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Testing of shared corporate services among three ministries a success - Clarke

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service says the pilot sharing of corporate services in areas such as procurement and finance among three ministries has been producing positive results. 

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the most populous city in the Nordic countries; 932,917 people live in the municipality, approximately 1.5 million in the urban area, region. The city is home to some of Europe's top ranking universities, such a

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Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the most populous city in the Nordic countries; 932,917 people live in the municipality, approximately 1.5 million in the urban area, region. The city is home to some of Europe's top ranking universities, such as the Stockholm School of Economics, Karolinska Institute and Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). It hosts the annual Nobel Prize ceremonies and banquet at the Stockholm Concert Hall and Stockholm City Hall. One of the city's most prized museums, the Vasa Museum, is the most visited non-art museum in Scandinavia. The Stockholm metro, opened in 1950, is well known for its decoration of the stations; it has been called the longest art gallery in the world. Sweden's national football arena is located north of the city centre, in Solna. Ericsson Globe, the national indoor arena, is in the southern part of the city. The city was the host of the 1912 Summer Olympics, and hosted the equestrian portion of the 1956 Summer Olympics otherwise held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Stockholm is the seat of the Swedish government and most of its agencies, including the highest courts in the judiciary, and the official residencies of the Swedish monarch and the Prime Minister. The government has its seat in the Rosenbad building, the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) is seated in the Parliament House, and the Prime Minister's residence is adjacent at the Sager House. The Stockholm Palace is the official residence and principal workplace of the Swedish monarch, while the Drottningholm Palace, a World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Stockholm, serves as the Royal Family's private residence.

Stockholm is located on Sweden's south-central east coast, where the freshwater Lake Mälaren - Sweden's third largest lake - flows out into the Baltic Sea. The central parts of the city consist of fourteen islands that are continuous with the Stockholm archipelago. The geographical city centre is situated on the water, in Riddarfjärden bay. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of parks and green spaces.

The biome Stockholm belongs to is the Temperate Deciduous Forest, which means the climate is very similar to that of the far north-eastern area of the United States and coastal Nova Scotia in Canada. The average annual temperature is 10 °C (50 °F). The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. The deciduous forest has four distinct seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the autumn the leaves change colour. During the winter months the trees lose their leaves.

For details about the other municipalities in the Stockholm area, see the pertinent articles. North of Stockholm Municipality: Järfälla, Solna, Täby, Sollentuna, Lidingö, Upplands Väsby, Österåker, Sigtuna, Sundbyberg, Danderyd, Vallentuna, Ekerö, Upplands-Bro, Vaxholm, and Norrtälje. South of Stockholm: Huddinge, Nacka, Botkyrka, Haninge, Tyresö, Värmdö, Södertälje, Salem, Nykvarn and Nynäshamn.

The vast majority of Stockholm residents work in the service industry, which accounts for roughly 85% of jobs in Stockholm. The almost total absence of heavy industry (and fossil fuel power plants) makes Stockholm one of the world's cleanest metropolises. The last decade has seen a significant number of jobs created in high technology companies. Large employers include IBM, Ericsson, and Electrolux. A major IT centre is located in Kista, in northern Stockholm.

Stockholm is Sweden's financial centre. Major Swedish banks, such as Nordea, Swedbank, Handelsbanken, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, are headquartered in Stockholm, as are the major insurance companies Skandia, Folksam and Trygg-Hansa. Stockholm is also home to Sweden's foremost stock exchange, the Stockholm Stock Exchange (Stockholmsbörsen). Additionally, about 45% of Swedish companies with more than 200 employees are headquartered in Stockholm. Noted clothes retailer H&M is also headquartered in the city. In recent years, tourism has played an important part in the city's economy. Stockholm County is ranked as the 10th largest visitor destination in Europe, with over 10 million commercial overnight stays per year. Among 44 European cities Stockholm had the 6th highest growth in number of nights spent in the period 2004–2008.

Research and higher education in the sciences started in Stockholm in the 18th century, with education in medicine and various research institutions such as the Stockholm Observatory. The medical education was eventually formalized in 1811 as the Karolinska Institutet. The Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga Tekniska högskolan, or KTH) was founded in 1827 and is currently Scandinavia's largest higher education institute of technology with 13,000 students. Stockholm University, founded in 1878 with university status granted in 1960, has 52,000 students as of 2008. It also incorporates many historical institutions, such as the Observatory, the Swedish Museum of Natural History, and the botanical garden Bergianska trädgården. The Stockholm School of Economics, founded in 1909, is one of the few private institutions of higher education in Sweden.

In the fine arts, educational institutions include the Royal College of Music, which has a history going back to the conservatory founded as part of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1771, the Royal University College of Fine Arts, which has a similar historical association with the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and a foundation date of 1735, and the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting, which is the continuation of the school of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, once attended by Greta Garbo. Other schools include the design school Konstfack, founded in 1844, the University College of Opera (founded in 1968, but with older roots), the University College of Dance, and the Stockholms Musikpedagogiska Institut (the University College of Music Education).

The Södertörn University College was founded in 1995 as a multi-disciplinary institution for southern Metropolitan Stockholm, to balance the many institutions located in the northern part of the region.

Apart from being Sweden's capital, Stockholm houses many national cultural institutions. The Stockholm region is home to three of Sweden's World Heritage Sites – spots judged as invaluable places that belong to all of humanity: The Drottningholm Palace, Skogskyrkogården (The Woodland Cemetery) and Birka. In 1998, Stockholm was named European Capital of Culture.


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Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, the city has a population of approximately 550,000 in the urban area and about 1 million inhabitants in the m

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Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, the city has a population of approximately 550,000 in the urban area and about 1 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area.

Gothenburg was founded as a heavily fortified, primarily Dutch, trading colony, by royal charter in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. In addition to the generous privileges (e.g. tax relaxation) given to his Dutch allies from the then-ongoing Thirty Years' War, the king also attracted significant numbers of his German and Scottish allies to populate his only town on the western coast. At a key strategic location at the mouth of the Göta älv, where Scandinavia's largest drainage basin enters the sea, the Port of Gothenburg is now the largest port in the Nordic countries.

Gothenburg is home to many students, as the city includes the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. Volvo was founded in Gothenburg in 1927. The original, parent Volvo Group and the now separate Volvo Car Corporation are still headquartered on the island of Hisingen in the city. Other key companies are SKF and Astra Zeneca.

Gothenburg is served by Göteborg Landvetter Airport 30 km (18.64 mi) southeast of the city center. The smaller Göteborg City Airport, 15 km (9.32 mi) from the city center, was closed to regular airline traffic in 2015.

The city hosts some of the largest annual events in Scandinavia. The Gothenburg Film Festival, held in January since 1979, is the leading Scandinavian film festival with over 155,000 visitors each year. In summer, a wide variety of music festivals are held in the city, such as Way Out West and Metaltown.

