World

Condition of Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran ‘deteriorating’

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2023

Condition of Belgian aid worker jailed in Iran ‘deteriorating’

The well being of a Belgian humanitarian assist employee jailed in Iran is deteriorating, in line with his greatest good friend.

Olivier Vandecasteele was imprisoned in Tehran final February on the eve of his return house and sentenced to 40 years in jail with 74 lashes.

However after almost one yr in solitary confinement his closest good friend Olivier Van Steirtegem – who has been serving to within the battle for his launch – says his situation isn’t good.

“The scenario is extraordinarily tough,” Van Steirtegem advised Euronews.

“The meals may be very unhealthy, so he misplaced already 25 kilos. He does not see anybody as a result of he cannot exit of his cell. He misplaced the nails of his toes. He has gastric points, psychological points, and dental points. So, Olivier is sort of determined.

“I might say Olivier does not see issues transferring, clearly, as a result of the those who have him, inform him ‘no person is considering you. Your embassy does not wish to see you. Your loved ones isn’t serious about you’. And that is clearly troubling in his thoughts.”

Van Steirtegem added that Belgian authorities ought to comply with the instance of the US authorities on the subject of negotiating prisoner exchanges.

“It is unattainable as a relative or as an in depth good friend of Olivier not to consider the scenario of comparable hostages in Iran and what these nations do as a way to liberate their very own residents,” he stated.

“I take a easy instance – the USA of America. Once they had this basketball participant [Brittney Griner] arrested in Russia – they didn’t hesitate to liberate a weapons trafficker, Viktor Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in jail, to liberate this particular person as a way to get the return of their very own citizen.

“And that is a optimistic factor as a result of that signifies that democracy does not let authoritarian regimes do no matter they need. They take into account that the lifetime of their very own citizen is extra essential than regardless of the particular person they might have right here in jail.

“We [Belgium] must be extra confident, I might say, on the truth that the lifetime of a human being is crucial factor on Earth – full-stop.”

Hostage diplomacy

For a lot of observers, Vandecasteele is caught up in a high-stakes recreation of geopolitical hostage diplomacy.

Iran initially needed to swap him for an Iranian diplomat known as Assadollah Assadi who’s convicted of terrorism in Belgium.

However a Belgian courtroom suspended a switch treaty between Brussels and Tehran, which was agreed in July, fearing Assadi will escape punishment in Iran.

Which means that, for now, Vandecasteele is caught in the midst of diplomatic negotiations, with the Iranian authorities thus far solely keen to do a like-for-like trade.

Belgium’s Supreme courtroom should determine by March if the swap can go forward below the phrases of this switch treaty.

Amnesty Worldwide’s director in Belgium, Philippe Hensmans, says the federal government ought to already be engaged on different options ought to the prisoner swap fail.

“What’s extra harmful is to get the Belgian authorities pondering solely about this resolution to get Olivier launched. It is extraordinarily essential to seek out all these different options relatively than [just] this one, as a result of if the Court docket of Cassation [Supreme Court] says no, nicely, what lets do then?” Hensmans advised Euronews.

“So, I hope that there are diplomatic discussions – we do not know what’s being mentioned – however that the Belgian authorities is on the lookout for different options to get them launched.”

A time to be ‘brave’

A petition in Belgium calling for the discharge of Olivier has already reached 200,000 signatures.

Hensmans added that this could give the Belgian authorities much more cause to be courageous in its decision-making on the subject of Vandecasteele’s case.

“I believe what’s essential is to measure how a lot Belgian individuals are pushing to get him launched and pushing the Belgian authorities to do the whole lot they will to get him launched,” Hensmans stated.

“We’re reaching 200,000 individuals who have signed the petition, which is gigantic. That is in all probability one of many largest petitions we’ve got had at Amnesty [in Belgium], for instance. They usually should take that under consideration. So many individuals are asking that they [Belgian government] be brave as a result of they’re supported by the Belgian inhabitants. So be brave.”

Earlier this month, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne stated the federal government will do the whole lot it might probably throughout the bounds of the structure to free Vandecasteele.

However as Belgium is ready for the Supreme Court docket determination, it’s not the one nation locked in a diplomatic wrestle with Iran.

On Sunday, an illustration was held in Paris calling for the discharge of seven French residents held in Iranian prisons on trumped-up costs, together with espionage.

There are different nations too, as Tehran more and more makes use of the tactic in opposition to the West, as its personal diplomatic leverage wanes, following years of crippling financial sanctions.

