Elton John To Deliver Landmark Lecture On HIV In Remembrance Of Princess
The Diana, Princess of Wales Lecture on HIV will be delivered by Elton John in front of an invited audience of politicians, health workers, journalists, civil society leaders, celebrities, and people living with HIV, on June 8th, 2018 in London.The lecture was launched by United Kingdom’s National AIDS Trust (NAT) in 1999 as a living tribute to Princess Diana (who was a patron of NAT until her tragic death in 1997). This lecture is being delivered in partnership with Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and is supported by Gucci. Sir Elton follows in the footsteps of Kofi Annan and Bill Clinton who delivered previous NAT lectures in Diana’s memory in 1999 and 2001, respectively.During the lecture, Elton will set out a vision for an AIDS free future. He will call on governments and the private sector to show leadership and accountability in order to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end AIDS by 2030. He will also reflect on his close friendship with Princess Diana and their shared commitment to ending HIV.Elton said, “I am delighted to be able to deliver this lecture and to remember the enormous contribution Diana, Princess of Wales made to this cause. In the quarter century since the Elton John AIDS Foundation was established, the global AIDS fight has changed beyond recognition. Yet tolerance and courage has never been more important in the fight to create an AIDS-free generation and make the world a more accepting place for those living with HIV.”Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT said, “It’s an honor to have Sir Elton John deliver our Diana, Princess of Wales Lecture on HIV. In our 30th year, it is particularly timely to focus on the challenges ahead in the fight against HIV, as well as paying tribute to the lasting impact of Princess Diana’s work.“2018 is a critical time in the global HIV epidemic. We have all the tools we need to beat HIV, yet we lack the level of investment or political priority necessary to use them fully. We are delighted that Sir Elton John, who has enormous credibility in this battle, will be speaking on this subject.”Anne Aslett, Executive Director of EJAF UK said, “The Elton John AIDS Foundation has been a supporter of the National AIDS Trust from its inception. We share a commitment to ending AIDS in the UK and around the world. Today, we are at a critical inflection point where we can commit to consigning this disease to history, or we will blight another generation with death and loss.”
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“I’m like a wasp in a jar – I see and hear people around me but when I try to get into their world I just keep hitting the glass.”THESE ARE THE words of a person with autism – the complex developmental disorder that affects one in every 100 people worldwide.Autism has long been known as the ‘hidden condition’ because it may not be immediately evident in people who have the disorder. The result is a sector that has been historically underfunded, meaning its services lag far behind that of other disabilities, often leaving people with autism unable to reach their full potential and live independent lives.Enabling people with autism to break through the metaphorical glass jar is at the heart of the Autism Bill which I brought before Dáil Eireann last Friday. The Bill received unanimous cross-party support in the chamber and was accepted by Minister for Health James Reilly, who acknowledged the need for a national policy response to autism. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said it was an ‘historic day for people with autism’ and that it marked ‘a first step in making autism a national priority’.Ireland is trailing behinds its European counterpartsAs a local TD for the constituency of Cork South-West, I have encountered too many families who are frustrated with poor access to autism services locally. Their stories struck a chord with me and it was clear that something had to be done on a political level to address their very genuine and sincere concerns.Ireland has been trailing its European counterparts for many years in this particular policy area. Since 2008, Autism Acts have been introduced in England and Northern Ireland, while Wales and Scotland implemented national autism strategies which I understand are working well.Now the Irish Government has fallen into step with these jurisdictions by approving an Autism Bill that provides for a national autism strategy. It aims to ensure a unified standard of autism care nationally and that services are delivered in a more consistent manner.Currently autism services in Ireland are under-developed and lack co-ordination. A HSE review published in February 2012 found that autism services varied from patchy and ineffective in some places to comprehensive and integrated in others. A national autism strategy would put an end to this postcode lottery system while also ensuring equity of service and early intervention.Measures such as an autism awareness campaign and clear pathways of support for families are covered by the strategy. It also provides for the establishment of a data collection system and the commissioning of research to record and report the incidence of autism here. The lack of available data on autism in Ireland is something which stakeholders repeatedly flag as being a key problem in terms of planning for future service needs and something which further differentiates it from other disabilities.