World

EU will slash imports of Russian gas by two thirds by 2023

Published

3 years ago

March 9, 2022

EU will slash imports of Russian gas by two thirds by 2023

Brussels will slash by two-thirds the European Union’s reliance on Russian gasoline in response to the struggle in Ukraine, the European Fee introduced on Tuesday.

Europe will cut back its imports of Russian gasoline from 155 billion-cubic-metres (bcm) to 100 bcm per yr and goals to make up the shortfall with provide from suppliers of liquified pure gasoline (LNG), like america and Qatar, in addition to sustainable power sources resembling biomethane, clear hydrogen and renewable power.

“This may finish our over-dependence and provides us much-needed room to manoeuvre,” mentioned Frans Timmermans, the vice-president in command of the EU Inexperienced Deal.

“It’s laborious, bloody laborious, nevertheless it’s potential if we’re prepared to go additional and quicker than we’ve accomplished earlier than.”

Based on figures launched by Bruegel, an financial suppose tank, Russia’s share in gasoline imports fell from 47% in January 2021 to twenty-eight% in January 2022, amid tensions alongside the Ukraine border.

The query of power dependence, already excessive on the agenda earlier than the invasion started, has risen to a brand new degree over fears that European demand for gasoline could also be bankrolling Russia’s struggle in Ukraine. Greater than 40% of the nation’s income come from the gasoline and oil sectors.

The plans from Brussels comply with an aggressive set of sanctions aimed toward crippling President Vladimir Putin’s army equipment, however fall in need of a complete power ban, because the US authorities introduced the identical day.

“We is not going to be a part of subsidising Putin’s struggle,” President Joe Biden mentioned on Tuesday.

Brussels is as an alternative stepping up efforts to rapidly diversify its basket of power suppliers and diminish Russia’s presence to the best potential extent.

“It’s not a free market if there’s an actor prepared to control it,” mentioned Timmermans, referring to lingering suspicions that Gazprom, Russia’s largest power firm, is intentionally under-delivering.

Over the previous week, EU officers have reached out to gasoline exporters such because the US, Norway, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Egypt, Turkey, Japan and South Korea to safe alternate options to the Russian pipelines, which right this moment unfold over the bloc’s japanese entrance and join a number of member states.

Consequently, January 2022 noticed the very best ever ranges of LNG imports into the EU, reaching 10 billion cubic meters, a determine that’s set to stay excessive in February and the month to come back.

The bloc has right this moment a reception capability to course of 150 bcm of LNG and goals to purchase 50 bcm this yr alone.

Redistribution of income

The diversification marketing campaign, nevertheless, has to this point did not cushion the influence of skyrocketing gasoline costs: at the Dutch Title Switch Facility, Europe’s main benchmark, uncertainty across the Ukraine struggle has pushed costs to an all-time excessive of €227 megawatt per hour.

The present construction of the EU’s wholesale market units electrical energy costs by rating power sources from the most cost effective – the renewables – to the most costly ones – often gasoline. If gasoline turns into pricier, electrical energy payments inevitably go up, even when clear sources additionally contribute to the full power provide.

Though the Fee had beforehand rejected calls from Paris and Madrid, who demanded fast market reforms, the brand new circumstances are prompting a change of coronary heart.

Apart from conventional, market-friendly options resembling tax cuts and subsidies, which most member states have already rolled out, the chief is now opening the door to regulated worth limits for susceptible households and struggling corporations.

Brussels says governments can “exceptionally determine to seize” a number of the windfall income that power corporations are ripping from the hovering payments. Utilizing tax measures, the cash might be re-distributed amongst customers to alleviate month-to-month bills.

All measures must be non permanent and proportionate, the fee underlined.

“I believe we’d like a brand new European instrument as a result of completely different nations right here will likely be affected otherwise. There are nations which can be extra uncovered to Russian gasoline, that can undergo greater than nations that aren’t depending on Russian gasoline, or not depending on gasoline in any respect,” mentioned Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at Bruegel.

Moreover, Brussels needs to make gasoline storage extra constant and predictable to keep away from a repetition of the current energy crunch, which was partly attributable to the low ranges achieved in 2021.

