Social care providers are facing a perfect storm of workforce challenges and rising cost pressures of service delivery as they are forced to turn down admissions to services and, in severe cases, shut services altogether.
This is according to independent research commissioned by learning disability charity, Hft, which found that three quarters of learning disability care providers turned down new admissions to services in 2021 while more than a third had to close their services permanently due in part to an average staff vacancy rate of nearly 16%.
While nearly all providers believe that increases in staff wages could help recruitment and retention challenges, Hft’s latest Sector Pulse Check report found that 80% of those surveyed say the fees they receive from local authorities to deliver care will not be enough to cover their wage bills, forcing them to dig deep into their own reserves to pay their staff a fair rate.
“Social care staff should be paid a fair wage, one which is commensurate with the responsibilities of the job and that will help reduce high turnover and vacancy rates in the sector,” says Kirsty Matthews, CEO of Hft.
“Despite the introduction of a higher National Living Wage earlier in April, record inflation means that, in real terms, most front-line staff will not see a pay uplift and workforce challenges will persist as employees cope with the cost of living increase” she adds.
Concerningly, one in 10 providers will need to cover 20% of their wage bill from their own reserves, rather than through fees paid by local authorities to deliver the right standard of care to those they support, according to the research. On average, each provider surveyed will need to find £640,000 to cover the cost of wages, stretching the already finite resources of providers further.
This is at a time when the sector is in an increasingly precarious financial position, with 71% of providers reporting they are either in deficit, with costs exceeding funding, or that their surplus has decreased. This has increased from 56% in 2020. Alongside workforce challenges, Hft’s research highlights that financial pressure is forcing providers into difficult decisions such as handing back contracts to local authorities and offering care to fewer people to remain sustainable.
The charity is now calling on the Government to urgently redirect additional funds from the Health and Social Care Levy into social care from year one to ensure there is sufficient funding to cover wages which reflect the real-term cost of living and attract more individuals to work in the sector.
“To ensure that care staff are paid a salary commensurate with the responsibility of the job, and to alleviate the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, it is vital that additional funds are drawn down from the Levy this year,” says Matthews.
“Only when the learning disability sector is placed on a sustainable financial footing and workforce challenges are addressed will care providers, and the wider health system, thrive together rather than merely survive,” she concludes.
Says Jonas Keck, Economist at Cebr: “The last two years have posed an unprecedented challenge to the social care sector, which had already been struggling prior to the pandemic, as a result of poor funding. The increase in the National Living Wage in April will hit the sector especially hard, as a large number of social care staff are paid at the minimum rate. This will put further financial pressure on already distressed providers, as for the majority, the funding received by local authorities will not be enough to cover the additional costs stemming from higher wages.”
Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), said: “This year’s Hft Sector Pulse Report clearly exposes the extent to which rising cost pressures and critical workforce challenges are impacting on social care providers and the essential care and support services they deliver for disabled people and their families. Consequently, voluntary sector services in particular are becoming unviable, and it is people who draw on social care, and the workforce supporting them, who will be hit the hardest.
“The provision of high-quality care and support services for people with life-long disabilities is the hallmark of an equitable society that supports and protects its citizens. This must be rooted in a robust and sustainable social care system that has embedded within in it, investment, and support for voluntary sector services.
“VODG supports Hft’s call on government to redirect additional funds from the Health and Social Care Levy into social care from year one. This would help alleviate some of the immediate pressures being harshly felt today and go one step towards enabling state-funded services to continue delivering essential services into the future. We strongly encourage government to act on the evidence presented today.”
Sector Pulse Check 2021 is Hft’s fifth annual Sector Pulse Check report, carried out by independent economics and business consultancy Cebr, and the first of its kind to focus primarily on learning disability providers. Based on survey analysis from social care providers, it provides an annual snapshot of the financial health and the challenges faced by the social care sector during 2021, and is an indication of how providers anticipate the next 12 months will progress.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Hft, on Tuesday 3 May, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
On May 2nd, the European Parliament made a short presentation of their report Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion (short presentation), of which The European Times has transcribed the English version of the presentations. For any inconsistencies please verify against the original (here).
MEP Roberts ZĪLE: Now, we are moving to the next point for today’s agenda. It’s a short presentation. Short presentation of a report by Mr Karol Karski. Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion. I give you the floor for 4 minutes.
