Briefly

LITHUANIA

Opposition party wins 1st round elections

Lithuanian Social Democratic Party won the first round of the parliamentary elections, securing 19.36 percent of votes and 18 out of 70 seats, preliminary data from the Central Electoral Commission showed on Monday. The ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats won 17.96 percent of the vote and 17 seats in the parliament. The final seat distribution will be determined in two weeks after most of the single-member constituencies will hold runoffs between two leading candidates on Oct 27.

AUSTRIA

OPEC cuts global oil demand view again

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, on Monday cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2024, reflecting data received so far this year, and also lowered its projection for next year, marking the producer group's third consecutive downward revision. OPEC said world oil demand will rise by 1.93 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 2.03 million bpd it expected last month. For 2025, OPEC cut its global demand growth estimate to 1.64 million bpd from 1.74 million bpd.

GERMANY

Violence against police officers rises

An average of 290 police officers were victims of violence each day in Germany last year, according to a report released Monday by the Federal Criminal Police Office. Registered acts of violence against police officers reached a record high of 46,218 in 2023, an 8-percent increase from 2022, the report said. Attacks on firefighters and rescue workers have also continued to rise, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said.

Agencies - Xinhua