europe stands at a crossroads will remain dependent on washington is a junior partner or will europe ought to play the role of a great power on the world stage. i cross talking e u. china relations. i'm joined by my guess i nor tangle in beijing. he is a political and economic affairs commentator in prague. we have brad blankenship. he is a columnist at c g, t. and as well as an rti contributor and in elecom that we cross to look river. he is an independent journalist, high gentleman cross hak rules, and the fact that means you can jump in any time you want. now he's appreciate, look, let me go to you 1st here. i mean, it, you know, on the face of it, you know, the, europe's relationship or more rather e relationship with china is very convoluted because major training for our trading partners, a major investment deal kind of stuck. but, you know, there's been, there's an understanding about investment and, and then we have, you know, nato, i'm saying, you know, you know, china is no different than russia. it's the same threatening landscape. i mean, it's very convoluted. i mean, is

between europe in china, i don't see any real problem. we have in europe. we need to re industrialize the continent and we have to look, let me jump in here. look, let me jump in real quick as we're almost out of time, i want to go to our guest in beijing to react to the taiwan issue because i want to everyone, i want this to be fair and balanced. go ahead. the issue of taiwan over the issue of taiwan is very simple. the u. s. has no intention and no capability of defining the island china actually went in. but they are, you know, as you recall from the general's call to the chinese counterparts during trumps administration, at the end of it, it was the, the chinese were afraid that the u. s. is trying to goad them into doing some sort of military action against taiwan. so the u. s. the claim that, yes, see china is the terrible over. we've always said it. everyone has to rally around us american exceptional lives forever. so i want to be very care or not another on other down the usaa idea re conjuring the world. ok, gentlemen, very robust discussion here.

of europe in the world. and you are right, we need to do to get the act together. somehow we need to understand what are the challenges that are coming up in the next decade and the next 20 years and 50 years down the road and be able to plan ahead. and of course, the idea is to do this in a kind of a multi lateral away, and in a way that preserves somehow peaceful cooperation between trading partners between associates in this case. okay. i mean, we do have run out of time. we've run out of time, i guess a major question is, can europe survive the european union to be continue gentlemen? okay, many thanks them i guess in paris and in guilford. and thanks to our viewers for watching us here at r t c. next time. remember, pa stuck with ah, join me every thursday on the alex salmon. sure. i'll be speaking together for the world politics sport. business. i'm sure business. i'll see you then. mm. i look forward to talking to you all. that technology should work for people. a robot must obey the orders given by h

or, you know, outside europe. then i think that we would be looking into a more and more successful global position of europe in the world. and you are right now we need to get the act together. somehow we need to understand what are the challenges that are coming up in the next decade and the next 20 years and 50 years down the road and be able to plan ahead. and of course, the idea is to do this in a kind of a multi lateral way. and in a way that preserves somehow peaceful cooperation between trading partners between associates in this case. okay. i mean, we're brought out of time. we've run out of time, i guess the major question is can europe survive the european union to be continue gentlemen? ok, many thanks them i guess in paris and in guilford. and thanks to our viewers for watching us here at r t c. next time. remember, talk with with kaiser financial survival guide. when customers go buy, you reduce the price. now well, reduce a lower that standard cutting, but what's good for food market? it's not good

of europe in the world. and you are right now we need to do to get the act together. somehow we need to understand what are the challenges that are coming up in the next decade and the next 20 years and 50 years down the road and be able to plan ahead. and of course, the idea is to do this in a kind of a multi lateral way. and in a way that preserves somehow peaceful cooperation between trading partners between associates in this case. okay, when we were brought out of time, we've run out of time, i guess a major question is, can europe survive the european union to be continue, gentlemen? ok, many thanks them i guess in paris and in guilford ink. and thanks to our viewers for watching us here at r t c next time, remember rostock with ah, with oh, is your media a reflection of reality? with in the world transformed? what room you feel safe? ah, isolation, whole community? are you going the right way or are you being led to some with direct? what is true war? his faith in a world corrupted. you need to descen

