GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. refugee agency is warning that asylum is “under attack” at Europe’s borders, calling on countries to investigate and stop illegal “pushbacks” and expulsions. UNHCR said new arrivals to the European Union continue to decline each year, with 95,000 arrivals by sea and land last year — a drop of 23% compared to 2019 and by one-third compared to 2018 when over 141,000 arrived. UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Gillian Triggs said the situation should be manageable, expressing regret that the issue of asylum remains “politicized and divisive” despite the declining numbers. read more

At planting, each young onion plant is placed by hand into fields. There can be as many as 80,000 onion plants per acre in a field. Tomatoes and peppers, however, generally have fewer than 10,000 plants per acre, Boyhan said.About 20 Vidalia onion varieties are grown in Georgia. They are known as short-day onions. They grow to maturity depending on the amount of sunlight in a day. Vidalias generally will start to bulb when days are about 11 hours long.ChilledWeather, so far, has been kind to Georgia peaches, too.Nature’s on track to give Georgia’s peach trees enough chill hours (hours below 45 degrees), said Kathy Taylor, a UGA Extension horticulturist. Depending on the variety, Georgia peach trees need between 400 and 1,100 chill hours to properly bloom in spring and produce fruits at the first of summer.Peaches in south Georgia have had 325 to 350 chill hours. That’s right on track, Taylor said, for most varieties there to get the 750 or so chill hours they need by Feb. 15, the usual end to the chill hour count.Middle Georgia peaches have had 550 to 575 chill hours. Again, that’s good news and adding up nicely. Most varieties there need around 1,100 hours before Feb. 15.Too many warm snaps like the days Georgia had over the holidays could reverse the beneficial effects of the chill hours. But Taylor doesn’t believe it will be a problem this year.Peach farmers are happy to get cold weather now. But freezing weather in late-March and in April has caused serious problems in the past. By Brad HaireUniversity of GeorgiaOne crop is soaking up the daylight and growing in fields. Another is quietly staying dormant in orchards. If all goes well, there should be plenty of Vidalia onions and Georgia peaches come harvesttime.Vidalia onion farmers started placing their plants into fields around Thanksgiving. Most were finished before the first of the year, said George Boyhan, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service.Cool and dry”This year’s onion crop is in good shape right now,” Boyhan said. “Diseases are light and the weather so far has generally been good to them.”Boyhan figures growers planted about 14,000 acres this year, about 1,000 acres more than last year.Onions prefer cool, dry weather. But cold snaps in February and March can damage maturing onions.The onion harvest begins around April and runs through June. Not all onions are sent directly to stores. Some are stored. Most stored Vidalias are sold by September, though. Sweet onions from other parts of the world usually hit the U.S. markets in October.However, you might find some young, fresh Vidalia onions in stores right now.Vidalia onions that were planted in August are now being sold as salad onions in some grocery stores. These onions aren’t fully matured and are much like large green onions, or scallions. read more

Currently, the Honduran Armed Forces have about 12,500 members in three branches, namely: Army, Navy and Air Force, although the measure has raised controversy, since the budget has 14,000 elements on payroll, and accounted for 9,500. “The Armed Forces’ Military Police for Law and Order [PMOP, for its Spanish name] is hereby created (…); the current crisis in the country highlights the need for the creation of a military unit specialized in countering crime,” according to Section 1 of the law approved by deputies in the third and last debate. However, budgetary concerns in the country have led the Congress to reduce the future military police to one fifth of the original plan. It will now have only a 1,000 members, instead of the 5,000 originally requested. On December 11, 2011, Porfirio Lobo’s government declared an “emergency in public security” for 90 days, which has been extended, in order to legalize the support from the military to the police. The Honduran Congress approved the creation of a military police unit on August 22, as part of a series of measures to counter crime, which led the country to the highest homicide rate in the world, official legislative sources reported. The decision was made after proving that police stations were swamped by organized crime, drug trafficking, contract killing, vehicle theft, and extortion, among other crimes. In June 2013, Congress also approved the creation of the Intelligence Troop and Special Response Team (TIGRE), a specialized rapid deployment police force with 200 members. By Dialogo August 26, 2013 read more

