This briefing discusses the issue of the 'Europeanisation' of the ballot papers in Member States ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections. The European Parliament has made two recent attempts at electoral reform seeking to 'Europeanise the European elections. The second of these – still to be agreed with the Council – seeks to align electoral rules across the EU Member States. With the 2024 European elections imminent, it is useful to take a closer look at the rules as they currently stand. The focus of this briefing is the notion of the 'Europeanisation' of the electoral ballot in its narrowest sense, namely whether ballot papers used in each Member State for the European Parliament elections can include the logos and/or names of the European political parties to which the respective national political parties are affiliated. This exploration of the issue of the visibility of European political parties on the ballot papers for European elections is broken down into three parts. The first is the rationale behind and progress in the 'Europeanisation' of the European electoral process, with a particular focus on reforms geared towards showing the affiliation of national parties to European political parties on the ballot paper. The EU institutions have taken several initiatives intended to inject mutual European features into the national political processes ahead of the elections to the European Parliament. The second is a discussion of the data on European features of national ballot papers for the 2014 and 2019 European Parliament elections. The third part analyses the current state of ballot papers in all Member States, i.e. those applicable to the 2024 European elections, examining the extent to which Member States allow or forbid the visibility of European political party logos and/or names on the ballot paper for the European elections. This last section includes a synopsis of the similarities and differences between Member States. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

With no end in sight to the war in Ukraine, the EU has started preparing for the post March 2025 period, when temporary protection for displaced people from Ukraine ends. The Temporary Protection Directive – triggered for the first time ever in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine – has enabled EU Member States to offer assistance and rights to people in need of immediate protection. In principle, once the temporary protection period ends, the general laws on protection and on non-EU nationals in Member States will apply, including on return. Yet, there is a general fear that when large numbers of beneficiaries of temporary protection suddenly start seeking international protection, asylum systems risk being overwhelmed. Moreover, uncertainty about temporary protection beneficiaries' legal status might place them in a legal limbo, with potential periods of irregular residence owing to slow processing of applications for international protection. Moreover, even if eligible for refugee or subsidiary protection status, beneficiaries will not enjoy the same rights as under the Temporary Protection Directive. Academics and organisations dealing with migration management therefore agree on the urgency of finding a solution that would ensure a smooth transition out of the temporary protection regime and encourage eventual return to Ukraine. However, with the European elections taking place in June, the timing may not be ideal to amend existing EU legislation or craft new EU laws, as the legislative work in the European institutions will temporarily be put on hold. Moreover, a newly composed European Parliament and European Commission, as well as a new rotating presidency of the Council of the EU as from July, might also complicate decision-making. This briefing provides an overview of the potential exit strategies discussed by experts in the field, including the pros and cons of the most widely discussed options. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Digital finance can broadly be defined as financial services and instruments that use or are based on new information and communication technologies (ICT). A wide range of segments of the financial system are therefore concerned, from digital payment services to the new market infrastructures of crypto-assets using distributed ledger technologies (DLT). Policymakers expect digital finance to benefit the financial system – for example, in terms of transaction and settlement costs, as well as financial inclusion. However, digital finance also poses new risks, especially for financial stability and the protection of citizens. The idea behind the EU regulatory approach is that by providing a sound regulatory framework, homogenous throughout the EU, these risks can be monitored and controlled, while also favouring the desired innovation. To that end, the European Commission, together with the European supervisory authorities and the European Central Bank, conduct regular reviews of the EU regulatory framework and check its ability to face these risks and the potential needs for intervention. In 2020, the Commission tabled a major digital finance strategy to provide a sound, EU-level regulatory and supervisory framework in a number of digital finance domains. The EU has already adopted new laws resulting from this initiative. The Regulation on Markets in Crypto-assets is establishing a new legal environment for DLT-based 'coins' with a stable value ('stablecoins'); another regulation will provide a framework for the monitoring and control of digital operational resilience for the financial sector. More legislative procedures are ongoing in the fields of open finance and the digital euro. New directions are being suggested, such as the establishment of a 'unified ledger', to smoothen transfers between instruments using different DLT market infrastructure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Blantyre Magistrate Court has charged two men Francis Danger and Samson White of allegedly selling illegal tickets during the TNM Super League match between Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Karonga United at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday. Two men have been charged with the offence of being found in possession of property suspected to have been stolen. […] The post Football fraud: Two charged with selling illegal tickets appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