or, you know, outside europe. then i think that we would be looking into a more and more successful global position of europe in the world. and you're right . we need to do to get the act together. ah somehow ah, we need to understand what are the challenges that are coming up in the next decade and the next 20 years and 50 years down the road and be able to plan ahead. and of course, the idea is to do this in a kind of a multi lateral away. and in a way that preserves somehow peaceful cooperation between trading partners between associates in this case. okay, when we do have run out of time, we've run out of town, i guess a major question is can europe survive the european union to be continued gentlemen? okay, many thanks to my guests in paris and in guilford, and thanks to our viewers for watching as he heard our t c next time. remember, ross stuck with ah ah, ah ah, [000:00:00;00] ah ah, ah, ah, oh, is your media a reflection of reality? in the world transformed what will make you feel safer? isolation for com

europe stands at a crossroads will remain dependent on washington as a junior partner or will, europe ought to play the role of a great power on the world stage. i cross stocking e u. china relations. i'm joined to be careful that there are some issues. so like on taiwan and others, but for the rest we not like america tool, we don't follow america that so when mr. salt and barrett, for example, the 2nd page on of nato in brussels, said that nato needs to project himself into the indoor pacific region. i say what, you know, i, i don't understand this, this is not the north atlantic, is it? yeah, well i, it's go to our guest in beijing, i know i, we're beijing, i, i wouldn't like that again. sounds very jingo, istic to me. and particularly since china is in what asia go ahead in beijing. well, nato has been looking for some sure destiny. in the absence when the, when the wall fell, i mean, they really, it's just plain inertia that they're still there. i mean, it's a real question about what they think they can do in such a place. i mean, it's not a naval power. it's a land power. every

of europe in the world. and you are right now we need to do to get the act together. somehow we need to understand what are the challenges that are coming up in the next decade and the next 20 years and 50 years down the road and be able to plan ahead. and of course, the idea is to do this in a kind of a multi lateral away. and in a way that preserves somehow peaceful cooperation between trading partners between associates in this case. okay, when we run out of time, we've run out of time, i guess a major question is, can europe survive the european union to be continued gentlemen? ok, many thanks to my guess in paris and in guilford in an thanks to our viewers for watching us here. at our t. c. next on remember prostate with ah, ah, also for eric room identify 2 types of freedom, freedom froman, freedom to. and while we all idealized the lesser achieving the former, the freedom from use and abuse is no small feat in this day and age. this is especially true for africa, which, for centuries has been exploite

and it's not only gas which europe desperately needs. the continent has also been struggling to reduce its consumption of coal in line with policies aimed at limiting greenhouse gases. but as our chief to meet republic comments, those green energy ambitions might have to take a step back for just a bit. environmentalism is all the rage right now, but mother nature doesn't always play ball. winter comes whether there's wind enough or not to power the turbines and where it's freezing cold. no one actually cares if gas and coal are green. energy prices are skyrocketing in europe and environmental initiatives seem to only be making things worse. the fact that wind farms are useless when there's no wind is a big problem for the likes of the u. k. for example, where they're supposed to produce around 20 percent of the country's energy supply . so it's back to dirtier forms of power. less than that we need to learn that fossil fuels are still needed in the energy mix in order to back up renewable energy. because if we continue to remove all the

europe stands at a crossroads will remain dependent on washington is a junior partner or will europe opt to play the role of a great power on the world stage. so you see this statistic that 90 percent of the wow, the sell by 10 percent of the population and they added trillions of dollars to their network. since the pandemic, one would look out onto the american landscape and reversed. the figures are lawyers are too weak against organized crime punishment. so to lean and so there's a lot of things you need to do in the area of criminal law that is not been done, not by the current government, not by the former government, because they don't realize what's needed to be done and we need made you changes in sweden to fix this problem, we need to real life sentences. we need much more surveillance. when it comes to criminal gowns, we need a special penal code to fight criminal gangs that april posts 10 years ago. but no one listened back them. and the government current and the former government, they are doing minor changes, but those changes doesn't matter. while a crime rates are sky

yes, together, europe is necessarily weak, precisely because we use the word europe, but it doesn't really mean anything. and the consequence of this is that the united states can behave in the most bizarre way calls europe, ignoring not, not in telling them by the way where we're growing from afghanistan. not even telling them by the way we're making a special paxton with australia and the united kingdom. so the humiliation pied on the humiliation and there is no way in which europe can form a hear all that. and i, and i jump in here, i'm going to hold, i'm gonna jump in here, please hold that, that we're going to go to a hard break. and after that hard break, we'll continue our discussion on european securities name starting ah, join me every thursday on the alex salmon. sure. i'll be speaking to guess when the world politics spoke. business, i'm show business. i'll see you then. mm. oh, driven by dreamer shapes banks concur some of those with theirs sinks, we dare to ask a one. no, sir, no, not a joke. no, no. well dog, more real to what they should end up unit 73. 1 was a unique organi

