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EU leaders fail to agree on price on gas but vow to continue talks

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EU leaders fail to agree on price on gas but vow to continue talks

EU leaders have failed to achieve an settlement on a continent-wide cap on gasoline costs, which proceed to be alarmingly excessive as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupts the markets.

Making issues worse, Gazprom, Russia’s main vitality provider, has reduce or severely restricted gasoline flows to 12 member states, elevating the spectre of gasoline rationing by winter time.

“The basis reason for our drawback is our dependence on fossil fuels, which we should eliminate,” mentioned Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Fee, on the finish of the two-day summit in Brussels.

“There’s a lot on the transfer to actually diversify away from the Russian gasoline to different reliable suppliers,” she added, naming the US, Norway and Azerbaijan as various companions.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Brussels with the intention of pushing ahead his personal proposal for an EU-wide restrict on gasoline costs, however did not handle to get the backing of his friends.

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Up to now, solely Belgium and Greece have expressed assist for the venture, whereas Spain and Portugal have already established a short lived cap of €40 per megawatt throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

“The foremost objection [from other countries] to a cap on gasoline costs is the concern that Russia will reduce provides,” Draghi mentioned. “However there isn’t a level since provides are already being reduce.”

Draghi mentioned Germany and the Netherlands, two nations which were staunchly against the transfer, have develop into extra “open” to the concept.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, nevertheless, did not endorse the proposal whereas he spoke to reporters on the finish of the summit. The sudden drop in Russian flows has compelled the German authorities to activate the second part of its three-stage emergency plan, warning that storage targets for winter are in danger.

As a compromise, EU leaders tasked the Fee to provide you with a brand new plan to curb rising vitality costs “together with the feasibility of introducing momentary import worth caps the place applicable.”

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The 27 additionally vowed to coordinate their nationwide measures towards hovering inflation and keep away from the self-centred and chaotic strategy that characterised the preliminary months of the pandemic.

Von der Leyen mentioned her govt is presently reviewing the contingency measures of every member state in case of a brand new drop in Russian flows and urged capitals to think about what affect their nationwide devices might need on their neighbours.

“We’re engaged on a standard European emergency demand discount plan with trade,” she mentioned. “I’ll current this plan in July to the leaders. There won’t be a return to low cost fossil fuels.”

‘Fairly a activity’ forward for the bloc

Throughout her closing remarks, President von der Leyen admitted the EU faces “fairly a activity” to switch the 155 billion cubic metres of gasoline it purchased from Russia final 12 months.

“We hope for the very best and put together for the worst,” she mentioned.

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As soon as once more, the Fee chief additionally opened the door for a reform of the EU’s wholesale electrical energy market, which immediately works on the premise of marginal pricing, also referred to as a “pay-as-clear market”.

Beneath this method, all electrical energy suppliers – from fossils fuels to wind and photo voltaic – bid into the market and provide vitality in line with their manufacturing prices, the Fee explains. The bidding begins from the most cost effective sources – renewables – and ends with the most costly ones – normally pure gasoline.

Since most EU nations nonetheless depend on fossil fuels to satisfy all their energy calls for, the ultimate worth of electrical energy is commonly set by the value of coal or pure gasoline. If gasoline turns into costlier, electrical energy payments inevitably go up, even when clear, cheaper sources additionally contribute to the overall vitality provide.

In current months, nations like Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Belgium have complained the present system creates an unfair “contagion impact” that wipes out the enter from renewables and nuclear energy.

Von der Leyen mentioned her staff will study if the marginal pricing guidelines are nonetheless “match for function” and discover the feasibility of decoupling gasoline from electrical energy costs.

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In parallel to the continued efforts to diversify suppliers and signal new gasoline offers, she burdened households and corporations ought to make an effort to chop down demand and save vitality.

“If few cut back two levels in our heating, we are able to save the entire deliveries of Nord Stream 1,” von der Leyen mentioned.

EU leaders may have an opportunity to debate the brand new plans to scale back demand and reform the market in late October, when the subsequent summit is scheduled to take occur.

“If there’s an emergency, we’ll meet earlier than then,” Draghi mentioned.

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Ron Ely, Star of TV’s Tarzan, Cause of Death Revealed

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Ron Ely, Star of TV’s Tarzan, Cause of Death Revealed


Ron Ely Dead: ‘Tarzan’ Actor Cause of Death Revealed — Obituary



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Scientists study ‘very rare’ frozen remains of 35,000-year-old saber-toothed cub

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Scientists study ‘very rare’ frozen remains of 35,000-year-old saber-toothed cub

A mummified saber-toothed cub of a catlike animal dating back 35,000 years was left almost perfectly preserved in Siberia’s permafrost.

