Russia's Novak says no one has approached government about buying Nord Stream 2
The Wall Street Journal reported in November that an American investor, Stephen P. Lynch, was seeking to buy the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, which was damaged by mysterious blasts in 2022.
The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline, set to carry Russian gas to Europe, was completed in 2021 but was never commissioned as relations with the West soured due to the onset of the conflict in Ukraine.
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BreakingNews.ie
29 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Government pressed to give clarity on student fees before budget talks
The Government has been repeatedly pressured to be 'upfront' with third-level students and their families on how much college fees will be. The student contribution fee has been temporarily reduced for the past three years as part of cost-of-living packages accompanying the budget. Advertisement Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she had been contacted by a woman, whose two daughters are at university, who is 'at her wits' end' over the threat of student fees rising. The fees had been €3,000 before being temporarily reduced by €1,000, costing families with multiple children at third level thousands of euros extra per academic year. Ms McDonald accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of being 'dismissive' and Tánaiste Simon Harris of being 'cavalier' and 'out of touch' in their responses to questions over whether student fees would rise. 'Minister, you need to be upfront with students and their families,' she told Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers during Leaders' Questions. Advertisement 'Dancing on the head of a pin, dodging and refusing to give a straight answer is, frankly, not acceptable. She added: 'This is the flippant, casual attitude of a Government that has no problem reinstating big pay packages for top brass executives at bailed out banks, no problem doling out cushy pay increases for your record number of junior ministers, but then pleads the poor mouth when it comes to students and their families. 'A tale as old as time when it comes to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.' She and Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan pressed Mr Chambers to clarify what the student contribution fee would be in the future. Advertisement 'Is it 3,000 euros? Because people have to budget for that, minister. They can't just produce it out of thin air.' Mr O'Callaghan said: 'Now you've been asked twice, minister, I'll ask you a third time, in September, what fees are students going to have to pay? Is it going to be 2,000 euro or 3,000 euro?' He said there was 'complete disarray' and 'open revolt' in the Government over student fees. He also said that the economic threat was used as an excuse, but the programme for government pledge to 'continue to reduce' the student contribution fee was made in January. Advertisement 'I'm really struggling to understand what the Government is doing here and why this fiasco is continuing to run and hasn't been sorted out.' Mr Chambers acknowledged that people and families were still under pressure from high costs, but said 'you can't just dismiss budgetary planning'. He said temporary reductions in the student contribution fee was based on one-off cost-of-living packages, and the Government was 'trying to take measures which can be made on a permanent basis' in the upcoming Budget. He said that engagement on the budget would follow after the Summer Economic Statement, which sets out in July how much will be spent in the budget in the autumn, and after the announcement of the National Development Plan. Advertisement He also warned that because of global economic uncertainty, 'we need to be careful' and that 'ad hoc decisions' would not be taken in early July outside of the budgetary process. Asked about whether there was a rift in Cabinet over the issue, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said 'certainly there is not' (Liam McBurney/PA) 'It's through the budgetary decisions that we make that will then set out what the fee threshold will be next year.' 'Whatever decisions are made in the context of the budget around reducing the cost of education, obviously that would be deducted through an academic year if a decision is made on that,' he said. Mr Chambers also said the Irish Government's position was the same as Economy Minister and Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald's stance on college fees. Ms Archibald clarified in May that she will not approve an increase on the tuition fee cap of £4,750 beyond the annual inflationary adjustment. She said placing an additional financial burden on students was not the way to address the pressures facing colleges and universities, after three universities said the decision would have a 'seriously detrimental impact' on higher education in Northern Ireland. Mr Chambers said: 'This is the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin when it comes to third level fees, because in the North, Minister Archibald, at the time wasn't ruling out hikes in student fees and she said in the context of the financial position that she has to work within that, and that's the same for this Government when it comes to Budget 2026.' The controversy over student fees arose after Higher Education Minister James Lawless said that, as it stands, student contribution fees will increase as there is no cost-of-living package to pay for what were temporary reductions introduced amid an inflation crisis. He said he would 'fight' his case as part of budgetary negotiations in the coming months, and was 'hopeful' that whatever interventions he gains would kick in from the start of the next year. Opposition politicians and Government backbenchers have said they have received correspondence from concerned families over the mooted increase and asked the Government to provide clarity. They said it was reasonable to expect based on the wording of the programme for government that the current student fee of €2,000 would reduce further, rather than remain the same or increase. Mr Harris told reporters on Wednesday that there was no rift at Cabinet over student fee costs, while Minister of State Thomas Byrne said the coalition was 'at one' over the issue. Mr Harris also emphasised that fees would not go up in September 2025 as those were covered under Budget 2025, but instalments are due in the new year. Ireland Politics watch: Names begin to emerge ahead of pre... Read More Mr Lawless came out on Monday and said it was the case that he currently does not have the funds to reduce fees, but would 'fight' his case as part of budgetary negotiations in the coming months. He added: 'I don't think there is any formula that can get the September instalments addressed.' Asked about whether there was a rift in Cabinet over the issue, Fine Gael leader Mr Harris said 'certainly there is not'.
