Latest news with #ERCC
Euronews
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Euronews
EU to deploy 650 firefighters to wildfire high-risk zones
Hundreds of firefighters coming from across Europe and over 20 firefighting aerial vehicles will be pre-positioned in high-risk locations for wildfires across the bloc this summer, the European Commission announced on Monday. Almost 650 firefighters from 14 European countries are to be deployed in July and August in key high-risk locations in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. This is the highest number since pre-positioning firefighters across the EU was launched in 2022. Greece will welcome half of those European firefighters with teams coming from Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Moldova, and Romania. Meanwhile, 22 firefighting aeroplanes and four helicopters will be stationed in 10 different member states. France and Greece will be the biggest recipients of the EU-supported summer fleet, to be coordinated and financed via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with four medium amphibious aeroplanes each. France will also have one helicopter. Other countries on the receiving end of the summer fleet include Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said in a statement that the EU's "support is tangible and makes a difference on the ground". "Extreme heat and wildfires in Europe have sadly become the new normal. I am glad the EU has more to offer than just words of concern and consolation," she added. A further 19 ground firefighting teams, of around 30 firefighters each, and one advisory and assessment team, are also ready to be mobilised by the EU, while a dedicated wildfire support team is to be established at the EU's 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) to monitor risks and analyse scientific data. It will bring together 30 experts from EU member states as well as other countries participating in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the European Natural Hazard Scientific Partnership (ARISTOTLE), and staff from the ERCC. Greece, which also tends to be heavily hit every summer, has already announced it will deploy a record number of firefighters, including elite units in high-risk areas, and nearly double its drone fleet. Since the beginning of the year, more than 166,000 hectares have been burnt across the 27 member states, nearly three times the average recorded over the same period between 2003 and 2024, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Romania has been the worst-afflicted EU member state so far this year with more than 120,000 hectares reduced to cinders. Authorities have blamed some of the wildfires on human action, including intentional burning to clear fields. France and Spain come next but the two countries, which are traditionally more impacted by wildfires, have had different experiences. Nearly 19,000 hectares had been burnt in France by 20 May, some 2.75 times the average of the past 20 years, while in Spain, this year's tally is so far lower than the 20-year average (8,195 hectares vs 13,059). Last year's cumulative burnt areas reached 383,317 hectares, above the average of the past 20 years. The most devastating years of the past decade were in 2017 and 2022 when nearly one million and just under 800,000 hectares were razed to the ground respectively. The spread of wildfires in Europe has been blamed on climate change which has led to warmer temperatures, prolonged drought and unpredictable weather patterns, as well as on demographic changes that have led to the desertification of rural areas in favour of urban centres, meaning the land is no longer managed in the same way. The fire season has, for instance, been extended beyond the traditional summer months and now spans from early May to late October while more and more countries in eastern and northern Europe are also starting to experience such fires. According to the European and Global Drought Observatories of the Commission's Joint Research Centre, there are warning drought conditions in the Baltic Sea region, northern France, Benelux, several regions of Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, western Romania, Bulgaria, and some regions of Greece. Most of Spain, Italy, and southern France, however, either don't have drought conditions or are in recovery. The European Commission has found that Chinese online retail giant Shein, known for its rock-bottom prices, engages in illegal commercial practices under EU law, after an investigation caried out with national consumer protection authorities. Investigators concluded that Shein lures customers with fake discounts, either by displaying false original prices or by using countdown timers that reset continuously to foster an artificial sense of urgency. The Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network - a body made up of the national authorities - also flagged serious gaps in transparency: inaccurate return policies, misleading sustainability claims, and confusing product labelling. Authorities also criticised the platform for making it difficult for users to contact customer service - limiting their ability to raise questions or complaints. Shein has been given one month to respond and outline how it plans to fix the issues. If the Commission sees no progress, the company could face fines. National authorities from Belgium, France, Ireland and the Netherlands are overseeing enforcement. 'All companies selling products in the EU must play by our rules,' said Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Justice and Consumer Protection. 