Victoria battles major bushfires
Firefighters in Australia’s Victoria state are fighting at least six major bushfires. A record-breaking heatwave has worsened the situation. Two fires are burning at emergency level.
According to the international media, temperatures have reached historic highs across the state. One area recorded 48.9°C, while Melbourne hit 41°C. Authorities warn fires may spread quickly due to extreme heat and wind.
Emergency alerts have been issued for several communities. Officials urge residents to stay informed and follow safety advice. Health experts also warn of serious heat-related risks
India, EU finalise landmark trade deal, PM Modi says; calls it “mother of all deals”
India and the European Union have finalised a landmark trade deal that will represent a quarter of the world's economy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the U.S, Reuters reported.
After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market, the world's largest, to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.
"Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India," Modi said, according to Reuters.
French MPs take first step to ban social media for under-15s
France's National Assembly has taken a first step towards banning social media access for under-15s, a proposal backed by President Emmanuel Macron, BBC reported.
Lawmakers in the lower house on Monday agreed key elements of the bill, and are now expected to vote on the full text. The bill still needs to be approved by the upper house, the Senate.
If the legislation is passed, young teenagers would not be able to use networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, according to BBC.
New Iran videos show bodies piled in hospital and snipers on roofs
Verified videos emerging from Iran show bodies piled up in a hospital, snipers stationed on buildings and CCTV cameras being destroyed, following the unprecedented crackdown on protests earlier this month, BBC reported.
BBC Verify has been tracking the spread of protests across Iran since they first erupted in late December, but the near total internet blackout imposed by the authorities has made it extremely difficult to document the scale of the state's deadly crackdown on protesters.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has confirmed the killing of nearly 6,000 people, including 5,633 protesters, since the unrest began at the end of December. It says it is also currently investigating another 17,000 reported deaths received despite an internet shutdown after nearly three weeks, according to BBC.