Present storage ranges are beneath 30%, a harmful threshold that signifies tight provides.

“Due to gentle climate and LGN provides, we count on to be on the protected facet for this winter, however we have to guarantee gasoline storage for subsequent winter,” mentioned Kadri Simson, EU commissioner for power, noting her crew has ready for a partial or complete cut-off of Russian gasoline in retaliation for Western sanctions.

The fee will suggest in April a proposal to enshrine in regulation a 90% storage goal that must be met by 1 October yearly, proper earlier than temperatures begin to drop and heating consumption will increase.

‘Not prepared but to surrender gasoline’

Even when LGN has turn out to be the EU’s quickest method out of Russian power dependence, Brussels is urging member states to not lose sight of the inexperienced transition.

The bloc is meant to slash greenhouse gasoline emissions by not less than 55% earlier than the tip of the last decade, a goal set earlier than the Ukraine struggle upended Europe’s post-WWII safety association.

The fee insists renewables, resembling photo voltaic, wind and warmth pumps, are the “most-cost efficient resolution” to maneuver away from fossil fuels and strengthen the bloc’s power self-reliance.

For Greenpeace, the assurances weren’t sufficient. In a press release, the organisation referred to as on the chief to “part out gasoline, not store round for extra,” arguing a diversification of gasoline provides will ignore the core drawback and nonetheless make Europe “susceptible to power shocks.”

Simson struck a extra sombre be aware, saying the bloc will not be prepared but to “quit gasoline totally” and has no different selection however to deal with diversifying suppliers and wean itself from Russia’s market dominance.

Final month, Germany suspended the certification of Nord Stream 2, a gasoline pipeline that connects the nation with Russia, and introduced plans to construct two LNG terminals within the close to future.

Brussels has repeatedly described gasoline as a “transitional power” that may act as a bridge to local weather neutrality. Earlier this yr, the chief included gasoline in its taxonomy of sustainable actions, a controversial transfer that was extensively lambasted by civil society as blatant greenwashing.

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World

Beyoncé NFL Halftime Show Will Be Available to Rewatch on Netflix as a Stand-Alone Special

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Beyoncé NFL Halftime Show Will Be Available to Rewatch on Netflix as a Stand-Alone Special

UPDATE, 12/25, 4:30 p.m. PT: Netflix said it will provide on-demand access to the full halftime performance of “Beyoncé Bowl” as a stand-alone special “later this week.” The 20-minute spectacle — her first live TV performance in four years — featured Post Malone, Shaboozey and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter to debut tracks from “Cowboy Carter” for the first time in a live setting.

EARLIER:

Beyoncé will light up the Houston night on Christmas with a halftime performance during the Ravens-Texans game on Netflix. To watch it, you’ll have to tune in live on Dec. 25 — otherwise, you’ll have only a few hours to catch the replay on Netflix.

Queen Bey’s Xmas performance will feature her first live performances of songs from “Cowboy Carter.” She’ll take the stage in her hometown during halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans matchup at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Netflix, as part of its accelerating push into live sports, snagged global rights to the NFL’s two Christmas Day 2024 games: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers (starting at 1 p.m. ET), followed by the Ravens-Texans game (4:30 p.m. ET).

Under Netflix’s agreement with the NFL, in the U.S., the two Christmas games expire three hours after the livestream ends (meaning Beyoncé’s performance and the Ravens-Texans game will no longer be available to rewatch on Netflix as of around 11 p.m. ET). Outside the U.S., the games expire on Netflix 24 hours after the livestream ends. The NFL livestreams will include ad breaks, even for Netflix subscribers on no-ads plans.

Few details are available for Beyoncé’s Christmas halftime show, but according to Netflix she is expected to bring along some “special guests” who are featured on “Cowboy Carter.” She’s a veteran of two Super Bowls: Beyoncé was the halftime performer for the 2013 game in New Orleans, which featured a Destiny’s Child reunion; and in 2016, she sang “Formation” when Coldplay was the headliner act.

On Christmas Day, Netflix’s pregame coverage will kick off at 11 a.m. ET, from NFL Network’s studios in L.A. and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The streamer has tapped Mariah Carey to deliver a recorded performance of her record-breaking holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” before both of the day’s two games.