MEP Karol KARSKI: Thank you very much, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen, during this session, we are discussing this report on the persecution of religious minorities in the world. It’s a very wide topic, and it’s also difficult to summarize it in one document. When we were working on the text, I wanted to show a full picture of the situation on various continents and a certain map of problems for different religions or atheists. I needed to use a certain methodology. I needed to grade the problems, and I needed to see which religions are mostly attacked and the countries in which these events are the most frequent. And after analyzing many documents, I think I was able to do so. It turns out, what is probably not surprising, that the most persecuted religious group are Christians, then Muslims and then Jews. The first ones have been persecuted in as many as 145 countries. And for example, atheists have been repressed and persecuted in 18 countries. I’m talking about this because this information was not included in the final form of the report. I don’t know if it was because of political correctness or what was it, but in the report, most political groups did not want to mention any minorities or countries where the persecution is taking place. And it has been a standard right now when it comes to documents, including reports on human rights, where for many years we have not been talking about concrete countries.
And I think it weakens our position. However, the report which we were able to negotiate, still has many important points. It comprehensively lists forms of persecution. It points to the difficult situation of women in many countries, and it also stresses out that all persecution should meet with a decisive reaction from the country itself and the international community. It talks about the religious sites and religious artefacts. We are also giving very concrete proposals for the EU institutions on how to react to persecutions and infringements of rights, including cooperation with churches, religious groups and human rights defenders. What is also important is the recommendations, which should be periodically assessed and updated in cooperation with all these groups. Religious, religious-based persecution should also be a part of countries’ strategies of the EU, and our delegations should pay attention to these issues.
To sum up, I think this report fulfils its role. It should point to the attention of public opinion and EU institutions on the persecution of religious groups, atheists and the attacks that are directed at them in many places in the world. I regret that we could not be more precise and concrete in showing particular countries and particular regions, even though in many places in the report reading from the context, you may realize what I’m talking about. I know that in several articles, some MEPs wanted to vote separately. There are also some amendments. I think that you may support them. I would advise you to support these amendments. And I also want to help to thank all the shadow rapporteurs. Thank you very much.
MEP Peter VanDalen: Thank you, president. I co-operated on this report. Particular attention to the persecution of religious minorities is scant in this Parliament. I was pleased to be involved in producing this report. We need to look at specific names and organizations persecuted because of their religious beliefs. No names were listed in the report and that is a shame. I would point to a report put together by the Intergroup for Religious Freedoms. I am co-chair together with another MEP and in this report, you can see what happened between 2017 and 2021 and you will see many tangible examples of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs. So I would urge you to download this report and read it. We in the Parliament need to follow up on this, and I would urge the Commission to look at religious persecution. This has taken far too long.
MEP Bert-Jan RUISSEN: Thank you, President. My thanks also to the rapporteur for presenting this report. A useful report on the persecution of religious minorities. I share his concerns with Mr Van Dalen. Christians are barely named in this report. I think that is a shame. I really don’t understand the fact that in this report the faithful are criticized for their position on abortion. It is indefensible. This is a subject that goes beyond the scope of this report. It is not the point of the report. Last but not least, it is important that we protect life, including the life of the unborn. We shouldn’t be criticizing the faithful. We should praise them for their concerns and their care for the life of all. Thank you.
MEP Soraya RODRIGUEZ RAMOS: In this parliament, we’ve spoken about religious minorities, a number of different reports on human rights, which touch upon the persecution of all minorities, religious and others. But we have also wanted in this particular report to not put together a hierarchy of suffering, but we wanted to speak about the instrument fertilization of belief or religion in the creation of legislation which deliberately persecutes individuals. The criminalization of different groups and now go beyond religions and confessions. But the LGBT groups, for example, in Uganda and legislation which discriminates against women as well. And here we ought to remember there are a number of countries which still have not ratified the Istanbul convention. So indeed, this is very important. But let’s go beyond faith as well. Thank you very much to the rapporteur.
MEP Miriam LEXMANN: Thank you very much. Dear colleagues, from Nigeria to China, the state of religious freedom continues to deteriorate from genocide to legal restrictions. Hundreds of millions of believers, be there Christians, Muslims, Buddhists or other groups, are facing terrible suffering every day. Why? Our welcome. The EP’s report on the persecution of Religious Freedom. I cannot help but to express my dismay at the way this report has been hijacked to the to stigmatize religion itself. Today, religious persecution is one of the key drivers of many of the challenges the world faces. And that is why not an ideological anti-religious stance, but firm support for the persecuted around the world, together with the appointment of a new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion, supported with the right instruments, must be the priority. Thank you.
