The Divided State of Europe

[nivek]

Prince Harry and Meghan break their silence on THAT South Park episode to blast 'boring and baseless' reports that they're planning to sue - but DON'T address claims Duchess is 'upset and overwhelmed'​

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have finally broken their silence on an episode of South Park in which they were mercilessly mocked and ridiculed. The satirical cartoon launched a series of attacks against the couple in an episode of the show, which was entitled The Worldwide Privacy Tour and depicted the couple embarking on a publicity blitz to promote the Prince's new book, Waaagh. After the show aired, reports surfaced suggesting that 41-year-old Meghan had been left 'upset and overwhelmed' by the couple's less-than-flattering portrayal - while one royal commentator claimed that the Sussexes' lawyers were 'casting an eye' over the animated series.



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[nivek]

The UK Environment Secretary says; 'If you can't afford food, work harder'...Looks like she's been fattening up herself, she needs to work harder and loose some of that excess weight...



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[nivek]

So €10 just to enter a city per day, no thanks, that is ridiculous...The visitor fees and taxes will only increase...Greedy politicians...

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European cities with their own entrance fees for visitors: As row rages over EU's tourist tax, how Venice, Valencia and Barcelona are bringing in new charges for holidaymakers in 2023​

Three popular European cities are bringing in new 'tourist tax' charges as a row rages on over a proposed EU tourist levy which all Britons will have to pay in order to cross the EU border.

Venice, Valencia and Barcelona will all impose new tourist charges in the course of 2023, a move which some travel bodies have warned will damage the holidaying industry.

Some of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe already charge their own nightly tourist tax in a bid to limit 'overtourism'.

In comes as a row over an EU tourist tax continues to grow. Under the EU's plan any non-EU tourists will have to pay €7 for visa-free entry - and this must be renewed every three years.

The rate, called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), will be applied to those visiting the Schengen Area from November.

The ETIAS charge would be on top of any local tourist tax in the country or region of visit.

It will allow people visa-free entry for up to 90 days, during which visitors are not allowed to work or study, but can 'engage in business and tourism activities,' according to the Schengen visa info website.

The ETIAS will be valid for up to three years - and will count for multiple entries. Those under 18 and over 70 will be exempt from the fee.

The website states visitors 'can enter the Schengen member states as many times as you want, for as long as your ETIAS is valid, and you have not stayed more than 90 days in a 180-day period.' In addition to the charge, holidaymakers could soon face considerable extra fees per night, most notably in Venice, where a proposed tax would cost day visitors from €3 to €10 to enter the city.

But this tax has been delayed multiple times, most recently in December 2022, in part due to protests from locals who fear it will drive tourists elsewhere. The city already charges an overnight tax for visitors of between €1 and €5 per night. The new day rate has been pushed back until at least June 2023.

A growing number of Spanish regions are also charging for each night spent in hotel accommodation. Valencia is to implement a brand new tourist tax at the end of the year. Tourists will have to pay from 50 cents to €2 depending on the type of accommodation they use, from camping to hotels.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

Has Rishi done the impossible? Feared Tory rebellion on Brexit melts away as Sunak unveils historic Northern Ireland deal with the EU​

After weeks of secret talks, the Prime Minister and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen finalised an agreement to fix post-Brexit problems that have dogged Northern Ireland. Mr Sunak said the 'decisive breakthrough' would herald a new chapter in relations between London and Brussels and claimed the UK had 'finally taken back control'.

He told MPs the deal did 'what many said could not be done - removing thousands of pages of EU laws ... and making permanent, legally binding changes to the Protocol Treaty'. The scale of the concessions from the EU took MPs by surprise and Mr Sunak appeared to be on the brink of a coup as the predicted Tory revolt faltered.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

One of the greatest actors of all times sitting with Leonardo DiCaprio.

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[nivek]

U.S. intelligence now says a pro-Ukrainian group sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline in 'off-the-books' attack - after White House was forced to deny U.S. involvement​

A pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, U.S. intelligence agencies determined, according to a bombshell report on Tuesday. U.S. officials told The New York Times there no evidence Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top officials were involved in September 2022 bombing, or that the group was acting at the direction of the Ukrainian government. The Nord Stream natural gas pipelines link Russia to Western Europe, giving Moscow a direct route for its profitable natural gas business. The surprise attack damaged two of the pipelines - Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 - in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea.



