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Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
Paris and much of mainland France are experiencing an extreme heatwave with record-high temperatures. Many popular tourist sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre have closed early to protect visitors as a red alert for severe heat covers most of the country.
Key Facts
France is facing a historic heatwave with temperatures hotter than any since 1947.
About 75% of mainland France is under the highest level of heat alert, called the "red" alert.
Tourist attractions in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum, have closed early because of the heat.
Parisians are seeking relief by going to places like canals to escape the hot weather.
The heatwave has affected vulnerable groups, such as homeless migrants, who are struggling with the extreme temperatures.
Experts warn that such intense heat may become more common in future years.
Coastal waters around France have also seen a rise in temperature linked to the heatwave.
French officials say the country is one of the best prepared in Europe to handle heatwaves.
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Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday evening, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 4,000. Rescue teams and residents are searching through rubble for survivors, while the government has declared a state of emergency and set up a fund to help rebuild damaged hospitals and homes.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 occurred less than 40 seconds apart in northern Venezuela near Caracas.
At least 235 people have died, and thousands are missing after the earthquakes.
The La Guaira region, which has the country's main airport, suffered severe damage with over 100 buildings collapsed.
The Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and created a $200 million fund for reconstruction.
A senior U.S. military official, Maj Gen Kevin Jarrard, arrived in Caracas to help coordinate U.S. relief efforts.
The United Nations reported many buildings, including apartment blocks and hotels, collapsed in the affected areas.
The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. Department of Defense will assist with search and rescue operations.
The Simón Bolívar international airport was closed due to damage, making it harder to get aid into the region.
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A strong heatwave is causing temperatures to rise above 40°C (104°F) in Germany and Poland this weekend. The heatwave is also affecting parts of Europe and Asia, bringing severe thunderstorms, tornadoes in Russia, and heavy rain in southern China.
Key Facts
Temperatures in Germany and Poland could reach or exceed 40°C on Saturday and Sunday.
The Austrian Grand Prix has declared a heat hazard due to unusually warm weather, with race temperatures nearly 10°C above normal.
Severe thunderstorms have caused damage and injuries in parts of Europe, including a tornado in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region.
The tornado in Kushva, Russia, injured 16 people and damaged about 100 buildings.
Storm warnings remain active in southern Russia.
Southern China experienced intense rainfall during its Meiyu (plum rain) season, with over 100mm of rain in three hours recorded near Guangzhou.
Heavy rain can cause flash floods, mudflows, and landslides in affected areas.
Scientists link the increasing extreme weather events to climate change.
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A British woman was strangled by a US fighter pilot while in the UK, and the case was handled by the US military justice system instead of British courts. The UK Ministry of Justice is reviewing the situation because British police usually handle crimes committed on UK land, but this case highlights how authority was given to the US military.
Key Facts
Sarah Steele, a British academic, was strangled by US Air Force Captain Jacob Wulfson in Cambridge, UK, in late 2023.
The assault happened after they met on a dating app.
US military police took over the investigation and trial instead of British authorities.
Wulfson was court-martialed at RAF Lakenheath, a US base in the UK.
He was found guilty of strangling Steele but not guilty of sexual assault.
Wulfson was sentenced to six months in a military corrections facility and dismissed from the Air Force.
UK justice minister Jake Richards called the case "really serious" and said the Ministry of Justice will examine it.
The case raises questions about how UK courts and US military courts share authority over crimes involving US personnel in the UK.
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North Korea tested new weapons near its southern border to improve its military power and warn South Korea. In response, South Korea is preparing a large group of soldiers trained to use drones for defense and attack.
Key Facts
North Korea conducted tests of missiles, rocket launchers, and guns near South Korea.
Leader Kim Jong Un called for a strong, offensive military approach to deter enemies.
The new weapons aim to hit key targets like airfields, ports, and power plants.
North Korea is working on precise, long-range weapons and nuclear-armed warships.
The United States has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea.
South Korea plans to train 500,000 “drone warriors” to use drones as weapons.
South Korea is increasing its drone numbers and range to counter North Korea’s threat.
South Korea aims to develop five defense companies with $650 million investment by 2030.
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Two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing major damage and killing at least 235 people. Many are injured or trapped under rubble, and countries across the Americas, along with the United Nations, are sending rescue teams and aid to help survivors.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela on Wednesday.