Gothenburg is located on the west coast, in southwestern Sweden, about halfway between the capitals Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway. The location at the mouth of the Göta älv, which feeds into Kattegatt, an arm of the North Sea, has helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. The archipelago of Gothenburg consists of rough, barren rocks and cliffs, which also is typical for the coast of Bohuslän. Due to the Gulf Stream, the city has a mild climate and moderately heavy precipitation. It is the second-largest city in Sweden after capital Stockholm.

The Gothenburg Metropolitan Area (Stor-Göteborg) has 982,360 inhabitants and extends to the municipalities of Ale, Alingsås, Göteborg, Härryda, Kungälv, Lerum, Lilla Edet, Mölndal, Partille, Stenungsund, Tjörn, Öckerö in Västra Götaland County, and Kungsbacka in Halland County.

Angered, a suburb outside Gothenburg, consists of Hjällbo, Eriksbo, Rannebergen, Hammarkullen, Gårdsten, and Lövgärdet. It is a Million Programme part of Gothenburg, like Rosengård in Malmö and Botkyrka in Stockholm. Angered had about 50,000 inhabitants in 2015. It lies north of Gothenburg and is isolated from the rest of the city. Bergsjön is another Million Programme suburb north of Gothenburg, it has 14,000 inhabitants. Biskopsgården is the biggest multicultural suburb on the island of Hisingen, which is a part of Gothenburg but separated from the city by the river.

Many of the cultural institutions, as well as hospitals and the university, were created by donations from rich merchants and industrialists, for example the Röhsska Museum. On 29 December 2004, the Museum of World Culture opened near Korsvägen. Museums include the Gothenburg Museum of Art, and several museums of sea and navigation history, natural history, the sciences, and East India. Aeroseum, close to the Göteborg City Airport, is an aircraft museum in a former military underground air force base. The Volvo museum has exhibits of the history of Volvo and the development from 1927 until today. Products shown include cars, trucks, marine engines, and buses.

Universeum is a public science centre that opened in 2001, the largest of its kind in Scandinavia. It is divided into six sections, each containing experimental workshops and a collection of reptiles, fish, and insects. Universeum occasionally host debates between Swedish secondary-school students and Nobel Prize laureates or other scholars.

The most noted attraction is the amusement park Liseberg, located in the central part of the city. It is the largest amusement park in Scandinavia by number of rides, and was chosen as one of the top ten amusement parks in the world (2005) by Forbes. It is the most popular attraction in Sweden by number of visitors per year (more than 3 million).

There are a number of independent theatre ensembles in the city, besides institutions such as Gothenburg City Theatre, Backa Theatre (youth theatre), and Folkteatern.

The main boulevard is called Kungsportsavenyn (commonly known as Avenyn, "The Avenue"). It is about 1 km (0.62 mi) long and starts at Götaplatsen — which is the location of the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the city's theatre, and the city library, as well as the concert hall— and stretches all the way to Kungsportsplatsen in the old city centre of Gothenburg, crossing a canal and a small park. The Avenyn was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international architecture contest, and is the product of a period of extensive town planning and remodelling. Avenyn has Gothenburg's highest concentration of pubs and clubs. Sweden's largest shopping centre, Nordstan, is located in central Gothenburg.

Gothenburg's Haga district is known for its picturesque wooden houses and its cafés serving the well-known Haga bulle – a large cinnamon roll similar to the kanelbulle.

Five Gothenburg restaurants have a star in the 2008 Michelin Guide: 28 +, Basement, Fond, Kock & Vin, Fiskekrogen, and Sjömagasinet. The city has a number of star chefs – over the past decade, seven of the Swedish Chef of the Year awards have been won by people from Gothenburg.

The Gustavus Adolphus pastry, eaten every 6 November in Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus Day, is especially connected to, and appreciated in, Gothenburg because the city was founded by King Gustavus Adolphus.

One of Gothenburg's most popular natural tourist attractions is the Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, which is a set of several islands that can be reached by ferry boats mainly operating from Saltholmen. Within the archipelago are the Älvsborg fortress, Vinga and Styrsö islands.

Due to Gothenburg's advantageous location in the centre of Scandinavia, trade and shipping have always played a major role in the city's economic history, and they continue to do so. Gothenburg port has come to be the largest harbour in Scandinavia.

Apart from trade, the second pillar of Gothenburg has traditionally been manufacturing and industry, which significantly contributes to the city's wealth. Major companies operating plants in the area include SKF, Volvo, and Ericsson. Volvo Cars is the largest employer in Gothenburg, not including jobs in supply companies. The blue-collar industries which have dominated the city for long are still important factors in the city's economy, but they are being gradually replaced by high-tech industries. Banking and finance are also important, as well as the event and tourist industry.

Gothenburg is the terminus of the Valdemar-Göteborg gas pipeline, which brings natural gas from the North Sea fields to Sweden, through Denmark.

Historically, Gothenburg was home base from the 18th century of the Swedish East India Company. From its founding until the late 1970s, the city was a world leader in shipbuilding, with such shipyards as Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad, Götaverken, Arendalsvarvet, and Lindholmens varv. Gothenburg is classified as a global city by GaWC, with a ranking of Gamma. The city has been ranked as the 12th-most inventive city in the world by Forbes.


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Gothenburg's Haga district is known for its picturesque wooden houses and its cafés serving the well-known Haga bulle – a large cinnamon roll similar to the kanelbulle.

Five Gothenburg restaurants have a star in the 2008 Michelin Guide: 28 +, Basement, Fond, Kock & Vin, Fiskekrogen, and Sjömagasinet. The city has a number of star chefs – over the past decade, seven of the Swedish Chef of the Year awards have been won by people from Gothenburg.

The Gustavus Adolphus pastry, eaten every 6 November in Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus Day, is especially connected to, and appreciated in, Gothenburg because the city was founded by King Gustavus Adolphus.

One of Gothenburg's most popular natural tourist attractions is the Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, which is a set of several islands that can be reached by ferry boats mainly operating from Saltholmen. Within the archipelago are the Älvsborg fortress, Vinga and Styrsö islands.

Due to Gothenburg's advantageous location in the centre of Scandinavia, trade and shipping have always played a major role in the city's economic history, and they continue to do so. Gothenburg port has come to be the largest harbour in Scandinavia.

Apart from trade, the second pillar of Gothenburg has traditionally been manufacturing and industry, which significantly contributes to the city's wealth. Major companies operating plants in the area include SKF, Volvo, and Ericsson. Volvo Cars is the largest employer in Gothenburg, not including jobs in supply companies. The blue-collar industries which have dominated the city for long are still important factors in the city's economy, but they are being gradually replaced by high-tech industries. Banking and finance are also important, as well as the event and tourist industry.

Gothenburg is the terminus of the Valdemar-Göteborg gas pipeline, which brings natural gas from the North Sea fields to Sweden, through Denmark.