and 36 of europe's 50 most polluted cities are in the country. but in the ones badly polluted city of crack of science is hitching a ride into the evening sky. every time this sight, seeing balloon goes up on both senses. st. apaloosa measurements down in 2019 city authorities band, the burning of fossil fuels within city limits and the effects have been immediate . we see yeah, great, changing the city, the quality of the air is say, growing cra, city out, or if the city is pushing to hurry, much pressure to it. oh, did you name me since the crack of the experience demonstrates the possibilities ahead for po, phase out cold. you slasher missions clean out the air at the same time. the getting there is a challenge. salisia the regional, the for a front light of that green energy transition. and as that transition gathers pace, of course, all forms of renewable energy needs to be ramped up from solar to winds. even the whole debate over nuclear power. and we're going to focus now on hydro power. and the problem with that is that as we build more d

, then europe gets new, opportunities under new worlds, or europe is not any longer, completely dependent to united states. so d, america, europe, america, are playing dia, politics to preserve their global leadership last year, losing power. and they don't care about consumer prices and energy security in europe, daycare on there a martin. and since we have all of our american politicians here, a whole industry of returns, this is very powerful. so what we have there is no rational reason there is no, there is no rational room because the rushing behavior of the clothes on ecology inches. but the reason behind is angie rushing rave is g in politics made bought a deep stain on washington and moving the program on the rushes. sputnik, the covert vaccine this close to being approved by the world health organization. a spokesperson for the organization made that announcement on friday. but getting sputnik certificates recognized internationally is proving to be an uphill struggle . in germany, a lawmaker from the left party is filing a lawsuit softer. local authorities failed to accept his s

and we also need to get a little bit west in europe centric less western europe century. because when you go to, you know, africa and other places where people need mobility, they may not have the money to invest in all that electric vehicle infrastructure. so we need to make sure we keep the we still and less qualified and how. * it will we move on that fast speed towards energy transition and risk? let's just move the debate on quick and talk about emissions. i mean, what impact do you think the energy crisis then? we'll have on you admission commitments? i mean, if renewables on foss enough and colon gas, as you say, a plug in the gap, how is that like it? and to play out next month, clock $26.00 in glasgow. well 1st of all, i say, you know, the current crunch said we're talking about is, i mean, it is not great and it's difficult and it will affect the most vulnerable people across europe and elsewhere. but i would still say it's temporary, it is something that will go away after you know, a couple of months when, when the markets will change again. well, when we're g

they're being shot in europe . and so you can't shot the old way of producing energy without having enough renewable sources to take the place. and that's the issue. this is gone, the push for green energy has really gone too fast. but no one wants to. i went up to that because it's not very politically correct or favorable right now. certainly, and it's certainly not. and we know that russia is being, you know, criticized for supposedly withholding energy supplies. but moscow has said that, you know, that they're actually happy to step in and help you think that russia could be part of the solution and all, no, absolutely yet. but of course, there's lots of political issues that i think the politics have to put aside for the very point that you mention, which is all of the e u workers. and basically the poor. these issues always hurt the poorest. and that's what's gonna happen in a cold winter projected across all of europe. and also you can't move too fast away from an old source of supply until you have a replac

s. less rain in china and brazil, less wind in europe. i don't know while or visit events appeared, occur. but this, as i would say, well or the inventories on gas. and so we see today and exceptional circumstance, i think that after winter time we should be able to come back to better prices and lower prices, which would be good for everybody. thanks so much for that, patrick, i'm going to bring in bernard at this point when you think about this with regards to b p, we understand that the you, of course, is talking about composing legislation today. they're going to roll that out in brussels, which would essentially require that all oil and gas drilling would be stopped in the arctic and that there would be an inability to bring those products to market. obviously that would impact to total energy. that would impact be potentially and how worried are you about that? well, again, and it's great to be here and in moscow as well. thank you for including b p in the conversation. i think what this crisis in europe regard to prices has reminde

