NATO’s summit in Washington, marking its 75th anniversary, was intended to celebrate the alliance’s enduring role in European security. However, it occurs amid political instability among key leaders and a challenging phase in the Ukraine war. European leaders are also concerned about the potential re-election of Donald Trump, who has questioned NATO commitments. President Biden faces calls to abandon his re-election bid, France’s Macron deals with a weakened centrist position, and new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is untested internationally.

Ava Sinclair 09/07/2024 1:00 am

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, complicating ties with Russia and pushing it closer to China. Modi met President Vladimir Putin at his residence and will hold talks at the Kremlin. Modi last visited Russia in 2019 and met Putin in 2022 at a summit. Modi expressed hopes of deepening the strategic partnership between India and Russia, sharing photos and videos of their meeting, including a buggy ride and a horse show.

Ava Sinclair 08/07/2024 11:30 pm

Hundreds of flights were canceled Monday due to Hurricane Beryl making landfall in Texas, with around 3,500 flights delayed. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport saw nearly 600 cancellations, and William P. Hobby Airport had 165. United Airlines canceled 486 flights, and Southwest 346. Beryl, initially a Category 1 hurricane, weakened to a tropical storm but still poses flooding risks. Rainfall in Houston reached 2-3 inches per hour, potentially totaling 12 inches. Beryl is expected to move through eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley. United is waiving change fees for affected passengers.

Liam Harrington 08/07/2024 10:00 pm

For 12 consecutive months, global temperatures have been over 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels. June marked the 13th straight month of record-high temperatures, averaging 16.66C, which is 0.67 degrees Celsius above the 30-year average. This broke the previous record for the hottest June, set a year earlier, according to the European climate service Copernicus.

Ava Sinclair 08/07/2024 7:01 pm

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Beijing, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for a global push for a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire and praised Orban’s diplomatic efforts. Meanwhile, Russian missiles struck Ukrainian cities, killing at least 31 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged global pressure to stop Russia’s aggression. Orban’s visit followed trips to Kyiv and Moscow, drawing Western criticism for pressuring Ukraine to cede territory. EU officials disavowed Orban’s actions, stating he was not authorized to conduct diplomacy for the EU.

Noah Prescott 08/07/2024 7:00 pm

President Joe Biden faces dual challenges at the NATO summit in Washington: advocating for global alliances amid rising populism and demonstrating vigor domestically after a poor debate performance. The summit, a friendly forum for Biden, aims to bolster Ukraine against Russia with new air defense systems and progress toward NATO membership. Biden seeks to maintain the pro-Ukraine coalition and stave off calls from Democrats to drop out of the presidential race. The event marks his first major stage since the debate, without the strain of overseas travel.

Penelope Kingsley 08/07/2024 7:00 pm

Tropical Storm Beryl is currently sweeping through Texas, causing power outages for over a million homes and businesses in the Houston area. The storm surge in Galveston could reach up to seven feet. Beryl is the first storm of the hurricane season to make landfall in the U.S., having already caused significant damage in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Noah Prescott 08/07/2024 7:00 pm

A Russian missile strike partially destroyed Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, causing patients and families to flee. The attack was part of a broader daytime assault across Ukraine, killing at least 31 and injuring 125. In Kyiv, 20 people died and 61 were injured, including two deaths and 10 injuries at the hospital. The facility, crucial for treating sick children, saw its intensive care, oncology, and surgery units damaged. Volunteers and officials are working to rescue people trapped under the rubble.

Ava Sinclair 08/07/2024 4:00 pm

French President Emmanuel Macron refused Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation, asking him to stay temporarily after chaotic election results left the government in limbo. French voters split the legislature among the left, center, and far right, preventing any faction from forming a majority. This outcome risks paralyzing the EU’s second-largest economy just weeks before the Paris Olympics. Macron’s snap election gamble backfired, but the French stock market quickly recovered after an initial drop, as markets had feared a far-right or leftist coalition victory.

Noah Prescott 08/07/2024 4:00 pm

Rafah, Gaza, once home to over a million people, is now largely destroyed with buildings reduced to rubble and sporadic gunfire. NBC News, guided by Israeli forces, gained rare access to the city amid cease-fire negotiations. Israel restricts independent foreign journalist entry into Gaza, requiring NBC to share raw footage with the IDF but not written reports. The convoy entered through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, traveling along the Philadelphi Corridor near Egypt. Rafah is now nearly deserted, with most buildings leveled.

Ava Sinclair 08/07/2024 2:30 pm