MEP Carlo FIDANZA: Thank you, President. In the Religious Freedom Intergroup, we’ve been expecting this report for some time. And I’d really like to thank colleague Mr Karski, who has worked very hard on this report and also on the negotiations following on from it. Unfortunately, I agree with colleagues that despite the exceptional efforts, this negotiation proved very difficult. All the references denouncing the situation in which millions of the faithful, first and foremost Christians accounting for 80%, but also Bahai, Uyghur, Rohingya and many others were taken out. And also references to the regimes from China, Nigeria to Pakistan responsible for that were taken out. We’re saying that they’re suffering for their faith, but not saying whose fault it is. Also, the topic of abortion, a resolution, a very important resolution, is being used to assert an ideological agenda. For this reason, and I close with Mr President, together with other colleagues, we’ve tabled a number of separate vote amendments because we want to be free to defend those suffering because of their faith without having to go along with the only way of looking at things or left house.
MEP Stanislav POLČÁK: Yes. Thank you, President. I also call for freedom of religion, which is linked to the freedom of expression, and those are fundamental human rights. And breaching these rights is unacceptable. It is equally unacceptable to say to try to persecute believers by restricting their human rights or breaching their lives or integrity. All these crimes have to be prosecuted. Unfortunately, many of these crimes are not reported or remain unpunished. It is surprising that in this century, in this decade, we still have countries where religious laws, for example, on blasphemy, I have priority over national law. That is unacceptable. And we should focus on the tools that we do have that I mentioned in the report. Development aid and, uh, trade agreements. We should use these tools to make the 26 of March a day of victims of religious persecution so that we really done something.
MEP Eugen TOMAC: Thank you, President. I grew up in the Soviet time in the USSR in Ukraine, and I know that there was this ban on spiritual identity with churches banned then and now. There’s the situation that we see when Patriarch Kirill, alongside Putin, is for some interests we don’t understand allowing these attacks on Christians in Ukraine and the demolition of churches. I’ve been in a number of countries with the European Parliament in Iraq, where I met with the Patriarch of Babylon and saw what it means to be a Christian in Iraq and what it means to have that identity there. And that’s the importance of debating these topics. And I congratulate those who initiated this report. Thank you.
Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski: Thank you very much. Mr President, honourable members of the European Parliament. The European Union defends the right of every individual to freedom of religion and belief. Marginalization and scapegoating of persons belonging to religious minorities and atheists can be an early warning or already sign of more severe persecution that in turn can drive to conflict and even a wider crackdown on the whole society. I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Karski, and all members of the European Parliament who have contributed to this timely report on the persecution of minorities on grounds of belief or religion, which provides clear recommendations on how the European Union should continue to spearhead the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief. Her. We take good note of some key recommendations, such as the need to increase public diplomacy on freedom of religion or belief, to work on the situation of minorities in conflict situation and the protection of religious citizens, as well as the strong call to the European Union to continue its firm action at the multilateral level in line with the European Union Action Plan on human rights and democracy. Freedom of religion or belief remains an essential priority of our external, external human rights policy. Accordingly, many EU delegations have enshrined it has a priority in their human rights country strategies. Let me assure you that the EU stands in solidarity with the victims.
The line with all our partners across the world is clear. The European Union has consistently and equivocal condemns discrimination, intolerance, persecution and violence against or by any person based on grounds of religion or belief. We call on countries to protect the right for everybody to have or not have a religion or belief to manifest or to change their religion or belief. While condemning the criminalization of apostasy and the abuse of blasphemy laws. Over the past year, we carried out key actions to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief, such as raising our concerns of violent violations in around 20 human rights dialogues. Issuing high-level statements such as an EU declaration on the occasion of the International Day commemorating the victims of religious persecution. And for all our work in multilateral fora, the latest resolution on freedom of religion or belief adopted by consensus during the last Human Rights Council session renewed the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. In addition, we also closely exchange on freedom of religion or belief with regional organizations, in particular, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation through regular senior official meetings or the Istanbul Process. We look forward to continuing to cooperate closely with the European Parliament in identifying and addressing the most serious violations of freedom of religion or belief around the world. Thank you.
Two Ethiopian pilgrims walk next to carved church in Lalibela, Ethiopia. (Credit: Shutterstock/Stewart Innes)
“The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as the inherent right to life are fundamental human rights recognized in international law. They are above political consensus, as their direct source is the inalienable human dignity of every human being. It is the responsibility and the duty of political authorities, including the European Parliament, to protect, defend and promote them worldwide, as well as all the other internationally recognized human rights rooted in the human dignity set forth in the International Bill of Human Rights.
