Pakistan says it's close to U.S. trade deal, Washington gives no timeline
Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan and the United States are 'very close' to finalising a trade agreement, suggesting the deal could be reached...
Wildfires and a severe heatwave sweeping across Europe have claimed the lives of two people in Spain and another two in France, while also causing the shutdown of a nuclear reactor in Switzerland.
On Wednesday, as extreme temperatures persisted, Spanish authorities reported that a wildfire in Catalonia had killed two individuals the previous day. Meanwhile, France's energy minister confirmed two deaths directly linked to the heatwave, with an additional 300 people hospitalised due to heat-related conditions.
Italy has issued red alerts for 18 cities amid soaring temperatures, and Türkiye continues to battle wildfires. Meteorologists have described the current heatwave as "exceptional" due to its unusually early arrival in the European summer.
In Spain, a fire in Torrefeta, Catalonia, scorched farmland and covered an area of around 40 kilometres (25 miles). While mostly brought under control, officials warned of renewed risks due to expected thunderstorms and high winds. The fire service described the blaze as "extremely violent and erratic", fuelled by storm activity and wind, which created a convection cloud that complicated firefighting efforts.
In Barcelona, authorities are also investigating whether a street cleaner's recent death might be heat-related.
Spain has just recorded its hottest June ever, while France experienced its warmest June since 2003, according to Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Meteo France said red alerts remained in effect for several central regions, though temperatures were beginning to ease in the west. However, the east still faced intense thunderstorms and heavy downpours.
Temperatures were forecast to reach up to 39°C (102.2°F) in parts of France, including 34°C in Paris and between 36°C and 38°C in cities like Strasbourg, Lyon, Grenoble, and Avignon.
In Italy, Florence was set to be among the hottest cities, reaching 39°C. Red alerts were issued for 18 cities, including Milan and Rome. Authorities also warned of sudden, violent storms, particularly in the central Apennines and the islands of Sardinia and Sicily.
In Switzerland, the utility company Axpo shut down one reactor at the Beznau nuclear power plant and reduced the output of another due to elevated river water temperatures used for cooling. These restrictions are expected to remain in place as temperatures continue to be monitored.
Scientists attribute the intensifying heatwaves and wildfires to climate change, driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, along with deforestation and industrial activities.
Last year was officially the hottest year on record for the planet according to The World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
As Greece swelters under an intense heat wave, electricity demand and wholesale prices have soared to record highs, straining the national grid and pushing infrastructure to its limits.
From Hawaii’s fiery lava fountains to Italy’s ash-filled skies, it may feel like volcanoes are erupting everywhere in 2025. With nearly 50 eruptions already this year, many are asking, is the Earth getting more active? The truth is far less alarming, and far more fascinating.
Greece’s fir forests are vanishing as climate change fuels extreme heat, prolonged drought, and pest outbreaks, leaving once-lush mountains scarred by dying trees.
Storms and rising seas are washing away Barcelona’s man-made beaches, putting tourism and coastal life at risk, according to residents in the area. In Montgat, locals say their summers by the sea are vanishing.
The United Nations' top court has declared that failing to curb emissions violates international law, marking a historic moment for global climate justice and setting the stage for future legal action against polluting states.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment