BC GOVERNMENT
Saved by @SteveeRogerr

Here are some observations from the EU side on the touring issue facing musicians

 2/ The European Commission offered the UK a standard mobility clause in its draft legal text back in March last year that would cover musicians, sportspersons etc... It's on page 354 of the EU's opening text ahead of the negotiations https://t.co/mBHyBnLqt4
3/ Under a standard mobility clause, acc to one official, EU member states can ask for visas for certain people coming to carry out paid activity. However, there's a list of exemptions for people who don't need visas:
4/ This list includes those "travelling for the purpose of business deliberations..., sportspersons or artists [including musicians] performing an activity on an ad-hoc basis, journalists sent by the media of their country of residence, and intra-corporate trainees."
5/ In other words, under a standard mobility provision, musicians, journalists, sports people and business people who travel to discuss contracts etc do not need visas. Officials say this is the standard EU arrangement for third countries, eg the US.
6/ However, according to officials, the UK rejected this opening offer in March, emphasising ending free movement of people.
7/ Then in Sept/Oct the UK brought up the issue of musicians in the services part of the negotiations, in particular the negotiations around Mode 4
8/ Mode 4 is a WTO term which refers to the issue pf people crossing borders to provide a service, but not seeking access to the job market, citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis
9/ The European Commission argued that that was not the proper mechanism for musicians, sportspersons, artists, journalists etc. Mode 4 is normally for very specific business professionals, managers, intercorporate transferees etc
10/ Secondly, acc to an official, Mode 4 is "visa neutral", meaning it would not address the visa question. That would remain outstanding unless it was addressed through the "mobility" negotiations
11/ Thirdly, the EU says the UK offered 30 days under Mode 4 which was what they were offering the rest of the world anyway. "What's the incentive for us to sign up to this if that's what you're offering anyway, because it doesn't solve the issue of visas," says source
12/ As a result, UK musicians, artists, sportsperons, journalists will have to check with each member state on their visa situation. "Will member states really ask for visas for British musicians? Probably not. France said they won't," says source
13/ One other hassle facing musicians is the tour bus. Under the EU UK TCA "cabotage", the ability for a truck/tourbus to travel in the EU is limited to two stops
14/ As @SamuelMarcLowe has written for @CER_EU "Under the cabotage rules of the TCA, British-owned transport companies can only make two drop offs in the EU before having to return to the UK. This massively constrains their ability to accommodate multi-country tours in Europe."
15/ That problem can only be resolved if musicians used EU operators

@OfficialSting @radiohead @NickyBenedetti @eltonofficial
16/ Any trade gurus out there are welcome to shine a light on the Mode 4 stuff.

Will update thread with UK response...
Response by UK govt spokesperson: “We absolutely agree that musicians should be able to work across Europe. The UK Government put forward a proposal, based on feedback from the music sector, that would have allowed musicians to tour - but the EU repeatedly rejected this.
18/ “The EU's offer in the negotiations would not have worked for touring musicians: it did not deal with work permits at all, and would not have allowed support staff to tour with artists.
19/ “The signatories of this letter should be asking the EU why they rejected the sensible UK proposal. 
"We will continue to listen to the needs of the UK music sector, and are hosting a roundtable today. If the EU will reconsider its stance our door remains open."
20/ It’s understood the UK Culture Secretary will host a roundtable discussion with representatives from the music sector today to discuss ways the government can support the sector moving forwards.
21/ A UK source says EU draft text was non-binding, did not include touring or technical staff, and did not address work permits, nor was it consistent with the UK’s manifesto commitment to “take back control of our borders.”
22/ Source says UK approach wd have allowed musicians to perform in the UK & EU more easily without needing work-permits and wd have delivered an outcome that is closer to the UK’s approach to incoming musicians, artists and entertainers. “These proposals were rejected by the EU”
23/ Source says in an FTA “mobility arrangements are addressed through Mode 4 provisions. There was no agreement on the need for additional mobility provisions outside of this.”
24/ Source adds the Permitted Paid Engagement visitor route allows an artist, entertainer, or musician to carry out an activity directly relating to their profession, where they have been invited by a creative organisation, agent or broadcaster based in the UK for up to one month
25/ “Whilst there is no limit on the number of engagements, the visitor must have a main ‘sponsor’ organisation that issues the invitation.”