Historically, Gothenburg was home base from the 18th century of the Swedish East India Company. From its founding until the late 1970s, the city was a world leader in shipbuilding, with such shipyards as Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad, Götaverken, Arendalsvarvet, and Lindholmens varv. Gothenburg is classified as a global city by GaWC, with a ranking of Gamma. The city has been ranked as the 12th-most inventive city in the world by Forbes.


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Malmö

Malmö is the capital and largest city of the Swedish county of Scania. Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the 5th biggest city in Scandinavia, with a population of above 300,000. The Malmö Metropolitan Regio

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Malmö

Malmö is the capital and largest city of the Swedish county of Scania. Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the 5th biggest city in Scandinavia, with a population of above 300,000. The Malmö Metropolitan Region is home to 700,000 people, and the Øresund Region, which includes Malmö, is home to 3.9 million people.

Malmö was one of the earliest and most industrialized towns of Scandinavia, but it struggled with the adaptation to post-industrialism. Since the construction of the Øresund Bridge, Malmö has undergone a major transformation with architectural developments, and it has attracted new biotech and IT companies, and particularly students through Malmö University, founded in 1998. The city contains many historic buildings and parks, and is also a commercial centre for the western part of Scania.

Malmö is located at 13°00' east and 55°35' north. It is located near the southwestern tip of Sweden, in the Scania province.

Malmö is part of the transnational Øresund Region and since 2000, the Øresund Bridge crosses the Øresund to Copenhagen, Denmark. The bridge opened 1 July 2000, and measures 8 kilometres (5 miles) (the whole link totalling 16 km), with pylons reaching 204.5 metres (670.9 feet) vertically. Apart from the Helsingborg-Helsingør ferry links further north, most ferry connections have been discontinued.

Malmö Municipality is an administrative unit defined by geographical borders, consisting of the City of Malmö and its immediate surroundings.

Malmö (Malmö tätort) consists of the urban part of the municipality together with the small town of Arlöv in the Burlöv Municipality. Both municipalities also include smaller urban areas and rural areas, such as the suburbs of Oxie and Åkarp. Malmö tätort is to be distinguished from Malmö stad (the city of Malmö), which is a semi-official name of Malmö Municipality.

The leaders in Malmö created a commission for a socially sustainable Malmö in November 2010. The commission's was tasked with providing evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities and improve living conditions for all citizens of Malmö, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged and issued its final report in December 2013.

Malmö is a young city, with almost half of the population under the age of 35 (48%).

After 1971, Malmö had 265,000 inhabitants, but the population then dropped to 229,000 by 1985. The total population of the urban area was 280,415 in December 2010. It then began to rise again, and had passed the previous record by the 1 January 2003 census, when it had 265,481 inhabitants. On 27 April 2011, the population of Malmö reached the 300,000 mark.

Circa 43% of the population have a foreign background (135,509 residents); 31% was born abroad (99,788) and another 11% was Swedish-born (35,721), with foreign-born parents. The Middle East, Horn of Africa, former Yugoslavia and Denmark are the main sources of immigration.

As of 2015, Malmö had the fourth-highest proportion of foreign-born residents of any municipality in Sweden. In addition to these figures, 14% of the population are foreign nationals.

The economy of Malmö was traditionally based on shipbuilding (Kockums) and construction related industries, such as concrete factories. The region's leading university, along with its associated hi-tech and pharmaceutical industries, is located in Lund about 16 kilometres (10 miles) to the north-east. As a result, Malmö had a troubled economic situation following the mid-1970s. Between 1990–1995, 27,000 jobs were lost, and the budget deficit was more than one billion Swedish krona. In 1995, Malmö had Sweden's highest unemployment rate.

However, during the last few years there has been a revival. The main contributing factor has been the economic integration with Denmark brought about by the Øresund Bridge. Almost 10% of the population[citation needed] of Malmö works in Copenhagen. Also the university founded in 1998 and the effects of integration into the European Union have contributed.

In 2004, the rate of wage-earners was 63%, compared to 74% in Stockholm and 71% in Gothenburg. This in turn led to Malmö municipality in 2007 having the 9th lowest median income in Sweden.

In December 2009, Moderna Museet Malmö was opened in the old Rooseum building. It is a part of the Moderna Museet, with independent exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The collection of Moderna Museet holds key pieces of, among others, Marcel Duchamp, Louise Bourgeois, Pablo Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Salvador Dalí, Carolee Schneemann, Henri Matisse and Robert Rauschenberg. The Malmö Konsthall is one of the largest exhibition halls in Europe for contemporary art, opened in 1975.

The beach Ribersborg, by locals usually called Ribban, south-west of the harbour area, is a man-made shallow beach, stretching along Malmö's coastline. Despite Malmö's chilly climate, it is sometimes referred to as the "Copacabana of Malmö". It is the site of Ribersborgs open-air bath, opened in the 1890s.

The long boardwalk at The Western Harbour, Scaniaparken and Daniaparken, has become a new favourite summer hang-out for the people of Malmö and is a popular place for bathing. The harbour is particularly popular with Malmö's vibrant student community and has been the scene of several impromptu outdoor parties and gatherings.


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Uppsala

Uppsala is the capital of Uppsala County and the fourth largest city of Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. It had 149,245 inhabitants in 2015. Located 71 km (44 mi) north of the capital Stockholm, it is also the seat of Uppsala Municipality

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Uppsala

Uppsala is the capital of Uppsala County and the fourth largest city of Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. It had 149,245 inhabitants in 2015. Located 71 km (44 mi) north of the capital Stockholm, it is also the seat of Uppsala Municipality. Since 1164, Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical centre of Sweden, being the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden. Uppsala is home to Scandinavia's largest cathedral – Uppsala Cathedral. Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest centre of higher education in Scandinavia. Among many achievements, the Celsius scale for temperature was invented there.

Situated on the fertile Uppsala flatlands of muddy soil, the city features the small Fyris River (Fyrisån) flowing through the landscape surrounded by lush vegetation. Parallel to the river runs the glacial ridge of Uppsalaåsen at an elevation of circa 30 metres (98 feet), the site of Uppsala's castle, from which large parts of the town can be seen. The central park Stadsskogen (literally "The Town Forest") stretches from the south far into town, with opportunities for recreation for many residential areas within walking distance.

Only some 70 kilometres (43 miles) or 40 minutes by train from the capital, many Uppsala residents work in Stockholm. The train to Stockholm-Arlanda Airport takes only 17 minutes, rendering the city easily accessible by air.

The commercial centre of Uppsala is quite compact. The city has a distinct town and gown divide with clergy, royalty and academia historically residing on the river's western shore, somewhat separated from the rest of the city, and the ensemble of cathedral, castle and university buildings has remained mostly undisturbed until today. While some beautiful buildings remain on the periphery of the central core, retail commercial activity is geographically focused on a small number of blocks around the pedestrianized streets and main square on the eastern side of the river, an area that was subject to a large-scale metamorphosis during the economically booming years in the 1960s in particular. During recent decades, a significant part of retail commercial activity has shifted to shopping malls and stores situated in the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile, the built-up areas have expanded greatly, and some suburbanization has taken place.

