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New legislation restricting missionary work breached the European Convention  

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

 In today’s Chamber judgment1 in the case of Ossewaarde v. Russia (application no. 27227/17) the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been:a violation of Article 9 (freedom of religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights, anda violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention taken in conjunction with Article 9.The case concerns a US national living in Russia, a Baptist Christian, who was fined for holding Bible study meetings in his home without notifying the authorities.The sanction was imposed on the applicant following new legal requirements for missionary work introduced in Russia in 2016 as part of an anti-terrorism package. The new legislation made it an offence to evangelise in private homes and required prior authorisation for missionary work from a religious group or organisation.The Court found in particular that the Government had not explained the rationale behin...

EU-UN co-operation: EU announces support to the UN reform for more efficiency in partner countries

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

At the UN Conference on Least developed countries (LDCs) in Doha on 7 March, the EU announced its renewed support to the UN Resident Coordinator System, a key pillar of the UN development system reform, with a contribution of €17 million for 2022 and 2023. The UN Resident Coordinator System aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of UN actions at country level through dedicated UN Resident Coordinators. They act as key interlocutor for partners and international donors, including the EU, thus ensuring more effective and efficient co-ordination.International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen said: “The EU is a steadfast supporter of the UN Development reform. In this time of multiple global challenges, the most effective way to deliver results on the ground for the LDCs and our other partners is multilateral cooperation and coordination. We champion renewed and more effective multilateralism.”The EU's support will benefit from the co-operation and dialogue between t...

The EU is being heavy-handed in blacklisting the UAE

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

Late last year the EU Commission decided to put the UAE on its blacklist, on the grounds that the Emirates are facilitating money laundering - writes Anthony Harris, Former British Ambassador to the UAE. This follows the FATF, the Financial Action Task Force, the group set up by the G7, putting the UAE on its "grey" watchlist at the beginning of last year. The Emirates were warned that they needed to make fundamental improvements in their monitoring of illegal financial flows, and tighten their compliance rules in areas that are vulnerable to abuse, like the trade in gold and precious stones and real estate.I believe that singling out the UAE in this manner is not only unfair, but also hypocritical. As members of the G7 and EU will be aware, the UAE has made enormous strides in recent years. In the course of a couple of decades, it has become one of the largest trading hubs in the Middle East, and is an emerging power in a turbulent region. The Emirati authorities have made consider...

Man accused of fatally stabbing high school student in L.A. taken into custody in Alhambra

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

9:18 a.m. update:The barricaded man has been taken into custody after surrendering "without incident," according to Cmdr. German Hurtado of the LAPD. "He is in custody now. He is not going to be able to keep anybody else in danger, and it was done in a peaceful manner," Hurtado said.Aerial footage from Sky5 showed multiple officers escorting the man into the back of a squad car.More information is expected to be released later in the day.8:40 a.m. update:Authorities are engaged in a standoff at a home in Alhambra with a man whom they believe is responsible for the stabbing death of Xavier Daniel Chavarin, 17."We have a barricaded suspect. Right now, we're treating it ... with our mental health experts to see if we can come to a peaceful resolution," Cmdr. German Hurtado of the LAPD said at a press conference near the scene Wednesday morning.Hurtado added SWAT has surrounded the home, which only contains the barricaded man, and officials are in negotiations with him in hopes that he ...

Riverside County man mauled to death by 4 dogs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

A man who was working at a home in Jurupa Valley was mauled to death by four dogs Tuesday, officials said.Personnel with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services responded to the residential property, which has been converted into a business, at Belgrave Avenue and Martin Street around 7:30 a.m. after someone called 911 to report someone screaming.The victim had sustained fatal injuries.The property owner, who was not present during the attack, later “surrendered his dogs to Animal Services for humane euthanasia,” the department said in a news release.  Three of the dogs were Belgian Malinois and the other was a Cane Corso.  The victim, who has not yet been identified, was reportedly at the location to do some work for the property owner. Officials also said the victim had worked for the property owner before without incident.  “This is a tragedy, and our thoughts go out to this gentleman’s family and loved ones,” Erin Gettis, Director of Riverside County Animal Servi...

