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Two more UK energy suppliers collapse, 250k affected

By
IFP Media Wire
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A further two energy suppliers have ceased trading as wholesale gas prices continue to soar, regulator Ofgem has announced.

Pure Planet and Colorado Energy, who have a combined 250,000 UK customers, have become the latest failures after nine other small energy supplies went bust since the start of September.

The 100% renewable energy supplier Pure Planet supplies gas and electricity to around 235,000 domestic customers.

In a statement, the firm’s co-founders Andrew Ralston, Chris Alliott and Steven Day said: “We are heartbroken that Pure Planet has entered the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process due to the global energy crisis and the way it has impacted the GB supply market“.

“The government’s price cap, while protecting consumers from sky-rocketing global wholesale energy prices, is not matched by anything which protects suppliers,” it continued, adding, “Instead suppliers are being asked to fund the difference between the record costs of wholesale energy and what they are allowed to sell it for to consumers.“
“Suppliers are increasingly unable to cover their costs. Too many have gone bust already, and more will in the future unless something changes,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Colorado Energy, which has some 15,000 domestic customers, has had to cease trading due to the current crisis facing small suppliers.

The price of gas, which makes up over a third of the UK’s electricity production, has quadrupled since the start of the year and has increased sharply in the past few months.

A global shortage of gas has increased prices around the world, with demand rising as economies emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The last winter was a long and cold one across Europe and Asia, increasing demand for heating and leaving gas stocks depleted.

It has helped create huge problems for industries that use large amounts of electricity.

Ofgem has announced it will protect the customers’ supply of energy and credit in accounts.

Neil Lawrence, director of retail at Ofgem, said: “I want to reassure affected customers that they do not need to worry: under our safety net we’ll make sure your energy supplies continue.

“If you have credit on your account the funds you have paid in are protected and you will not lose the money that is owed to you,” Lawrence added.

“Ofgem will choose a new supplier for you and while we are doing this our advice is to wait until we appoint a new supplier and do not switch in the meantime,” he stated, noting, “You can rely on your energy supply as normal. We will update you when we have chosen a new supplier, who will then get in touch about your tariff.”

HRW says Saudi takeover of Newcastle aimed at sportswashing

By
IFP Media Wire
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A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, received approval for a $400 million takeover the popular Newcastle club earlier this month.

The U.K. Premiere League has said that it received “legally binding assurances” that the Saudi state would not control the club, Sky Sports reported.

However, concerns arose after activists described the PIF as “inseparable” from the Saudi government.

Nabhan al-Hanshi, acting director of ALQST, a Saudi human rights group based in the U.K., told The Guardian daily that there is “no division between the PIF and the state.”

“The Saudi ruler is in charge of the PIF, sits at the top of the PIF and uses the PIF directly to maintain power. The Saudi monarchy is using football to hide this horrifying record, and everyone should be utterly appalled,” Hanshi told the newspaper.

The move also garnered criticism from human rights groups such as Amnesty International, which stressed the move “raises a host of deeply troubling questions about sportswashing, about human rights and sport, and about the integrity of English football.”

Amnesty’s U.K. chief, Sacha Deshmukh, added that “Football is a global sport on a global stage – it urgently needs to update its ownership rules to prevent those implicated in serious human rights violations from buying into the passion and glamour of English football.”

A report from Grant Liberty in March shed light on the Saudi investment in the world of sports, ranging from chess championships to Formula One and horse racing.

The report further added that “the regime seeks to use the glamour of elite sport to obscure its record of human rights abuse, state-sponsored murder, torture, and the continued bombing campaign in Yemen.”

“Saudi Arabia is trying to use the good reputation of the world’s best loved sports stars to obscure a human rights record of brutality, torture and murder,” the Grant Liberty report said.

A report released by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence in February said the Saudi Crown Prince approved the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

US planning to resume Afghanistan flights

By
IFP Media Wire
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The small number of American citizens and thousands of Afghans left behind after the chaotic evacuation effort in the final weeks of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

“As soon as we have the right combination of documentation and logistics, we will get going again,” a senior State Department official said.