‘Falling off a cliff face’A fundamental aspect of the autism strategy is that it will be cross-Departmental and will require various ministers to plan and implement strategies in their own sectoral areas. For example, there is scope for the Department of the Environment to ensure the type of housing provided to people with autism is commensurate with their needs and abilities. I also believe there is a role for the Department of Jobs to devise job-ready programmes for adults with autism who may progress through the education system, or to encourage businesses to run special programmes for hiring autistic employees who may possess certain valuable skills such as focus and attention to detail that are common characteristics of the condition.Not only is this legislation autism-specific, it is also adult-specific. Many Irish parents with experience of autism will tell you that appropriate services cease to exist once their child turns 18 and that there are no transitional arrangements available to ease their child into the adult services. Many parents have likened this experience to ‘falling off a cliff face’ and the vacuum is thought to be the main reason why adults with autism have high rates of depression, unemployment and social isolation.Why does this ‘cliff face’ occur? As adult services are organised into separate mental health and learning disability teams, adults with autism often end up falling between two stools because autism is neither a learning disability nor a mental health condition – it is a developmental disorder (although it does happen from time to time that people with autism have an accompanying learning disability and/or mental health needs). Therefore the structure of adult health services effectively discriminates against adults with autism and is a leading cause of inequality for them.The first step in making autism a national priorityAn autism strategy will address this anomaly in the system and ensure that parents won’t have to endure the awful uncertainty of not knowing how the needs of their autistic child will be met once they turn 18.Last Friday was a historic day for people with autism in Ireland. It marked the first time in the history of our State that an Irish Government acknowledged the rights of citizens with autism and those of their families. It will ensure that future Governments will be obliged to meet the needs of these people – whether those needs are of an educational, social, health, economic or environmental nature.This legislation is our first step in making autism a national priority in this country and I hope it will be a springboard for many new developments in the autism field in Ireland. I know that we will all look back on this monumental legislative development as the first step in a truly historic journey towards breaking the glass jar of autism.Deputy Michael McCarthy is a Labour Party TD for Cork South-West and is also Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. McCarthy was elected to Dáil Eireann in 2011, having previously served as a member of Seanad Eireann for nine years. He is also on the Constitutional Convention. McCarthy first entered public life in 1999, when he was was elected to Cork County Council for the Skibbereen Electoral Area, making him the youngest county councillor in the country that term.
Oh, noble knight, can I interest you in some new chain mail? No, not a chain letter. That’s completely different and superstitious. What we’re talking about here is armor to protect one in battle, or to make a neat retro fashion statement. A skilled smithy over at the Ambulatory Armament Depot by the name of Turomar has designed some really stylish scale mail with Mario and Luigi depicted on it. Forsooth!Scale mail is a sub-category of chain mail armor. It usually consists of small individual plates, or scales attached to a metal lattice or cloth backing. Turomar didn’t explain his process, but the inlays appear to be attached by metal loops. Mail armor in general is one of the oldest forms of protective metal armor. References to this style date back several thousand years to ancient Chinese volumes describing scale mail horse armor (presumably not obtained through a microtransaction).These armor inlays are made of small pointed scales with designs for Mario and Luigi. Turomar also posted a classic Apple logo done with scale mail. Before beginning the weaving process, Turomar plans out the entire design with a spreadsheet of colored cells indicating which scale goes where.It is not clear how well the Mario scale armor would protect you from a spear, but it sure looks cool. The style of individual squares lends itself well to depicting 8-bit characters. Turomar appears to simply be making things for fun — there is probably no way to buy armor from him before you ride into battle next.
62 Comments Share Tweet Email Short URL One person killed and three injured as gunman opens fire in US synagogue The suspect was arrested after fleeing the scene. https://jrnl.ie/4609790 Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Sunday 28 Apr 2019, 7:32 AM By Hayley Halpin People outside of the Chabad of Poway synagogue following the shooting Source: Denis Poroy via APONE PERSON HAS been killed and three others have been injured after a 19-year-old gunman opened fire at a synagogue in California, US. Those wounded included the rabbi – who had injuries to both index fingers – as well as a female minor and a man (34) who was injured by shrapnel, the San Diego County Sheriff said.A 60-year-old woman died from her wounds. The suspect was arrested after fleeing the scene and has been identified as 19-year-old John Earnest, who had no prior arrest record. Earnest burst into the Chabad of Poway synagogue – where there were around 100 people – shortly after 11.20 am local time yesterday and opened fire with an assault weapon that appears to have malfunctioned, preventing him from inflicting more harm, the sheriff said. An off-duty border patrol agent who was at the synagogue at the time of the shooting opened fire on the gunman as he was fleeing, striking his car but missing the suspect.The man was eventually apprehended by a San Diego police officer who had been monitoring dispatch radio and raced to the scene.“He clearly saw the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect jumped out with his hands up and was immediately taken into custody by the San Diego police department,” San Diego police chief David Nisleit said.
16,188 Views Heavily armed San Diego police officers approach a house thought to be the home of 19 year-old John Earnest Source: John Gibbins via APHate-filled manifestoAuthorities examined Earnest’s social media activity and have established the authenticity of an anti-Semitic open letter he apparently published on a far-right message board hours before the attack, the sheriff said. “We have copies of his social media posts and his open letter and we’ll be reviewing those to determine the legitimacy of it and how it plays into the investigation,” he said.Los Angeles officials have said they were boosting patrols around synagogues and other places of worship in light of the attack. The Chabad of Poway Synagogue Source: Denis Poroy via APSpeaking at a rally, US President Donald Trump denounced the shooting as a “hate crime” and offered his support to the victims. “Tonight, America’s heart is with the victims of the horrific synagogue shooting in California,” he told supporters. Apr 28th 2019, 7:32 AM Source: CNN/Twitter California’s Governor Gavin Newsom also denounced the tragedy.“While we continue to learn more about what transpired, we can’t ignore the circumstances around this horrific incident,” he said. No one should have to fear going to their place of worship, and no one should be targeted for practicing the tenets of their faith.Includes reporting by – © AFP 2019 Our entire nation mourns the loss of life, prays for the wounded and stands in solidarity with the Jewish community. We forcefully condemn the evil of anti-Semitism and hate which must be defeated. President Trump calls the shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, a “hate crime” and “hard to believe.” He adds, “My deepest sympathies to all of those affected.” https://t.co/XVORtke1Bi pic.twitter.com/sAjHV2o73q— CNN (@CNN) April 27, 2019
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Greece failed in a bid on Wednesday to secure a quick cash payment from the euro zone rescue fund to help stave off potential bankruptcy next month, raising pressure on Athens to deliver a convincing reform programme within days.Athens had appealed for the European Financial Stability Facility to return 1.2 billion euros ($1.32 billion) it said it had overpaid when it transferred bonds intended for bank recapitalisation back to the Luxembourg-based fund this month.But senior Euro zone officials agreed in a telephone conference on Wednesday that Greece was not legally entitled to the money, although they said they would consider how to deal with the issue in the future.The decision by the Eurogroup Working Group was a setback for leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who is struggling to secure fresh funds to keep his government afloat while he presents a comprehensive reform plan and argues for debt relief.A source familiar with Greece’s financial position told Reuters on Tuesday Athens would run out of money on April 20 without new cash.EU paymaster Germany, to which Tsipras made a fence-mending visit this week after weeks of acrimony between Athens and Berlin, was among the countries that opposed handing back the 1.2 billion euros.“We see no reason to release it,» German Finance Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger told a routine news conference, adding that EFSF funding was made available to Greece last year as a safeguard during bank stress tests but had not been needed.Jaeger said euro zone finance ministers decided last month, when they extended Greece’s bailout agreement, to transfer that money back to the EFSF in Luxembourg where it would be available for bank recapitalisation should Greece need it in future.The German stance made clear that despite the improved atmosphere in relations between Tsipras and Chancellor Angela Merkel, Berlin has not softened its position in substance.“We love Greece” Tsipras has promised to deliver a full list of planned reforms by next Monday, but it is not clear whether it will include measures agreed by the previous conservative-led government such as privatisations and pension reform.Euro zone officials have said it will be hard for Athens to make the budget numbers add up without a forecast 4 billion euros due from the sale of state assets this year and savings through later retirement and a merging of pension funds.However, both reforms are bitterly opposed by Tsipras’ leftist Syriza party, and ministers have already halted several planned privatisations.Greece is also hoping to secure another 1.9 billion euros in profits made by the European Central Bank on past purchases of Greek government bonds, but the euro zone has tied that to approval of its reforms by the institutions representing its main creditors – the International Monetary Fund, the ECB and the European Commission.Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament he had been «very pessimistic» about Greece in recent weeks but now believed its bailout process was back on track.“I have to recognise that I was very pessimistic during the last weeks because there was no progress whatsoever,» Juncker told the European Parliament.“But now we are back in a normal process and I do think that we can come to a conclusion that will be both in favour of Greece – we love Greece – and the European Union,» he said.The ECB slightly loosened its leash on Greek banks on Wednesday, increasing the amount of emergency cash they can borrow from the Greek central bank to above 71 billion euros, from 69.8 billion previously, a banking source said.However, wearing its other hat as the euro zone’s banking supervisor, the ECB ordered Greek banks in a letter not to increase their holdings of short-term government debt.ECB chief economist Peter Praet called on policymakers to exercise more «verbal discipline» on Greece to avoid stoking already high political and market tensions.[Reuters]
Categories: Local San Diego News FacebookTwitter August 23, 2018 John Soderman, Posted: August 23, 2018 John Soderman 00:00 00:00 spaceplay / pause qunload | stop ffullscreenshift + ←→slower / faster ↑↓volume mmute ←→seek . seek to previous 12… 6 seek to 10%, 20% … 60% XColor SettingsAaAaAaAaTextBackgroundOpacity SettingsTextOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundSemi-TransparentOpaqueTransparentFont SettingsSize||TypeSerif MonospaceSerifSans Serif MonospaceSans SerifCasualCursiveSmallCapsResetSave SettingsSAN DIEGO (KUSI) — San Diego police are calling it a real game changer, a game changer the department says is saving lives.In July officers started carrying Narcan, a drug overdose-reducing antidote officers say has saved the lives of four overdose victims.Narcan, which is the brand name, consists of the nasal spray Naloxone which is especially effective in opioid overdose cases.Officers report drug overdose victims who are found unconscious can be revived in a matter of seconds after Narcan is administered.The Sheriff’s Department, according to the Union Tribune, has been using Narcan since 2014 resulting in deputies saving the lives of 60 drug overdose victims. SDPD says overdose reversing drug Narcan is saving lives
Taxi drivers feel targeted in recent string of BB gun attacks 00:00 00:00 spaceplay / pause qunload | stop ffullscreenshift + ←→slower / faster ↑↓volume mmute ←→seek . seek to previous 12… 6 seek to 10%, 20% … 60% XColor SettingsAaAaAaAaTextBackgroundOpacity SettingsTextOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundSemi-TransparentOpaqueTransparentFont SettingsSize||TypeSerif MonospaceSerifSans Serif MonospaceSans SerifCasualCursiveSmallCapsResetSave SettingsSAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Local taxi drivers are speaking out because they feel like they are caught in the crossfire of a recent string of BB gun attacks in San Diego.There have been dozens of BB gun shootings targeting businesses and people in San Diego County in recent months. Taxi drivers say at least six taxis have been hit in just the last few days.Police are working to investigate about four dozen incidents over the past month. Pedestrians, drivers, passengers in ride-sharing cars, businesses, and homes have all become targets as an apparent trend of BB gun attacks grows in San Diego — from Ocean Beach to La Mesa to Chula Vista. KUSI Newsroom August 28, 2019 KUSI Newsroom, Posted: August 28, 2019 Categories: Local San Diego News FacebookTwitter
HM Ershad.AFP file photoJatiya Party acting chairman GM Quader on Friday said the health condition of his brother HM Ershad, now on life support at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, remained unchanged, reports UNB.”The physicians said the Jatiya Party chairman’s physical condition remained unchanged and he is still not out of danger,” he said.GM Quader came up with the remarks at a press briefing at Jatiya Party chairman’s Banani office.He said the infection in his brother’s body reduced significantly while wastes from his blood are being removed through dialysis.However, he said Ershad’s liver is still not functioning properly and he is being given necessary components of blood through transfusion.Quader also said his brother is not being taken abroad as per the advice of Singapore’s physicians while he is receiving world-class treatment at the CMH.Ershad, also the leader of the opposition in parliament, was admitted to the CMH on 26 June as his condition deteriorated.He has been suffering from various old age complications, including low haemoglobin and liver problem, high bilirubin and serious keen pain.
