Europe

Germany reactivates coal plants, Russian offensive in Donetsk and high temperatures in Pakistan

Germany reactivates coal plants, Russian offensive in Donetsk and high temperatures in Pakistan

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Faced with a possible cut in the delivery of gas by Moscow, Germany decided to reactivate some of its coal plants and use them to generate electricity. Meanwhile, in the context of the war in Ukraine, the bombings are concentrated in the Donetsk region. In this edition of Correspondents we also go to the United States, where the sale of emergency contraceptive pills has multiplied; and to Jacobabad, Pakistan, where the temperature reached a milestone of 51 degrees Celsius.

The flow of natural gas through the Nordstream pipeline, which directly connects Russia with Germany across the Baltic Sea, has been suspended due to maintenance. Although the interruption is only supposed to last 10 days, Berlin fears that Moscow will simply decide to cut off gas deliveries altogether, something that would seriously disrupt its economy. The country urgently needs gas supplies for industry and heating before winter. To do this, and moving away from its climate goals, Germany decided to reactivate some of its coal plants and use them to generate electricity in order to save fuel.

An eventual total cut off of Russian gas to Germany would be a consequence of the tensions generated by the war in Ukraine, a conflict in which Russian troops continue to gain ground in the Donbass region. After taking the Lugansk province, now the bombings are concentrated in the province of Donetsk. Cities like Kramatorsk, Bakhmut and Sloviansk are increasingly on the front lines of the fighting. A situation that leaves civilians in terrible danger, as attacks in the area intensify more than ever.

In USA, after the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice to repeal the judgment of Roe vs. Wade that guaranteed the right to abortion at the federal level, many Americans are stocking up on the emergency pill, also called the morning after pill. Sales in some businesses have multiplied by five after the ruling of the Supreme Court, with a conservative majority. Report from New York from our correspondent Mamen Sala.

Pakistan It is one of the countries on the front line of climate change. In this nation of 220 million inhabitants, specifically in the south of the country, is Jacobabad, considered the hottest city in the world. There, temperatures are traditionally very high, but this year a new milestone has been reached: at the height of the heat wave in May, 51 degrees Celsius were recorded. A hellish situation for the inhabitants and that threatens to become the norm, as a result of the ravages of climate change.

Since the beginning of June, in Belgium, the life of women in a situation of prostitution changed: now they have the same rights as any worker with independent status and can, in this way, access social security. Belgium thus becomes the first European country to take this measure and the second in the world, after New Zealand. However, opponents of the legislation argue that it does not protect women from pimps.

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