- ‘Nightmarish’ Wildfire in Crete Kills Two Firefighters as Thousands Evacuate The New York Times
- Thousands evacuated in Crete as wildfires threaten tourist resorts BBC
- 2 firefighters die in wildfire on Crete as massive blazes persist across Europe AP News
- Three Greek firefighters killed as wildfires strike further east in Europe Reuters
- Three firefighters die as strong winds fuel Greek wildfires Euronews.com
Ukraine’s ex-defence minister blames procurement reforms for dismissal – Financial Times
- Ukraine’s ex-defence minister blames procurement reforms for dismissal Financial Times
- Former defence minister Fedorov says dispute with Ukraine’s ex military chief Syrskyi was a clash of visions, Українська правда
- Analysis: New Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi faces a manpower mess of Syrskyi's making The Kyiv Independent
- Ukraine's ex-defence minister says changes to military procurements behind his dismissal Reuters
- Even at War, Ukrainian Society Keeps Presidential Power in Check WSJ
Major incident declared in Suffolk as 90 firefighters tackle wildfire on heathland
Several people evacuated after ‘large-scale, wind-driven’ fire breaks out at Dunwich Heath near Leiston
A major incident has been declared as firefighters battle a large heathland fire on the Suffolk coast.
Suffolk fire and rescue service was called to reports of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday, and crews remained at the scene on Thursday morning. About 90 firefighters were tackling the blaze, while several people had been evacuated. Leiston is about 5km away from Sizewell B, but firefighters have said there is not thought to be any danger to the nuclear power station at this time.
Continue reading...‘Grey lump with orange wings’: migrating moth descends on UK gardens
Boom in hummingbird hawk-moth sightings put down to hot weather, strong winds and food scarcity in Europe
He had just sat down to dinner in the garden when a speedy visitor whizzed by – a “grey lump with orange wings”, recalled Luke Burstow, from Sussex. It was a hummingbird hawk-moth, a flying insect that migrates to the UK from continental Europe and north Africa.
“I was like: ‘Wow!’,” said the software project manager. “I didn’t even know they existed.”
Continue reading...Super El Niño Drives an August Weather Shift as Fall and Winter Signals Strengthen – Severe Weather Europe
- Super El Niño Drives an August Weather Shift as Fall and Winter Signals Strengthen Severe Weather Europe
- Record-breaking El Niño could gut California’s crab and salmon fleets latimes.com
- The 2026 El Niño Is on Track to Be the Strongest on Record WIRED
- How will Super El Nino affect us? Powell Tribune
- Record-smashing El Niño points to spring of drought and fires abc.net.au
Trump considering AI controls after OpenAI hacking incidents
It marks a change of tone for his administration, which has taken a more hands-off approach to the technology.
Was Florentine friars’ fatigue-fighting elixir a precursor to Coca-Cola?
Document believed to be from 19th century details recipe using Bolivian coca leaves, kola nuts and wine
An Italian friar has unearthed a document from the pharmacy archives of an ancient convent in Florence describing a medicinal potion made from Bolivian coca leaves and kola nuts, prompting suggestions it could have been a precursor to the famous US soft drink, Coca-Cola.
Father Manuel Russo, rector of the San Marco convent, said he stumbled across the yellowed document, a sort-of promotional flyer, while sorting out the archives.
Continue reading...Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 30 as aftershock and heat hamper rescue efforts
Soldiers and emergency teams search damaged shopping centre, paper mill and homes for survivors
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday has risen to 30, as the search for survivors trapped in a badly damaged shopping centre, paper mill and collapsed homes across the south-west of the country continues.
The 6.8-magnitude quake, which struck Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu, injured at least 62 people, according to the prefectural government.
Continue reading...Archibald prize 2026: portrait of Jewish leader after Bondi terror attack wins people’s choice award
Artist Michael Zavros says he was inspired by a deep respect for Alex Ryvchin’s leadership, as well as an uncanny likeness between the two men
An artist’s portrayal of a Jewish leader produced just weeks after the Bondi massacre has won the Archibald people’s choice category.
