Active Stoke is hosting open days at our three leisure centres across the city as part of its Leisure Weekend, running from Friday, 11th October to Sunday, 13th October.
Join us at one of the centres to explore a variety of wellbeing activities, health-focused initiatives, and fun opportunities for all ages. Whether you’re looking to relax, improve your health, or find a new way to stay active, there will be something for everyone. Visitors can enjoy free taster sessions, health checks, exclusive offers, and exciting prize giveaways.
The weekend will feature a range of activities designed to support your overall wellbeing, including gentle fitness challenges, family-friendly games, and wellness advice. Our Community Team will be on hand to guide older adults looking to stay active, and parents will find plenty of opportunities to engage with their children in a fun, supportive environment.
The open days will take place at the following locations:
• The Wallace Sport & Education Centre (Friday 11th October)
• Dimensions Leisure Centre (Saturday 12th October)
Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of the Council, said: “I’m thrilled to see Active Stoke offering such a wide variety of activities at the city’s leisure centres for all ages to enjoy this weekend. Prioritising both physical and mental wellbeing is essential, and it’s important that everyone has access to enjoyable activities that suit their needs.
“I encourage everyone to come along to a leisure centre near them and explore what’s on offer. You might discover a new way to support your wellbeing or try something you never knew you’d enjoy!”
For more information on the different events each centre is putting on and the open day schedule, visit the Active Stoke website: https://activestoke.co.uk/events
The group, Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Wolverhampton, currently has weekly walks taking place across 12 locations, including Bantock Park, Bilston Urban Village, Warstones, East Park, Bushbury Triangle, Northwood Park, Pendeford, Smestow Valley, Springfield Park, Ettingshall Park, Springvale Park and West Park.
The walks are especially suited for people who currently don’t do much walking but who want to get healthier, fitter and make new friends. For more information, please visit Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Wolverhampton.
Nalin Patel, Volunteer Scheme Co-ordinator, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming more people to our walking group. We offer a range of walks each week, with something for everyone.
“We are also keen to accept any volunteers wishing to train as walk leaders to support our walks. Since September 2023 we have trained around 20 new walk leaders, including 4 who will shortly be working in the All Saints area, and 2 more to increase walks at East Park.”
John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Walking is not just an excellent social activity, but also brings with it a huge number of health benefits.
“It has a positive effect on the heart, including lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease, it strengthens bones and muscles, it improves balance and coordination, and it can help maintain a healthy weight. Evidence also suggests that just a 20 minute walk per day helps prevent and manage chronic illnesses and can also help prevent dementia.
“Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Wolverhampton offer a variety of free walks at locations across the city, so, as we enter a new season why not get out and about and enjoy some of the beautiful autumnal displays that nature is offering us at this time of year?”
For more information, email nalinpatel1ccc@gmail.com or call her on 07881 742959 or 01902 755492.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Russian troops involved in the abhorrent use of inhumane chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine have been targeted by new UK sanctions.
Russia’s Radiological Chemical and Biological Defence (CBR) troops and their commander have been sanctioned for the deployment of barbaric chemical weapons in Ukraine.
UK calls out Russia’s flagrant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and urges Russia to immediately cease all such activity.
Action continues the Foreign Secretary’s personal mission to target the full spectrum of the Kremlin’s malign activity through our arsenal of sanctions.
Russian forces have openly admitted to using hazardous chemical weapons on the battlefield, with widespread use of riot control agents and multiple reports of the use of the toxic choking agent chloropicrin – first deployed on the battlefields of WW1.
Russia’s flagrant disregard for the Chemical Weapons Convention is a serious violation of international law. Agents of Putin’s mafia state were also responsible for deploying the deadly nerve agent Novichok on the streets of Salisbury in 2018, and against opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020.
Among those sanctioned today are the Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops of the Russian Armed Forces and its leader Igor Kirillov, responsible for helping deploy these barbaric weapons. Kirillov has also been a significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation, spreading lies to mask Russia’s shameful and dangerous behaviour.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
The UK will not sit idly by whilst Putin and his mafia state ride roughshod over international law, including the Chemical Weapons Convention. I have made it my personal mission to challenge this malign activity, and I will not back down.
Russia’s cruel and inhumane tactics on the battlefield are abhorrent and I will use the full arsenal of powers at my disposal to combat Russia’s malign activity.
Let me be clear; Putin and those who carry out his will have nowhere left to hide. We will continue to use sanctions to directly target and counter the Kremlin’s attempts to sow fear, division and disorder.
Defence Secretary, John Healey said:
Our message to Putin and his regime is clear: you cannot break international law without facing the consequences.
We will not allow such blatant violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and rules-based international order to go unpunished.
The UK is cracking down on those responsible for these horrific chemical attacks in Ukraine. Our support for Ukraine is ironclad and will continue for as long as it takes.
Also sanctioned today are two Russian Ministry of Defence laboratories for providing support for the development and deployment of these inhumane weapons for use on the frontlines.
The UK is steadfast in supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom, liberty and victory in the face of these barbaric attacks. We have provided Ukraine with vital equipment and training to protect its people against chemical weapons.
The UK has also committed to delivering £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine every year for as long as they need. The UK’s military, financial, diplomatic and political support for Ukraine is iron-clad. We cannot and will not let aggressors like Putin succeed.
Background
Today’s action comes as the UK delivers a statement to the Organisation’s Executive Council laying out the UK’s commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW in the face of those who act to undermine it. The full speech can be found here.
Those sanctioned today are:
The Radiological Chemical and Biological Defence Troops of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
Igor Kirillov, Head of the Radiological Chemical and Biological Defence Troops of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Ministry of Defence 27th Scientific Centre.
The Russian Ministry of Defence 33rd Central Scientific Research and Testing Institute.