According to the official, the State Department is continuing to process visa applications so more people can become eligible for the flights.

“Until the airport is reopened, I think all we have to deal with really is charter flights, because regular airlines are going to find it very difficult to pay the insurance premiums that are required or be willing to fly into Afghanistan,” the official added.

The State Department estimated in September that fewer than 200 Americans who wanted to leave were left behind; some of those have since departed the country. Nongovernmental organizations say the number is higher.

The Taliban entered the Afghan capital of Kabul in mid-August, which led to the collapse of the previous Western-backed government, and mass evacuations of foreigners and nationals seeking to escape Afghanistan in fear of the movement. The evacuation operation was completed on August 31 along with the pullout of international forces. During massy, last-minute evacuations, a limited number of Afghans, who had previously worked for the international forces during their deployment in Afghanistan, managed to leave the country in evacuation flights.

The administration of President Joe Biden has been under pressure from lawmakers, veterans and other advocates to do more to help Afghans left behind. The U.S. and its allies airlifted almost 100,000 Afghans out of the country during a two-week operation in August after the Taliban seized power, according to the Centre For Immigration Studies, a nonprofit. State Department officials have announced most applicants for a visa program for former Afghan U.S. military and government workers were left behind.

Taiwan says not to start war with China but to defend itself

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Taiwanese defense minister has vowed that the island won’t be the one instigating conflict amid a spike in tensions with Beijing, which recently staged beach war drills in a nearby province.

Speaking on Thursday, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told a parliamentary committee meeting that the island will defend itself if attacked, but that it will not initiate conflict and seeks to maintain the status quo.

“What is clearest is that the Republic of China [Taiwan] absolutely will not start or set off a war, but if there are movements we will meet the enemy full on,” the defense minister stated.

Chiu contended that Beijing aimed to put pressure on Taiwan – which Beijing considers to be part of China – while also warning Western nations not to get involved in the dispute over the island’s independence.

The minister concurred with a lawmaker who suggested that China’s air force was constrained by finite air-to-air refueling capacity and noted that only a limited number of Beijing’s aircraft had flown over the Bashi Channel, a body of water that sits some distance from mainland China and separates Taiwan from the Philippines.

According to maps drawn up by Chiu’s ministry, Chinese aircraft have been keeping closer to the mainland in recent incursions into Taiwan’s air defense zone.

China has stepped up its military activities in recent weeks, sending more planes into Taiwan’s air defense zone.

Chinese forces also carried out beach landing and assault drills in the southern part of Fujian province on Monday; the region sits just across the sea from Taiwan. According to the official People’s Liberation Army Daily newspaper, the drills involved “shock” troops, sappers, and boat specialists.

On Wednesday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, stressed that the exercise was “absolutely just” and a response to Taipei’s “bogus accusations” against Beijing and collusion with foreign powers.

Iran: 68 million doses of Covid vaccine so far administered

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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He was speaking on Thursdays during a visit to the southern Iranian province of Fars.
Einollahi said 63 million of the 68 million shots have been given in the past two months.

Since Wednesday alone, Iranian healthcare workers administered 1,282,823 doses of vaccine to people. The accelerating vaccination process has resulted in a drastic decrease in the number of deaths from Covid over the past weeks.

Iran has seen a downward trend in new infections and hospitalizations as well. But the disease is still killing, though in smaller numbers compared with the time when the fifth peak of the pandemic in Iran was holding a grip on the nation.

Authorities announced on Thursday, Covid-19 has killed 223 more people in Iran in the past 24 hours. The fatalities push to 123,498, the death toll since the pandemic started.

Authorities have lifted some Covid-related restrictions, but they are warning people against relaxing Covid health protocols, saying this could cause a sixth peak of the disease in Iran.

Iran nuclear negotiator: Serious doubts about real will of US

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ali Bagheri Kani, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and the country’s nuclear negotiator made the remark on Thursday, in a meeting with Enrique Mora the European Union coordinator of nuclear talks, in Tehran.

Bagheri also criticized the inaction of the European parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Iran nuclear deal and stressed the need for them to act responsibly.