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How significant were @vonderleyen's remarks to the European Parliament this morning?

One senior EU diplomat says takes note in particular of her opening words. "Frankly, I cannot tell you today if in the end there will be a deal."

2/ That this sentiment is being expressed by the European Commission President on Nov 25 with just over a month to Jan 1, is significant. In Brussels there are only two questions: will there be enough time to ratify any deal? Is @BorisJohnson prepared to take a big political step

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Tony Connelly
@tconnellyRTE
The DUP's Ian Paisley MP tells the NI Affaris Committee that the NI Protocol shd be "removed" and that Article 16 of the Protocol should be invoked. Describes it as an "unmitigated disaster... Those who advocated for the Protocol have some responsibility for that.

"The protocol is now an impediment to trade. We told you so."

Article 16 of the NI Protocol: "If the application of this Protocol leads to serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist, or to diversion of trade, the EU or the UK may unilaterally take appropriate safeguard measures.

"Such safeguard measures shall be restricted with regard to their scope and duration to what is strictly necessary in order to remedy the situation. Priority shall be given to such measures as will least disturb the
functioning of this Protocol."

Mr Paisley then berates @Freight_NI for not demanding that Article 16 be invoked. Mr Leheny asks him what the alternative is. Mr Paisley says removing the Protocol is the alternative.
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Tony Connelly
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NEW: Michel Barnier has told EU member states there has been some movement on the level playing field, and on dispute resolution, but that fisheries talks remain "very difficult" @rtenews understands. Sources say this could go through this week and beyond...

2/ Acc to one senior source, Barnier said there was acceptance that the EU could take retaliatory measures against the UK if it diverged from EU standards but that it would not be "autonomous", in other words, before taking action there wd need to be some dialogue with the UK

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Tony Connelly
Tony Connelly
@tconnellyRTE
BREAKING: The EU and UK have agreed a trusted trader scheme that would mean exemptions from tariffs for up to 98pc of goods flowing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland from January 1, @rtenews has learned.
The other 2% wd potentially avail of rebates from any tariffs.

2/ Tariffs would mostly only apply if no free trade agreement is concluded between the EU and UK.

Both sides have also agreed that agrifood products coming from GB to Northern Ireland will be exempt from requiring export health certificates for a period of at least three months

3/ These have proved the biggest concern for UK supermarket chains in NI, who rely on large and mixed consignments of food coming from GB depots.
Export health certificates can cost up to £200 per product and need to be signed off by a designated veterinary inspector.

4/ It’s understood the issue of how supermkts will comply with EU food safety rules could be dealt with through a UK commitment - possibly a declaration - that it does not intend to change its food safety rules from Jan 1. At that point the rules will be the same as the EU's.

5/ The trusted trade scheme would be subject to a review, or sunset clause, three and a half years after the Protocol comes into effect, according to an internal EU briefing
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https://t.co/NbOxVqbtO4
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Keir Starmer giving his most important speech yet-laying out his vision for the future.

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@ProjectLincoln @tedcruz Texas failed to winterize its generation sources the last time this happened in 2011.

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THREAD.


@tedcruz The Texas GOP has continuously rebuffed plans to invest in better infrastructure to upgrade TX power grids.

Texas was warned to weatherize power plants.

Why didn’t they?

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@tedcruz The electrical grid in Texas was deregulated, privatized, and removed from interconnected networks to avoid federal regulation and increase profits for a small number of wealthy individuals.

Go figure.

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They did neither, b/c it wasn't profitable.

It's a failure of TX leadership –– total, inexcusable, and utterly catastrophic.

Not fucking windmills.
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हिमालय पर्वत की एक बड़ी पवित्र गुफा थी।उस गुफा के निकट ही गंगा जी बहती थी।एक बार देवर्षि नारद विचरण करते हुए वहां आ पहुंचे।वह परम पवित्र गुफा नारद जी को अत्यंत सुहावनी लगी।वहां का मनोरम प्राकृतिक दृश्य,पर्वत,नदी और वन देख उनके हृदय में श्रीहरि विष्णु की भक्ति अत्यंत बलवती हो उठी।


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Hello Dear Tweeples!

