EU to send planes to Greece to battle wildfires; Phoenix braced for record 19th day of punishing temperatures
EU has announced to help combat wildfires in Greece; Arizona’s state capital expecting 19th day of highs of at least 110F
The EU has announced it will weigh in with help to combat wildfires in Greece after Athens requested support from fellow member states, reports Helena Smith, the Guardian’s correspondent in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.
European Commission spokesperson Janez Lenarcic said four Canadair firefighting planes would be dispatched to the country from Italy and France after activation of the bloc’s civil protection mechanism.
The current high in Phoenix is 97F, as forecasters predict that Arizona’s capital city could experience the most consecutive number of days above 110F.
The city will likely get its 19th consecutive day of high temperatures exceeding 110F, breaking a previous record set in 1974, the National Weather Service of Phoenix reports.
Phoenix’s high temperature is predicted to reach 117F, as much of the US south-west area deals with extreme heat. Phoenix residents experience little relief at night, as temperatures remain above 90F.
Israel: Thousands rally in 'day of disruption'
Thousands of Israelis packed the streets of Tel Aviv blocking roads and gathering near the stock exchange and military headquarters on the "day of disruption" to protest against the government's judicial reform plan.
Thousands of people in Israel took to the streets on Tuesday as legislators prepare to pass one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reform bills.
The proposals have divided the nation and triggered a massive protest movement since being unveiled in January by Netanyahu's right-wing government. Weekly rallies have drawn tens of thousands of protesters aiming to prevent what they believe could open the way to a more authoritarian government.
According to the AFP news agency, dozens of demonstrators entered the stock exchange building in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, tossing fake banknotes as a symbol of corruption. Protesters also ignited smoke bombs outside the building, where they chanted and held up signs reading "dictatorship will kill the economy."
Tunisia anti-fake news law criminalises free speech: Legal group
The International Commission of Jurists says that President Saied is shutting down space for free speech online.
A leading human rights group has slammed the use of a Tunisian law criminalising the spreading of “fake news” to stifle free speech in the country.
The Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has criticised the implementation of the legislation, issued directly by President Kais Saied following his 2021 suspension of parliament, which they claim allows him to criminalise any type of electronic communication that he objects to.
Decree 54, issued by President Kais Saied in September 2022, criminalises using electronic equipment to share false information, part of what his supporters have viewed as an important push against attempts to deceive the public.
Kyoto Animation memorial marks 4 years since attack as trial looms
A memorial for the 36 people killed in the 2019 arson attack on anime studio Kyoto Animation Co was held on Tuesday, ahead of the start of the suspected culprit's trial in September.
Bereaved family members and the company's President Hideaki Hatta were among the roughly 150 people who attended the event, held at the site where the studio once stood in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward. Fans were asked to refrain from coming to the location to keep the solemn event private.
"No matter how many years pass, my feelings have not changed a bit. The sadness does not ease," Hatta told reporters after the ceremony, adding, "It was of great sorrow that we lost such talented peers. As a company, the damage has been enormous."
US soldier believed to be detained by North Korea after crossing border
An American believed to have been detained in North Korea after crossing the inter-Korean border during a tour is a US Army soldier, a US official told CNN on Tuesday.
He was detained during a Joint Security Area tour after crossing the demarcation line separating North and South Korea, according to the United Nations Command, which oversees the border area.
A US defense official said the service member is a junior enlisted soldier assigned to US Forces Korea and was not in uniform when he crossed into North Korea. The official also added that he was on a tour as a civilian.
Another US official said there was no indication the soldier was trying to defect.
Commonwealth Games: 2026 event in doubt after Victoria cancels
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are in doubt after the Australian state of Victoria cancelled its plans to host due to budget blowouts.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host before Victoria volunteered in April 2022.
But the premier said the projected cost had now tripled and become "well and truly too much" for the state to bear.
CGF called the decision "hugely disappointing" and said it is "committed to finding a solution".
The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport tournament that take place every four years. They have only ever been cancelled during World War Two.
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