Soaring gas and energy prices remain a major problem across Europe, and discussions to find a solution within the European Union continued on Friday at an informal European Council attended by heads of state and government from member countries in Prague participated in the Czech Republic. For months, the member states have been trying to find a common solution to calm the gas price, but the sensitivities are very different and the introduction of a cap, i.e. a limitation of the free market, does not convince everyone.

Some, like Germany, fear imposing a price cap will persuade suppliers to sell their gas elsewhere, while others fear states will have to step in to compensate energy companies. In particular, member countries are considering an Italian proposal to set a mobile index instead of a fixed cap, which seems to be gaining consensus. But unanimous decisions in Europe remain complicated and no agreement has yet been reached.

The 27 heads of state and government have already been in Prague since Thursday for the inaugural meeting of the European Political Community, a new format of international encounters promoted in particular by French President Emmanuel Macron, which extends cooperation to 17 European states outside the European Union, including the United Kingdom, Turkey and Norway and other Eastern European countries. The main topic was the sharp increase in the price of gas with all its economic consequences for the purchasing power of households and companies.

For months there has been discussion in Europe about the possible introduction of a gas price cap, also known as a price cap, either across the board or only geared towards the Russian one. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who believes that being able to cut energy bills is already a good start to halt price increases (inflation hit 10 percent in the eurozone for the first time in September).

A price cap would in practice impose a cap lower than current prices, which can save European countries but still remain convenient for suppliers. The proposal was never seriously considered due to some technical difficulties in applying it concretely and because of fears by some countries, notably Germany, that suppliers might choose to export their gas elsewhere at a higher price, ending months of efforts to find alternative to find suppliers for Russia were nullified.

Italy’s Minister for Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, has said on numerous occasions that Germans are more concerned about running out of petrol than about its price. Because unlike many other European countries, they have a decent public budget and the opportunity to spend much more than others. For this reason too, Olaf Scholz’s federal government has presented a 200 billion euro plan against price increases, which has met with a great deal of criticism.

The European Commission’s latest price cap proposal dates back to early September, when it proposed capping only Russian gas. But then the subsequent approval of the energy ministers failed and nothing more was done. However, there is a group of 15 countries including Italy, Spain, Poland and Belgium who continue to put pressure on them to start talking about it again.

In a letter to leaders released on Wednesday evening, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded to those countries, reiterating, albeit evasively, the need to discuss temporary “limitation of to discuss gas prices”. And that is exactly what was done in Prague.

First, a new mechanism for setting the European gas price has to be developed. The reference market in Europe is based in the Netherlands and is the Title Transfer Facility (TTF). In the European Union there are various similar markets (e.g. in Italy the PSV, the virtual trading point), but it is the Dutch TTF that sets the reference prices for the entire continent, because that is where most of the exchanges are located. Many blame speculation on the Dutch market for the high prices, but in reality many distortions stem from the specific characteristics of this market.

Compared to other international realities, the Dutch market as a whole is small compared to the total gas consumption in the European Union, where most of the raw material arrives via pipelines and is regulated by long-term supply contracts. As a result, only a few exchanges determine the price at which one buys and sells across an entire continent, which has created significant distortions. As these are relatively small volumes, fluctuations due to the movements of a few operators can be very large. This has created many volatility problems, ie sudden fluctuations, even very large ones.

With the aim of redesigning the mechanism, Italy circulated a new technical document during the gas market intervention meeting. It is no longer a question of a price ceiling, a term that is now difficult to accept for some States, but of a “dynamic price corridor”: the reference price for gas would become the average of the prices applied at international level markets that are larger and more stable than the FTT, which would be allowed a margin of fluctuation.

This would accommodate both gas suppliers who would not be subject to a fixed administered price and countries concerned about over-managed interventions.

The Italian government currently seems to be able to count on the support of the other states that have so far exerted pressure on the price cap and is convinced that the European Commission will also take the same line and thus make work easier. Germany, the Netherlands and the other previously skeptical states.

During the informal summit in Prague, leaders addressed the issue from a more political perspective. The technical details will be discussed among the energy ministers at the meeting next Tuesday and Wednesday in Prague. The European Commission must then come up with a proposal, which should include a mechanism similar to that developed by Italy at this point. And it is possible that an agreement will be reached at the European Council on October 20th and 21st, which will also be Mario Draghi’s last as Council President. Draghi said in a press conference at the end of the meeting that “something is happening in the field of energy”. Then he added that “the issues have not been discussed in great detail” because the technical details will be decided directly by the European energy ministers before the next European Council.

Another need that emerged during the meetings concerns the need to build stronger and more stable relationships with the countries supplying gas to the European Union in order to be able to obtain lower than market prices. Also in Prague, the heads of state and government also discussed energy with countries outside the European Union, which they include in the context of a new European political community.