He emphasized that Iran has always proved to be a responsible player in the international arena, while the behavior of the other side shows that it is far from being a responsible player.

Bagheri added that the side showing more responsibility is closer to the negotiating table.
Referring to the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, Bagheri noted that achieving tangible results is important for Iran. He said Tehran is always ready for serious negotiations that result in a practical agreement and not merely a paper agreement.

Enrique Mora also explained his task as the EU Coordinator, announcing his readiness to cooperate with Iran and other parties in order to continue negotiations to achieve a result acceptable to all parties.

In the end, the two sides agreed that the consultations between them on issues of mutual interest would continue in the coming days in Brussels.

Bilateral relations, regional issues, including developments in Afghanistan and Yemen, as well as talks on lifting sanctions on Iran, were also discussed in the meeting between the Iranian and EU officials.

Taliban delegation in Turkey for talks

By
IFP Media Wire
-

A high-level delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government, visited Ankara Thursday to hold talks with senior Turkish officials.

The delegation boarded a plane from the Qatari capital Doha.

In a meeting with Western diplomats in Doha on Tuesday, Muttaqi had stated that weakening the Afghan government would not benefit anyone as it would have negative economic and migration repercussions for the world.

The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi noted that the delegation was invited by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

“The delegation will hold talks with senior Turkish officials on issues of mutual interest,” Balkhi wrote on Twitter.

This marks the first high-level contact between Turkey and the new administration in Afghanistan after the Taliban took power on Aug. 15.

Balkhi said the two sides will discuss how to improve bilateral relations, trade, humanitarian aid, migration and air transport issues.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently highlighted the importance of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, as he noted it was crucial in reaching a deal regarding the operation of the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Erdoğan also stated at a virtual meeting between the Group of 20 most powerful economies that the international community should keep the channels of dialogue with the Taliban open to “patiently and gradually steer” them toward establishing a more inclusive government.

He added Turkey, which already hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians, cannot bear an influx of migrants from Afghanistan, warning that European nations would also be affected by a new wave of migrants.

The Taliban say they want international recognition. They warn that weakening their government will affect security and spark an even bigger exodus of migration from the country.

Also, Çavuşoğlu recently noted that humanitarian aid would be sent to Afghanistan by land via Pakistan, as it is faster and less costly.

Taliban officials previously noted that they want Turkey to provide aid and support to the Afghan people and called on Turkey to be the first country to formally recognize the new administration in Afghanistan.

Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Taliban delegation will arrive in Moscow next week to participate in the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan.

“Next week, we are expecting a representative delegation of the Taliban movement to visit Moscow to take part in the third Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan,” the Russian diplomat stated.

Zakharova noted that Moscow was concerned over the ongoing terrorist activity of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan.

“We hope that the new authorities in Kabul will deliver on their statements that they can cope with IS on their own, without any outside help,” the diplomat continued, adding, “We also noted the Taliban delegation’s two-day visit to Qatar, led by the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister. Negotiations took place there, in particular, with the US Department of State’s representatives.”

The consultations are scheduled for October 20, 2021. The Moscow format was established in 2017 on the basis of a six-party consultation mechanism of the special envoys of Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and Pakistan.

Several killed, wounded in Lebanon gunfire

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has confirmed that the death toll from the shooting in Beirut has climbed to six. He also stated that bullets had been fired at the protesters’ heads.

Al-Mayadeen TV channel has reported at least 60 people have been injured, while the Lebanese Red Cross told Al-Jazeera at least 25 others wounded by gunfire.

The incident comes amid rallies staged by supporters and allies of the Hezbollah group, who planned to go to the Justice Palace to protest against the judge investigating the deadly Beirut port explosion.

Videos and photos have emerged online, showing people running in the street and trying to hide in a nearby district.

At least two explosions were also reported in Beirut after clashes had occurred near a site where a demonstration had to take place.

The Lebanese army has issued a statement, stating that they were looking for those who attacked protesters.