Los Angeles County building burns in Historic South-Central; 2 firefighters injured

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

An office building that houses several Los Angeles County agencies in the Historic South-Central neighborhood of South L.A. burned early Wednesday morning, leaving two firefighters injured.The blaze at 2615 S. Grand Ave. was reported at about 4 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.When firefighters arrived, they found "heavy fire" emanating from the six-story building's top floor. Ultimately, 160 firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in less than an hour."At this time, everything has been confined to (one) building,” said Capt. Jacob Raabe of the LAFD. "We made sure that the entire building was evacuated and just protected everyone and had them shelter in place in the surrounding buildings."About 30 minutes after the report of a knockdown, fire officials confirmed that one LAFD Firefighter was being treated by paramedics for “smoke inhalation sustained during the fierce firefight."Fire officials later confirmed to KTLA that a second firefighter was treated for...

Adidas wonders what to do with Yeezy shoes after Ye split

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Adidas is still wrestling with how to dispose of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) worth of Yeezy shoes after its breakup with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, forcing the German sportswear maker into a big loss at the end of last year and expectations of more pain ahead.CEO Bjorn Gulden said selling the popular line of shoes would mean paying royalties to Ye, who was dropped by Adidas five months ago after making antisemitic remarks on social media and in interviews. During an earnings call Wednesday, he pointed to “many variables” about what to do with the shoes now stacked in warehouses.Destroying them could “raise sustainability issues," though some companies have offered recycling solutions, said Gulden, who was named CEO after the blowup over Ye’s remarks. Restitching them to hide the Yeezy brand so they could be sold “is not very honest, so it’s not an option,” he added. Suggestions to give them away to those in need in places like earthquake-...

Pau Gasol gets emotional as Lakers retire his No. 16 jersey; Vanessa Bryant speaks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

When Pau Gasol joined the Los Angeles Lakers just over 15 years ago, the Spanish 7-footer banished his ego, redoubled his work ethic and immediately turned this team into contenders who eventually became champions.Gasol and Kobe Bryant did it all together, and their numbers now hang side by side in the Lakers' arena.The Lakers retired Gasol's No. 16 jersey Tuesday night, honoring the genteel big man who spent the best seasons of his 18-year NBA career with Bryant in Los Angeles. The Lakers reached three straight NBA Finals after Gasol's arrival in February 2008, winning championships in 2009 and 2010.“I think I’ve done as good as I could to really embrace it and savor it, but tonight really exceeds any dream or expectation that I’ve had,” Gasol said before the game while wearing one championship ring on each hand. “It means so much, and obviously with Kobe up there, it just adds something meaningful and powerful and sad and happy and painful and joyful. It’s a lot of things.”Gasol’s...

California's landmark structures and the woman who built them

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

You may know nothing about architecture, yet there's a good chance you've already appreciated the work of California's first licensed female architect Julia Morgan. Morgan's 700 buildings not only represent the style of her time, but they each also have their own identity and design, which makes it hard to believe they all came from the mind of one person. Her client list included William Randolph Hearst, gold mine owners, the Youth Women's Christian Association, and many more. Early Life and Education Julie Morgan (Fairmont Hotel)Morgan was born on Jan. 20, 1872, in San Francisco, to a mother with deep family wealth and a father who had a number of failed business attempts.In 1890, she graduated from Oakland High School and enrolled at the University of California, where she studied engineering due to the lack of an architecture program. After graduating with her degree in engineering, her former professor, Bernard Maybeck, encouraged Morgan to attend École des Beaux-Arts in Paris....

McDonald's, café, nonprofit deliver emergency food donation to Crestline community

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:33 GMT

A local McDonald's franchise and others will make critical food donations to residents of a San Bernardino County mountain community that has been partially cut off by snow-covered roads and unsafe driving conditions for several days.Residents in the Crestline and Lake Arrowhead community will be able to receive eggs, milk, pasta and other food staples during a donation event on Wednesday at 10 a.m.The food will be given out at Goodwin & Son's Market located at 24089 Lake Gregory Drive in Crestline while supplies last. How you can help San Bernardino County snowstorm victims Randy Baremor is the owner of the local McDonald's franchise and helped organize the donation effort, alongside Sandals Church of Lake Arrowhead.Also offering food are Crestline Café, 23943 Lake Drive, beginning at around 8:30 a.m., and World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit founded by famed chef Jose Andres, beginning at around 10 a.m.WCK is set up at Lake Gregory Drive and Lake Drive in the parking lot for...