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world news Diasabra 12 Februari 2022

High energy prices send Europe’s businesses, homes reeling

(AP) — Mehmet Bogday on social media to show how raised electricity tariffs on
says his jaw dropped when costs are untenable. Shop- Jan. 1, spiking prices by 50%
he saw his electricity bill keepers are displaying notices for many people and as much
— it was higher than the decrying high bills on shop as 127% for businesses and
rent he pays for his Istan- windows, while others have high-consumption house-
bul restaurant selling tra- gathered outside electric holds.
ditional Turkish wraps, companies and set their bills
and more than double on fire. The leader of Turkey’s main
what he paid a month ago. opposition party this week
Like the rest of Europe, elec- joined a torrent of demands
“This is unsustainable,” said tricity generation in Turkey to withdraw the price hikes,
Bogday, who owns the As- requires energy sources that saying he would not pay his
mali Mescit Durumcusu res- have surged in price, includ- electricity bill until the tariffs
taurant. “If it continues this ing natural gas, whose sup- are lowered. Kemal Kilicda-
way, we will have to lay off ply is low. A huge drop in the roglu also called for reducing
staff. If it continues this way, value of Turkey’s currency is taxes on electricity rates. get about half of the extra eries and other businesses to
we won’t be able to make this driving the price spike in im- cost shaved off. the point many had to close.
work. We’ll either downsize, ported gas. Faced with mounting criti-
or close and go sit at home.” cism, President Recep Tayy- Likewise, Italian households The right-wing government
As Europe’s energy demand ip Erdogan made changes are bracing for a record 55% temporarily lowered taxes on
Spiking energy prices are roared back from the depths this month so the price rises increase in electricity and electricity, gas, engine fuels,
raising utility bills from Po- of the coronavirus pandemic, kick in when households use 42% in gas in coming weeks, some food staples and fertil-
land to the United Kingdom, it ran up against gas reserves more energy, but it’s failed energy regulators say. izer. That’s expected to cut
leaving people struggling to sapped by a cold winter last to provide relief. With price energy costs for a family of
make ends meet and small year, a lack of renewable hikes threatening to hurt Er- To draw attention to the is- four by some 120 zlotys (26.5
businesses uncertain about energy generation over the dogan ahead of elections next sue, mayors plunged the euros) this year. The govern-
how much longer they can summer and Russia not sell- year, his administration has historic city halls of Rome ment also is introducing a
stay afloat. In response, gov- ing as much gas as usual to said it’s working on a pos- and Florence into darkness bonus to households, rang-
ernments across Europe are Europe. sible readjustment or other Thursday night. The Italian ing from 20 to 1,450 zlotys
rushing to pass aid to ease the measures to help people. mayors’ association said the (4.5 to 320 euros) annually,
hit as energy prices drive a re- Utilities are passing the costs government’s response so far depending on income.
cord rise in inflation. along to customers, and peo- It’s something that govern- has been insufficient to help
ple are getting hit twice: with ments through Europe are cities confront hundreds of Businesses say it’s not
Nowhere is that squeeze felt higher bills at home and ris- doing as rising utility costs millions in additional energy enough to balance their in-
more acutely than in Turkey, ing prices from businesses draw widespread outcry. costs, making them choose creased costs.
where inflation has soared to also paying more for energy. between balancing budgets
nearly 50% and exorbitant In Britain, energy prices are or cutting services. A majority of left-leaning
electricity bills are stirring It’s led to a cost-of-living set to go up by a record 54% lawmakers in Denmark
protests and fears about how crisis in some places, but — some 700 pounds ($940) Premier Mario Draghi this agreed Friday to spend 1 bil-
small businesses, like Bog- especially in Turkey, where per year — starting in April. week said Italy’s government lion kroner ($153 million)
day’s restaurant, can survive. households and businesses The government says cus- was determined to draw up for a temporary program to
were already reeling from tomers will get a discount on broad measures soon that help the most affected house-
Protests over electricity price eye-watering inflation and a their bills to be paid back in will provide relief to families holds cope with high elec-
hikes broke out across Turkey currency that lost some 44% small installments over the and businesses. tricity bills. Roughly 320,000
this week, including some of its value last year, eating next few years, and most also households in Denmark will
where police fired tear gas to away savings and making it will get money off another Polish regulators approved be eligible for 3,750 kroner
disperse crowds. People are difficult to buy even basics local tax. In total, the govern- energy prices going up by ($576).
posting their electricity bills like food. Authorities then ment said most people will 37% this year, pinching bak-

Argentina’s Puerta 8: the barrio and the deadly cocaine

(AP) — A dozen children stare as if hypno- the toxic cocaine were found. gentina’s Ministry of Education said 1 million stu-
tized at the fire heating a large pot of meat dents, especially in poor communities, dropped out
and vegetable stew. Martín Benítez tosses The 35-year-old prepares food provided by a com- of school in 2020 when attendance was suspended
spices into the pot and stirs its contents with munity organization. He said he shut down the due to pandemic measures.
a long wooden spoon. Women with containers soup kitchen eight months ago because of gunfire
to be filled appear from a dimly lit hallway, from drug dealers. Young people in Puerta 8 find “easy money” selling
drawn by an aroma they haven’t smelled in a drugs, said Benítez. “They earn more than they can
long time. Around the fire that heats the pot, neighbors wait- earn working legally.”
ing for their share of the stew whispered in low
After eight months, Benítez has reopened the soup voices: “Everything got worse with the pandemic.”
kitchen in front of his home in Puerta 8, the poor Soledad Campos is the mother of Nicolás, 18, the
neighborhood northwest of Buenos Aires that Puerta 8 is one of dozens of slums that grew in the only Puerta 8 resident arrested in the adulterated
gained notoriety last week when police said it was suburbs of Argentina’s capital following succes- cocaine case. She said her son was paid 2,000 pesos
the source of adulterated cocaine that killed 24 sive economic crises. Its precise population is not (US$18) a day as a lookout for the neighborhood
people and hospitalized almost 100. known, but it encompasses 150 to 200 houses. drug bunker.

Benitez’s humble house of exposed brick with a tin It emerged in the 1980s in the district of San Mar- Police say Puerta 8’s location at the intersection of
roof is right next to the “bunker” where doses of tín but was never fully developed. There are no two major roads make it an ideal point for selling
sewers and at times the air in its narrow streets and drugs.
alleyways is almost unbreathable. Besides the sew-
age, foul smells waft over from nearby slaughter- Investigators say the cocaine was adulterated with
houses and a garbage processing and recycling site. carfentanil, an opioid more powerful than heroin
that is used to anesthetize large animals. Authori-
More than 40% of Argentines lived in poverty in ties say they still do now know why it was put into
2021, with this figure exceeding 50% among chil- the cocaine — whether it was to increase the high
dren and adolescents, according to UNICEF. Ar- or as part of a war between drug gangs.