Germany is nationalizing its largest gas utility, Uniper

Sep 21, 2022
The country's three largest importers of Russian natural gas have received government bailouts, and similar actions may follow in Europe.
Russia's termination of gas exports has hurt Uniper along with other European energy companies.
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Taking stock of Big Tech and Russian energy with Europe’s Competition Commissioner

Sep 21, 2022
The BBC’s Victoria Craig speaks with Margrethe Vestager about Big Tech and the green energy initiatives.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission's competition chief.
Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Food is more expensive because it's getting more expensive to make food

Sep 14, 2022
Farmers are paying more for equipment and supplies. Drought in the Great Plains has hurt corn and wheat. The Ukraine war also plays a role.
Extreme drought has hurt corn production in the U.S. this year.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Europe might just be getting a handle on its Russian natural gas problem

Sep 8, 2022
European nations have managed to store gas, and the price has come down from historic highs.
European countries are using a range of strategies to decrease their reliance on Russian natural gas. In the Netherlands, above, a regasification unit converts liquefied natural gas so it can be fed into the country's natural gas network.
Siese Veenstra/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Should Russians be allowed to vacation in Europe while the Kremlin wages war on Ukraine?

Sep 6, 2022
The EU is to make it tougher for Russians to holiday in Europe as a sanction against the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. But why not a total ban?
Finland is among the five European Union member countries pushing for a blanket ban on travel visas for Russian citizens. Above, travelers at Finland's Helsinki Airport in August.
Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP via Getty Images

High energy prices could threaten European utilities' ability to keep doing business

Sep 6, 2022
A reported $1.5 trillion is tied up as collateral on energy markets. That's making it hard for energy companies to operate.
Natural gas prices in Europe rose swiftly over the weekend following the announcement that Russia's state energy company Gazprom will not resume pumping natural gas through the Nord Stream pipeline. Above, a natural gas storage facility in Austria.
Alexandra Beier/Getty Images

6 months into the war, how's the Russian economy faring?

Aug 24, 2022
Russia remains economically isolated and it's suffering a brain drain of young, educated professionals, explains Kristy Ironside of McGill University.
Russia's financial isolation has contributed to the recovery of the ruble's value.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

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Ukrainians in the U.S. have found new ways to send money to loved ones back home

Aug 22, 2022
But remittances have actually fallen as the war has dragged on.
Western Union is now allowing money sent to Ukraine to be picked up in neighboring countries. But because of steep costs, some Ukrainians abroad have found alternatives to usual remittance services.
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Sanctions and strong ruble challenge Russia's crypto mining industry

Aug 9, 2022
A cold climate and cheap energy have made Russia a destination for bitcoin mining. But new factors confront its cryptocurrency efforts.
The strength of the Russian ruble has made it costly to mine cryptocurrency there. Above, a bitcoin mining center in Kirishi, Russia.
Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images

Germany under fire from neighbors for its dependence on Russian energy

Aug 3, 2022
Fear that Russia may terminate all natural gas flows to Europe's largest economy is causing friction among EU countries.
Some countries in Eastern Europe objected to Germany building ties with Russia around natural gas imports via the Nord Stream pipeline. Now, Germany is scrambling to prepare for additional supply cuts.
Odd Anderson/AFP via Getty Images