The holidays are here, and if you are lucky enough to be spending some of your holiday time in Cornwall, then get yourself to the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

www.edenproject.com

www.heligan.com

Daniel brings us the latest information from the intra-Syrian talks, including the information on the so-called "de-escalation zone" announced yesterday in South-West Syria

Delegations are arriving today at the UN Palais, greeted by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

You can watch the press conference at 4pm today live on http://webtv.un.org/

Also, in other news, today will see the very first meeting on the development of Global Compact on Refugees; involving UN agencies and partners including UNHCR, UNICEF & IRC. This event follows the 2016 historic New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.

Watch live on http://webtv.un.org

Library Events:

Wednesday 12 July at 12:30 - 13:30

Transcending conflict through song: The WMCA Jerusalem Youth Chorus - A musical dialogue on the empowerment of young singers to become peace leaders in their communities.

Hall XIV, Building B, 1st floor - Palais des Nations.

Genevahttp://www.unog.ch/unog/website/library.nsf/(httpLibraryTalksByYear_en)/8C5774C003B4C66BC1258147004ABA4A?OpenDocument&year=2017&navunid=A3609D61BE9ADE32C125792500519C47

Friday 14 July at 12pm:

Book Launch: Weapons and the International Rule of Law.

Focusing on: dealing with issues relating to new weapons in warfare, including non-traditional weapons.

http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/library.nsf/(httpLibraryTalksByYear_en)/A3EA65A34E7E939BC12581470048D1C9?OpenDocument&year=2017&navunid=A3609D61BE9ADE32C125792500519C47

Photo: Intra-Syrian Talks

Staffan de Mistura, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria briefs the five Permanent Members of the Security Council to the United Nations during the Intra-Syrian talks, Geneva. 10 July 2017. UN Photo / Violaine Martin

Today's guest on the McKay Interview is Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan who describes himself as a Philosopher, Neuroscientist and Geostrategist.

He is head of the Geopolitics and Global Futures programme at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.

Professor Al-Rodhan holds an MD and PhD in Neurosurgery and Neuroscience at the famous Mayo Clinic in the USA; and he has studied at both Harvard and Yale Universities.

His citations and prizes include: The Sir James Spence Prize, the Gibb Prize, the Annual Fellowship Prize of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons; and twice, the American Neurological Surgeon Poster Prize.

Today, on the McKay Interview, Michael McKay asks Professor Al-Rodhan about the links between neuroscience and security policy; the emotional response to security and to fear and about the theory and scientific research that supports it. They discuss prejudice, bigotry and tribalism in the 21st century.

This week Daniel Johnson joins us, fresh out of a press conference, with news on the UNHCR's report on migration and people smuggling in Libya. He also talks about the updated situation in Cyprus.

In terms of cultural events this week, there's a UN Library event – Tuesday, 4 July 2017, 12:30 - 14:00:

Transformative Artists from Warzones Building Peace through Art and Dialogue, where several Syrian regugees will be performing.

Location: UNOG Library Events Room B-135

"powerful testimonies of individuals who have dared to resist violence and create peace in times of war; of people who have turned their suffering into strength"

https://reg.unog.ch/event/21170/

This must be our cheesiest gadget yet, surely?

This fondoodler let's you take your favourite cheddar, emmental, edam or comté, melt it and draw on your food. Get creative and use your favourite cheese and this space-gun-esque device to draw your own toppings and cheesy sauces.

For more information, and to buy one at the currently discounted price of 30 USD, visit fondoodler.com

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With all this hot weather, many plants in hanging baskets and containers have been suffering and wilting.

If you have lost some plants and are looking for some replacements, or haven't planted up your summer baskets yet, why not have a look at a petunia.

They are perfect for hot, dry situations, and prefer at least 8 hours of sun a day, and don't mind the soil drying out in between waterings. Selecta have developed two new petunias, "Night Sky" and "Baby Doll" that have unusual white flecks on the flowers, go well with other plants or make a showpiece all by themselves.

Marco Conti, of Selecta, talked to Dig It! at the Salon du Végétal about these new plants and how to keep your petunias happy in heat.

Timatic is the database containing cross border passenger documentation requirements.

Timatic is actually short for for Travel Information Manual Automatic and is used by airlines to determine whether a passenger can be carried, as well as by airlines and travel agents to provide this information to travellers at the time of booking. As Chaitan explains, this is a tool that the check-in agent will use when checking each and every passenger in.

It's ultimately the passenger's responsibility, Chaitan explains, but it's the airline who will be penalised if they don't.

Timatic is updated up to 72 times per day, so you know it'll be accurate.

As an average passenger, is it something I can use? Well, no. But IATA has something even easier. The IATA Travel Centre website explains what each and every passenger needs for absolutely any destination. Not only is VISA information available, but also health information and advice such as what vaccinations.

It's available at www.iatatravelcentre.com

Here's another listener question for Chaitan.

What happens if a passenger was to lose their passport mid-flight or in transit.

Sound ridiculous? Well Katt actually has some first-hand experience of this, but she still fully admits it was a pretty ridiculous thing to do. Luckily it was on her return journey. Chaitan Jain, from IATA, explains why...

In this episode we talk about bird strikes. How much of a threat is a bird to a plane, and what measures to airlines and airports take to try to avoid birds flying into planes.

Chaitan Jain, from IATA, looks at what happens when birds go up against planes in an episode we've decided to call 'Byebye Birdy'.

The beautiful city of Nantes is a watchword for unique and creative city revival, and the addition of another new park is sure to help boost that image. The Mayor of Nantes, Johanna Rolland, and the creator of the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, Sir Tim Smith, have plenty to say about the future and what this new park, on the site of an old quarry, the Carrière de Chantenay, will bring to the city.