Latest news with #Veterans'Day
Wales Online
28-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Tesco giving away free breakfasts in cafes on Sunday if you show staff one thing
Tesco giving away free breakfasts in cafes on Sunday if you show staff one thing For the fourth year in a row, the supermarket chain is doing something to mark a very special day for people up and down the country Supermarket giant Tesco is giving away free breakfasts at hundreds of its stores this Sunday. For the fourth year running, Armed Forces personnel and veterans will be able to claim their free breakfast in more than 300 stores to mark Armed Forces Day. The day itself is an annual event celebrated in late June to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces. Originally called Veterans' Day, it was first observed in 2006. Although an official event, it is not a public holiday in the UK. The name was changed to Armed Forces Day in 2009. Tesco has confirmed that as a thank you for their service, approximately 180,000 serving Armed Forces personnel and nearly two million veterans in the UK can choose from The Breakfast, The Veggie Breakfast, The Vegan Breakfast or Sausage Bap to enjoy for free when they present their MOD90 or Veterans ID card at either The Café or The Coffee Shop in stores across the country on Sunday, June 29. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . 'Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe,' said Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO. 'As the largest private employer of veterans in the UK, we want to recognise those who serve, and have served, this Armed Forces Day. We hope this free breakfast will go a little way to show our gratitude for their service.' Sabrina Lungo, chair of the Armed Forces colleague network at Tesco, added: 'Armed Forces Day is an important opportunity to recognise our Armed Forces personnel and veterans, and we're happy to be offering them this small token of our appreciation for the fourth year running. Article continues below 'Through our thriving Armed Forces network, we are proud to support the entire Armed Forces community at Tesco, from veterans to military partners and families, as they navigate the challenges of life in the Armed Forces and beyond.'
Euronews
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Russia launches fresh massive aerial attack on Ukraine.
Local Ukrainian media quoted Ukrainian authorities on Sunday morning reporting another massive aerial attack, involving drones, artillery and missiles, among them the hypersonic Khinzal, as well as Iskander and Kalibr cruise missiles. In the southern city of Kherson, one person was killed and another injured, Kherson Oblast administration reported. The main target was the city of Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast. There were no reported casualties but energy and agricultural facilities were hit by debris. Of the nearly 200 weapons, the Ukrainian air force reported 111 drones downed with a further 48 diverted, and two Kinzhal, three Iskander-K and three Kalibr missiles shot down. Germany will mark its first-ever Veterans' Day on 15 June. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said it was about "recognising those who are willing to go the extra mile for others, and who risk life and limb for our country". Getting to this point has taken years, though. "We've been campaigning for this Veterans' Day for nearly 15 years," said Andreas Eggert, Secretary General of the German Veterans' Association, Bund Deutscher EinsatzVeteranen e.V, speaking to Euronews. Germany needed a day that properly acknowledges the service of its veterans. But before that could happen, the association had to reintroduce and redefine the very concept of a veteran. The word itself was long burdened by its associations with the Second World War, added David Hallbauer, the association's Deputy Federal Chairman. The goal, he explains, was to establish a new understanding – that the Bundeswehr had developed its own, modern tradition, from which a distinct veteran identity could emerge. When the Association of German Veterans was founded in 2010, it faced significant opposition. "People dismissed us as outdated," Hallbauer recalled. "We first had to explain that we were talking about individuals who had rendered a special service to Germany through their time in the Bundeswehr." For the Association of German Veterans, it's not just about recognition and appreciation, but also about supporting those who were injured in service. A National Veterans' Day can serve as a platform to highlight these issues and shine a light on the shortcomings that still need to be addressed. This includes mental health support, particularly for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many wait years for help. According to Eggert, the longest known case he's aware of took 13 years before support was granted. "We have a real problem with bureaucracy dragging everything out," Hallbauer explained, adding that for those affected, it feels like a war after the war. "These delays could be avoided by speeding up the decision-making process. If someone has to wait twelve years to be recognised, that's clearly not in anyone's interest," he said. Before a case is approved, authorities must establish a direct link between a deployment and the resulting illness. "You first have to prove