Amid the Russia-Ukraine war and all the ruckus about Russian energy imports, the West is emerging as a champion in doublespeak. Even as it wished for India to not buy Russian oil at a discount, the West has vacillated on the issue of buying Russian energy itself, leading to an increase in imports. The European Union is in a particularly hypocritical position, divided by Russia’s ‘blackmailing’ tactics. Not only is it far from weaning off Russian energy imports, but the EU is also on its way to complying with Russia’s ruble payment condition. If media headlines are anything to go by, if at one moment the EU is imposing sanctions on Russian gas imports so as to not bankroll Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in the next moment, it is scrambling to circumvent the same sanctions and bankroll Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Indeed, the bloc is divided over how far its boycott of Russian gas can go and Putin’s “pay in ruble” curveball did the rest of the damage. But after hoodwinking EU countries … [Read more...] about Putin is Winning the Energy War as Europe’s Paradoxical Drama on Russian Gas Imports Rages on
How much natural gas does a fireplace use
EU rushes out $300 billion roadmap to ditch Russian energy
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive arm moved Wednesday to jump-start plans for the 27-nation bloc to abandon Russian energy amid the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, proposing a nearly 300 billion-euro ($315 billion) package that includes more efficient use of fuels and faster rollout of renewable power. The European Commission’s investment initiative is meant to help the 27 EU countries start weaning themselves off Russian fossil fuels this year. The goal is to deprive Russia, the EU’s main supplier of oil, natural gas and coal, of tens of billions in revenue and strengthen EU climate policies. “We are taking our ambition to yet another level to make sure that we become independent from Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels when announcing the package, dubbed REPowerEU. With no end in sight to Russia’s war in Ukraine and European energy security shaken, the EU is rushing to align its geopolitical … [Read more...] about EU rushes out $300 billion roadmap to ditch Russian energy
Reports: 4 European nations to build North Sea wind farms
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Four European Union countries plan to build North Sea wind farms capable of producing at least 150 gigawatts of energy by 2050 to help cut carbon emissions that cause climate change, Danish media reported Wednesday. Under the plan, wind turbines would be raised off the coasts of Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, daily Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten said. The project would mean a tenfold increase in the EU's current offshore wind capacity. “The North Sea can do a lot," Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen told the newspaper, adding the close cooperation between the four EU nations "must start now.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo are scheduled to attend a North Sea Summit on Wednesday in Esbjerg, 260 … [Read more...] about Reports: 4 European nations to build North Sea wind farms
Economic Headwinds Mount as Leaders Weigh Costs of Confronting Russia
BRUSSELS — The world economy is heading into a potentially grim period as rising costs, shortages of food and other commodities and Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine threaten to slow economic growth and bring about a painful global slump. Two years after the coronavirus pandemic emerged and left much of the globe in a state of paralysis, policymakers are grappling with ongoing challenges, including clogged supply chains , lockdowns in China and the prospect of an energy crisis as nations wean themselves off Russian oil and gas . Those colliding forces have some economists starting to worry about a global recession as different corners of the world find their economies battered by events. Finding ways to avoid a slowdown while continuing to exert pressure on Russia for its war in Ukraine will be the primary focus of finance ministers from the Group of 7 nations who are convening in Bonn, Germany, this week. At a news conference on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Janet L. … [Read more...] about Economic Headwinds Mount as Leaders Weigh Costs of Confronting Russia
Tucker Carlson, fierce NATO critic, to speak at ‘CPAC Hungary’ with Orbán
Fox News' Tucker Carlson is set to speak in a video address this week at CPAC Hungary 2022 (Conservative Political Action Conference) alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. CPAC Hungary 2022, the first such conference to be held in Europe, will be hosted by the Center for Fundamental Rights and the American Conservative Union (ACU) on May 19 and 20 in Budapest. As the war between Ukraine and Russia rages on and Finland and Sweden have submitted their NATO applications, it is expected that speakers will reflect on the future of Europe and NATO as well as on conservative issues. Orbán, who is a long-time supporter of Putin and did choose to side with other EU countries in imposing some sanctions on Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine, is to be the keynote speaker at the event. "We know that we are facing serious challenges. CPAC Hungary is looking for the answer to how we can protect Western civilization, true Western values, how we can resist the attacks of … [Read more...] about Tucker Carlson, fierce NATO critic, to speak at ‘CPAC Hungary’ with Orbán
