Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall perilously close to the point at which it would effectively close, putting the trade of huge quantities of goods at risk as the continent seeks to stave off an economic crisis.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has supercharged the price of so-called clean ocean-going tankers, with soaring freight rates prompting companies to rush to purchase rather than rent vessels.

Undeterred by the slowing global economy, buyers of key components in the powering of electric vehicles are stepping up efforts to lock in supplies, with two of the world’s biggest automakers signing direct deals with producers of so-called battery metals.

European Union member states have agreed to ration gas this winter in an attempt to avoid an energy crisis generated by further Russian cuts to supply.

Russia began sending natural gas to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline system after a pause, bringing relief to a continent whose economy is starting to wobble under the strain of reduced supplies.

A handful of scientists and the companies they founded are building factories to produce next-generation battery cells, allowing carmakers to begin road testing the technologies and determine whether they are safe and reliable.

Developers of battery metals projects can win support from the U.S. government as it seeks to counter the dominance of China in clean-technology supply chains.

A global squeeze on energy supply that’s triggered crippling shortages and sent power and fuel prices surging may get worse, according to the head of the International Energy Agency.