Europe is enduring another extreme heat wave that threatens public health and increases the risk of wildfires.
Italian meteorologists have dubbed this latest heat wave “Charon,” named after the ferryman in Greek mythology responsible for guiding souls to the underworld.
The previous month marked the hottest June on record globally, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
This unprecedented heat has persisted into July. Preliminary data from the World Meteorological Organization indicates that the first week of July was the hottest week recorded.
As a consequence, the scorching conditions have created an environment conducive to wildfires. In Greece, over 500 firefighters are currently battling four significant wildfires, while notable fires rage in Italy and Spain.
Noteworthy Events from the Past Week
Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title on Sunday, July 16. This intense five-set match lasted nearly five hours, making Alcaraz the third-youngest Wimbledon champion in the Open era.Members of the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America picket outside Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles on Friday, July 14. This marks the first simultaneous strike of Hollywood actors and writers in over 60 years, causing a significant halt in film and television production.Divers practice at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, on Tuesday, July 18.A firefighter works at a site of an administrative building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Odesa, Ukraine, on Thursday, July 20. Ukraine continues to defend against a wave of Russian strikes.Norway goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen reacts after New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson scores against her during the Women’s World Cup opener on Thursday, July 20. New Zealand achieved its first-ever win at a Women’s World Cup by defeating Norway 1-0.
Ongoing Global Challenges
Police attempt to disperse demonstrators outside the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, July 20. The protest revolved around plans to burn the Quran outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm.Fireworks illuminate the night sky near the Eiffel Tower in Paris during France’s annual Bastille Day celebrations on Friday, July 14.Markéta Vondroušová celebrates her victory after winning Wimbledon on Saturday, July 15, becoming the first unseeded woman to triumph in the tournament during the Open Era.Golden retrievers from around the world gather for a group photo on the front lawn of Guisachan House, their ancestral home in the Scottish Highlands, on Thursday, July 13.People observe as a sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the ocean after being released by conservationists in La Sabana, Venezuela, on Sunday, July 16.Law enforcement officials investigate the residence of Rex Heuermann in Massapequa Park, New York, on Friday, July 14. Heuermann was arrested and charged with murder related to the killings of three members of the “Gilgo Four.”Soccer superstar Lionel Messi poses with his new jersey during his introduction to Inter Miami fans on Sunday, July 16. Messi signed with the Major League Soccer club through the end of the 2025 season.Pallbearers carry the coffin of Christine King Farris, the eldest sister of Martin Luther King Jr., at her funeral service in Atlanta on Sunday, July 16. Farris was a founding board member and long-time volunteer of the King Center.A hippopotamus enjoys frozen watermelon as a refreshing treat at the Bioparco zoo in Rome on Saturday, July 15.Activists utilize arm tubes to create a blockade at the entrance to the Israeli army headquarters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, July 18, in protest against the government’s renewed efforts to reform the judicial system.The Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 successfully blasts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, on Friday, July 14. India aspires to achieve a controlled landing on the moon.Workers harvest onions overnight in Salem, New Mexico, on Tuesday, July 18, to avoid extreme heat during the day. Millions of Americans have been affected by a deadly heat wave.Armed police stand guard near a construction site in Auckland, New Zealand, following a shooting incident on Thursday, July 20, that resulted in three fatalities.Cyclists are observed in the rear-view mirror of a car during the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, July 20. The stage commenced in Moûtiers.Anti-government protesters clash with police in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday, July 19. The country has experienced prolonged social unrest and political instability following the removal of former President Pedro Castillo.Performers entertain the crowd during the opening ceremony of the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, July 20, taking place in New Zealand and Australia until August 20.A man navigates a flooded alley in New Delhi on Friday, July 14. Heavy rainfall in northern India has led to flash floods and landslides, claiming numerous lives.Families observe forensics workers as they recover bodies from a mudslide in El Naranjal, Colombia, on Tuesday, July 18.On a hot day in Beirut, Lebanon, people jump into the Mediterranean Sea to cool off on Sunday, July 16.
