Western Europe

Houthis, who are allied with Iran, in Yemen, will blockade Saudi Arabia's maritime traffic, they announced on Monday. This would further restrict a global market for energy, which is already severely restricted due to Iran's closing of the Strait?of Hormuz. Why it matters, and what it means to the Iran War and the global energy crises: How big is the risk to global energy markets? It's not clear what the Houthis will do to blockade Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea Coast, their northern neighbor. Or if they would return to attacking shipping. Yemen is located on the strait of?Bab...

Four industry sources confirmed that Russian steel billionaire Vladimir Lisin sold a shipping company?operating?in the Sea of Azov, to agricultural logistics group Demetra. They added that the deal had been negotiated before Ukrainian drone strikes on commercial vessels caused shipping restrictions in the region. Volga Shipping transports grain, metals and coal along the Volga, Don and Black Sea rivers. Its cargo volume is more than 15 million metric tonnes per year. On Monday, neither Demetra nor Volga Shipping, nor Lisin's steel company NLMK responded to any requests for comments. Four sources confirmed that Demetra and Lisin-affiliated companies were involved in...

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. The?has not checked these stories or?cannot?guarantee their accuracy. Databricks, a provider of data analytics, has raised a round of strategic funding valued at $188 billion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Taco Bell owned by Yum Brands would stop using shredded iceberg sourced from a supplier that has been linked with a parasitic outbreak causing a severe form of diarrhea and vomiting. Honda Motors will stop?the production?of its Prologue SUV, which is sold?in America?this?year. Honda Motors will not cancel sales immediately, but expects to continue them until...

Iran warned that if U.S. strikes continue, its campaign to choke global energy markets may expand from the Strait-of-Hormuz?to the crucial Red Sea route. This threat is dependent on the Houthi allies of Iran in Yemen. Here's why it matters, and what that means for the Iran War and the global energy crises: How big is the risk to global energy markets? The Bab el-Mandeb strait, the gateway to the Red Sea, would be closed and open a whole new front in the conflict between Iran and the U.S. The Red Sea is now an important alternative outlet for Gulf...

CMA -CGM, a French shipping company, has acquired FedEx's "third-party logistics" business, valued at $1.4 billion. The deal was announced on Wednesday, in an effort to increase its presence both in the United States and the logistics industry. The deal, which is expected to be completed later this year, will give CMA CGM, via its CEVA Logistics subsidiary a total of 20,000 contract logistics employees and 150 warehouses in North America. CMA CGM announced that following the acquisition the companies will also develop partnerships, under which CMA CGM would be the "preferred ocean carrier" for FedEx, and they would collaborate...

These are the top stories from the business pages of the New York Times. The New 'York Times has not?verified?these stories and does?not vouch?for their accuracy. Fox Corp. is purchasing Roku for $22 billion in cash and stock. This represents a major?bet by the broadcaster on the streaming platform to strengthen their advertising business and increase the reach of its sports and news content online. The preliminary agreement?to end?the war?between?the United States _and?Iran aims to reopen quickly the Strait of Hormuz. However, companies have said that they require more information before navigating this waterway. Iran announced on Monday that they...

Officials from the maritime industry said that two crew members are missing and another is injured after a suspected U.S. missile strike on a fuel tanker near Oman's coast. Ambrey believes that the 'blockade of Iranian ports by U.S. Ambrey, a British maritime security organization, said that the blockade of Iranian ports was likely to be responsible. In the past, crews were warned to gather at the bow of the vessel before an attack. Another maritime security source said that the ship was also likely to have been?hit by a U.S. rocket. The United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations agency reported...

Italian daily Corriere della Sera said that U.S. investment company Castlelake was looking to MSC, the world's largest shipowner, as a possible partner in a consortium interested in a potential takeover bid for British budget airline easyJet. Castlelake announced last week that it is in the initial stages of evaluating a possible easyJet offer, which would be above 403.23 pence a share. However, no approach has been made to easyJet's board. According to UK takeover regulations, the company has until June 26th to submit a firm offer or walk away. Corriere reported that two sources familiar with the discussions said...

Here are some company news stories and updates from France and Benelux that could impact the markets in these regions or specific stocks. CMA CGM The French shipping company 'CMA CGM' has taken delivery of its largest container -ship, the 'CMA CGM Notre Dame. This is the first in a series of 10 vessels that will be delivered to and deployed along maritime routes from 2026-2028. Eramet: Simon Henochsberg, a former Abel Martins Alexandre, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Eramet, effective May 26, 2026. Eurazeo: Eurazeo, a French investment company, invested in Babylon, an?French operator? of aparthotels. The...

Two people with knowledge of the situation said that Brookfield Asset Management is set to purchase World Freight 'Company' (WFC) from investment firms EQT & PAI Partners for an enterprise valuation of approximately $1.2 billion. Sources said that the firms had finalised their discussions and a deal could be announced as soon as Thursday. PAI, WFC and Brookfield did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The sale is being planned amid a period of global transportation volatility, as the Iran War has risen fuel prices and air freight costs and caused serious disruptions to air traffic and shipping routes....

About 30 women dressed in matching green dust coats grading sugar snap peas for dinner tables in Europe. The atmosphere in the?facility? is positive, but for the farmers the start of the fresh produce exporting season has been difficult due to an increase in freight costs caused by the Iran War. Kuminda, which aggregates the produce of about 5,000 small farmers, had just finished preparing its first exports of sugar snap peas, and mange tout for this year. RISE IN FREIGHT PRICES Exporters must absorb rising costs, or they risk derailing a recovery of Zimbabwe's horticulture industry. Last year the...

Maersk reported that the Alliance 'Fairfax', a U.S. flagged vehicle carrier operated by Farrell Lines, left the Gulf on Monday accompanied by U.S. Military assets. U.S. Central Command, or Centcom, said Monday that American forces were actively assisting efforts to restore commercial ship traffic through the Strait?Hormuz. Before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, 20% of world oil was transported through this vital maritime chokepoint. Centcom announced Monday that two merchant ships flying the flag of the United States successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Navy is operating guided-missile destroyers in?the Gulf as part of a project called...

Three sources with knowledge of the matter said that Egypt was in talks with Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP to buy 15-18 cargoes per month of liquefied gas for a minimum period three years. The talks take place as Egypt struggles to meet the rising demand for LNG and global LNG markets are tight due to the Iran conflict. This has led to a reduction in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and an increase in competition among buyers. Two sources confirmed that talks were ongoing with Shell, TotalEnergies and BP, as well as commodities traders Hartree Partners. A third source...

Three industry sources confirmed that the 'Caspian Pipeline Consortium' has stopped receiving oil from Kazakhstan, after suspending loadings Monday due to attacks against oil tankers at their Black Sea terminal. On Tuesday, two sources also stated that the oil tanks at the terminal were full. CPC, the company that accounts for 80% oil exports out of?Kazakhstan declined to comment. CPC announced on Monday that the oil loadings at Black Sea port had been suspended following a drone strike on tankers. Russia accused Ukraine of targeting CPC tanks as part of their "ambition to destabilise global oil markets". Ukraine has not...

Three industry sources reported on Tuesday that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium has ceased receiving oil from Kazakhstan after the suspension of 'loadings' due to a sabotage attack against 'oil tankers? at its Black Sea Terminal. Two sources said that the oil?reservoirs are also full at the terminal. CPC, the company that accounts for 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports, declined to comment. CPC announced on Monday that oil loads were'suspended' at the Black Sea Port following a ukranian drone attack against tankers. Chevron continues its monitoring of the situation at CPC. Safety and security for personnel are our highest priority. Chevron's...

Three sources with knowledge of the matter said that Egypt has been in discussions?with energy giants such as Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP - to buy 15-18 cargoes per month of 'liquefied 'natural gas for at least three year. The talks take place as Egypt struggles to meet the rising demand for domestic LNG and global LNG markets are tight due to the Iran conflict. This has led to a reduction in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and increased competition between buyers to secure supplies. Two sources confirmed that talks were?ongoing' with Shell, TotalEnergies and BP, as well as commodities...