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EU is 'blocking Britain's bid to join Mediterranean trade zone' despite Keir Starmer's 'reset' with Brussels
The EU is unwilling to allow Britain to join a pan-European trade zone despite Sir Keir Starmer 's efforts to 'reset' the UK's relations with Brussels, it has emerged. The Government recently published a trade strategy that hailed membership of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) as an 'opportunity' for the UK. Ministers said they would 'consider the benefits' of joining the PEM as part of efforts to boost British exports. The PEM allows for tariff-free trade of some goods from across dozens of countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. But, according to the Financial Times, the European Commission has made clear to Britain that it would not currently support UK membership of the PEM. EU officials said Brussels bosses had decided that the UK joining the PEM was not currently in the bloc's interests, the newspaper reported. The EU is said to fear it would increase the risk of products unfairly qualifying for low-tariff access to the bloc. It comes despite Sir Keir and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently striking a 'reset' deal following a UK-EU summit in London. The Government recently published a trade strategy that hailed membership of the PEM as an 'opportunity' for the UK The agreement, signed in May, covered fishing, trade, defence and energy and represented the biggest change in Britain's relations with the bloc since Brexit. Although the PEM is not exclusively an EU arrangement, trade experts said Britain would need EU co-operation to join because it would require a rewriting of the post-Brexit trade deal. Sam Lowe, trade lead at consultancy Flint Global, said: 'For it to be meaningful for the UK, the EU would need to agree to incorporate the PEM rules of origin into the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 'This gives the EU de facto blocking powers.' David Henig, a former UK trade negotiator now at the ECIPE think-tank, said: 'The EU isn't united on the importance of the UK reset and issues like PEM can easily be caught up in this even though technically straightforward. 'The UK Government is going to have to work hard in London and Brussels to build momentum.' Although they have left the door open to joining the PEM, the Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the EU's single market or customs union. A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government has secured a new agreement with the EU to support British businesses and jobs and put more money in people's pockets. 'We have also published a new Trade Strategy setting out how we will boost trade further. 'We aren't going to provide a running commentary on our ongoing discussions with the EU.'
Auto Express
43 minutes ago
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: this Volkswagen ID.3 lease is the cheapest we've seen for ages
Easy and comfortable to drive 241-mile range Just £218.84 a month It's by no means perfect, but time has done wonders to the ID.3. Volkswagen has been making gradual improvements to the electric hatchback since it arrived in 2020, and the car you can own today is worthy of that fabled badge on the nose. Despite its size, VW's current smallest EV has been rather expensive on lease since the start of 2025. But, for the first time in months, you can get an ID.3 for less than £219 a month. Advertisement - Article continues below Scouring the Auto Express Find a Car service, we found UK Carline is offering the ID.3 for just £218.84 a month right now. A £2,896.12 initial payment is all that's needed to kickstart the 24-month deal, while mileage is limited to 5,000 a year. If you need more flexibility, 8,000 miles a year will only cost you an extra £14.39 a month. Naturally, at this price, this deal is for the entry-level ID.3 with the smallest battery pack. But the Essential Pure model offered here has all the, err, essentials covered. As standard, it comes with LED headlights, a 12.9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus 10-colour ambient lighting. The ID.3 comes in three battery sizes, and here it's the smallest. Still, at 52kWh, Volkswagen reckons you'll be getting 241 miles, which isn't bad. Better still, based on our testing we think 220 miles is easily achievable, especially if most of your journeys are urban. An impressive 145kW DC maximum charging speed means roadside top-ups are complete within around 25 minutes, too. The ID.3 is a very pleasant car to drive. Its light and accurate steering gives confidence, and the ride, although on the firm side, remains supple and refined. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Volkswagen ID.3 leasing offers from leading providers on our Volkswagen ID.3 page. Check out the Volkswagen ID.3 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD Honda EV plans are gathering momentum, and they'll be realised in the groundbreaking 0 SUV next year