At least 235 people have died and 4,300 are injured.
Many people are still trapped under collapsed buildings, especially in La Guaira state.
La Guaira’s main airport is closed due to damage.
About 70,000 families have been affected by the quakes.
Volunteers and neighbors are helping with rescue efforts amid overwhelmed official teams.
Countries including the US, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, and Canada are sending rescue workers and aid.
The United States plans to send warships, planes, helicopters, and $150 million in aid to support the response.
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Alejandro Gertz Manero, Mexico’s new ambassador to the UK, disclosed owning many expensive assets, including 10 houses, two Rolls-Royces, and jewellery worth over $1 million. His wealth contrasts with the Morena party’s public commitment to helping the poor and promoting austerity.
Key Facts
Alejandro Gertz Manero was appointed Mexico’s ambassador to the UK by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
He owns 10 houses, seven cars (including two Rolls-Royces), jewellery worth over $1 million, and an art collection valued at nearly $500,000.
Gertz Manero has bank accounts in Mexico, the US, Spain, and Switzerland, and owns expensive properties in the US and Spain.
Many of his assets were reportedly inherited.
Morena, the political party he belongs to, promotes austerity and support for the poor as part of its main message.
The party has faced multiple scandals involving affluent politicians despite its anti-wealth position.
Previous Morena figures, including former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his family, have also faced criticism over luxury lifestyles.
Morena issued guidelines against luxury displays like expensive jewellery and high-value properties in 2023.
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The ongoing conflict involving Israel, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries is reshaping alliances in the region. New coalitions are forming among countries like the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran as they seek to protect their interests amid rising tensions.
Key Facts
The conflict started with a deadly Hamas attack in Gaza in October 2023 and has spread across the Middle East.
The UAE and Bahrain recognized Israel in 2020 through the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, while other Gulf countries remain divided.
The UAE has increased military and intelligence cooperation with Israel during the conflict.
Iran opposes the UAE-Israel relationship and has targeted the UAE more than other countries during the fighting.
Saudi Arabia is strengthening ties with Turkey and Pakistan to build a regional coalition.
Iran supports groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis while seeking better relations with Gulf neighbors.
India is emerging as a new important partner in the UAE-Israel alliance.
Experts warn that diplomatic dialogue alone is not enough for regional stability; credible deterrence and respect for sovereignty are also needed.
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King Charles III will not live in Buckingham Palace after a $487 million renovation. Instead, he and Queen Camilla will continue to work there but live in nearby Clarence House.
Key Facts
Buckingham Palace has been home to British monarchs since Queen Victoria in the 1820s.
The palace has 775 rooms and serves as offices and a place for official events.
The $487 million renovation began in 2017 to update plumbing, wiring, and heating.
The renovation will finish next year after 10 years of work.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will live at Clarence House during his reign.
This decision allows Buckingham Palace to host more public events and tours.
The palace currently welcomes about 700,000 visitors each year.
King Charles III paid $16.1 million in taxes for the 2024-25 financial year, the first British monarch to reveal this information.
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Russian defense forces said they stopped 660 Ukrainian drones during a large nighttime attack on several Russian regions and the Crimea peninsula. The attack followed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s plan to increase pressure on Russia to end the war after peace efforts failed. Both sides reported damage and casualties from ongoing fighting.
Key Facts
Russia intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones targeting 12 Russian regions and Crimea.
This was one of the biggest drone attacks on Russian soil since the war began over four years ago.
Ukrainian drones have been attacking fuel and energy sites inside Russia to disrupt supplies.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy ordered a 40-day campaign to push Russia to end the war.
A chemical plant and a hydroelectric plant in Novomoskovsk, Russia, were reportedly hit and caught fire.
A woman was injured, and a private home was damaged near Moscow in the Tula region.
Moscow authorities downed 47 Ukrainian drones, with no reported casualties or damage.
Ukrainian forces stopped most Russian drones and missiles, but some missiles struck targets in Ukraine, causing injuries and deaths.
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Australia plans to make its laws stronger to stop children under 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The current law, in effect since December 2024, has not worked well because many children are still using these platforms.
Key Facts
Australia was the first country to pass a law banning children under 16 from social media.
