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1. Portugal introduces ban on face coverings in public
Portugal has enacted a ban on face coverings in public spaces after President Antonio Jose Seguro signed the law proposed by the Chega party. The president stated that the measure addresses significant social and cultural sensitivities.
2. Thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of UK, with flooding expected
The UK’s Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings for northern England, Northern Ireland, and eastern Scotland, predicting flash flooding. These warnings will take effect later today, with the northern England alert remaining in place until early Thursday.
3. Türkiye says Greece’s renewable energy framework has no legal effect on its Aegean position
Türkiye has dismissed Greece’s new renewable energy spatial framework for the Aegean Sea, stating it holds no legal implications for its territorial claims. The Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasized that similar Greek initiatives have previously been deemed ineffective.
4. Lebanon’s president arrives in Italy for talks with pope, president, prime minister
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has arrived in Italy for discussions with Pope Leo XIV, President Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Aoun was welcomed at the Ciampino military airport in Rome by senior Italian officials.
5. UK summons Israeli diplomat over new illegal settlement units in occupied West Bank
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that Britain has summoned Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires in response to a new settlement project in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. Miliband described the initiative as “unacceptable and destructive,” warning it could further divide Palestinian territories.
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6. Nearly four in five Germans name the economy as one of the country’s biggest problems, according to a new poll by the Forsa institute. Fifteen months into Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, 79% of respondents listed the economic situation as their top concern, overshadowing issues like migration and climate change.
7. The European Commission is proposing a significant overhaul of the Tobacco Taxation Directive, aiming to raise minimum excise duties on cigarettes by 139 percent. This initiative also seeks to impose EU-wide minimum taxes on vapes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, but the proposal remains under negotiation and requires unanimous approval from member states.
8. French President Emmanuel Macron has officially enacted a law that establishes a right to assisted dying for specific patients, following extensive public and parliamentary discussions. The legislation was published in the Official Journal after receiving approval from the Constitutional Council, which included several reservations.
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Belgium’s Prince Laurent has formally recognized Clement Vandenkerckhove as his son, making the 26-year-old a prince of Belgium and a legal heir, local media reported Wednesday. The acknowledgment of paternity was registered before a civil registrar, according to Belgian magazine Soir Mag. Laurent, the younger brother of King Philippe, publicly revealed this development in September 2025.
Austria has called on the EU to impose stricter oversight on Telegram, citing concerns that the messaging service has become a significant platform for extremist networks and disinformation campaigns. Joerg Leichtfried, Austria’s state secretary responsible for security, emphasized the need for action to prevent the unchecked spread of harmful content on the platform.
Turning to the weather. In Riga, 12 to 21 degrees with sunny low. In London, 16 to 24 degrees with patchy rain possible feels like. In Paris, 18 to 28 degrees with sunny feels like. In Brussels, 15 to 21 degrees with patchy rain possible feels like. In Berlin, 15 to 18 degrees with overcast low. In Stockholm, 13 to 20 degrees with patchy rain possible feels like. In Madrid, 20 to 28 degrees with sunny feels like.
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