so the real income of workers in europe is rising. that's a testimony to a lot of things, but it includes the much stronger position of their labor movement, which is able to make things happen there that we don't have here. and i think that americans are learning that they're looking fondly and enviously, and they're going to be moving in the logical direction to get closer to that. now we're speaking of the timing here. i mean, we've obviously been talking about huge supply chain constraints recently as all of this goes on and we look at strikes that, i mean, john deere, catalogs named best go just to name if you could, these cause further issues, they actually get employers to listen more so than they would have in the past. yes, but i think what we have to look at is, is to be a little careful here. and a little economics, basic economics prices rise. when the people who set prices choose to raise them, those people are called employers, employees on set prices, employers do. and when employers raise prices as they are doing now a

then there is a europe that's battling a record breaking surgeon energy prices. now for europe and mix of market geographic and political factors have formed into a perfect storm that shows no signs of slowing down. and it all started with e use promise of cutting down on his long time dependency on fossil fuels. but natural gas and coal still supply more than 35 percent, or they use total energy production. and while cool is being a phased dad, europe is currently relying on natural gas as a transitional resource, y, cleaner alternatives. there being rolled out, which in turn has made the price of natural gas also skyrocket at a price hike of more than 360 percent in less than a one year. now to give our viewers a better picture of the price spike in natural gas, it's actual equivalent as if the price of crude oil were trading at about $200.00 per barrel. and with europe heading into winter expect natural gas prices to get even higher. now the question on everyone's mind is, will the astronomic energy prices carry over to the u. s? and the answer to that portion

and with europe heading into winter expect natural gas prices to get even higher. now the question on everyone's mind is, will the astronomic energy prices carry over to the u. s? and the answer to that portion will all, timidly depend on what a winter weather brings. but the good news is that the u. s. is the world's largest natural gas producer, and inventory levels are not as depleted as they are in europe. but that's not to say that us prices won't be volatile. just take a look at the current oil prices, which has made gasoline prices, sky rocket, and with old pagan, not increasing, supplied. don't expect gas prices to come down any time soon. brent rachel argy corresponded side savage. thank you so much for following the story. tell us, take a further look at those oil prices, which stayed at 7 year highs on monday with west texas intermediate surpassing $81.00 a barrel. it's the latest in the series of skyrocketing energy prices that are now causing concern about how they can impact the state of the global economic recovery . so learning is not with co host.

i agree with europe. the city authorities had the right to not promote algebra t, everyone has this rise, nubian union should find another way of them. the voice of i'm not a fan of pro l g b t zones. but on the other hand, every one has a right to their own life. in on the part of the european union, it is very unfair. such things should not be combined. here is the man and here's the money. there are completely separate matters. i think nothing should be done by force. if there is no such need in poland, you do not have to force anything. our local governors justified, they do turn saying they're not ready to be accountable for the financial loss. i one expert we heard from told us that such an approach by the a you to maintain unity in the block is a path to dictatorship. every local power should act according to the wheel. and i have a lot of a degree of power, especially in this case, especially in this case. so, you know, i'm not entering to the subject matter, not talking about about the lesbian, g

the that is the deficit is 70 in europe is 70000000000 cubic meters. we add $55.00 or to europe. that's a lot wants to 2nd line. the 2nd pipe, nothing of the nose in pipeline is complete. it wants to receive or relied from the regulators. we will the next table start deliveries can be done. yes, that can be done. but i need to be responsible. vain exec. when you talk about mutual obligations, you need to work on that was you were talking about no stream to mentioning it all the time. if you were entering gas from all the time, there are 5 european companies involved devices. it's all about a gas product. have you forgotten the etc? there are 5 come, huge european energy companies that are working as part of the north stream to project. it's not just about gas. brahms interests is about the interests of our partners, but primarily our partners from europe sooner. bottled work, mr. bootylicious of russia, not near true to our brothers talking about the steering. so it's our joy achievement with angle merkel scholarship with her. will you miss until merkel? no. it's a new measure to

