A fast-moving wildfire is burning in British Columbia, Canada. Officials declared a state of emergency as thousands of people had to leave their homes, and the fire has doubled in size since Friday.
Key Facts
The wildfire is still out of control as of Monday.
Officials do not yet know how many homes have been destroyed.
The fire spread quickly, forcing many people to evacuate.
A state of emergency was declared in the affected areas.
The fire started on Friday and has doubled in size since then.
The wildfire is in western Canada, specifically in British Columbia.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected a US-supported plan to ease the conflict in Gaza, even though he had been negotiating parts of it earlier. He faces pressure from far-right politicians wanting a stronger military approach and from the US, led by President Donald Trump, which wants a peaceful settlement.
Key Facts
Netanyahu dismissed a US-backed 15-point plan for Gaza that included Hamas giving up weapons.
Far-right Israeli politicians want to increase attacks and build settlements in Gaza.
President Trump supports a peace plan aiming for Palestinian control of Gaza.
Netanyahu surprised Israeli military leaders by publicly rejecting the plan after earlier private talks.
A proposed international force to replace the Israeli military in parts of southern Gaza has not yet been established.
US military officials have urged Israel to end conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
Netanyahu has, at times, limited military operations in response to US requests despite domestic political pressure.
Israeli elections are approaching in late October, influencing Netanyahu’s public statements and actions.
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Italian police arrested businessman Valter Lavitola for allegedly planning a bomb attack on investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci near Rome last year. The explosion damaged Ranucci’s cars and gate, but he was not hurt, and police believe he did not know about the plan.
Key Facts
Valter Lavitola, linked to former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is accused of ordering the bombing.
The attack happened outside Ranucci’s home in Pomezia, about 12 miles south of Rome.
Lavitola allegedly hired Tavares Gomes Clesio, who then recruited four men to plant the bomb.
The four men were arrested near Naples in June; police continue searching for Gomes.
Ranucci is a journalist known for investigative reports on corruption and the mafia and has had police protection since 2021.
Lavitola reportedly believed the attack would increase Ranucci’s public profile to help a possible political career.
Ranucci was not involved in the planning and was unharmed in the attack.
The bombing happened on the anniversary of the killing of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, known for similar investigations.
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A top Pentagon official asked U.S. allies in Asia to spend more on their own defense to help stop aggression in the region. He said the United States will stay involved in Asia and work alongside its partners as equals, not as countries they protect.
Key Facts
Elbridge Colby, a U.S. undersecretary of defense, spoke in the Philippines and will visit other Southeast Asian countries.
The U.S. remains committed to its presence in Asia despite current focus on the Middle East.
The Pentagon wants a strong balance of power in Asia to keep the region stable.
The U.S. has a treaty to defend the Philippines if it faces armed attacks, including in the South China Sea.
China claims most of the South China Sea, causing long-standing disputes with several Asian countries.
The U.S. calls for Asian countries to modernize their military and share responsibility for their own security.
The goal is to build partnerships based on equality, not to take full responsibility for allies’ defense.
The Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and others are working to improve their defense and hold joint exercises with the U.S.
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Duane "Keffe D" Davis is going on trial in Las Vegas for the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis is accused of using a deadly weapon and helping a criminal gang in the killing, but prosecutors are not claiming he fired the gun himself.
Key Facts
The trial begins with jury selection in Clark County District Court, Las Vegas.
Tupac Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, and died six days later.
Shakur was in a car with music producer Suge Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up and shots were fired.
Davis was arrested in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors say Davis made calls that led to the shooting and supplied the gun used.
Davis co-wrote a memoir detailing his role but does not name who fired the gun.
The suspected shooter, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, died in 1998 and was never charged.
The trial is expected to include 35 to 45 witnesses, including Shakur’s family and former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman.
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A couple from Texas, Jeff and Janice Ivey, decided to move permanently to Wrexham, Wales, after being inspired by the documentary series "Welcome to Wrexham" about the local football club. They visited Wrexham several times, grew fond of the community and its working-class roots, and are now settling there while engaging in local activities.
Key Facts
Jeff and Janice Ivey are from New Braunfels, Texas, and are moving to Wrexham, Wales.
They discovered Wrexham through the Disney documentary "Welcome to Wrexham," which features actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney owning the local football club.
Their interest began when buying merchandise from a local band, which led to an ongoing email exchange and a visit suggestion.
Jeff has UK citizenship through Scottish ancestry and is currently looking for a home in Wrexham, while Janice is selling their US home and awaiting her visa.
Both have connections to industrial, working-class backgrounds similar to Wrexham’s history in mining and manufacturing.
They volunteered locally and support Wrexham AFC, planning to attend team matches regularly.
Their decision to move was helped by long visits and a careful list comparing pros and cons.
Their adult children support the move and are eager to visit them in Wales.
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Thousands of young people protested in Jharkhand, India, over alleged cheating and unfairness in government job exams. Police used water cannons, teargas, and batons to stop the protest, leading to injuries on both sides. Protesters want an independent investigation into the exam irregularities.
Key Facts
The protest happened in Jharkhand, one of India’s poorest states, where unemployment is very high.
Protesters accuse officials of exam leaks and cheating in government job recruitment.
Police used force, including water cannons and batons, to control the crowd near the state legislature.
Protesters want an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an independent agency.
More than 640,000 people applied for 2,025 jobs in one recent Jharkhand recruitment.
The state government, led by a party allied with the opposition, is negotiating with protesters and says most demands are accepted.
A former Jharkhand public service commission chair was arrested for exam fraud, and three commission members resigned.
Young Indians are frustrated by corruption, lack of good jobs, and cheating in competitive exams, especially since most of India’s population is under 35.
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Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is in perfect health. During a recent seven-hour meeting, Khamenei spoke about the need for unity and cooperation in the country.
Key Facts
Iran’s Supreme Leader is Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
He has not made any public appearances since becoming the supreme leader.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reported that Khamenei is in perfect health.
A recent meeting involving Khamenei lasted seven hours.
During the meeting, Khamenei talked about unity and cohesion in Iran.
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The movie *Cookie Queens*, executive-produced by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, follows young Girl Scouts during their cookie-selling season and has received mostly positive reviews. While the film has earned a high score on Rotten Tomatoes, some critics feel it lacks depth and compare it to a reality show.
Key Facts
*Cookie Queens* is a documentary about four Girl Scouts aged 5 to 12 selling cookies over six weeks.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are the executive producers of the film.
The movie premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was released in theaters recently.
It received a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews, with an average score of 7.3 out of 10.
Some critics praised the honesty and charm of the film, while others said it felt staged and shallow.
Variety described the movie as too much like a reality show and criticized its lack of historical background.
The Boston Globe offered a more positive view, highlighting the film’s mix of sweetness and honesty.
This movie has better ratings compared to other projects by Meghan and Harry, such as their Netflix biopic *Harry & Meghan*.
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Barack Obama will host a new podcast called "A Great Book with Barack Obama" starting September 24 on Audible. In six episodes, he will talk about important books that shaped his views and discuss them with guests.
Key Facts
The podcast is produced by Audible and Obama’s company, Higher Ground.
It will feature six books, including works by Toni Morrison, John le Carré, and James Baldwin.
Obama says these books helped him understand himself and the world better.
Guests for the podcast episodes have not been announced yet.
Obama has shared favorite books publicly through reading lists for several years.
Most books on the podcast were published in the 20th century, except one from 2004.
Obama met one author, Marilynne Robinson, personally and honored her with a medal in 2012.
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A man named Duane "Keffe D" Davis will go on trial in Las Vegas for the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis is accused of murder with a deadly weapon to support a criminal gang and denies the charges. The case is tied to gang rivalries and conflicts in the hip-hop world of the 1990s.
Key Facts
Tupac Shakur was shot in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996, and died six days later.
Duane "Keffe D" Davis, a former gang leader, was charged in 2023 with Tupac's murder.
Davis faces life in prison without the chance of parole if found guilty.
The case involves ongoing rivalries between the Bloods and Crips gangs and East Coast vs West Coast rap conflicts.
Tupac was shot after attending a Mike Tyson boxing match and after an attack on Orlando Anderson, a gang member.
Davis co-authored a book that contains key evidence, but he says parts of it are fictional.
The trial could include testimony from celebrities like Suge Knight, the former head of Death Row Records.
Tupac was a cultural icon known for his activism, acting, and influential hip-hop music.
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A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia, killing at least 47 people and damaging many buildings. The quake's center was near San Jose del Palmar, and it caused destruction in several cities, also shaking nearby Ecuador.
Key Facts
The earthquake measured 7.4 on the Richter scale.
It struck near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, about 250 miles west of Bogota.
At least 47 people have died, and many buildings collapsed.
Tremors were felt in neighboring Ecuador.
The quake occurred at a depth of 66 miles.
Aftershocks of magnitude 2.8 and 4.8 followed the main quake.
This was the strongest earthquake in Colombia in the last 10 years.
President Abelardo de la Espriella is leading the government response.
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July was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 76.89°F. This was 3.3°F warmer than the average from 1901 to 2000 and beat the previous record from 1936.
Key Facts
The data comes from NOAA and covers U.S. temperatures back to 1895.
All continental U.S. states were hotter than usual in July.
"Heat domes" trapped warm air, causing extreme heat events in different regions.
Climate change makes extreme heat events more common and stronger.
Patterns like El Niño also affect the weather and heat events.
NOAA expects most of the U.S. to stay warmer than usual through August.
2026 could become the hottest year on record worldwide.
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The podcast episode discusses several topics including Andy Burnham's plan to ban misleading subscription services that trap customers, a meeting between UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio, and the extradition of Daniel Kinahan, an alleged cartel boss, from Dubai to Dublin.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is proposing a ban on so-called “subscription traps” to help with the cost of living.
The episode features a discussion with guests Caitriona Perry and Joe Pike, plus a live audience.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband met with U.S. politician Marco Rubio.
Daniel Kinahan, suspected of cartel activity, was extradited from Dubai to a court in Dublin.
The episode was recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
The podcast is hosted by Adam Fleming and produced by a BBC team.
Listeners can access the episode on smart speakers by using voice commands.
The Newscast podcast covers daily political news analysis.
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El Niño is expected to change the weather in the U.S. this fall, causing more rain in some areas, drought in others, and warmer temperatures in parts of the country. Weather forecasts show different effects depending on the region, including risks of flooding and changes in the timing of fall seasons.
Key Facts
A strong El Niño will influence U.S. weather patterns this fall.
The Southwest, including California and Arizona, is forecast to have wetter-than-normal conditions.
The Pacific Northwest and parts of the Great Lakes to the Northeast are expected to be drier than usual.
Warmer-than-average temperatures are predicted for the northern Plains, upper Midwest, Southeast coast, and Florida.
The fall transition into colder weather will be slower in much of the eastern U.S. and Pacific Northwest.
The best fall leaf colors are expected in the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and parts of the Pacific Northwest coast.
Harvest conditions look good in the central Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast but worse in the southern U.S., including Texas and the Deep South.
Severe drought risk is highest in the interior West, including Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
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The U.K. and France are preparing for their fifth heat wave of the season, with temperatures expected to reach up to 40°C (104°F) in southeastern France and 36°C (96.8°F) in England. This intense heat comes during Western Europe’s third hottest year on record so far, driven by human-caused climate change and a strong El Niño weather pattern.
Key Facts
The U.K. and France are expecting a new heat wave starting Tuesday, with very high temperatures forecast.
France could see temperatures near 40°C (104°F), while England could reach 36°C (96.8°F).
This summer marks the third hottest year globally on record so far, with 2024 and 2025 being the hottest.
A combination of climate change and El Niño is increasing the chance that 2026 may become the hottest year ever.
Western Europe set a new temperature record for June-July, with an average of 21.62°C (70.92°F).
France recorded its hottest day ever on June 23, with 44.3°C (111.7°F) in the southwest.
The heat has caused more than 5,700 extra deaths in France since June and forced 220,000 people to evacuate due to wildfires.
The U.K. is experiencing drought conditions with the driest July recorded since 1836 in some areas, and has had over 2,800 deaths linked to heat waves this summer.
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A strong earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit western Colombia on Monday. The quake caused at least 47 deaths and damaged many buildings in several cities.
Key Facts
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4.
It struck western Colombia.
At least 47 people were killed.
Many buildings collapsed in different cities.
The event happened on Monday.
The earthquake caused significant damage across the affected region.
Emergency responses are likely underway due to the destruction.
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The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began in February but was officially declared in May, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is spreading quickly with over 4,200 cases and 1,900 deaths reported, and it is occurring in difficult conditions with no approved vaccine specifically for this strain.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak started months before it was officially announced in mid-May.
Early cases were often mistaken for malaria or typhoid.
There are about 4,200 confirmed cases and at least 1,900 deaths in the DRC.
This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments.
The more common Ebola tests delayed early detection because they do not identify this rare strain.
Health workers face challenges like strikes, lack of protective gear, rebel threats, and misinformation.
The WHO recommended full-scale trials of the Ervebo vaccine, which works for another Ebola strain but may offer some protection against Bundibugyo.
Ebola spreads through contact with body fluids and contaminated items and is highly contagious and deadly.
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Palestinians in Gaza responded with doubt and frustration after Israel rejected a US-backed plan to end the war and create a future framework. The plan included steps like a gradual Israeli troop withdrawal and disarmament of Hamas. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Key Facts
The proposed 15-point plan is supported by the United States.
It calls for phased Israeli withdrawal and gradual disarmament of Hamas.
The plan also includes Palestinian-led civilian government and humanitarian aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan, insisting on Hamas’s full disarmament first.
Palestinians expressed skepticism, noting ongoing Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire deal from October.
Since October 2023, over 73,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.
Hamas claims it is committed to the plan and urges international actors to support enforcement.
Gaza’s government blamed Netanyahu for reversing negotiation efforts and called for international pressure to avoid escalation.
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A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia, killing at least 24 people and causing buildings to collapse in several cities. Rescue teams are searching for survivors, and authorities have suspended airport services in multiple areas while responding to the emergency.
Key Facts
The earthquake’s center was near San José del Palmar, Colombia.
At least 24 people died, with most fatalities in the city of Pereira.
In Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed, trapping many people.
Three children died in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located.
The governor of Chuco reported injuries and severe damage in Quibdo.
Seven airports in different cities stopped their services due to the earthquake.
Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella is coordinating emergency efforts.
The U.S. says it is closely watching the situation and ready to help Colombia.
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