Europe to get even hotter as 50C recorded in US and China
Stifling heat in Siciliy city under red alert
Sofia Bettiza
reporting from Palermo
I’ve arrived today in Palermo on the island of Sicily.
This region is where, two years ago, the highest temperature in Europe was recorded – this could be exceeded in the coming days.
Today it is scorching hot and the air feels stifling and oppressive.
Palermo has been placed under a red alert warning, which means the heat poses a threat to everybody – not just to more vulnerable groups such as young children and the elderly.
Getting here was a struggle, as a fire broke out last night and led to one of the island’s major airports, Catania, being shut down. It is still unclear whether the fire is linked to the heatwave.
Summary
- Southern and eastern Europe is expected to get even hotter this week, with 46C (115F) forecast in Sardinia
- The hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe is believed to be 48.8C (120F) in Sicily in August 2021
- Italian authorities have issued red alerts for 16 cities, while a wildfire has broken out in Greece
- China provisionally recorded its highest temperature ever on Sunday – 52.2C in Xinjiang, the UK Met Office says
- In the US, a heat dome over the south-west has left tens of millions of people under extreme heat warnings
- Death Valley in California hit 53.9C (128F ) on Sunday – the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth is 56.7C (134F)
Iran’s ‘morality police’ resume patrols 10 months after nationwide protests
Authorities announce new campaign to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf, after policing was previously scaled back
Almost 10 months after Mahsa Amini died in police custody, triggering weeks of protest across Iran, police vans are again patrolling the country’s streets looking for women failing to wear the hijab “correctly”. Now, however, the vans and officers will not bear the name “morality police”, and patrolmen will be wearing body cameras.
The announcement on Sunday followed widespread reports that unmarked vans had been spotted on the streets of cities such as Tehran and Shiraz, stopping people not wearing the hijab. The move has already prompted demonstrations: on Sunday, protesters took to the streets in Rasht after three women were reportedly arrested.
Greece: Wildfires near Athens prompt evacuations
Authorities have issued precautionary evacuations as temperatures rise and winds pick up speed. Hundreds of firefighters are responding. A persistent heatwave has contributed to the blazes.
A wildfire raging near Athens, Greece, has prompted authorities to evacuate a nearby residential community with thousands of seaside homes.
The fire broke out in Kouvaras, roughly 27 kilometers (17 miles) southeast of the capital, damaging several homes.
A spokesman for the regional fire department said, “It’s a difficult fire, the winds are really strong.”
High winds with gusts of up to 70 kph (45 mph) have fanned the flames as it devours vegetation and threatens nearby buildings.
Greek authorities say as many as 150 firefighters are on the scene, using 40 fire engines and 11 extinguishing aircraft to get the blaze under control. Greece’s Hellenic Fire Service also reported that a second blaze had broken out in woods near the resort town of Loutraki, about 90 kilometers west of Athens.
Turkish, Russian foreign ministers to discuss grain deal, Erdogan says
The Turkish and Russian foreign ministers will discuss the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, President Tayyip Erdogan said, adding that he hoped for progress on the issue after Moscow said it was suspending its participation. “I hope that with this discussion, we can make some progress and continue on our way without a pause,” Erdogan said, speaking to reporters shortly after Moscow said it was halted its participation in the deal.
Israel recognises Western Sahara as part of Morocco
Morocco claims sovereignty over Western Sahara, but other countries back separatist movement.
Israel has recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the Moroccan government has said.
Morocco has had control of the territory, but little international recognition, since 1975, after Spanish colonial rule ended.
But a separatist movement, backed by Algeria, has long pushed for an independent state.
More to follow.
Xi Jinping’s foreign minister has vanished from public view. His prolonged absence is driving intense speculation
China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public for three weeks, an unusually long absence during a busy period of diplomatic activity in Beijing, sparking intense speculation in a country known for its political opaqueness.
Qin, 57, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was promoted to foreign minister in December, after a brief stint as ambassador to the United States.
As foreign minister, Qin has delivered searing rebukes of Washington after relations plunged to a new low in the aftermath of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over the US.
He has also played a key role in subsequent efforts by both sides to stabilize rocky ties and restore communication, including meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Beijing in mid-June.
But the high-profile diplomat has not been seen in public since June 25, after he met with officials from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Russia in Beijing.
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