Brussels – dpa: The European Union reduced the demand for natural gas during the current winter by almost a fifth, exceeding
The voluntary target for demand cut was 15% to help ensure stable supplies during the heating season as supplies of Russian natural gas dwindle.
According to data from the European Statistical Agency, Eurostat, natural gas consumption in the European Union during the period from August to January decreased by 19% from the average consumption during that period of the previous five years.
Finland recorded the largest decline in gas consumption during the winter season, and the percentage of the decline amounted to regarding half, while demand increased in Malta and Slovakia only.
Bloomberg News indicated that Eurostat data did not reveal the rate of decline resulting from the rise in gas prices or the mild weather during the last period of this winter, but it showed the extent of the success of the efforts of the Union countries that were afraid of severe energy crises, including the potential Electricity outages as a result of supply not matching demand.
It is possible that the European Union will begin the season of refilling natural gas storage tanks for the next winter, while these warehouses are currently filled by more than 50%, which will limit the rise in prices during the summer, and enhance energy security before the peak season of energy demand in next winter.
The Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, will consult with member states regarding whether the matter needs to extend restrictions on gas consumption, as the current restrictions are scheduled to expire at the end of next March.
The recent decline in gas prices raised concerns regarding the possibility of an increase in demand for it during the coming period. It is possible that energy ministers in the European Union will discuss the available options during an informal meeting in Sweden, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union next week.
This comes at a time when the share of Russian natural gas supplies has fallen from regarding 50% of total supplies in Europe to less than 10%, according to European Union data. In the event that Russian supplies continue at their current levels, the European Union will import 20 billion cubic meters of Russian gas this year, compared to 155 billion cubic meters before the outbreak of the Russian war once morest Ukraine in late February.
Daily Archives
February 22, 2023
Being prosecuted for spending someone else’s money and transferring it to the wrong account
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Despite being notified by the bank regarding the wrong transfer of more than 314 million dong into her account, Truong Thi Van Anh still transferred that amount to another account to pay off debt and for personal consumption.
On February 22, the Economic Police Team – Police of Thanh Khe District (Da Nang City), said that it had decided to prosecute the accused and applied measures to prevent Truong Thi Van Anh from leaving the place of residence. (SN 1987, residing in Bo De ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi) for the crime of “Illegal possession of property”.
Before that, on December 9, 2022, Ms. TTCG (SN 1986, residing in Hoa An ward, Cam Le district, Da Nang city) went to a bank branch on Nguyen Van Linh street (Thanh Khe district) to transfer the amount. 314.5 million VND for customers.
However, Ms. G. mistakenly transferred to Truong Thi Van Anh’s account opened at Techcombank. After discovering that the wrong money was transferred, Ms. G. went to the bank where the money was transferred to ask for assistance.
Despite being notified by the bank regarding the wrong transfer of money, Van Anh still deliberately transferred the received amount to another account of hers and then used that money to pay off debts and for personal consumption.
G.’s report, Thanh Khe District Police investigated, verified and proposed to blockade and recover the amount of 205 million VND from Truong Thi Van Anh’s account to return to the victim.
Van Anh confessed that because he was in debt and needed money to spend, he committed the above crime.
Tiroler Tageszeitung, editorial from February 23, 2023. By Wolfgang Sablatnig: “History that needs a future”.
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Innsbruck (OTS) – The Russian invasion of Ukraine exactly one year ago also put Austrian neutrality to the test. Referring only to the past does not meet the requirements of security policy.
The government would know. “We agree that nothing has been the same since February 24 last year,” said Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler, referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner is pushing under the umbrella of the European Sky Shield air defense system – and is proud of General Robert Brieger, who is the first Austrian to head the EU military committee. Being neutral doesn’t mean not having an attitude, says Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
You would know it – and yet the federal government does not want to enter into a debate regarding security policy. Its members prefer to bend over backwards in European discussions with their counterparts. They have to explain to them how they want to reconcile all this. Neutral in Vienna, solidary in Brussels. Apart from direct deliveries of arms and ammunition, there is not much that distinguishes Austria from other EU countries – except perhaps its dependence on Russian gas.
In Austria, neutrality is closely linked to a sense of security that has lost its basis: it was closely linked to the Cold War, on the front line of which Austria established itself.
In the decades since it was decided in 1955, neutrality has become part of Austria’s identity, as Edtstadler puts it. In the polls, the approval is actually large. The fear of losing even more people to the FPÖ is just as great. The Blues play the piano of moods and let nothing get past neutrality. Of course, they make it easy for themselves: they propagate what voices promise. Herbert Kickl and Co. do not plan a fact check.
But courting votes is not a sufficient reason to refuse the debate. Nothing is as it was. That must also mean discussing the meaning and nature of neutrality. Referring to history is not enough.
Maybe in the end it will turn out that everything fits the way it is. Or it turns out that neutrality has had its day.
But maybe it will also come out that neutrality needs new content. That efforts are needed to reposition Austria as a place for negotiations in the world. Maybe then there will be a line as to what is allowed and what is not. Perhaps neutrality will be re-declared. Perhaps then one understands the military capability and the federal army as a central part of it.
Perhaps. But as long as we don’t conduct the security policy debate without blinkers, we’ll never find out.
Questions & contact:
Tiroler Tageszeitung
0512 5354 5101
editor-in-chief@tt.com
Shortly following its launch, Atomic Heart is already in the midst of a great controversy. Ukraine asks that the title developed by Mundfish be removed from the digital stores of Sony, Microsoft and Valve in the country, and will send an official request to the big brands. The request for a ban on sales of the game is due to the strong connection between Mundifish and Russia, since, despite the studio being located in Cyprus, the developer was founded by Russians.
Mundifsh would still allegedly have relations with the Russian state energy Gazprom, in addition to never having spoken openly once morest the invasion of Ukraine, which is interpreted as support for the actions of the Russian forces or at least a non-involvement much criticized by the Ukrainians.
Ukraine also asks that distribution be limited in other countries
In addition to wanting Atomic Heart banned within the confines of the country, Ukraine also wants the Mundfish game to be restricted from distribution in other countries around the world. According to Alexander Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs, the country wants the limitation due to the game’s toxicity and the risk of the title being used to collect user data.
We also call for limiting the distribution of this game in other countries due to its toxicity, possible collection of user data and possibility of transfer to third parties in Russia, as well as the potential use of money raised from purchasing the game to wage war once morest Ukraine”
Even before the launch of the game, Mundfish anticipated likely accusations and stated that there is no type of espionage being carried out with the title. In regards to the Ukraine war, Mick Gordo, composer of the Atomic Heart soundtrack, has announced that he will be donating his earnings from the game to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Atomic Heart is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC. The game landed directly on Xbox Game Pass.