Efforts by Polish state-owned utility PGE to expand a brown coal mine near the Czech border is putting Poland at odds with Prague — normally a close ally on energy issues.

The Turów mine’s current license expires in April. PGE’s goal is to continue mining until 2044 and to expand the mining area to just 100 meters from the border.

The Czech and German towns just a few kilometers from the mine and the smokestacks of PGE’s 1.3-gigawatt power plant — Europe’s seventh-most polluting — are furious about the idea. A new 450MW unit is due to come online later this year at the plant which supplies about 8 percent of Poland’s electricity.

The government in the Czech region of Liberec argues the keeping the mine open and expanding it could deprive 30,000 Czechs of drinking water. It filed a complaint to the European Commission, seen by POLITICO, arguing that Polish authorities breached a host of EU rules on trans-boundary environmental impacts and failed to effectively engage with Czech stakeholders.

“The water crisis caused by decades of Turów mining activity is already happening. The prolongation of mining can make it significantly worse,” said Martin Půta, the governor of Liberec.

The Commission said it is assessing the complaint.

Angry neighbors

PGE argues it consulted the planned extension with Czech and German stakeholders “to a very large extent,” adding that the Czech side has known for 25 years that “mining operations will be conducted in the border area,” a company spokesperson wrote in an email.

Although PGE said it monitors groundwater and that there are generally no pollution problems, it did admit that drinking water in the border town of Uhelná “may be impacted.” It is working on an underground cutoff wall to “limit the impact of the opencast mine on this water intake,” a company spokesperson wrote.

But that’s not soothing worried Czechs.

“The mine is causing trouble already,” said Milan Starec, 37, a businessman who lives in Uhelná, lying right on the border with Poland. In some border towns, water levels in wells are already low, forcing people to take fewer showers, to do their laundry at friends’ houses and to pump water from a nearby creek, he said. “We shouldn’t be getting used to it. It should be stopped and solved.”

Půta, the Liberec governor, said PGE is playing “roulette with our water resources.”

Prague is watching Warsaw closely to ensure that “the Polish party has [taken] into consideration the Czechs’ conditions. If not, the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic will propose necessary steps for the protection of the environment of the Czech Republic,” said a spokesperson for the Czech environment ministry.

That’s bringing tensions to what is otherwise a close relationship. The two countries tend to see eye-to-eye on many energy issues — ranging from nuclear to compensation for shifting away from coal-fired power.

The convoluted shape of the border close to the mine means there are objections to the plan from Germany. The town of Zittau, just across the border on the German side, is also upset about how PGE has addressed cross-border pollution and noise from the mine and the power plant.

“In our opinion, this environmental impact assessment wasn’t made to fulfill laws, it was just made up,” said Zittau Mayor Thomas Zenker.

Zittau is in Saxony, a mining region which has committed — along with the rest of Germany — to phase out coal by 2038. It is also the twin city of Bogatynia, the Polish town closest to the mine where virtually everyone works for PGE.

That’s why Zenker is trying more diplomatic channels.

“We try to be honest, but not too harsh. Because the problems on our side are not comparable to the Czech side. So we try to support the Czech side without taking away from the Polish side every chance for development,” he said.

Collision course

Neither Czech threats nor German pleas are stopping PGE.

The Polish climate ministry is currently considering a request from PGE to extend Turów’s mining concession to 2026. Because of Czech concerns, the decision has been delayed until February 10 “with the aim to resolve all crucial issues, especially those involving water,” the ministry said in a statement.

Last week, the Polish regional environmental authority issued a decision on the environmental conditions for PGE to continue mining operations — clearing another hurdle for the utility to request the ministry for an extension of its mining permit until 2044.

NGOs argue that’s a dead end.

“Polish authorities are simply fudging the proceedings,”  said Kuba Gogolewski, an activist with a foundation called Development YES — Open-Pit Mines NO. He predicted that PGE will be forced to shut down the Turów mine as emissions prices rise and climate regulations bite.

