Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has said Moscow could cut off the flow of natural gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which links the country to Germany, in retaliation for sanctions imposed on its economy over the invasion of Ukraine. This latest threat comes as the United States is considering banning purchases of Russian oil. Novak warned that such a move could push prices as high as $300 a barrel. In early trading on Tuesday, the international benchmark Brent crude was trading at around $125.

We're less than one month away from the first round of a very unusual presidential election, shadowed by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. FRANCE 24 takes a look at one of voters' top priorities: the cost of living. We also report from the latest climate protests, where French citizens have called for more attention to the environmental crisis.

We're less than one month away from the first round of a very unusual presidential election, shadowed by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. FRANCE 24 takes a look at one of voters' top priorities: the cost of living. We also report from the latest climate protests, where French citizens have called for more attention to the environmental crisis.

With Poland and Bulgaria cut off from Russian gas, major European energy firms are reportedly considering compliance with Moscow's demand to be paid in roubles. Over in the US, Archegos Capital's Bill Hwang pleads not guilty to fraud. Finally, amid a shortage of sunflower oil due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the French government has authorised food companies to change their recipes without altering their packaging.

German energy official Klaus Müller has said the country's gas situation is stable but predicted higher prices for consumers. He also said that Germany can last another 2 1/2 months without Russian gas.

Canada will return to Germany the repaired turbine of the Russian Nord Stream 1 pipeline, vital for sustaining German gas supply. Ukraine has condemned the move, saying it undermines the sanctions against Russia.

Gas supplies to Europe from Russia through the pipeline had been shut off for 10 days of scheduled maintenance. The flow has now restarted but at far below maximum capacity.

Russia's Gazprom said it would again reduce gas deliveries through Nord Stream 1 by 20% for 'repairs,' cutting the current flow in half. The new blow to supply comes as Europe scrambles to store gas for winter.

Nigeria, Algeria and Niger are renewing efforts to implement a decades-old plan, as they look to benefit from EU efforts to wean itself off Russian gas. But is there enough political will and funding for the project?

As European leaders were warning of sabotage to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, Poland and Norway inaugurated a new conduit that will reduce dependence on Russian gas. The move underscores the urgency of EU economies' search for new energy sources.

A video circulating on Twitter erroneously suggests that US military bomber jets were seen flying over eastern Germany earlier this week, feeding Russian allegations of US "sabotage" of the Nord Stream pipelines. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

"Serious damage" caused by "substantial explosions – not done by an amateur". That's the assessment of the EU’s Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni after gas leaks were discovered in the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Germany earlier this week.