Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Clarence Fernandez
Georgia
Georgia’s parliament votes to curb protest camps -media
Oct 6 (Reuters) – Georgia’s parliament voted to effectively ban the use of tent camps during public protests, news outlet Interpress said, after the state accused opposition groups of planning to topple the government with the help of the West.
Last month, the state security service accused a former deputy interior minister of plotting from Ukraine to overthrow the Tbilisi government, with efforts such as protests.
“The draft law prepared by the initiative of the majority of Georgian Dream (party) was adopted by 74 votes against 22,” Interpress said, referring to Thursday’s parliament session.
The first “colour revolution” 20 years ago brought to power a strongly pro-Western government in Georgia, followed by similar events in other former Soviet countries that often involved protesters setting up tent camps in key public areas.
The current Georgian government, while seeking to join the European Union, has fostered close ties with Russia and tried to mimic some of Moscow’s moves such as drafting a law on “foreign agents”, which it dropped after protests.
Last month the security service said a fresh wave of public discontent could be triggered if the EU decided at a mid-December summit not to grant candidate status, as Brussels has said Georgia was sliding back on matters such as political polarisation and state institutions.
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Georgia
Ultimate BBQ States study reveals Georgia's barbecue habits
IN OTHER NEWS – A new study recently released ahead of National Barbecue Day reveals Georgia’s barbecue habits.
Release:
With National Barbecue Day fast approaching (May 16th), Casino.org conducted an extensive US barbecue culture study. This includes a nationwide survey and a weighted index involving various factors: barbecue habits, flavor preferences, states boasting the best grill skills, biggest spenders, and an analysis of the most passionate BBQ-loving states.
Here’s how Georgia scored:
- Despite their intense love for BBQ, Georgia ranks #13 in the top BBQ-loving states ranking, with a score of 54.3/100
- The low score is due to residents participating in an average of 2.7 BBQ-like events and dining out at BBQ joints just 6.4 times throughout the year
- However, residents fire up their grill 16.8 times on average throughout the year, spending $97.60 per BBQ – that’s $1,639.68 annually
- Georgians rate their grill skills a 3.6 out of 5, more than the national average (3.5)
- Ideal BBQ plate: chicken wings (25%), corn on the cob (44%), mac and cheese (18%), with ketchup (41%) as the go-to condiment
You can find the full study here, showcasing more of America’s BBQ habits and nationwide rankings.
Georgia
Kane Brown Transports Texas Crowd to Georgia With Soulful Ray Charles Cover at the 2024 ACM Awards
This year’s Academy of Country Music Awards took place in Frisco, TX, but for about three minutes, Kane Brown had the whole Ford Center at The Star audience transported to the Peach State with a performance of “Georgia On My Mind.”
Before taking the stage, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter was introduced by the War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, who pointed out Ray Charles’ role in popularizing the American Songbook classic, originally written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. Prime Video cameras then panned to a dapper-looking Brown dressed in a black suit, whose silky voice melted into the microphone with support from a section of string instrumentalists.
“Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through,” he crooned. “Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
Immediately afterwards, Brown — who released his cover of “Georgia On My Mind” on streaming services in April — stepped backstage for a one-on-one interview with Bobby Bones. “I was so scared,” he told the radio personality. “I was nervous, man. It’s a big song, but also, I’m used to running around. I didn’t have any moves, I just stood like this. I wish I had tequila before I went on.”
Brown is nominated for entertainer of the year at the 2024 awards, as are Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson. Hosted for the 17th time by Reba McEntire, the ACMs are produced by Dick Clark Productions.
DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
Georgia
UN rights chief: Georgia ‘foreign agents’ law undermines freedom of expression
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated on Wednesday that Georgia’s newly passed foreign agents bill “undermines the freedoms of expression and association.”
Türk mentioned his concern regarding the possible effects of this bill being signed by the President of Georgia: “The ability of associations to seek, secure and use resources is essential to their effective operation. This overbroad law risks these organisations being labelled and stigmatised, and having to face an atmosphere of mistrust, fear and hostility.”
This bill stipulates that NGOs and media organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad must be formally registered as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” This, according to Türk, will undermine and curtail the rights of freedom of expression and association in Georgia. UN human rights organs argue that Georgian lawmakers have disregarded the warnings of human rights defenders and civil society organizations. This is considering the same bill was withdrawn in March 2023, and government officials and parliamentarians assured UN organs that the draft would not be reintroduced.
The foreign agents bill, entitled the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence” still needs the signature of Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who vowed during a CNN interview to veto it. However, the ruling party has a majority in parliament and can override the president’s veto to enact the legislation.
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