Any attempt to undermine the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right to life through abusive interpretations that unduly restrict their legitimate scope or to subject them to newly created and non-consensual “so-called human rights”, including abortion, constitute a serious violation of the international law that discredits the European Union before the international community and before millions of European citizens.
Any treatment of these human rights as second-class rights contradicts the Declaration and Programme of Action of the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, which calls on the international community to consider all human rights “in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis”.
Furthermore, this motion for resolution, in its current wording, will not be of help for millions of religious believers who are victims of persecution because of their faith, in particular vulnerable women and girls, as their situation will be obscured and rendered invisible by prioritizing other political interests.”
As part of the Safer and Stronger Communities in Europe (SASCE) project, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) conducted a training in Vienna for church leaders, church staff, and worshippers, helping them to ensure safer and stronger communities in Austria.
The training was held on 26 April, especially in the context of the 2020 terrorist attacks in the country, which have since resulted in high level security measures.
Austria is the fifth country where the SASCE project was introduced to local churches. During the training, video materials, security guidelines, and a Guide for Law Enforcement were given to the representatives of the Ecumenical Council of Austria, Executive Board of the Council and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE).
Dr Elizabeta Kitanovic, CEC Executive Secretary, responsible for coordinating the SASCE project at CEC, together with Ophir Revach, CEO of Crisis and Security Center (SACC) by the European Jewish Congress, led the training in the meeting held at the CPCE premises.
The training was a first step to understanding proactive security policy. The participants discussed how to prevent possible emerging threats, and explored the value of having functional crisis management teams in parishes, dioceses and metropolis. Methods of effectively creating multipliers of the SASCE project on various levels and generating solidarity among religious communities, where they take a lead in implementing security policy for the protection of worship places, were also discussed.
While presenting the SASCE project, Dr Kitanovic underlined the importance of solidarity among religious communities during a crisis, stressing that all religious communities are safer together.
“Working together for a safer environment is key for success in achieving stronger security and safety for all people. We now have an example of solidarity among religious communities in a time of crisis, as observed in the case of Ukraine,” said Ophir Revach.
The Ecumenical Council in Austria will nominate a SASCE ambassador who will have the task of regularly reporting hate crimes or any damage to church property, individuals, church leaders and the community in general. The SASCE ambassadors will be further trained during the CEC Summer School taking place from 13 to 16 June 2022 in Malmö, Sweden.
Funded by the European Commission, the SASCE project is an outcome of European interfaith partnership, representing Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities. CEC is working together with religious partners to assist in the protection of places of worship across Europe.
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister: Turkey and Ukraine have not received the necessary support from the EU
We need to look very carefully at the reasons why Russia started this war, he said
Bulgaria’s refusal to pay for gas in rubles and the subsequent shutdown of natural gas poses various alternatives to our country. For all of them, it is clear at the moment that there is gas, but its price will certainly be higher than before, as admitted yesterday in “Speak Now” Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov. One of the possibilities for gas supplies is Turkey. Whether we will be able to become a major gas distributor depends on the connection with our southern neighbor, as requested by Deputy Prime Minister Asen Vassilev in Brussels this week.
What are Ankara’s plans and does it expect the country to re-warm its relations with the European Union, said Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Farouk Kaymakci:
Bulgarian National Television (BNT): Mr. Kaikamci, we are in the office where Kemal Ataturk also worked as a military attache in Bulgaria. He says something that we can to some extent connect with the forum you visited in Bulgaria and reads: if the Balkan Union is created, it can open the way to the creation of the European Union. Does it sound relevant to you today?
Interestingly, Ataturk is among the leaders who first used the term European Union. The year is 1932, and the place is Ankara, where he talks to journalists from Balkan countries. Then he imagines an alliance that has its own parliament and even its own army. We can now say that the European Union is one of the most successful examples of unification in the world. I am extremely proud that we are having this conversation in Ataturk’s office, and I would like to add that the other thing he dreams of is peace in our country and peace in the world. Today, Turkish diplomacy is making efforts to do just that. The Balkan countries must become part of the European Union. Among them is Turkey, whose membership I think is a little late. If this had been the case 10-15 years ago, many conflicts and wars today might have been prevented. As in Iraq and Syria. Maybe the war that Russia started against Ukraine. Turkey is important to the European Union both in terms of security and in NATO-EU relations. Unfortunately, our membership is delayed because of the Cyprus issue, and this is hampering fruitful NATO-EU cooperation.
