Latest news with #EEA
Euronews
13 hours ago
- Euronews
Clear waters: The cleanest and least safe bathing spots in Europe
Keen swimmers seeking the perfect bathing spot are more than likely to be in safe waters in Europe, at least when it comes to chemicals. The latest European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, looking at 22,127 coastal, lake and river locations, rated 85% of bathing spots as excellent. Cyprus was elected the best destination for bathers, with over 99% of its waters receiving the excellence score. The country has consistently ranked in the top spots over the years, featuring heavenly sites like Aya Napa, Nissi Beach, Fig Tree Bay and Konnos Bay, among others. Great news for those heading to the Black Sea this summer: Bulgaria jumped three spots and fared second with an excellence score of 98%. Campers travelling to Bulgaria can enjoy the peaceful Krapets Beach or Kara Dere, known for the lush green surroundings, as well as Varvara for a more secluded vibe. On a path to improve water quality: Why does Albania rank last? The EEA report findings, however, are not quite as positive for Albania, one of the emerging tourism destinations in Europe. It features the lowest rate of waters deemed to be of excellent quality (16%) and the largest share of spots ranked as poor (23%). The Agricultural University of Tirana says many residential areas with more than 5,000 people lacked wastewater treatment plants until recently, resulting in sewage being directly dumped into the sea or rivers. In particular, "the sewage system in the city of Durrës has been a problem for both residents and ecosystems for years", says the European Journal of Environment & Earth Sciences. Plastics and microplastics pollution pose additional problems. After Montenegro and North Macedonia, Albania had the third-highest rate of plastic dumping into the water pro capita, at three kg per year. This is according to a 2020 report published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. With the help of the European Union and the World Bank, however, the country is taking significant steps and investing millions of euros to extend its water treatment infrastructure and improve river basin management, particularly in Divjakë, Durrës, Kavajë, Ksamil, Lezha, Orikum, Saranda, Spille, Velipoja and Vlorë, among others. Banning bathing? Areas of France, Italy and Spain under scrutiny The EEA interactive map shows numerous dangerous spots in southern-central areas of France and inland Corsica, while, in Italy, the largest concentrations appear in the south: north of Reggio Calabria as well as near Naples and Salerno. The heavenly Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca isn't completely immune either: Water at Playa Tamarells, Playa de Albercuix and Cala Egos was marked as poor. Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 58 spots in the EU consistently ranked as poor. Of these, 30 are located in Italy, 20 in France, two in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, and one each in Estonia and Spain. "Of these, only five had managed to improve their water quality to at least a sufficient level by 2024," says the EEA. According to the EU's Bathing Water Directive, bathing spots classified as poor for at least five consecutive years need to be subjected either to a permanent bathing ban or to a permanent advisory notice against bathing. What to watch out for when choosing your bathing spot? Swimmable waters must have low amounts of E. coli and intestinal enterococci, which are faecal bacteria originating from sewage and manure. If swallowed, they can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain, urinary infections and other illnesses. Cyanobacterial blooms—also known as the blue-green algae (though they're not actual algae)—also indicate poor water quality. They are naturally present in salty and freshwater, but if levels are too high, their toxins can cause nausea, muscle weakness, irritation and death of animals through inhalation or skin contact. In addition, this can result in unpleasant smells and poor water transparency (the "pea soup effect"). Cyanobacterial blooms thrive on agricultural runoff and wastewater, so good sewage systems are fundamental to controlling the nutrients that fuel them. Some symptoms of scarce water quality, however, are harder to detect by simply looking at the water, for example, in the case of chemical pollutants like mercury. "These pollutants are not captured by bathing water monitoring even when they exceed legal thresholds," says the EEA. Therefore, it is always better to properly research your selected location than just assess quality with a visual examination. Sea, rivers or lakes: Where can swimmers find the best water quality? Coastal waters tend to be much cleaner than rivers and lakes, in general. Over the past 15 years or so, the share of EU waters of excellent quality has remained between 81% and 89%, currently at 88.8%. Lakes and rivers stayed between 60% and 82%, with scores declining slowly but steadily since 2022. The present rate is 78.3%.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Want To Live And Work In Italy? A Digital Nomad Visa Can Help You Do That For Less Than Rs 12,000
If you have always wished to live in a country rich in architecture, history, and natural beauty, Italy is the place for you. Plus, it offers a Digital Nomad Visa that allows you to work and live there for a year. Officially launched in 2024, Italy's Digital Nomad Visa became fully operational in mid-2025. Here's everything you need to know about this visa. What Is Italy's Digital Nomad Visa? The Digital Nomad Visa offered by Italy allows you to work and live in the country for a whole year. It is a specific visa designed for non-EU/EEA citizens who qualify as 'highly skilled' remote workers. In other words, a digital nomad is a highly skilled worker who works remotely as a freelancer or for a company not based in Italy. Who Is Eligible? If you want to apply for Italy's Digital Nomad Visa, you must meet the following requirements: Since the visa is intended for citizens outside the European Union or European Economic Area, you must be a non-EU/EEA citizen. Applicants must be employed or self-employed, and the company must be outside of Italy. You must have at least 6 months of experience as a remote worker or digital nomad. The applicant must earn a minimum of €28,000 (approximately Rs 28,28,112) annually. A valid health insurance that covers your stay in Italy. Proof of accommodation is required - typically a 12-month lease registered with Italian tax authorities. A certificate showing no convictions in the past 5 years. How To Apply? Step 1: Collect all necessary paperwork, including your passport, application form, proof of income, remote work verification, criminal background check, proof of accommodation, and private health insurance. Step 2: Submit your application in person at the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence. Pay the visa fee, which is around 116 euros (Rs 11,702 approximately). Step 3: Attend the interview at the consulate or embassy. The processing time for the visa can range from 30 to 60 business days, although this may vary. Step 4: Once the visa is approved, the embassy will issue a Digital Nomad Visa. Things To Keep In Mind
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Public urged to check passports are in date before flying as over 600,000 issued so far this year
It comes as over 600,000 passports have been issued to Irish citizens around the world so far this year. Current average turnaround time for passports on the Passport Online portal varies from three to 20 working days. A simple adult renewal currently takes 10 working days, while an adult application requiring extra information or a request to change information on a passport will take 15 working days. A renewal of a child's passport also currently takes 15 working days. A first-time online application for an adult or child will take 20 working days. Meanwhile, an application for a passport card will take three to five working days. As of June 30, 84,923 passports were issued to citizens in Dublin. Cork recorded 35,665 passports issued, while Galway recorded 16,962 passports issued. Mr Harris said: 'The best time for citizens to check their passport's expiry date is before booking their holiday, and the second best time to check is today. "If you have already booked flights, it's important to check now if your passport is in date. 'I encourage everyone to use Passport Online when applying for their passports as the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective way to apply. 'Applicants from all over the world can use Passport Online to renew their passport or to apply for their first passport,' he added. A passport card is available to all Irish citizens who hold a valid Irish passport. Your personal details must be an exact match of the details that appear in your passport. It is valid for travel to all EU Member States, the members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Tánaiste added: 'I am delighted to see that passport applications are high all over the country with Dublin, Cork, and Galway recording the highest numbers of passports issued in 2025.' Citizens living in Ireland who need to renew their passport urgently in advance of imminent travel can avail of the Urgent Appointment Service available at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork. Further information and appointment booking is available at The Customer Service Hub of the Passport Service is currently responding to 10,000 queries per week. Customer Service agents are available to answer all passport-related questions from 9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday by phone on 01 671 1633 or by webchat at
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Asylum seeker ‘faked baby with European' to win right to stay