PGE’s plans are raising questions about Poland’s climate policies. The country generates about 80 percent of its electricity from coal, and that is only projected to fall to 62 percent by 2030 and 32 percent by 2040 — which is why Poland is the only EU country to opt out of meeting a pledge to become carbon-neutral by 2050.

At the same time, Poland is set to receive the largest share — €2 billion — under a Just Transition Fund proposed by the European Commission as part of its Green Deal program. It is meant to help mining and industrial regions shift away from coal and other polluting industries.

“A state-owned company, rather than preparing a phaseout plan and transformation, is steamrolling the expansion of an open-pit coal mine,” said Martin Hojsik, a Slovak MEP from Renew Europe, adding that “goes directly against” statements from Poland saying it needs Just Transition Fund money to decarbonize.

That contradiction is not lost on the Commission. “All EU member states will have to face a number of challenges in the transition towards a climate-neutral economy, and therefore the Just Transition Fund is open to all of them. This being said, we will not give a blank check,” a Commission spokesperson said.

This article has been updated with comments from an NGO and the European Commission.

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The 74-year-old says the club made a wise decision by giving the former Germany assistant the job on a permanent basis

Bayern Munich have made “a wise decision” by appointing Hansi Flick on a permanent basis, says former manager Jupp Heynckes.

It was announced on Friday that Flick had signed a contract to be Bayern’s head coach until 2023, having taken over from Niko Kovac on an interim basis in November.

Flick, Joachim Low’s former Germany assistant, has rejuvenated the struggling Bundesliga champions. They have won 18 of 21 matches since he took over and returned to the top of the table, opening a four-point advantage over second-placed Borussia Dortmund before the coronavirus pandemic brought action to a halt.

Video shows a bear breaking into a home in Truckee while two teen boys were inside. https://t.co/rudTpjreAv

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) August 20, 2019

TRUCKEE, CA — Three was a crowd when an intruder recently tried to join a teenager and his friend for a midnight snack at a Tahoe-area home. The teenager called 911 early Saturday morning to report he and his friend were trying to hold their bedroom door closed while a bear was on the other side, repeatedly trying to open it.

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That’s according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, which sent Deputy Prero to investigate the report of a bear inside an occupied house.

Prero, by communicating with the homeowner about the layout of the home, deciphered that the bear entered through an unlocked garage door. The door then closed behind the bear, trapping it inside the home.

Apparently in search of a midnight snack, the bear rummaged through the refrigerator and even took a seat on the family’s couch, according to video shared by the homeowner. Ultimately, the bear decided it wanted to hang out with the two boys who were in a downstairs bedroom.

Having had some experience with an uptick in bear-related calls lately in the Tahoe area, Deputy Prero decided to give the bear an avenue of exit by opening the front door.

Her plan worked. The bear soon forgot about whatever snack the boys may have been eating, instead heading back outside to the great outdoors.

It lingered for a bit in the driveway until Prero deployed a bear round from her shotgun, effectively shooing the wild animal away from the property.

After what seemed to be an unbearable wait, “Hayes and Bobby happily burst out of the downstairs bedroom and were quick to hug Deputy Prero and ask for a photo,” the sheriff’s office said.

Man’s best defense against bears, the sheriff’s office said, is to lock all doors to their residence and cars. Never leave food inside cars — especially honey — because bears have a “very keen sense of smell and will find it, even behind locked car doors.”

GEORGIA — Airbnb has launched its Open Homes Program to help displaced residents and relief workers deployed to the southeast region impacted by Hurricane Dorian. The program recruits hosts who are willing and able to provide free housing to displaced residents, and disaster relief workers in the activation area.

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The Open Homes Program for Hurricane Dorian was first activated on Aug. 28 to assist those in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new activation area on the U.S. mainland includes the majority of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Alabama. The Open Homes Program is currently available through Sept. 16.

