The United States has recorded its hottest summer ever, as intense heat and drought affected broad areas of the country. Between June and August, the average temperature across the contiguous United States reached 23.6 degrees Celsius (74.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to figures released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday. The seasonal average was 1.7C (3F) above the 20th-century norm and 0.2C (0.4F) warmer than the former record, which had been shared by

The area around an apartment building often becomes a source of disputes between neighbors, especially when it comes to parking near the entrance. Some residents believe that the space beneath their windows belongs to them, but the right to use the yard is not determined by the floor where a person lives or the location of their apartment. The rules depend on the legal status of the land, the building’s shared property, and decisions made by co-owners. Who owns the yard of an apartment

A new study suggests that babies born to mothers with anaemia may have smaller brains, especially in areas involved in movement, learning and emotional control. Scientists said the differences were visible by the time infants reached one year old and may contribute to difficulties with thinking and learning once children begin school. Anaemia affects more than one in three pregnant women around the world. It is often caused by iron deficiency, which reduces the number of healthy red blood cells

Well-known Ukrainian TV presenter Solomiia Vitvitska, who is preparing to become a mother for the first time very soon, has shared new details about her pregnancy at the age of 46. The presenter traditionally spoke with her Instagram followers and answered the questions that interested them most. In particular, Solomiia revealed how many kilograms she has gained during this special period. The host is currently in her 39th week of pregnancy. "I actually had some reserves even before

This week in travel news: Italian pastries are causing a stir, a university city makes a compelling case for pizza, and younger Britons are moving away from the classic evening at the pub. Buon appetito! Italy is celebrated for rich regional cooking and irresistible sweets, with visitors happily queuing for gelato across the country. Yet one Italian specialty can receive less attention than it deserves: the humble pastry. Now, one fluffy treat has become a major draw for travelers, frustrating

On 7 September 1978 in London, Georgi Markov was struck by an umbrella in an attack widely believed to have been a political poisoning linked to the KGB. He died four days later. In the following year, Markov’s widow and older brother told the BBC programme Panorama that they had received warnings about a planned murder only months earlier from an unidentified caller. "He felt a sharp jab in his thigh. When he turned around, there was a man behind him who apologised and picked up an

An Egyptian court has handed down death sentences to a prominent television host and 11 co-defendants over accusations of producing and trafficking narcotics in a major drug case, state media reported on Saturday. The presenter, 39-year-old Sarah Khalifa, became widely known through her programme Mission Impossible, which focused on security matters and criminal cases. State-affiliated newspaper Al-Ahram reported that a Cairo court sentenced “Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging”

US special representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss possible ways to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, in their first trip to Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The discussions on Sunday followed a meeting the two envoys held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow a day earlier. Recommended Stories • list 1 of 3How important are the Yemeni government’s recent military advances against the

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday as part of an effort to restart peace talks with Ukraine after nearly eight months of deep stagnation. The visit was the eighth trip to Russia by representatives of US President Donald Trump. Their previous visit took place in January, and negotiations had largely remained frozen since then as the US administration shifted much of its attention to the war with Iran. Putin opened the Kremlin

Russian forces have struck the city of Kamianske in Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, killing five people and wounding another five, regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said. The attack on Saturday took place as US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday carrying a proposal intended to help bring the war to an end. Recommended Stories • list 1 of 4Russian

Malaysia has announced a state of emergency in a district of Sarawak after haze from wildfires in nearby Indonesia pushed air pollution to levels considered hazardous. King Sultan Ibrahim “has given his consent for an emergency to be declared across Serian Division, Sarawak, following haze conditions that have reached levels dangerous to public health and safety,” the office of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday. Recommended Stories • list 1 of 3Malaysia’s former leader Ismail Sabri

The Dutch central bank confirmed this week that it had shifted tonnes of the country’s gold reserves away from North America, saying the move would leave it “better prepared for severe crises”. About 86 tonnes from roughly 313 tonnes previously held in the US and Canada were moved to London, citing rising geopolitical tensions. The aim was to ensure the gold would be easier to access should an emergency arise. The announcement naturally raised questions. Why had the Netherlands chosen to act

From nostalgic 1950s landmarks to stylish glamping retreats, a growing number of stays are breathing new life into one of America’s most beloved traditions, giving travellers a final taste of summer cinema under the stars. At the Frontier Drive-Inn, guest rooms come without televisions. The reason, the property jokes, is that southern Colorado’s largest screen is waiting just beyond the door. That screen is a remnant of the Frontier’s original incarnation as a drive-in theatre. It opened in

When people imagine scientific research, they often picture lab coats, microscopes and sophisticated machines. In practice, though, science can take place in far less conventional settings. Across the globe, researchers are pursuing unusual questions in unexpected ways — including carefully pressing different areas of a venomous snake to determine which actions are most likely to provoke it into biting a person. That project was among 10 studies recognized Thursday at the Ig Nobel awards, which

Russia will close German cultural institutions across the country, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Thursday. The decision follows Berlin’s accusation that Moscow was behind an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, as well as Germany’s decision to shut the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Western governments have repeatedly accused Moscow of carrying out sabotage and disruption operations intended to weaken support for Ukraine and create

A bus crash in southern Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula has killed 21 people and left another 29 injured. The area is well known among visitors, particularly those interested in diving and snorkelling. The accident occurred on the road connecting Dahab and Nuweiba, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Health. Dahab lies around 80 kilometres north of Sharm El-Sheikh. South Sinai is a major tourism destination, attracting travellers with Red Sea resorts, beaches and a wide range of water activities. Dr Ahmed

A new study has concluded that nearly one in two farmers worldwide experiences pesticide poisoning each year. Drawing on publicly available evidence collected between 2006 and 2023, the research, commissioned by Pesticide Action Network, estimated that 402 million to 433 million farmers and agricultural workers suffer unintentional acute pesticide poisoning annually. With the global farming population estimated at 934 million people, the findings suggest that around 46% are affected each year.

Tschabalala Self is strikingly upbeat and determinedly hopeful. The American artist is preparing for the unveiling of Lady in Blue, her new work for the fourth plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square: a monumental, vividly painted bronze figure of a black woman moving confidently into the future. Self speaks with certainty about the sculpture, despite the experience she had with her previous public artwork in Britain. “Yes,” she says from her home in upstate New York. “That was an openly racist

For almost three decades, a corner of Sonoma County belonged to Tsarist Russia, leaving a little-known but important mark on the history of the United States. The journey from San Francisco to Fort Ross takes roughly two hours, tracing a spectacular route north along the California coast. Once the fog around the Golden Gate had faded behind me, the road carried me past dry vineyards and towards Sonoma’s isolated shoreline. I opened the car windows. On one side, the land dropped sharply into the

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Two decades after its last outing, Capcom’s fiercely stylish action series is back. Samurai master Miyamoto Musashi faces armies of fighters and monstrous demons across Edo-era Kyoto. Learn its demanding swordplay before plunging into a storm of clashing steel, flying limbs and spectacular sprays of blood. 4 September; PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Screenbound Described as gaming’s first 5D platformer, Screenbound asks players to explore a 3D environment while also