Watch live view of the Vatican as European temperatures soar to nearly 40C
Watch a live view of St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, as temperatures reach 38C. Sizzling temperatures have swept across Europe in recent days, and the heatwave has taken hold across many popular holiday hotspots in the Mediterranean, such as Spain, Italy and Greece. Much of southern Europe has been in the high 30s, while some parts of southern Italy and areas in Greece have been in the low-to-mid 40s, which is eight to 12 degrees above the seasonal average for the region. The hottest temperature recorded was around 45C and the heatwave has caused health issues, leading to a strain on local medical services during a busy tourist period. Fifteen cities in Italy, most of them in the country’s centre and south, were under heat advisories due to a high level of risk for older adults, children and other vulnerable people. Last week, a 44-year-old man, who was painting a zebra crossing in 40C heat in the northern town of Lodi, lost consciousness and later died in hospital, local media reported. Read More The pope's Ukraine peace envoy heads to Washington with the plight of children top of his agenda The Vatican's next doctrinal guardian defends the book on kissing he wrote as a young priest A wave of political turbulence is rolling through Guatemala and other Central American countries
2023-07-17 21:53
New Saharan Heat Blast Spells More Extremes for Europe
The heat wave engulfing the Mediterranean is set to intensify as another Saharan anticyclone threatens record temperatures from
2023-07-17 21:18
Russia Pulls the Plug on Ukraine Grain Export Agreement
Russia ended the Ukraine grain-export deal nearly a year into the agreement, heightening uncertainty over global food supplies
2023-07-17 19:46
Top Taiwan Presidential Candidate Lai to Visit US Next Month
Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, a top candidate for president, will stop in the US next month en
2023-07-17 19:19
‘Finfluencers’ Lead UK Watchdog to Tighten Social Media Rules
The UK markets watchdog said it will update social media guidance to deter “finfluencers” from promoting financial products
2023-07-17 18:55
Russia Closes Crimea Bridge After Official Declares ‘Emergency’
Russia said two Ukrainian drones caused explosions that damaged its flagship bridge to Crimea, killing two people and
2023-07-17 18:47
Russia moves to ban iPhones for government officials over US spying fears
Russia is set to ban iPhones for government officials and state employees after accusing Apple of helping the US government conduct espionage operations. Government officials at Russia’s trade ministry will be banned from using iPhones and other Apple products for “work purposes” from July 17, the Financial Times reported. The trade ministry’s ban includes emailed correspondence relating to work activities, said its deputy head Vasily Osmako. The digital development ministry said it will follow suit, while state-owned company Rostec, which is under Western sanctions, said it has already introduced a ban on Apple products. It comes after the Kremlin told officials to stop using Apple products in March, citing fears they were vulnerable to US hacking. “Officials truly believe that Americans can use their equipment for wiretapping,” Andrey Soldatov, a Russia security and intelligence services expert, told the Financial Times. Russia’s Federal Security Service claimed in June it had uncovered a “spying operation by US intelligence agencies using Apple devices”. However, the FSB provided no evidence. The security service claimed several thousand iPhones with Russian SIM cards or registered with Moscow diplomatic missions in Nato countries were “infected” with monitoring software that indicated Apple’s “close co-operation” with the US National Security Agency. “Everyone in the presidential administration is aware that the iPhone is a completely transparent device and its use for official purposes is unacceptable and prohibited,” Dmitry Peskov, president Putin’s spokesperson, said last month. Apple has denied working with US intelligence services. The tech company said it “has never worked with any government to build a backdoor into any Apple product, and never will”. The ban will not impact regular consumers. Apple pulled out of Russia following last year’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Apple products continue to be imported to Russia from other countries. Read More Calls for security review after Briton arrested in Germany accused of spying for Russia Huawei: Why are western governments worried about China's technology powerhouse? Privacy: Why the iPhone battery spying trick shows that everyone needs to care about being snooped on
2023-07-17 18:25
Thai PM Hopeful Pita Can’t Be Nominated Twice, Senator Says
Thai politician Pita Limjaroenrat, who fell short in his bid to secure the country’s top political office last
2023-07-17 16:45
Ukraine-Russia war – latest: Parents killed and daughter injured after explosions reported on Crimean bridge
Two people were killed and their daughter was seriously injured after multiple reports of explosions on the Crimean Bridge led officials to declare an “emergency situation” in the early hours of Monday. Officials closed roads leading to the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which is a major supply artery for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and a prestige project that was personally opened by President Vladimir Putin. There was no immediate confirmation of an attack on the bridge, but it has been struck at least once previously since Vladimir Putin’s invasion began more than 500 days ago. Preliminary visuals of the lit-up Kerch Bridge on social media appeared to show a portion had been damaged. Russian military bloggers reported two missile strikes on the overpass. The RBC-Ukraine news agency said explosions were heard on the bridge, while Russian officials called it an "emergency" situation. A girl, who was injured in a passenger car, was being treated in intensive care, while her parents were killed, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region said in a message on the Telegram messaging app. Read More Ukrainian boxer fights through the challenges of war on her way to the Paris Olympics Russia has 'sufficient stockpile' of cluster bombs, says Putin, as Ukraine gets US cluster bombs Yevgeny Prigozhin: Man who led Putin mutiny pictured in pants in tent during exile
2023-07-17 15:16
Singapore House Speaker Resigns in New Blow to Ruling Party
Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party was rocked by two unexpected resignations, including that of parliament speaker Tan Chuan-Jin,
2023-07-17 14:49
US-China Climate Talks Reopen With Vow to Take ‘Big Steps’
US Climate Envoy John Kerry opened his first major climate talks with Chinese officials in almost a year,
2023-07-17 13:55
Europe heatwave – live: Charon sees temperatures soar again as 50C record could be broken
Europe’s record for the hottest temperature ever recorded could be broken this week, with Italy issuing new hot weather red alerts for 16 cities as another heat dome heads towards the Mediterranean region. A new anticyclone dubbed “Charon”, who in Greek mythology was the ferryman of the dead, advanced into the region from north Africa on Sunday and could lift temperatures well above 45C in parts of Italy. “We need to prepare for a severe heat storm that, day after day, will blanket the whole country,” Italian weather news service said. “In some places ancient heat records will be broken.”The hottest temperature recorded in Europe was 48.8C in Sicily, in August 2021. The new heat dome enters Europe as the region is already experiencing deadly heat and wildfires with temperatures above 40C. At least 4,000 people were evacuated in Spain as firefighters struggle to contain wildfires tearing through La Palma. It comes as extreme temperatures are breaking records worldwide as both the US and China saw the mercury crossing 50C on Sunday. Read More Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus? California's Death Valley sizzles as brutal heat wave continues Is it safe to travel in Europe during the heatwave and how are Britons affected?
2023-07-17 13:46