LIVE German 2025 Election Results as they come in and analysi on who will be the next German Chancellor.

When are the German Elections?

The Elections are on Sunday the 23rd of Feb 2025

Why are they having a snap election?

The German coalition government failed a no confidence vote

Do Germans vote?

Germans vote in big numbers, usually as high 70+ percent voter turnout

Italy and Algeria agree to enhance gas deliveries amid Qatar disruptions

Italy and Algeria agree to enhance gas deliveries amid Qatar disruptions

Gas Cooperation
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans to increase Algerian gas deliveries to Italy during her visit to Algeria, strengthening bilateral energy cooperation.
Italy’s Power Plans
Italy is negotiating with Azerbaijan to compensate for lost LNG supplies from Qatar, as Algeria’s gas capacity remains limited, experts warn.
Future projects
Italy and Algeria plan to collaborate on developing new gas extraction and offshore exploration projects to enhance natural gas supply.

Briefing summary

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a commitment to enhance cooperation with Algeria in gas delivery during her visit to Algiers. The dialogue focuses on collaboration between Italian energy firm ENI and Algeria’s Sonatrach.

Algeria currently supplies approximately 30% of Italy’s natural gas through the TransMed pipeline, which is operating at full capacity. Despite some potential for increased LNG shipments, experts highlight that this won’t suffice to replace losses from Qatar.

Meloni warned that ongoing conflicts, particularly in Iran, might disrupt global oil and gas supplies, potentially leading to significant socio-economic repercussions for vulnerable nations in Africa.

Italy’s PM Meloni plans closer cooperation with Algeria to boost gas deliveries

Italy and Algeria agree to enhance gas deliveries amid Qatar disruptions

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said during a visit to Algeria on Wednesday that the two countries would work together towards “increasing deliveries of Algerian gas” to the EU member state.

“We have decided to reinforce our already very solid cooperation through our national champions,” Meloni said, referring to Italian energy major ENI and Algeria’s Sonatrach.

“The relationship between our nations has never been so strong,” Meloni said at a press conference in Algiers.

The two would work together on projects including shale gas extraction and offshore exploration, she said at a press conference alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Algeria provides around 30% of Italy’s natural gas, mainly via the TransMed subsea pipeline.

That pipeline is already at full capacity, experts said, although Algeria also sends shipments of liquefied natural gas.

Italy, which generates more than 40% of its electricity from natural gas according to the International Energy Agency, has been negotiating with various countries to replace lost LNG supplies from Qatar.

Qatar, which shut down production after Iran repeatedly attacked its major LNG site, usually provides around 10% of Italy’s gas imports.

Experts told the AFP news agency that Algeria had some capacity to increase its LNG shipments, but nothing on a scale that could replace Qatar.

The North African country, a key supplier to several EU members including Spain, produces only half as much LNG as the tiny Gulf state.

Building new extraction and export capacity, especially offshore projects, can take years.

On the war in Iran which has disrupted global oil and gas supplies, Meloni said that “if it were to drag on, it could have significant economic and social consequences for vulnerable countries in Africa.”

Strong relations

There are alternatives open to Italy for the gas that can no longer be imported from Qatar, Lido says.

“If we need to replace this 10% that Qatar can no longer supply, we can increase the arrival of liquefied natural gas…we can try as far as possible to increase from Algeria, but also encourage an increase from Azerbaijan,’ he suggests.

Additional sources • AFP

World Cup Qualification — Thursday’s 26th Mar fixtures

Today’s fixtures feature World Cup Qualification UEFA, UEFA Nations League, and International Friendlies.

World Cup Qualification UEFA |
UEFA Nations League |
International Friendlies

World Cup Qualification UEFA

Matchday 1

Türkiye 17:00 Romania

Czechia 19:45 Republic of Ireland

Denmark 19:45 North Macedonia

Italy 19:45 Northern Ireland

Poland 19:45 Albania

Slovakia 19:45 Kosovo

Ukraine 19:45 Sweden

Wales 19:45 Bosnia and Herzegovina

UEFA Nations League

International Friendlies

Matchday

Puerto Rico 00:00 Guam

Aruba 11:30 Macau

Vietnam 12:00 Bangladesh

Nepal – Hong Kong, China Postponed

Kyrgyz Republic 14:00 Madagascar

Tanzania 14:30 Liechtenstein

Moldova 15:00 Lithuania

Qatar – Serbia Postponed

United Arab Emirates – Armenia Postponed

Cyprus 17:00 Belarus

NASA astronaut grows alien-like potato named ‘Spudnik-1’ aboard ISS

Get you up to speed: NASA astronaut grows alien-like potato named ‘Spudnik-1’ aboard ISS

NASA’s Don Pettit grew an early purple potato aboard the International Space Station, nicknaming it ‘Spudnik-1’. During his time on Expedition 72, he noted that the potato’s roots grew in all directions due to the absence of gravity.