These targets have been designated under the UK’s Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The individual will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban, and entities subject to an asset freeze. The asset freeze will apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. An individual subject to a travel ban must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Lourenço Ventura and Emma Cochrane will join the CMA’s existing team and Richard Romney will take up his current Senior Legal Director role on a permanent basis.
iStock
Richard, Emma and Lourenço will be responsible for leading legal teams across the CMA’s portfolio of work – Richard for mergers, markets and regulatory appeals, Emma for consumer enforcement and Lourenço for competition enforcement, alongside the current Senior Legal Directors.
Following a highly successful interim promotion, Richard will take up the permanent position with immediate effect. Prior to joining the CMA’s Legal Service on temporary promotion in January 2023, Richard was a Director within the Mergers team, responsible for overseeing a range of high-profile merger cases. Richard originally joined the CMA in 2019 as a Senior Associate from Freshfields.
Emma will join the CMA from Linklaters, where she is a Counsel in the Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group. Emma has over ten years’ experience as a competition lawyer, including advising on cartel investigations, mergers and acquisitions, market investigations, abuse of a dominant position and other commercial agreements. Prior to Linklaters, Emma spent four years at Simmons and Simmons in the EU, Competition & Regulatory group.
Lourenço is returning to the CMA after spending the last two years working at the European Commission in Brussels. Previously, Lourenço spent ten years in various roles at the Office of Fair Trading – the CMA’s predecessor – and the CMA, most recently in the role of Legal Director. Before this, Lourenço spent 3 years at the Lisbon office of law firm Garrigues working on competition and EU law, commercial agreements, pharmaceutical and regulatory, and misdemeanour procedures.
Emma is joining the CMA in November and Lourenço will take up his post at the start of 2025.
Welcoming the appointments, Chris Prevett, General Counsel at the CMA said:
Sound, strategic legal risk management, and reaching robust legal decisions, underpins every aspect of the CMA’s work on behalf of UK consumers and businesses. With the CMA’s responsibilities set to grow following the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, I am really pleased to be making three appointments at this senior level.
Each of these senior appointments brings substantial expertise, and will add further strength and depth to the senior leadership team and high calibre lawyers and policy professionals comprising the CMA’s Legal Service.
This is a well-deserved promotion for Richard, reflecting his contribution to the CMA’s Legal Service, and I look forward to working with Emma and welcoming back Lourenço.
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office on 020 3738 6460 or press@cma.gov.uk
A digital euro would be a digital form of central bank money, specifically the euro. It could be used by the general public in much the same way as cash, only in virtual form. Alongside cash, the Eurosystem would thus supply households with an additional form of central bank money that can be used quickly, easily and securely.
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, today announced its EV ARC™ systems in the south eastern United States continued to operate during Hurricane Helene. For example, EV ARC™ systems at the Bay Pines Florida Veterans Affairs Health Care in Big Bend, an area located in the direct path of Hurricane Helene, remained operational, sending data and continuing to provide a vital source of emergency power throughout the storm even while submerged in eight feet of storm surge.
Hurricane Helene made a historic landfall in Big Bend, Florida as one of the most powerful storms to hit the state. The Category 4 hurricane brought up to eight-foot storm surges and 140 mph winds, leaving nearly one million Florida residents without power.
Designed to endure extreme weather conditions, Beam Global EV ARC™ charging infrastructure is independently rated to withstand winds of up to 165 mph and can operate effectively in up to 9.5 feet of flooding. These systems come equipped with an optional Emergency Power Panel, which offers 120v and 240v outlets for use by first responders and authorized personnel when utility power is not available. EV ARC™ systems are designated by the federal General Services Administration (GSA) as disaster preparedness response and recovery products due to energy security and resiliency capabilities during grid outages and natural or man-made disasters.
“Hurricane Helene tested our EV ARC product like never before, and it did not disappoint,” said Beam Global CEO Desmond Wheatley. “Even when the systems were buffeted by hurricane winds and submerged in eight feet of water with waves crashing over them, these vital infrastructure products continued to operate. Our customers were able to log in remotely and verify that the systems remained online throughout the storm, providing essential power. Beam Global’s products are becoming more and more relevant as global electricity demand increases and the job of providing it the traditional way becomes more challenging because of natural disasters and capacity constraints.”
Beam Global EV ARC™ products have faced extreme storm conditions before. During last year’s Hurricane Idalia, EV ARC™ systems in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas continued to provide vital EV charging and emergency power in areas suffering from prolonged grid outages. Beam Global’s government and commercial customers were able to continue to charge their EVs and access the emergency power panels to provide services to the broader community. It can often take days or weeks for utility power to be restored to affected areas. Beam Global’s products provide vital electrical energy during those periods whether they were there and survived the disaster or are delivered and rapidly deployed as a recovery asset post-event.
The frequency and severity of climate disasters in the U.S. continues to significantly increase, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reporting a rise in billion-dollar weather and climate disasters from an average of 5.8 events per year in the 1980s to over 22 events annually in recent years. This trend underscores the urgent need for resilient, off-grid infrastructure solutions like EV ARC™ systems that can withstand extreme conditions and support communities during crises.
To learn more about Beam Global products visit BeamForAll.com.
About Beam Global Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Headquartered in San Diego with facilities in Chicago, Belgrade and Kraljevo, Beam Global has a deep patent portfolio and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).
Forward-Looking Statements This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. These statements relate to future events or future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Beam Global’s actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Beam Global expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
BRUSSELS, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Eclipse Foundation, one of the world’s largest open source software foundations, has announced the launch of the ThreadX Alliance, a new initiative dedicated to ensuring the continued growth and sustainability of the Eclipse ThreadX real-time operating system (RTOS) and its dynamic ecosystem. ThreadX, the world’s first and only safety-certified open source RTOS, powers billions of devices across a broad range of industries, including automotive, medical, aerospace, home appliances, and industrial controls.
