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1. Endangered antelopes flown to Kenya from Czech zoo
A group of mountain bongos, a rare antelope species native to the Kenyan highland forests, has been flown back to Kenya from a Czech zoo. With fewer than 100 of these animals remaining in the wild, this transfer marks a historic homecoming aimed at bolstering their population.
2. EU must have more of its own taxes from 2028, says von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the need for the EU to establish its own tax revenues by 2028. She warned that without these new resources, member states could face either increased national contributions or reduced spending capacity, which would hinder the EU’s ability to act effectively.
3. Woman caught at Bangkok airport with 30 turtles on her body
A 19-year-old woman from Taiwan was apprehended at Bangkok airport after attempting to smuggle 30 live turtles attached to her body with adhesive tape. Security officials noticed her unusual behavior, leading to the discovery of the turtles, which were intended for illegal transport back to Taiwan.
4. Iran war costs EU €500M a day, von der Leyen warns
Ursula von der Leyen has highlighted the significant financial burden the ongoing conflict in Iran places on the EU, costing approximately €500 million daily. She reiterated the urgent need for Europe to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.
5. Outrage after Indian man carries his sister’s skeleton to a bank to prove her death
A disturbing incident in Odisha, India, has sparked outrage after a man was filmed carrying his sister’s skeleton to a bank to validate her death. The video has gone viral, drawing widespread condemnation and highlighting the extreme lengths some individuals may go to in bureaucratic situations.
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6. A suspected spy who allegedly worked for Russia has been arrested in Berlin. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the individual had maintained continuous contact with a Russian secret service since at least May 2025.
7. The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in violation of digital regulations regarding children on its platforms. The investigation revealed that the company failed to adequately prevent users under 13 from accessing Instagram and Facebook, breaching the Digital Services Act.
8. In a recent statement, Vladimir Putin expressed frustration over Ukrainian counterattacks amid ongoing conflict. This marks a rare admission from the Russian leader, who has been heavily bombarding Ukraine for the past four years.
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Already, 2026 is shaping up to be the world’s second-warmest year on record, according to some analyses. For Europe, the past winter was one of the coldest in recent years, but temperatures are rebounding, with last month being the continent’s second-hottest March on record. A report released on Wednesday confirmed that 2025 marked Europe’s worst wildfire season on record, raising concerns about the impact of climate change across the region.
In a significant political move, Estonia is advocating for a blanket ban on ex-combatants from Russia’s war effort. This definition broadly encompasses everyone involved, from regular troops to proxy forces like the Wagner mercenary group. The Estonian government, led by Minister Pevkur, is pushing back against concerns regarding the implications of such a ban, which includes hundreds of thousands mobilized since 2022, as well as tens of thousands who deserted at the risk of severe penalties.
Turning to the weather. In Riga, 2 to 6 degrees with patchy rain possible. In London, 8 to 16 degrees with patchy rain possible a slightly cool ambiance awaits london on today. In Paris, 9 to 21 degrees with patchy rain possible paris will experience a pleasantly warm today. In Brussels, 7 to 19 degrees with partly cloudy mild temperatures are expected in brussels. In Berlin, 4 to 14 degrees with sunny a slightly cool ambiance awaits berlin on today. In Stockholm, 1 to 9 degrees with sunny. In Madrid, 14 to 25 degrees with patchy rain possible madrid will experience a pleasantly warm today.
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