EU Country Cancer Profiles

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 28 February 2023

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PARIS - Ahead of World Cancer Day the OECD, in co-operation with the European Commission, released the first edition of the EU Country Cancer Profiles. The country profiles identify strengths, challenges and specific areas of action for each of the 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway, to guide investment and interventions at the EU, national and regional levels under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Each country profile provides a short synthesis of:

- the national cancer burden

- risk factors for cancer, focusing on behavioural and environment risk factors

- early detection programmes

- cancer care performance, focusing on accessibility, care quality, costs and the impact of COVID-19 on cancer care.

UK PM Sunak breaks impasse with EU trade deal on Northern Ireland

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 28 February 2023

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LONDON - The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to a deal on Monday fine-tuning the post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland, breaking years of impasse.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and British prime minster Rishi Sunak met in Windsor, outside London, to seal the agreement which has been in the making for months.

Unveiling the Windsor Framework, Mr Sunak said it was a “major breakthrough” that would solve the long-running problem of the Northern Ireland protocol.

The EU chief also hailed the deal as a “new chapter” as she outlined plans for the UK to join the bloc’s £80bn Horizon science research programme.

What does the ‘Windsor Framework’ mean for Northern Ireland?

The “Windsor framework” - a post-Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU on trade arrangements for Northern Ireland - has been struck between Rishi Sunak and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Under the new deal, goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will travel through a “green lane.” Goods will travel in the “red lane” if they move on to the EU.

It also removes the need for customs paperwork for those sending parcels to friends and family in Northern Ireland, and means that EU VAT rules could be applied in Northern Ireland.

However, The DUP has warned that “key issues of concern” remain over the new Brexit agreement.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described his deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland as a “decisive breakthrough” and many Tory MPs have given their backing to the agreement.

While the DUP acknowledged “significant progress”, leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party would study the legal text before deciding whether to support the deal. His party won’t be “rushed or pushed” into a hasty decision, he told the Belfast Telegraph.

Earthquake hits parts of UK

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 25 February 2023

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LONDON - The United Kingdom (UK) was rocked by an earthquake last night, with people reporting “shaking” from South Wales to the West Midlands.

Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System said the quake was 4.2 magnitude, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put it at 3.8 magnitude.

It occurred at a depth of two kilometres at 11.59pm, the EMSC said – putting the location as 12km (7.45 miles) north of Rhondda.

Many reported feeling the walls of their homes “shaking”, while others claimed the quake was reminiscent of “a bomb going off”.

“I’m in Rhymney and felt the house shake, looked online to see if anyone else did ... and it was an earthquake in South Wales. I think I need a change of trousers,” tweeted @KrissOttley.

Posting to Facebook, user Danielle Morgan said: “It definitely felt a lot worse than a light shaking in Ebbw Vale. We thought someone had crashed into the cars on our drive. Frightening! Brought the whole estate out wondering what was going on! The whole house shook to the core.”

Responding to her post, Jason Humphrys wrote: “I heard a loud bang that sounded like a bomb just went off then my entire kitchen shook, my cat was frightened — it was weird, it only lasted seconds but it left an impact.”

Weighing in on the conversation, Hayley Ann said: “My bed moved side to side ... I thought it was collapsing beneath me. Didn’t feel light at all,” while Helen Caswell added: “Our whole house shook in Rassau, Ebbw Vale and woke my husband up!! Really frightened us.”

Though centred on South Wales, the shocks were reportedly felt as far away as Dudely and Wolverhampton.

Katy Alexandra Jack tweeted: “Imagine, I just felt this all the way in Dudley, West Midlands.”

“A very shallow magnitude 3.8 earthquake was reported late at night near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, United Kingdom,” volcanodiscovery.com reported.

“Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface.

“Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicentre. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.”

“In Merthyr Tydfil (pop. 43,800) located 5 km from the epicentre, and Aberdare (pop. 31,100) 6 km away, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.

“Weak shaking might have been felt in Rhonnda (pop. 59,500) located 12 km from the epicentre, Ebbw Vale (pop. 33,100) 16 km away, Tonypandy (pop. 62,500) 16 km away, and Pontypridd (pop. 30,400) 20 km away.

“Other towns or cities near the epicentre where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Newport (pop. 306,800) located 37 km from the epicentre, Cardiff (pop. 447,300) 37 km away, and Swansea (pop. 300,400) 38 km away.”