In spearheading digital banking innovation, Ecobank Malawi has introduced a game-changing feature to its corporate & business internet banking platform, OmniPlus to mobile money wallet transfers. At a press briefing on Thursday, Ecobank Malawi’s head of payments & cash management, Douglas Luka said the innovative addition empowers businesses, corporates, international organizations, government institutions, NGOs, and many […] The post Ecobank launches OmniPlus to its multiple mobile wallets appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Standard Bank Plc has signed a strategic partnership with Lilongwe Golf Club in which it will offer exclusive services tailored to propel the growth of golf and to enrich the lives of its mutual customers and stakeholders at the premier golf destination. The Bank will host various tournaments and family days under its brand and […] The post Standard Bank Plc signs five-year strategic partnership with Lilongwe Golf Club  appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Fourteen Malawians are missing, while nine are now confirmed dead after a building under construction collapsed in George Town, South Africa, last week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Charles Nkhalamba, told Nyasatimes today that 34 Malawians were trapped in the ruble. Nkhalamba says 11 were rescued; one is still in the hospital, while another […] The post 14 Malawians missing, nine confirmed dead, in collapsed construction building in South Africa appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Russian helicopters have sunk at least 15 Ukrainian naval drones that were headed for Crimea, the defense ministry in Moscow has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Sharad Pawar responds to PM Modi's criticism over farmers' issues, highlighting past assistance to Modi during an agricultural crisis in Gujarat. Modi, as Gujarat CM, sought Pawar's help and guidance, leading to a visit to Israel to study farming techniques.

Twelve persons, including Monojit Mondal, Samar Mridha, Chandan Sahani, Asit Saha, Atul Mandal, Sabidul Sk, Priyanka Singha, Nyan Roy, Sumitra Mandal, Suitara Biwi, Pankaj Mandal, and a Budhia woman, were killed and five wounded by lightning during a thunderstorm in Malda and Murshidabad, West Bengal. Disaster management personnel were deployed to rescue the wounded victims.

Bhavesh Bhinde, director of the company behind the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, was arrested in Udaipur. Show-cause notice issued to IPS officer Quaiser Khalid. Bhinde fled to Lonavala and Thane after the incident.

Ego Media's hoardings on railway land in Dadar East exceed BMC's size limits, prompting a notice from Ashwini Joshi. BMC's policy restricts hoarding sizes and specifies limits for different structures.

In 2023, Schengen countries, including India, faced a 44% surge in visa applications, reaching 9.7 lakh. India ranked second in application increase after China, followed by Morocco. The war on Ukraine affected travel plans, and VFS Global faced criticism for visa appointment unavailability.

The Icelandic Met Office has updated its hazard assessment because it is increasingly likely that a new magma run and another eruption will occur in the coming days. The magma accumulation has reached 16 million cubic meters compared to 8-13 million cubic metres and inflation is continuous at Svartsengi.

Début des journées portes ouvertes du Musée National des Arts, Rites et Traditions du Gabon ce jeudi 16 mai 2024. Des moments de découvertes initiés en prélude à la journée internationale des musées célébrée le 18 mai de chaque année et dont le thème, cette année, est «musées pour l'éducation et la recherche». Au programme, des conférences, des expositions-ventes des produits locaux, des animations avec des groupes socioculturels ; mais aussi l'initiation aux jeux des instruments de la (...) - SOCIETE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Russia is in the top five countries for Schengen visa requests, with a 89.4% approval rate, EU statistics have shown Read Full Article at RT.com

Joe Biden has blocked US Republicans from getting his taped interview with the prosecutor who probed his mishandling of classified documents Read Full Article at RT.com

Confiscation should be backed with a sufficient legal basis, according to the International Monetary Fund Read Full Article at RT.com

As the sun beats down on the dusty yellow soil and a cluster of tin shacks near the city of Galkayo, in central Somalia, mothers point to their children, looking on shyly. Then almost all express variations of the same words: “I don’t know what I will feed them,” or “I have not cooked today because I have no food”.

