Latest news with #EDIP
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
EU's Desperate Bid To Arm Ukraine Against Russia; Allows Allies To Use Covid Funds For Military Aid
In a controversial shift, the EU has authorized unused COVID-19 recovery funds to be redirected toward defense and Ukraine aid. The European Commission relaxed rules to allow member states to invest leftover pandemic funds—originally earmarked for green and economic recovery—into defense programs like EDIP, which supports Ukraine and joint weapons procurement. The move has sparked political backlash, signaling a strategic pivot from public health to military priorities. Read More
United News of India
2 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
EU redirects 335 billion Euros of Covid relief money to defence projects
Brussels, June 5 (UNI) The European Union will redirect 335 billion euros from the Resilience and Recovery Facility (RRF), which was established for COVID relief, to defence projects, after receiving permission from the European Commission. According to Politico, the Commission, while declaring the amount to be eligible for defence expenditure, said that countries have until August 2026 to meet the certain agreed targets in order to receive the funds. On Wednesday, the body told countries that defence projects under common EU plans such as the satellite communication programmes were now eligible. The European Commission has called for lawmakers and governments to include in the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) regulations - a provision to make it possible for countries to use the recovery money - to make contributions to the defence fund. 'These alternatives could help the Recovery Facility to deliver additional important benefits from common European priorities, including in the areas of security and defense,' Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters, listing a large number of ways in which countries can redesign their plans. This move signals a significant shift in Europe's priorities since the pandemic, as the Russia-Ukraine war has both greatly impacted the European economy, as well as led to most of the EU stand with Ukraine and become increasingly hostile towards Russia, necessitating its need for greater defence spending to ensure it security, as well as the advancement of its weapons and arms industry. The idea behind the initiative is, that if a country diverts RRF-backed money to make contributions to the EU's target plans, then it can easily secure the required funds. When asked how defense investments can contribute to the RRF's green and digital goals, Dombrovskis said the current rules provide no specific treatment for defence-related measures. However, there is no clear consensus on the issue, as several countries which include Spain and Italy - the top beneficiaries of the funds - have asked for the postponement of the 2026 deadline. Additionally, the EU executive has also rejected the idea, meaning that a deal has to be reached between countries and then ratified by 20 parliaments, a process that would not only add considerable time to the initiative, but could outright stall it for a very long and uncertain time. UNI ANV PRS
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
EU allows members to spend Covid cash on arming Kiev
The European Commission has allowed member states to redirect funds they have struggled to claim from the joint pandemic recovery pot for national development projects into bloc-wide security and defense initiatives – with significantly less oversight and fewer bureaucratic hurdles. The EU established the €650 billion ($740 billion) Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in 2021 to support green energy and growth-oriented projects in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, to receive the funds, member states must prove their projects meet specific benchmarks. Roughly half of the fund remains unspent, with the deadline to 'provide evidence' looming in September 2026, according to the Commission's communique on Wednesday. In order to 'easily secure' their share of the remaining funds before time runs out, countries can now instead channel RRF-backed money into various security programs, such as the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) or satellite communications initiatives, Politico reported on Wednesday. 'These alternatives could help the Recovery Facility to deliver additional important benefits from common European priorities, including in the areas of security and defense,' EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said. The Commission's memo claimed that 'specific projects would subsequently be selected and supported under EDIP, for the benefit of the Member State concerned, with implementation occurring over a longer time horizon.' Kiev is specifically listed as one of the main beneficiaries of EDIP, an initiative designed to subsidize the bloc's defense industry and enhance 'joint procurement with and for Ukraine,' according to an EC factsheet. Originally a €1.5 billion program, EDIP also aims to 'use windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.' Brussels has spent almost €50 billion supporting Kiev through various EU programs since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, in addition to billions contributed by individual member states, according to data from Germany's Kiel Institute. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a plan to mobilize up to €800 billion ($875 billion) in debt and tax incentives for the military-industrial complex to 'rearm' the bloc against the perceived 'Russian threat.' Last month, the Council of the European Union endorsed a €150 billion ($170 billion) militarization plan, dubbed SAFE (Security Action for Europe), to raise funds for military purposes without direct approval from the European Parliament. Russia has repeatedly dismissed claims it plans to attack Western Europe as 'nonsense,' accusing the West of using scare tactics to justify diverting public funds toward military spending. Moscow has warned that foreign involvement—including arms deliveries—will obstruct peace efforts and ultimately fail to stop Russia from achieving its military objectives. The Kremlin has also criticized the EU's militarization drive, warning it risks triggering a broader conflict in Europe.
Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Girls' Diets May Affect the Timing of Their First Period
Girls who eat a healthy diet as children, regardless of their body size, may start their first menstrual period at an older age compared to those who eat less healthy foods, according to a new Based on the results, the types of food eaten by girls during childhood and adolescence, and whether they cause inflammation, may influence the timing of periods, rather than their height and body mass index. The study from University of Washington is the first to examine the connection between specific diets and the age at which periods begin. Recent research has shown that Inflammation a Key Factor Researchers evaluated the diet of over 7,500 girls aged 9 to 14 through questionnaires and analyzed if it was healthy or prone to cause inflammation. The 20 percent of girls with the healthiest diets, as measured by having the highest scores on the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), were 8 percent less likely to start their first period within the next month compared to those with the lowest scores. Conversely, the 20 percent of participants with diets most likely to cause inflammation, as measured by having the highest score for Empirical Dietary Inflammation Pattern (EDIP), were 15 percent more likely to start menstruating in the next month compared to those with the least inflammatory diets. Related Stories 8/24/2016 8/16/2016 The AHEI assigns more points to healthier foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains, and fewer points to foods like red and processed meats and those containing trans fats and a lot of sodium. The EDIP scores diets based on their potential to cause inflammation. Foods linked to more inflammation include red and processed meat, meat from animal organs, refined grains, and high-energy drinks. Starting periods at an earlier age is with potentially higher risks later in life for conditions including diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. 'We observed that these two dietary patterns were associated with age at menarche, indicating that a healthier diet was linked to menstrual periods starting at an older age,' Holly Harris, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and study lead author, said in a What makes this study particularly significant is that these findings were independent of the girls' body mass index and height—factors previously linked to earlier menstruation. This suggests that food types and their inflammatory effects may play a more important role in menstruation timing than previously understood. Generally, eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, nuts, and legumes (polyunsaturated fatty acids), while limiting intake of red and processed meats, refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, and added salt, 'benefits everyone regardless of age,' Harris said. 'I think our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options, and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,' Harris stated, emphasizing that this age range may be an 'important period' for trying to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Researchers acknowledged study limitations, including the reliance on questionnaire data, which introduces the potential for inaccuracies. Consequently, the researchers were unable to directly account for the influence of body fat. They plan to further investigate how childhood and adolescent diets and body size might relate to the characteristics of menstrual cycles in adulthood. Helping Children Develop Healthy Eating Habits One of the most effective things parents can do is involve their daughters in the food process from 'start to finish,' Jennifer Pallian, a registered dietitian at Foodess, told The Epoch Times. 'This could mean helping plant a few veggies in the garden, choosing produce at the grocery store, or stirring ingredients in the kitchen,' she said. 'When children have a hand in growing or preparing food, they're often more excited to try it.' Pallian emphasized that children learn more from observation than instruction. 'Family meals where kids watch their parents and siblings enjoy a variety of healthy foods are incredibly influential,' she said. Other practical strategies include: Creating a healthy home environment by keeping nutritious foods visible and accessible Making food visually appealing with colorful presentations Establishing consistent meal routines Encouraging children's autonomy in food decisions while avoiding overly restrictive approaches Children are encouraged to serve themselves and be part of food decisions, allowing them to develop a healthy relationship with food, but parents should avoid overly controlling or restrictive approaches, according to Pallian. 'Those tend to backfire and lead to picky eating or power struggles.'
Al Arabiya
24-04-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
EU lawmakers seeks to push long-stalled defense plan
EU lawmakers on Thursday sought to speed up approval of a long-stalled 1.5-billion-euro plan to boost Europe's defense industry that has already been overtaken by a far larger package proposed by Brussels. The European Defense Industry Program (EDIP) has been held up since March last year by wrangling over what share of the weaponry funds should be produced in the European Union. A committee of lawmakers finally approved the European Parliament's position that 70 percent of components should come from inside the bloc. Legislators hope the vote will now push the EU's 27 member states to come up with their joint position before a final deal can be negotiated. Since the initiative was proposed in 2024, the EU has considerably ramped up its defense push as fears swirl over US commitment to the continent under President Donald Trump. Brussels last month proposed a 150-billion-euro ($171-billion) program of loans backed by the EU's central budget designed to help member states increase spending in the face of the threat from Russia. That plan is part of a bigger push involving loosening budget rules that the EU says could eventually add 800 billion euros to military budgets in the bloc.