'Today's action sends a clear message: we will not shy away from holding e-commerce platforms to account, regardless of where they are based.' He added: 'EU consumer protection laws are not optional – they must be applied in all cases.' This isn't the first time a Chinese platform has come under scrutiny. In November, rival e-retailer Temu was also found in breach of EU consumer law. It used similarly problematic tactics and went a step further by "gamifying" the shopping experience with spin-the-wheel promotions and displaying fake product reviews. Alongside these consumer law probes, both Shein and Temu are under investigation for possible breaches of the Digital Services Act. The DSA probe focuses on algorithmic recommendation systems - how certain products are promoted to specific users - and the sale of illegal goods, such as items that fail to meet EU health and safety standards.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rape crisis charity drops promise to define ‘woman' after transgender row
A rape crisis charity embroiled in a transgender row has dropped a pledge to issue a definition of women, The Telegraph can reveal. Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) admitted it was no longer planning to publish a definition, despite previously promising to do so, following the recommendations of independent expert review. Vicky Ling was commissioned to investigate Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) after a damning tribunal ruling found it was operating an 'extreme' version of gender identity theory under the leadership of Mridul Wadhwa, a biological male who identifies as female. Her report found that the centre had failed to properly protect women-only spaces and had 'caused damage to some survivors'. Ms Ling called on RCS to devise and publish a 'shared definition of woman/female' to be adopted across its network. The charity, which receives more than £3 million in annual funding from the SNP government, had previously accepted Ms Ling's recommendations in full. Sandy Brindley, its chief executive, claimed last September that work on a definition had been going on for nearly a year. However, the charity is now understood to be focusing on ensuring 'dedicated spaces' in rape crisis centres are provided for 'women born as women', rather than drawing up a definition. It said that, because the Supreme Court was considering a case that concerned the legal definition of women, it would not be 'helpful or appropriate' to issue its own wording. However, Tess White, the Scottish Tory shadow equalities minister, claimed the 'shocking U-turn' showed RCS 'haven't learned any lessons' from a series of scandals. 'Once again women have been badly let down by an organisation that is supposed to support them, but which is failing to show any common sense,' she said. 'It is unacceptable that RCS still cannot give women reassurance that they will be able to access single-sex spaces at these centres. 'Ultimately, the SNP's reckless self-ID policies are to blame for this betrayal of women and girls.' Activists such as Wadhwa, who left ERCC last year after Ms Ling's report was published, insist that any biological male who identifies as female is a woman. Opponents of this view insist that sex is immutable and that biological men have no place accessing services such as rape crisis centres which are intended for women. A clear definition of women was intended to ensure survivors would understand whether they could expect to encounter biological men when accessing services described as female-only. Senior insiders at RCS said that while new rules were being consulted upon, it would be made explicitly clear to survivors which 'spaces' might include trans women. The Ling Review was ordered last year after it was found that Roz Adams, a former worker at ERCC, had been hounded out of her job. Ms Adams had pushed for clarity about how to respond to women who asked about the sex of a female staff member who 'came out' as non-binary and adopted a typically male name. Staff were instructed to simply insist there were no men working at the centre, despite Wadhwa, who came to view Ms Adams as a 'bigot and a transphobe' and orchestrated a 'heresy hunt' against her, being chief executive. Wadhwa had publicly claimed in 2021 that 'bigoted' rape survivors who might fear biological men should expect to be 'challenged on [their] prejudices' at ERCC. Ms Brindley, who had previously described Wadhwa as an 'amazing sister' and 'champion for women's rights', has refused calls from figures including JK Rowling to quit. The Sunday Post reported at the weekend that in an internal consultation document about new rules, RCS stated that a woman can be 'anyone who self-identifies as a woman'. An RCS spokesman said it was in discussions with survivors to ensure 'any terminology used to describe different spaces within rape crisis services is accessible and easily understandable'. They added: 'The independent review of ERCC published last September identified that although the national service standards for rape crisis centres require centres to provide women-only spaces, they do not define what this means. 'The Supreme Court is currently considering the legal definition of women, and we don't feel it would be helpful or appropriate to pre-empt this by issuing a definition of women. 'Irrespective of the outcome of this case, however, it is clear that rape crisis centres can ensure survivors of sexual violence are able to access dedicated spaces for women born women if this is what they need. 'We are currently consulting with our independent member centres on the provision of protected spaces within centres, to ensure survivors are able access the services they need.'