TV at Unprecedented Scale: How Dick Wolf Rebounded to 198 Hours of Drama a Season
Click here to read the full article. Dick Wolf does not take anything for granted. Not even his prowess as one of Hollywood’s most prolific producers. The lord of “ Law & Order ” has taken his television operations to new heights during the 2021-22 television season, which is about to conclude with no less than six Wolf-produced series in primetime’s top 10 rankings. More from Variety Broadcast Rankings: Most and Least-Watched Scripted TV Series of 2021-2022 Season 'Law & Order' and 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' Renewed for New Seasons at NBC 'FBI,' 'FBI: International' and 'FBI: Most Wanted' Renewed for Two New Seasons Each at CBS . Over a long conversation on a deck overlooking the ocean near his home in Montecito, Calif., last month, the 75-year-old writerproducer speaks at length about the changes in television and the revitalization of his Wolf Entertainment banner over the past half-dozen years. Wolf and his loyal team of … [Read more...] about TV at Unprecedented Scale: How Dick Wolf Rebounded to 198 Hours of Drama a Season
Tame fox can’t bear to be parted from her cuddly toy in adorable video
A tame fox hand-reared after being abandoned as a cub came to get her toy teddy bear to take it back to her own cubs in a cute video shared by the animal's rescuer. Michelle Krsnik, 19, who lives with the rescue named Foxie in her home country of Croatia, shares clips on TikTok and Instagram where she is building a large online following. But now Foxie apparently has her own family of cubs. Krsnik does not see her very often except when she pops in to pick up the teddy bear she adored while she was growing up. On TikTok, Foxie boasts 126,000 followers and numerous viral clips, including one viewed over 11 million times. Krsnik, a veterinary technician, said she saved Foxie as a little cub after coming across her alone and hungry in the woods about a year ago. Michelle Krsnik, a veterinary technician, said she saved Foxie as a little cub after coming across her alone and hungry in the woods about a year ago. @croatian_fox/Zenger After the cub grew up, … [Read more...] about Tame fox can’t bear to be parted from her cuddly toy in adorable video
Buffalo’s Tops, where racist gunman attacked, is a lifeline in a Black community’s food desert
Dakarai Singletary couldn’t sleep Saturday night, after the shooting at Tops Friendly Markets, a grocery store up the street from his home in Buffalo, New York. The shooting, allegedly carried out by an 18-year-old white man, left 10 dead and three injured. Eleven of the victims were Black. The supermarket is now temporarily closed after the shooting, leaving Singletary’s community with even less access to fresh food. That kept him awake that night, planning what to do. “I read the news everyday, and when I see mass shootings I always pray,” Singletary, 27, said. “But when it’s in your neighborhood and I’d hop on Instagram and see that it was somebody that I know who was affected, it hits harder.” Buffalo’s Masten Park is one of the many Black neighborhoods across the country that has limited access to grocery stores selling fresh goods at an affordable price. Now that the supermarket, which opened in 2003, has temporarily closed in the shooting’s aftermath, it poses new … [Read more...] about Buffalo’s Tops, where racist gunman attacked, is a lifeline in a Black community’s food desert
Lok Sabha updates | March 15, 2022
On the first day of the second part of the Budget session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a ₹1.42-lakh-crore budget, along with proposals for supplementary demands of grants for Jammu and Kashmir. This was followed by members of the Lower House taking up the bill for discussion. In today’s session, the House is discussing the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways for 2022-23. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh has made a statement on the issue of the inadvertent missile firing, while Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar has briefed the Lower House about the situation in Ukraine, detailing the rescue of Indian nationals from conflict zones. Here are the latest updates: 12.00 a.m. Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for the day Speaker Om Birla adjourns the Lok Sabha proceedings until 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. 11.51 p.m. Get rid of rate of return system used by British: Nishikant Dubey to Railway Minister BJP MP … [Read more...] about Lok Sabha updates | March 15, 2022