The army has also fired at the building where militants are supposed to be hiding after the deadly shooting attack against protesters.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, accompanied by the defenсe minister, have arrived at the army headquarters in the wake of the deadly shooting in Beirut’s Tayouneh district, the army said.

“The head of government, Najib Mikati, and Defence Minister Maurice Slim, arrived at the army command operations center to monitor the situation with army commander Joseph Aoun,” the statement added.

Hezbollah and Amal have called on their supporters to stay calm and not fall for provocations in the wake of the deadly shooting in Beirut.

In their joint statement, the movements expressed the belief that the attack on protesters was aimed at “plunging the country in a strife”.

“We call on our supporters to stay calm and not to fall for malicious provocations,” the statement read.

An exchange of fire has stopped in Beirut following five hours of a military operation in wake of the deadly shooting. However, soldiers and armoured vehicles keep on patrolling the streets.

Last month, the investigation into the explosion at the port of Beirut was suspended due to a lawsuit filed against judge Tarek Bitar. The lawsuit was reportedly filed by ex-Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, whom the judge wanted to summon for questioning.

The deadly explosion rocked the port of Beirut in August 2020, killing more than 250 people, injuring 7,000 and leaving about 300,000 people homeless. The blast was blamed on thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the port.

Iran’s land border with Turkmenistan reopens after 20 months

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Seyed Rouhollah Latifi added, with the announcement of Turkmenistan and the agreements made, trucks carrying Iranian commercial cargo to Turkmenistan would be accepted from Thursday morning.

He added, since March 2020, with the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Turkmenistan’s land border with Iran was closed in Incheh Bouroun, Golestan province, and after 20 months, it resumes its activities by accepting Iranian trucks.

Latifi stressed that according to the decisions made by the two countries, exported goods will enter Turkmenistan by truck and the cargos will be transported to the final destinations by Turkmen trucks at their customs.

The customs spokesman said, in the last 20 months, the traffic with Turkmenistan in other border crossings was completely stopped and after a while, the railway routes became active only in Sarakhs, Lotfabad and Incheh Bouroun borders and land routes only in Sarakhs and Lotfabad borders of Khorasan province.

He added that the Bajgiran border of Khorasan Razavi with Turkmenistan has been completely closed since March 2020 and has not been reopened yet.

Figures show that Iran’s foreign trade in the first half of this year reached 79 million and 100 thousand tons of goods worth 45 billion dollars.

The share of exports was 60 million tons of goods worth 21 billion and 800 million dollars and the share of imports was 19 million and 100 thousand tons worth 23 billion and 100 million dollars.

Iranian-Saudi Talks Following Positive Trend: Analyst

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In an interview with ILNA, Qassem Mohebali weighed in on the prospects of Tehran-Riyadh relations as well as obstacles to the easing of tensions between the two sides and the resumption of bilateral diplomatic ties.

“These talks will hopefully follow a positive trend. Comments by both sides have changed and propaganda campaigns against one another has decreased,” said Mohebali, the former head of the Middle East Department of the foreign ministry.

“The negotiations held at the level of security officials has resulted in positive assessments for both sides, and the trend has been positive and forward-moving till now,” he added.

“But the reality is that Iran and Saudi Arabia have numerous and complex differences whose settlement does not seem easy,” the commentator noted.

“These differences are a collection of bilateral and regional issues and pertain to the two countries’ viewpoints on religion, denomination and sect where there are serious differences and both countries have concerns regarding one another,” he added.

“All these differences depend on another indicator, i.e., Iran’s relations with the world within the framework of the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and these issues should be dealt with in tandem because they affect one another,” added Mohebali.

“Given the changes in the United States’ foreign policy on the Middle East and the US withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, which has led to the replacement of the US by its rivals such as Qatar and Turkey, Saudi Arabia seems to have come to realize that it is losing its role; so, having a relationship with Iran, as a different player, may be able to restore part of Riyadh’s role,” he said.

He added, Iran, too, needs to reduce its problems with Saudi Arabia.

He also noted the Israeli regime has misgivings over Tehran-Riyadh making headway with their talks and seeks to sabotage this trend.

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