London, UK (HOL) – «The Village Next to Paradise,» a Somali-set drama directed by Somali-Austrian filmmaker Mo Harawe, has made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section and secured distribution deals across several regions.

Minneapolis (HOL) – A revised indictment has been issued against Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 39, a former resident of Noel, Missouri, concerning the 2019 death of Jessica McCormack, whose body was found in a suitcase by Highway 59.

RIYADH: Financial transactions have been made easier by rapid and accelerating growth in technologies, but there are still obstacles to overcome, said Nabil Koshak, CEO of the Saudi Venture Capital Company. “Investors should fund the development of technologies that help fight these obstacles and crimes,” said Koshak, a panelist at the Arab Forum of Anti-Corruption Agencies and Financial Intelligence Units on its second day on Thursday in Riyadh.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Arab leaders on the sidelines of an Arab League summit taking place in Manama on Thursday. The crown prince met with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The summit has been dominated by the Israel-Hamas war and the crown prince said in a speech that the Kingdom “emphasizes the need for continued collaboration to confront the brutal aggression against Palestine.”

RIYADH: The Saudi coastal city of Al-Qunfudah on the Red Sea is celebrating the 13th season of its mango festival this week. Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in the Makkah region, the event began on Tuesday and will run for five days. Through the festival, organizers hope to promote mangoes and other agricultural products, as well as help farmers with marketing and develop the Kingdom’s agricultural industry. Several types of mangoes, including Tommy Atkins, Sensation and Langra, are grown locally in Al-Qunfudah.

RIYADH: Thomas Lid Ball, Norway’s ambassador to the Kingdom, hosted his last national day reception as his country’s representative in Saudi Arabia before taking up his new role later this year.  “This will be the last national day celebration here at the compound for my wife Camilla and me. At the end of August, I will take up the position as Norway’s representative to the Palestinian Authorities,” Ball said in his opening remarks. “We will remain forever grateful for the invaluable support from the fantastic team here at the embassy over the past years,” he said. 

RIYADH: Experts on urban heritage from Saudi Arabia are giving a series of lectures on the topic at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization offices in Paris. Organized by the Saudi Heritage Commission, the program of four lectures explores some of the initiatives developed by the organization and the wider strategies on urban heritage in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

[HRW] New York -- Denial of Entry Reflects Intolerance for Rights Monitoring

Renowned Hindi writer Malti Joshi, who received the Padma Shri in 2018, passed away at 90 after battling esophagus cancer. She was known for works like Kokh Ka Darp, Outsider, Aastha Ke Aayam, and Problem Child. Her story 'Culture' was filmed by Gulzar for the TV serial Kirdaar.

In a big decision, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed that all VIP darshans to Char Dham Yatra be postponed till May 31. The decision comes as an unprecedented number of pilgrims visit Char Dham this year. More than one lakh devotees reached Kedarnath since it opened on May 10. So far, over 27 lakh devotees have visited Char Dham.

A man was saved when a coastal fishing boat sank northwest of Garðskagi at 3 am last night. The Coast Guard’s command center received an emergency call from the captain of another coastal fishing boat at 2.42 am, saying that a boat nearby was sinking about six nautical miles northwest of Garðskagi.

Russian forces have recently captured several settlements near Kharkov, gaining an upper hand in the region Read Full Article at RT.com

The German authorities say they have expelled seven Ukrainian troops undergoing military training in the country for sporting Nazi symbols  Read Full Article at RT.com