
French Power at Record Discount to Germany on Cheap Nuclear
French year-ahead power prices traded at a record discount to those in Germany, underlining France's strong nuclear generation and its neighbor's continued reliance on gas.
French power futures for 2026 are about 27% cheaper than the equivalent contract in Germany, according to data from European Energy Exchange. Nuclear power output in France reached its highest level since 2019 this month, pushing down futures to a three-year low.

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Chicago Tribune
19 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Observation deck operator in former John Hancock Center plans major expansion and a new ‘immersive experience'
The operator of the 360 Chicago observation deck near the top of the former John Hancock Center said the attraction is taking over two additional floors, creating the city's first multilevel observation deck, a new three-story atrium and a 14,000-square-foot private event space. It's an encouraging sign for the Magnificent Mile, a retail district that has a lot of empty storefronts. Magnicity, the French company that owns 360 Chicago, last year bought the 95th and 96th floors, directly above the 94th-floor observation deck, after the abrupt closure of the legendary Signature Room restaurant and the Signature Lounge, both top tourist spots for decades. 'We are now positioned to bring much-needed investment into these iconic spaces, delivering an experience that truly reflects the historic and architectural significance of this incredible building,' said Nichole Benolken, managing director at 360 Chicago. Although 360 Chicago didn't provide many details about what visitors will experience in the expanded observation deck, it did drop a few hints. WB-Immersive, a global firm that helped design the opening ceremonies for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2024 Paralympics, will create an immersive experience for visitors in the renovated spaces, which will also include new exhibits and attractions. 'I can't say too much because we are still in the conceptual design phase,' said Pierre-Antoine Batail, WB-Immersive's head of creative strategy. It's certain that the space will no longer host a restaurant, Benolken said. Immersive retail experiences, such as the new interactive exhibit dedicated to Harry Potter at 676 N. Michigan Ave., have become popular in downtown Chicago, and for many spaces now make more financial sense than restaurants. 'Our decision making was data- and research-driven,' she said. 'The dining scene in Chicago has evolved dramatically in the past 30 years.' The Signature Room closed in September 2023. Its shutdown was a blow to the Magnificent Mile, where the retail vacancy rate soared as a result of online shopping trends and the pandemic. A message posted to the restaurant's social media pages cited COVID-19 and subsequent 'severe economic hardship.' Magnicity invested about $17 million into the former John Hancock Center, the skyscraper now known as 875 North Michigan Avenue, after buying the 94th floor more than 10 years ago. It added attractions such as Tilt, a moving glass ledge that for two minutes dangles guests more than 1,000 feet above the street, and CloudBar, the highest bar in Chicago. Nearly 1 million people visit the observation deck each year, a roughly 60% boost from when Magnicity took over, Benolken said. The company operates similar attractions atop buildings in Berlin, Paris and Rotterdam, Netherlands. The three-floor reconstruction will take 18 to 24 months to complete, and is the most significant interior renovation in the building's 56-year history, said Scott Duncan, design partner at SOM, the architectural firm that designed the 100-story John Hancock Center and leads the current project. SOM plans to connect all three floors with a grand staircase, replace all the windows on the 94th, 95th and 96th floors, providing visitors with much clearer views, and transform the 96th floor into a private event space, he said. That will also raise the profile of 875 North Michigan Avenue, hopefully attracting the many office users seeking spaces in the city's top trophy buildings. 'People are now looking for something out of the ordinary when it comes to office space,' Duncan said. 'And the real pyrotechnics will come when the (observation deck's) new exhibits are revealed.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
David Ornstein Confirms Liverpool Striker Move is ‘Possible' After Recent Contact
Liverpool's Forward Focus: Nunez Exit Opens Door for Ekitike After Record-Breaking Wirtz Deal Liverpool's summer window has exploded into life, with business being conducted swiftly and decisively under Arne Slot. Florian Wirtz's arrival, confirmed late Tuesday, will not only obliterate the club's own transfer record but also set new benchmarks across English and German football. At a projected cost of over £115m, it surpasses the Moises Caicedo fee to Chelsea and signals a shift in how the Reds intend to compete. Advertisement As reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Wirtz's signing is not the end of Liverpool's spree. 'There is, meanwhile, a possible departure from Merseyside in the form of Darwin Nunez,' Ornstein noted, confirming contact from Al-Hilal for the Uruguayan. While the player is reportedly more inclined to remain in Europe, the financial pull from Saudi Arabia remains a factor. With Wirtz secured and Milos Kerkez close to completing a switch, Liverpool's net summer spend could soon exceed £195m. Yet, there is still desire for a new number nine – and Hugo Ekitike has emerged as the primary target. Ekitike Move Contingent on Outgoings Eintracht Frankfurt's €100m asking price for Ekitike has cooled Chelsea's interest, leaving Liverpool well-positioned – but only if two players depart. As per Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool must sell two of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa or Darwin Nunez before advancing negotiations for the French forward. Photo: IMAGO The strongest indication of an imminent exit centres on Nunez, who has struggled to consistently justify his £85m price tag since joining from Benfica. Al-Hilal's recent inquiry represents a serious push to bring the Uruguayan to the Saudi Pro League, having previously missed out on Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes and Victor Osimhen. Advertisement 'Liverpool rejected a proposal worth €70m from Al Nassr in January, and that sets a minimum bar if an exit is to materialise,' Ornstein wrote. That valuation remains the benchmark if the Reds are to part ways with the 24-year-old. Elliott and Gakpo Future Questions Wirtz's arrival also places questions around the futures of other attackers, particularly Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old made his stance clear: 'I don't really want to be wasting years of my career because it's a short career.' With Wolves and Newcastle reportedly interested, Elliott's departure would ease squad congestion and raise additional funds. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo has publicly rejected links to Bayern Munich, while Alisson Becker has reaffirmed his commitment to Anfield, though he has started exploring his next steps, according to reports. Photo: IMAGO Slot's Tactical Evolution Demands Precision Slot's system hinges on high-intensity pressing and fluid attacking movement – a style tailor-made for someone like Wirtz. The German's numbers last season were staggering: 45 appearances, 16 goals and 15 assists. It's a clear statement of intent from Liverpool and an evolution from the more chaotic attacking presence of Nunez. Advertisement Wirtz also represents the most expensive German footballer ever, Bayer Leverkusen's record sale, and the Bundesliga's highest transfer fee to date. It is a transformative deal both on and off the pitch. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis There's a strange inevitability to Darwin Nunez's likely departure. His raw energy and unpredictability created moments of brilliance, but not the consistency a title-winning side demands. With Arne Slot at the helm and Liverpool now reigning champions again, the standards have shifted. Every decision must be calculated, and emotion cannot drive the future. Florian Wirtz is the opposite type of forward – intelligent, composed and ruthlessly efficient. He feels like a player designed for Slot's tactics. His arrival is exciting, but fans will rightly wonder if Liverpool will regret letting Nunez go just as he might have reached his peak. Advertisement The Ekitike interest is intriguing. He's younger, mouldable and potentially a better long-term fit. But can he adapt quickly enough to the Premier League, and will he thrive in the pressure cooker of Anfield? That remains a gamble. Harvey Elliott's frustration is understandable, and while it would hurt to lose a homegrown star, this is a ruthless business now. Wirtz's signing shows Liverpool's hand – trophies are the priority. And if the money from Saudi helps complete that vision, fans may just get behind it, however conflicted they feel.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chargeurs Updates ESG Efforts to Halve Carbon Footprint
Chargeurs PCC has dropped an updated ESG strategy. The French interlining firm shared plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 46 percent by 2030, as the nucleus of the plan centers around reducing the company's carbon footprint. More from Sourcing Journal EXCLUSIVE: Arvind, Fashion for Good's 'Near-Carbon-Neutral' Factory Initiative Seeks to Break Industry Paralysis Shein's Climate Ambitions Have Been Validated. Now What? Material World: Celebrate Biological Diversity Day With Carp Couture 'As a global company operating across five continents, we feel the responsibility to lead the transition to a more sustainable future,' said Gianluca Tanzi, chairman and CEO of Chargeurs PCC. 'Our mission is to act as pioneers and game changers, playing a leading role in the transformation of the textile industry.' The holistic effort includes designing with circularity, protecting biodiversity and enhancing social corporate governance through 'stringent supply chain oversight.' Chargeurs said this strategy is based on measurable data and integrated actions throughout the value chain. 'We want to continue innovating, providing our customers with solutions that merge excellence and awareness,' Tanzi said. 'This is why we are pursuing a series of real and concrete commitments that will impact not only within our company but also throughout our supply chain—addressing environmental concerns, product innovation and social responsibility.' Those concrete steps include operations already underway at the historic Lainière de Picardie plant in Péronne. Hot water replaced steam systems, and other advanced machinery has been installed, leading to an 11 percent emissions reduction in 2024 alone. In parallel, Chargeurs said, the company has engaged its suppliers to map emissions since December 2024. In pursuit of strengthening its supply chain transparency, 80 percent of its suppliers will have undergone SMETA audits by 2024, with plans in place to extend assessments across the remaining chain. Beyond modernizing infrastructure, Chargeurs is advancing sustainable product innovation, too, in pursuit of reduced energy consumption. Launched in 2023, Chargeurs' Zero-Water Dyeing is a range of interlinings characterized by low water consumption in the dyeing process. Available in 19 colors and made in France, the range can save up to 2,600 liters of water per 1,000 linear meters, according to the company's annual report. This range is part of Chargeurs' Sustainable 360 flagship collection, which uses lower-impact materials. Developed in 2019 and primarily designed using recycled yarn, the range expanded its material composition to cover a broader range of environmentally conscious inputs. Outside of the Zero-Water Dyeing range, this spans recycled, GRS-certified polyester, BCI and GOTS cotton, hemp, Ecovero responsibly-sourced viscose and bio-sourced polyamides, primarily from SMETA audited suppliers. The idea is to reduce microplastic dispersion, reduce water use and mitigate chemical treatments. Since 2021, the company's research and development efforts have focused on reducing chemical substances in formulations, seeing Chargeurs adopt stricter than-industry-average standards, even eliminating certain components when warranted. In 2024, the business line entered close partnerships with leading brands on the joint development of products aligned with their CSR requirements. Chargeurs' R&D laboratory in France has played a central role in providing solutions, developing an internal blacklist of unsustainable components; this voluntary measure clocked 60 percent of products and 90 percent of substances as compliant. Aware of the growing expectations of stakeholders and the group's dependence on raw materials like cotton and wood, biodiversity preservation is another pillar of Chargeurs' green path. To that end, Chargeurs' Lainière de Picardie factory maintains 75 percent of its grounds as a protected natural habitat. Last year, the group launched a reforestation initiative in Brazil, partnering with WeForest to plant 1,500 trees. The company also took part in COP16 Biodiversity in Cali, Colombia, and has entered other international 'ecosystem restoration collaborations' as well. A 'cornerstone' of Chargeurs' sustainability strategy is its staunch commitment to the 'Local for Local' model: an approach reflecting the company's long-term vision of responsible, regionally rooted growth.