The remains had been found back in 2020, northeast of Yakutia, Russia. Research regarding the study of the cub was published in the journal Scientific Reports on November 14, 2024. 

The discovery of frozen remains from the Late Pleistocene period is “very rare,” according to the published research, though most discovered in Russia lie in the Indigirka River basin, the authors note. 

The mummified saber-tooth cub found in Siberia’s permafrost was studied by scientists and found to have been buried around 35,000 years ago. (Alexey V. Lopatin)

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The mummified cub remained well-preserved, frozen in time for thousands of years. The frozen nature of this find left it in impressive condition, even still containing fur. 

“The mummy body is covered with short, thick, soft, dark brown fur with hair about 20–30 mm long,” the authors wrote in the published research, also pointing out that the fur that was located on the back and neck of the cub was longer than the hair that was found on the legs. 

The head of the mummy was also left well-preserved, down to its chest, front arms and paws. 

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The study of this find wasn’t just a unique opportunity for scientists, it also provided first-of-its kind research.  

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“For the first time in the history of paleontology, the appearance of an extinct mammal that has no analogues in the modern fauna has been studied,” the authors of the study explained. 

Heads of three-week-old cubs

This discovery provided an extremely unique and rare opportunity for scientists to study an extinct species that was so well preserved. (Alexey V. Lopatin)

The scientists determined that the cub had died at about three weeks old. It was identified by the authors of the study as belonging to the species Homotherium latidens and had many differentiations from a modern lion cub of a similar age. 

The shape of the muzzle displayed by the mummified cub, which had a large mouth and small ears, plus a “massive” neck, long forelimbs and a darker colored coat, were all among key differences from today’s modern lion cubs that scientists observed. 

2,000-YEAR-OLD ROMAN ROAD DISCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN LONDON

Scientists also worked in their research to find out how the extinct species was able to survive through frigid temperatures.  

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Large contributors to their survival were the shape of the large paws and absence of carpal pads. Scientists believe these elements helped them get through the snow.

In recent years, there have been other ancient animals found in Siberian permafrost. 

Skull of cub

Analysis of the cub’s skull helped scientists identify it as belonging to the genus Homotherium. (Alexey V. Lopatin)

 

For example, in 2021, a mummified wolf was discovered that dated back over 44,000 years, Live Science reported in June 2024. 

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More than 100 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in 48 hours

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More than 100 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in 48 hours

Director of the Kamal Adwan hospital says several staff wounded in Israeli bombardment.

At least 120 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in two days, Palestinian health officials said, as Israel intensified its bombardment across the besieged territory.

At least seven people were killed when a residential home was hit overnight in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, health officials said on Saturday. The other deaths were recorded in central and southern Gaza.

Israeli air raids caused significant damage to al-Faruq Mosque in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to a social media video verified by Al Jazeera.

Israeli forces also deepened their ground offensive and bombardment of northern Gaza, where one of the last partially operating hospitals was hit, wounding several workers.

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Hussam Abu Safia, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, said in a statement on Saturday that Israeli forces “directly targeted the entrance to the emergency and reception area several times, as well as the hospital courtyards, electrical generators, and hospital gates”.

The bombardment “resulted in 12 injuries among doctors, nurses, and administrative staff within the emergency and reception areas”, he said.

The Israeli military rejected the allegations and said it was “not aware of a strike in the area of the Kamal Adwan Hospital” following an initial review of the situation.

On Friday, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said hospitals have fuel left for only about two days before it needs to start restricting services.

Israel’s military imposed a siege and launched a renewed ground offensive in northern Gaza last month, saying it aimed to stop Hamas fighters from waging more attacks and regrouping in the area.

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The United Nations warned earlier this week that almost no aid had been delivered to northern Gaza since Israel’s renewed offensive as aid groups and food security experts warn of a famine in the area.

In a call with Defence Minister Israel Katz on Saturday, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pressed Israel to “take steps to improve the dire humanitarian condition in Gaza”, the Pentagon said.

Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 44,000 people and wounded more than 104,000 since October 2023, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel launched its assault on Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which at least 1,139 people were killed and about 250 others seized as captives.

A spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, Abu Ubaida, said later on Saturday that a female Israeli captive in the group’s custody had been killed in northern Gaza in an area under attack by Israel’s forces.

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“The life of another female prisoner who used to be with her remains in imminent danger,” he added, accusing the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being responsible and of undermining efforts to end the war.

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