Portugal and Morocco said they would ask the European Commission to consider funding a long-promised power interconnector that connects the two countries. They will also explore private sector investment. The crippling power "blackout" in Spain and Portugal that occurred in April 2025 revealed the Iberian Peninsula’s limited electrical links with Europe. This helped revive plans for the Portugal-Morocco connection first studied in 2018. Iberia only has 3% of its total electricity capacity interconnected with neighbouring European countries. This is well below the EU's target of 15% for 2030. A link to?Morocco could strengthen the energy security of Portugal, which is...

The energy ministry announced on Friday that Azerbaijan’s oil and condensate production fell from 13.7 million metric tons in the same period last year to 13.3 millions metric tons in this time frame. Azerbaijan’s gas production from January to June increased to 25.4 billion cubic meters from 25.2 billion cube metres in the same period last year, while oil exports fell to 10.2 millions tons from 11.6million tons, according to the report. BP, a British company, reduced its Azerbaijan oil?production to?7.9 millions tons from 8.0million tons a year ago. Gas exports into Europe dropped to?5.9 billion cubic meters from 6.1...

At least two people have died in violent thunderstorms that hit France overnight after a prolonged heatwave. French media and the local grid operator Enedis reported that 53,000 households had no power on Friday. * A woman was killed in Saint-Victurnien in central Haute-Vienne after a tree fell on her Thursday evening. In 'Dolomieu, to the east, a man died late Thursday night after a lightning strike ignited a fire in a workshop. Enedis, the grid operator, said that on Friday 53,000 households had lost?power. The cuts were mainly in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region in the 'Southeast' and in Nouvelle Aquitaine...

Fuel shortages are affecting Russians in all 11 time zones. Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries have disrupted supply and caused long queues, high gasoline prices, and even rationing?in some regions. Fuel access has improved in Moscow and other cities, mainly due to measures such as increasing imports and clearing low-quality fuels for use. However, the situation in Russian-annexed Crimea is still tense. Fuel shortages began in June, when some regions began to restrict gasoline and diesel use. Here is the situation in some Russian regions: CENTRAL RUSSIA According to 'witnesses, local media, and service aggregators who monitor the availability of...

Trafigura has "walked away" from a proposed 2,050 megawatt transmission line that would have transported surplus hydropower in Angola to copper mines and cobalt deposits in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to two sources who are directly involved. This is one of three private-backed transmission projects, worth billions, that aim to supply electricity from Angola – which has an abundance of stranded hydropower – to vital minerals operations in neighbouring countries facing power shortages. Trafigura signed a non-binding agreement in July 2024 with the Angolan Government and engineering firm ProMarks to conduct feasibility studies. One industry source...

In the last two weeks, Ukrainian forces have intensified their attacks on Russia's infrastructure for energy. Fuel shortages are worsened by the drone attacks in Russia. People have reported high prices and long lines at fuel stations in most regions. Here is a brief summary of recent attacks, starting with the latest. SALAVAT According to industry sources, the Salavat Petrochemical Complex, located in Bashkortostan's Urals region, stopped operations on July 14th following an attack by a Ukrainian drone. A fire broke at the Afipsky refinery, in southern Krasnodar Region of Russia. The cause was drone debris that fell from the...

At least two people were arrested on suspicion of starting the fire in a forest near Paris. Laurent Nunez, Interior Minister, said on Monday evening that "it is not under control." The main fire in Fontainebleau, and a second one that began nearby on Monday afternoon, had scorched over 1,300 hectares (3.212 acres). Nunez said the fire was only a few kilometers away from the Palace of "Fontainebleau", which explained the deployments of significant resources, such as water-carrying aircraft and helicopters. Canadair's aircraft skimmed across the River Seine on Monday to fill up their fuel tanks in an attempt to...

Unimot, a Polish energy group, will deliver crude oil imported by sea from South America at Germany's PCK Schwedt Refinery. The company announced this on Monday. Germany is looking for alternatives to replace lost supplies since Russia announced it would stop deliveries of Kazakh oil via the Druzhba Pipeline from May 1. Unimot's supply will allow Schwedt a boost in activity during a period when the Middle East war is straining oil supplies worldwide. Unimot reported that the South American oil has been shipped to Gdansk, and will then be delivered to?Schwedt via the Polish pipeline operator PERN. In a...