The Fyris river (Fyrisån) neatly divides the city into two different parts: the historic quarter to the west of the river and the modern administrative, residential and commercial city centre to the east. Most of the historical sights and university buildings are in the western part, with a medieval street layout, river views and parks and dominated by the cathedral.

The most outstanding building in Uppsala is the Domkyrka (Uppsala Cathedral), Scandinavia's largest church building (118.70 m (389.44 ft) high). Together with Uppsala Castle it has dominated Uppsala's skyline since its construction in the 13th century and can be seen from a long distance outside the city, other tall buildings being rare.

Facing the west end of the cathedral is the Gustavianum, built in 1625 to be the main building of the University, and served as such through most of the 19th century. It contains the Museum of Nordic Antiquities, the Victoria Museum (of Egyptian antiquities) and the University's cultural history collections. It also houses a perfectly preserved 17th-century anatomical theatre (used in its time for public dissections). Next to Gustavianum is the 18th century Archbishop's Palace, the official residence of the Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala and the primate of the Church of Sweden.

Across the street from the Gustavianum in the University Park stands the University Hall, erected in 1879–86 in Italian renaissance style. The Uppsala University Coin Cabinet is located in the university main building.

Not far from the University stands the Uppsala University Library (Carolina Rediviva), the largest library in Sweden, with over 5 million volumes and some 60,000 manuscripts. The building was built in 1820–41.

On a circa 35-metre high hill to the southwest of the University Library stands Uppsala Castle. Its construction was initiated in 1549 by King Gustav Vasa, founder of the Vasa royal dynasty. Today the castle holds several museums, among them the regional art museum, and is the residence of the Uppsala County Governor.

There are several botanical museums in Uppsala related to the world-famous 18th century botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus; the Botanic Garden next to the castle, the Linnaean Garden in the city centre, and Linnaeus Hammarby, Linnaeus' summer house in the countryside village of Danmarks Hammarby south of the city.

5 kilometres (3 miles) north of Uppsala city lies Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), the location of the pre-Christian settlement of Uppsala which later provided the new name for the medieval settlement further south. There are few remains, with the exception of several huge burial mounds of pre-Christian monarchs and the previous cathedral from 1164 A.D., traditionally said to be built over the old heathen temple (and recent archaeological investigations seems to support this notion). The site was a major religious centre in Scandinavia in pre-Christian times. After the old cathedral church burned down around 1240 it was only partially restored to a more modest size as it no longer was the seat of the Archbishop. The Gamla Uppsala Museum exhibits archeological finds made during excavations in Gamla Uppsala and related finds from other parts of Uppland, as well as exhibitions on the history of the site itself.


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Only some 70 kilometres (43 miles) or 40 minutes by train from the capital, many Uppsala residents work in Stockholm. The train to Stockholm-Arlanda Airport takes only 17 minutes, rendering the city easily accessible by air.

The commercial centre of Uppsala is quite compact. The city has a distinct town and gown divide with clergy, royalty and academia historically residing on the river's western shore, somewhat separated from the rest of the city, and the ensemble of cathedral, castle and university buildings has remained mostly undisturbed until today. While some beautiful buildings remain on the periphery of the central core, retail commercial activity is geographically focused on a small number of blocks around the pedestrianized streets and main square on the eastern side of the river, an area that was subject to a large-scale metamorphosis during the economically booming years in the 1960s in particular. During recent decades, a significant part of retail commercial activity has shifted to shopping malls and stores situated in the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile, the built-up areas have expanded greatly, and some suburbanization has taken place.

The Fyris river (Fyrisån) neatly divides the city into two different parts: the historic quarter to the west of the river and the modern administrative, residential and commercial city centre to the east. Most of the historical sights and university buildings are in the western part, with a medieval street layout, river views and parks and dominated by the cathedral.

The most outstanding building in Uppsala is the Domkyrka (Uppsala Cathedral), Scandinavia's largest church building (118.70 m (389.44 ft) high). Together with Uppsala Castle it has dominated Uppsala's skyline since its construction in the 13th century and can be seen from a long distance outside the city, other tall buildings being rare.

Facing the west end of the cathedral is the Gustavianum, built in 1625 to be the main building of the University, and served as such through most of the 19th century. It contains the Museum of Nordic Antiquities, the Victoria Museum (of Egyptian antiquities) and the University's cultural history collections. It also houses a perfectly preserved 17th-century anatomical theatre (used in its time for public dissections). Next to Gustavianum is the 18th century Archbishop's Palace, the official residence of the Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala and the primate of the Church of Sweden.

Across the street from the Gustavianum in the University Park stands the University Hall, erected in 1879–86 in Italian renaissance style. The Uppsala University Coin Cabinet is located in the university main building.

Not far from the University stands the Uppsala University Library (Carolina Rediviva), the largest library in Sweden, with over 5 million volumes and some 60,000 manuscripts. The building was built in 1820–41.

On a circa 35-metre high hill to the southwest of the University Library stands Uppsala Castle. Its construction was initiated in 1549 by King Gustav Vasa, founder of the Vasa royal dynasty. Today the castle holds several museums, among them the regional art museum, and is the residence of the Uppsala County Governor.

There are several botanical museums in Uppsala related to the world-famous 18th century botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus; the Botanic Garden next to the castle, the Linnaean Garden in the city centre, and Linnaeus Hammarby, Linnaeus' summer house in the countryside village of Danmarks Hammarby south of the city.

5 kilometres (3 miles) north of Uppsala city lies Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), the location of the pre-Christian settlement of Uppsala which later provided the new name for the medieval settlement further south. There are few remains, with the exception of several huge burial mounds of pre-Christian monarchs and the previous cathedral from 1164 A.D., traditionally said to be built over the old heathen temple (and recent archaeological investigations seems to support this notion). The site was a major religious centre in Scandinavia in pre-Christian times. After the old cathedral church burned down around 1240 it was only partially restored to a more modest size as it no longer was the seat of the Archbishop. The Gamla Uppsala Museum exhibits archeological finds made during excavations in Gamla Uppsala and related finds from other parts of Uppland, as well as exhibitions on the history of the site itself.


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Västerås

Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Stockholm. The city had a population of 110,877 inhabitants in 2010, out of the municipal total of 150,000 (

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Västerås

Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Stockholm. The city had a population of 110,877 inhabitants in 2010, out of the municipal total of 150,000 (2017). Västerås is the seat of Västerås Municipality, the capital of Västmanland County and an episcopal see.

Västerås is predominantly known as an industrial city, but also a retailing and logistics city. The city wants to distinguish itself as Västerås – Mälarstaden, meaning "Västerås—the city by Lake Mälaren", in order to attract tourists and new inhabitants, as well as students to the local university college, Mälardalen University (approximately 16,000 enrolled students in Västerås and in the nearby Eskilstuna). To this effect, the city has started using a designed logo as branding in some official contexts, partially replacing the coat of arms, as well as rebuilding several old harbor areas to make them more attractive to live in. Västerås has the largest lakeside commercial and recreational port in Scandinavia on Lake Mälaren.