NASA’s Don Pettit shared a photo of a potato he grew aboard the International Space Station, nicknamed ‘Spudnik-1’, during Expedition 72. According to Pettit, the roots grew in all directions due to the zero gravity environment, which also slowed growth compared to Earth.

After the successful growth of dwarf tomatoes aboard the ISS during the Veg-05 experiment, the samples were taken to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida for further analysis. This investigation aims to establish horticultural best practices to achieve high yields of nutritious tomato fruit to enhance the diets of astronauts in space.

Strange ‘alien-like’ purple growth sprouts from a potato grown on the ISS | News World

NASA astronaut grows alien-like potato named ‘Spudnik-1’ aboard ISS
Astronaut Don Pettit shared the photo on his X account (Picture: SWNS)

A bizarre floating growth on the International Space Station has sent the internet into a frenzy because of its alien-like roots.

NASA’s Don Pettit shared a picture of a potato he grew while onboard the orbiting platform.

Nicknaming the crop ‘Spudnik-1’, Don said: ‘I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off-duty time.

‘This is an early purple potato, complete with a spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.’

He explained: ‘Potatoes are one of the most efficient plants based on edible nutrition to total plant mass (including roots).

‘Recognised by Andy Weir in his book/movie ‘The Martian’, potatoes will have a place in future exploration of space. So I thought it good to get started now!’

A bizarre floating growth on the International Space Station has caused hilarious online comments. NASA???s Don Pettit shared a picture of a potato he grew while onboard the orbiting platform. However, the spud???s alien-like root growth was cause for funny responses by social media users. Nicknaming his crop ???Spudnik-1???, Don wrote: ???I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off-duty time. This is an early purple potato, complete with spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.??? However, his followers on X (formerly Twitter) were not so keen on the quirky produce. Darcus commented: ???Bro I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.??? While Ad??la Zelinkov?? dramatically responded: ???Kill it with fire!!!??? Photo released 25/03/2026
The purple roots disgusted many online (Picture: SWNS)

But not everyone was pleased with the result of his space experiment.

One commented: ‘I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.’

The alien-looking potato had gross purple tendrils growing out of it, which Don explained was due to the zero gravity.

‘The roots would grow in all directions absent gravity, and all plants I have ever grown in space have grown far slower than they would have on Earth,’ he said.

Pettit experimented during his time on NASA’s Expedition 72 mission aboard the ISS.

In 2023, tomatoes which were grown in space were sent back to Earth after a successful NASA study into fresh food supply for future astronauts.

A bizarre floating growth on the International Space Station has caused hilarious online comments. NASA?s Don Pettit shared a picture of a potato he grew while onboard the orbiting platform. However, the spud?s alien-like root growth was cause for funny responses by social media users. Nicknaming his crop ?Spudnik-1?, Don wrote: ?I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off-duty time. This is an early purple potato, complete with spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.? However, his followers on X (formerly Twitter) were not so keen on the quirky produce. Darcus commented: ?Bro I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.? While Ad?la Zelinkov? dramatically responded: ?Kill it with fire!!!? Photo released 25/03/2026
Some online thought the potato roots looked like an alien (Picture: SWNS)

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After splashdown, the scientific samples were taken to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, where scientists performed additional analyses before the effects of gravity fully kicked in.

The Veg-05 experiment grew dwarf tomatoes in the station’s Veggie facility to examine the effects of light quality and fertiliser on fruit production, microbial safety, and nutritional value.

The Veggie vegetable-production system on the ISS offers an opportunity to develop a ‘pick-and-eat’ fresh vegetable component to food on the space station.

