The Gateway Protection Programme is operated by the British government in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and co-funded by the European Union, offering a legal route for a quota of UNHCR-identified refugees to settle in the United Kingdom. It was proposed by the British Home Secretary, David Blunkett, in October 2001, and its legal basis was established by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. The programme launched in March 2004, initially with a quota of 500 and later 750 refugees per year, but the actual number of refugees resettled in most years has been fewer than the quota permitted. As of 2012, refugees of 12 different nationalities had been resettled, with the largest groups being Iraqis, Congolese, Ethiopians, Burmese and Somalis, and 18 of the UK's 434 local authorities had participated as resettlement locations. Evaluations of the programme have praised it as having a positive impact on the reception of refugees by local communities, but have also noted the difficulties these refugees have faced in securing employment.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_Protection_Programme

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1801:

With the signing of the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain returned the colonial territory of Louisiana to France in return for the Tuscany area of Italy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Treaty_of_San_Ildefonso

1890:

At the urging of preservationist John Muir and writer Robert Underwood Johnson, the United States Congress established Yosemite National Park (Yosemite Valley pictured) in California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park

1940:

The first section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the United States' first inter-city expressway comparable to the German Autobahn, opened to traffic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Turnpike

1991:

Croatian War of Independence: Yugoslav National Army forces invaded the area surrounding Dubrovnik, Croatia, beginning a seven-month siege of the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Dubrovnik

2005:

Terrorist suicide bombs exploded at two sites in Bali, Indonesia, killing twenty people and injuring over 120 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Bali_bombings

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

concoction: 1. The preparing of a medicine, food or other substance out of many ingredients. 2. A mixture prepared in such a way. 3. Something made-up, an invention. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/concoction

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live. This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God's standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love.   --Jimmy Carter https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter