A surge in Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon killed 31 people yesterday, Lebanon’s health ministry said, as Israel signaled it was stepping up its campaign despite a truce in the war with Hezbollah. At the same time, Hezbollah said its fighters were confronting Israeli troops who had moved into the southern town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, while the Israeli military said it was widening its ground offensive. In a statement, the health ministry said 31 people were killed in the attacks and 40 wounded, among them at least…

Europe is sweltering under an unusually early blast of heat, with forecasters warning that a powerful "heat dome" is driving temperatures far beyond what is typical for this point in the year. The surge came after a record-setting Monday, when France registered its hottest May day ever recorded, according to the national weather agency, while the UK also hit unprecedented highs. Meteorologists say the spike is being fuelled by a mass of hot air from northern Africa, trapped beneath a high-pressure system over western Europe…

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 26, 2026 — An International Rescue Committee (IRC) alert warns that a fast-moving Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC risks becoming the deadliest on record unless the international community acts immediately. In a Watchlist Flash Alert issued today, the IRC highlights three stark dangers: the epidemic is outpacing the response; persistent conflict and displacement are raising the chance of cross-border spread; and deep cuts to global aid have left health systems in eastern DRC far…

Days before turning 80, US President Donald Trump has undergone his annual medical examination, a routine presidential event unfolding against renewed scrutiny of his health. Mr Trump, the oldest person ever sworn in as president, has frequently contrasted his own physical and mental stamina with that of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. Still, his latest medical and dental evaluation at Walter Reed Military Hospital outside Washington comes as questions linger over reports that he has seemed drowsy in meetings and over…

A year after thieves pulled off a stunning robbery at the Louvre and vanished with jewellery valued at about $100 million (€88 million), the audacious crime is now heading to the big screen, according to a publisher. French filmmaker Romain Gavras — whose credits include the 2025 Hollywood film Sacrifice starring Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as music videos, most recently a hypnotic schoolboy choreography for GENER8ION — will take inspiration from the investigative book Main basse sur le Louvre (A grab at the Louvre). Flammarion…

Israel’s military has reportedly pushed deeper into southern Lebanon, with Israeli media saying troops have begun ground operations beyond the so-called "Yellow Line" — an area extending about 10km inside Lebanese territory. Until now, Israeli forces had been operating within the self-declared "Yellow Line", where they have carried out widespread demolitions even though a ceasefire has been in place since 17 April. "The IDF has begun ground operations north of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon," Israel's Kan public…

BP has removed Irish chairman Albert Manifold with immediate effect, saying today that the decision followed concerns over governance standards, oversight and conduct, just months after he was brought in to help steer a strategic reset. His exit, after roughly eight months in the role, adds to a turbulent period for the oil major, which has been rocked by scandal and repeated upheaval at the top. Less than three years ago, former BP chief executive Bernard Looney was dismissed after misleading the board about personal…

A dangerous chemical scare that forced tens of thousands from their homes in southern California eased on Sunday, with officials saying conditions had improved enough for many residents to return. Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said authorities were able to shrink the evacuation area after reviewing fresh data and consulting subject matter experts. "For those that remain impacted, I know this may be frustrating. That number is approximately 16,000 of you. Please understand that we are doing this for your safety, and…

A Spanish national evacuated from a cruise ship earlier this month and now quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid has tested positive for hantavirus, Spain's Health Ministry said, sharpening concern around an outbreak that began at sea. The case is the second positive result among 14 Spanish nationals flown to the Spanish island of Tenerife from the luxury liner MV Hondius. The ship was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was first reported to the…

Alarm is spreading beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Ebola outbreak gathers pace, with the head of the World Health Organization warning that neighbouring states face grave danger unless they move swiftly to contain the virus. "Countries bordering DRC are at especially high risk and should take immediate action," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said he would travel to the DRC tomorrow, heading to the vast central African nation at the heart of the current outbreak. "The outbreak is…