Russia Says Ukraine Rejects Local Ceasefire for Handover of Soldiers’ Bodies

Europe is facing a severe wildfire crisis, with hundreds of firefighters battling blazes across France, Spain, and Portugal amid a renewed heatwave. The fires have already scorched more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) – an area twice the size of Manhattan – across the three nations. Temperatures are predicted to reach 40C in some regions on Sunday.

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worked tirelessly throughout the night to consolidate the perimeter of the La Bisbal d'Empordà forest fire, which is now stabilized

France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has voiced concerns about the early start to the annual summer wildfire season, which began a month ahead of schedule. This follows a June heatwave that caused thousands of excess deaths across Europe. A fire near Spain's Costa Brava coast has burned over 2,200 hectares in two days, and firefighters anticipate challenges due to rising temperatures and numerous "smoking hotspots" within the fire's perimeter. In Portugal, emergency services reported controlling "80 percent" of a wildfire that devastated approximately 13,000 hectares in the north, involving 1,200 firefighters.

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80 percent

Climate change is increasingly being linked to these extreme weather events. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group stated that heatwaves seen in May and June would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of climate change. The ongoing heatwave is expected to move north and could persist until the following weekend, raising fears of further summer trouble across Western Europe. Reinforcements, including water-carrying planes from Spain and Italy, have been sent to aid Portugal's efforts.

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virtually impossible