Soaring temperatures across Europe have broken records in Portugal and sparked heat alerts in Italy and France, affecting events including the French Open tennis tournament.
Portugal recorded its hottest May day on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching 40.3°C in the central town of Mora, surpassing the previous record of 40°C in May 2001.
The Portuguese meteorological office predicts parts of the country will peak above 40.3°C on Friday before conditions gradually ease.
French ministers convened to assess the nation’s preparedness for extreme heat, focusing on forest fire prevention and water supply management.
17 departments, including Paris, are under an orange alert, urging citizens to exercise caution. Temperatures in Paris reached 33°C on Thursday, and are expected to rise to 34°C over the weekend. Authorities have introduced traffic measures and a single fare for public transport to ease the impact.
Some schools have struggled with indoor temperatures. In Souston, a primary school hit 53°C inside, forcing a closure. Despite the heat, baccalaureate exams are continuing, with Education Minister Édouard Geffray ensuring exam centres can use the coolest rooms. Teachers and unions have voiced concern about conditions, reporting temperatures above 30°C in many schools.
Italy issued its first red heatwave alerts of the year in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Brescia, and Turin. Temperatures in the capital reached 32°C on Thursday, warning of “possible negative effects on the health of healthy, active people.”
Tennis world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the French Open after experiencing dizziness and exhaustion in the heat. He described it as “a tough spot” but stressed it was not due to the weather.
Madrid is expected to see temperatures climb to 35°C over the weekend, while Germany and Switzerland have experienced unusually hot conditions. Spain’s meteorological office notes that current temperatures are more typical of July or August.
The immediate cause of the heatwave is a “heat dome”, a high-pressure system that traps warm air beneath it.
Scientists caution that while single events cannot be directly linked to climate change, the warming trend in Europe – 0.56°C per decade over the past 30 years, makes such heatwaves more frequent and severe.
The UN warned that global average temperatures are likely to remain at or near record levels for the next four years, with the 11 hottest years on record all occurring since 2015. A new “hottest-ever year” is considered likely before 2031.
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Ir...
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claim...
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations ...
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. It urged all sides to exercise restraint and honour commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claims it has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
Tajikistan will reduce electricity exports and increase water reserves ahead of winter as the government seeks to improve domestic power supplies after last year’s seasonal shortages.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
A 93-year-old British woman has died after being injured in wildfires that swept through southeastern Spain's Almeria province, regional authorities said, bringing the confirmed death toll to 13 people.
More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during a record-breaking heatwave in late June, with older people accounting for the vast majority of the toll, according to official mortality data.
An overnight fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, making it one of the deadliest pub disasters in the Thai capital in recent years. Authorities say the venue quickly filled with thick smoke, trapping patrons inside.
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