The European Parliament has approved proposals to improve co-ordination between European Union member countries if they face sudden gas shortages.

Supplies to thousands of homes and businesses across the EU were cut last year due to a payment dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

National governments are due to approve the bill by the end of the year.

It is part of Europe’s attempts to improve the way it deals with future gas crises.

The proposals voted through by the European Parliament provide stricter guarantees that gas companies will not be able to cut supplies to households in case of extreme temperatures or severe disruption.

(BBC)

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Washington (CNN) — The “top kill” method intended to stop the runaway flow of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico probably will be tried early next week, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said Friday.

In the procedure, thick, viscous fluid twice the density of water will be pumped at a high rate into the site of the leak to stop the flow so that it can then be sealed with cement, Suttles said.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board banned Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan indefinitely after the tour to Australia after they had been involved in “infighting … brought down the whole team”.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal also face fines or bans.

Khan says the players need to be disciplined and that they should still be motivated to play for their country but insists the foundation of the team’s problems lie in the way Pakistan cricket is run.

“I was a very strict disciplinarian,” he said. “I did not tolerate indiscipline but I also know the problems I used to face with the cricket board which was run on an ad hoc basis.

“Without discipline you cannot have teamwork. (But) you cannot have players who are not trying their best simply because they do not like the captain or something.

“You go out to represent your country and you have to give your best shot.

“I do believe that players should be disciplined but the real problem still lies in making the cricket board into an institution.”
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan says the country’s cricket structure needs to be changed to help revive the fortunes of the national team.

Pakistan’s cricket team is in disarray after a host of players were recently sanctioned after they lost all nine matches of a tour to Australia.

“Pakistan cricket has to sort itself out,” ex-all rounder Khan told BBC Asian Network.

“The team is a symptom of Pakistan cricket not being an institution.”

Khan added: “The president of Pakistan should not appoint a cricket board chairman, that’s where the problems begin.

“The chairman should be elected through regional organisations and, because that doesn’t happen, the team basically reflects the chaos which lies in the cricket board.”

BBC

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