The city also has a skyscraper cordially nicknamed "Skrapan" which has Sweden's highest-located cocktail bar, called Sky Bar, on the 24th floor of the building. Västerås hosts Power Big Meet, an annual event where owners of high-powered American cars can meet.

According to the Köppen climate classification, Västerås experiences a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.

Summers tend to be quite unpredictable with sunny spells but with a risk of sudden showers. The sunniest weather usually occurs when high-pressure systems are blocking the low-pressure systems that usually move in from the Atlantic Ocean. Daytime temperatures in July mostly hover around 22 °C (72 °F), but may sometimes exceed 25 °C (77 °F) and occasionally even 30 °C (86 °F).

Winters are usually cold with a snow cover that lasts for several months. Some winters can be mild with longer spells without snow on the ground. The weather differs a lot whether the air masses are coming from the Atlantic Ocean or from the Eurasian continent. In the first case, temperatures over 5 °C (41 °F) might be expected. In the second case, the temperature may not rise above −15 °C (5 °F) in the middle of the day. Lake Mälaren is usually frozen from December until the end of March.


Source: Wikipedia

Sweden Sights

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President Mohamud inaugurates EAC conference in Mogadishu, condemns Ethiopia's water ambitions

Mogadishu (HOL) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia inaugurated a consultative conference of the East African Community in Mogadishu on Monday. The conference focused on opportunities for businesses and civil society.
Hiiraan Online

President Mohamud inaugurates EAC conference in Mogadishu, condemns Ethiopia's water ambitions

Mogadishu (HOL) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia inaugurated a consultative conference of the East African Community in Mogadishu on Monday. The conference focused on opportunities for businesses and civil society.

Kulmiye Party chairman pledges to respect Somaliland election results; denounces use of force in politics

Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland's Minister of Internal Affairs and Kulmiye Party Chairman, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, declared on Monday that neither force nor coercion would determine political power in Somaliland, emphasizing the importance of respecting democrati
Hiiraan Online

Kulmiye Party chairman pledges to respect Somaliland election results; denounces use of force in politics

Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland's Minister of Internal Affairs and Kulmiye Party Chairman, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, declared on Monday that neither force nor coercion would determine political power in Somaliland, emphasizing the importance of respecting democratic processes.

Somali Week festival held in Twin Cities

Somali Week is an event hosted by Rising Impact, a non-profit that focuses on supporting Somali youth. The week includes events that focus on learning, exploring and celebrating Somali culture.
Hiiraan Online

Somali Week festival held in Twin Cities

Somali Week is an event hosted by Rising Impact, a non-profit that focuses on supporting Somali youth. The week includes events that focus on learning, exploring and celebrating Somali culture.

DIRECT. Législatives 2024 en Polynésie : le débat entre les candidats de la 3e circonscription

Les électeurs sont appelés aux urnes le samedi 29 juin en Polynésie pour le 1er tour des législatives. Quatre candidats se présentent dans la 3e circonscription. Quelles sont leurs priorités pour la Polynésie ? Quels sont les enjeux de ce scrutin ? Él
polynésie

DIRECT. Législatives 2024 en Polynésie : le débat entre les candidats de la 3e circonscription

Les électeurs sont appelés aux urnes le samedi 29 juin en Polynésie pour le 1er tour des législatives. Quatre candidats se présentent dans la 3e circonscription. Quelles sont leurs priorités pour la Polynésie ? Quels sont les enjeux de ce scrutin ? Éléments de réponse, ce soir à 19h40, en direct sur nos quatre médias de Polynésie la 1ère.

Tampines residents place potted plants on common corridor to get back at each other

Next-door neighbours on the 10th storey of Block 218 Tampines Street 24 unhappy over items placed in the common corridor used potted plants to get back at each other. But the person who was apparently most inconvenienced was a third neighbour, who is a per
Singapore

Tampines residents place potted plants on common corridor to get back at each other

Next-door neighbours on the 10th storey of Block 218 Tampines Street 24 unhappy over items placed in the common corridor used potted plants to get back at each other. But the person who was apparently most inconvenienced was a third neighbour, who is a personal mobility device (PMD) user. The man told Shin Min Daily News: «I tried to communicate with Angela but she accused me of being heartless.» He claimed that Angela, who is said to have moved into her corner unit less than a year ago, had arranged her potted plants up to the space in front of his door. Angela has been in dispute with her immediate neighbours, the Yangs. She told Stomp that the neighbours had placed their footwear and potted plants in the space right outside her door, which runs along the wall to their unit. «This is my passageway but the plants and shoes belong to them. I have already complained to the Town Council,» she said. Tampines TC on April 28 issued a secular informing the residents that the clutter should be removed from the corridor by May 2 and reminded them about the need to keep at least 1.2m of the corridor width clutter-free.

Singaporean households can now claim $300 CDC vouchers

SINGAPORE — Every Singaporean household can now claim $300 in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers for their daily expenses. They will be split equally for spending at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and supermarkets. The last tranc
Singapore

Singaporean households can now claim $300 CDC vouchers

SINGAPORE — Every Singaporean household can now claim $300 in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers for their daily expenses. They will be split equally for spending at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and supermarkets. The last tranche of CDC vouchers worth $500 was launched by then-Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Jan 3, 2024. It provided households with $200 more help than the previous tranche in 2023. The $500 given out in January 2024, together with the $300 in June, means that each Singaporean household will get a total of $800 in 2024. This is the first time two tranches of CDC vouchers have been given out in the same calendar year. Wong, who is also Finance Minister, announced at Budget 2024 in February that Singaporeans will get a mix of cash, vouchers and rebates under a $1.9 billion boost to the Assurance Package to help with cost-of-living concerns and an uncertain economic outlook. Among the enhancements were an additional $600 in CDC vouchers — the first $300 to be disbursed end June in 2024, and the remaining $300 will be disbursed in January 2025.

'Never thought of selling': Pulau Ubin provision shop owner refuses to give up despite $6,000 loss last year

With fewer residents and a dip in the number of visitors to the island over the years, Ng Ngak Heng's business has taken a hit. Last year, the 74-year-old, who owns Yak Hong provision shop in Pulau Ubin, chalked up a loss of $6,000. But throwing in the t
Singapore

'Never thought of selling': Pulau Ubin provision shop owner refuses to give up despite $6,000 loss last year

With fewer residents and a dip in the number of visitors to the island over the years, Ng Ngak Heng's business has taken a hit. Last year, the 74-year-old, who owns Yak Hong provision shop in Pulau Ubin, chalked up a loss of $6,000. But throwing in the towel has never crossed her mind.  The shop is located just a stone's throw away from the jetty.  Ng told Shin Min Daily News that she moved to the island in 1975 after marrying her husband Law Kuing Liak. He inherited the provision shop from his father, who started it in the 1920s. «The shop now has a history of almost 100 years,» said Ng, adding that it is open all year round, from 7am to 7.30pm.  In an interview with CNA in 2022, she shared that Yak Hong used to supply Pulau Ubin residents with basic necessities and feed for their farm animals.  However, the demand for such goods has plunged with the dwindling number of residents. From the 1950s to 1970s, about 2,000 people lived on the island. Only about 30 remain today, reported CNA. Even Ng's two sons live and work on the mainland, and visit her over the weekends and during Chinese New Year. 