This particular investigation is expected to help define horticultural best practices to achieve high yields of safe, nutritious dwarf tomato fruit to supplement a space diet of pre-packaged food.

It was also used to assess any psychological impacts that growing plants might have on the astronauts.

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Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!

EU leaders call for de-escalation amid ongoing Middle East conflict

EU leaders call for de-escalation amid ongoing Middle East conflict

EU Debate Intensifies
Riho Terras and Özlem Demirel clashed on The Ring over the EU’s role in the Middle East conflict as divisions among leaders deepen.
Political Responses
EU leaders reiterated the importance of “de-escalation” and “restraint” amid ongoing divisions on military versus diplomatic approaches to the Middle East conflict.
War Update
As the conflict in the Middle East enters its fourth week, EU leaders are set to convene to discuss their stance on military involvement.

Briefing summary

During a recent debate on EU News, former army general Riho Terras and MEP Özlem Demirel discussed the EU’s role in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

As the situation escalates, EU leaders have urged for “de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and restraint,” reflecting significant divisions within the bloc regarding intervention.

Demirel warned that military actions historically fail to establish democracy, while Terras asserted that military means are essential for effective diplomacy, illustrating contrasting viewpoints among EU officials.

Escalation in the Middle East – Not Europe’s war? MEPs go head-to-head in The Ring

EU leaders call for de-escalation amid ongoing Middle East conflict

Published on

Imagine a former five-star army general in the same room as an anti-war activist? That is what we witness on this latest edition of The Ring, EU News’ weekly debate show.

Riho Terras, an Estonian general and centre-right MEP, went face-to-face with far-left Turkish-born German MEP Özlem Demirel on the role of the EU in the ongoing war in the Middle East.

As the conflict enters its fourth week, EU leaders have called for “de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and restraint,” while avoiding direct involvement. But the question of whether Brussels should take a stronger stance has exposed deep divisions.

“We know from history that military means and wars never brought democracy to this region,” Demirel said, adding starkly: “Bombs fall, the stock markets rise, people die.”

Riho Terras disagreed and took a more security-focused line, defending the need for military strength in global politics. “Nobody listens to somebody who does not have military means,” he argued, stressing that diplomacy alone is insufficient without power behind it.

Scientists warn of deteriorating Runit Dome in the Marshall Islands as risks grow

Get you up to speed: Scientists warn of deteriorating Runit Dome in the Marshall Islands as risks grow

The Runit Dome, located on Runit Island in the Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, was sealed with an 18-inch concrete cap to contain over 120,000 tonnes of radioactive soil and debris in the late 1970s. The structure is currently showing visible signs of ageing, including cracks on its surface, allowing groundwater to flow beneath it.

Scientists have found that the Runit Dome, built to contain radioactive waste on Runit Island in the Enewetak atoll, is showing visible signs of deterioration, with cracks appearing and groundwater flowing beneath it. Ivana Nikolic-Hughes from Columbia University stated that the findings demonstrate the ongoing impact of radioactive fallout on the Marshall Islands, which will inform future research regarding the effects of isotopes on the local population.

The structure of the Runit Dome is showing visible signs of deterioration, with cracks appearing and groundwater flowing beneath it, which may carry radioactive material into the surrounding lagoon. Ivana Nikolic-Hughes stated that ongoing studies will inform future work regarding the impact of radioactive fallout on the current inhabitants of the Marshall Islands and potential resettlement.

Fears huge nuclear dump buried under concrete dome could be unleashed into the sea | News World

coverimages55577329 3c1f
The Runit Dome was built to contain radioactive waste from nuclear experiments in the middle of the 20th century (Picture: US Defense Special Weapons Agency/Cover Media)

A Pacific Island is sitting atop a nuclear time bomb that could pollute the oceans for centuries.

Scientists have discovered that a concrete structure built to contain radioactive waste from Cold War-era testing is showing signs of deterioration.

The site, known as Runit Dome, sits on Runit Island in the Enewetak atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Although Runit itself is uninhabitable, the atoll is home to around 300.

The dome sits close to the ocean’s edge and rising sea levels and shifting groundwater bring seawater into close contact.

It dates back to a period of intensive nuclear testing. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests across Enewetak Atoll and Bikini Atoll, displacing more than 300 Marshallese people.