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[nivek]

Sadiq Khan Mayor of London & WEF puppet, gets heckled for saying anyone who objects to the restrictions that will turn London into a 15-minute city is a ‘far-right covid-denier and anti-vaxxer.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNdb0mY7Ck0


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[wwkirk]

U.S. intelligence now says a pro-Ukrainian group sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline in 'off-the-books' attack - after White House was forced to deny U.S. involvement​

A pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, U.S. intelligence agencies determined, according to a bombshell report on Tuesday. U.S. officials told The New York Times there no evidence Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top officials were involved in September 2022 bombing, or that the group was acting at the direction of the Ukrainian government. The Nord Stream natural gas pipelines link Russia to Western Europe, giving Moscow a direct route for its profitable natural gas business. The surprise attack damaged two of the pipelines - Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 - in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea.



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Hmm.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaEUCSFk38

 

[nivek]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J75u9tkLqb4


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[Dejan Corovic]

U.S. intelligence now says a pro-Ukrainian group sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline in 'off-the-books' attack - after White House was forced to deny U.S. involvement​

A pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, U.S. intelligence agencies determined, according to a bombshell report on Tuesday. U.S. officials told The New York Times there no evidence Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or his top officials were involved in September 2022 bombing, or that the group was acting at the direction of the Ukrainian government. The Nord Stream natural gas pipelines link Russia to Western Europe, giving Moscow a direct route for its profitable natural gas business. The surprise attack damaged two of the pipelines - Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 - in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea.



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The level of technological sophistication required to do that attack is beyond what a Ukrainian government can do, never mind a small terrorist group. Even if they did it, they had somebody with necessary level of technological sophistication providing them support and financing.

One has to take into account that millions of civilians in Germany and other north European countries had to spend winter without heating.

 

[nivek]

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[nivek]

UK will test frightening 'Armageddon alarm' within weeks which will see thousands of people's phones flash and set off alarms.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMuAyqcZTYA


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[nivek]

A female falcon was equipped with a satellite tracking system in South Africa before migrating to Finland. In just 42 days, she flew over 10.000 km (average of 230 km per day) and nearly in a straight line.



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[Dejan Corovic]

A female falcon was equipped with a satellite tracking system in South Africa before migrating to Finland. In just 42 days, she flew over 10.000 km (average of 230 km per day) and nearly in a straight line.


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Apparently, migrating birds can see magnetic field because of some special protein in their eyes.

That would explain why that bird practically flew straight along a meridian line.

 

[pigfarmer]

A female falcon was equipped with a satellite tracking system in South Africa before migrating to Finland. In just 42 days, she flew over 10.000 km (average of 230 km per day) and nearly in a straight line.


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... and didn't get shot down over Ukraine ......

 

[nivek]

'Suspicious object' is discovered beneath Nord Stream 2 pipeline - with Putin claiming it could be an explosive device and pointing the finger at the US​

A 'suspicious object' has been discovered beneath the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Black Sea, Danish investigators have said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said a ship rented by Russian energy company Gazprom had found an antenna-like object about 19 miles from where the Nord Stream pipelines exploded last year.

He claimed that the object could be an explosive device as he warned that a new explosion could occur on the pipelines.

'Experts believe that this could be an antenna to receive a signal to detonate an explosive device, which might be put under the pipeline system,' Putin said.

Denmark today acknowledged a 'device' had been found, but asserted it does not present a current risk. 'The assessment from our authorities is that there is no immediate security risk and thus no danger to human life or shipping,' Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

France in flames: Fires burn across the country and police clash with protesters again after Macron forces through hated pension law raising retirement age to 64​

Several cars were torched in Paris and other French cities in the evening during demonstrations involving several thousand people. Trade unions mobilised workers to briefly block a Paris ring road. Angry critics, political opponents and labor unions around France all blasted President Emmanuel Macron's for his decision to ram the bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 through the legislature. Opposition parties are expected to start procedures later today for a no-confidence vote on the government led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. The vote would likely take place early next week.



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[pigfarmer]

poor things. 64

 

[AD1184]

France in flames: Fires burn across the country and police clash with protesters again after Macron forces through hated pension law raising retirement age to 64​

Several cars were torched in Paris and other French cities in the evening during demonstrations involving several thousand people. Trade unions mobilised workers to briefly block a Paris ring road. Angry critics, political opponents and labor unions around France all blasted President Emmanuel Macron's for his decision to ram the bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 through the legislature. Opposition parties are expected to start procedures later today for a no-confidence vote on the government led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. The vote would likely take place early next week.



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Meanwhile I am expecting the retirement age in Britain to be raised to 90 before I am able to retire.

 

[pigfarmer]

I will soon be 59 and expect full Medicare and Social Security at age 67. I expect to get it but admit to some doubt based on the world going down the toilet in the past several years. People half my age will only remember we used to have programs like that.

Seems the French are always going apeshit over length of work days, hours, entitlements. Have at it Pierre, let me know how that all works out for you.