Imaging instruction: Researchers produce ‘primer’ to guide the use of STORM Citation: Researchers develop glowing probes to detect germs via RNA (2012, April 4) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2012-04-probes-germs-rna.html Explore further Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences More information: RNA signatures allow rapid identification of pathogens and antibiotic susceptibilities, PNAS, Published online before print April 2, 2012, doi:10.1073/pnas.1119540109AbstractWith rising rates of drug-resistant infections, there is a need for diagnostic methods that rapidly can detect the presence of pathogens and reveal their susceptibility to antibiotics. Here we propose an approach to diagnosing the presence and drug-susceptibility of infectious diseases based on direct detection of RNA from clinical samples. We demonstrate that species-specific RNA signatures can be used to identify a broad spectrum of infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasites. Moreover, we show that the behavior of a small set of bacterial transcripts after a brief antibiotic pulse can rapidly differentiate drug-susceptible and -resistant organisms and that these measurements can be made directly from clinical materials. Thus, transcriptional signatures could form the basis of a uniform diagnostic platform applicable across a broad range of infectious agents.via Discover Blogs This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. In recent years, people in the medical profession have had to rely on DNA analysis to identify certain pathogens, which can take days, or even sometime weeks to carry out. Time that could be better spent treating the diseases they cause. The research team, led by Deborah T. Hunga, following up on findings by Amy Barczak has found that focusing on RNA molecules instead offers much more timely results.The probes are based on the fact that when DNA molecules are switched on, they pass on information to RNA molecules, which are far more prevalent in the body and thus easier to find and look at. Thus, when DNA molecules are switched on due to coming under attack by a pathogen, RNA molecules are notified, which opens up the possibility of simply watching RNA molecules for reactions instead of testing DNA directly. That’s just what the team has done. They’ve created so-called glowing probe molecules that physically light up when they come into contact with the material that is transmitted to RNA molecules from DNA when it comes under attack. And because different DNA molecules switch on for different germs, the message sent is different causing specific probes to light up, which allows for identifying which pathogen has struck.In lab tests, the glowing probes have been able to identify HIV, herpes, influenza, several kinds of bacteria and even the fungus that causes thrush. The team believes that their probes could be used together to test for a variety of ailments in one fell swoop, saving countless hours.As impressive as their results are thus far, there’s more to the story. The team also found that their glowing probes were also able to discern whether a discovered bacteria was drug-susceptible or resistant, a result that could save precious time when trying to figure out the most appropriate drug to use to treat patients infected with dangerous pathogens.Because their research is still so new, more work will need to be done to ensure that the probes are as accurate as they seem and to figure out exactly which pathogens can be identified by them and which cannot. (PhysOrg.com) — A team of researchers from the Boston area have developed a “glowing probe” molecule that is able to detect the presence of many common types of bacteria, viruses and even fungi. The results of their work, which they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that the molecular probes can be used to help diagnose diseases. © 2012 PhysOrg.com
Posted by Share Friday, December 21, 2018 Travelweek Group easyJet just pulled off the world’s biggest light show involving an aircraft
LONDON — Forget your neighbour’s annual Christmas lights display. For a real holiday showstopper, head over to London’s Luton Airport where easyJet is lighting up the season in the most magical of ways.In celebration of the holidays, and to commemorate the airport’s 80th anniversary, a team of special effects artists created a spectacular light show inside the easyJet hangar that included 850,000 choreographed sequences and 1.5 miles of lights wrapped around an easyJet Airbus A320. To add an extra festive touch, the show was timed to a festive remix of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ from The Nutcracker.But what was truly magical was the fact that the team only had 24 hours to pull the whole thing off! (No word as to whether they received help from Santa’s elves.)Of course, no show would be complete without an audience so the airport invited staff, families and children from Chantry Primary Academy and Whitefield Primary School to ‘ooh and aah’ over the spectacle.More news: Rome enforces ban on sitting on Spanish StepsAirport operations director Neil Thompson told the Daily Mail: “As we reach the end of our redevelopment – the largest in the airport’s 80-year history – we wanted to extend a huge thank you to staff and customers and give them a special Christmas gift.” Tags: Christmas, easyJet << Previous PostNext Post >>
