UK records hottest day of year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak
The Guardian

UK records hottest day of year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak

Kew Gardens in London hits 38.1C and 40C-plus recorded in parts of Europe with continent trapped under heat domeEurope heatwave – latest updatesThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far with a provisional temperature of 38.1C in southern England as Europe sweltered under a major heat dome.As temperatures on the continent surpassed 40C at the peak of the summer’s fifth heatwave, the th...

UK records hottest day of the year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak
The Guardian

UK records hottest day of the year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak

Kew Gardens in London hits 38.1C and 40C-plus expected in parts of Europe with continent trapped under heat domeEurope heatwave – latest updatesThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far with a provisional temperature of 38.1C in southern England as Europe sweltered under a major heat dome.As temperatures on the continent approached 40C at the peak of the summer’s fifth heatwave, the t...

Eurovision: Winners involved in 'armed conflict' now ineligible to host contest

Eurovision: Winners involved in 'armed conflict' now ineligible to host contest

France 24

The winning country in Eurovision will be ineligible to host the contest the following year if involved in an armed conflict or a "sensitive geopolitical situation" that could impact the safety of the event, organisers said on August 12. The rules for the contest were updated following an annual review by the European Broadcasting Union.

One dead, several injured in Rotterdam port blast at Gunvor refinery

Euronews

The Netherlands is investigating an explosion at the port of Rotterdam that killed one person and injured several others on Thursday, 13 August. The blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. at an oil facility in the Europoort industrial section of Europe’s largest port.

Oklahoma man put to death in first of three US executions scheduled on same day

Oklahoma man put to death in first of three US executions scheduled on same day

The Guardian

If all executions go ahead, it will be first time in over 15 years there have been over three judicial killings in US in one dayCarlos Cuesta-Rodriguez has been put to death by the state of Oklahoma, in the first of three executions scheduled for Thursday in a rare triple procedure that underlines the renewed appetite in the US for state killings.Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, was pronounced dead at 10:13a...

Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez put to death by Oklahoma in first of three executions scheduled on same day

Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez put to death by Oklahoma in first of three executions scheduled on same day

The Guardian

If all executions go ahead, it will be first time in over 15 years there have been over three judicial killings in US in one dayCarlos Cuesta-Rodriguez has been put to death by the state of Oklahoma, in the first of three executions scheduled for Thursday in a rare triple procedure that underlines the renewed appetite in the US for state killings.Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, was sentenced to death for mu...

Europe heatwave live: UK sees temperatures of 38.1C, the hottest day of 2026; Greece battles gale force winds, sparking fears about wildfires

Europe heatwave live: UK sees temperatures of 38.1C, the hottest day of 2026; Greece battles gale force winds, sparking fears about wildfires

The Guardian

A former UK government scientific adviser warned amid the ‘shattering’ heat that worse is still to comeMet Office has just offered an update on temperatures across the UK, with several stations already reporting temperatures above 30C – and it’s not even 11am.It’s 30.4C in Wych Cross, 30.3C in Charlwood, 30.2C at Kenly Airfield. Continue reading...

Hong Kong public rental housing wait edges up to 4.8 years, urban allocations rise

Hong Kong public rental housing wait edges up to 4.8 years, urban allocations rise

SCMP

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years at the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter. Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public...

Long- and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

Long- and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

SCMP

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years by the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter. Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public...

Long and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

Long and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

SCMP

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years by the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter. Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public...

‘The colander worked best!’ Guardian readers share their experience of the solar eclipse

‘The colander worked best!’ Guardian readers share their experience of the solar eclipse

The Guardian

Readers recall the breathtaking sight and community spirit of the rare celestial treat – and the handmade contraptions they saw it throughOn Wednesday evening, millions of people in Europe watched a rare solar eclipse. We asked some of them to share their photographs and experiences of this celestial treat. Here are some of their responses. Continue reading...

Gaza's beekeepers are rebuilding their livelihoods amid the ruins of war

Gaza's beekeepers are rebuilding their livelihoods amid the ruins of war

France 24

Amid the rubble and debris of Gaza's bombed-out landscape, beekeepers are rebuilding their livelihoods, handling swarms and collecting what little honey they can from the colonies that survived the war. Ibrahim al-Dabbeh, head of the Cooperative Association of Beekeepers in the Gaza Strip says "the war destroyed more than 95% of the bee sector". Rebuilding these hives means trying to revive an ind...

Heatwave: European rivers face historic drought

Heatwave: European rivers face historic drought

France 24

From the Loire to the Danube, via the Rhine and the Po, European rivers are facing exceptionally low water levels. After a start to the summer marked by record temperatures, the drought is threatening river transport, energy production, ecosystems and water supplies.

Heatwave: European rivers face historic drought

France 24

From the Loire to the Danube, via the Rhine and the Po, European rivers are facing exceptionally low water levels. After a start to the summer marked by record temperatures, the drought is threatening river transport, energy production, ecosystems and water supplies.

DRC’s fast-growing Ebola outbreak spreads to sixth province

DRC’s fast-growing Ebola outbreak spreads to sixth province

The Guardian

Man dies in Bas-Uele after travelling from Haut-Uele, as head of WHO says outbreak on track to be deadliest everThe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to a sixth province, officials have said, a day after the head of the World Health Organization said the outbreak was on track to surpass the deadliest in history, which erupted more than a decade ago and killed more t...

Meet Jimmy Chilimigras, the Mississippi teen who finished high school at 12

Meet Jimmy Chilimigras, the Mississippi teen who finished high school at 12

Times of India

At just 18 years old, James Chilimigras has achieved remarkable academic milestones, having graduated from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he ranked in the top two percent of his class while earning five certificates. Displaying an exceptional intellect, he completed both his bachelor's and master’s degrees by the age of 15 and became the youngest Certified Public Accountant in...