Energy Ministers finally reach a deal on a gas price cap

Dec 20 2022

Photo Source: DOI

Following intense negotiations at the Energy Council that continued in Brussels, EU Energy Ministers reached a deal that can help introduce a market correction mechanism for natural gas, also known as a gas price cap. This market correction mechanism is aimed at establishing the natural gas markets when prices start increasing to excessive levels.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli stated that this is a good step forward and highlighted the importance of reaching an agreement needed to calm the markets and stabilise gas prices. Minister Dalli underscored the necessity of this agreement for Malta, as Malta uses gas for energy production.

The agreement aims to trigger the correction mechanism when gas prices start increasing beyond €180 with inbuilt safeguards for suspension and deactivation so as not to endanger the gas market. The price cap agreed and the whole mechanism is expected to result in manageable energy prices on the European continent from where Malta imports its electricity through the Interconnector.

The war on Ukraine has led to exorbitant energy prices, and whilst high energy prices will continue for the following months, the European Union is trying to implement regulations that can, to some extent, control such increases.

Energy Ministers also reached an agreement on two other emergency regulations, one relating to permitting for renewables and another one ensuring solidarity in cases of crisis.

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Can Messi overturn the egg? 80K likes to become most liked post

Dec 20 2022

Lionel Messi’s latest World Cup post could just overtake the most liked photo on all of Instagram – which is that of a singular egg posted by @world_recoord_egg

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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

The series of photos by Messi quickly overtook the earlier photo posted by the same player alongside other football star Cristiano Ronaldo playing chess.

And now Messi could be headed towards another victory, albeit on a completely different platform. The numbers are close and, as of time of writing, there are just 80K likes in terms of difference.

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A post shared by Egg Gang 🌎 (@world_record_egg)

Will this be the day the egg is dethroned?

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Roderick Cassar believed his wife was having an affair and vowed “revenge”

Dec 20 2022

Roderick Cassar, who is being accused of murdering his wife Bernice, vowed “revenge” in a social media post, the day before the murder took place.

As court continued to hear the case against Cassar, details about what had happened before the murder took place, continued to come to light. In fact, details about how Cassar believed his wife Bernice was having an affair with a work colleague, were explained in court, on Monday.

Cassar had written, “revenge is a must”, on a Facebook post that was also shown to police by Bernice’s work colleague, the day before the murder took place on November 22. In court, a police officer explained that the work colleague felt defamed by the accusation that he was having an affair, and had reported it.

The police officer had advised the work colleague to seek advice from a lawyer.

This case continues in January.

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Fortnite creator pays $520 million for violating children’s privacy

Dec 20 2022

Fortnite maker Epic Games has just agreed to pay a record sum of $520 million settlement over allegations that it misled its players, a vast majority of them being kids, into making unintended purchases.

The agreement was split into two amounts. The first is a $275 million settlement paid to the US government to resolve claims that it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

This is the largest penalty ever obtained for violating a Federal Trade Commission rule. The second amount is $245 million, and it goes to cover funds for customers who were harmed by its ‘dark patterns and billing practices’.

The FTC says the figure is the largest refund amount ever in a gaming case. “Protecting the public, and especially children, from online privacy invasions and dark patterns is a top priority for the Commission, and these enforcement actions make clear to businesses that the FTC is cracking down on these unlawful practices” said TC chair Lina M. Khan.

Fortnite is a free to download game, but players can, and incentivised, to buy in-game items which vary from skins to even dance moves.

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