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Wednesday, 17 November 2021 5:48 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 17 November 2021 5:48 PM ]

Kabul explosions

The Afghan capital of Kabul has been struck by two explosions again, with Taliban sources reporting at least eight deaths and fifteen injuries. The Interior Ministry, in a tweet, said an explosive-laden vehicle ripped through a Shia-majority suburb of Kabul, leaving one dead and six injured. The second explosion happened elsewhere in the city. But an anonymous Taliban source said the second blast killed seven people and wounded nine others. No group or individual has claimed responsibility. Afghanistan has experienced a series of blasts since the Taliban takeover in mid-August. Earlier this week a Shia-majority neighborhood in the capital was rocked by an explosion. Last month, two Shia mosques were also hit by suicide Daesh bombers that left over 120 worshipers dead.

Europe Coronavirus crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across Europe, with several countries on the continent reporting a record increase in their daily cases and deaths. The French government spokesperson says the country is being hit by a fifth wave of COVID infections. Gabriel Attal noted that Paris is not planning extra measures to fight the virus. In Russia, officials report about 1,250 deaths, a new one-day record for the country. Also, over 36,000 new daily cases were logged there. The Czech Republic is another European country struggling with an uptick in infections. Health officials there reported more than 22,000 new cases, the highest daily tally since the pandemic began. Meanwhile, the German chancellor warns of a dramatic coronavirus situation in her country.

Europe energy crisis

Bleak winter is ahead for Europeans. The continent is battling a record-breaking surge in natural gas prices amid a severe energy crunch. The price of gas in the Netherlands for next month is now over 101 euros per megawatt hour, the highest since October the 18th. This follows reports that Germany's energy regulator had suspended the approval process for a major new pipeline, Nord Stream 2, bringing Russian gas into Europe. The increase in energy costs has already pushed up inflation in several European countries. The crisis is said to be driven by other factors as well, including a gradual phasing out of coal, as well as higher demand due to the lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions in several countries.

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