Ursula von der Leyen insists that the price cut will inevitably be negotiated with Norway, which is now the Union’s first supplier of raw materials (which, by the way, gets a lot of money).

Von der Leyen has released a joint statement with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stating that we “need to jointly develop a tool to stabilize energy markets and limit the effects of market manipulation and price volatility”. Speaking at the meeting, Støre reiterated that Norway will increase gas production as much as possible while looking for a solution “to bring these excessively high prices down significantly in the short and long term”.

In a conversation with the agency Prensa Latina, the director of this airline announced that it would link Havana to Las Piedras, a free zone of Paraguaná in the Venezuelan state of Falcón, a very attractive place for recreational and commercial tourism, especially for the large population of Cubans in this country.

Naranjo recalled that Conviasa is a state-owned company with more than 17 years of foundation and 10 years of activity in Cuba, which started with Havana-Caracas trips with four frequencies and equal number of flights to Nicaragua and cooperation flights as part of close bilateral relations.

It is also proposed that the Cuban capital will soon be connected to Panama, as is already the case with Managua.

Conviasa, as an aeronautical consortium, manufactures parts, components and light aircraft, offering technical and legal advice on foreign trade operations and international cargo transport services, as well as private and personalized flights for private companies and maintenance for third parties to highly qualified personnel.

Naranjo announced that with Iran they will increase the technological capabilities of large aircraft, receive advice in the railway and subway sectors and reactivate the car factory, issues prioritized due to the economic blockade their country is facing the United States. .

Below expectations, he mentioned the expansion of air cargo traffic from the destinations they fly to: Russia, China, Spain, Bolivia, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Iran, St. Vincent and the Grenadines the destination, to intertwine them to reach the Cuban market, which due to its geographical location requires a lot of freight and passenger mobility.

He pointed out that for the rest of the year they will start flights to Nigeria, Algeria and Qatar, while new prospects are opening up in Cuba as they meet at the recently concluded International Transport and Logistics Fair with national venues such as Aerovaradero and Cubana de have exchanged Aviación interested in using Conviasa services.

Discussing the company’s strengths, he first mentioned its human resources while reflecting on the unity of the Cuban cargo and passenger market.

mem/crc

The 22-year-old died as a result of a childhood surgical procedure, forensic medicine said. Then there was talk of thyroid disease. Amini’s parents deny a previous illness.

The State Institute of Forensic Medicine has ruled out police violence in connection with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. According to the Misan news portal, the report on Amini’s death published on Friday stated that the Iranian Kurd had suffered from a thyroid disease since childhood. Investigations are said to have shown that the heart failure occurred because of previous illness after his arrest. It was said that this led to his death. Police violence is ruled out because no traces of a blow to the head on the body were found.

According to state television, Iran had already published an official medical explanation for the young Kurd’s death. The 22-year-old died “not from a beating” but as a result of a surgical procedure performed at age eight because of a brain tumor, the Organization of Forensic Medicine of Iran (IMO) said on Friday. .

Parents deny previous illnesses

Thus, the investigation report is based on pathological examinations, the autopsy of Amini’s body and CT scans of the lungs and brain. Amini’s father, on the other hand, had emphasized that her daughter was “in good health” until she was arrested by the vice squad. The young woman’s parents have repeatedly denied their daughter’s previous illness in recent weeks. She was perfectly healthy until her arrest by the vice squad and all allegations to the contrary were false, the family said. The Iranian judiciary, in turn, accuses the Amini family of disrespecting the country’s laws and wanting to stir up political sentiment against the Iranian system with the case of their daughter.

The young Kurdish woman died on September 16 after being arrested by the deputy squad in Tehran three days earlier on charges of failing to wear a headscarf in accordance with regulations. According to activists, she suffered a head injury while in police custody.

90 people killed in demonstrations

Amini’s death sparked a wave of protests against the oppression of women in Iran. According to human rights organizations, around 90 people have already been killed in the violent crackdown on protesters by the authorities.

Iranian authorities have since denied allegations that security forces killed a young man as they quelled protests following Amini’s death. Instead, 16-year-old Sarina Esmailsadeh committed suicide, according to justice website Misan Online.

Human Rights Watch reported in late September that the 16-year-old had died after security forces hit her on the head with a stick during a demonstration in the city of Karaj days earlier.

More female deaths

The justice website, however, quoted a prosecutor as saying that, according to “initial investigations”, the teenager “jumped off a building near her grandmother’s house”. There were no protests in the district at the time in question. However, the Tasnim news agency reported at the time that alleged “riot leaders” had been arrested in the area.

Only on Wednesday did the Iranian judiciary reject reports of the death of another 16-year-old on the sidelines of the protests. The girl disappeared during demonstrations in Tehran on 20 September. In one video, her mother blamed authorities for her daughter’s death.

