major General Elias Lako Jada,” Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak said in a statement issued on Friday evening.

He said Mundri town, about 200km west of the country's capital, was strategic since it links Juba to the state capital, Yambio.

“We congratulate our freedom fighters for the victory,” said Dak, adding that more details on the matter would follow later.

But Western Equatoria's information minister, Charles Kisanga dismissed the rebels' claims, saying the entire Mundri county remains under government control.

TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL KILLED

Meanwhile, a top state official was Friday killed after unknown gunmen opened fire at his convey as he returned from the scene of an earlier attack in Mundri West county.

Kisanga said the executive director for Mundri West, John Keliopa met his fate after visiting the scene where government troops traveling to Lakes state were attacked.

“The council [of ministers] agreed unanimously that this was another assassination of a top Western Equatoria official, condemned it in the strongest term possible and ordered thorough investigation into the killing”, Kisanga told Sudan Tribune Friday.

He said the council of state ministers, during their emergency meeting, further discussed the deteriorating security situation in the state, especially around Mundri.

“Since yesterday the security situation around Mundri was very fluid, particularly in the evening after some SPLA soldiers arrived in the area using Maridi roads junction and set camp for night on their way to Lakes state,” Kisanga disclosed.

The minister said an attack on SPLA soldiers occurred Friday night at about 2:00 am [local time], resulting into two fatalities and some injuries.

“In the morning, the commissioner plus the executive director, John Keliopa rushed to the scene to investigate the shooting and deaths and see how to take the bodies of the dead soldiers to Mundri. While at the scene, unknown gunman opened fire on the officials and resulting in fatal shooting of the executive director”, he explained.

DECEASED HAILED

State officials described the late Keliopa as a hero who stood for justice among citizens, citing his stand on insecurity caused by cattle keepers in Mundri last year.

The former executive director acted as the Mundri West commissioner when the latter resigned earlier this year and served until the current commissioner was appointed.

He reportedly faced several threats from various communities, but maintained steadfast.

(ST)

May 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said it repulsed a government attack on Thursday in Kalgo area, 45 km west of the Blue Nile state capital, Ed Damazin.

SPLM-N leader and SRF chairman Malik Agar (photo SPLM-N)

Earlier this month, SPLM-N said it repulsed an attack carried out by the Sudanese army backed by 18 military vehicles against the town of Kalgo in Bau in county. They also claimed to have repulsed a third attack against the same area on 23 April.

The SPLM-N has been fighting the Sudanese army and their aligned militias in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since June 2011.

The rebel group said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune that its fighters in the fourth front of the Angasana Mountains sector had repulsed a government attack against Kolgo on Thursday, noting the attack started at 6:00 am (local time) and continued for six hours.

The statement further said the government army suffered heavy losses while the SPLM-N forces did not incur any losses.

It claimed that 11 government troops were killed in the battle including two officers besides destroying 4 military vehicles and seizing 10 Kalashnikov rifles and RBG ammunition.

The SPLM-N stressed the government troops were forced to withdraw to Damzain and Khor Manza.

A Sudanese army spokesperson was not available for comment.

Since last year, the Sudanese army and its aligned militia have launched the “Decisive Summer” military campaign in a bid to end rebellion in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

(ST)

Au terme de combats extrêmement violents, comme le disent les témoins, les rebelles de la Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) étaient parvenus à prendre

3ième Edition du Festival du Film Environnemental en Albanie (EFFA) (17-23 Mai 2015)

/ Albanie, Dans les Balkans

3ième Edition du Festival du Film Environnemental en Albanie (EFFA) (17-23 Mai 2015)

/ Albanie, Dans les Balkans

En Centrafrique, le Forum de Bangui s'est achevé il y a une dizaine de jours avec une liste de recommandations pour remettre le pays dans le droit chemin. Un comité de suivi a été élu, vendredi 22 mai. Charge à ce comité de veiller à ce que les recommandations soient correctement appliquées.

The United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution urging stronger cooperation in stemming the “illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse” of small arms and light weapons, underlining the suffering they caused to civilians.

Névnap Dezső – latin-magyar eredetű; jelentése: óhajtott, kívánt gyermek. Idézet „Egy életcélt követni nemes gondolat.
S mi kell hozzá? Csupán akarat,
mely minden ifjú szívében él,
küzdeni bátran egy új életért.”

Tóth Árpád

• A nap aktualitása
• A nap igéje
• A nap liturgiája

MAGYARORSZÁG KULTÚRTÖRTÉNETÉBŐL:

- Rippl-Rónay József festő (1861) születése.

Forrás: Magyarország kultúrtörténete napról napra, Honfoglalás Egyesület 2000.

KINEK HISZEL?

„Bízzál az Úrban, és tégy jót, akkor az országban lakhatsz, és biztonságban élhetsz.” (Zsoltárok 37:3)

Fank Furedi kimutatta, hogy a brit újságokban egyre nagyobb mértékben használják a félelemkeltés eszközét; dokumentációját a „veszélyben” kifejezés előfordulásának számára alapozta. 1994-ben a kifejezés 2037-szer fordult elő. A következő év végére ez a szám megkétszereződött. A 2000-es év folyamán a „veszélyben” kifejezés több mint 18000-szer jelent meg nyomtatásban. Vajon a világban valóban kilencszeresére nőtt a veszély? Vagy csupán gyorsabban jutnak el hozzánk a rossz hírek? Az információ-túlterhelés azt is eredményezte, hogy napjainkban sokkal több a gyógyszereket szedő ember, mint eddig bármikor. Nem csupán mi szedünk antidepresszánsokat és nyugtatókat, de a gyermekeink is. Még kedvenc háziállataink is gyógyszereket kapnak! Hálásak lehetünk Istennek az orvostudomány fejlődéséért, de meg kell kérdeznünk magunktól: „Hogyan élték túl az emberek a régi időkben? Mit tettek, amikor túl nagy volt rajtuk a nyomás?” Nos, voltak közöttük, akik minden reggel a következő szavakkal keltek, és este ezekkel feküdtek: „Ne indulj haragra a gonoszok miatt, ne irigykedj a cselszövőkre! Mert hamar elhervadnak, mint a fű, elfonnyadnak, mint a zöld növények. Bízzál az Úrban, és tégy jót, akkor az országban lakhatsz, és biztonságban élhetsz. Gyönyörködj az Úrban, és megadja szíved kéréseit! Hagyd az Úrra utadat, bízzál benne, mert ő munkálkodik: világossá adja szíved kéréseit! Hagyd az Úrra utadat, bízzál benne, mert Ő munkálkodik: világossá teszi igazságodat, jogodra fényt derít. Légy csendben, és várj az Úrra! … Az igazak segítséget kapnak az Úrtól, erőt a szükség idején. Megsegíti az Úr, megmenti őket, megmenti a bűnösöktől, megszabadítja őket, mert hozzá menekülnek.” (Zsoltárok 37:1-7, 39-40).

A fenti elmélkedés a Keresztyén Média UCB Hungary Alapítvány napi elmélkedése (honlap: maiige.hu), melynek írója Bob Gass. Magyar nyelven negyedévre szóló kiadvány formájában megrendelhető az említett honlapon, vagy a következő címen: Mai Ige, 6201 Kiskőrös, Pf. 33.

Boldog Apor Vilmos püspök és vértanú

Báró Apor Vilmos 1892. február 29-én született székely főnemesi családból. 1915-ben szentelték pappá. Gyulán káplán, majd katonalelkész egy kórházvonaton. 1918-tól plébános Gyulán. Különösen foglalkoztatták a szociális problémák; fölkarolta a munkásifjúságot. 1941. március 2-án foglalta el a győri püspöki széket. Bátran szembeszállt az erőszakos törekvésekkel, mindent elkövetett az üldözöttekért. Vértanú halálát is az okozta 1945. április 2-án, hogy a város elfoglalása után a püspökvárba menekült asszonyok és leányok védelmére kelt. Holtteste a győri székesegyház kápolnájában nyugszik. II. János Pál pápa avatta boldoggá, 1997. november 9-én.

bacskaplebania.hu

Rheinische Post: Düsseldorf (ots) - Die kleinen Gewerkschaften wollen schnell und mit vielen Klagen gegen das Tarifeinheitsgesetz vorgehen. "Wir werden Klage beim Verfassungsgericht einreichen, sobald die Tarifeinheit im Gesetzblatt steht", sagte der Chef des ...

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