World
Ministers agree to extend gas saving policy through 2024
With no end in sight to president Putin’s war on Ukraine, European energy ministers have agreed to extend for a second year voluntary measures to keep natural gas demand across the EU to at least 15% below pre-invasion levels, and discussed ways to end lingering dependence on Russian gas.
European energy ministers have agreed to extend for a second year voluntary measures to keep natural gas demand across to at least 15% below where they stood when Russia supplied some two-fifths of the bloc’s needs, while the EU executive said the bloc is ready to stop ongoing imports through war-torn Ukraine.
Belgian energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten – who chaired an EU Council summit in Brussels on Monday (4 March) that included a discussion of ensuring reserves are filled in time for the next winter – said the emergency measures had “clearly worked” with gas demand across the 27-member bloc having fallen by 18%.
Governments ushered in a range of measures to encourage lower consumption, ranging from awareness raising campaigns to concrete restrictions on the use of air conditioning and obligatory reduction in the temperature of public buildings and swimming pools. Soaring prices also helped dampen demand, especially in heavy industry.
Despite EU gas storage still being 62% full as a particularly mild winter draws to a close, ministers agreed that global gas markets remained tight and vulnerable to unexpected shocks. “Considering the persistent risks…strengthening both preparedness and security of supply will remain crucial,” Van der Straeten said.
However, despite efforts to diversify supply – the EU’s new centralised purchasing platform was overwhelmed last month with bids to deliver gas between April 2024 and October 2029 – Russia remains a significant supplier ahead of the divorce date of 2027 set out in the RePowerEU plan, rushed out in the wake of the invasion.
Speaking after the ministerial summit, EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson acknowledged that Russian gas still accounted for 15% of EU imports last year, or nearly 43 billion cubic metres. Norway is by far the largest supplier, followed now by the US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Despite the ongoing military conflict, some 14 billion cubic metres of Russian gas was piped through Ukraine to south eastern Europe last year, but the transit agreement between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukrainian pipeline operator Naftogaz is due to expire in December.
But Simson said it was time to end such imports, and that EU efforts to diversify supply routes over the past two years mean any shortfall could be absorbed by the European market.
“The EU has no interest in prolonging the trilateral agreement with Russia, and the focus should now be on supporting Ukraine…and best use its gas infrastructure and storage…integrating it further into the EU energy market,” Simson said, although she acknowledged some member states had voiced concerns about the greater expense of alternative options.
The bulk of ongoing Russian gas imports are now in the form of LNG, with 18bcm last year. Ministers discussed a call from Lithuania for “urgent legal actions” to end the import of Russian LNG to Europe.
Van der Straeten told reporters that an EU-level ban on imports would mean adding gas to the list of Russian products already subject to sanctions, and that this would require unanimous support by all 27 member states. It was clear from the intervention by one member state, whom the Belgian minister did not name, that unanimity “would not be a given”.
World
‘X-Men’ Star Famke Janssen Says Marvel ‘Made a Mistake’ By Not Asking Her to Return as Jean Grey in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Famke Janssen said during a recent conversation with Nerdtropolis at Spacecon 2026 that Marvel “made a mistake” by not bringing her back as Jean Grey for December’s “Avengers: Doomsday.”
“I am so bad at keeping secrets that I always say to everyone I’m the worst actor in the world. It’s all on my face. You right away will read it,” Janssen said. “I think they made a mistake, but hey, who am I? I’m just a little me who thinks that.”
Janssen first appeared as the telepath Jean Grey, aka Phoenix, in 2000’s “X-Men,” and then reprised the role for 2003’s “X2: X-Men United” and 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand.” She also briefly appeared as Grey in 2013’s “The Wolverine” and 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Janssen’s absence from “Doomsday” is notable, considering Marvel is bringing back many of her “X-Men” co-stars for the film. Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) are all set to return.
In an October 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Janssen said in every interview she does, she’s asked about the future of Jean Grey in the MCU.
“It’s interesting,” Janssen said. “I didn’t realize that was such a big part. Every interview I do, that will come up, and of everything I say, that is going to be the only thing that’s gonna be printed.”
“I should be flattered, I suppose, that this character has resonated with people,” she added. “It’s been so long, but it’s nice that people are still talking about her. I’m sure every single time there’s a new movie that they’re doing, like [is it] ‘Doomsday?’ … it’ll come up again.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Authorities are responding after two passenger trains crashed into each other Friday near Bedford, England, killing at least one person and injuring nearly 90 others.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to a collision involving two trains at Elstow, near Bedford, at about 5:15 p.m. local time and quickly declared a “major incident.”
One person died at the scene, 11 people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 people had minor injuries, officials said.
Bedford is roughly 60 miles north of London.
2 TRAINS COLLIDE IN DENMARK, LEAVING 5 PEOPLE CRITICALLY INJURED
Two passenger trains collided Friday in the United Kingdom. (Fox News)
All the patients with the most serious injuries have been taken from the scene to hospital.
The ambulance service said it sent numerous resources to the scene, including more than 20 ambulances, specialist hazardous area response teams and six air ambulances.
MULTIPLE STABBED IN UK TRAIN ATTACK NEAR CAMBRIDGE AS POLICE ARREST 2 SUSPECTS
Emergency crews were pictured working near the scene. (Fox News)
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we thank all emergency service colleagues for their swift response,” the ambulance service wrote in a statement.
The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its crews were also responding.
“Please avoid the area,” fire officials wrote in a statement on X.
Sources told The Telegraph the train driver was on the phone with maintenance staff discussing a safety issue at the time of the crash.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
As Israel’s war on Lebanon rages, hundreds gather in Rmeileh by Sidon Gate to watch the 2026 World Cup. Organised by influencer Bilal Haddad, the fan zone offers food trucks, shisha and family activities, giving people a rare chance to relax. Al Jazeera’s Justin Salhani went to check it out.
Published On 20 Jun 2026
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoWoman, man found shot to death in Pomona, suspect leads officers on erratic chase
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoToday in History: June 20, race-related rioting erupts in Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco hotels see steady World Cup business, but fall short of Super Bowl surge
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas International Piano Competition brings finalists June 23
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoWhere to watch San Francisco Giants vs Miami Marlins: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 20
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoDuck parades, outdoor drinking, and Gronk in a kilt. Here’s how Friday’s World Cup festivities unfolded. – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoRockies ride Kyle Freeland’s gem, Braxton Fulford’s double to 4-3 win over Pirates
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSuarez’s no-hit try ends on Naylor double in seventh, but Boston still tops Seattle
