Lead Story
Wildfires force 325,000 to flee France and Spain as new heatwave bears down
France and Spain raced Tuesday to bring monster wildfires under control before a fresh heatwave arrives later this week, with forecasters warning of temperatures up to 40°C (104°F). More than 220,000 people have been evacuated in southwest France's Gironde region, where a single blaze has burned roughly 42,000 hectares in one of the largest evacuations in French history, while around 100,000 have fled or sheltered in place in Spain's Madrid region, where about 28,000 hectares have burned. President Macron called a crisis meeting as officials noted France has already seen 3.4 times its annual average number of fires this year, and Spain 1.7 times its average, according to Copernicus data.
Read more →Lead Story
Wildfires force 325,000 to flee France and Spain as new heatwave bears down
France and Spain raced Tuesday to bring monster wildfires under control before a fresh heatwave arrives later this week, with forecasters warning of temperatures up to 40°C (104°F). More than 220,000 people have been evacuated in southwest France's Gironde region, where a single blaze has burned roughly 42,000 hectares in one of the largest evacuations in French history, while around 100,000 have fled or sheltered in place in Spain's Madrid region, where about 28,000 hectares have burned. President Macron called a crisis meeting as officials noted France has already seen 3.4 times its annual average number of fires this year, and Spain 1.7 times its average, according to Copernicus data.
UN rights chief says Israeli actions in Lebanon may amount to war crimes
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Monday, at the close of a four-day visit to Beirut, that his office had documented "large-scale violations of international humanitarian law, some possibly amounting to war crimes." He pointed to continued Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas that have caused heavy civilian casualties and "wholesale destruction" of homes since fighting resumed on March 2, which Lebanese authorities say has killed more than 4,300 people and injured over 12,200. Turk announced that an independent assessment mission has begun gathering evidence on alleged violations by all parties to the conflict.
Read more →UN rights chief says Israeli actions in Lebanon may amount to war crimes
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Monday, at the close of a four-day visit to Beirut, that his office had documented "large-scale violations of international humanitarian law, some possibly amounting to war crimes." He pointed to continued Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas that have caused heavy civilian casualties and "wholesale destruction" of homes since fighting resumed on March 2, which Lebanese authorities say has killed more than 4,300 people and injured over 12,200. Turk announced that an independent assessment mission has begun gathering evidence on alleged violations by all parties to the conflict.
Chad announces plan to withdraw from International Criminal Court
Chad said Monday it will begin withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, becoming the latest African nation after Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Venezuela to move toward exiting the Hague-based tribunal. Chadian authorities cited an in-depth review finding the court's effectiveness "limited and uneven," noting that 9 of its 13 open investigations concern Africa, and said the United States had pressed it to withdraw. The move comes days after ICC member states voted to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan over disputed sexual assault allegations, amid mounting US pressure on the court since it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in 2024.
Read more →Chad announces plan to withdraw from International Criminal Court
Chad said Monday it will begin withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, becoming the latest African nation after Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Venezuela to move toward exiting the Hague-based tribunal. Chadian authorities cited an in-depth review finding the court's effectiveness "limited and uneven," noting that 9 of its 13 open investigations concern Africa, and said the United States had pressed it to withdraw. The move comes days after ICC member states voted to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan over disputed sexual assault allegations, amid mounting US pressure on the court since it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in 2024.