France records hottest day on record as heatwave triggers power outages

France has recorded its hottest day since national records began in 1947, as an intense early summer heatwave continues to grip much of western Europe. According to the country’s meteorological agency, the national temperature indicator reached 30°C on Wednesday, surpassing the previous record of 29.8°C set just a day earlier.

The extreme heat has placed more than half of France under the highest level red weather alert, while tens of thousands of households in western regions have been left without electricity. Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

 

The broader European heatwave is causing widespread disruption across the continent, with France, Spain and Italy among the hardest hit. In the United Kingdom, rare red heat alerts were issued as temperatures climbed to 36.1°C in Hampshire, with forecasters warning that parts of England could approach 38°C. Climate scientists say Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, making severe heatwaves more frequent and intense.

 

 

UN nuclear watchdog prepares Iran inspections under peace deal

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that inspectors will return to Iran under the framework of the preliminary peace agreement reached between Tehran and Washington.

 

IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said discussions on inspection procedures, timelines and locations would begin shortly, describing the arrangement as a key element of efforts to verify Iran’s nuclear activities. He noted that the agreement specifically requires the dilution of Iran’s highly enriched uranium under international supervision.

 

The announcement comes despite mixed signals from Iranian officials. While the United States insists Tehran has agreed to robust inspections, Iran’s deputy foreign minister indicated that access to damaged nuclear facilities would only be addressed as part of a final settlement.

 

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, who is touring Gulf states to discuss the agreement, reiterated that Washington would remain closely aligned with regional allies. He said the United States remains open to a comprehensive deal but warned that President Donald Trump still has “options” if negotiations fail. Further talks are expected to take place in Switzerland before the end of the month.

Israeli strike kills two in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire efforts

An Israeli drone strike has killed at least two people in southern Lebanon, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire efforts that followed last week’s US-Iran agreement aimed at reducing tensions across the region.

 

Lebanese state media reported that the attack targeted a vehicle near Kfar Reman in the Nabatieh district. Israeli artillery also shelled areas near the town of Yater, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel’s military said the operation targeted Hezbollah operatives and claimed the individuals had entered a designated security zone.

 

The incident occurred as Lebanese and Israeli officials met in the United States for another round of negotiations intended to secure a more lasting cessation of hostilities. Although fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has largely subsided in recent days, both sides continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire commitments.
The latest violence highlights the difficulty of maintaining calm in southern Lebanon, where years of conflict and periodic flare-ups have complicated diplomatic efforts to stabilise the border region.

 

France confirms first Ebola case linked to Congo outbreak

French authorities have confirmed the country’s first Ebola case after a doctor returned from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a major outbreak is continuing to spread.

 

The health ministry said the patient was immediately transferred to a specialised treatment facility and remains in stable condition. Officials stressed that the risk to the wider French population remains very low.

The outbreak in Congo has already infected more than 1,000 people and caused over 260 deaths. Health experts believe the virus circulated undetected for several weeks before the outbreak was officially declared in May. Cases have also been reported in neighbouring Uganda.

 

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization director general urged calm, saying there was no indication of widespread international transmission. Nevertheless, health authorities across Europe are monitoring the situation closely as concerns grow over the speed with which the disease is spreading in central Africa.

 

Bondi Beach shooting hero denies assault allegations

Ahmed al Ahmed, the man celebrated for helping stop one of the gunmen responsible for Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades, has pleaded not guilty to assault and intimidation charges involving his father.

 

Appearing before a Sydney court, the 44-year-old denied allegations linked to an incident that allegedly occurred in March. His lawyer described the case as a painful family dispute and said Ahmed never expected to find himself in such circumstances.

 

Ahmed gained international recognition in December after tackling gunman Sajid Akram during an attack on a Jewish gathering at Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed in the assault, which police later classified as a terrorist incident. Footage of Ahmed disarming the attacker spread around the world and inspired a fundraising campaign that collected more than A$2.5 million.

