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Europe’s Gas Buying Slows on Expectations of Further Price Crash

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Despite a recent drop in prices, the rate of natural gas purchases required to refill Europe’s storage sites is slower than usual for this time of year. Some buyers are betting on further price drops and are therefore holding off on making purchases.

While the benchmark futures for natural gas have decreased significantly from record highs seen last summer, consumption remains slow to recover from the crisis lows. While reduced fuel usage has meant that global supplies are currently sufficient to meet European demand, gas producers and traders caution that the situation remains fragile, and a delayed or uncertain rebound in consumption could disrupt the market balance.

According to Klaus Reinisch, group chief sales officer at MET Holding AG, consumers seem confident and are being told by political leaders that the worst is over. Reinisch believes that this confidence is leading some consumers to hold off on purchasing natural gas in anticipation of even lower prices.

However, even if prices drop to as low as €10 per megawatt-hour, Reinisch does not expect these lower prices to last. Europe’s heavy reliance on liquefied natural gas, which replaced Russian pipeline fuel, leaves it exposed to market moves and price volatility.

While consumption from industry and demand from Asia could lead to a resurgence in natural gas demand and price rebound, analysts from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Boston Group Consulting see the possibility of prices rising above €100. Reinisch believes that the natural gas market is still vulnerable.

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Zakhar Prilepin: Russian pro-war writer defiant after car bomb attack

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Zakhar Prilepin, a Russian writer known for his support of Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, survived a car bombing that killed his friend Alexander Shubin. The bomb was placed under the passenger seat, but Prilepin was driving the car at the time.

He sustained injuries to both his legs but survived the blast, which he said occurred just after he had dropped off his daughter. Investigators claim that a suspect, Alexander Permyakov, has admitted working for Ukraine.

Prilepin, a veteran of Moscow’s wars in Chechnya, has become a strident supporter of the Ukraine invasion and has admitted to fighting alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. He has also called for the “return of Kyiv to Russia” and has advocated for the “purge of the cultural space” of those who oppose the conflict.

The Russian Investigative Committee (SK) claims that a suspect, Alexander Permyakov, has been caught in a neighbouring village and has admitted to carrying out an assignment for the Ukrainian secret services.

A Ukrainian-Crimean Tatar group called Atesh claimed responsibility for the attack on Prilepin, but the BBC has been unable to verify their claims. The attack is the latest in a series targeting high-profile supporters of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, activist Darya Trepova, and Darya Dugina, the daughter of Alexander Dugin, a close ally of President Putin.

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Real Madrid Win First Copa del Rey Since 2014

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Real Madrid claimed the Copa del Rey title after defeating Osasuna in the final in Seville, with Brazilian striker Rodrygo scoring twice to secure victory. Toni Kroos’ deflected shot fell to Rodrygo, who fired in the decisive goal from close range.

Despite a strong performance from Osasuna, who equalized through Lucas Torro, Real Madrid held on for the win. Rodrygo also opened the scoring for Real Madrid after just 106 seconds, marking the fastest goal in a Spanish cup final in 17 years. This victory marks Real Madrid’s first Copa del Rey win since 2014.

Osasuna, backed by nearly 25,000 fans inside the Estadio de La Cartuja, had their chances as they chased a first major trophy in their 103-year history.

They were denied a stoppage-time equaliser when Dani Carvajal produced a last-ditch block to keep out Kike Barja’s side-footed effort.

Los Rojillos, which translates as The Little Reds, had more shots on target (5) than Real (3), but Carlo Ancelotti’s side were ultimately more clinical in front of goal.

Victory for Real delivers a 20th Copa del Rey title as they now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City.

Ahead of the Copa del Rey final, Osasuna fans flooded Seville with enthusiasm and support, but their team got off to a rocky start on the field. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, who was back in the starting lineup along with four other changes from their previous match, posed a constant threat from the left flank. He set up Rodrygo for the opening goal after just two minutes of play.

Although Osasuna had a chance to equalize soon after, Abde Ezzalzouli missed the target with his chipped effort. Osasuna eventually found the equalizer after the break when Lucas Torro scored against his former club, triggering enthusiastic celebrations among the red half of the stadium. The game was briefly paused due to a pyrotechnic issue involving Osasuna fans.

However, Real Madrid remained dangerous and eventually secured the victory thanks to a deflected shot from Toni Kroos that fell to Rodrygo to score his second goal of the match. With the La Liga title seemingly out of reach, Real Madrid will now focus on their upcoming Champions League match against Manchester City, hoping to welcome back Luka Modric from injury.

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Ukraine war: Russia accused of using phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut

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Ukraine has accused Russia of using phosphorus munitions to attack the city of Bakhmut. Drone footage released by Ukraine’s military shows the city ablaze as white phosphorus appears to rain down on it. The use of white phosphorus weapons is not banned but is considered a war crime when used in civilian areas.

Russia has been accused of using such weapons before. Moscow has been trying to capture Bakhmut for months, despite its questionable strategic value, and thousands of Russian troops are said to have died in the assault. White phosphorus causes severe injuries and burns at 800 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to remove and causing extreme burns on human flesh.

Though Russia is a signatory to a convention that bans the use of incendiary weapons in civilian areas, the chemical does not fall under the treaty as its primary purpose is to create a smokescreen to hide military operations.

The commander of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut on 10 May in a dispute over ammunition supplies. However, Ukrainian officials claim that Wagner is redeploying fighters towards Bakhmut to capture the city before Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on 9 May.

The fighting comes amid reports that Ukraine is preparing a large-scale counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is largely controlled by Russia. The Russian-installed governor of the region has ordered the evacuation of villages near the front line. Russia regards the area as its own territory after illegal annexation and self-styled referendums last year.

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Subtract: Ed Sheeran album praised by critics hours after copyright ruling

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Ed Sheeran has received positive reviews for his latest album, titled Subtract, which was released shortly after he won a court case in the US regarding plagiarism. The album takes on a more introspective and somber tone, and is a departure from his previous albums.

Sheeran had intended for Subtract to be more acoustic and stripped-down to reflect its title, but during the songwriting process, he opted for newer songs that directly referenced the personal challenges he faced in 2022. Critics have noted the album’s darker tone and its reflection of Sheeran’s difficult year, which included the death of a friend and his wife’s cancer diagnosis while pregnant.

Subtract marks the end of Sheeran’s series of albums named after mathematical symbols, which also includes Plus, Multiply, Divide, and Equals.

According to a music critic, Ed Sheeran’s new album Subtract mostly features his signature acoustic folk-pop style and appears to be a reflection of his emotional turmoil. Despite its occasional lack of poeticism, Sheeran’s sincerity in his lyrics is evident.

The album features collaborations with The National’s Aaron Dessner, who also worked on Taylor Swift’s lockdown albums, resulting in a more subdued and introspective sound. Neil McCormick of the Telegraph praised Subtract, giving it five stars, noting that Dessner’s subtle guidance allowed Sheeran’s emotional immediacy to take center stage, resulting in a deeply personal and atmospheric album of therapeutic self-healing.

The album ended up being less strategic than originally planned, making it all the more interesting.

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Suspect arrested after second mass shooting in Serbia

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A man identified only by his initials has been arrested after a mass shooting in Serbia in which eight people died and 14 were injured. The attacker opened fire from a moving car near a village 60 km south of Belgrade after an argument with a police officer.

The manhunt involved more than 600 police officers, and the suspect was eventually discovered hiding at his grandfather’s house. The shooting followed an attack in which a 13-year-old boy killed nine people at a school in Belgrade.

President Aleksander Vucic pledged a “practical disarmament” of the country, and announced new security measures, including the hiring of 1,200 new police officers, a ban on new gun permits, tougher penalties for illegal weapons possession, and psychological checks of gun owners. Serbia has very strict gun laws, but has one of the highest levels of gun ownership in Europe, with an estimated 39.1 firearms per 100 people.

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Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner Group boss says he will pull troops out of Bakhmut

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Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, has threatened to withdraw his troops from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut by Wednesday due to a lack of ammunition. He posted a video of himself walking among dead fighters’ bodies and directed his anger towards Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of not providing enough supplies for his troops.

Prigozhin is known for his attention-seeking behavior and has previously made threats that he did not follow through on. He warned that if the ammunition shortages were not resolved, his mercenaries would be forced to retreat or stay and die.

The battle for Bakhmut between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed forces, including the Wagner Group, has been ongoing for months with thousands of casualties. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, has complained about a lack of ammunition and threatened to withdraw his troops from the city by May 10.

Military analysts suggest that Russia’s defence ministry may be rationing ammunition ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. Prigozhin has also hired former army general Mikhail Mizintsev, who was dismissed as logistics chief, as a deputy commander for Wagner. Mizintsev has been dubbed the “butcher of Mariupol” for his role in last year’s bombardment of the Ukrainian city. Prigozhin claims he has helped Wagner supply ammunition and recruit convicted prisoners to its ranks.

