Trump kicks off America's 250th anniversary celebrations with partisan attacks
US President Donald Trump opened celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States with a speech at Mount Rushmore, where he harshly attacked political opponents, describing them as a "communist threat" to the country.
He accused progressive Democrats and some immigrants of embracing ideas that conflict with American values, while promising to protect the country's identity and traditions.
The speech, delivered just months before the midterm elections, was criticized for its divisive tone and use of national celebrations for political messages.
Germany calls reports that Russian soldiers are training in China "deeply worrying"
Germany has urgently summoned the Chinese ambassador to Berlin after reports that Russian soldiers are training in China, calling it a "deeply worrying" development and a threat to European security.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have taken full control of the town of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, while a bomb attack in the Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least four people, including a child.
In other developments, Lithuania is considering lifting its constitutional ban on stationing nuclear weapons on its territory, while the World Athletics Federation confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will continue to be banned from international competitions.
El Niño is rapidly strengthening and is expected to bring more extreme weather
The El Niño climate phenomenon has returned and is expected to strengthen rapidly in the coming months, increasing the risk of heat waves, droughts and extreme rainfall in many parts of the world, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Experts stress that its impact in Europe will be more limited and is not the cause of the recent heat wave, although it could bring a wetter autumn and winter with more storms, as well as affect food supplies due to damage to agriculture in other countries.
Scientists warn that climate change remains the main factor behind extreme weather, while El Niño only amplifies the effects of an ever-warming planet.
An "extremely rare" copy of the US Declaration of Independence is discovered in the UK
An extremely rare copy of the United States Declaration of Independence has been discovered in the UK's National Archives, just before the 250th anniversary of the signing of the historic document.
The document was found during the cataloguing of the Royal Navy archives and is believed to be the only known copy to have been seized during a military operation, after an American ship was captured by the British navy in 1776.
Experts have described the discovery as extraordinary, stressing that it sheds light on the historical links between Britain and the American Revolution.
