Energy & Trade · Pollar

Italy heat wave threatens Parmesan: milk output down 10%, energy costs up 30% in storage

Northern Italy’s record heat is squeezing Parmigiano Reggiano production: cows give up to 10% less milk and storerooms consume 30% more energy to cool half a million cheese wheels worth over 300 million euros.

Read article

Energy & Trade·11h ago

EU imports record 9.97 million tonnes of Russian LNG from Yamal plant ahead of 2027 ban

European Union countries imported 136 cargoes from Russia's Yamal LNG facility in the first half of 2026, a 16% volume increase over the same period last year, absorbing more than 97% of the plant's output.

Read article

Energy & Trade·10h ago

Germany plans sharper tobacco tax hikes, pushing cigarette pack to 11.78 euros by 2030

The black-red coalition government wants to raise the tobacco duty more steeply than its cabinet approved last week, targeting an average pack price of 11.78 euros by 2030 to help plug a budget gap and curb smoking rates.

Read article

Energy & Trade·9h ago

Poland refuses to lift Ukraine grain embargo despite EU pressure

Deputy minister Adam Nowak told a Brussels meeting that lifting the ban would hit farmers and consumers, as the European Commission warns of possible infringement proceedings.

Read article

Energy & Trade·22h ago

51 percent of Germans oppose black-red coalition's plan to slash heat pump grants, Civey poll shows

A representative poll shows 51 percent of Germans oppose government plans to scale back grants for heat pumps, with SPD voters especially critical of the black-red coalition's policy.

Read article

Energy & Trade·3d ago

Second nationwide blackout in five days hits Cuba as dissident rapper transferred on eve of protest anniversary

Cuba's electrical grid collapsed for the second time this week on Friday, the fourth general outage in less than six months, while authorities moved jailed rapper Maykel Osorbo to a different prison a day before the fifth anniversary of the 2021 anti-government protests.

Read article

Energy & Trade·4d ago

Belgium to launch digital road vignette for all vehicles from May 2027, with prices tied to CO2 emissions

Belgian drivers and foreign visitors will need a digital vignette to use motorways and major regional roads from 1 May 2027, following an interregional deal expected to be finalised today.

Read article

Energy & Trade·22h ago

France takes three nuclear reactors offline and limits eight others as river temperatures spike during third heatwave of 2026

Three nuclear reactors have been taken offline and eight more are running at reduced capacity as France's third heatwave in two months pushes river temperatures beyond environmental limits.

Read article

Energy & Trade·from Jul 10·upd. yesterday

France endures peak of heatwave as Pissos hits 42.4 °C, 37 departments on red alert into Monday

The temperature reached 42.4 °C in Pissos (Landes) on Sunday, the highest reading recorded by Météo-France before 18:00, while 19 stations broke their July records and 37 departments remain on red alert.

Read article

Energy & Trade·4d ago

Spanish fuel prices jump 5.6% as VAT reduction expires, despite new 15-cent rebate

Gasoline and diesel prices in Spain reversed a five-week decline, rising sharply after the government allowed a temporary VAT reduction to expire, even as a new hydrocarbon tax rebate took effect.

Read article

Energy & Trade·Jul 2

US refuses to renew USMCA, opening decade-long sunset for North American trade deal

The United States declined to extend the USMCA trade agreement on July 1, triggering a decade-long sunset period that will leave North America’s economic framework in annual review until 2036.

Read article

Energy & Trade·5d ago

UK and EDF extend Sizewell B nuclear plant life to 2055 in £70.50/MWh deal

The UK government and EDF agreed to extend the Sizewell B nuclear power station's operations by 20 years until 2055, securing 3% of Britain's electricity and hundreds of jobs.

Read article

Italy heat wave threatens Parmesan: milk output down 10%, energy costs up 30% in storage

EU imports record 9.97 million tonnes of Russian LNG from Yamal plant ahead of 2027 ban

Germany plans sharper tobacco tax hikes, pushing cigarette pack to 11.78 euros by 2030

Poland refuses to lift Ukraine grain embargo despite EU pressure

51 percent of Germans oppose black-red coalition's plan to slash heat pump grants, Civey poll shows

Second nationwide blackout in five days hits Cuba as dissident rapper transferred on eve of protest anniversary

Belgium to launch digital road vignette for all vehicles from May 2027, with prices tied to CO2 emissions

France takes three nuclear reactors offline and limits eight others as river temperatures spike during third heatwave of 2026

France endures peak of heatwave as Pissos hits 42.4 °C, 37 departments on red alert into Monday

Spanish fuel prices jump 5.6% as VAT reduction expires, despite new 15-cent rebate

US refuses to renew USMCA, opening decade-long sunset for North American trade deal

UK and EDF extend Sizewell B nuclear plant life to 2055 in £70.50/MWh deal

Free to read, and staying that way