. europe easily receiving them very small share of, of this refugee. so that's may be a 1st point as for whether we can find a political solution to the situation. i mean i, i think this is yet to be seen the issue of migration and asleep as become so sensitive. and since $21516.00, i would say the situation is getting worse after every crisis of perceived crisis of bike. that really, there is this perception, but we can not manage your rivals. and this is making really difficult to find a solution at you level for, you know, a common armnaya manage solution to and hosting this people. i mean, we've had that old discussion on silicon already and, and we're seeing like every time there is this list deadlocks, and between between you and the states. and so either i'm not sure if they, there's a solution in sites. i. susie's problem, what is your, is like at operational levels. this is where things can change to see where, you know, independent human right monitoring mechanism can be set up. and also this is where, you know, i, sl, emergency can be more a

yes, together, europe isn't necessarily weak precisely because we use the word europe, but it doesn't really mean anything. and the consequence of this is that the united states can behave in the most bizarre way towards europe, ignoring not, not in telling them by the way where we are growing from afghanistan. not even telling them by the way we're making a special on baxter with australia and the united kingdom. so the humiliation pied on the humiliation. and there is no way in which euro can form a hold that and i jump in here, i'm going to hold, i'm gonna jump in here. please hold that, that we're going to go to a hard break. and after that hard break, we'll continue our discussion on european securities name starting ah ah, if you are expecting be of non government put me in the image or a seat. and i'm sorry, this is a wrong expectation be you will have to see that is non, you want me to go with julie entities. you've got to impose the democratic system on both on sunday the lord and then went to court order of course, after 40 years of fed interventionism by simply expanding an

yes, together, europe is necessarily weak, precisely because we use the word europe, but it doesn't really mean anything. and the consequence of this is that the united states can behave in the most bizarre way towards europe, ignoring not, not in telling them by the way where we growing from afghanistan. not even telling them by the way we're making a special on baxter with australia and the united kingdom. so the humiliation pied on the humiliation. and there is no way in which euro can form a hold that i jump in here. i'm going to hold, i'm gonna jump in here, please hold that, that we're going to go to a hard break. and after that hard break, we'll continue our discussion on european securities name starting ah with imagine picking up a future textbook on the early years of the 21st century. what are the chapters cold, gun violence, school shootings, homelessness? first, it was my job and then it was my family. didn't was my savings. i have nothing. i have nothing and it's not like i don't try. i look for resources, i look for jobs. i look for everything i can to make this pass and i e

yes, together, europe is necessarily weak, precisely because we use the word europe. but it doesn't really mean anything. and the consequence of this is that the united states can behave in the most bizarre way towards europe, ignoring not, not in telling them by the way where we're growing from afghanistan. not even telling them by the way, we're making a special baxter with australia and the united kingdom. so the humiliation pied on the humiliation. and there is no way in which europe can inform of here all that. and i, and i jump in here, i'm going to hold, i'm gonna jump in here, please hold that. we're going to go to a hard break. and after that hard break, we'll continue our discussion on european securities, napartine. ah, we live in a time now where we receive so many inputs on a daily basis that are completely i'm will need to reality. so think about how and social media filters and they basically will present themselves in a very unrealistic way. and so when we come down to fomo, there is any involved. but more than that, it's about being sort of envious of

is trying to turn europe against moscow. so your list of 30 of them will go to still, the us openly say that cooperation with russia is contrary to europe's energy security interests. they want to directly embroiled in this area and reduce our independence. europe's future could look pretty bleak without russian gas. so why would washington treat its friends like this? the pipeline has been completed and it's, it's to the situation now is about approval on the you is in this call situation when the pressure is going to be maybe not immediately, but the pressure is going to be substantially got this over the line if with 2 months from now we're in the midst of a cold wind. sudden pressure is going to ramp up and i don't think sanctions is going to ultimately get in the way that at any rate winter is approaching. there's not enough warmth to go around, and gas prices have been getting heated. ah ah. to make matters worse, this energy crisis is in danger of becoming a food crisis in the netherlands. energy shortages are forcing

you in gas prices in europe. he take new records with the german government warning people to prepare for a close to freezing month. meantime, the country energy regulators still the ground and operating license to the now fully completed russia node stream to gas pipeline.

