Ferry sinks off Bali coast, dozens missing as rescue underway
A tragic ferry accident off the coast of Bali has left four dead and dozens missing, with rough seas complicating rescue efforts....
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.
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.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded the crucial 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time, marking a serious warning for the world’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement, scientists said.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have established a joint venture to implement the Green Energy Corridor: Azerbaijan–Central Asia project aimed at building infrastructure for clean energy transmission and strengthening a regional energy cooperation.
A Clean Energy Centre will be officially launched during the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit, to be hosted by Azerbaijan this week, announced Asad M. Khan, Secretary General of the ECO.
The European Union plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 and, for the first time, allow limited use of foreign carbon credits to meet the target.
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
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