The law started on December 10, 2024.
Many children under 16 still have accounts on social media platforms despite the ban.
The Australian government is reviewing if the ban’s rules and powers are strong enough.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, may take legal action against social media companies for not doing enough to enforce the ban.
If companies fail to remove accounts of young children, they can face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about 34 million USD).
Other countries like Britain, Canada, Brazil, and France are also working on similar age restrictions for social media.
Studies show a large number of Australian teenagers still use social media platforms meant to be restricted.
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The Australian government has approved a plan that allows New South Wales (NSW) to earn carbon credits for protecting forests instead of logging them, enabling the creation of a large koala national park. This park will protect over 12,000 koalas and other species while generating jobs and new income for regional communities.
Key Facts
The NSW government will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon credits for preserving native forests rather than logging them.
Carbon credits represent one kilogram of carbon dioxide emissions prevented or absorbed by trees or land.
There are concerns that companies can buy unlimited carbon credits to offset their emissions without actually reducing pollution.
The new koala park will cover 176,000 hectares near Coffs Harbour and protect old-growth forests and at least 12,000 koalas.
The carbon credit system includes limits on logging to prevent shifting deforestation to other areas.
The project is expected to create about 100 new jobs in the national park region.
Some conservation groups welcome the plan as a major opportunity to reduce emissions and protect forests, while others criticize carbon credit schemes as unreliable.
Critics question whether the park depends on carbon credit money or would have been created anyway.
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A traditionalist Catholic group called the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) announced the symbols (coats of arms) for four new bishops they plan to make without the Pope's permission. The Vatican says this act breaks church rules and will lead to the bishops being automatically excommunicated.
Key Facts
SSPX is a group that opposes some Vatican decisions since starting in 1970.
They shared coats of arms for four future bishops on their website.
Coats of arms are unique symbols that bishops use to show their role and personal meaning.
The Vatican warned that consecrating bishops without the Pope’s approval is a serious violation.
This violation is called a “schismatic act,” meaning it causes division in the Church.
The four bishops are Father Michael Goldade (USA), Father Pascal Schreiber (Switzerland), and Fathers Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier (France).
Father Goldade's coat of arms includes wheat to represent his Kansas upbringing and North Dakota origins.
Consecrating these bishops without permission will lead to automatic excommunication, which means being officially excluded from the Church.
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Israel continues military attacks in southern Lebanon and holds onto some occupied areas amid ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, the US and Iran are making progress on a temporary peace deal that would allow international nuclear inspectors back into Iran, and tensions remain high around shipping routes near Iran.
Key Facts
Israel is attacking southern Lebanon and controls about one-fifth of the country’s land.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says the military will not leave occupied areas.
The US and Iran have an interim agreement to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors access to Iran.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said inspectors will return to Iran soon despite some sites remaining restricted until a full deal is reached.
The UN stopped escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was hit near Oman, increasing concerns about safety in this key shipping lane.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned ships not to pass through the strait without its permission.
Two people were killed in an Israeli air raid in southern Lebanon.
Indian commercial gas restrictions have ended, and Saudi Aramco resumed oil shipments after months of disruption.
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A large survey in Nepal found that child malnutrition has reached very serious levels since major U.S. aid stopped in 2025. The survey showed that many young children are underweight or too thin for their height, which increases their risk of illness and death.
Key Facts
The survey covered over one million children aged 6 months to 5 years across Nepal in May.
Rates of malnutrition were especially high in Madhesh province, with 12.3% of children wasted and 24.2% underweight.
Overall in Nepal, 7.8% of children were wasted and 17.4% were underweight.
USAID ended funding for nutrition programs in Nepal in 2025 after being closed by President Trump’s administration.
Nutrition programs supported by USAID could only partly be replaced by other donors, reaching fewer children and districts.
Nepal’s government still buys therapeutic food for malnourished children, but outreach services have dropped due to aid cuts.
Malnutrition increase threatens to reverse gains made in reducing child deaths over the past 20 years.
Rising food prices are making it harder for families to provide nutritious meals for their children.
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Slough, near London, hosts one of Europe’s largest datacentre hubs with 30 to 40 huge facilities serving major tech companies like Amazon and Google. Studies suggest these datacentres raise local temperatures by about 2°C because their cooling systems release heat, adding to the area's already hot summer weather.
