US court orders Dakota Access oil pipeline to be emptied, shut

Colonial Pipeline on Monday afternoon said it aimed to "substantially" restore service on its system, which provides around 45% of refined fuel needs to the U.S. East Coast, by the end of the week after suffering a ransomware attack that forced it to shut down its pipeline over the weekend to contain the threat.

The Justice Department has recovered most of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment made to hackers after a cyberattack that caused the operator of the nation's largest fuel pipeline to halt its operations last month, officials said Monday.

An unprecedented international law enforcement operation involving eight countries has resulted in 23 arrests and the seizure of 2.6 tons of cocaine.

An oil spill in Southern California closed beaches and led authorities to cancel the last day of the Pacific Air Show. At least 126,000 gallons (98,420 liters) of oil spilled off the coast of Orange County.

The benchmark price for natural gas in Europe continued to rise in early trading on Wednesday, after spiking by 18 percent on Tuesday. The move comes after Germany's energy regulator temporarily suspended certification for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would link the country to Russia. Gas supplies in Europe have been under pressure for months, with prices rising sharply for consumers since the summer. Also, we look why factories in China are experiencing a shortage of workers.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline connecting Russia to Germany has long been finished, and Europe is in desperate need of the gas. And yet, it's not flowing and it is unclear if and when the pipeline will be put in service.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck has pushed forward the timetable for Germany's fossil fuel exit and paved the way for the country's first national gas reserve in order to wean the country off of Russian gas.

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.

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?