that you were even deployed," Hallbauer explained. "As someone who's been injured, you're expected to demonstrate that you were on the ground – and that the experience you had there damaged your health." Eggert adds that in Germany, there's an additional hurdle: the traumatic event itself must meet strict criteria before any therapy or treatment is approved. As part of what's known as the military service compensation process, the extent of an individual's injury is assessed – which then determines any potential pension entitlements. "The process often seems designed more to fend off claims than to support those affected," said Eggert. "That's why all cases are treated in the same rigid manner at first." Personal history, including childhood experiences, is also taken into account – something the Veterans' Association sees as misguided. "Instead of focusing on individual background factors unrelated to trauma, the process should centre on the incident that occurred during deployment and the resulting physical or psychological strain," Eggert concluded. According to him, a shift in the burden of proof would mark real progress. "It shouldn't be up to the injured person to prove that deployment made them ill, the Bundeswehr should have to prove that it didn't. That kind of reversal is exactly what's been missing so far. It appears there's no political will to change that", he told Euronews. "It should be possible for a soldier to go on deployment with peace of mind, knowing that if they're injured, they'll be properly looked after," Hallbauer. This sense of security, he continued, simply doesn't exist in Germany today. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, defence has returned to the political agenda across much of Europe. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) declared a "Zeitenwende" – a turning point, after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Defence spending has since increased, with the stated aim of making Germany "fit for war" once again. But if a country is to be made fit for defence, the initial focus is naturally on rearmament, said Eggert. "We're facing shortages in both equipment and personnel. That's where a large portion of the money is going. But it would have been good if even just 10 million of the 100-billion-euro special fund had been set aside to properly care for those who are injured, wounded, or fall ill during deployment."
Euronews
15-06-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Germany is rearming, but what about its veterans?
Germany will mark its first-ever Veterans' Day on 15 June. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said it was about "recognising those who are willing to go the extra mile for others, and who risk life and limb for our country". Getting to this point has taken years, though. "We've been campaigning for this Veterans' Day for nearly 15 years," said Andreas Eggert, Secretary General of the German Veterans' Association, Bund Deutscher EinsatzVeteranen e.V, speaking to Euronews. Germany needed a day that properly acknowledges the service of its veterans. But before that could happen, the association had to reintroduce and redefine the very concept of a veteran. The word itself was long burdened by its associations with the Second World War, added David Hallbauer, the association's Deputy Federal Chairman. The goal, he explains, was to establish a new understanding – that the Bundeswehr had developed its own, modern tradition, from which a distinct veteran identity could emerge. When the Association of German Veterans was founded in 2010, it faced significant opposition. "People dismissed us as outdated," Hallbauer recalled. "We first had to explain that we were talking about individuals who had rendered a special service to Germany through their time in the Bundeswehr." For the Association of German Veterans, it's not just about recognition and appreciation, but also about supporting those who were injured in service. A National Veterans' Day can serve as a platform to highlight these issues and shine a light on the shortcomings that still need to be addressed. This includes mental health support, particularly for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many wait years for help. According to Eggert, the longest known case he's aware of took 13 years before support was granted. "We have a real problem with bureaucracy dragging everything out," Hallbauer explained, adding that for those affected, it feels like a war after the war. "These delays could be avoided by speeding up the decision-making process. If someone has to wait twelve years to be recognised, that's clearly not in anyone's interest," he said. Before a case is approved, authorities must establish a direct link between a deployment and the resulting illness. "You first have to prove that you were even deployed," Hallbauer explained. "As someone who's been injured, you're expected to demonstrate that you were on the ground – and that the experience you had there damaged your health." Eggert adds that in Germany, there's an additional hurdle: the traumatic event itself must meet strict criteria before any therapy or treatment is approved. As part of what's known as the military service compensation process, the extent of an individual's injury is assessed – which then determines any potential pension entitlements. "The process