not in a spot in europe, but on an exchange in st. petersburg. but in general, exchange trading is not very effective because it carries a lot of risks, is not a watch shorts and ties or a car, or even oil that can be produced in store anywhere. gas is not sold like that on the market. so stupid, honestly. so the sense i'm getting is her from listening to what it is at the same what you explained is it, you know, russia is a reliable supplier of gas. it stays by the word of its contracts. the problem being, it seems that they're just on in of contract, people haven't contracted into long term gas supplies. so obviously russia is not going to want to be made out to the bud guy here. what can you do with regards the pricing? well, man, you're absolutely right, and the thing is i, the european lawmakers might have shot themselves in the foot here. and, well, conceptually nukes the wallets of the end of the line, consumers of ordinary europeans. so here's, here's the thing about natural gas. it's not oil. you can just, you know, get it one time store

central europe, where war and armed conflicts have become unthinkable. so nobody thinks about it. a region where you have had countries, the baltic states, poland, romania converge and ketchup economically at a rapid pace. and the region that borders have become invisible. now that's where the western balkans wants to join. the european union wants stability and peace in the region as well. but some of the your opinion are making every thing in recent years to slow down the actual process. and that has led to a very deep crisis of credibility for these a, these accession negotiations, which i should say only have started with 2 of the 6 countries. the other 4 are not even engaged in talks at the moment. what, why this reluctance among some members of the e u. why does the e want to keep a balkan nations happy by offering them economic support, but not eager to offer full membership of the i think we have a, at a very clear position by some governments which say that the e itself has to sort of internal problems before it can hold all the credible prom is

and political expert in china told us that europe simply cannot trust washington. you're looking really being cheated by the us many times. if you're looking countries on like for laid off and then the us government duncan, the us cannot last week, we will enter the yellow state are also different degrees. i believe that you will have being the american lives in the us open to maintain independent political, economic, and even military. actually, big companies in europe can not fully call freedom and china the world largest condenser, much or if we can talk a lot for that. if they don't fail to try and those companies, if you look at the trade data, if you will know that using the pen that you're trying to train when you're looking countries moving rapidly and they have increased by 20 percent and even the 30 percent. so yield nice china market and trying to prove that was 130 judges in the u. s. are being criticized for taking part in cases in which they were their families stood to financially gain. the wall street journal reports that 131 judges failed to recuse

a very tipped in favor of europe at the moment . and, and whereas maybe 20 years ago we were thinking of africa, allison teacher, football, we are now just literally seeing a weakening of comparable in the south american position. and i think we saw that very clearly reflected on, on the page and in 2018 in the sense that it became quite quickly instead of a world cup of kind of glorified iraq with, with really mostly european countries and competition from of early, early point earlier than, than other world cups. what will everyone negotiate? will this will come maybe just become, instead of a, by a meal world carpet kind of into continental super legal, something will the champions of africa get to play the champions. and you know, there's many permutations possible and there are a undoubtedly going to, to come reflected i think what we're really saying. and the comparison with suitable, although it's crass is possibly very apt, is a huge move by faith to finally kind of cling is a met north american market and, and be the sport

a political expert in china told us that europe simply can't trust washington. you're looking really being cheated by the u. s. many times in europe in countries like for lady then the us government stuck in the us cannot love your end of the yellow yet if they are also different degrees, i believe that you will have being the american lives in hoping to maintain independence, political, economic, and even military actually be companies in europe. i cannot fully call pre to be and, and china, the world largest condenser, much, or if we can talk a lot for them. if they don't fail to try and those companies, if you look at the trade data, if you will know that using the pen, that peers trying to train, you looking countryside is hooing rapidly and they have increased by 20 percent and even the 30 percent. so yield nice, china's market and trying to protect more than 130 judges in the u. s. are being criticized for taking part in cases in which they or their families stood to financially gain. wall street journal reports that 131 judges failed to recuse themselves

south carolina, the other week that terminal, that's the worst president united, knew a gas prices in europe, take new records with the german government warning people to prepare for a close to fries a month mean time the country energy regulator is still the ground that operating license to the now fully completed russia node stream to gas pipeline. i g stands for instagram, but it also stands. but insta, green, exploiting kids for profit us lawmakers roast facebook. then after the company's own research shows it instagram platform, palms, children's mental health. but they fail to come up with any legislation. wow, a hit by a wave of anti lockdown. riley's australia sees a rise in cases of alleged police brutality against protest. ah. hello there, good evening. from russia friday, october, the 1st life my will do stage crew. moscow is our tea with me, kevin. the 1st, as you heard, the jailed us activist martin goldfields. back in the spotlight. he serving time for a cyber attack on a hospital, which he claims that mistreated a teenage girl is a case we've followed closely along the way. a