August 26, 2015 601 Views Employment Freddie Mac Housing Market Mortgages Multi-Indicator Market Index Stable 2015-08-26 Staff Writer Multiple market indicators show solid strong stabilization within housing in June, mostly due to employment and current mortgages, according to Freddie Mac’s Multi-Indicator Market Index (MiMi).Housing markets are the strongest they have been since 2008, with the national MiMi surpassing 80 in June. Freddie Mac attributes most of this positive growth to a surge in jobs and mortgages that are kept current in nearly all metros.”Nationally, all MiMi indicators are heading in the right direction,” said Len Kiefer, Freddie Mac deputy chief economist. “Robust homebuyer demand has put total home sales on pace for the best year since 2007 and look for that trend to continue as the MiMi purchase applications indicator remains on the upswing.”The national MiMi value reached 80.3 in June, indicating that the housing market is on the outer stable range. The MiMi saw an increase of 1.33 percent from May to June and a three-month improvement of 2.26 percent. Year-over-year, the MiMi rose 5.41 percent. Although the MiMi value has rebounded 35 since its all-time low in October, it remains much lower than its high of 121.7.According to the MiMi, current mortgages and employment are the major contributors pushing the MiMi into the stable range. Current mortgages reached 82.7 points in June, up 0.82 percent from May. Meanwhile, employment landed at 101.7 points, up 0.64 points from May.On the other hand, the purchase applications indicator landed weak for June at 65.2 points, although it improved 1.53 percent from May. In addition, the payment-to-income indicator was weak in June at 71.3 points, rising 2.80 percent from May.Freddie Mac reported, Arkansas and Tennessee, along with four additional metro areas entered their outer range of stable housing activity: Omaha, Nebraska; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Madison, Wisconsin.Of the 50 states, 28 and the District of Columbia have MiMi values in a stable range, with the District of Columbia (101.7), North Dakota (96.2), Montana (93.5), Hawaii (92.9), and California and Utah tied at (89) and ranking in the top five.”While home prices are still 7 percent below peak values nationally, price indices in many markets are at all-time highs and current low-interest rates are helping to support homebuyer affordability,” Kiefer said. “Mortgage delinquencies are coming down rapidly, but are still high in many markets. Those markets hardest hit by the Great Recession, including many in Florida, are rebounding but they still need to improve to get delinquencies back in line with their benchmark historic averages. The key driver of all this recovery has been solid job growth, with 96 out of 100 metros and all states within range of their benchmark historic average unemployment rate.”Source: Freddie Mac Click here to view Freddie Mac’s Multi-Indicator Market Index. Share
June Housing Market Indicators Highest Since 2008 in Daily Dose, Data, Government, Headlines, Market Studies, News
A 30-year-old athlete who was hit by a car while cycling outside Nicosia almost two weeks ago has died, it was reported on Friday.Nektarios Pettemerides had been in intensive care since with severe head trauma.He had been injured when a car ploughed into a group of cyclists training on a road near Ayios Sozomenos in the Dhali area early on Sunday, February 4.Two others were treated for light injuries and subsequently discharged.Pettemerides was a triathlete, a member of Keravnos Strovolou, who took part in international events, including Ironman races. You May LikeDr. Marty ProPower Plus Supplement3 Dangerous Foods People Feed Their Dogs (Without Realizing It)Dr. Marty ProPower Plus SupplementUndoPopularEverythingColorado Mom Adopted Two Children, Months Later She Learned Who They Really ArePopularEverythingUndoTotal Battle – Online Strategy GameIf You’re PC User This Strategy Game Is A Must-Have!Total Battle – Online Strategy GameUndo Turkish Cypriot actions in Varosha ‘a clear violation’ of UN resolutions, Nicosia saysUndoConcern over falling tourism numbersUndoPensioner dies after crash on Paphos-Polis roadUndoby Taboolaby Taboola
The government does not favour a change in its tax policy on fuel because it is low compared with the rest of the EU, Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said on Tuesday.Speaking before the House energy committee, the minister did not rule out revisiting the matter if the price of fuel rose.Of the low fuel prices in the north, which are attracting thousands of Greek Cypriots seeking to take advantage of the big difference, the minister said there were differences in many products, including medication and food.“I do not think we can tackle this problem using taxation tools,” he said, especially when it comes to fuel and other products whose price is affected by the economic crisis in Turkey.Georgiades said such changes should not affect a state’s fiscal policy, which must be characterised by stability, nor can it be defined by the decisions of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north.MPs heard that the lowest fuel consumption tax in the EU is €330 per 1,000 litres with Cyprus coming in at 15th place when it comes to diesel – €450/1,000 litres.The island ranks 9th in the EU on unleaded petrol consumption tax with €479. The lowest in the EU is €359.The government charges 19 per cent VAT on fuel, making Cyprus the third lowest in the EU.Akel MP Costas Costa said they asked the minister to halt the levying on VAT on fuel sales.