Middle East

Fires Are Devastating the Aude Region in Southern France
VideosFires Are Devastating the Aude Region in Southern France

The largest fire of the summer is ravaging the Aude Region, in southern France. Over 12,000 hectares have burned, with 15 municipalities affected in the Corbieres massif.    

Brazil: Why Lightning (Almost) Always Spares Christ the Redeemer
SpotlightBrazil: Why Lightning (Almost) Always Spares Christ the Redeemer

Standing 38 meters tall, arms outstretched atop Mount Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer watches over Rio de Janeiro. But this stone guardian, national symbol of Brazil, is also a prime target for lightning strikes. At nearly 710 meters above sea level and perched in isolation, the statue is struck an average of four to six times per year. During ...

The Art of Redistricting: How Gerrymandering Influences US Elections
ExplainerThe Art of Redistricting: How Gerrymandering Influences US Elections

Five additional seats in Texas, two in Ohio and one in Missouri – across the United States, Donald Trump is encouraging his allies to embrace gerrymandering, a political tactic designed to tilt congressional representation in favor of Republicans. “I won Texas,” he declared in a CNBC interview, insisting that Republicans “deserve five ...

Natural Disasters Caused $135 BN in Economic Losses in First Half of 2025
Natural Disasters Caused $135 BN in Economic Losses in First Half of 2025

Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, Swiss Re said Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that ...

Rodolphe Haykal in London: Military Cooperation and Regional Security
Rodolphe Haykal in London: Military Cooperation and Regional Security

The Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Rodolphe Haykal, took part for the first time in the annual meeting of the Dragon Group in the United Kingdom, at the invitation of his British counterpart, Admiral Tony Radakin. The Dragon Group is a strategic forum that brings together the chiefs of staff of the armed forces from several Gulf ...

Israel Defense Minister Says Army will Have to 'Execute' Govt Decisions on Gaza
Israel Defense Minister Says Army will Have to 'Execute' Govt Decisions on Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had a right to "express his views", but that the military would ultimately have to "execute" any government decisions on Gaza. Katz's statement on X came after reports in the Israeli media in recent days suggested that Zamir is opposed to a government plan to ...

Armenia to Meet with Azerbaijan, US in New Peace Bid
Armenia to Meet with Azerbaijan, US in New Peace Bid

The leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States will meet for a peace summit in Washington on August 7-8, the Armenian government's press office said Wednesday. Baku and Yerevan, sworn enemies for decades, went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, ...

Republicans and Democrats Go to 'War' Over US Election Map
HighlightRepublicans and Democrats Go to 'War' Over US Election Map

Donald Trump is pulling hard on the levers of power to strengthen Republicans through redistricting in Texas and other states -- the latest offensive in escalating moves by both sides to shape the battlefield of US democracy for the midterm elections. The president's efforts have lit a fuse in multiple states, triggering a high-stakes tussle over ...

Gaza Civil Defence Says 20 Killed by Overturned Aid Truck
Gaza Civil Defence Says 20 Killed by Overturned Aid Truck

Gaza's civil defence agency said Wednesday that 20 people were killed when an aid truck overturned on a crowd of aid seekers in the central Gaza Strip. "Twenty people were killed and dozens injured around midnight last night in a truck carrying aid overturned... while hundreds of civilians were waiting for aid," the agency's spokesperson Mahmud ...

India's Security Chief in Moscow After US Tariff Threats
India's Security Chief in Moscow After US Tariff Threats

India's national security adviser was in Moscow on Wednesday, media in New Delhi reported, after Washington threatened to hike US tariffs because of India's purchases of Russian oil. India is a major buyer of Russian oil, a key source of revenue for Moscow's military offensive on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was considering ...