SOUTHWEST HARBOR — The weather might be stuck between winter and spring but the basketball action heats up on Mount Desert Island this weekend with the 16th Annual Great Harbor Shootout (GHSO). Once again the event has a record number of entrants, with 70 teams slated to pound the boards at Pemetic, Trenton, and Mount Desert Elementary schools, MDI High School and the MDI YMCA from March 20 through 22. Though initially intended to generate money for the non-profit Harbor House, it has grown into something much larger than that. This year’s sponsors include: Doug Gott & Sons, W.S. Emerson, EBS, Geoffrey Knowles, Wight’s Sporting Goods, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Cadillac Mountain Sports, Carroll Drug Store, The Ciomei Family, Coston & McIsaac CPA, County Physical Therapy, Dr. Walter Dickes, Elmer’s Discount, H.G. Reed Inc, Machias Savings Bank, Moosabec Marine, Presque Isle Bonanza, Skowhegan Driving School, Snow Bears AAU Girls’ Basketball, South Street Market. This is placeholder textThis is placeholder textThe GHSO organizers would also like to thank the 2009 Community Builders Council who support the Great Harbor House Shootout and many other programs and events that Harbor House does throughout the year: EWA Information & Infrastructure Technologies, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Stephen Stanley Electrical Contractor, Snow2 CPA’s, L.S. Robinson Insurance, Camden National/Union Trust, Carroll Drug Store, Claremont Hotel, Granite Payment Alliance, JB Drilling, Morrison Chevrolet, Red Sky & Sierra Communications. For more details pick up a copy of The Mount Desert Islander. Latest Posts Latest posts by admin (see all) State budget vs. job creation – January 22, 2015 House fire in Winter Harbor – October 27, 2014 Hancock County Court News Nov. 3 thorugh Dec. 11 – January 22, 2015 Bio admin read more

USC women’s soccer welcomes Texas A&M to McAlister Field on Friday for the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The No. 7 Women of Troy (15-4-1) grabbed an opening-round victory last week taking down Eastern Washington 3-1, and they are looking to keep their championship hopes alive with a win over the Aggies.Julia Erickson | Daily TrojanAll on the line · Senior forward Morgan Andrews and the Women of Troy are hosting their second game of the NCAA tournament on Friday when they face off against Texas A&M in the second round.After going on a 12-1 midseason tear, USC stumbled going into the tournament, going 1-1-1 in its final three games and losing to UCLA in the regular season finale. But head coach Keidane McAlpine was impressed with his team’s rebound against the Eagles.“We gained some confidence as a team in what we were doing,” McAlpine said. “Then, slowly but surely, you get in rhythm and the game starts to take shape for you.”Now, the Women of Troy’s focus shifts to Texas A&M. The Aggies won’t blow anyone away with their 12-8-1 record, but they advanced further than USC in last year’s tournament, when they lost to Florida State in the Elite Eight. Needless to say, McAlpine wasn’t about to underestimate his team’s opponent.“I think they’re a team that’s hungry. They feel like their season was taken from them a bit with injuries,” McAlpine said. “They’ll come out here with a very experienced and determined performance.”Going up against a veteran squad in the postseason is always a challenge regardless of the team’s record, so McAlpine was happy to make the Aggies come to Los Angeles instead of flying his side out to College Station.“They get to stay in class, which is always good for them,” he said. “It calms their nerves a bit in terms of their everyday load, so that’s massive for us.”McAlpine listed more advantages that could give the Women of Troy a crucial edge on their home field, from the impact of the fans to players being able to sleep in their own beds.“They just accentuate the performance,” McAlpine said. “They make it a little bit easier to go out and perform well.”Of course, continuing to advance in the tournament also gives USC seniors extra opportunities to run onto the McAlister Field pitch. McAlpine said that motivation drives both veterans and younger players on the squad.“I think that’s always a special thing for [the seniors],” McAlpine said. “You play your last game, and then all of a sudden you get another one. We’re going to try to get them as many as we possibly can.”The Women of Troy kick off against the Aggies at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The game will be broadcast from McAlister Field on the Pac-12 Network. read more

Oisin: Home and getting betterDONEGAL teenager Oisin Merritt has sent a big ‘thank you’ to people in the county for their incredible support.The 19-year-old talented footballer, who plays with Finn Harps reserves, had been in a coma in hospital in Mallorca after a fall in the resort of Santa Ponsa in June.But he has made a miraculous recovery and is bow back in Letterkenny and undergoing rehabilitation. The young Stranorlar mans said he was “absolutely overwhelmed by the support that everyone has given me.”He went on: “I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for your thoughts, prayers and fundraisers!“They really helped me pull through. I am just about to start my long road of rehabilitation but delighted to be back in Ireland. Thanks so much.”His proud sister Tasha took this pic – making sure a football was included!  BRAVE OISIN SAYS BIG ‘THANK YOU’ FOR YOUR SUPPORT was last modified: August 4th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:Ballybofeydonegalfallfinn harpsMallorcaOisin Merritt read more

The opposition Hindu nationalist BJP party has called its predicted landslide win in the Indian election a “people’s victory”. Related Items