With ThreadX already a proven solution trusted by companies worldwide, the ThreadX Alliance ensures the ongoing sustainability of its robust code base, platform enhancements, and crucial safety certification efforts. By joining the alliance, organisations can access exclusive resources while contributing to the evolution of the next generation of embedded systems.
“ThreadX is the only open source safety-certified RTOS on the market today, powering over 12 billion devices and trusted in a vast array of embedded applications,” said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. “The ThreadX Alliance is an important step in ensuring the platform’s future, allowing companies to actively support its sustainability while gaining valuable tools and resources to streamline their development efforts, reduce costs, and bring products to market.”
Key benefits of joining the ThreadX Alliance include:
Exclusive Early Access to the ThreadX Marketplace: Be first in line to access the future ThreadX marketplace, including pre-sales and pre-development support from leading service providers.
Access to Safety Manuals: Unlock read-only, non-commercial access to essential safety manuals, offering critical insights to enhance your development processes.
Licensing Opportunities for Safety Certifications: Gain access to licensing agreements for ThreadX safety artefacts (additional fees apply), accelerating your products’ functional safety certifications.
Exclusive Marketing and Branding Opportunities: Proudly display the ThreadX Alliance participant logo to showcase your commitment to the growth and sustainability of the industry’s only safety-certified open source RTOS.
The launch of the ThreadX Alliance represents a significant leap forward in supporting the open source embedded systems ecosystem, especially in industries where safety and reliability are critical. Companies looking to take part in this influential community are invited to visit threadxalliance.org to learn more about how to contribute to and benefit from the program.
About Eclipse ThreadX Eclipse ThreadX (formerly Azure RTOS) is the world’s first and only safety-certified open source real-time operating system (RTOS), and has been trusted by industries for over two decades. Deployed in over 12 billion devices since its launch in 1997, ThreadX offers an MIT-licensed, robust, modular platform that includes advanced subcomponents for graphical interfaces (GUIX), networking (NetX Duo), file storage (FileX), and USB connectivity (USBX). To learn more about how ThreadX powers next-generation embedded systems, visit threadx.io.
About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organisations with a business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. We host the Eclipse IDE, Adoptium, Software Defined Vehicle, Jakarta EE, and over 420 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, specifications, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, open processor designs, and many others. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 385 members. Visit us at this year’s Open Community Experience (OCX) conference on 22-24 October 2024 in Mainz, Germany. To learn more, follow us on social media @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn, or visit eclipse.org.
Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Media contacts: Schwartz Public Relations (Germany) Gloria Huppert/Marita Bäumer Sendlinger Straße 42A 80331 Munich EclipseFoundation@schwartzpr.de +49 (89) 211 871 -70/ -62
The CMA’s response welcomes the government’s intent to reform to the planning system in England, as these reforms consider options we had identified in our Housebuilding Market Study.
The response also sets out where the CMA thinks the UK government should consider further reform, particularly on reform of statutory consultees, taking steps to increase the variety of houses being built, and taking further steps to support small and medium housebuilders. It also urges the government to respond to our Market Study recommendations, and so tackle issues in private management of public amenities and issues in consumer protection for buyers of new build homes.
For queries relating to the CMA’s response, please contact the CMA advocacy team by email at advocacy@cma.gov.uk.
On 17 October 2024, from 9:00 to 10:30, the FISC Subcommittee will host a public hearing on “Simplification and transparency: Role of simplified tax policy to encourage growth, job creation, competitiveness and cross-border business within the EU”.
Over the past years, stakeholders have been raising more and more concerns about compliance costs and administrative burden. At the same time, the recent publication of two reports, one by Enrico Letta and one by Mario Draghi, have ignited a new debate on how to improve the competitiveness of the EU’s economy in the aftermath of the COVID-pandemic and the economic hardships caused by the war in Ukraine.
Against this background, this public hearing will gather information and discuss in which ways reducing both taxpayers’ tax compliance and governmental administrative costs could foster cross-border business, increase competitiveness, and eventually lead to more job creation and economic growth.
Question for written answer E-001665/2024/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Alessandro Zan (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D)
The state of affairs in Italy’s prisons has become a genuine emergency. Inmates continue to live and work in inhuman and degrading conditions.
According to a report by the national prisoners’ ombudsman dated 18 August 2024, there are 61 465 prisoners in Italy although there are only 46 898 lawfully available places in its prisons. The overcrowding index stands at 131%, with almost 80% of the total number of prisons having more prisoners than permitted. These figures unfortunately also include establishments for juveniles.
In some institutions, prisoners are forced to live in less than 3 square metres, in serious violation of the standards set by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The increase in suicides among prisoners and prison officers is just one of the tragic consequences. Since the beginning of the year alone there have been 70 suicides among inmates and seven among prison officers, one every three days.
Given the gravity and urgency of this state of affairs, can the Commission say what action it intends to take to help enforce the rule of law and uphold the fundamental rights of inmates and officers in Italian prisons?
On 17 October 2024, from 9:00 to 10:30, the FISC Subcommittee will host a public hearing on “Simplification and transparency: Role of simplified tax policy to encourage growth, job creation, competitiveness and cross-border business within the EU”.
Over the past years, stakeholders have been raising more and more concerns about compliance costs and administrative burden. At the same time, the recent publication of two reports, one by Enrico Letta and one by Mario Draghi, have ignited a new debate on how to improve the competitiveness of the EU’s economy in the aftermath of the COVID-pandemic and the economic hardships caused by the war in Ukraine.
Against this background, this public hearing will gather information and discuss in which ways reducing both taxpayers’ tax compliance and governmental administrative costs could foster cross-border business, increase competitiveness, and eventually lead to more job creation and economic growth.
