EU statistical arm; harmonises metrics across states
G7 leaders have agreed to coordinate a release of up to 100 million barrels of diesel and crude under IEA coordination, and Washington has signalled the move after pushing European partners to tap reserves. US officials are warning they may restrict diesel exports if Europe does not supply more, while prices have reached record highs in the US and Europe.
Rising heat and drought across Europe have lowered river levels, exposing World War II ships, mammoth remains and ancient structures. Analysts warn climate-driven extremes are intensifying, threatening ships, power plants and freight, while historians document maritime relics surfacing along the Danube and Rhine.
The Uniting Table in Bucharest has earned Guinness World Records for the longest table made from recycled materials, spanning 5,055 meters along Unirii Boulevard. Some 20,000 participants gathered to support the project, with proceeds funding a new pediatric psychiatric facility at Obregia Hospital, slated to complete by 2027.
The Saudi energy ministry has closed a pipeline as a precaution after reports that Houthi forces seized a Red Sea island and a port city, threatening shipping lanes. Oil prices have risen, with Brent near $108 a barrel and WTI around $103, while gas and diesel costs are climbing in the U.S. amid ongoing regional tensions.
France has seen a sharp debate over how to manage public debt amid a tense presidential race. The government is pursuing spending cuts to reduce deficits as candidates propose different paths, including controversial ideas on debt held by the ECB. Protests by students add to the political pressure.