Climate

Cooling logistics more important than tactics at Tour de France

Extreme heat dominates the Tour de France as riders face temperatures above 40C. Teams use ice vests, cooling mattresses, and hydration strategies to protect cyclists, while organizers provide ice, water, and supplies for riders and fans.

2 DAYS AGO

France powers down nuclear reactors over heatwave

France temporarily shuts down three nuclear reactors and reduces output at eight others as a heatwave raises river temperatures. More than 25 million people face extreme heat, while wildfires, event disruptions and drowning deaths increase nationwide.

3 DAYS AGO

Head of climate prediction services at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Wilfran Moufouma-Okia points on graphs displayed on computer screens at the WMO headquarters in Geneva, on June 1, 2026. (AFP)

El Nino set to be 'strong', UN warns

The UN's climate agency warns that a strong El Niño is expected to develop rapidly, increasing the risk of extreme weather, heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall worldwide.

July 3, 2026

World Bank drops climate finance targets in renewed action plan

The World Bank on Monday extended its climate change policy framework indefinitely but dropped its targets for the percentage of financing that must have climate-related impacts, according to a statement.

June 29, 2026

Residents of Warsaw cool off near a fountain in the city centre during the heatwave that has reached Poland on June 27, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Denmark records hottest day on record at 37 C: Weather service

The previous record temperature in the Scandinavian country was 36.4 C in August 1975.

June 27, 2026

Magnitude 6.1 quake hits Afghanistan: US Geological Survey

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes northeastern Afghanistan, shaking Kabul, several provinces and Pakistan's capital Islamabad, damaging buildings but causing no immediately reported casualties, as authorities assess the impact in the quake-prone region.

June 27, 2026

A man takes a shower on the beach along the "Promenade des anglais" on the French riviera city of Nice, on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

At least 193M in Europe to face temperatures above 35 C Saturday: AFP analysis

Germany is expected to be among the hardest hit, with some 82 million people forecast to see temperatures above 30 C on Saturday, including 75 million facing temperatures exceeding 35 C.

June 27, 2026

A woman shields herself from the sun during Pope Leo XIV's weekly general audience at St Peter's Square in the Vatican on June 24, 2026 (AFP)

Heat set to surpass 35°C for at least 94 million in Europe

More than 350 million people across Europe (excluding Turkey) are expected to experience temperatures above 30°C. That represents nearly two-thirds of the population, according to an analysis based on forecasts from the German weather service (DWD) and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre.

June 24, 2026

Swimmers jump from a bridge into the Canal Saint-Martin as France experiences a heatwave, in Paris on June 22, 2026 (AFP)

UK schools plan to close as Europe braces for record-breaking heatwave

The UK's meteorological office issued an extremely rare red heat warning -- only issued once before -- for Wednesday and Thursday, as temperatures could soar to 40C, unprecedented for the time of the year.

June 23, 2026