European Union countries were at odds on Wednesday over whether to cap gas prices in the bloc, with France, Belgium and 13 other states stepping up their call for the move opposed by Germany and others.

EU sees sabotage in gas pipe leaks, Norway hikes security

The right wing of the Conservative party has often demonstrated scepticism if not hostility towards renewables and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Oil prices were mixed in early Asian trade on Wednesday as support from U.S. production cuts caused by Hurricane Ian contended with crude storage builds and a strong dollar.

The dollar weakened slightly against major rivals Tuesday, helping the pound to rebound from a record low, while equity markets stabilised after recent volatility.

After weeks of lobbying the White House on how gig workers should be treated, the rideshare, delivery and retail industries are bracing for a new rule that is likely to make it easier to classify them as employees, multiple sources say.

Iranian riot police and security forces clashed with demonstrators in dozens of cities on Tuesday, state media and social media said, amid continuing protests against the death of young Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in police custody.

Rocketing LNG cargo prices have squeezed out dozens of smaller traders, concentrating the business in the hands of a handful of international energy majors and top global trading houses.

The fight against inflation is the biggest priority, France's finance minister said on Monday as he delivered a 2023 budget subject to what he called unprecedented uncertainty due to the fallout from Russia's war against Ukraine.

Italian shares jumped nearly 1% on Monday, outperforming their regional peers as Telecom Italia and financial stocks advanced after the right-wing coalition led by Georgia Meloni looked set to win the country's general election.

A group of European Union countries want to push Brussels to produce plans this week for a bloc-wide cap on the price of gas, according to a draft letter seen by Reuters.

A downturn in business activity across the euro zone deepened in September, according to a survey which showed the economy was likely entering a recession as consumers rein in spending amid a cost of living crisis.

A temporary brake on gas and electricity derivatives when prices spike could improve how energy markets operate, the European Union's securities watchdog proposed on Thursday, along with more fundamental changes over time.

The UK had in 2019 called a halt to fracking -- or hydraulic fracturing which is used to release hydrocarbons locked deep underground -- due to fears it could trigger earthquakes.

Britain on Wednesday announced a six-month plan to pay about half of energy bills for businesses.

Almost every week now, European governments are announcing emergency measures to protect households and businesses from the energy crisis stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine.

Emmanuel Lefebvre produces thousands of tonnes of endives on his farm in northern France annually, but this year he may abandon his crop because of the crippling energy costs required to freeze the harvested bulbs.

European shares fell on Thursday, with tech stocks sliding after the U.S.

For five generations, Dutchman Dennis Toebast's family has prospered as bread bakers.

Brent crude futures fell 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $89.67 per barrel by 0013 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 15 cents to $82.79 per barrel.

European shares traded in a narrow range on Wednesday as investors digested Russia's first mobilisation since World War Two while they waited for the U.S.

Germany nationalised gas importer Uniper on Wednesday and Britain capped wholesale electricity and gas prices for businesses, as Europe splurged cash to keep the lights and heaters on this winter amid an escalating war in Ukraine.

Governments in Europe have earmarked nearly 500 billion euros in the last year to cushion citizens and companies from soaring gas and power prices, according to research published by think-tank Bruegel on Wednesday.

Europe's problems in sourcing oil and gas this winter after a dispute with Russia may be exacerbated by a new crisis in the market where prices are already red-hot: a liquidity crunch that could send them spiralling higher still.

The German central bank said Monday it was increasingly likely that Europe's largest economy would shrink for a "prolonged" period as Russia throttled energy supplies to the continent.

European governments outlined new measures on Monday to cope with potential energy shortages this winter and raced to improve energy networks to share power, with Russian gas flows still running at severely reduced rates amid the Ukraine war.

Oil prices climbed during early Asian trade on Monday as a weaker dollar and supply concerns ahead of the European Union embargo on Russian oil in December offset fears of a global recession that could dampen fuel demand.

The German subsidiary of Russian oil giant Rosneft was placed under trusteeship on Friday, giving Germany's federal regulator control of the PCK refinery in Schwedt, a key source of fuel for the city of Berlin.

Shell on Thursday announced the exit of chief executive Ben van Beurden as the British oil and gas giant looks to reinvent itself under group renewables boss Wael Sawan.

Shell says CEO stepping down at end of 2022