It is why Amnesty Worldwide says nations affected by the identical downside want to start out working collectively to neutralise Iran’s efforts at geopolitical hostage-taking.

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World

Consejos para disfrutar de las celebraciones de fin de año, sin estrés

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Consejos para disfrutar de las celebraciones de fin de año, sin estrés

NUEVA YORK (AP) — Todos conocemos los factores de estrés: obligaciones sociales, rencillas familiares, divisiones políticas, estrés financiero y el deseo de mantenerse alegre y generoso todo el tiempo.

Así que aquí va un recordatorio sobre cómo desterrar a tu perfeccionista interior y disfrutar verdaderamente de la temporada festiva:

“Realmente ayuda dejar de lado algunos de los ‘deberías’”, dice Lynn F. Bufka, jefa de práctica de la Asociación Estadounidense de Psicología. “Decide cuál es la cosa que más importa, y las cosas que te brindan más alegría, y suelta las demás”.

Las tradiciones pueden cambiar y evolucionar, y cuanto más flexibles sean las cosas, más fácil será para todos, dice Bufka.

“Concentra tu energía en crear un espacio cálido para que las personas que amas se reúnan y relajen, se pongan al día y celebren unos a otros. Eso es literalmente todo lo que importa”, concuerda Lauren Iannotti, editora en jefe de Real Simple.

Algunos consejos:

Concéntrate en lo que te hace feliz

Podrías decidir que la conversación es tu objetivo principal y no preocuparte en absoluto por la decoración, dice Bufka. O si la decoración de la mesa es lo que amas, invierte tu energía allí y no te preocupes tanto por otros aspectos.

“Idealmente, debería tratarse de enfocarse en el amor, y eso no significa lo mismo para todos”, dice Bufka.

Permite que otros hagan las cosas por ti.

“La gente quiere ayudar, ¡déjalos!”, dice Iannotti. “Si no te ENCANTA cocinar todas esas guarniciones, o tienes poco tiempo, no hay ninguna vergüenza en aceptar que tu hermana haga el relleno. O busca ayuda de los profesionales: apoya a un restaurante local haciendo un pedido de catering”.

Otra opción es que “cada uno traiga un plato distintivo”, dice Ianotti. “Ahorrarás tiempo y dinero en la preparación y la cocina y tus invitados podrán mostrar sus habilidades”.

Darte permiso para tomar atajos

“Está bien si la casa está un poco desordenada o si la cena se sirve unos minutos tarde”, dice Iannotti. “Si las personas que has invitado están más interesadas en evaluar tu desempeño que en pasar un buen rato, pueden discutirlo con su terapeuta”. (Por cierto, no lo están, añade ella).

Y no dudes en dejar que la gente se sirva por sí misma, cuando sea posible. “Si no tienes tiempo para jugar a ser el barman, crea una bebida insignia con anticipación que puedas servir a todos tus invitados. También puedes simplemente dejar algunos mezcladores para que los invitados se sirvan y hagan sus propias creaciones”, sugiere Caroline Utz, directora editorial y de estrategia en The Spruce.

Está bien tener tiempo a solas

Las cosas funcionarán lo suficientemente bien si no lo supervisas todo, así que cuídate. Tómate pausas o caminatas si eso te ayuda a mantenerte centrado.

“Aunque el mindfulness se está convirtiendo en un término demasiado utilizado en la sociedad actual, hay algo valioso que podemos tomar de esto y aplicar a la temporada de fin de año”, dice Brook Choulet, psiquiatra deportiva y de rendimiento de concierge y fundadora de Choulet Performance Psychiatry.

Ella recomienda “programar microdescansos intencionales” para hacer algo que disfrutes.

“Por ejemplo, podrías programar una llamada telefónica con un amigo de otro estado, tomar un paseo de 15 minutos al aire libre, o incluso ajustar el temporizador y tomar un baño de 15 minutos sin interrupciones”, dijo.

Espera algo de discordia y no te alarmes por ello

“Si te preocupa la polarización y entrar en conversaciones incómodas, intenta pensar en maneras en que puedas terminar una conversación o cambiarla de dirección”, dice Bufka.

Ella recomienda preparar algunas frases de antemano para ayudar a terminar la conversación o cambiarla de dirección.

En resumen, tener la intención de una temporada festiva menos perfecta puede ser justo lo que necesitas.

___

Katherine Roth cubre temas de vida y estilo y otros temas para The Associated Press desde Nueva York.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

World

Azerbaijan Airlines plane headed to Russia crashes hundreds of miles off course, dozens feared dead

Published

9 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Azerbaijan Airlines plane headed to Russia crashes hundreds of miles off course, dozens feared dead

Dozens of passengers are feared dead after an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, reports say.