BNT: A message came from Turkey that the country does not approve of the idea of deploying NATO forces in the Black Sea to deter Russia and calls on Bulgaria and Romania to act with restraint. What is behind this?
What is important here is this: there is a war, and Turkey’s desire for a ceasefire as soon as possible and for peace to be achieved. Of course, as one of the important forces in NATO, we also want the Alliance to be strong. However, it is important to avoid actions that would deepen the conflict.
BNT: What is the most important lesson we need to learn from the war in Ukraine?
We need to look very carefully at the reasons why Russia started this war. In my opinion, the most important of them are Russia’s specific policies. But for me, the most important lesson is that we must be unanimous when it comes to protecting and securing Europe. And when we talk about that, the issue of Turkey’s EU membership is even more important. Looking back, Crimea is the other issue on which NATO and the European Union have failed to be more decisive. In the context of what has been achieved. This indecision is among the bad examples. Indecision is one of the reasons why those who want to go to war feel braver. The other lesson is that countries like Turkey and Ukraine, which are important for both the energy and economic security of the European Union and even in terms of emigrant pressure, have not received the necessary support. If Ukraine had been a member of the European Union, we might not have witnessed all this today, and those who started the war would not have been able to stand up to a united and united Europe.
BNT: What were the messages you heard in Sofia? In my opinion, the most important thing seems to be that when we talk about the European Union, we can no longer talk about Ukraine.
For me, one of them is that some Member States must not block enlargement in the name of their national interest. Bilateral disputes must be resolved between the countries concerned, without prejudice to EU membership. This does not contribute to their development. Nor does it benefit the European Union. This will not get us anywhere.
BNT: However, you are talking about the normalization of relations between Turkey and the European Union. What do you mean?
If we compare the situation of the last 4-5 months with that of earlier, now the relations between Turkey and the European Union are much livelier. The European Union sees the importance of Turkey and its weight in foreign policy. Over the last 3 years, relations have been frozen and strained – both in terms of dialogue and in terms of the fight against terrorism and emigrant pressure. Now, in the wake of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey’s important role in Europe’s security has been seen again and more is being discussed. The other topic on the agenda is energy security. Turkey is one of the four important energy links for the European Union. One of the gas corridors passes through our country. Turkey has been talking for years about including Mediterranean deposits in the corridor. Amid tensions over gas and oil reserves near Cyprus, Turkey has proposed organizing a Mediterranean conference and launching co-operation, but no progress has been made two years ago. Now there is talk again of diversifying sources and increasing interest in those in the Mediterranean. With regard to the economy, we need to think about the recovery of the economies after the pandemic, and the signing of an updated customs agreement will contribute to that. We are one of the EU’s five most important trading partners. In addition, as Turkey’s EU membership prospects step up, it will boost reforms in the country. This is true for all countries that are candidates for membership. The results of the latest polls show that 79% of the Turkish population supports our country’s membership in the European Union, and 65% are convinced that we can meet the criteria. At the same time, we expect fair treatment.
BNT: Will Turkey become the new energy power in Europe?
We have always said that we are among the key countries for Europe’s energy security. In an hour and a half by plane you can reach 70% of the world’s hydrocarbon reserves. We are an energy hub. Unfortunately, because of the Cyprus issue, we have not been able to make progress on energy cooperation for years. I mean, that important gas corridors pass through our country, and when do we have this opportunity, when we have such sources in our hands, because we are going to immerse 8 billion euros in the Mediterranean? This is not reasonable at all. In addition to hydrocarbon deposits, we need to talk about the transition to a green economy. We are also at the forefront in terms of renewable energy sources. 54% of our energy is renewable and by this indicator we are in fifth place in Europe. We also have serious potential in terms of green energy.
Reuters: Bulgarian company in a scheme to import US missile components to Russia
Russian missiles attacking Ukraine may contain American computer chips reaching Russia through a Bulgarian company. This was reported by Reuters, according to revelations in its own investigation into the path of the components specialized for missiles from the United States to Moscow, quoted by Tribune.bg.
At the center of the events is Moscow businessman Ilias Sabirov, who has been supplying the Russian military with high-performance computer chips made in the United States for years. His business became more complicated in 2014, when Russia took over the Crimean peninsula. At the time, the United States was pressuring Russia with a number of new sanctions and export controls. They severely restrict the sale of chips that Sabirov has been providing to his country’s army for so long. Sabirov won significant sums by supplying these special chips to the Russian military machine, and sanctions have not stopped him from procuring more. The chips are specially designed to withstand radiation and extreme temperatures. These are military, critical components of missile systems and military spy satellites.
In the spring of 2015, Sabirov received a package of over 100 chips. U.S. prosecutors say the chips were supplied by a U.S. company in Austin, Texas. This company is “Silicone Space Technology” or SST for short. Radiation-protected chips were sent to Russia through a Bulgarian company in a bid to circumvent the US export embargo, prosecutors said.
In 2015, Silicone Space Technology changed its name to Vorago Technologies after their work became public.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, the United States and more than 30 other countries responded with another huge round of sanctions and restrictions on Putin’s government’s exports. The story of how sensitive American computer chips get from Texas to Russia serves as a signal of how even the strictest controls can be circumvented.
A criminal case is underway against Sabirov and two Bulgarian businessmen – his accomplices, and new details about the manner in which the fraud was carried out are coming to light. Together with Sabirov, Bulgarians Dimitar and Milan Dimitrov are accused in 2020 of illegally exporting chips to Russia and money laundering. From 2014 to 2019, illegal exports were carried out with the help of the three men. A careful investigation revealed a chain of suppliers, fictitious companies and false allegations in the export forms stating that the items were intended for civilian use only and not for military use. In addition to electronics, however, the Russians received from the United States and precision instruments to be used for military purposes. The manufacturer was fined nearly half a million dollars.
U.S. Department of Defense spokeswoman Sue Goff says radiation-resistant chips play a significant role in military communications, intelligence and surveillance.
She said: “The acquisition of radiation-protected technology by aggressive nuclear-weapon states such as Russia may encourage them by increasing the destabilization of international security. That is why protecting these chips is critical to US national security.”
Greg Slavens, who recently retired after 30 years as head of HSI’s anti-proliferation unit, said: “The Russians are constantly increasing their efforts to obtain chips for missile and space technology.”
So far, the Kremlin has not responded to a question about US accusations that it is using fraudulent schemes to circumvent Western sanctions and export restrictions. Sabirov denies involvement in the scheme, as well as links to Bulgaria for chip exports. Milan Dimitrov also denied the allegations, and his father, Dimitar, was not available for comm
Turkey supports Ukraine, but on the other hand is preparing to receive many tourists from Russia, the Ukrainian president said
In an interview with Greek television ERT, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “offended” by Turkey for accepting Russian tourists to the country, the Turkish newspaper Haberler reported.
On the one hand, Turkey is acting as a mediator and supporting Ukraine with important steps, but on the other hand, we see that they are preparing to receive many tourists, especially from Russia. As President, I want to say that if we want to have friendly relations, this must not be allowed, because it means applying a double standard to Ukraine. This is not right. Are you for the truth or not? You have to make a choice, Zelenski said, Haberler said.
The ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey reacted sharply to the statement, as the Ukrainian president has repeatedly spoken positively about Turkey’s role as a mediator in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
One of the most active members of the Justice and Development Party, Shamil Tayar, wrote an extremely angry message on Twitter, describing Zelensky as a “stupid comedian”.
Since ancient times, people have intervened in nature, trying to “adjust” it to their needs. Modern gardeners are also attracted by new hybrid varieties of vegetables and fruits: pear-flavored apple, apricot-flavored nectarine and others. Characteristics of hybrid trees Hybrid is a new species, a variety of vegetables, trees and shrubs obtained by genetic cross-pollination in various forms. Scientists and amateurs conduct research, experiments and get a lot of exotic plants, such as a tomato that smells of lemon, an apple with a grape flavor and so on.
Hybrids have both positive and negative properties, but still have more advantages. Among the advantages of growing hybrid plants are the following: ·
fruits grown on the same plant have approximately the same shape; ·
large enough mass, up to 150-170 g; ·
high yield; ·
high resistance to insect pests, various diseases; ·
self-pollination, no need to plant a number of special pollinators; ·
unusual taste. Taste characteristics It is more of a plum than an apricot, as it has “inherited” 3/4 of the characteristics of the plum and only 1/4 of the apricot. Therefore, the fruits look more like large plums, with the same smooth, fluffy, green, pink, yellowish, purple, burgundy, lilac skin. The pulp is sweet, juicy, slightly fibrous, can be both light (almost white) and dark (pink-cherry, orange, burgundy) shades. It tastes like both plum and apricot, although there are still more hints of plum, but the aroma is closer to apricot. At the same time, the stone inside the fruit is very small. The composition of the fruit includes various substances useful for the human body:
· Vitamins A, B, C, P;
· Fiber and fiber;
· Proteins;
· sugar;
· Microelements;
· Coumarins;
· Pectins;
· Enzymes;
· Other biologically active substances.