If you missed the window for Netflix’s NFL livestreams, you still have the chance to catch the reruns. As it stands right now, NFL Network is scheduled to re-air Ravens-Texans on Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 11:30 p.m. ET and Thursday, Dec. 26, at 5 a.m. ET. The channel will re-air Chiefs-Steelers on Dec. 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET and Dec. 26 at 2 a.m. ET. There is the possibility for additional re-airs but portions of the NFL Network’s programming schedule are still being determined. In addition, replays of both games will be available with NFL+ Premium ($14.99/month) in the U.S. and via DAZN internationally.

Note also that the two Netflix Christmas Day games will air on broadcast TV in the competing teams’ local markets and will be available live on U.S. mobile devices with an NFL+ subscription.

World

Zelenskyy lambastes Putin over Christmas strikes: 'What could be more inhumane?'

Published

3 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Zelenskyy lambastes Putin over Christmas strikes: 'What could be more inhumane?'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy excoriated Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday for launching attacks against energy infrastructure on Christmas Day.

Zelenskyy suggested the attacks were “inhumane,” but said they would not ruin Christmas.

“Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine,” he declared in a post on X.

The Russian Defence Ministry acknowledged a “massive strike” on its part, saying it hit energy facilities that supported Ukraine’s “military-industrial complex,” Reuters reported.

“The aim of the strike was achieved. All facilities have been hit,” the ministry said.

RUSSIA BATTERS UKRAINE POWER GRID AMID RISING CONCERN PUTIN COULD ORDER BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK THIS WEEKEND

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks with the media during the European Council Meeting in Brussels on Thursday. (Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

Strikes against Ukrainian fuel and energy sources involved 78 air, ground and sea-launched missiles, in addition to 106 Shaheds and other kinds of drones, Ukraine’s air force claimed, according to The Associated Press.

“Unfortunately, there have been hits. As of now, there are power outages in several regions. Power engineers are working to restore power supply as soon as possible,” Zelenskyy noted.

Still, the Ukrainian leader declared that “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not spoil Christmas.”

US CITIZEN IMPRISONED IN RUSSIA GIVEN NEW 15-YEAR SENTENCE IN WAKE OF ESPIONAGE CONVICTION

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on Thursday. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. has provided billions of dollars’ worth of aid to help Ukraine fight the Russian onslaught that erupted in 2022, but Americans and their congressional representatives have been divided regarding whether the U.S. should continue supplying aid to Ukraine.

President-elect Trump, who will take office on Jan. 20, has called for a cease-fire and negotiations.

TRUMP MEETS WITH MACRON, ZELENSKYY AHEAD OF NOTRE DAME REOPENING CEREMONY IN PARIS

President-elect Trump looks on during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix on Sunday. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In a post on Truth Social this month, Trump declared that “Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.”

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

World

Five journalists killed in Israeli strike near Gaza hospital

Published

5 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Journalists from Al-Quds Today were covering events at al-Awda Hospital when their vehicle was struck.

Five journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in the vicinity of a hospital in central Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities and media reports.

The journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were covering events near al-Awda Hospital, located in the Nuseirat refugee camp, when their broadcasting van was hit by an Israeli air strike, Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif reported early on Thursday morning.

Footage from the scene circulating on social media shows a vehicle engulfed in flames.

A screenshot taken from a video of the white-coloured van shows the word “press” in large red lettering across the back of the vehicle.

The deceased journalists have been named as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan and Ayman al-Jadi.

Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif said that Ayman al-Jadi had been waiting for his wife in front of the hospital while she was in labour to give birth to their first child.

Breaking: Five journalists lost their lives after their vehicle was incinerated in an Israeli airstrike targeting the broadcasting van of “Al-Quds Today” channel while covering events near Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/oiAmxgZwO5
— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) December 26, 2024

Civil defence teams retrieved the bodies of the victims and extinguished a fire at the scene, the Quds News Network said.

There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) earlier this month condemned Israel’s killing of four Palestinian journalists in the space of a week, calling on the international community to hold the country accountable for its attacks against the media.

At least 141 journalists have been killed in Israel’s war in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the CPJ.