EU imports record volumes of Russian LNG ahead of purchase ban

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

China’s Tiangong Space Station has released striking footage showing Earth from a crew porthole.

Released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the video clip offers a spectacular bird's-eye view of the planet's diverse landscapes.

The Tiangong space station is now crewed by the Shenzhou-23 mission, which comprises three astronauts sent into space on May 24. The mission is notable for including a one-year in-orbit stay experiment, which will provide crucial data for future long-duration space exploration.

Stunning view of Earth captured from China's Tiangong space station