This activation for Hurricane Dorian is one of Airbnb’s largest ever activation for a natural disaster.

“Airbnb’s Open Homes Program continues to be activated for those affected by Hurricane Dorian across the southeast U.S. region,” Kellie Bentz, Airbnb’s Head of Global Disaster Response and Relief said in a press release. “Through the program, those in need of temporary accommodations can connect with Open Homes hosts in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama free of charge. We encourage hosts to open up their homes, and those who need housing to take advantage of the program.”

This concept began organically in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and has since grown into a global disaster response initiative that makes it easy for Airbnb hosts to provide space for people in need when disasters strike.

As Hurricane Dorian made landfall Sunday morning in the Bahamas as a devastating category 5 storm packing 185 mph winds, forecasters said it threatens to cause major damage to several coastal Georgia counties. Officials are urging residents in the eastern part of the state to prepare their property for hurricane winds, and get their families ready if evacuations are ordered.

Dorian’s current path shows that it could reach Georgia’s coast around 8 a.m. Wednesday as a major hurricane with wind speeds over 110 miles per hour. Georgia became more of a focus for officials as Dorian appeared to shift its course northward, away from Florida, and now threatens the Carolinas and Georgia with heavy rains that could produce life-threatening flash flooding starting on Labor Day.

Ahead of the storm’s arrival, the Atlanta Motor Speedway is opening its camping facilities to evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Dorian. The Speedway, which is equipped to handle thousands of campers during its annual NASCAR weekend, will provide camping space free of charge for dry RV and tent campers in its Legends Campground. A limited number of camping spaces with water, power and sewer are also available for a nominal fee of $20 per night in the Premier Campground. Located adjacent to the campgrounds, AMS will also open The Rinnai Shower Station camper bath house, allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities during their stay.

For accommodations in Georgia, visit the Official Georgia Tourism and Travel website.

Evacuees and their pets are welcome in Georgia’s State Parks, including horses at parks with equestrian facilities. Check GaStateParks.org for hurricane policies and status updates.

#AlertePollutionRivières ou sols contaminés, déchets industriels abandonnés… Vous vivez à proximité d’un site pollué ? Des règles claires et transparentes pour une mise en œuvre rapide de l’Accord de Paris ➕ de solidarité avec les pays les plus vulnérables pic.twitter.com/NTLCuTKV2J — François de Rugy (@FdeRugy) 15 décembre 2018

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A l’occasion des 100 ans du célèbre photographe Henri Cartier-Bresson, le Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris présente du 19 juin au 13 septembre une exposition intitulée L’Imaginaire D’Après Nature.

Trente ans après, Henri Cartier-Bresson nous redonne un grand déclic pour ses images. Ouverte ce vendredi, l’exposition L’Imaginaire D’Après Nature, semblable à celle organisée de 1975 à 1980 par le photographe décédé il y 5 ans, est composée de 70 tirages au format exceptionnel! Ces œuvres en 70 × 90 cm sont accrochées sans encadrement et écran de verre malgré un renforcement des tirages par une plaque de métal fixée au mûr.

Cette présentation originale permet une vision plus large des œuvres. Jusqu’à laisser apparaître sur certains clichés le bord du film: preuve que le photographe ne recadrait jamais ses photographies. C’est en regardant les oeuvres de l’artiste que l’on retrouve de grandes icônes comme Matisse et le général De Gaulle ou encore des clichés rarement vus de la Résistance. Toutes ces œuvres ont été offertes par l’artiste en remerciement des accroches faites par le Musée D’Art Moderne sur lui en 1982.

Cette exposition est très heureusement complétée par un documentaire inspiré de l’exposition de 1975 et d’un film sur le fameux photographe.

Parallèlement à cette exposition qui relate des œuvres majeures de l’artiste, la Maison de la Photographie à Paris ouvre ses portes, jusqu’au 30 août, afin de présenter le travail du photographe de 1929 à 1978 sur deux de ses séries: Paris et Des Européens. De belles images qui illumineront vos vacances ou, à défaut, votre été.

Jeudi 18 juin 2009

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Le superviseur bancaire français a infligé un blâme assorti d’une sanction de 50 millions d’euros à La Banque postale pour des manquements dans son dispositif de lutte contre le financement du terrorisme, dans une décision publiée (document PDF) lundi 24 décembre. “Ces sanctions répriment une carence grave du dispositif de détection”, a souligné l’Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR). La Banque postale a indiqué de son côté avoir décidé d’engager un recours devant le Conseil d’Etat contre cette sanction.Les faits reprochés par l’ACPR concernent le fonctionnement des mandats cash nationaux, qui permettent de transférer très rapidement des fonds à un tiers, et le gel des avoirs, qui oblige un établissement à bloquer les actifs de toute personne ou société sanctionnée par les autorités. L’ACPR reproche à La Banque Postale de ne pas s’être “dotée d’un dispositif lui permettant de détecter, avant leur exécution, les opérations de mandat cash nationaux (MCN) au bénéfice de personnes faisant l’objet d’une mesure européenne ou nationale de gel des avoirs.” La Banque postale “a, entre le 1er décembre 2009 et le 13 mars 2017, exécuté au moins 75 opérations de MCN pour le compte de 10 clients dont les éléments d’identité (nom, prénom et date de naissance) correspondent à ceux de personnes qui faisaient l’objet, à la date des opérations, d’une mesure de gel, dans 9 cas sur 10 en raison d’activités terroristes”, détaille l’autorité de contrôle dans sa décision.”Seulement quelques dizaines de mandats” concernésCe service de mandat cash, disponible pour tout particulier, a représenté en 2016 un total de 5,5 millions d’opérations pour un montant d’environ 1,3 milliard d’euros. La Banque postale rappelle dans un communiqué avoir pour “caractéristique d’être le seul établissement bancaire du territoire dont les services sont accessibles à tous, clients ou non.” “Les mandats suspectés par l’ACPR représentent ainsi 0,00027% du montant total des mandats nationaux sur la période étudiée, soit seulement quelques dizaines de mandats pour un montant global de quelques milliers d’euros”, se défend l’établissement.“En outre, aucun des faits reprochés n’est en soi constitutif d’une opération de blanchiment ou de financement du terrorisme. Tous les contrôles effectués ont permis de mettre en évidence l’absence de telles opérations”, garantit La Banque Postale.L’an dernier, l’ACPR avait signalé à la justice ces mêmes dysfonctionnements qui avaient conduit à l’ouverture d’une enquête par le parquet de Paris, confiée en septembre 2017 à la brigade financière.

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RFI “regrette” cette décision. La correspondante de Radio France Internationale (RFI) en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) a été privée d’accréditation pour la couverture de la suite du processus électoral, a indiqué, mercredi 2 janvier, le porte-parole du pouvoir, Lambert Mende.Ce retrait intervient entre l’élection présidentielle de dimanche et la proclamation des résultats prévue le 6 janvier au plus tard. Déjà, depuis lundi, la fréquence de RFI a été suspendue dans la capitale, Kinshasa, alors que la radio couvre abondamment les élections en RDC, où elle est très écoutée. Mercredi, RFI indique que la “quasi-totalité de ses émetteurs de RDC” est concernée.Lambert Mende a reproché à RFI “de proclamer les résultats, les tendances, alors qu’il n’y a que le président de la Céni [Commission électorale nationale indépendante] qui peut proclamer les résultats et les tendances”. “Des faux résultats d’ailleurs pour préparer les contestations stériles”, avait-il ajouté.RFI demande l’annulation de cette décision“RFI regrette le retrait de l’accréditation de sa correspondante à Kinshasa, Florence Morice, qui n’a exercé que son travail de journaliste professionnelle”, écrit en réaction la radio sur son site. La station demande “l’annulation de cette mesure de retrait d’accréditation et le rétablissement de sa diffusion”. Les autorités congolaises vont examiner ce recours, a assuré Lambert Mende.La radio rappelle également “qu’elle respecte et a respecté sur ses antennes les textes en vigueur et n’a donné aucun résultat des scrutins de dimanche”. “Pour sa part, RFI ne diffusera que les résultats proclamés par la Céni, conformément à la réglementation”, complète-t-elle.Click Here: Cheap Chiefs Rugby Jersey 2019