The Embraer 190 passenger jet flying from Azerbaijan to Russia had 62 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying 32 survivors had been rescued.

Flight J2-8243 had flown hundreds of miles off its scheduled route to crash on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea. Officials did not immediately explain why it had crossed the sea, but the crash came shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia. Drone activity has shut airports in the area in the past and the nearest Russian airport on the plane’s flight path was closed on Wednesday morning.

Russia’s aviation watchdog, meanwhile, said it was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike.

MORE THAN 30 DEAD IN BRAZIL BUS AND TRUCK COLLISION

In this photo taken from a video released by the administration of Mangystau region, the wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (The Administration of Mangystau Region/AP Photo)

Those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhstani and three Kyrgyzstani citizens, according to Kazakhstani officials.

Russian news agency Interfax reported that both pilots died in the crash, citing a preliminary assessment by emergency workers at the scene. The news agency also quoted medical workers who stated that four bodies had been recovered from the crash so far.

A total of 29 survivors, including two children, have been hospitalized, the ministry told Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti, the Associated Press reported. Many passengers have yet to be accounted for.

MALAYSIA AGREES TO RESUME ‘NO FIND, NO FEE’ HUNT FOR FLIGHT MH370, 10 YEARS AFTER PLANE DISAPPEARED

More than 30 are feared dead following the crash near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. (Azamat Sarsenbayev/AP Photo)

Video of the crash showed the plane descending rapidly before bursting into flames as it hit the seashore, and thick black smoke then rising, Reuters reported. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who had been traveling to Russia, returned to Azerbaijan upon hearing news of the crash, the president’s press service said. Aliyev was due to attend an informal meeting of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a bloc of former Soviet countries founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in St. Petersburg.

Emergency crews at the site of the Azerbaijani airliner crash on Dec. 25, 2024. (Azamat Sarsenbayev/AP Photo)

Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a statement on social media.

“It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he wrote.

He also signed a decree declaring Dec. 26 a day of mourning in Azerbaijan.

The plane was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus, the Associated Press reports. (The Administration of Mangystau Region/AP Photo)

In a statement, Azerbaijan Airlines said it would keep members of the public updated and changed its social media banners to solid black.

“We ask God for mercy on the passengers and crew members who lost their lives,” a translated statement on X said. “Their pain is our pain. We wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

World

Who is Europe's top investor in space in 2023?

Published

10 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Who is Europe's top investor in space in 2023?

Luxembourg remains Europe’s top investor in space in a year when defence spending on space exceeded civil space budgets for the first time since the 1990s.

Global public investment in space hit a record high of €106 billion in 2023, an 11% increase compared to 2022.

In Europe, the total funding was €11.9 billion, showing a modest 1% rise in its share of global space investment.

According to the European Space Agency, defence spending on space exceeded civil space budgets last year for the first time since the 1990s. Defence expenditures in space are projected to grow faster than civil spending, making up 53% of the budget in 2024.

The US continues to dominate global space investment, accounting for 64% of the total budget, while China holds a strong second place, growing its share from an estimated 2% in 2000 to 12% in 2023 through long-term programmes in both civil and defence.

Europe ranks third, contributing 11% of the global space budget in 2023.

What share of their GDP do EU countries spend on public space budgets?

Luxembourg remains Europe’s leading investor in space, dedicating 0.135% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the sector.

Globally, the country ranks third behind the US (0.262%) and Russia (0.169%).

In Europe, Luxembourg is followed by France, which invests 0.167% of its GDP, Italy at 0.103%, and Belgium at 0.095%.

On the other hand, private investment in space has continued to decline in 2023, dropping by 32% compared to 2022.

Europe also saw a 14% decrease in 2023 compared to the year before, with private space ventures receiving just below €980 million.

Although the US accounts for most of the global decline in 2023, its space sector continues to attract the largest share of investments at 60%, followed by Europe with 16% and China with 9%.

What was the state of space activity in 2023?

There were 221 orbital launches in 2023, an 18% increase compared to 2022.

Yet, a total of 212 launches were successful.

The US carried out more than half of the launches, with 96 of them conducted by SpaceX.

China accounted for 30% with 67 launches, a 5% increase from 2022, and Russia completed 19 launches.

The European launch service provider conducted three launches in 2023, including Europe’s first mission to Jupiter, which aimed to explore whether the planet’s three moons — Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede — could support life in their oceans.

Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz