World
Four dead and dozens stranded after torrents hit eastern Romania
Rescue services also rushed to save 95 people in the hard-hit eastern counties of Galati and Vaslui.
Four people were killed in floods in eastern Romania as rainstorms left scores stranded, emergency authorities reported on Saturday.
Rescue services worked urgently to save 95 people in the heavily affected eastern counties of Galati and Vaslui.
The bodies of the four who died were discovered in the localities of Pechea, Draguseni, Costache Negri, and Corod, according to the Department for Emergency Situations, which did not provide details on how exactly they died. A fifth body that was found was determined not to have been killed by the flooding.
Emergency authorities released video footage showing a team of rescuers evacuating an elderly man on a small lifeboat before carrying him to safety.
The storms battered 19 localities across eight counties in Romania, with strong winds downing dozens of trees that damaged cars and blocked roads. Authorities sent text message alerts to residents, warning them of the adverse weather as emergency services rushed to remove floodwaters from homes. Some roads have also been closed.
Romania’s environment minister Mircea Fechet told The Associated Press Saturday that, in some of the badly flooded areas, more than 160 liters of rain fell per square meter which he said is a rare occurrence. “What we are trying to do right now is save as many lives as possible,” the minister, who was on his way to Galati to assess the situation, added.
Local media posted videos on X showing the extent of the flooding in Pechea county.
Meanwhile, other central European countries are bracing for severe flooding, which is forecast to hit Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany over the weekend.
Czechs prepare for ‘worst case scenarios’
Czech authorities erected metal barriers or protective walls from sandbags, while water was released from dams to make space in reservoirs.
Residents have been warned to get ready for possible evacuations.
“We are currently making preparations for a possible rise in the water level of the local river, so this is a precautionary measure. As in most places,” said Aleš Chovanec, Deputy Commander of the Holasice Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Some public events planned for the weekend have been cancelled at the request of authorities, including football matches in the top two leagues.
“We have to be ready for the worst case scenarios,: Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after a meeting of his government’s central crisis committee. “A tough weekend is ahead of us.”
Meteorologists say a low pressure system from northern Italy was predicted to dump much rainfall in most parts of the Czech Republic including the capital and border regions with Austria and Germany in the south, and Poland in the north.
Central Europeans are especially wary because some experts have compared the weekend forecast to devastating floods in 1997 in the region, referred to by some as’ the flood of the century.’
Over 100 people were killed in the floods 27 years ago, including 50 in the eastern Czech Republic where large sections of land was inundated.
The biggest rainfall was predicted in the eastern half of the country, particularly in the Jeseniky mountains. The second largest city of Brno, located in eastern Czech Republic, is among places that have not had flooding protection work completed, unlike Prague.
Czechs were asked not to go to parks and woods as high winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour were forecast.
Poland and Austria also prepare for flooding
In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk travelled to the southwestern city of Wrocław where floods are forecast.
Authorities there have appealed to residents to stock up on food and to prepare for power outages by charging power banks.
Tusk, meeting with firefighters and other emergency officials, said the forecasts were “not excessively alarming.”
“There is no reason to panic, but there is a reason to be fully mobilised,” he stressed.
The German Weather Service warned of heavy precipitation across swaths of the country, including the Alps, where heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected at higher altitudes.
The Alpine nation of Austria is also getting ready for heavy rains, and a massive cold front that is expected to bring snow to higher elevations.
“I think that we have learnt a lot from the floods of 2002 and 2013. We have of course also made all the necessary investments. I’m thinking of flood protection, where numerous projects have been implemented and of course also in the whole area of data analysis,” said Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the regional governor of Lower Austria.
The change in weather has come following a hot start to September in the region.
Scientists recorded Earth’s hottest summer on record, breaking a record set just one year ago.
And a hotter atmosphere, driven by climate change, can lead to more intense rainfall.
World
Video: A Maronite Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire is Mourned in Lebanon
new video loaded: A Maronite Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire is Mourned in Lebanon

By Bethlehem Feleke and Arijeta Lajka
March 12, 2026
World
Transgender triple killer removed from home with 2 foster children months after authorities were notified
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Two foster children who had been living with a convicted transgender triple killer, despite authorities being aware of the situation since late December 2025, are no longer residing with the violent criminal, according to local media reports.
Reginald Arthurell — who began transitioning to a woman shortly after his release from prison in 2020 — was removed from the home after heavily armed officers raided the address on Monday, radio station 2GB reported. He had been living with a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old for several months, the outlet said.
The minister for Families and Communities of New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday issued an apology, saying the situation “should never have been allowed.”
“It is entirely unacceptable for a vulnerable child in the care of the state to be living with a triple murderer,” Kate Washington told 2GB. “It should never have happened and I’m deeply apologetic for what has happened.”
VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDER ACCUSED OF KILLING TEACHER AS 911 CALL REVEALED HER FINAL MOMENTS: REPORT
Reginald Arthurell began transitioning into a woman after 2020 in Australia. (Obtained by the NY Post)
She added that “very poor decisions were made” at the time when authorities became aware of the situation and said a review is underway to determine how the “terrible” circumstances were allowed to happen, promising systemic changes.
The situation has sparked widespread backlash and calls for the resignation of authorities who allowed the crisis to continue for months.
Late last year, Arthurell moved into an existing foster home in Sydney, where two children were already living under the care of an elderly woman, 2GB reported. He reportedly met her while she was working at a hospital, and he was a patient there.
The woman, who invited him to move in as a housemate, already had two foster children living with her under her approved placement with the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice.
Arthurell therefore shared the household with the children. The arrangement went unnoticed by authorities until the carer’s daughter reportedly raised concerns late last year.
FLORIDA MAN WHO WRESTLED COP’S GUN AWAY AND KILLED HIM TO BE EXECUTED AFTER FINAL APPEALS REJECTED
Reginald Arthurell is a three-time convicted murderer in Sydney, Australia. (Obtained by the NY Post)
Prior to moving in, Arthurell had built a long criminal history, primarily involving the killings of three people over three decades, court documents show. He was first convicted of manslaughter in 1974 for reportedly stabbing his stepfather to death in Sydney. In 1981, he fatally bashed a 19-year-old sailor during a violent robbery, and while on parole in 1995, he killed his fiancée by beating her to death with a piece of wood, local outlets reported.
After killing his romantic partner, he was caught photographing himself wearing one of her dresses, 2GB added.
All three killings involved alcohol, court documents show. Records indicate that Arthurell spent nearly 39 years of his life in custody following the murders.
After his prison release in November 2020, Arthurell began transitioning into a woman under the name Regina. The first public photos and self-introductions appeared on a transgender community Facebook page in May 2021, 2GB reported. Arthurell had also expressed plans to undergo gender-affirming surgery “as soon as possible,” News.com.au reported.
Reginald Arthurell was removed from a home that housed two foster children following a raid by armed police officers. (Obtained by the NY Post)
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Court documents also described that “her transition has been taking place over quite some years,” confirming the process was ongoing after his release.
Arthurell now remains in private accommodation following his Monday removal, ABC Australia reported Tuesday.
World
Polish president vetoes law unlocking €44bn in EU defence loans
By Anna Weglarczyk
Published on
Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, has vetoed legislation that would have enabled the country to access nearly €44 billion in European Union defence loans, escalating a political clash with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk over how to finance the country’s defence spending.
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The bill would have allowed Warsaw to access funds from the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, a €150 billion initiative aimed at boosting defence spending and strengthening Europe’s defence industry.
Poland was set to receive around €43.7 billion in loans under the scheme, making it the largest potential beneficiary.
Government backed EU loans to speed up military investment
Tusk’s pro-EU coalition had strongly supported the legislation, arguing that the loans would provide favourable financing to accelerate Poland’s military modernisation at a time of heightened security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Officials said the funding could support a wide range of defense projects, including strengthening the country’s eastern border and investing in domestic arms production.
But Nawrocki, who is aligned with the conservative opposition argued that relying on EU loans could increase Poland’s dependence on Brussels. Instead, he has proposed using domestic resources to finance defence investments, including profits from the country’s central bank reserves.
Tusk denounces Nawrocki’s patriotism over veto
The decision triggered swift criticism from members of the government. In a post on X, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote: “The President lost his chance to act like a patriot,” referring to what he described as a missed opportunity to secure EU financing for defence investment. He also announced a special cabinet meeting on Friday morning when he’ll introduce alternative steps to approve the loan. Tusk earlier said that his government is preparing a “plan B” that would still allow Poland to access SAFE funds.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also criticised the move on social media, warning that blocking access to the EU mechanism could weaken Poland’s ability to strengthen its defence capabilities.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz defended the government’s proposal, arguing that the EU loans would allow Poland to expand military spending without placing additional strain on the national budget.
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