An asylum seeker won the right to stay in Britain after using fake birth and death certificates to claim he had a baby, an immigration court heard. Sameer Khan, a Pakistani citizen, presented the forged documents to a tribunal as part of his bid to stay in the UK, judges were told. He used the certificates to successfully argue the child proved his marriage to a European citizen was not one of 'convenience' but a genuine relationship, which therefore gave him the right to remain in Britain. But the Home Office has since uncovered evidence that the documents presented to the court to support his case were fake, throwing into doubt whether the child had ever been born. After the accusation of fraud, Mr Khan's case will now be heard again after judges were told his alleged dishonesty undermines his entire case to stay in Britain. An upper immigration tribunal was told Mr Khan had applied for leave to remain under the European Union settlement scheme after claiming to have married an EEA citizen – named at the hearing as Ms Rumenova – in Cyprus in August 2020. The Home Office refused the application on the basis that there were 'reasonable grounds for suspicion that the marriage was entered into for the purpose of securing leave to remain, and so was a marriage of convenience', the tribunal was told. Mr Khan appealed, and a hearing of a first-tier tribunal in November 2024 presided over by Judge Sarah Farmer was shown documents 'said to establish cohabitation and the relationship'. 'There was also a birth certificate for a child, 'AK', said to have been born in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2023 in Slough, County of Berkshire,' the tribunal was told. '[Mr Khan] and [Ms Rumenova] were named on the birth certificate as the parents of AK.' But the couple did not attend the asylum hearing, the tribunal heard, having emailed to say that the baby had died the week before. 'The Judge recorded in the Decision that [they] had emailed the Tribunal on the morning of the hearing, to say their child, AK... had died in the week before the hearing, and so they could not attend the hearing,' the tribunal said. Later that day, the judge was emailed a death certificate, saying the child had died of epilepsy related seizures and vomiting on Nov 15 2024, at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, and the death had been registered on Nov 18 2024, the same day as the hearing. Judge Farmer allowed Mr Khan's appeal against the Home Office's decision to deny him leave to remain after finding that there was a 'wealth of reliable evidence', including the birth and death certificates, to show the relationship was not one of convenience. Document authenticity concerns After officials made checks, the registry office confirmed the birth and death certificates were forgeries. As a result, upper tribunal judges Daniel Sheridan and Hannah Graves said the evidence undermined the original ruling. They said there was 'sufficient' evidence to establish that there are 'legitimate concerns about whether those documents are genuine and capable of reliance'. 'We therefore find that the Judge was led into error, albeit inadvertently. We find that error was material and infects the credibility assessment made by the Judge, which was central to the findings of fact made and the outcome of the appeal,' they said. 'We therefore do not preserve any findings made in the Decision but set it aside in its entirety. The matter is now remitted to the First-tier Tribunal for a fresh hearing, before another judge than Judge Farmer.'
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Portugal Is Offering A Digital Nomad Visa Under Rs 9,500 To Work And Live There For A Year
If you wish to work remotely with a backdrop of sunlit cobblestone streets and ocean breezes, Portugal can be your next workstation. Portugal offers a Digital Nomad Visa (D8 Visa) to freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to live and work legally in Portugal. What You Need To Know Introduced in 2022, Portugal's Digital Nomad Visa allows non-European Union or European Economic Area citizens to reside in Portugal for a maximum of one year. There are two types of this visa: 1. Long-Term Residency Visa This visa is valid for 4 months, which can be followed by a 2-year residence permit. It can be renewed for up to 5 years, which can then lead to permanent residency or citizenship. 2. Temporary Stay Visa Valid for 12 months with multiple entries. This visa can be renewed up to 4 times, but it does not help you get a permanent residency. It is obvious that people who want to live and stay in Portugal for a short period can aim for a temporary stay visa. Eligibility The applicant should be at least 18 years old to apply. You should be a non-EU/EEA national to apply for this type of visa. This includes Indians. Your monthly income should be at least 4 times the Portuguese minimum wage, which would be somewhere 3,480 euros (Rs 3,53,843 approximately). You will need employment proof for remote or freelance jobs. You must have a valid passport and all other travel authorization. Health insurance that covers your stay in Portugal is required. You should have a clean criminal record from your resident country. How To Apply Step 1: Check your eligibility and collect your employment proof. Step 2: Prepare all the required documents Step 3: Fill out the visa application form available from the Portuguese consulate or embassy. Pay the visa fee, which is 90 euros (Rs 9,156 approx.) Step 4: Make an appointment with the Portuguese consulate or embassy and submit your application along with your documents. Step 5: Wait for approval to come. Once your application is approved, you will be allowed to enter and live in Portugal. Step 6: Apply for a residence permit once you arrive in Portugal if you have opted for a long-term visa. This should be done before your visa expires. The Pros You can bring a spouse or partner with children. Legal right to live and work remotely in Portugal. You will have access to the Schengen area. You can apply for a residence permit if you apply for a long-term visa. Good weather and a great lifestyle. The Cons
