World

Energy crisis: 15 countries call for EU price cap on all gas imports

Published

2 years ago

September 27, 2022

Energy crisis: 15 countries call for EU price cap on all gas imports

The European Union should impose a broad value cap on all gasoline imports getting into the bloc as a way to carry hovering power payments below management, a bunch of 15 member states has stated in a joint letter.

“The worth cap (…) is the one measure that can assist each member state to mitigate the inflationary strain, handle expectations and supply a framework in case of potential provide disruptions, and restrict the additional earnings within the sector,” the letter stated. “This cover is the precedence.”

The doc, seen by Euronews, marks the primary time the supporters of the gasoline cap be a part of forces in an on-the-record declaration of intent.

It was signed by Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, and despatched on Tuesday night to European Commissioner for Power Kadri Simson.

The doc comes within the lead-up to Friday’s assembly of EU power ministers, who’re anticipated to endorse an preliminary bundle of three emergency measures.

The requires an EU-wide value cap on gasoline imports have gained traction in latest weeks after the record-breaking costs in August reached an all-time excessive of €346 per megawatt-hour.

Costs regularly decreased since that peak and at present hover just under the €200 mark — virtually 5 instances the degrees a yr in the past.

The international locations supporting the transfer imagine the EU — utilizing its leverage because the world’s largest single market — ought to impose a restrict on the worth it’s keen to pay for gasoline imports.

The bloc’s tight power market, which suffers from a supply-demand mismatch, is seeing increased charges than its Asian and American counterparts.

As the costliest gasoline to satisfy all energy calls for, gasoline units the ultimate value of electrical energy, even the place cheaper and greener sources contribute to the entire combine.

By capping gasoline costs, electrical energy payments may very well be artificially contained, the signatories imagine.

“The power disaster that began final fall has gotten worse over time and is now inflicting untenable inflationary pressures that are hitting our households and our companies arduous,” the letter says.

Germany opposes gasoline cap as European Fee exhibits hesitance

The 15 international locations urged the European Fee to place ahead an preliminary proposal for the gasoline cap at Friday’s ministerial assembly and later develop a proper authorized textual content for negotiation and approval.

But, the European Fee is hesitant concerning the EU-wide gasoline cap and continues to be finding out its potential dangers.

The chief fears the unprecedented measure may scare shippers away at a time when the bloc is desperately on the lookout for non-Russian provides, significantly of liquefied pure gasoline (LNG), to make it by the winter with out main blackouts or rationing.

Competitors for LNG tankers is predicted to warmth up as soon as temperatures start falling and will improve even additional if the Chinese language financial system picks up after a slowdown interval.

Germany, the EU’s largest gasoline client, has raised related considerations and stays opposed.

“For those who introduce a value cap, because the EU unilaterally, and all the opposite shoppers around the globe do not do it, then the gasoline will go to different shoppers and thus we would have a scarcity in gasoline provides,” Germany’s Minister of State for Europe and Local weather Anna Lührmann stated final week.

Norway, which this yr changed Russia because the EU’s main gasoline provider, has stated it’s open to discussing decrease charges however is “sceptical” a couple of large ceiling.

Up to now, the European Fee has solely recommended a value cap on Russian pipeline gasoline as a way to deprive the Kremlin of revenues that may be presumably funnelled into the continuing full-scale invasion of Ukraine that has confirmed to be very expensive for Moscow to this point.

“The method in the direction of Russia and different companions needs to be totally different,” Commissioner Simson instructed Euronews final week.

Worth restrict not meant to focus on Moscow completely, letter says

However of their joint name, the 15 international locations unambiguously rejected the concept of a value restrict completely designed towards Russian gasoline.

In flip, their proposal is indiscriminate, focusing on all gasoline imports regardless of geographical origin.

“The cap ought to be utilized to all wholesale pure gasoline transactions, and never restricted to import from particular jurisdictions,” the letter says.

“It may be designed in such a manner as to make sure safety of provide and the free stream of gasoline inside Europe, whereas attaining our shared goal to scale back gasoline demand.”

The one-page letter doesn’t present technical particulars, similar to how excessive the cap ought to be.

It’s understood, nonetheless, that the cap must be by some means increased than the worth paid in Asian and American markets as a way to guarantee Europe stays a sexy vacation spot.

As a market instrument, the gasoline cap would require a certified majority of member states to be accepted and launched.

As issues stand now, the 15 signatories would fall wanting the mandatory votes, though they might recruit some international locations which might be seen as undecided, similar to Sweden, Eire and Cyprus.

The endorsement of coastal international locations similar to Spain, Italy, France and Belgium is essential as a result of they’re those who obtain nearly all of LNG imports.

