Blog

A large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and road closures near the ancient Temple of Poseidon.

Major heat waves across Southern Europe have pushed temperatures above 40 C (104 F) in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, as local authorities issued fresh warnings against the risk of wildfires.

Experts link the rising frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across Europe’s southern region.

Severe heat waves were recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal before the weekend, with locals and tourists alike taking shelter from the sweltering conditions.

Two-thirds of Portugal were on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to top 42 C (107 F) in Lisbon.

In Italy, a few regions – Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria – were planning to ban some outdoor work activities during the hottest hours of the day in response to the record-high temperatures. Italian trade unions pushed the government to expand such measures at a national level.

On Sunday, the Italian Health Ministry placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples.

In Rome, tourists tried to seek shade near popular spots like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, using umbrellas and drinking from public water fountains to stay cool.

Similar scenes were reported in Milan and Naples, where street vendors sold lemonade to tourists and residents to offer some refreshment from the heat.

Greece was again on high wildfire alert because of extreme weather, with the first summer heat wave expected to continue throughout the weekend.

A large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and road closures near the ancient Temple of Poseidon. Strong winds spread the flames, damaging homes and sending smoke across the sky.

Greek authorities deployed 130 firefighters, 12 planes and 12 helicopters to battle the blaze, while police evacuated 40 people, with five areas under evacuation orders.

In Spain, locals and tourists were desperately trying to keep cool this weekend, as the country sizzled in temperatures as high as 42 C (107 F) in the southern city of Seville along with other locations in southern and central parts of the country.

Southern regions of Spain recorded temperatures above seasonal averages, prompting health alerts and safety recommendations from authorities. The country’s national meteorological service Aemet has said that June is set to break yet another record,

The couple made a last-minute location change due to security concerns from ongoing protests against the wedding.

Former news anchor Lauren Sanchez officially tied the knot with Jeff Bezos in a star-studded Italian wedding on June 27, and her sons played an important role in her special day, reported E! News.

Her kids, Nikko, 24, and Evan, 19, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Tony Gonzales and ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, respectively, were right by her side as she walked down the aisle during the lavish ceremony, which was held on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, as per the outlet.

Lauren’s 17-year-old daughter, Ella, whom she also shares with ex Patrick, was her esteemed maid of honour. She delivered a heartfelt reading during the ceremony, reported E! News.

The grand wedding, which took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, had fewer than 200 guests in attendance for the three-day celebration, according to E! NewsFormer news anchor Lauren Sanchez officially tied the knot with Jeff Bezos in a star-studded Italian wedding on June 27, and her sons played an important role in her special day, reported E! News.

Her kids, Nikko, 24, and Evan, 19, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Tony Gonzales and ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, respectively, were right by her side as she walked down the aisle during the lavish ceremony, which was held on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, as per the outlet.

Lauren’s 17-year-old daughter, Ella, whom she also shares with ex Patrick, was her esteemed maid of honour. She delivered a heartfelt reading during the ceremony, reported E! News.

The grand wedding, which took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, had fewer than 200 guests in attendance for the three-day celebration, according to E! News

Rich donors led by the US have slashed or plan to scale down aid budgets as conflicts and economic turbulence transform their spending priorities.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday urged the international community to “rev up the engine of development” aid in “a world shaken by inequalities, climate chaos and raging conflicts”.

Rich donors led by the United States have slashed or plan to scale down aid budgets as conflicts and economic turbulence transform their spending priorities.

The cuts risk undoing progress in health, education and humanitarian programmes in developing countries, many of which already struggle under heavy debt burdens.

Opening a UN aid conference in Spain, Mr Guterres said delegates were gathered “to repair and rev up the engine of development to accelerate investment” faced with the “massive headwinds” buffeting the sector.Those challenges included “a slowing economy, rising trade tensions, and decimated aid budgets, a world shaken by inequalities, climate chaos and raging conflicts”, he said.

Two-thirds of the development goals set by the international community for 2030 were “lagging” and more than $4 trillion of annual investment would be needed to achieve them, Mr Guterres said.

The crisis meant children going unvaccinated, girls dropping out of school and families suffering hunger, added Guterres, urging the world to “change course”.

Dozens of world leaders were meeting in the southern city of Seville for the June 30-July 3 Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the biggest such talks in a decade.

The gathering is due to adopt a document reaffirming a commitment to eliminating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality, reforming tax systems and international financial institutions.

