TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin put themselves firmly on course for their first European figure skating title Wednesday in the pairs short program.

The European figure skating championships carried on Thursday in Tallin, Estonia, even as the skating world mourned athletes who died in an aircraft collision near Washington, D.C.

Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin led after the pairs short program on the first day at the European figure skating championships in Tallinn on Wednesday.

TALLINN – Isamaa chairman Urmas Reinsalu noted after a meeting with the leaders of the European People's Party in Berlin over the weekend that Friedrich Merz, who is aspiring to become Germany's new chancellor, could become a real leader for all of Europe.

Minerva Fabienne Hase frontNikita Volodin of Germany compete in pairs short program at ISU European Figure Skatin

The European figure skating championships carried on Thursday, even as the skating world mourned athletes who died when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C.

Frenchman Adam Siao Him Fa paid tribute to the victims of the plane crash in the United States after taking the men's singles lead on a sombre Thursday at the European figure skating championships.

Reversing brain drain is more than a policy challenge. It is a broader project of national renewal, requiring trust in domestic institutions and belief in a shared future.

Multiple undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea have been damaged in recent months, raising suspicions of sabotage.

Global Forecast as of 12:00 GMT Thursday, January 30, 2025 City/Town, Country;Thursday's Weather Condition;Thursday's High Temp (C);Thursday's Low Temp (C);Friday's Weather Condition;Friday's High Temp (C);Friday's Low Temp (C);Friday's Wind Direction;Friday's Wind Speed (KPH);Friday's Humidity (%);Friday's Chance of Precip. (%);Friday's UV Index

Global Forecast as of 12:00 GMT Thursday, January 30, 2025 City/Town, Country;Thursday's Weather Condition;Thursday's High Temp (F);Thursday's Low Temp (F);Friday's Weather Condition;Friday's High Temp (F);Friday's Low Temp (F);Friday's Wind Direction;Friday's Wind Speed (MPH);Friday's Humidity (%);Friday's Chance of Precip. (%);Friday's UV Index

Hercules Tanker Management adds new chemical tanker to its fleet. Find the latest news from the maritime industry on the PortNews website.