Rwanda: Kagame Wishes Challengers Well, Says Work, Results Shall Tell Difference

[New Times] Paul Kagame, the Chairman and flagbearer of RPF-Inkotanyi and allied parties, on Monday, June 24, wished his two challengers in the July presidential elections well, saying that the work results shall tell the difference, even after elections.
AllAfrica News: Central Africa

Rwanda: Kagame Wishes Challengers Well, Says Work, Results Shall Tell Difference

[New Times] Paul Kagame, the Chairman and flagbearer of RPF-Inkotanyi and allied parties, on Monday, June 24, wished his two challengers in the July presidential elections well, saying that the work results shall tell the difference, even after elections.

Growth & Jobs | From managing a family business to pioneering a new venture

GROWING UP in Port Maria, St Mary, Sean Wellington was no stranger to the operations of a funeral home. His family’s funeral home, operated by his grandfather, Leonard Martin, and his mother, Valerie Wellington, was situated on the same property as...
News

Growth & Jobs | From managing a family business to pioneering a new venture

GROWING UP in Port Maria, St Mary, Sean Wellington was no stranger to the operations of a funeral home. His family’s funeral home, operated by his grandfather, Leonard Martin, and his mother, Valerie Wellington, was situated on the same property as...

Growth & Jobs | ‘Your investment is safe’

BRANDO HAYDEN, managing director of JN Fund Managers, a member company of the JN Group, is assuring Jamaicans overseas that the country’s financial and real estate systems have the requisite and robust safeguards to protect their investments....
News

Growth & Jobs | ‘Your investment is safe’

BRANDO HAYDEN, managing director of JN Fund Managers, a member company of the JN Group, is assuring Jamaicans overseas that the country’s financial and real estate systems have the requisite and robust safeguards to protect their investments....

Growth & Jobs | Realigning your business in a challenging economy

A COMPANY’S ability to respond to the economic environment directly impacts its short-term and long-term success. Corporate executives direct the strategic approach to business alignment to reduce or, in some cases, eliminate inefficiencies,...
News

Growth & Jobs | Realigning your business in a challenging economy

A COMPANY’S ability to respond to the economic environment directly impacts its short-term and long-term success. Corporate executives direct the strategic approach to business alignment to reduce or, in some cases, eliminate inefficiencies,...

Hill highlights need for local entrepreneurs to invest in digitalisation

Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce, is urging Jamaican business owners to buy into digital transformation programmes, such as the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica’s €9.5 million Digital Transitioning...
News

Hill highlights need for local entrepreneurs to invest in digitalisation

Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce, is urging Jamaican business owners to buy into digital transformation programmes, such as the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica’s €9.5 million Digital Transitioning...

Patterson calls African, Caribbean leaders to action at Afreximbank meeting in Nassau

FORMER JAMAICA Prime Minister, Percival J. Patterson, delivered an impassioned call to action as they deliberated at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Nassau, Bahamas. Addressing leaders from Africa and the...
News

Patterson calls African, Caribbean leaders to action at Afreximbank meeting in Nassau

FORMER JAMAICA Prime Minister, Percival J. Patterson, delivered an impassioned call to action as they deliberated at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Nassau, Bahamas. Addressing leaders from Africa and the...

Le Président de la Transition lance les travaux de construction du centre universitaire de Lambaréné

Lambaréné, le 23 juin 2024-Au terme de sa visite de 72 heures dans la province du Moyen-Ogooué, le Président de la Transition, Président de la République, Chef de l'État, le Général Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema a pris part ce jour à la célébratio
GABONEWS

Le Président de la Transition lance les travaux de construction du centre universitaire de Lambaréné

Lambaréné, le 23 juin 2024-Au terme de sa visite de 72 heures dans la province du Moyen-Ogooué, le Président de la Transition, Président de la République, Chef de l'État, le Général Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema a pris part ce jour à la célébration d'un culte œcuménique à la Paroisse Saint François Xavier de Lambaréné en compagnie de la Première Dame Madame Zita Oligui Nguema et de toute la délégation qui l'accompagnait. Cette célébration eucharistique à laquelle prenaient part les (...) - ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Jean François Ndongou en communion avec les ressortissants du département de Ndolou

Libreville, le 24 juin 2024- Jean François Ndongou communie avec les ressortissants du département de Ndolou. Une rencontre aux allures de grandes retrouvailles électorales, qui lui a permis de solliciter le soutiens des uns et des autres, ainsi que l'impl
GABONEWS

Jean François Ndongou en communion avec les ressortissants du département de Ndolou

Libreville, le 24 juin 2024- Jean François Ndongou communie avec les ressortissants du département de Ndolou. Une rencontre aux allures de grandes retrouvailles électorales, qui lui a permis de solliciter le soutiens des uns et des autres, ainsi que l'implication de tous, pour la Réussite de la transition en cours au Gabon. Nommé à la présidence de l'Assemblée Nationale de la transition, au lendemain du coup de libération du 30 Août 2023, Jean François Ndongou, natif du département de (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Lancement officiel de la délivrance de la CNIE par le Chef de l'Etat

Après avoir constitué son dossier de demande de la Carte Nationale d'Identité Électronique (CNIE) et de s'être fait enrôler le 22 juin 2024 à Lambaréné, le Président de la Transition, Président de la République, Chef de l'État, le Général Bric
GABONEWS

Lancement officiel de la délivrance de la CNIE par le Chef de l'Etat

Après avoir constitué son dossier de demande de la Carte Nationale d'Identité Électronique (CNIE) et de s'être fait enrôler le 22 juin 2024 à Lambaréné, le Président de la Transition, Président de la République, Chef de l'État, le Général Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema a reçu son macaron de la CNIE, le lundi 24 juin 2024, des mains du Ministre de l'Intérieur et de la Sécurité Hermann Immongault. Cette réception vaut lancement officiel de la campagne de production de la nouvelle carte (...) - SÉCURITÉ / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

UNGA president honours India's Hansa Mehta on International Day for Women in diplomacy

Dennis Francis, UNGA president, honoured Hansa Mehta on International Day for Women in diplomacy for her pivotal role in revising the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to include gender-inclusive language. Mehta's advocacy changed «All men ar
India News, Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India: TOI

UNGA president honours India's Hansa Mehta on International Day for Women in diplomacy

Dennis Francis, UNGA president, honoured Hansa Mehta on International Day for Women in diplomacy for her pivotal role in revising the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to include gender-inclusive language. Mehta's advocacy changed «All men are born free and equal» to «All human beings are born free and equal,» marking a significant milestone for women's rights globally. Her contributions were celebrated for advancing gender equality in diplomacy.