The fruits can be eaten both fresh and as part of various dishes: fruit salads used to prepare sauces, jellies, mousses, sorbets. From them compotes, jams, cans are prepared, marshmallows are prepared, they are used as a filling for baking. They are used in the production of various alcoholic (wine) and soft drinks (juices, fruit drinks). Despite the high sugar content (7.2%), the plum-apricot hybrid belongs to the category of low-calorie fruits. Its use on an empty stomach can irritate the gastric mucosa. It is necessary to limit the amount of fruit consumed by patients with diabetes, liver problems, gall bladder and gastritis. The amount of harvest depends on how hard the gardener has taken care of the trees. In late autumn, after the harvest has been harvested and the fall has ended, the fallen leaves are collected and the soil around the stem is dug up. This is a very effective way to control insect pests, many of which remain to winter under the leaves in the ground. In early spring, the excavation is repeated.
Ancient Chinese writing mentions a celestial phenomenon, which turns out to be the oldest known evidence of potential aurora borealis, preceding the next oldest by about 300 years.
The celestial event mentioned in an ancient Chinese text is a recent study by Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology and Hisashi Hayakawa of the University. This finding was recently published in the journal Advances in Space Research.
The bamboo annals, or Mandarin Joshua Jinien, describe the history of China from the earliest legendary time to the 4th century BC, when they were most likely written. In addition to historical events, unusual observations of the sky sometimes appear in the text. Although historians have known about this chronicle for a long time, a new look at such old documents can sometimes give surprisingly new insights. In this example, the authors consider a reference to a “five-colored light” observed in the northern sky at night near the end of Zhao’s reign in the Zhou Dynasty.
Although the exact year is uncertain, researchers have used current reconstructions of Chinese chronology to establish 977 and 957 BC as the two most likely years, depending on how Zhao’s rule is dated. They found that the recording of the “five-color light” was consistent with a large geomagnetic storm. When the glow of medium width is bright enough, it can present a multicolored spectacle. Researchers cite several examples of this from historical records much closer to our time. It is known that the Earth’s north magnetic pole was inclined to Eurasia in the middle of the 10th century BC. about 15 ° closer to central China than at present. Therefore, the auroral oval could be visible to observers in central China at times of significant magnetic disturbance.
This would be the earliest dated evidence of aurora borealis. The discovery comes just two years after the previous record was set on cuneiform tablets by Assyrian astronomers between 679 and 655 BC. Some scholars have also linked Ezekiel’s vision, now dated 594 or 593 BC, to aurora borealis in the Middle East, but it must be warned that its reliability is questionable. Otherwise, in the astronomical diary of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, another dated record of a possible aurora borealis for 567 BC was found.
Why did it take so long for scientists to recognize the radiance in the five-color light of this chronicle? One of the reasons is that bamboo annals have a colorful history. The original manuscript was lost, rediscovered in the 3rd century AD. and lost again during the Song Dynasty. In the 16th century, a version of the text was printed in which the object in the sky was not a five-colored light, but a comet. Now a new study shows that this may not be the original recording.
It is amazing in itself that popular stories about the Northern Lights can be traced so far. However, such historical information is useful for other purposes as well. It helps scientists model long-term models of space variability and solar activity over decades to millennia. Understanding these variations can help humanity prepare for potential future large-scale solar flares and technological infrastructure disruptions that they may bring.
This record is now the only known historical reference to an event in space time before Homer’s Great (Sun) minimum (810-740 BC), which should actually be called the Neo-Assyrian Great Minimum due to the controversial historicity and dating of Homer. .
Reference: “A candidate auroral report in the Bamboo Annals, indicating a possible extreme space weather event in the early 10th century BCE” by Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs and Hisashi Hayakawa, 17 January 2022, Advances in Space Research.
DOI: 10.1016 / j.asr.2022.01.010
Source: A “Five-Colored Light” Seen in the Sky: Earliest Record of a Candidate Aurora Found in Chinese Annals
Nagoya University
Photo: Fragment of bamboo annals. Credit: National Diet Library of Japan.
Joint Press release (Women in the Fire Service UK & Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service)
NOT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Embargo date: 09.00, BST, Friday 6th May 2022
Uroosa Arshid, a Firefighter for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has been named winner of the ‘Young Person Role Model Award’ in the Women in the Fire Service Awards 2022.
