The European Union (EU) imported a record 9.89 million tons of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the first half of 2026, a sign that buyers rushed to secure supplies ahead of an upcoming EU ban, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
Purchases from the Yamal LNG project, controlled by Russia's Novatek, rose 18 percent year on year to 9.89 million tons between January and June. France, Belgium and Spain were the top buyers, importing 3.6 million, 2.9 million and 2.7 million tons, respectively.
The surge came as the EU prepares to ban long-term Russian LNG imports starting January 1, 2027. Since April, EU rules already prohibit purchases under short-term contracts, requiring each cargo to be covered by a long-term agreement.
EU imports record volumes of Russian LNG ahead of purchase ban
EU imports record volumes of Russian LNG ahead of purchase ban
The 2026 Qixi Festival Gala, produced by China Media Group (CMG), got underway at 20:00 Beijing Time on Wednesday, marking the annual celebration of one of China's oldest and most cherished traditional festivals.
The Qixi Festival, also referred to as the Chinese Valentine's Day, falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It dates back more than 2,000 years and was inscribed on China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.
The festival's enduring romantic association stems from the legends of the cowherd Niulang and the weaver girl Zhinyu, star-crossed lovers separated by the Milky Way who are permitted to meet only once a year when a flock of magpies forms a bridge across the heavens.
In ancient China, young women celebrate the festival by praying to Zhinyu for clever hands and domestic talents. Today, couples usually spend the day by exchanging gifts and many partners choose this auspicious date to register their marriages or hold collective traditional weddings.
This year's gala centered on the motif of a bridge, linking ancient myth with contemporary life.
A travelogue performance themed around the mythological bridge ran through the entire event, which featured songs, dances, traditional operas and ballet.
A highlight of the gala was a micro-film which explores shared Qixi customs between people from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
Among the evening's touching highlights was a short film featuring the enduring romance of 88-year-old Chinese radar technology expert Ben De, recipient of China's 2026 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, and his wife. The award is the nation's highest honor for scientific and technological achievement.
This year's gala centered on co-creation, featuring segments with real couples from across the country to jointly celebrate the millennia-old traditions through contemporary expressions of love.
CMG airs special TV gala to celebrate China's 2,000-year-old love festival