“He refused, citing a European directive, which the government says mandates it. But again, we say that the directive merely allows it [VAT on fuel], it does not mandate it.”However the lawmaker may have got it wrong. Whereas the 28 EU member states are free to set their standard VAT rates, levying VAT on fuel sales is obligatory. In addition, VAT on vehicle fuel has to be charged at standard country VAT rate, which is Cyprus is set at 19 per cent.Cyprus, Germany and Romania charge a standard VAT rate of 19 per cent. In the EU, Luxembourg has the lowest VAT rate at 17 per cent, then Malta with 18 per cent.Hungary has the highest rate at 27 per cent, while Denmark, Croatia and Sweden charge 25 per cent.The minimum standard VAT rate allowed by the EU is 15 per cent.The Akel politician re-posed the issue of the ‘rockets and feathers’ phenomenon in gas pump prices.“How is it possible, when international oil prices had shot up to $140 a barrel, the price of unleaded 95 in Cyprus came to €1.40 a litre, while today when oil prices are at $77, unleaded in Cyprus goes for €1.36? We posed this question to the minister again today, and got no answer.”Lawmakers were able to extract a promise from Georgiades that the government will examine an incentives package for electric-powered cars or vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas.The minister also promised to look into the possibility of reducing the annual levy for corporations, which currently stands at €350.Georgiades reiterated the government’s intention to slash the extraordinary defence levy on interest income from 30 per cent to 17 per cent as of January 1, 2019.You May LikeHealthZapThis Old Man Was Not Just A Janitor But A Soldier With A Great ReputationHealthZapUndoCrossovers | Search AdsCrossover SUVs You Might Not Believe ExistCrossovers | Search AdsUndoHealevateBear Cubs Struggle To Keep Up, Then People Decide To Do The Sweetest ThingHealevateUndo Cypriot ambassadors gather in Nicosia for annual briefingUndoRussian opposition leader Navalny hospitalised for allergic reactionUndoBritish woman who claimed gang-rape taken to courtUndoby Taboolaby Taboola
Cyprus is urging the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to “resist what blatantly amounts to blackmail on behalf of Turkey” in relation to the review of a case concerning Greek Cypriot property in the north.In a memorandum submitted by the government, ahead of a Committee of Ministers meeting in Strasbourg next week, it notes that Turkey is seeking to exert pressure on the Committee to close the supervision of the Loizidou case as a prerequisite for its future cooperation with the human rights organisation.Titina Loizidou, a Greek Cypriot applicant seeks to enforce a 1996 Court judgment for the restitution and peaceful enjoyment of her property in Turkish-occupied Kyrenia. Turkey says it is not possible to restore the property and that Loizidou can only exchange it or receive compensation for it, pointing to the immovable property commission (IPC) operating in the north.Nicosia responded that “it is the Committee, not the IPC, that has the responsibility of supervising the execution of judgments of the Court.”“For Loizidou to be closed under the current circumstances would reward Turkey for its non-payment and, in particular, for its non-cooperation with the Committee” the government says.Turkey stated last June that it “will not continue its cooperation with the Committee and will not take part in any discussion regarding the execution of judgments related to the Cyprus issue.”However, Nicosia reiterated the outstanding issues ahead of the Committee’s December meeting, including compensation in 33 cases of the Xenides-Arestis group and in the Varnava case (concerning missing persons) which remain unpaid. Another issue is the examination of individual measures concerning Loizidou’s properties.Moreover, the applicant seeks additional damages for the period January 1987 – January 1990, for which the Committee was asked to initiate proceedings.With respect to Loizidou, Nicosia says that Turkey is under an obligation to provide answers to a series of questions, so that the Committee may be in a position to take decisions. These questions have to do with the time the property was transferred to new users, evidence that users are Turkish Cypriots or the development status of the property concerned.The closure of Loizidou should not be contemplated before such information has been available and fully assessed, the government concludes.You May LikeYahoo SearchThe Early Signs Of Type 2 Diabetes. Search Type 2 Diabetes TreatmentsYahoo SearchUndoPopularEverythingColorado Mom Adopted Two Children, Months Later She Learned Who They Really ArePopularEverythingUndoPlarium I Vikings: Free Online GamePlay this for 1 minute and see why everyone is addictedPlarium I Vikings: Free Online GameUndo Turkish Cypriot actions in Varosha ‘a clear violation’ of UN resolutions, Nicosia saysUndoThe Deniz boat incident showed clearly the intentions of the Turkish sideUndoConcern over falling tourism numbersUndoby Taboolaby Taboola