 

The case comes amid separate legal proceedings involving two of Ahmed’s brothers, who have been accused of attempting to extort a portion of the donations raised following the attack.

 

AFRICA

Kenyan students face murder charges over deadly school dormitory fire

Kenyan prosecutors are preparing murder charges against several students accused of involvement in a dormitory fire that killed 16 pupils at a girls’ school last month.

 

The blaze tore through a crowded dormitory at Utumishi Girls’ School in Gilgil, northwest of Nairobi, trapping students as they attempted to escape through a single doorway after an emergency exit reportedly failed to open.

 

Investigators say eight students have been identified as persons of interest after forensic analysis and reviews of surveillance footage.

 

Authorities believe mattresses were deliberately set alight near an exit, causing the fire to spread rapidly through the building.

The suspects, aged between 15 and 18, are expected to appear in court later this week to face 16 counts of murder. The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools and prompted calls for stricter enforcement of fire prevention regulations.

 

US expands Ebola assistance as Congo outbreak worsens

The United States has supplied doses of an experimental Ebola treatment to support clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a shift from earlier policies that restricted access largely to American citizens.

 

The treatment, developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, will be used both for compassionate care and to advance research into combating the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.

 

Health officials have warned that the outbreak could become one of the most severe Ebola emergencies in recent years if stronger containment measures are not implemented. More than 1,000 infections and over 250 deaths have already been recorded in Congo, while neighbouring Uganda has also reported cases.

 

The move comes after criticism of cuts to US foreign assistance programmes. American officials said data from the trials could help support future regulatory approval of treatments and improve preparedness for future outbreaks.

 

Zimbabwe senate backs constitutional changes extending Mnangagwa’s rule

Zimbabwe’s Senate has approved legislation that would extend presidential terms from five years to seven, potentially allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.

 

The bill passed comfortably with the required two-thirds majority and now awaits the president’s signature. It also includes provisions that could allow future presidents to be elected by parliament rather than through direct national elections.

Supporters argue the changes will provide political stability and allow Mnangagwa more time to implement economic reforms. Critics, however, view the legislation as a significant step backwards for democratic governance and accuse the ruling ZANU-PF party of entrenching its hold on power.

Mnangagwa, who came to office following the 2017 military intervention that removed Robert Mugabe, has repeatedly denied seeking to extend his rule beyond constitutional limits, despite growing evidence of support within his party for such a move.

Zimbabwe explores minerals-backed financing deal with China

Zimbabwe is considering using future revenues from its vast mineral wealth to secure funding for major infrastructure projects through agreements with Chinese partners.

 

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said discussions with Chinese railway companies have focused on resource-backed financing arrangements that could help modernise the country’s transport network. Zimbabwe requires an estimated $34 billion to upgrade roads, railways and logistics infrastructure.
Under the proposed model, future earnings from commodities such as lithium and other strategic minerals would be used to repay loans linked to specific development projects. Zimbabwe is Africa’s leading producer of lithium, a critical mineral used in electric vehicle batteries.

The government hopes such arrangements will unlock investment despite ongoing fiscal constraints, although critics warn that resource-backed borrowing can expose countries to long-term debt risks if commodity prices decline.

 

UNICEF and Gavi push for faster development of Ebola vaccine

UNICEF and vaccine alliance Gavi have launched efforts to accelerate the development of a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the ongoing outbreaks in Congo and Uganda.

 

The organisations are seeking detailed information from pharmaceutical companies and research institutions about vaccine candidates, production timelines and manufacturing capacity. Gavi has pledged up to $40 million to support promising projects and ensure rapid access to doses if a vaccine proves effective.

 

Health officials say the current outbreak highlights a major gap in global preparedness, as existing Ebola vaccines do not provide protection against the Bundibugyo strain. The disease has already infected more than 1,000 people and continues to spread across several provinces in eastern Congo.

 

UNICEF, Gavi, the World Health Organization and other partners say accelerating vaccine development is essential to preventing the outbreak from escalating into a wider regional health crisis.