2025-10-01 12:19
Europe's top forecaster collects 800 million observations a day Access to quality data is central part of managing risks Will provide AI forecasting support for developing countries COPENHAGEN, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Europe's top weather forecaster said on Wednesday it had opened access to real-time data in a move that will support early warning systems for extreme weather events across the globe. As climate change drives more frequent and intense weather, from heatwaves to floods and storms, getting access to quality data remains a central part of efforts to understand and manage the risks. Sign up here. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, backed by 35 mostly European countries, collects 800 million observations a day to help predict the weather, and oversees one of the world's largest meteorological data archives. As part of a regional push by some European countries to move to open data, the centre will make available about 16 times as much data in an unrestricted fashion as it does currently, but retain data service charges for users who take large volumes, its data policy lead said. As the world gears up for the next round of climate talks in Brazil in November, adapting to climate extremes and getting data to those most impacted so they can better prepare remains a key need for developing countries. Against this backdrop, the centre said it would also waive service fees to support some early warning forecasting for members of the World Meteorological Organization and would see how AI forecasts could assist developing countries with less access to their own national data or processing. "If you have this disruptive technology, there's always the danger that countries that are less well-resourced get left behind," Florian Pappenberger, the director-general-elect for the centre, said. “We're aware that there's a large part of the globe where accessing machine learning forecasts is challenging." https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/forecaster-opens-access-real-time-data-boost-extreme-weather-warnings-2025-10-01/
2025-10-01 12:09
KYIV, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz signed a 300 million euro ($352 million) loan deal with the European Investment Bank for gas purchases ahead of the winter heating season, the company said on Wednesday. Naftogaz has stepped up efforts to secure additional funding to purchase sufficient gas to get Ukraine through winter after Russian strikes on production facilities cut domestic output by 40%. Sign up here. As part of the agreement, Naftogaz pledged to reinvest an amount equivalent to the EIB loan into renewable energy and decarbonisation projects. "300 million euro from the EIB is substantial and practical support that will help us guarantee the country’s energy resilience ahead of the winter," said Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi. He said that the company was pumping gas into underground storage for winter as planned, and that its storage targets are now about 95-98% met. The government has said Ukraine needs at least 13.2 billion cubic metres of gas for the 2025/26 heating season which starts in mid-October. The loan will allow the purchase of around 0.6 billion cubic metres of gas, Naftogaz said. Ukraine was forced to start importing gas back in the spring of 2025, due to attacks by hundreds of drones and missiles targeting the country's production facilities. Koretskyi says that gas purchased with the loan can be of any origin except Russian. He said that this year Naftogaz significantly increased imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), which accounted for 8% of total imports. Koretskyi said the company had purchased 0.5 billion cubic metres of U.S. LNG, most of which has already been delivered to the country. ($1 = 0.8516 euros) https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ukraines-naftogaz-gets-300-million-euro-loan-gas-purchases-winter-2025-10-01/
2025-10-01 12:07
BRUSSELS, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The European Commission will propose cutting steel import quotas by nearly half and hiking duties on volumes above those levels to 50% in line with tariffs imposed by the U.S. and Canada, two sources briefed on details told Reuters on Wednesday. The measures will be part of a new package for the steel sector due to be unveiled on October 7. Sign up here. Stephane Sejourne, the Commission's executive vice president for industrial strategy, briefed steel associations and unions on Wednesday ahead of the announcement. Henrik Adam, president of European steel association Eurofer and vice president of Tata Steel, told a press conference that Sejourne had reassured attendees their message had been understood, without divulging details. EU STEEL IMPORT SAFEGUARDS SET TO EXPIRE Steel imports into the EU are currently limited by safeguards, but these are set to expire in mid-2026 in accordance with World Trade Organization rules. Steel groups have been pressing for a halving of the current quotas and a tariff of 50% excess volumes from 25% now. They say quotas now are 26% above original levels, while demand has declined. The rate would put the EU in line with Canada and the United States, though the latter's tariffs apply from the very first ton. The EU and Western allies are trying to contain excess capacity the OECD says will hit 721 million metric tons in 2027, notably due to subsidised Chinese factories. The EU is also investigating market trends for potential aluminium safeguards as well as export duties on scrap metal. The new steel import curb system could help secure a deal with the United States to replace 50% U.S. tariffs with a quota system, as outlined in the end-July U.S.-EU deal. The EU said it would work closely with Washington in a "metals alliance" to ring-fence their respective production from China. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Asia this month to revive the talks. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/eu-plans-cut-steel-import-quotas-hike-tariffs-2025-10-01/