Remaining 281 MPs to take oath in lok sabha today

On the first day of the 18th lok sabha's inaugural session, 262 newly elected MPs, including PM Modi, took their oaths. Key figures like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were among them. PM Modi emphasized consensus and thanked voters for their continued support,
India News, Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India: TOI

Remaining 281 MPs to take oath in lok sabha today

On the first day of the 18th lok sabha's inaugural session, 262 newly elected MPs, including PM Modi, took their oaths. Key figures like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were among them. PM Modi emphasized consensus and thanked voters for their continued support, aiming for a developed India by 2047.

Lok sabha speaker: NDA candidate likely to file nomination today, election on June 26

With the lok sabha speaker election approaching, the NDA and opposition INDIA bloc are preparing to contest, marking a rare election for the post. The NDA holds a majority with 293 MPs, while the INDIA bloc has 234. The election will be held on June 26.
India News, Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India: TOI

Lok sabha speaker: NDA candidate likely to file nomination today, election on June 26

With the lok sabha speaker election approaching, the NDA and opposition INDIA bloc are preparing to contest, marking a rare election for the post. The NDA holds a majority with 293 MPs, while the INDIA bloc has 234. The election will be held on June 26.

Congress has no right to profess love for our Constitution: PM Modi on 49th Emergency anniversary

On Tuesday, the BJP launched a massive campaign on the 49th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi in 1975. This action comes as a counter to the opposition INDIA bloc's attempt to challenge the BJP on
India News, Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India: TOI

Congress has no right to profess love for our Constitution: PM Modi on 49th Emergency anniversary

On Tuesday, the BJP launched a massive campaign on the 49th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi in 1975. This action comes as a counter to the opposition INDIA bloc's attempt to challenge the BJP on the issue of the Constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the situation directly, stating, «Those who imposed the Emergency have no right to profess their love for our Constitution.»

Relationship between India, US 'multiplicative': US envoy Eric Garcetti

US envoy Eric Garcetti emphasized the unprecedented strength of India-US ties at the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Highlighting mutual investments, Garcetti announced JSW Steel's $140 million investment in Texas, reflecting growing two-way economic collaborati
India News, Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India: TOI

Relationship between India, US 'multiplicative': US envoy Eric Garcetti

US envoy Eric Garcetti emphasized the unprecedented strength of India-US ties at the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Highlighting mutual investments, Garcetti announced JSW Steel's $140 million investment in Texas, reflecting growing two-way economic collaboration. The summit saw India's largest delegation, underscoring the deepening strategic and economic partnership between the two nations.

Security guard 'who plotted to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby' had 10,000 images of her on his phone and had come to attention of US undercover cop after posting messages in an 'abduct lovers' online group, court hears

Gavin Plumb is accused of hatching a plan to use a chloroform restraint kit to overpower the star before taking her to a 'dungeon' where her 'screams can't be heard for miles'.
News | Mail Online

Security guard 'who plotted to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby' had 10,000 images of her on his phone and had come to attention of US undercover cop after posting messages in an 'abduct lovers' online group, court hears

Gavin Plumb is accused of hatching a plan to use a chloroform restraint kit to overpower the star before taking her to a 'dungeon' where her 'screams can't be heard for miles'.

Role of BRICS, interaction in Eurasia to be discussed by participants of Primakov Readings

The theme of this year's two-day international scientific and expert forum is «Russia in the Global Context»
TASS

Role of BRICS, interaction in Eurasia to be discussed by participants of Primakov Readings

The theme of this year's two-day international scientific and expert forum is «Russia in the Global Context»

Ukrainian president’s office has corrupt procurement system for army — news outlet

Its participants receive kickbacks of up to 30% of the tender price for supplies to the Ukrainian military, the Strana news outlet reported
TASS

Ukrainian president’s office has corrupt procurement system for army — news outlet

Its participants receive kickbacks of up to 30% of the tender price for supplies to the Ukrainian military, the Strana news outlet reported

Assange to return to Australia after US trial

WikiLeaks founder will be sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty, including the time he has already spent in detention in the UK, the office of Australian Prime Minister said
TASS

Assange to return to Australia after US trial

WikiLeaks founder will be sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty, including the time he has already spent in detention in the UK, the office of Australian Prime Minister said

S.Africa to dish up more zebra to boost jobs and conservation

Carcasses of impala, kudu and wildebeest hang from a slaughterhouse rail, ready to be turned into steaks, sausages and burger patties of the kind South Africa wants to see more of on the dinner table. The abattoir in Bela Bela, north of Johannesburg, is amon
Seychelles News Agency

S.Africa to dish up more zebra to boost jobs and conservation

Carcasses of impala, kudu and wildebeest hang from a slaughterhouse rail, ready to be turned into steaks, sausages and burger patties of the kind South Africa wants to see more of on the dinner table. The abattoir in Bela Bela, north of Johannesburg, is among only a handful in the country dedicated to game meat. Authorities say the untapped sector could create jobs and help preserve wildlife -- while pleasing the palates of climate- and health-conscious meat eaters. «We want to add a dimension into your dinner plate by giving you an organic game meat from the wild,» Khorommbi Matibe, the environment ministry's biodiversity economy chief, told AFP. A top wildlife tourism destination, South Africa produces around 60,000 tonnes of game meat a year -- equivalent in weight to roughly 60,000 giraffes. But only a fraction ends up in butcheries and supermarkets. Ninety percent is hunted and consumed informally, according to the government. Even less is exported. In 2019, just over 3,000 tonnes of ostrich, crocodile and zebra were shipped to the European Union, China and the UAE, it said. Authorities would like to serve up much more. In March, they said they want to grow the sector from 4.6 billion rand ($250 million) in 2020 to 27.6 billion rand by 2036, adopting a strategy published late last year. - Less methane - With unemployment sitting at 32.9 percent nationally, this could create jobs in rural, economically deprived areas. Matibe said there are good reasons for barbecuing more springboks. Game animals release less methane -- a greenhouse gas -- than cattle, whose burps are a top source of global warming emissions from agriculture. Foraging in the wild, their meat is by definition free-range and lean. A 2023 study by researchers at Stellenbosch University, found that zebra meat in particular was highly nutritious and very low in fat. Eating more of it could also help conservation efforts, the government argues. South Africa has long adopted a market-oriented approach to conservation, based on the belief that farmers have a better incentive to look after wildlife if they can profit from it. Critics say the model exploits and commoditises animals. But it has proved largely successful. The country's wildlife population has grown from about 500,000 in the 1960s to more than 20 million today. About 80 percent is in private game reserves that attract tourists and hunters. Some meat could come from the hundreds of herbivores that are culled every year to keep numbers within sustainable levels, the government says. And it wants to convert one million hectares of communal land to game meat production, which could boost black ownership in a sector where, 30 years after the end of apartheid, more than 94 percent of operators are white males, said Matibe. Requiring little equipment, game has «really low» input costs -- an advantage for newcomers, added Darren Horner, owner of producer Aloes Meat. - Meaty problems - Yet, in a country mad for barbecue, locally known as braai, little currently ends on the grill. This is partially due to the belief that game is less tender than beef and tastes unusual, according to the strategy, which envisages marketing campaigns to boost consumption. «Our grandmothers used to stuff it with bacon and leave it in red wine for three days to get rid of that wild taste. To me it only needs a bit of olive oil and salt,» said Charl de Villiers, head of Game SA, an industry group. There are other hurdles. Authorities plan to draw up quality standards so that all meat can be traced to the source and trusted by supermarkets and restaurants. But these can't be too stringent or risk scaring away informal producers, said Horner. Meanwhile, exports of cloven-hoofed animals to Europe have been banned for years as South Africa struggles to contain outbreaks of the foot and mouth disease that farmers blame on inadequate border controls. State laboratories to test meat are small and outdated, which further limits export potential, producers say. De Villiers currently has to ship his ostrich meat to Britain for testing, which ups costs. - Big disappointment - Stephen Nel, owner of the Camo Meat abattoir in Bela Bela, said he applied for an export licence in 2017 but has since given up on it. «It was a very big disappointment for me. The government failed us,» Nel said, wearing khaki shorts and a matching shirt inside his refrigerated facility. About 4,000 animals a year are skinned, weighed, deboned, processed and packaged there. Almost all are brought in by hunters keen on eating some of their prey. Expanding production to supply supermarkets would require investments, but these are hard to come by, amid scepticism around the sector's potential, he said. The government has been talking about growth for over a decade, but «nothing gets laid down», said Nel. Yet, Matibe is confident the strategy will soon start to bring results and will remain on track even after elections in May that forced the ruling African National Congress to form a coalition government. «In the next three years, we should be able to see a ramp up of this product coming to the market,» he said. © Agence France-Presse