Spain and Portugal reported record temperatures as Italy and France braced for several more days of a punishing heatwave that has gripped southern Europe and Britain, sparking health and wildfire warnings.

Spain and Portugal reported record temperatures Monday as Italy and France braced for several more days of a punishing heatwave that has gripped southern Europe and Britain, sparking health and wildfire warnings.

The summer’s first major heatwave has scorched countries along the Mediterranean’s northern coast, leading authorities to urge people to seek shelter and protect the most vulnerable.

“This is unprecedented,” said France’s ecology transition minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, as Paris and 15 other departments were placed on “red alert”, the highest weather warning level.

Ambulances stood ready near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent.

Firefighters were also on standby after blazes broke out Sunday in France, Turkey and Italy, fed by the heat and strong winds.

Cities are offering different ways to stay cool, from free swimming pools in Marseille to free guided tours for the elderly in air-conditioned museums in Venice.Spain and Portugal reported record temperatures Monday as Italy and France braced for several more days of a punishing heatwave that has gripped southern Europe and Britain, sparking health and wildfire warnings.

The summer’s first major heatwave has scorched countries along the Mediterranean’s northern coast, leading authorities to urge people to seek shelter and protect the most vulnerable.

“This is unprecedented,” said France’s ecology transition minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, as Paris and 15 other departments were placed on “red alert”, the highest weather warning level.

Ambulances stood ready near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent.

Firefighters were also on standby after blazes broke out Sunday in France, Turkey and Italy, fed by the heat and strong winds.

Cities are offering different ways to stay cool, from free swimming pools in Marseille to free guided tours for the elderly in air-conditioned museums in Venice.

Beijing views Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor.

The Dalai Lama will address a major three-day gathering of Buddhist religious figures this week ahead of his 90th birthday, as his followers wait for the Tibetan spiritual leader to share details about his succession in a move that could irk China.

Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing.

Tibetan Buddhists hold that enlightened monks are reborn to carry forward their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday and has said he would consult senior monks and others at this time to share possible clues on where his successor, a boy or a girl, could be found following his death.

He has previously said he could possibly reincarnate in India, where he lives in exile near the northern Himalayan town of Dharamshala. He was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two.Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamshala, said it was important for the world to hear directly from the Dalai Lama on the issue because while China “tries to vilify him at every chance … it is trying to frame rules and regulations on how to have the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their hand”.

“China is trying to grab this institution … for its political purpose,” she said.

“We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity.”

Thupten Ngodup, Tibet’s chief state oracle, said typically such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive but things are different now mainly because the “Chinese government is interfering”.

Beijing said in March that the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had “no right to represent the Tibetan people at all”. China has said it is open to discussing his future if he recognises that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, a proposal the Tibetan government in exile has rejected.

Their unconventional love story has sparked intense debate on social media, with opinions sharply divided.

A 50-year-old Chinese entrepreneur, known as “Sister Xin,” has sparked controversy online after marrying her son’s Russian classmate and announcing her pregnancy. With over 13,000 followers on Douyin, Sister Xin shares her life with her foreign husband, showcasing her luxurious suburban villa and lifestyle complete with a chef and driver. Having divorced at 30, Sister Xin raised her children on her own before finding love again with someone much younger.

The unusual romance began six years ago when Sister Xin’s son, Kaikai, hosted a Lunar New Year dinner for three foreign classmates, including Defu, a Russian student. Defu, who spoke fluent Chinese, was charmed by Sister Xin’s cooking and hospitality, and ended up extending his visit from one night to a whole week.

“I was still young and attractive then. Defu kept in touch with me, sending gifts and surprises over the years,” Sister Xin told the South China Morning Post. 

Sister Xin initially brushed off Defu’s advances due to their 20-year age gap and 30cm height difference, citing cultural differences and her past marital experience. However, with her son’s support, she reconsidered and decided to give love another chance. The couple registered their marriage earlier this year and have since travelled extensively across China, exploring Cantonese cuisine and visiting historic sites like the hometown of Wong Fei-hung.

Sister Xin announced her pregnancy on June 8, saying that despite the risks associated with older pregnancies, being with Defu makes it worthwhile. The couple is expecting their baby next spring and has already prepared for the arrival by buying a cot. Their unconventional love story has sparked intense debate on social media, with opinions sharply divided.

One user said, “Their unconventional love story has sparked intense debate on social media, with opinions sharply divided.”

Another commented, “This feels like a scripted romance made for attention. It is too perfect to be real.” A third said, “Will she move to Russia with Defu? She might be the same age as his parents. How will that work?”

Sister Xin shared her prenatal check-up report, asserting “Time will prove our love,” in response to critics.

New high-resolution satellite imagery with NDTV shows, for the first time, the impact of Indian precision strikes against two major terrorist training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during Operation Sindoor last month. While the armed forces have not identified the weapons used in the attack, it is believed that both were targeted with loitering drones.

The images are of two camps, the Syedna Bilal Camp in Muzaffarabad, 36 kilometres west of Tangdhar in Kashmir, and the Kotli Gulpur camp, which is 40 kilometres west of Rajouri in Jammu. Both were struck in the early hours of May 7, when India targeted multiple terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and PoK following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives.It was the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the Chattisinghpora massacre in March 2000, in which 36 Sikhs were killed.It was the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the Chattisinghpora massacre in March 2000, in which 36 Sikhs were killed.

A man from China’s Liaoning province stole eight cars and used them on his way home, as the air tickets were too expensive, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, quoting media outlet New Yellow River.

The man, surnamed Chen, bought a flight ticket for 1,500 yuan (US$200) on May 31, but cancelled it because of its high price. He had been travelling alone in Changsha, Hunan province.

He stole eight cars worth around 1 million yuan (USD140,000) in total, travelling through seven cities in China. He targeted unlocked car dealerships and quiet car parks, stealing keys and tampering with ignitions to start older car models.

Also Read | Doctors Reveal Why 8-Year-Old In China Vomited Live Worms For A Month

Chen would abandon cars when they ran out of fuel and steal new ones. He also took valuables from the vehicles to pay for food and road tolls. His journey covered more than 14 hours on the road.However, police once tracked a stolen car worth over 150,000 yuan (US$20,000) and followed its trail after a member of staff at a showroom in Wuhan, central China, noticed on June 2 that the vehicle and car keys were missing. Officers found that the car had left Wuhan, heading north.

A couple of days later, Chen injured a car owner during one of his thefts in Hebei province but flew away in panic. He was eventually arrested in a Hebei car park on June 4 after he was found asleep inside a stolen car.

Read More | Employee’s Leave Application To Head To Mountains Wins Internet, Boss Says, “Made My Week”

Police have recovered all eight stolen cars, and Chen remains in police custody. He faces more than 10 years in prison and a fine.

The report mentioned that the story went viral on the country’s social media, gaining massive traction. As quoted, one user said, “All this just to avoid spending 1,500 yuan? Totally not worth it. Why travel if you cannot afford it?”

“Chen clearly has determination. If he applied it elsewhere, he could have achieved something, what a waste,” another user said as per the

Talking to reporters here, Devendra Fadanvis said the process of electing the new state chief of the BJP has begun, and Union Minister Kiren Rijuju, who is the party’s central observer, was present during the nomination.

BJP MLA and former minister Ravindra Chavan on Monday filed his nomination for the post of the party’s state president, and a formal announcement will be made by Tuesday evening, Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior party leader Devendra Fadnavis said.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Fadanvis said the process of electing the new state chief of the BJP has begun, and Union Minister Kiren Rijuju, who is the party’s central observer, was present during the nomination.

“The BJP will soon get a new state president. Ravindra Chavan has filed his nomination today in the presence of senior leaders, including the current chief and state Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and others,” he said.

The chief minister said Mr Chavan started his political journey as a youth wing worker before becoming a municipal corporator, an MLA, and later a minister.

“Chavan is a four-time legislator and a long-time colleague in the party. We are happy he has filed his nomination. The official announcement will be made by tomorrow evening,” he said.

The two leaders made the decision “with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries,” the Canadian PM Carney’s office said in a statement.

India and Canada agreed on Tuesday to reinstate ambassadors to each other’s capitals, months after the bitter diplomatic fallout between New Delhi and Ottawa. The breakthrough came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada’s Kananaskis. 

The relations between the two countries deteriorated last year after Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused India of being involved in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, an allegation India categorically denied. Following this, New Delhi and Ottawa expelled the Indian ambassador.

Now Canada’s new leader, Carney, who took office in March, invited PM Modi to the Canadian Rockies as a guest at the summit of the G7 major economies. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit and agreed that both countries would name new high commissioners, as ambassadors are known between Commonwealth nations.

The two leaders made the decision “with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries,” the Canadian PM Carney’s office said in a statement.