Key Facts
Slough is one of the biggest datacentre hubs in Europe, with facilities from firms like Equinix and Digital Realty.
These datacentres support big tech companies including Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Microsoft.
Research shows datacentres create a "heat island" effect, increasing nearby temperatures by an average of 2°C, sometimes up to 9°C.
Cooling systems that keep computers and AI chips from overheating release large amounts of heat into the environment.
Slough’s datacentres have a power use close to one gigawatt, much larger than typical datacentres studied before.
Scientists say Slough’s datacentre cluster is unique and may have a bigger local temperature impact than smaller sites.
The UK government has suggested using datacentre waste heat to warm homes.
Residents notice the datacentres' heat and noise and debate their effects on the town’s environment.
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Dr. Julie Elie from the University of California, Berkeley, won a $100,000 prize for decoding key parts of the zebra finch bird's language. Her research used machine learning to identify and understand 11 main calls the birds use to communicate with each other.
Key Facts
Dr. Julie Elie received the 2026 Coller-Dolittle prize for studying bird communication.
She identified 11 core calls in zebra finch vocabulary and their meanings.
The birds use calls to say who they are, what they are doing, and recognize each other.
Elie used machine learning to analyze thousands of bird calls and test their meanings.
Zebra finches learned to respond differently to calls that predicted a reward or not.
Birds sometimes confused calls with similar meanings, showing they understand the calls' ideas.
The prize is awarded by the Jeremy Coller Foundation and Tel Aviv University to promote animal communication research.
Other shortlisted research includes work on African striped mice, bonobos, and chimpanzees.
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The UK Met Office has issued red heat warnings for three days in a row in south-east England, including London and surrounding areas. Scotland and other parts of the UK face thunderstorms and flood alerts, while France and several European countries prepare for continued hot weather and related health issues.
Key Facts
South-east England has a red heat alert until 9pm Friday, covering London, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and Kent.
Amber heat warnings cover wider areas in east and south-east England through Saturday.
Scotland faces yellow warnings for thunderstorms and flood alerts, except Shetland.
Temperatures hit 31.2°C in parts of Scotland on Thursday.
France has banned public drinking of alcohol at certain times in Paris to ease pressure on hospitals during the heatwave.
At least 48 people have drowned in France since the heatwave began.
The London Ambulance Service saw a 50% rise in life-threatening emergency calls, including a 30% increase in cardiac arrests.
Other European countries like Germany, Austria, Italy, and Czechia expect more high temperatures and have reported heat-related deaths.
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NATO’s deputy commander said the upcoming summit in Turkey aims to encourage member countries to spend more on defense, support Ukraine, and show alliance unity. There are current tensions in NATO due to mixed signals from the U.S. and debates over military spending among European members.
Key Facts
NATO’s deputy supreme allied commander, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, spoke before the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, 2026.
The summit’s goals include increasing defense budgets, supporting Ukraine against Russia, and showing NATO’s unity.
President Donald Trump has sent mixed messages about U.S. military presence in Europe, causing concern among NATO allies.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth started a six-month review of American forces in Europe, causing further uncertainty.
Some European officials criticized their countries’ military spending, with UK ministers resigning over concerns about defense funding.
European NATO members, except Spain, have increased military spending recently in response to Russian threats.
European countries are boosting weapons production, including artillery shells, to strengthen their forces.
The summit will discuss increasing production of military supplies, something not done on this scale for decades.
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A new scientific study shows that the record-breaking heat wave in Europe would not have happened without climate change. The heat this June is much hotter than similar events in 1976 and 2003, and it is now far more likely due to global warming caused by burning fossil fuels.
Key Facts
Europe's extreme heat this June reached over 40°C (104°F) in many places.
Nighttime temperatures stayed high, making it harder for people to cool down.
The heat wave would have been about 3.5°C cooler during the day in 1976.
Nighttime temperatures were about 2.4°C cooler in 1976 than this year.
The heat wave is 200 times more likely today than 20 years ago.
About 45% of 850 cities in 30 European countries have broken or will break heat stress records.
The study was done by World Weather Attribution, a group that links extreme weather to climate change.
Climate change is caused mainly by burning coal, oil, and gas, which warms the planet.
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