France, Jordan urge Israel to lift Gaza aid restrictions

French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan Monday called on Israel to lift all land-based «restrictions» on the delivery of aid to war-torn Gaza, the presidency said. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of
Seychelles News Agency

France, Jordan urge Israel to lift Gaza aid restrictions

French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan Monday called on Israel to lift all land-based «restrictions» on the delivery of aid to war-torn Gaza, the presidency said. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of vital supplies in Gaza, exacerbated by restrictions on access by land and the closure of the key Rafah crossing with Egypt since Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side in early May. Over lunch at the Elysee Palace, Macron and Abdullah II reiterated the need for an «immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza» and called for the release of all hostages -- including two French nationals. The leaders also «expressed their deep concern about the situation in the West Bank and strongly condemned the violence committed by settlers», the Elysee Palace said in a statement. They agreed to continue to work together on a «lasting and credible solution» to the war based on the «two-state solution» and welcomed reforms undertaken by the Palestinian government and called for them to be continued. Referring to the intensification of tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Macron and Abdullah II warned against a «conflagration that would be catastrophic for the region», and reiterated their calls to all parties for «responsibility and restraint». Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 42 are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,626 people, also mostly civilians, the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said. © Agence France-Presse

Automédication à l'huile de cannabis : Me Millet dénonce un « acharnement révoltant » du parquet général

Suite à la décision du tribunal de première instance de Papeete de relaxer le père de famille qui soignait son fils avec de l'huile de cannabis, le parquet général a fait appel. Me Millet, avocat de la famille, parle « d'acharnement révoltant ».
polynésie

Automédication à l'huile de cannabis : Me Millet dénonce un « acharnement révoltant » du parquet général

Suite à la décision du tribunal de première instance de Papeete de relaxer le père de famille qui soignait son fils avec de l'huile de cannabis, le parquet général a fait appel. Me Millet, avocat de la famille, parle « d'acharnement révoltant ».

Législatives 2024 en Polynésie : Les horaires des bureaux de vote

Les élections législatives anticipées auront lieu le 29 juin et le 6 juillet 2024 en Polynésie. La plupart des bureaux de vote seront ouverts de 8 heures à 18 heures, à quelques exceptions près. Le détail dans cet article.
polynésie

Législatives 2024 en Polynésie : Les horaires des bureaux de vote

Les élections législatives anticipées auront lieu le 29 juin et le 6 juillet 2024 en Polynésie. La plupart des bureaux de vote seront ouverts de 8 heures à 18 heures, à quelques exceptions près. Le détail dans cet article.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: King Charles turns down Royal Pigeon Racing Association patron role - despite his ancestors' love of birds

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: One of the late Queen's best-loved roles was patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, retaining fond memories of her father George VI 's enthusiasm for the birds.
News | Mail Online

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: King Charles turns down Royal Pigeon Racing Association patron role - despite his ancestors' love of birds

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: One of the late Queen's best-loved roles was patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, retaining fond memories of her father George VI 's enthusiasm for the birds.

Just a few thousand votes in swing seats could cut Labour's projected majority in half, poll analysis shows as Rishi Sunak urges disaffected Conservative voters not to give Starmer a supermajority

In a speech to Tory activists, the Prime Minister acknowledged public anger with the Conservatives but urged voters to 'think what a Labour government would mean.'
News | Mail Online

Just a few thousand votes in swing seats could cut Labour's projected majority in half, poll analysis shows as Rishi Sunak urges disaffected Conservative voters not to give Starmer a supermajority

In a speech to Tory activists, the Prime Minister acknowledged public anger with the Conservatives but urged voters to 'think what a Labour government would mean.'

Broadcaster Tom Bradby reveals he 'could have helped Huw Edwards' through his 'serious mental health issues' because the ITV newsreader had a breakdown too

Bradby, 57, has spoken openly about his own previous mental health issues. He told the Radio Times he 'probably' could have helped Edwards 'a bit'.
News | Mail Online

Broadcaster Tom Bradby reveals he 'could have helped Huw Edwards' through his 'serious mental health issues' because the ITV newsreader had a breakdown too

Bradby, 57, has spoken openly about his own previous mental health issues. He told the Radio Times he 'probably' could have helped Edwards 'a bit'.

STEPHEN GLOVER: The Tories have been shambolic and timid. But it'd still be crazy for those of us on the centre-Right to make Starmer PM in a one-party socialist state

Sir Keir Starmer is a cautious man. But who can doubt that, with a lead of this magnitude, he'd feel emboldened to introduce hitherto concealed policies that would transform our country?
News | Mail Online

STEPHEN GLOVER: The Tories have been shambolic and timid. But it'd still be crazy for those of us on the centre-Right to make Starmer PM in a one-party socialist state

Sir Keir Starmer is a cautious man. But who can doubt that, with a lead of this magnitude, he'd feel emboldened to introduce hitherto concealed policies that would transform our country?

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