Around the world in 40 seconds

🇪🇺 EU officials are seeking emergency power to impose a cap on natural gas prices this winter. The gas cap, only to be enacted as a last-ditch measure, is part of a package of proposals aimed at cushioning EU consumers from high energy prices after Russia completely cut off gas flows through the Nord Stream pipeline this summer. Natural gas prices in Europe have fallen in recent days to their lowest levels since June, per the WSJ.

🇫🇷 French cement company Lafarge agreed to pay a $778 million fine over payoffs to ISIS. The fine came after Lafarge pleaded guilty to a US federal criminal charge accusing the company of paying ISIS and another terrorist group ~$10 million from 2013-14 in order to keep a cement plant operating in Syria. “Never before has a corporation been charged with providing material support and resources to foreign terrorist organizations,” US Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement yesterday. The company, which joined Switzerland-based Holcim Group in 2015, is also facing criminal charges in France for being complicit in crimes against humanity.

🇺🇦 Russian missiles and kamikaze drones continue to damage areas across Ukraine. Russia has destroyed 30% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over the past eight days, per President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said daily attacks have led to frequent blackouts across the country – even in areas far removed from the front lines of battle. Hundreds of thousands of citizens are also without running water, per AP News.

+Whodunnit, cont’d: Yesterday, Swedish newspaper Expressen published the first video footage of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after last month’s sabotage. In it, you can see an estimated 165-foot segment of the pipeline was destroyed. (Background)