One test in particular, an 18-kiloton explosion known as “Cactus”, destroyed part of Runit Island and sent a mushroom cloud approximately six kilometres into the sky.

coverimages55577328 c0f3
The Crater created by the Cactus explosion on May 5, 1958. It was later used as a burial pit to inter 84, 000 cubic meters of radioactive soil (Picture: US Defense Special Weapons Agency/Cover Media)

In the late 1970s, the 10 metre deep crater left by the blast was used to store more than 120,000 tonnes of radioactive soil and debris collected from across the atoll.

The site was then sealed with an 18-inch (46cm) concrete cap, forming what is now known as the Runit Dome.

More than five decades later, the structure is showing visible signs of ageing. Cracks have appeared across its surface, and groundwater is able to flow beneath it.

Researchers say this water moves in and out with the tides, potentially carrying radioactive material into the surrounding lagoon. Studies have also indicated that the dome is not watertight.

Ivana Nikolic-Hughes, of Columbia University and president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, observed cracks during a visit in 2018 while measuring radiation levels.

‘These results provide further demonstration of the continuing impact of radioactive fallout on the Marshall Islands and will inform future work to understand how the presence of this isotope might affect current inhabitants and potential resettlement,’ she writes.

coverimages55577305 8b0c
The Enewetak atoll from above. Runit is in the lower right of the picture. (Picture: NASA Earth Observatory/Cover Media)

American officials have said the structure is not at immediate risk of collapse.

But experts have warned that some of the radioactive elements involved pose extremely long-term risks. Plutonium-239, used in nuclear weapons, remains hazardous for more than 24,000 years.

Arjun Makhijani, president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said no concrete structure could be expected to last even a fraction of that time.

He noted that cracks have already appeared within decades, highlighting the challenge of containing radioactive material over such long timescales.

‘There are already cracks in it in less than 50 years,’ he told Australian broadcaster ABC.

Scientists say the dome illustrates a broader problem. Certain places we regard as being safe spaces to dump toxic waste, may become less so due to climate change. If sea levels rise and rain increases, water and food supplies change.

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Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of Rihanna following home shooting

Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of Rihanna following home shooting

Court Plea
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and multiple assault charges related to a shooting at Rihanna’s home on March 8.

Prison Sentencing
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, if convicted, faces a potential life sentence for the attempted murder of Rihanna and multiple firearm-related charges.
Next Hearing
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz’s preliminary hearing, where evidence will be presented, has yet to be scheduled following her waiver of the right to a speedy trial.

Briefing summary

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, charged with attempted murder of Rihanna, pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court. She faces multiple charges, ranging from assault to shooting at occupied property.

The incident occurred on March 8, when Ortiz allegedly fired approximately 20 shots at Rihanna’s home, where the singer, her partner A$AP Rocky, and their children were present. No injuries were reported.

Full reading: Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of Rihanna after shooting at star’s home | Ents & Arts News

A woman charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna following a shooting at the singer’s home has pleaded not guilty.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, of Orlando, Florida, is accused of opening fire on the property in Los Angeles when the singer and her hip-hop star partner A$AP Rocky, as well as their three young children and others, were home on 8 March.

Ortiz is charged with one count of attempted murder in relation to Rihanna, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling.

Through her attorney, she also pleaded not guilty to the other counts at Los Angeles Superior Court.

Pic: KNBC
Image:
Pic: KNBC

The 35-year-old faces life in prison if convicted on all charges. She has been jailed on $1.8m (about £1.35m) bail.

Her lawyer, deputy public defender Derek Ray Dillman, spoke in court as Ortiz appeared behind glass in a custody area, wearing yellow prison clothes with her blonde hair in braids.

She spoke only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, the next phase of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is warranted.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman previously said Rihanna and Rocky were in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staff members were in the main house.

No one was injured in the incident, police said. About 20 shots were fired at the house, located in the Beverly Crest neighbourhood of LA.

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The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said: “This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides.”

When Ortiz was arrested hours afterwards, she was alone in her car with the rifle, more rounds and a wig she intended to use as a disguise, Bott said.

Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade.

Rihanna is a nine-time Grammy winner with 14 number ones hits in the US and nine in the UK, including We Found Love, Umbrella, What’s My Name and Diamonds. She is also the founder of make-up brand Fenty Beauty.

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