Question for written answer E-001893/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Valentina Palmisano (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Carolina Morace (The Left)
Lake Trasimeno, located within a national park and part of the Natura 2000 network, is an ecosystem of high environmental value and a mainstay of the region’s economy, especially the tourism sector.
EU Directives 2009/147/EC (‘Birds’) and 92/43/EEC (‘Habitats’ on biodiversity), although they are intended to safeguard natural habitats, make it difficult to maintain the lake, particularly owing to the impossibility of working on the lakebed which is the nesting ground for some protected species.
This threatens to aggravate the already critical condition of the lake, which, as the only reservoir in Italy fed exclusively by rainwater, is suffering from the scarcity of rainfall caused by climate change, thus making the situation even harder to manage.
In the light of the above:
1.How does the Commission intend to reconcile the protection of biodiversity with the need for maintenance work to preserve Lake Trasimeno’s ecological functions and value for the tourism sector?
2.Does it intend to look into the possibility of introducing specific guidelines for essential maintenance work in ecologically sensitive situations while ensuring the protection of species protected under Directives 2009/147/EC and 92/43/EEC?
3.What technical and financial support measures can the Commission propose to address this situation?
Question for written answer E-001888/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Moritz Körner (Renew)
In Germany, donations of goods to recognised non-profit organisations are not exempt from VAT. It is thus makes better financial sense for companies to destroy fully functioning unsold products than to give them away.
The obligation to pay VAT on donations of goods could be abolished in the following ways: donations of goods could be made exempt from VAT; they could remain subject to VAT, but the tax base could be set at zero; or the 0% VAT rate proposed by the Commission could be applied to socially beneficial transactions.
1.Does the Commission believe it to be legally possible to introduce a tax exemption for donations of goods in Germany in accordance with EU law?
2.If so, what specifically would need to be done in Germany to exempt them from VAT in accordance with EU law, and if not, what changes would be needed to EU law to enable tax exemptions for such donations?
3.Does the Commission plan to make a proposal to this effect, and if so, when might this be expected, and if not, why not?
Priority question for written answer P-001968/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Kateřina Konečná (NI), Ondřej Knotek (PfE), Klara Dostalova (PfE), Ondřej Dostál (NI), Jaroslav Bžoch (PfE), Ondřej Kovařík (PfE)
We would like to raise the issue of the still pending proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste, which should have been concluded by now.
The text of the proposal was agreed by the Council and the Parliament at the end of the last term. However, there has been a significant shift in the meaning of the text in the final stage, when it undergoes linguistic correction (corrigendum). This process is intended solely to remove linguistic inaccuracies and typos.
After the corrigendum, the following changes in meaning have appeared in the text:
• Change in the definition of ‘producer’ (replacing ‘any’ with ‘the’).
• New definition of ‘making available on the territory of the Member State’.
• Substitution of the terms ‘consumer’ and ‘end-user’.
• Mandatory labelling of packaging with the identification of the responsible organisation.
• Replacement of ‘may’ with ‘must’.
Preliminary estimates of the impact of these changes suggest that they would lead to significant economic impacts in the order of hundreds of millions of euros. Given that these clearly go beyond merely linguistic changes, when does the Commission plan to amend the text in a way that is consistent with the purpose of the corrigendum process and does not materially shift the outcome of the negotiations between Parliament and the Council?
Question for written answer E-001828/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Matjaž Nemec (S&D)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1230[1] on cross-border payments in the Union regulates cash withdrawals from ATMs within the EU, including the application of the principle of equality of charges for cross-border cash withdrawals.
However, this Regulation does not regulate the amounts of those fees, creating ‘Wild West’ conditions on the market, with certain banks or ATM providers charging disproportionately high or usury fees for cash withdrawals, often irrespective of the withdrawn amount. Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) in Slovenia charges EUR 5.99 per cash withdrawal from their ATMs for cards issued by other EU banks[2].
NLB is one of the biggest banks in Slovenia, and particularly in certain rural areas, has a monopoly on ATM presence. Consumers are sometimes left with no choice but to pay such usurious fees for cash withdrawals.
Due to a risk of unfair or misleading commercial practices, I ask the Commission the following:
1.Are such fees in line with the relevant EU acquis?
2.Does the Commission consider NLB’s cash withdrawal fees, irrespective of the withdrawn amount, as fair, and does the Commission intend to propose a cap on such fees at EU level?
3.What is the Commission doing to protect EU citizens from such disproportionate and usury fees?
Question for written answer E-001829/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE), Jordan Bardella (PfE), Mathilde Androuët (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Angéline Furet (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Anne-Sophie Frigout (PfE), Catherine Griset (PfE), Malika Sorel (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), Matthieu Valet (PfE)
The Spanish Government has recently relaxed its criteria for regularising irregular migrants by introducing a residence permit for illegal immigrants with a work contract[1].
To be eligible, they must have lived in Spain for at least 2 years, have a clean criminal record and have an employment contract for just 20 hours per week – criteria that are particularly lax. Alongside this scheme are 12-month residence permits for migrants undergoing training in sectors with shortages, despite the fact that few of them actually obtain long-term employment.
This increase in regularisations could, however, encourage the exploitation of migrants and spread of criminal networks. Indeed, in June 2024 the police dismantled a large network involved in distributing fake work contracts[2].
In addition to making immigration more appealing, these regularisations – adopted unilaterally – allow migrants to move freely within the Schengen Area.
1.Does the Commission believe that these more relaxed rules facilitating irregular immigration meet the expectations of Europeans, most of whom want to see more action to combat illegal immigration[3]?
2.Will it revise the Schengen Borders Code to limit free movement to EU nationals alone?