It’s Siddhars time of the week! Last week I shared story of Guru (Machamuni or Yogi Matsyendranath), this week I bring you information on his Shishya.

#Thread on Gorakanathar Siddhar.

@LostTemple7


His origin story is interesting, though I couldn’t verify it’s authenticity, so not sharing the story here. He’s shishya of Machamuni Siddhar and also learnt from Agasthiya Siddhar.

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Unlike other Siddhars, he is depicted as either with a Tiger or seated & wearing Tiger skin. While I couldn’t find any explanation for this. My interpretation is as follows:

Tiger is a predator that lurks around and attacks unexpectedly.


Our 5 indriyas and 5 vikitis also similar to Tiger, they lurk around and attacks our thoughts when we’re least expecting. Gorakkar is said to have mastered these aspects, thus to denote this, he shown with Tiger.

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Gorakanathar or Gorakshnath (as he’s known in the Nath Sampraday) is celebrated Guru in both Northern and Southern part of India. He’s one of the NavNath in Nath Sampraday and also 18 Siddhars of Tamil tradition. During his life, he’s travelled Indian subcontinent extensively +
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I stayed up till the wee hours. Drank every liquor invented.

Partied non-stop. Woke up after noon.

Surfed the web aimlessly.

Read BS self-help.

Repeat.

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PHASE ONE: GET MY MIND RIGHT

ACTION #1: Break the chains - I wish I made the decision earlier. I didn't. I was scared. Anxious. Nervous. I knew once I made the decision, there was no going back.

Don't be like me.

Make the decision at 18. The decision to pave your own path in life. To go against the herd. To choose your own adventure. To commit to whatever sets your heart on fire.

ACTION #2: Cut off every negative person in your life.

Scroll through the contacts in your phone...

Notice how the names make you feel.

Delete any and all names that fill you with doubt and negativity.

ACTION #3: Condition your mind to embrace the producer mindset instead of the consumer mindset.

Consume 20% of the time. Produce 80% of the time.

Case closed.

ACTION #4: Set an intention to make $10k a month and write it out every MORNING and NIGHT as if you already achieved it (in the past tense).

Visualize yourself already having the money as you write.

Cheesy?

Yes.

Does it work?

Yes.

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Rishi Bhringi was a devoted bhakt of Mahadev. However, in his devotion to Shiva, he ignored Mata Parvati.

Once, he visited Kailasha along with other Rishis. All the Rishis did parikrama of Shiva and Parvati both except Rishi Bhringi.


The same situation continued whenever Rishi Bhringi visited Kailasha. Mata Parvati decided to teach him that Shiva and Parvati are one and inseparable.
So on one such visit, Mata Parvati sat on the left lap of Mahadev when Rishi Bhringi came.


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Angered Mata took away the Shakti from his body. Rishi lost his blood and flesh and was left with a bare skeletal form.


Seeing him in such a situation where he was unable to support himself, Shiva granted a third leg to him.
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Rishi Bhringi finally realised that Shiv and Shakti are one and the same.
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Why is this the most powerful question you can ask when attempting to reach an agreement with another human being or organization?

A thread, co-written by @deanmbrody:


2/ First, “X” could be lots of things. Examples: What would need to be true for you to

- “Feel it's in our best interest for me to be CMO"
- “Feel that we’re in a good place as a company”
- “Feel that we’re on the same page”
- “Feel that we both got what we wanted from this deal

3/ Normally, we aren’t that direct. Example from startup/VC land:

Founders leave VC meetings thinking that every VC will invest, but they rarely do.

Worse over, the founders don’t know what they need to do in order to be fundable.

4/ So why should you ask the magic Q?

To get clarity.

You want to know where you stand, and what it takes to get what you want in a way that also gets them what they want.

It also holds them (mentally) accountable once the thing they need becomes true.

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Multiple responses to this question are likely to deliver a positive result.
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