Iranian forces ‘ready to fight’

On Friday night, the Iranian military said it was ready to fight the ongoing anti-system protests in the country. This was announced by army, Revolutionary Guard and police commanders in a joint letter to Iran’s supreme spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as reported by the ISNA news agency. “We will destroy the diabolical plans of the enemies of the Islamic Republic,” the commanders’ letter read.

According to news portal Entekhab, Sharif University in Tehran will remain closed until further notice. However, online classes are technically hardly possible due to government imposed internet blocks as the regime has severely restricted the internet.

(APA)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were enjoying a night out at a Jack Johnson performance this week when they were spotted for the first time since returning to the US following the funeral of his beloved grandmother, the Queen.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watched as the American singer-songwriter – best known for his 2006 hit “Better Together” – performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl in California.

The couple stood in a specially cordoned off area of ​​the venue Wednesday night with ten other people they had spoken to, according to TMZ.

It was reported that Harry and Meghan danced and swung to the music during the performance, while the Duke slipped his arm around the Duchess’s waist.

Meghan is said to have arrived at 8pm, before Harry arrived at the 9pm gig, which was part of Johnson’s Meet The Moonlight tour for his eighth studio album.

Prince Harry and Meghan attend a Jack Johnson performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Wednesday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watch the US singer-songwriter in California on Wednesday

Meghan enjoys a drink as she and Harry attend the Jack Johnson concert on Wednesday

Wednesday’s appearance marked the first time the Sussexes have been seen since the Queen’s funeral

Meghan smiles as Harry points at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Wednesday

The couple are said to have been standing in a cordoned-off area on Wednesday evening

Meghan is said to have arrived at 8pm, before Harry joined the 9pm gig on Wednesday

The Sussexes have also been featured in Instagram posts with other artists, including Hawaiian singer Paula Fuga and Ron Artis II, who was a support act for Johnson.

The Duke and Duchess started a new life in Santa Barbara after deciding to step down as senior members of the royal family in early 2020.

The couple’s evening marked the first time the Sussexes have been seen in public since the funeral of Harry’s late grandmother, the Queen, in London on September 19.

It comes after Meghan’s famous photographer Misan Harriman revealed on Monday new pictures of the Sussexes showing the pair at the One Young World event in Manchester on September 6.

In a color shot, Meghan can be seen in a smart red pantsuit while standing face forward and looking at the camera, while Harry in a suit and tie stands at an angle, smiling and gently holding his wife’s hand.

Harry and Meghan were at the gig with ten other people they had spoken to

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watch the US singer-songwriter in California on Wednesday

Prince Harry and Meghan attend a Jack Johnson performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Wednesday

Wednesday’s appearance marked the first time the Sussexes have been seen since the Queen’s funeral

Harry and Meghan are said to have danced and swung at the performance on Wednesday

Harry and Meghan were at the gig with ten other people they had spoken to

Harry and Meghan attended Jack Johnson’s performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Wednesday

Jack Johnson (file image) is on his Meet The Moonlight tour for his eighth studio album

The second image, in black and white, was taken just before taking the stage and shows the couple sideways, looking serene as they stand next to each other holding hands.

The pictures were posted to Harriman’s social media accounts just two days after Buckingham Palace released a family portrait of Harry’s father King Charles, brother Prince William, Kate and Queen Consort Camilla.

The picture of the four key figures at the heart of the monarchy was taken during the Queen’s mourning period before a palace reception for world leaders.

Also this week was the release of the next episode of Meghan’s Spotify podcast, with the series resuming on Tuesday after a four-week hiatus following the Queen’s death.

New pictures of the Sussexes were revealed on Monday by photographer Misan Harriman, showing the couple at the One Young World event in Manchester on September 6

A second image, in black and white, was taken just before they took the stage and shows the couple sideways and looking composed as they stand side by side holding hands

The pictures came just two days after a family portrait of Harry’s father King Charles, brother Prince William, Kate and Queen Consort Camilla (above) was released at Buckingham Palace.

Prince Harry and Meghan are seen alongside Prince William, Kate, Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19

Harry alongside Prince Edward attending the Queen’s funeral on September 19

The Duchess of Sussex at Westminster Abbey on the day of the Queen’s funeral last month

In it, she opened up about her teenage embarrassment at walking around naked with her mother at a Korean spa in Los Angeles.

She said she and her mother, Doria Ragland, shared a love of learning about other cultures and would visit the spa, where swimsuits weren’t allowed, to have a bowl of noodles and sit with women up to the age of 90, who were waiting for a body scrub.

It was, she said, “a very humbling experience for a girl going through puberty.”

Meghan explored the ‘Dragon Lady’ cliché with journalist Lisa Ling and comedian Margaret Cho in episode four of her Archetypes series.

Meghan said she only became aware of the stigma against women of Asian descent many years later.

She has criticized films such as Austin Powers and Kill Bill for portraying caricatures of Asian women as overly sexualized or aggressive.