1. The Commission acknowledges that the situation created by the landslide near La Praz and the ensuing closure of the Fréjus railway line in August 2023 is serious. Renovation works on the line will take some time due to their challenging nature. At this stage, the Commission has no evidence that not all is done to reopen the line as soon as possible.
2. Coordination of trans-Alpine transport is already addressed by existing coordination structures, in particular the Zurich Process[1] and the EU strategy for the Alpine region (EUSALP)[2]. These structures should be used to the largest extent possible in situations such as the current interruption of the Fréjus rail line following the landslide in August 2023 to ensure that traffic can continue on the most efficient routes and that excessive detours are avoided.
3. The EU does not have the financial programmes or resources to provide subsidies to operators in such cases. Funding from the Connecting Europe Facility is only available for financing of trans-European transport (TEN-T) infrastructure and cannot be used to provide a short-term relief to users of infrastructure that has suffered the damage. Concerning potential support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the agreement in place with the French authorities specifically exclude support to this kind of infrastructure and cannot be used to provide disaster-related damage.
Where Member States concerned consider financial compensations from national resources, such financing would have to be in line with the applicable EU State aid rules.
Question for written answer E-001832/2024 to the Council Rule 144 Victor Negrescu (S&D)
Romania’s accession to Schengen by air and water has been a real success. Moreover, the pilot projects Romania has implemented with the support of the Commission have strengthened its external borders and are an example of good practice on a European scale.
Romania’s accession to the free movement area by land can be delayed no longer. The European Union and all the Member States have to bear in mind and respect the efforts Romania has made and the legal and technical arguments in support of that accession.
1.Two Justice and Home Affairs Council meetings will take place this year, on 10 October and 12 December. How likely is it that the Council of the EU will put Romania’s accession to Schengen by land this year on the agenda for the two JHA Council meetings scheduled for this year?
2.At the same time, does the Council of the EU not consider that the conditions exist for a unanimity vote to be held on 10 October when the elections in Austria are over and an Austrian is set to become Commissioner for Internal Affairs?
In accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292[1], horse meat shall only enter the EU from third countries which, in particular, provide guarantees of compliance with the prohibition of the use of certain substances in farm animals laid down in Council Directive 96/22/EC[2], provide guarantees of compliance with the prohibition of the use of the substances listed in Table 2 of the annex to Regulation (EU) No 37/2010[3], and have an approved residue control plan and are listed for equine in Annex I to Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/405[4].
[1] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 of 6 September 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption ( OJ L 304, 24.11.2022, p. 1 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2022/2292/oj).
[2] Council Directive 96/22/EC of 29 April 1996 concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of ß-agonists, and repealing Directives 81/602/EEC, 88/146/EEC and 88/299/EEC (OJ L 125, 23.5.1996, p. 3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1996/22/oj).
[3] Commission Regulation (EU) No 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin ( OJ L 15, 20.1.2010, p. 1 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2010/37(1)/oj).
[4] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 114, 31.3.2021, p. 118 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/405/oj).
There is ample evidence that certain pharmaceuticals are posing problems in rivers and thus to human and animal health[1]. Starting with the Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment[2] in 2019 and the subsequent European Green Deal[3] including notably the Zero Pollution Action Plan[4], there is a high-level of attention at EU level to the toxicity of pharmaceuticals in the environment and action is being taken to better monitor and reduce the presence of pharmaceutical residues in water bodies, including through funding research and innovation[5].
The proposal to revise the list of Surface and Groundwater Pollutants[6] includes for the first time certain pharmaceuticals compounds and proposes maximum concentrations to be respected. The Commission counts on the co-legislators to support the high level of ambition of this proposal in the forthcoming trilogues.
The recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive[7] includes new obligations to remove micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals from all large urban wastewater treatment plants (above 150 000 inhabitants) but also for smaller plants when there is a risk for the environment or for human health.
In line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, industry will be required to contribute to the financing of the additional infrastructures needed to remove micropollutants. This will also incentivise research and innovation into toxic-free products.
The proposal for the revision of pharmaceutical legislation[8] repr esents a significant step forward in mitigating the impacts of pharmaceuticals on the environment i.e. it requires the Environmental Risk Assessment for antimicrobial to cover the whole life cycle including manufacturing.
Question for written answer E-001813/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE)
Companies both in Romania and in the rest of Europe are feeling the economic impact of the sanctions the European Union has imposed on the Russian Federation.
1.The Commission’s continued efforts to support European companies affected by the sanctions imposed on Russia are to be welcomed, but in circumstances where many firms in various sectors have been impacted by those sanctions, could the Commission clarify whether financial support measures and compensation for such companies already exist or are in the pipeline?
2.Could the Commission provide further details on the types of financial aid available and on the procedure to follow to obtain that aid?
3.Could the Commission also provide information on future initiatives that might be implemented to reduce the economic impact on the business activities of companies currently being affected?
Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Bern, 08.10.2024 – The Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) foundation, co-founded by the Swiss Confederation, will hold its fourth summit from 9 to 11 October in Geneva, in presence of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis. The high-level political segment, focused on anticipatory science diplomacy, will centre on the theme of ensuring widespread access to the groundbreaking scientific advances that will shape our future.
Since 2019, GESDA has brought together scientists, diplomats, representatives of the private sector and civil society to work together to anticipate the scientific breakthroughs that will impact our societies and develop solutions to best manage these developments. The foundation’s areas of action include artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, synthetic biology and neurotechnologies.
These themes will be discussed from 9 to 11 October at the 4th GESDA summit in Geneva, one of the major events on the international science diplomacy calendar. Under the theme of scientific acceleration, the summit will examine how new technologies can impact food security, intellectual property and coral reef conservation, in particular through insights from the EPFL’s Transnational Red Sea Center, an initiative supported by the FDFA.
The impact of scientific progress on peace and security
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, will attend the summit on 11 October 2024 and hold political discussions with various ministers and senior representatives. The main goal of this high-level political summit is to democratise access to the scientific advances that will shape the future. To advance this objective, Mr Cassis and GESDA will launch several concrete pilot projects.
A training framework will be set up to equip decision-makers with the skills needed to anticipate and navigate a world rapidly transformed by scientific and technological advancements, primarily through regional workshops and online training programmes. An interactive exhibition, the Geneva Public Anticipation Portal, will also offer the public a gateway to the world of technological advances. This installation will be part of the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
GESDA, a tool of Swiss foreign policy
GESDA was established in 2019 by the Swiss Confederation, the Canton of Geneva and the City of Geneva. The foundation is helping to strengthen Geneva’s role as a centre for international cooperation. In 2023, GESDA launched the Open Quantum Institute, now based at CERN, with the aim of putting quantum technologies at the service of the common good. Anticipatory science diplomacy is also one of the thematic objectives set out in the Federal Council’s Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–27.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA
Question for written answer E-001854/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Christine Singer (Renew), Pina Picierno (S&D), Engin Eroglu (Renew)
Earlier this year, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the American subsidiary of JBS, the world’s largest producer of beef products, for misleading the public about its environmental impact. JBS has claimed that it will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, despite plans to increase production and thereby increase its carbon footprint.
JBS has a well-documented history of environmental degradation, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices in the Amazon rainforest and other sensitive ecosystems. JBS has by far the highest emissions of any company in agriculture, and the company’s methane emissions exceed the combined total methane emissions of France, Germany, Canada and New Zealand.
On top of this, there have been a litany of abuses, price manipulation practices and what has been dubbed ‘the largest corruption inquiry in history’ linked with the Batista brothers, who de facto control JBS through a holding company.
Even while interinstitutional negotiations on the ‘green claims’ directive are still ongoing:
1.Can the Commission confirm whether it is aware of ‘greenwashing’ allegations against JBS, and the potential impact of this on EU consumers?
2.What concrete steps will the Commission take to protect EU consumers?
During its meeting on 14 October, EMPL will hold an exchange of views with the Directors of EU-OSHA, ELA, Cedefop, Eurofound and ETF.
William Cockburn (EU-OSHA), Cosmin Boiangiu (ELA), Jürgen Siebel (Cedefop), Ivailo Kalfin (Eurofound) and Pilvi Torsti (ETF) are going to give Members a snapshot of their respective Agencies’ main fields of expertise, focusing on current and planned work on important issues such as digitalisation in the world of work, just transition, skills recognition and portability, labour mobility and labour market shortages or housing, as well as ways of enhancing cooperation with the Committee in view of the start of the new mandate.
Question for written answer E-001896/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Tomas Tobé (PPE)
The Swedish Transport Agency says that thousands of people registered in Sweden are travelling to other European Economic Area (EEA) countries in order to have a third-country driving licence exchanged for an EEA licence in a way that is not possible in Sweden.[1]
The Driving Licence Directive regulates how driving licences are exchanged and establishes that EEA driving licences can be exchanged for a national driving licence.[2] However, the legislation was never intended to be used by people from third countries to engage in ‘driving licence tourism’ by travelling to the country affording the most favourable conditions to have a driving licence from their home country converted into an EEA licence.[3]
Abuse of the rules on exchanging driving licences within the EEA in this way has a major impact on road safety throughout the EU, as adequate driver skills can no longer be guaranteed. The growth of driving licence tourism shows the shortcomings of the current EU legislation and an inability to keep the Union’s roads free of driving licence fraudsters.
In view of the above:
1.Does the Commission consider that revision of the Driving Licence Directive, which is now at an advanced stage, adequately addresses the problems posed by driving licence tourism, or are additional initiatives needed?
2.What action does the Commission intend to take to combat abuse of the current Driving Licence Directive before the new directive is implemented?
On Tuesday, MEPs approved over €1 billion in EU Solidarity Fund aid to support recovery efforts in five EU countries due to severe floods that occurred in 2023.
The €1,028,541,689 in aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) will be distributed as follows:
Italy: €378.8 million for the Emilia-Romagna region following flood damages in May 2023, and an additional €67.8 million for the Tuscany region after floods in October and November 2023.
Slovenia: €428.4 million to address the consequences of the floods in August 2023.
Austria: €5.2 million to assist with flood damages from August 2023.
Greece: €101.5 million to support recovery efforts following the floods in September 2023.
France: €46.7 million for flood damages suffered by the Hauts-de-France region in November 2023.
The EUSF assistance will cover part of the costs of emergency and recovery operations, including repairing damaged infrastructure, safeguarding cultural heritage, and conducting clean-up operations.
MEPs express their “deepest solidarity with all the victims, their families and all the individuals affected by the destructive floods in Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and France as well as with the national, regional and local authorities involved in the relief efforts”. They point to the “increasing number of severe and destructive natural disasters in Europe” and consider that the “budget of the EUSF or its equivalent should be expanded in view of the upcoming Commission proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework”.
The aid package was approved by 632 votes in favour, 7 votes against and 3 abstentions.
Since its inception in 2002, the EUSF has mobilised over €8.6 billion for 130 disasters (110 natural disasters and 20 health emergencies) in 24 member states (plus the UK), and four accession countries (Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye).
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved elafibranor (Iqirvo) to treat adult patients with a rare type of liver disease known as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).
PBC is a type of chronic liver disease in which the small bile ducts in the liver become injured and inflamed and are eventually destroyed. Where there are damaged bile ducts, bile builds up and causes liver damage. This disease can get gradually worse over time and without treatment may lead to liver failure.
Elafibranor helps to improve how the liver works by reducing the amount of bile acids the liver produces and reducing the build-up of bile. It also acts by reducing inflammation of the liver.
The recommended dose is one tablet, once a day, at about the same time each day for adult patients. Elafibranor may be given by itself or together with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).
Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:
Enabling safe access to high quality, safe and effective medicines is a key priority for us.
We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for the approval of this new formulation have been met.
As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.
The MHRA’s approval of the medicine is supported by evidence from a placebo-controlled main study involving 161 adults with PBC, the majority of whom had been taking UDCA for at least one year and continued taking it during the study (though some had stopped taking due to side effects).
The measure of effectiveness was based on the number of patients whose blood levels of the substances Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin (markers of liver damage) decreased to a level considered normal (for both ALP and bilirubin) and by at least 15% (for ALP) after 1 year of treatment.
The study showed that elafibranor was more effective than placebo at reducing the blood levels of ALP and bilirubin. Overall, levels decreased by the required amount in around 51% (55 out of 108) of patients treated with elafibranor, compared with around 4% (2 out of 53) of patients on placebo.
A full list of all side effects reported with this medicine is available in the patient information leaflet or from the product information published on the MHRA website.
If a patient experiences any side effects, they should talk to their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the product information leaflets.
Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The new marketing authorisation was granted for elafibranor (Iqirvo) on 04 October 2024 to Ipsen Ltd via National Procedure.
More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Amoré Elsje Nel, Applied Geomagnetic Researcher, South African National Space Agency
A geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky in parts of the US during the first weekend in October. South Africa’s National Space Agency (Sansa) told reporters that the storm had originated from a solar flare “that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3”. It said this was the strongest Earth-facing solar flare recorded by Sansa in the past seven years and that the eruption briefly affected high-frequency radio communications, “resulting in a total radio blackout over the African region which lasted for up to 20 minutes”.
What is a geomagnetic storm? The Conversation Africa asked Sansa’s Amoré Nel, who researches geomagnetics, to explain.
What is a geomagnetic storm and how common are they?
A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity. There’s a reaction called nuclear fusion that occurs continuously deep within the Sun’s core. This generates massive amounts of energy. Some of the energy is released as light (sunlight), some as radiation (solar flares), and some as charged particles.
The Sun also continuously emits a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind. Occasionally, the Sun releases larger bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections. It sends clouds of these charged particles, or plasma, hurtling through space. I like to explain it to children this way: the Sun sometimes drinks a soda too fast and then burps. This “burp” is the cloud of plasma which then travels through space. These emissions don’t always hit us. But when they do, they collide with Earth’s magnetic field, disrupt it, and lead to a geomagnetic storm.
Earth’s magnetic field is an invisible force that surrounds our planet, acting like a giant magnet with a north and south pole. It helps protect us from harmful solar radiation by deflecting charged particles from the Sun.
The solar flare from 3842 emitted both X-flares (radiation) and a coronal mass ejection. X-flares are radiation; they travel at almost the speed of light and reach Earth within minutes. That’s what caused the brief communications disruption Sansa mentioned on 3 October. But the coronal mass ejection takes much longer to reach us. We’d predicted it would do so over the past weekend but in fact it only reached us on the morning of 8 October.
Geomagnetic storms occur fairly often. Minor ones happen multiple times per year. The severity of a storm depends on how strong the solar event was that caused it. Larger, more intense storms are less common but can happen every few years. Solar events are closely tied to the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle, which has periods of high and low activity. During the peak of the cycle, called solar maximum, more sunspots and solar flares occur, increasing the likelihood of solar storms.
We are now heading towards the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which will be in July 2025. Solar maxima usually last between two and three years.
Are these storms dangerous? What damage can they cause?
Geomagnetic storms are not typically harmful to humans directly, but they can pose risks to modern technology and infrastructure. One of the most notable dangers is to power grids. Powerful storms can induce electric currents in power lines, potentially overloading transformers and causing blackouts, as happened in Quebec, Canada, in 1989.
Satellites in space are also vulnerable. A strong storm can damage electronics onboard, disrupt communication signals, and shorten the lifespan of the satellites themselves.
In aviation, geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communication and GPS signals, which are vital for aircraft navigation. This is especially important for flights that pass near the polar regions, where the effects of geomagnetic storms are more pronounced. Astronauts and spacecraft are also at risk – the extra radiation can be dangerous for equipment and human health.
Are there any upsides to this phenomenon?
Auroras are a visually stunning aspect of geomagnetic storms. These colourful displays in the night sky occur when charged particles from the Sun get captured in Earth’s magnetic field lines, and funnel down towards the poles. Here they interact with Earth’s atmosphere, releasing energy that produces shimmering lights.
The northern lights are seen in the sky above Alta, Norway.Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Auroras can be seen at both the north and south pole, aptly named the northern and southern lights. If storms are big enough, it’s possible to see them in regions much further away from the poles. This happened in South Africa on 11 May 2024.
Studying geomagnetic storms provides valuable insights into space weather. By understanding how the Sun’s activity affects Earth, scientists can better predict future storms and work to protect the technologies we rely on. The study of geomagnetic storms also contributes to our understanding of the Sun and space in general.
Can monitoring the storms mitigate the risks?
Geomagnetic storms are monitored using various instruments on Earth and in space. On Earth, magnetometers measure changes in the magnetic field, allowing scientists to track disturbances as they happen. Sansa operates a dense network of Global Navigation Satellite System receivers in Africa, and magnetometer stations in various parts of southern Africa, for this reason. The agency is currently setting up a magnetometer station in Ethiopia, too. This will improve our ability to monitor geomagnetic storms.
In space, satellites equipped with sensors monitor the Sun’s activity and detect solar flares or coronal mass ejections before they reach Earth. This data feeds into prediction models used in space weather centres across the globe.
Once a storm is detected, agencies like Sansa issue alerts and forecasts. These warnings help industries such as power grid operators, satellite companies and aviation authorities to prepare for a storm.