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Serbia school attack: Silence and teddies at scene of shooting

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The community in central Belgrade is in mourning after the worst school shooting in Serbian history, which took place at the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school. A 13-year-old student entered the school armed with two guns and a “kill list”, and killed eight fellow students and a security guard. Six other children remain in hospital.

Mourners are arriving at the school to pay their respects and lay flowers and toys. Students from the neighboring college stood in silence to remember the victims.

A 19-year-old student named Alex Oborina expressed the sentiment that many are feeling, that as a society, they have failed because a 13-year-old should not be able to grab a gun and shoot his friends. He adds that this is probably the worst thing that has ever happened in his life and hopes that they can use this tragedy as a stepping stone to rebuild.

Some are questioning whether the fact that the suspect is only 13 years old will make it harder for Serbian society to come to terms with the school shooting since he is too young to face prosecution. However, one mourner notes that justice would never be served for the parents who lost their children, regardless of the perpetrator’s age.

The motive for the attack is still unclear. Seven of the eight victims who were killed were girls. Mourners are leaving flowers and candles at the site of the shooting, with one mother of two saying that her 10-year-old son asked what would happen if a shooting happened at his school.

She believes that her country needs to look beyond just the actions of one teenager and address issues of violence both online and in real life urgently, as she fears that this tragedy may be the beginning. She adds that they need to take care of their kids and address the problems in their society.

The woman responsible for preventing violence in Serbian classrooms, Milja Krivokuca, says that nothing in the suspect’s school records showed any sign of his capability for such violence. She notes that the most important thing now is to support everyone, stabilize the situation, and retrospectively review if something could have been done differently. Two teacher unions have announced a strike to demand better protection for staff and pupils.

President Aleksandar Vucic has suggested lowering the age of criminal liability from 14 to 12 in response to the tragedy, and Krivokuca agrees with this proposal, stating that it is necessary to secure maximum protection for schools. She suggests that Serbia should compare its legislation with other European countries and beyond where legal responsibility starts at 12 or 10 years old.

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Ukraine war: Zelensky visits The Hague after new strikes in Ukraine

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There have been reports of explosions in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, a day after Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in the Netherlands, where he is expected to address the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky denied his country’s involvement in the attack on Putin, stating that they are only fighting to defend their own territory. During his visit, Mr. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to discuss his request for more military support from the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had previously stated that supplying fighter jets to Ukraine was not out of the question but would be a significant step. Following Russia’s accusation of a drone attack by Ukraine on the Kremlin, Russia threatened to retaliate at their discretion. In response, Ukraine reported air raids in several cities, and Russia launched strikes on Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, causing 21 fatalities.

Some commentators have suggested that the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin was staged by Russia as it is unlikely for two drones to penetrate multiple layers of air defense and detonate over the heart of the Kremlin. They believe that Russia may have orchestrated the attack to mobilize societal support and prepare for wider conflict.

However, some experts dispute this theory, stating that Russia would not want to appear vulnerable by staging an attack on the Kremlin, which may lead to questions about the efficacy of their air defenses and Putin’s protection.

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Lionel Messi suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks over Saudi Arabia trip

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Lionel Messi, the captain of Paris St-Germain, has been suspended for two weeks by the club for travelling to Saudi Arabia without their permission. This came after the team’s recent loss to Lorient, in which Messi played the entire game. Messi had requested permission to travel for commercial purposes, but the club denied the request. Messi claims that he had initially been granted permission to travel, but that it was later rescinded due to a change in the club’s training schedule. During the two-week suspension, Messi will not be allowed to participate in any training or games with PSG.

In addition to being suspended by PSG for two weeks, Lionel Messi has also been fined by the club. Messi has been serving as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia, which is believed to be the reason for his unauthorized trip to the country. His contract with PSG is set to expire this summer.

Reports from March suggest that Barcelona has been in contact with Messi about the possibility of returning to the Nou Camp. Messi has played 71 games for PSG, scoring 31 goals and contributing 34 assists. He helped the team win the Ligue 1 title last season. Due to his suspension, Messi will miss PSG’s upcoming matches against Troyes and Ajaccio. PSG is currently leading the league by five points with five games left to play, and is aiming to win their ninth league title in 11 seasons.

Lionel Messi has made a decision that indicates the end of his time with Paris St-Germain. While the team has three games left to play after his suspension, PSG’s future plans do not involve Messi, who less than five months ago won the World Cup.

PSG sees their actions as standard employee punishment for someone who left for work during work hours and outside of the approved location. However, this move is also a statement about the team’s future direction, which they plan to center around younger players, as well as their strict approach to discipline. PSG fans no longer want Messi, and it is highly unlikely that his contract will be renewed.

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