The Czech Republic — the present holder of the EU Council’s rotating presidency — didn’t add its identify to the letter to take care of its place of neutral moderator.

Related Topics:Belgium europe Featured Gas

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World

Consejos para disfrutar de las celebraciones de fin de año, sin estrés

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Consejos para disfrutar de las celebraciones de fin de año, sin estrés

NUEVA YORK (AP) — Todos conocemos los factores de estrés: obligaciones sociales, rencillas familiares, divisiones políticas, estrés financiero y el deseo de mantenerse alegre y generoso todo el tiempo.

Así que aquí va un recordatorio sobre cómo desterrar a tu perfeccionista interior y disfrutar verdaderamente de la temporada festiva:

“Realmente ayuda dejar de lado algunos de los ‘deberías’”, dice Lynn F. Bufka, jefa de práctica de la Asociación Estadounidense de Psicología. “Decide cuál es la cosa que más importa, y las cosas que te brindan más alegría, y suelta las demás”.

Las tradiciones pueden cambiar y evolucionar, y cuanto más flexibles sean las cosas, más fácil será para todos, dice Bufka.

“Concentra tu energía en crear un espacio cálido para que las personas que amas se reúnan y relajen, se pongan al día y celebren unos a otros. Eso es literalmente todo lo que importa”, concuerda Lauren Iannotti, editora en jefe de Real Simple.

Algunos consejos:

Concéntrate en lo que te hace feliz

Podrías decidir que la conversación es tu objetivo principal y no preocuparte en absoluto por la decoración, dice Bufka. O si la decoración de la mesa es lo que amas, invierte tu energía allí y no te preocupes tanto por otros aspectos.

“Idealmente, debería tratarse de enfocarse en el amor, y eso no significa lo mismo para todos”, dice Bufka.

Permite que otros hagan las cosas por ti.

“La gente quiere ayudar, ¡déjalos!”, dice Iannotti. “Si no te ENCANTA cocinar todas esas guarniciones, o tienes poco tiempo, no hay ninguna vergüenza en aceptar que tu hermana haga el relleno. O busca ayuda de los profesionales: apoya a un restaurante local haciendo un pedido de catering”.

Otra opción es que “cada uno traiga un plato distintivo”, dice Ianotti. “Ahorrarás tiempo y dinero en la preparación y la cocina y tus invitados podrán mostrar sus habilidades”.

Darte permiso para tomar atajos

“Está bien si la casa está un poco desordenada o si la cena se sirve unos minutos tarde”, dice Iannotti. “Si las personas que has invitado están más interesadas en evaluar tu desempeño que en pasar un buen rato, pueden discutirlo con su terapeuta”. (Por cierto, no lo están, añade ella).

Y no dudes en dejar que la gente se sirva por sí misma, cuando sea posible. “Si no tienes tiempo para jugar a ser el barman, crea una bebida insignia con anticipación que puedas servir a todos tus invitados. También puedes simplemente dejar algunos mezcladores para que los invitados se sirvan y hagan sus propias creaciones”, sugiere Caroline Utz, directora editorial y de estrategia en The Spruce.

Está bien tener tiempo a solas

Las cosas funcionarán lo suficientemente bien si no lo supervisas todo, así que cuídate. Tómate pausas o caminatas si eso te ayuda a mantenerte centrado.

“Aunque el mindfulness se está convirtiendo en un término demasiado utilizado en la sociedad actual, hay algo valioso que podemos tomar de esto y aplicar a la temporada de fin de año”, dice Brook Choulet, psiquiatra deportiva y de rendimiento de concierge y fundadora de Choulet Performance Psychiatry.

Ella recomienda “programar microdescansos intencionales” para hacer algo que disfrutes.

“Por ejemplo, podrías programar una llamada telefónica con un amigo de otro estado, tomar un paseo de 15 minutos al aire libre, o incluso ajustar el temporizador y tomar un baño de 15 minutos sin interrupciones”, dijo.

Espera algo de discordia y no te alarmes por ello

“Si te preocupa la polarización y entrar en conversaciones incómodas, intenta pensar en maneras en que puedas terminar una conversación o cambiarla de dirección”, dice Bufka.

Ella recomienda preparar algunas frases de antemano para ayudar a terminar la conversación o cambiarla de dirección.

En resumen, tener la intención de una temporada festiva menos perfecta puede ser justo lo que necesitas.

___

Katherine Roth cubre temas de vida y estilo y otros temas para The Associated Press desde Nueva York.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

World

Azerbaijan Airlines plane headed to Russia crashes hundreds of miles off course, dozens feared dead

Published

9 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Azerbaijan Airlines plane headed to Russia crashes hundreds of miles off course, dozens feared dead

Dozens of passengers are feared dead after an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, reports say.

