Europe

WERLTE, Germany (AP) — German officials on Monday unveiled what they said is the world’s first commercial plant for making synthetic kerosene, touted as a climate-friendly fuel of the future.

Aviation currently accounts for about 2.5% of worldwide emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. While other forms of transportation are increasingly being electrified, the challenge to making large, battery-powered planes is formidable.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A 58-year-old Greek man was arrested Monday after he drove a pickup truck onto a sidewalk in front of the the country’s parliament building and reportedly threatened police.

Bomb disposal officers checked the vehicle and one gas canister and a plastic gasoline container were removed, police officials said. They added that no flammable liquid was found in the plastic container.

Lettering in Greek visible on the side of the vehicle read “The Turks govern Greece. Proof inside.”

SASSARI, Sardinia (AP) — Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont faces a hearing Monday on the Italian island of Sardinia to decide whether to extradite him to Spain, where he is accused of sedition.

A group of about 20 supporters rallied outside the courthouse as Puigdemont arrived for the hearing accompanied by his lawyer, Gonzalo Boye. Some members of the crowd shouted “freedom!”

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The Nobel Prize in the field of physiology or medicine has been awarded to U.S.-based scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian.

They were cited for their discovery of receptors for temperature and touch.

The winners were announced Monday by Thomas Perlmann, secretary-general of the Nobel Committee.

Patrik Ernfors of the Nobel Committee said Julius, 65, used capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, to identify the nerve sensors that allow the skin to respond to heat.

MOSCOW, October 3. / TASS /: The development of constructive cooperation between Russia and Germany, working together on pressing international issues would be beneficial for the people of both countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote in a telegram to German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday on the occasion of the German Unity Day, according to the Kremlin press service.

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/: The number of COVID-19 fatalities in Russia over the past 24 hours has increased by 890 against 886 the day before, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Sunday.

Overall, 209,918 patients died of COVID-19 complications.

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/: Ukraine’s insolent foreign policy is obviously meant to conceal a gap between its ambitions and potential, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday, commenting on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s statement that "no one would see Ukraine’s steps forward without a strong and impudent international policy."

MILAN, Oct 3 (Reuters) - A small private plane crashed into an empty building on the outskirts of Milan, northern Italy, on Sunday, killing all eight people onboard, police said.

The plane, which took off from Milan's Linate city airport, was headed for the island of Sardinia, officials said.

The crash occurred just outside a suburban metro station.

People in the area could hear a blast when the plane collided with the two-story building, which was empty at the time as it was being renovated.

BERLIN, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Germany's liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) pressed Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives to say whether they really want to lead a new coalition government, ramping up pressure on its would-be ruling partners ahead of exploratory talks on Sunday.

The conservatives' chancellor candidate, Armin Laschet, has said he wants to form a government, even after his bloc of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) slumped to a record low result in last Sunday's vote.

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 3 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday he would not return to "uncontrolled immigration" to solve fuel, gas and Christmas food crises, suggesting such strains were part of a period of post-Brexit adjustment.

At the start of his Conservative Party's conference, Johnson was again forced to defend his government against complaints from those unable to get petrol for their cars, retailers warning of Christmas shortages, and gas companies struggling with a spike in wholesale prices.