Uroosa, who joined Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2019 as an apprentice firefighter, also became the first hijab-wearing firefighter in the UK. Stationed at West Bridgford Fire Station, Uroosa was nominated in the national awards for remarkable contributions to the Fire Service.
The ‘Young Person Role Model Award’ category recognises individuals who demonstrate being excellent role models. Who have engaged in, and inspired conversations, actions and outcomes around equality and diversity issues and actively embody the motto “if you can see it, you can be it”.
About Uroosa
Damien West, Uroosa’s colleague, and nominator described her as having overcome many barriers and challenges to achieve her lifelong ambition of being a firefighter. As the first hijab-wearing firefighter in the UK, he revealed how Uroosa sharing her story with the world led to her becoming a role-model to many people because of her passion, enthusiasm and determination to succeed.
Damien told the panel how Uroosa’s story had received coverage around the world and had inspired many young people to chase their dreams, many of whom wrote to her to thank her for sharing her story.
The award submission explained how Uroosa was a role model in so many ways and to so many people. How determined she was to show young people that they could succeed at whatever they put their minds to. And how Uroosa was passionate about ensuring young people could see a young role model, who looked and sounded like them, working in the fire service.
Craig Parkin, Chief Fire Officer at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “It is great news that Uroosa has been named winner of the Young Person Role Model award.
“Uroosa is a fantastic firefighter and being able to tell her story has now given young people around the world hope that they can achieve their dreams of becoming a firefighter, no matter who they are.
“On behalf of everyone at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, we want to congratulate Uroosa on this amazing award.”
Speaking on the notification of the award, Uroosa said:
“It is such an honour to have been nominated and to have won this award. It is an overwhelming feeling because it is not something I set out to do, I just wanted to achieve my dream of becoming a firefighter. However, my story has helped inspire other people, which is something I am extremely proud of.
“Thank you to my family and colleagues, as this wouldn’t have been possible without their ongoing support.”
About women in the Fire Service
Women in the Fire Service UK is a not-for-profit organisation who works in partnership with its corporate members to advance equality in the sector.
WFS Patron, Dany Cotton QFSM, said:
“I am so delighted that Uroosa has won the Young Person Role Model award. She is an outstanding role model whose positive attitude has inspired so many people. I can’t wait to meet her!”
Category sponsors of the ‘Young Person Role Model Award’ were Cold Cut Systems Ltd, who said: “The winner of the Young Person Role Model award shines a light on the importance of representation, showing that regardless of one’s background, role models that young people can identify with makes a real difference in daring to follow one’s dreams. The determination and strength required to pursue a dream, and to pave the way for others of a similar background, is the essence of being an inspiration to others.”
Jo Dawson, of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, was also nominated in the awards. She recently took on the role of WFS Local Rep after 14 years as a Firefighter. Since then she has fully embraced WFS and its aims, becoming a role model within her service, locally and nationally. She has helped to set up Nottinghamshire’s first women’s support network and through this, also set up a female sports team for women wanting a physical activity to do with colleagues. She has also helped to organise events in support of International Women’s Day – one with Derbyshire FRS, the other with Nottinghamshire Police. Jo was described as an asset to her Service and WFS and “always available to support others and always smiling”.
Winners and runners-up receive prizes, as well as an invitation to attend a special award ceremony in June.
There were a total of sixty nominations across five categories from twenty-five Fire Services.
8 nominations in the Young Person Role Model Award
18 nominations in the Bright Light Award
9 nominations in the Firefighter Rising Star Award
17 nominations in the Dany Cotton Inspiring Leader Award
8 nominations in the Exceptional Allies Award
Award Sponsors:
Cold Cut Systems Ltd – Young Person Role Model Award
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service – Dany Cotton Inspiring Leader Award
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service – Firefighter Rising Star Award
Serve and Protect Credit Union – Bright Light Award
Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service and the National Fire Chiefs Council End Point Assessment Partnership – Exceptional Allies Award
The Women in the Fire Service Awards opened to entries in November 2021
and closed on 15th March 2022. The Award Ceremony takes place at The Fire Service College on Friday 10th June 2022.
#WFSAwards22
Women in the Fire Service UK is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation which exists to advance equality, addressing gender imbalance in the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). Women are vastly underrepresented in firefighting. Government figures (2021) show just 7.5% of firefighters in England are women.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Women in the Fire Service UK, on Sunday 1 May, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