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has been linked with the Nerazzurri at regular intervals throughout his career, and a deal may yet be put in place

Lionel Messi is not a “forbidden dream” for Inter and the Serie A giants will rekindle their interest in the Argentine if no contract extension is agreed at Barcelona, claims Massimo Moratti.

The former Nerazzurri president did his best to put a stunning deal in place for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner during his time at San Siro.

Messi left the door ajar for a move to be made, with the South American talking up his admiration for the Italian outfit. That offered Inter hope, but prising an all-time great away from Camp Nou was never going to be easy.

Jean-Claude Juncker is off for a very long lunch break.

He capped his five-year term as Commission president on Friday with an emotional final news conference, at which he declined to offer any public advice to his successor, Ursula von der Leyen, but said: “She needs to take care of Europe.”

Juncker, a former 19-year prime minister of Luxembourg, retires after one of the longest and most storied careers in EU politics, the last five as the political chief of the Commission’s 32,000-strong civil service.

“I am not the man of farewells,” Juncker said in his opening remarks to a pressroom packed with reporters and staff, who filled all seats and lined the walls. “I want to tell you I am leaving the presidency of the Commission with elements of satisfaction and with several regrets.”

Ahead of his final workday in office, Juncker authored POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook newsletter, where he listed some of those regrets, including failing to achieve the reunification of Cyprus, a recent decision by the European Council not to open membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania, and his inability to achieve a new partnership agreement with Switzerland.

The outgoing Commission president was his classic Europhile self, declaring to journalists: “I have often said that the euro and I are the only survivors of the Maastricht Treaty” — the accord signed by EU countries in 1992.

In response to a question about his victory as the Spitzenkandidat or lead candidate from the conservative European People’s Party in 2014, Juncker said he thinks it was a mistake for EU leaders to abandon the system in the selection of his successor.

Asked who he thought would win an ideological battle within his EPP conservative family over Europe’s future — outgoing Council President Donald Tusk, who has championed the advance of liberal democracy, or Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has declared himself a prophet of illiberal democracy and Christian Europe — Juncker replied curtly: “Tusk.”

In trademark trilingual fashion, Juncker switched from English to French to German and back again, noting that he had also failed to have Luxembourgish designated as an official EU language, and at one point confusing his own tongue. “Was I speaking in French or German,” he asked at one point in French.

“I still don’t know which language I’m speaking,” he said, adding, “If one speaks several languages, we never know in which language we dream.”

“I am too stupid,” he continued, “to remember dreams that have been mine.”

Juncker, known for funny, unexpected asides, including halting press conferences to answer his mobile phone, or to spontaneously toss out a joke or to kiss a counterpart, suddenly seemed lost in dreamland.

“It’s pleasant to see that dreams are not subjected to the dictatorship of transparency,” he said, in what appeared to be some sort of commentary on the years he has lived in the public spotlight, and his imminent return to private life.

Juncker also had some choice words for his audience of reporters. “Journalists are not allies, they are not slaves, they are there.”

Before the outgoing president’s appearance, the Juncker Commission’s final news conference featured a long farewell, in rhyming verse, from chief spokeswoman Mina Andreeva, as well as parting remarks by her deputy Natasha Bertaud, who was also emotional but did not rhyme.

After taking a few questions, Juncker declared that he had had enough. The traditional midday news conference, which started Friday at 12:30 p.m., had cut into his lunch hour.

“I’m hungry,” he said. And with that Jean-Claude c’est fini. 

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