2025-10-01 11:44
Oct 1 (Reuters) - Conagra Brands (CAG.N) , opens new tab beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter sales and profit on Wednesday, helped by resilient demand for its pantry staples such as Slim Jim meat snacks and Act II popcorn. Consumers opting to cook at home due to rising living costs have helped boost sales for packaged foods companies such as Conagra. Sign up here. However, tariff-led inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty have been posing a threat to the company's sales, along with competition from cheaper private-label brands. "We continue to navigate a challenging environment as we're still dealing with persistent inflation and tariffs, both of which have drifted higher than our original expectations," CEO Sean Connolly said in a statement. "Against that backdrop, consumer sentiment remains weak and we still see value-seeking behavior." Reiterating its annual forecasts, Conagra said it expects an overall rise of about 7% in the cost of goods sold, including a 3% hit from tariffs. The company said the forecast includes a 50% tariff rate on imported tin plate steel and aluminum, along with a 30% rate on limited imports from China. Shares of the company rose about 2% in premarket trading, paring earlier gains, after the company said tariff-driven pricier inventory would weigh on the current quarter's operating margins. Conagra posted revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter ended August 24, beating analysts' average estimate of $2.62 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its quarterly adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share also exceeded expectations of 33 cents. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/conagra-beats-quarterly-sales-estimates-2025-10-01/
2025-10-01 11:43
NEW DELHI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - India's northeastern state of Assam has withdrawn its flagship clean energy policy announced in February, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and sources with direct knowledge of the matter, clouding millions of dollars of planned investments. Earlier this year, Assam, the largest state in India's northeast, sought to attract investments to a region that has lagged in renewable energy adoption by offering financial incentives and waivers. Sign up here. The February policy offered subsidies on power transmission and eased bank guarantee requirements to support clean energy projects in the state. An internal memo dated July 18, reviewed by Reuters, said the integrated clean energy policy was withdrawn following a cabinet decision, without specifying the reason for its reversal. Assam's power department did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comment on the policy withdrawal. The Assam government has not issued an official withdrawal of the clean energy policy, industry sources said. Energy companies including NTPC Green (NTPG.NS) , opens new tab, Larsen & Toubro (LART.NS) , opens new tab, Singapore-listed Sembcorp (SCIL.SI) , opens new tab, and Abu Dhabi-based Ocior have bid for green hydrogen projects in Assam, the sources and bid documents reviewed by Reuters said. Inconsistent policies from state governments pose challenges to planned investments, said a senior NTPC official, who did not want to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the matter. In June, Reuters reported that Assam had put its flagship green hydrogen policy on hold, surprising investors. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/indias-assam-state-scraps-clean-energy-policy-threatening-renewable-investment-2025-10-01/
2025-10-01 11:43
Oct 1 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday it was "a good thing" that France was investigating a suspected infraction by the oil tanker Boracay, which is suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" involved in the Russian oil trade. French authorities have been tight-lipped about the vessel, which is currently at anchor near the western city of Saint Nazaire. The Brest prosecutor said on Tuesday that a probe had been opened after the crew failed to provide proof of the vessel's nationality and failed to comply with orders, but gave no further details. Sign up here. The Kremlin said on Wednesday it had no information about the vessel, but added the Russian military had to act sometimes to restore order when foreign countries had taken what spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as "provocative actions." Macron, speaking in Denmark at a summit of European Union leaders, said the collective assessment was that Russia's "shadow fleet" contains 600 to 1,000 ships. Shadow fleet tankers typically have opaque ownership and insurance and are often more than 20 years old. The Boracay is listed under British and European Union sanctions against Russia. It was detained by Estonian authorities earlier this year for sailing without a valid country flag. It left the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20, according to MarineTraffic data. It sailed through the Baltic Sea and over the top of Denmark before entering the North Sea and transiting west through the Channel. Ship tracking data show that the 2007-built tanker was being shadowed by a French warship after it rounded France's northwestern tip, before altering course and heading east towards the French coast. France's Navy, the Brest prosecutor and other maritime authorities did not respond to questions on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/world/macron-applauds-probe-suspected-shadow-fleet-tanker-anchored-off-french-coast-2025-10-01/