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rape crisis charity drops promise to define ‘woman' after transgender row
A rape crisis charity embroiled in a transgender row has dropped a pledge to issue a definition of women, The Telegraph can reveal. Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) admitted it was no longer planning to publish a definition, despite previously promising to do so, following the recommendations of independent expert review. Vicky Ling was commissioned to investigate Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) after a damning tribunal ruling found it was operating an 'extreme' version of gender identity theory under the leadership of Mridul Wadhwa, a biological male who identifies as female. Her report found that the centre had failed to properly protect women-only spaces and had 'caused damage to some survivors'. Ms Ling called on RCS to devise and publish a 'shared definition of woman/female' to be adopted across its network. The charity, which receives more than £3 million in annual funding from the SNP government, had previously accepted Ms Ling's recommendations in full. Sandy Brindley, its chief executive, claimed last September that work on a definition had been going on for nearly a year. However, the charity is now understood to be focusing on ensuring 'dedicated spaces' in rape crisis centres are provided for 'women born as women', rather than drawing up a definition. It said that, because the Supreme Court was considering a case that concerned the legal definition of women, it would not be 'helpful or appropriate' to issue its own wording. However, Tess White, the Scottish Tory shadow equalities minister, claimed the 'shocking U-turn' showed RCS 'haven't learned any lessons' from a series of scandals. 'Once again women have been badly let down by an organisation that is supposed to support them, but which is failing to show any common sense,' she said. 'It is unacceptable that RCS still cannot give women reassurance that they will be able to access single-sex spaces at these centres. 'Ultimately, the SNP's reckless self-ID policies are to blame for this betrayal of women and girls.' Activists such as Wadhwa, who left ERCC last year after Ms Ling's report was published, insist that any biological male who identifies as female is a woman. Opponents of this view insist that sex is immutable and that biological men have no place accessing services such as rape crisis centres which are intended for women. A clear definition of women was intended to ensure survivors would understand whether they could expect to encounter biological men when accessing services described as female-only. Senior insiders at RCS said that while new rules were being consulted upon, it would be made explicitly clear to survivors which 'spaces' might include trans women. The Ling Review was ordered last year after it was found that Roz Adams, a former worker at ERCC, had been hounded out of her job. Ms Adams had pushed for clarity about how to respond to women who asked about the sex of a female staff member who 'came out' as non-binary and adopted a typically male name. Staff were instructed to simply insist there were no men working at the centre, despite Wadhwa, who came to view Ms Adams as a 'bigot and a transphobe' and orchestrated a 'heresy hunt' against her, being chief executive. Wadhwa had publicly claimed in 2021 that 'bigoted' rape survivors who might fear biological men should expect to be 'challenged on [their] prejudices' at ERCC. Ms Brindley, who had previously described Wadhwa as an 'amazing sister' and 'champion for women's rights', has refused calls from figures including JK Rowling to quit. The Sunday Post reported at the weekend that in an internal consultation document about new rules, RCS stated that a woman can be 'anyone who self-identifies as a woman'. An RCS spokesman said it was in discussions with survivors to ensure 'any terminology used to describe different spaces within rape crisis services is accessible and easily understandable'. They added: 'The independent review of ERCC published last September identified that although the national service standards for rape crisis centres require centres to provide women-only spaces, they do not define what this means. 'The Supreme Court is currently considering the legal definition of women, and we don't feel it would be helpful or appropriate to pre-empt this by issuing a definition of women. 'Irrespective of the outcome of this case, however, it is clear that rape crisis centres can ensure survivors of sexual violence are able to access dedicated spaces for women born women if this is what they need. 'We are currently consulting with our independent member centres on the provision of protected spaces within centres, to ensure survivors are able access the services they need.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Rape crisis charity drops promise to define ‘woman' after transgender row
A rape crisis charity embroiled in a transgender row has dropped a pledge to issue a definition of women, The Telegraph can reveal. Vicky Ling was commissioned to investigate Her report found that the centre had failed to properly protect Ms Ling called on RCS to devise and publish a 'shared definition of woman/female' to be adopted across its network. The charity, which receives more than £3 million in annual funding from the However, the charity is now understood to be focusing on ensuring 'dedicated spaces' in rape crisis centres are provided for 'women born as women', rather than drawing up a definition. It said that, because the Supreme Court was considering a case that concerned the 'Betrayal of women and girls' However, 'Once again women have been badly let down by an organisation that is supposed to support them, but which is failing to show any common sense,' she said. 'It is unacceptable that RCS still cannot give women reassurance that they will be able to access single-sex spaces at these centres. 'Ultimately, the SNP's reckless self-ID policies are to blame for this betrayal of women and girls.' Activists such as Wadhwa, who left ERCC last year after Ms Ling's report was published, insist that any Opponents of this view insist that A clear definition of women was intended to ensure survivors would understand whether they could expect to encounter biological men when accessing services described as female-only. Senior insiders at RCS said that while new rules were being consulted upon, it would be made explicitly clear to survivors which 'spaces' might include trans women. The Ling Review was ordered last year after it was found that 'Heresy hunt' Staff were instructed to simply insist there were no men working at the centre, despite Wadhwa, who came to view Ms Adams as a 'bigot and a transphobe' and orchestrated a 'heresy hunt' against her, being chief executive. Wadhwa had publicly claimed in 2021 that 'bigoted' rape survivors who might fear biological men should expect to be 'challenged on [their] prejudices' at ERCC. Ms Brindley, who had previously described Wadhwa as an 'amazing sister' and 'champion for women's rights', has refused calls from figures including An RCS spokesman said it was in discussions with survivors to ensure 'any terminology used to describe different spaces within rape crisis services is accessible and easily understandable'. They added: 'The independent review of ERCC published last September identified that although the national service standards for rape crisis centres require centres to provide women-only spaces, they do not define what this means. 'The Supreme Court is currently considering the legal definition of women, and we don't feel it would be helpful or appropriate to pre-empt this by issuing a definition of women. 'Irrespective of the outcome of this case, however, it is clear that rape crisis centres can ensure survivors of sexual violence are able to access dedicated spaces for women born women if this is what they need. 'We are currently consulting with our independent member centres on the provision of protected spaces within centres, to ensure survivors are able access the services they need.'