The Embraer 190 passenger jet flying from Azerbaijan to Russia had 62 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying 32 survivors had been rescued.

Flight J2-8243 had flown hundreds of miles off its scheduled route to crash on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea. Officials did not immediately explain why it had crossed the sea, but the crash came shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia. Drone activity has shut airports in the area in the past and the nearest Russian airport on the plane’s flight path was closed on Wednesday morning.

Russia’s aviation watchdog, meanwhile, said it was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike.

MORE THAN 30 DEAD IN BRAZIL BUS AND TRUCK COLLISION

In this photo taken from a video released by the administration of Mangystau region, the wreckage of Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 lies on the ground near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (The Administration of Mangystau Region/AP Photo)

Those aboard the plane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhstani and three Kyrgyzstani citizens, according to Kazakhstani officials.

Russian news agency Interfax reported that both pilots died in the crash, citing a preliminary assessment by emergency workers at the scene. The news agency also quoted medical workers who stated that four bodies had been recovered from the crash so far.

A total of 29 survivors, including two children, have been hospitalized, the ministry told Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti, the Associated Press reported. Many passengers have yet to be accounted for.

MALAYSIA AGREES TO RESUME ‘NO FIND, NO FEE’ HUNT FOR FLIGHT MH370, 10 YEARS AFTER PLANE DISAPPEARED

More than 30 are feared dead following the crash near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. (Azamat Sarsenbayev/AP Photo)

Video of the crash showed the plane descending rapidly before bursting into flames as it hit the seashore, and thick black smoke then rising, Reuters reported. Bloodied and bruised passengers could be seen stumbling from a piece of the fuselage that had remained intact.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who had been traveling to Russia, returned to Azerbaijan upon hearing news of the crash, the president’s press service said. Aliyev was due to attend an informal meeting of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a bloc of former Soviet countries founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in St. Petersburg.

Emergency crews at the site of the Azerbaijani airliner crash on Dec. 25, 2024. (Azamat Sarsenbayev/AP Photo)

Aliyev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a statement on social media.

“It is with deep sadness that I express my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he wrote.

He also signed a decree declaring Dec. 26 a day of mourning in Azerbaijan.

The plane was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus, the Associated Press reports. (The Administration of Mangystau Region/AP Photo)

In a statement, Azerbaijan Airlines said it would keep members of the public updated and changed its social media banners to solid black.

“We ask God for mercy on the passengers and crew members who lost their lives,” a translated statement on X said. “Their pain is our pain. We wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

World

Who is Europe's top investor in space in 2023?

Published

10 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Who is Europe's top investor in space in 2023?

Luxembourg remains Europe’s top investor in space in a year when defence spending on space exceeded civil space budgets for the first time since the 1990s.

Global public investment in space hit a record high of €106 billion in 2023, an 11% increase compared to 2022.

In Europe, the total funding was €11.9 billion, showing a modest 1% rise in its share of global space investment.

According to the European Space Agency, defence spending on space exceeded civil space budgets last year for the first time since the 1990s. Defence expenditures in space are projected to grow faster than civil spending, making up 53% of the budget in 2024.

The US continues to dominate global space investment, accounting for 64% of the total budget, while China holds a strong second place, growing its share from an estimated 2% in 2000 to 12% in 2023 through long-term programmes in both civil and defence.

Europe ranks third, contributing 11% of the global space budget in 2023.

What share of their GDP do EU countries spend on public space budgets?

Luxembourg remains Europe’s leading investor in space, dedicating 0.135% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the sector.

Globally, the country ranks third behind the US (0.262%) and Russia (0.169%).

In Europe, Luxembourg is followed by France, which invests 0.167% of its GDP, Italy at 0.103%, and Belgium at 0.095%.

On the other hand, private investment in space has continued to decline in 2023, dropping by 32% compared to 2022.

Europe also saw a 14% decrease in 2023 compared to the year before, with private space ventures receiving just below €980 million.

Although the US accounts for most of the global decline in 2023, its space sector continues to attract the largest share of investments at 60%, followed by Europe with 16% and China with 9%.

What was the state of space activity in 2023?

There were 221 orbital launches in 2023, an 18% increase compared to 2022.

Yet, a total of 212 launches were successful.

The US carried out more than half of the launches, with 96 of them conducted by SpaceX.

China accounted for 30% with 67 launches, a 5% increase from 2022, and Russia completed 19 launches.

The European launch service provider conducted three launches in 2023, including Europe’s first mission to Jupiter, which aimed to explore whether the planet’s three moons — Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede — could support life in their oceans.

Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz