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1. Sri Lanka declares Wednesdays off for fuel conservation
Sri Lanka has announced that Wednesdays will now be a non-working day as part of efforts to conserve fuel. This decision aligns with similar measures taken by other Asian nations reliant on oil imports from the Gulf.
2. Suspected suicide attacks in Nigeria kill at least 23
In north-east Nigeria, multiple blasts targeted busy locations in Maiduguri on Monday evening, resulting in at least 23 fatalities. Authorities are investigating the attacks, which are suspected to be suicide bombings.
3. Israel claims responsibility for killing Iranian security chief
Israel’s defense minister has confirmed the death of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani in an airstrike on Tehran. Minister Israel Katz stated that Larijani, along with a Basij commander, was eliminated in the operation.
4. Environmental disaster warning in the Mediterranean
Following damage to the Russian gas tanker “Arctic Metagaz,” which is now adrift in the Mediterranean, Moscow has urged neighboring countries to act to prevent an environmental disaster. Officials stress the importance of international legal norms in addressing this crisis.
5. Record rainfall causes waterfalls at Uluru in Australia
Central Australia has experienced record rainfall, leading to the emergence of waterfalls at the iconic landmark of Uluru. Authorities have issued warnings to tourists as the rainfall over the past two days has reached three times the average for this time of year.
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6. European affairs ministers convened in Brussels ahead of this week’s EU summit, discussing critical issues including Ukraine, the war in Iran, and the bloc’s long-term budget. Notably, Ukraine and Moldova are set to receive the remaining negotiating clusters in their EU accession talks, signaling progress in their integration efforts.
7. In Marseille, the French far-right National Rally is experiencing both gains and challenges in local elections. Candidate Franck Allisio nearly matched the incumbent left-wing Mayor Benoît Payan in the first round, marking a significant increase from their previous performance in 2020, yet he now faces a tough battle in the runoff.
8. A devastating attack on a rehabilitation clinic in Kabul has left 400 people dead, according to a Taliban spokesperson. The Pakistani military has been accused of the assault, although Pakistan has denied these claims, leading to conflicting reports about the incident and its aftermath.
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US President Donald Trump has hinted at a potential “takeover” of Cuba amid rising tensions between the United States and the socialist nation. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump expressed his belief that he may “have the honor” to “take over” or “liberate” Cuba in some capacity, stirring discussions about future US-Cuba relations.
In other news, the European Union is contemplating measures to alleviate energy costs for consumers and businesses. A recent proposal includes relaxing state aid rules to allow national governments to redistribute profits from gas-fired plants. Additionally, there is consideration for capping gas prices to help manage rising energy bills. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the urgency of these policies in addressing the ongoing energy crisis.
Turning to the weather. In Riga, 1 to 8 degrees with overcast. In London, 8 to 14 degrees with partly cloudy a slightly cool ambiance awaits london on today. In Paris, 7 to 17 degrees with partly cloudy mild temperatures are expected in paris. In Brussels, 7 to 15 degrees with overcast a slightly cool ambiance awaits brussels on today. In Berlin, 1 to 10 degrees with sunny. In Stockholm, 0 to 7 degrees with sunny. In Madrid, 8 to 21 degrees with sunny mild temperatures are expected in madrid.
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