Michael Zavros won the $5,000 prize for his portrait of Alex Ryvchin, the co-head of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who Zavros called an “unmistakably and unashamedly Jewish” leader.
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Continue reading...Inside Bibi’s pivotal White House meeting with Trump – Axios
- Inside Bibi's pivotal White House meeting with Trump Axios
- 'It's his decision': Netanyahu says choice on how to proceed with Iran is Trump's abcnews.com
- Netanyahu plays it safe in a Washington that’s cooled on Israel Politico
- Trump and Netanyahu explored all Iran options including attack, Israeli official says Reuters
- Netanyahu Finds Diminished Welcome From Trump as Iran War Drags On WSJ
Polling stations open for Greater Manchester mayoral election – BBC
- Polling stations open for Greater Manchester mayoral election BBC
- Manchester mayor by-election: Labour and Reform UK candidates face off in second round of vote BBC
- Greater Manchester mayoral election results 2026 in full Manchester Evening News
- Voters in Manchester choose a mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left city hall for Downing Street AP News
- Wait goes on for result in Greater Manchester mayoral by-election – as it happened The Guardian
China lodges protest after NZ foreign minister’s ‘go back’ slur in parliament – South China Morning Post
- China lodges protest after NZ foreign minister’s ‘go back’ slur in parliament South China Morning Post
- China protests over New Zealand foreign minister's jibe at Chinese-born lawmaker Reuters
- China Protests NZ Foreign Minister’s Comments on China-Born MP Bloomberg
- China complains to New Zealand over ‘go back to your own country’ jibe Euronews.com
- Luxon criticises Winston Peters for 'inappropriate attention-seeking comments' towards Green MP RNZ
French student fined over Singapore straw licking prank – DW.com
- French student fined over Singapore straw licking prank DW.com
- French student pleads guilty and is fined for a straw-licking stunt in Singapore AP News
- Singapore fines French teen for iJooz vending machine straw-licking stunt BBC
- Teen Fined Over Gross Social Media Straw-Licking Stunt in Singapore The Daily Beast
- Teen fined after pleading guilty in Singapore ‘straw licking’ case CTV News
Viral finger-clicker suspended as cricket storm remains in global spotlight
Saltburn's amateur cricketer at centre of cheating allegations that grabbed global headlines is suspended by club.
War and shortages push Gaza hospitals to breaking point
Gaza’s collapsing health system leaves dialysis patients, amputees and trauma survivors without vital care.
NSW to send paramedics not police to some mental health emergencies after multiple deaths
Mental health experts to triage triple zero calls, but not all of the changes will be implemented 24/7 or statewide
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New South Wales will send specialist nurses rather than police to some mental health emergencies after the state announced long-fought-for reform in the wake of multiple deaths at the hands of police.
Rose Jackson and Yasmin Catley, the mental health and police ministers, announced on Thursday a statewide change to how triple zero calls are triaged, with a new team of mental health experts assessing mental health calls 24/7 in a bid to provide better support.
Continue reading...A quarter of young Africans believe USAID cuts could be positive, survey finds
Losing funds should force leaders to confront their own challenges, they said, while many voiced concerns over increasing foreign influence
A quarter of young Africans believe aid cuts by the US could have a positive impact, saying that losing foreign money will force leaders to confront and solve their own challenges, according to a new survey.
In Ghana and Nigeria, almost half (41% and 40% respectively) of young people aged 18 to 24 were optimistic, with Liberia not far behind (37%). A further one in 10 (11%) young people were uncertain about the impact, according to the African Youth Survey, which interviewed almost 5,000 people across 16 of the continent’s 54 recognised countries.
Continue reading...US launches ‘powerful’ strikes on Iran after Jordan attack
The US has bombed multiple cities across southern Iran in what Central Command described as a ‘heavy wave of strikes’.
Evo Morales defiant after new Bolivia arrest warrant
Bolivia's former president is being investigated 'for armed uprising' against the state, among other things.
Rescue operation in Argentina to free more than 100 snow-trapped tourists
Emergency services have rescued more than 100 tourists, trapped by a snowstorm in Argentina.