often seems designed more to fend off claims than to support those affected," said Eggert. "That's why all cases are treated in the same rigid manner at first." Personal history, including childhood experiences, is also taken into account – something the Veterans' Association sees as misguided. "Instead of focusing on individual background factors unrelated to trauma, the process should centre on the incident that occurred during deployment and the resulting physical or psychological strain," Eggert concluded. According to him, a shift in the burden of proof would mark real progress. "It shouldn't be up to the injured person to prove that deployment made them ill, the Bundeswehr should have to prove that it didn't. That kind of reversal is exactly what's been missing so far. It appears there's no political will to change that", he told Euronews. "It should be possible for a soldier to go on deployment with peace of mind, knowing that if they're injured, they'll be properly looked after," Hallbauer. This sense of security, he continued, simply doesn't exist in Germany today. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, defence has returned to the political agendaacross much of Europe. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) declared a "Zeitenwende" – a turning point, after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Defence spending has since increased, with the stated aim of making Germany "fit for war" once again. But if a country is to be made fit for defence, the initial focus is naturally on rearmament, said Eggert. "We're facing shortages in both equipment and personnel. That's where a large portion of the money is going. But it would have been good if even just 10 million of the 100-billion-euro special fund had been set aside to properly care for those who are injured, wounded, or fall ill during deployment." Thousands of pride parade attendees took to the streets in Vienna, Warsaw, Rome and Athens on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and holding up signs of protest as they celebrated pride month, while also demanding political and social equality for the LGBTQ+ community in their respective countries. Warsaw's pride parade went through the city centre and headed through the Old Town. The "Equality Parade" began on Saturday afternoon, and was attended by thousands of demonstrators. Under the slogan "Love is the answer", the event's organisers expressed the hope that they could help others to express their LGBTQ+ identity openly and without fear. "We don't want to talk about such matters somewhere underground, we don't want to hide in basements - we come to the surface to talk about it," said Rafał Dembe, president of the Equality Volunteering Foundation at a press conference ahead of the march. During the conference, the organisers said that the demonstration in Warsaw is the largest of its kind in the country. Among the most notable attendees of the parade were mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, who recently found himself on the losing side of the country's presidential election, member of the European Parliament Robert Biedroń and Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula. Four days earlier, Kotula submitted a bill to parliament to introduce civil partnerships, including for same-sex couples. Speaking to the crowd at the start of the parade, Trzaskowski said "Remember that I have been saying for many years that together we are building Warsaw, which is an open and tolerant city, where these values are not only appreciated but also promoted." Braving the scorching hot 35 degree weather, thousands of people walked the city of Rome from Piazza della Repubblica to Via Cavour to participate in the Italian capital's pride march. Three motorcyclists with roaring engines kicked off the parade. Right behind them was the leader of the parade, holding a large banner with the word "Outlaw", written on it. The banner is in protest of what organisers see as the conservative incumbent government's lack of support for LGBTQ+ rights. Among those taking part in the demonstration were the spokesperson of the Capitoline parade, Mario Colamarino, and the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. ''We are here for the rights of all, to have a more inclusive and equal Italy, better than the one we have now. 'Outlaws' is what we are in this country today, we must fight and we must be many," said Colamarino. The event in Rome was held not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, but also to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza, for which a one-minute silence was held. Many Palestinian flags and banners were waved alongside rainbow flags, as people chanted slogans for free love and equality. Along with house and pop music, the Italian partisan anthem "Bella Ciao" was also sung by the demonstrators. A float satirically depicting Hungarian Prime Miniser Viktor Orban - whose government was last week denied a request to hold a pride march in Budapest - was also rolled out, an initiative by the Italian +Europa party. "Today, more than ever, it is important to attend pride at a time when in the world there are autocracies, illiberal democracies, fundamentalist regimes that attack civil rights and individual freedoms in Hungary, as well as in Russia and Trump's United States, where some words, such as 'gay', are banned on institutional websites", said the party's secretary, Riccardo Magi. 2025 marks the 20th year since the first Athens Pride was held, and this year's slogan is "We Count". This has a double meaning in Greek - the phrase can either mean "we matter", but can also mean to take stock of something. The latter is in reference to recollecting everything that has happened since June 2005, when the first Athens pride parade was held. According to the organisers, this includes joy, such as the pride and liberation of the first years, losses due to hate and homophobic attacks, victories such as same-sex civic union and marriage, but also disappointment such as the stigma that remains, as well as the fight for visibility and rights. "Now, more than ever, the global context shows us that no acquis (law) can be taken for granted. Instead, our rights and our very existence are being challenged every day. The rise of the far right and the normalisation of hate speech in political and media discourse are a threat to all of us. The exclusion of LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants is intensifying, leading to the exclusion of people on the basis of racist, sexist, homophobic and/or transphobic motives," the organisers say on their website. "For all this, our presence in the public space will continue to be our undeniable right, a historical duty and an act of resistance against a public discourse of abuse that seeks to erase us. The struggle for equality is ongoing and remains unabated. We are and will be here to keep them going," the organisers say on their website. Pride month is celebrated in Athens with a variety of cultural events, screenings, performances, parties, shows, panel discussions, workshops and seminars, many of point to the now 20-year history of pride in the Greek capital, with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives also taking centre stage.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Summer 2025 in Florida: July 4th is first of summer's 2 3-day weekends. What to know
To many in the U.S., who see Memorial Day weekend as the official "start of summer," the summer season has officially begun. May 26 was Memorial Day and last weekend was the first of three long weekends on the calendar for summer 2025. The next is coming in July. For many, September's Labor Day weekend will be the last guaranteed long weekend of the year. Here's how many three-day weekends are left in 2025, what they are and when they fall. Now that Memorial Day weekend has passed, there are two three-day weekends left in 2025, if you don't have Columbus Day Monday and the Friday after Thanksgiving off of work. And they both fall in the summer. The Fourth of July is the next three-day weekend of 2025, as it falls on a Friday this year. And Labor Day weekend in September is the last three-day weekend of the summer. Those who have Columbus Day off from work will have that three-day weekend to look forward to in October. And in November, if you choose to take the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, you'll have one more long weekend to look forward to. Now that Memorial Day passed: What 3-day weekends are left in 2025? Memorial Day 2025 was Monday, May 26. Many people in the U.S. get a three-day weekend for Memorial Day and see it as the start of the summer season. Many people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans' Day, but they're completely different. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and commemoration for military members who lost their lives in service, while Veterans' Day honors all who served. 'The holiday was created to honor the many American men and women who died in military service,' The Farmers' Almanac says. 'This focus on those who made the ultimate sacrifice sets it apart from Veterans' Day, which honors all military veterans, living and dead.' Although it's designated as a day of remembrance, Memorial Day means a cookout, a day at the beach or just a surefire three-day weekend for many. It's widely considered the unofficial "start of summer" in the U.S. Labor Day weekend is a sort-of counterpart to Memorial Day weekend. Many people in the U.S. see Labor Day as the unofficial 'end of summer.' Labor Day 2025 will be on Monday, Sept. 1. This year, the Fourth of July falls on a weekend. Fourth of July will land on Friday, July 4, 2025. Columbus Day, also called Indigenous Peoples Day in some states, always falls on the second Monday of October. It's one of 11 federally observed holidays in the U.S., meaning non-essential federal government offices are closed and employees of them get the day off. If you don't work for the government, you probably don't have the day off. There's no regular mail delivery on Columbus Day and some banks close for the holiday. This year, Columbus Day will fall on Monday, October 13, 2025. There are 11 federal holidays. Here's the list of federal holidays in the U.S.: New Year's Day: Jan. 1 Martin Luther King's Birthday: Third Monday in January Washington's Birthday (or Presidents' Day): Third Monday in February Memorial Day: Last Monday in May Juneteenth National Independence Day: June 19 Independence Day: July 4 Labor Day: First Monday in September Columbus Day: Second Monday in October Veterans' Day: Nov. 11 Thanksgiving Day: Fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day: Dec. 25 This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: What day is Fourth of July? It's Friday and makes a 3-day weekend
Local Germany
21-05-2025
- Health
- Local Germany
Everything that changes in Germany in June 2025
Maternity protection in the event of miscarriage Starting from the beginning of June, women who suffer a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy are entitled to maternity protection, or Mutterschutz. Affected women are set to receive paid maternity leave from work to recover from the physical and mental stress caused by the event. The duration of the leave entitlement depends on the timing of the miscarriage. For instance, someone who loses a pregnancy from the 13th week would be entitled to two weeks of Mutterschutz, while a loss from the 17th week would give six weeks of protection. Women who suffer a miscarriage from the 20th week would be entitled to eight weeks of paid time away from work. Prior to June 1st, 2025, those affected by pregnancy loss had to request sick leave with a doctor's approval to take time away from work. READ ALSO: Mutterschutz - Germany's plans to extend maternity paid leave following miscarriage Changing electricity providers to happen within 24 hours Starting June 6th, if you change electricity providers in Germany the switch is to take place within 24 hours. This comes as the result of an EU directive that is intended to increase competition, according to the Lower Saxony Consumer Advice Centre. However, the notice period of your current contract remains in place. Going forward, retroactive registrations, as may be the case in the event of a move, will no longer be possible. READ ALSO: How to reduce your household electricity bill in Germany this year Germany marks Whit Monday June 9th is a national public holiday this year, as Germany marks Pfingstmontag , or Whit Monday. Whit Monday immediately follows Whit Sunday, or Pentecost, which comes 50 days after Easter. Many Christians attend a special church service on this weekend, and the holiday is also celebrated with spring fun fairs. You can also expect to see large wreaths ( Pfingstenkranz ) on display in some regions. TV cameras are seen in Osnabrück Cathedral during mass. The Whit Monday service here is televised. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Friso Gentsch As with all national holidays, most workers have the day off and you should expect most businesses to be closed. READ ALSO: How employees in Germany can make the most of public holidays in 2025 Germany honours members of the Bundeswehr on National Veterans' Day On June 15th, the veterans of the Bundeswehr are to be honoured for the first time at a national Veterans' Day service. The central celebration is set to take place in front of the Reichstag in Berlin, and there are other events in other cities. Germany's Veterans' Day was formally introduced last year, but this year marks the first time service members will be honoured on the day. A veteran of the Bundeswehr is considered to be someone who is in active service as a soldier of the German Army or has honourably retired from duty. Advertisement Mandatory gas checks for caravans and motorhomes Anyone who owns a motorhome or caravan with a liquefied gas system must provide proof of an up-to-date expert check starting June 19th. The new requirement comes as an amendment to the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) and is intended to ensure fewer accidents related to heating, cooling and cooking in camper vans. New EU rules for smartphones From June 20th, new EU-level design requirements for smartphones and other cordless phones come into force. Advertisement New phones on the market in Europe will need to meet a minimum level of durability, their batteries should still have a capacity of 80 percent after at least 800 charging cycles, and manufacturers must provide spare parts up to seven years after sales have stopped, according to the new regulations. The EU directive aims to decrease the waste involved with smartphone use, by ensuring that the devices last longer and are more easily repairable. This follows a previous EU law which required new phones on the European market to be compatible with a standard USB-C charger. Summer break begins in some German states For millions of students, the school year is comes to an end in June. Children and students in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are the first to start their summer holidays – their last day of school is June 27th. As always, Bavaria will be the last federal state to start the summer break, as last as August 1st. A street artist entertains vacationers with huge soap bubbles. Summer break begins at the end of June for some states this year. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Büttner Summer break for German schools usually lasts about six weeks, with pupils in the states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia returning to class on August 11th this year. Advertisement More accessibility in online retail From June 28th, online retailers are required to offer their portals barrier-free for people with disabilities. This requirement is brought by the Accessibility Strengthening Act, and it applies to banking services or the apps and websites of transport companies, among others. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments section below.