For example, power companies can temporarily shut down or reconfigure parts of the grid to avoid overloading during a storm. Satellite operators can place their spacecraft into safer operating modes, such as switching off electronic components, and airlines can reroute flights away from high-risk areas.
Monitoring alone can’t prevent all the damage caused by geomagnetic storms. But it can greatly reduce the risks. Thanks to early warning systems we can protect crucial infrastructure and minimise the effect these storms have on our daily lives.
Geomagnetic storms bring vibrant colours to life in some parts of the world.Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images
A geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky in parts of the US during the first weekend in October. South Africa’s National Space Agency (Sansa) told reporters that the storm had originated from a solar flare “that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3”. It said this was the strongest Earth-facing solar flare recorded by Sansa in the past seven years and that the eruption briefly affected high-frequency radio communications, “resulting in a total radio blackout over the African region which lasted for up to 20 minutes”.
What is a geomagnetic storm? The Conversation Africa asked Sansa’s Amoré Nel, who researches geomagnetics, to explain.
What is a geomagnetic storm and how common are they?
A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity. There’s a reaction called nuclear fusion that occurs continuously deep within the Sun’s core. This generates massive amounts of energy. Some of the energy is released as light (sunlight), some as radiation (solar flares), and some as charged particles.
The Sun also continuously emits a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind. Occasionally, the Sun releases larger bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections. It sends clouds of these charged particles, or plasma, hurtling through space. I like to explain it to children this way: the Sun sometimes drinks a soda too fast and then burps. This “burp” is the cloud of plasma which then travels through space. These emissions don’t always hit us. But when they do, they collide with Earth’s magnetic field, disrupt it, and lead to a geomagnetic storm.
Earth’s magnetic field is an invisible force that surrounds our planet, acting like a giant magnet with a north and south pole. It helps protect us from harmful solar radiation by deflecting charged particles from the Sun.
The solar flare from 3842 emitted both X-flares (radiation) and a coronal mass ejection. X-flares are radiation; they travel at almost the speed of light and reach Earth within minutes. That’s what caused the brief communications disruption Sansa mentioned on 3 October. But the coronal mass ejection takes much longer to reach us. We’d predicted it would do so over the past weekend but in fact it only reached us on the morning of 8 October.
Geomagnetic storms occur fairly often. Minor ones happen multiple times per year. The severity of a storm depends on how strong the solar event was that caused it. Larger, more intense storms are less common but can happen every few years. Solar events are closely tied to the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle, which has periods of high and low activity. During the peak of the cycle, called solar maximum, more sunspots and solar flares occur, increasing the likelihood of solar storms.
We are now heading towards the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which will be in July 2025. Solar maxima usually last between two and three years.
Are these storms dangerous? What damage can they cause?
Geomagnetic storms are not typically harmful to humans directly, but they can pose risks to modern technology and infrastructure. One of the most notable dangers is to power grids. Powerful storms can induce electric currents in power lines, potentially overloading transformers and causing blackouts, as happened in Quebec, Canada, in 1989.
Satellites in space are also vulnerable. A strong storm can damage electronics onboard, disrupt communication signals, and shorten the lifespan of the satellites themselves.
In aviation, geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communication and GPS signals, which are vital for aircraft navigation. This is especially important for flights that pass near the polar regions, where the effects of geomagnetic storms are more pronounced. Astronauts and spacecraft are also at risk – the extra radiation can be dangerous for equipment and human health.
Are there any upsides to this phenomenon?
Auroras are a visually stunning aspect of geomagnetic storms. These colourful displays in the night sky occur when charged particles from the Sun get captured in Earth’s magnetic field lines, and funnel down towards the poles. Here they interact with Earth’s atmosphere, releasing energy that produces shimmering lights.
The northern lights are seen in the sky above Alta, Norway. Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Auroras can be seen at both the north and south pole, aptly named the northern and southern lights. If storms are big enough, it’s possible to see them in regions much further away from the poles. This happened in South Africa on 11 May 2024.
Studying geomagnetic storms provides valuable insights into space weather. By understanding how the Sun’s activity affects Earth, scientists can better predict future storms and work to protect the technologies we rely on. The study of geomagnetic storms also contributes to our understanding of the Sun and space in general.
Can monitoring the storms mitigate the risks?
Geomagnetic storms are monitored using various instruments on Earth and in space. On Earth, magnetometers measure changes in the magnetic field, allowing scientists to track disturbances as they happen. Sansa operates a dense network of Global Navigation Satellite System receivers in Africa, and magnetometer stations in various parts of southern Africa, for this reason. The agency is currently setting up a magnetometer station in Ethiopia, too. This will improve our ability to monitor geomagnetic storms.
In space, satellites equipped with sensors monitor the Sun’s activity and detect solar flares or coronal mass ejections before they reach Earth. This data feeds into prediction models used in space weather centres across the globe.
Once a storm is detected, agencies like Sansa issue alerts and forecasts. These warnings help industries such as power grid operators, satellite companies and aviation authorities to prepare for a storm.
For example, power companies can temporarily shut down or reconfigure parts of the grid to avoid overloading during a storm. Satellite operators can place their spacecraft into safer operating modes, such as switching off electronic components, and airlines can reroute flights away from high-risk areas.
Monitoring alone can’t prevent all the damage caused by geomagnetic storms. But it can greatly reduce the risks. Thanks to early warning systems we can protect crucial infrastructure and minimise the effect these storms have on our daily lives.
Amoré Elsje Nel works for the South African National Space Agency. She receives a Thuthuka Grant (TTK210406592410) from the National Research Foundation.
Today, the Council approved conclusions on climate finance ahead of the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11- 22 November 2024 (COP 29). In its conclusions, the Council underlines its strong commitment to continue delivering on climate finance.