The worst drought recorded hits Spain’s Catalonia, sparking fears and ingenuity
Like fountains across Barcelona, it lies dry and a little sad with signs reading: “Fountain turned off due to drought”.
The free musical show at the water feature, which had run for nearly 100 years, is another casualty of what Catalan authorities in northern Spain have described as the “worst drought ever”.
After three years without sustained rainfall, emergency measures were brought at the weekend, which include a ban on refilling swimming pools in hotels or campsites or topping them up unless recycled water is used.
Portugal's centre right leading in poll, far right may end up kingmaker
Portugal's opposition Democratic Alliance is set to win the most votes at a snap election on March 10 but fall short of a parliamentary majority, a poll showed on Tuesday, an outcome which could see it relying on support from the far right.
The survey by CESOP/Catholic University for RTP broadcaster and newspaper Publico put support for the centre-right Alliance at 32%, ahead of the governing centre-left Socialist Party at 28%, in contrast with several other recent opinion polls.
Chega leader Andre Ventura told Reuters last month his party would demand to be part of a right-wing coalition government in exchange for parliamentary support.
However, the head of the main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) that leads the three-party Democratic Alliance, Luis Montenegro, has rejected any type of agreement with Chega.
EU recommends ambitious 2040 climate target, goes light on farming
The European Commission recommended on Tuesday that the EU slashes net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, a target that will test political appetite to continue the region's ambitious fight against climate change ahead of EU elections.
While the overall target was within the range recommended by the EU's official climate science advisers, the EU executive weakened part of the recommendation concerning agriculture, in response to weeks of protests by farmers angry about EU green rules, among other complaints.
The Commission said the EU should set an economy-wide 2040 target for 90% net greenhouse gas cuts compared with 1990 levels, confirming drafts of the recommendation previously reported by Reuters.
Europe within reach of landmark AI rules after nod from EU countries
Europe on Friday moved a step closer to adopting rules governing the use of artificial intelligence and AI models such as Microsoft-backed ChatGPT after EU countries endorsed a political deal reached in December.
The rules, proposed by the European Commission three years ago, aim to set a global standard for a technology used in a vast swathe of industries from the banking and retail to car and airline sectors.
They also set parameters for the use of AI for military, crime and security purposes.
Ukrainian Special Forces Interrogate Wagner Mercenaries in Sudan 
Kyiv Post sources in Ukraine’s special services provided an exclusive video that shows elements of Ukrainian special forces interrogating captured Wagner mercenaries in the Republic of Sudan.
In one part of the video special forces operators from the combat group Timur, part of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR), are seen examining military vehicles, one truck shows signs of intense weapon strikes through the windshield and the body of a soldier, sporting the Wagner PMC badge, in the passenger seat.
Later footage shows a Ukrainian operator interrogating a Russian-speaking prisoner. He confesses to being part of a group of Wagner PMC mercenaries that were sent to Sudan to overthrow the local government, in the video.
Link: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/27637
News bits proofread by:
Afifa Iqbal (M.A. I.R., 2nd Year)
Drafted by:
Aditi Mishra (M.A. I.R., 2nd Year)
Published by:
Alithia Clemency Paul (M.A. I.R., 2nd Year)
