Deaths

• The United States launched bombing strikes against Iran to "swiftly punish" the regime for the deaths of two American soldiers. • In retaliation, Iran targeted Gulf states hosting U.S. troops, including a second attack within two days on a Kuwaiti power and water desalination plant. • The strike in Kuwait sparked a significant fire at a facility critical to the nation's infrastructure, as Kuwait relies on desalination for approximately 90% of its drinking water.

• UN human rights chief Volker Türk has issued an urgent appeal for calm in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir following unrest preceding regional elections. • The situation is occurring alongside a broader global trend of displacement driven by the war in Ukraine and unresolved regional conflicts. • Environmental factors, including extreme heat, droughts, and floods, are further exacerbating the movement of people and instability.

Australian government says it is ‘deeply frustrated’ and will continue to press for ‘real charges with teeth’ over deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-BowlesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government says it wants “real charges with teeth” over the fatal methanol poisoning of two teenage travellers in Laos, as authorities prepare to lay lesser charges that have been called “bitterly” disappointing.Melbourne travellers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, were backpacking through the south-east Asian nation in late 2024 when they were fatally poisoned with methanol while drinking at Nana backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng. Continue reading...

Since start of Trump’s second term, 14 Mexican immigrants have died in ICE custody and three in agency operationsMexico formally requested that US state attorneys general criminally investigate cases of immigrants who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody or during raids, the Mexican government said Tuesday.The request follows the death of Mexican immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Houston. Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term, 17 Mexican immigrants have died during immigration enforcement, 14 in ICE custody and three in agency operations. Continue reading...

Government, which provides significant portion of charity’s funding, is understood to have demanded an explanationThe charity Save the Children has angered the government with a social media post marking Keir Starmer’s impending exit from Downing Street.The organisation suggested on X that the outgoing prime minister was complicit in the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Israel-Gaza war. Continue reading...

The March 2025 marine disaster may be linked to a high number of dolphin deaths in the region, scientists sayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe number of dead dolphins washing up on South Australian beaches spiked in 2025, according to long-term data that reveals mortalities during the state’s devastating algal bloom were the highest in 12 years.Last year, at least 70 carcasses of common and bottlenose dolphins were found across South Australia, with a further 20 reported in 2026, including the recent death of a popular Port River dolphin known as Zoom. Continue reading...

Authorities confirm worst toll in more than 20 years as new extreme temperatures force early closure of Eiffel TowerNearly 100 people, the largest proportion of whom were young men, died by drowning in Germany last month, authorities have said, as extreme temperatures in western Europe that have been blamed for hundreds of excess deaths geared up again.In Germany’s worst death toll from drowning for more than two decades, 99 people died in June, according to official figures, after temperatures rose as high as 41.7C (107.1F) in some areas. Continue reading...

At least 43 killed and many wounded, including woman and child hurt at World Cup gathering in Los AngelesA weekend of celebrations as the US marked its semiquincentennial was marred by outbreaks of gun violence that claimed dozens of lives and left multiple other people wounded.Those hurt included a woman and a child among four shot during a gathering of Mexico soccer supporters in Los Angeles following their team’s World Cup elimination on Sunday night. Continue reading...

Temperatures could reach 44C in south-east Spain as fights break out in Paris supermarkets over air-conditioning unitsSpain and France are bracing for another possible heatwave that could bring temperatures of 44C (111F) over the coming days, as figures show that June’s extreme heat was responsible for more than 2,000 excess deaths in the two countries.Spain’s state meteorological agency, Aemet, said a mass of dry and very hot air would bring persistently high temperatures to much of Spain from Saturday, adding that temperatures in parts of the south-east could hit 42C to 44C on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• Europe experienced a devastating heatwave in 2026, resulting in 1,028 deaths in Spain alone. • The crisis highlighted critical infrastructure failures, as older hospital buildings struggled to maintain safe temperatures for patients. • This event underscores the increasing lethality of extreme weather patterns and the inadequacy of current healthcare facilities to handle heat stress.

Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exportsThe NHS will have to divert £45bn from essential services to pay for new medicines under the terms of the UK-US trade deal agreed last December, leading to more than 200,000 avoidable deaths of patients, analysis has found.Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports to the US avoid tariffs, and giving patients in England access to potentially life-extending drugs that would otherwise be denied. Continue reading...

• French politician Audrey Pulvar accused the United States of bearing "significant responsibility" for a severe European heatwave that resulted in approximately 1,300 deaths. • Pulvar criticized American journalists for complaining about France's lack of air conditioning, arguing that such critiques are ironic given the U.S.'s high carbon emissions. • The statement highlights the growing geopolitical tension regarding climate accountability and the disproportionate impact of global emissions on regional weather extremes.

• Europe is experiencing its worst recorded heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C across multiple countries and affecting approximately 200 million people. • Extreme peaks were recorded in Poland (40.5°C in Słubice, breaking a 105-year record) and Hungary (40.7°C in Budakalász), while Italy and Spain issued highest-level alerts. • The crisis has resulted in 1,300 deaths and caused widespread disruption, including halted train services, strained power grids, and significant agricultural losses.

• An unprecedented early summer heatwave in Europe has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths, according to BBC News. • Germany and 11 other EU member states, including Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands, are calling for a three-year suspension of new methane import regulations. • The push for suspension follows warnings from the US that cracking down on leaks and flares could jeopardize Europe's critical gas supplies.

• A severe heatwave has swept across Europe, with temperatures peaking at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) this past Sunday. • The extreme weather has resulted in more than 1,300 deaths across the continent, highlighting the vulnerability of various populations to rising temperatures. • In response, political figures are using the crisis to campaign; France's Marine Le Pen has proposed a "massive air conditioning plan" for vulnerable areas if elected.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has linked more than 1,300 excess deaths to a record-breaking heatwave currently sweeping across Europe. • Temperatures have climbed above 40°C in several countries, creating extreme environmental conditions across the region. • The surge in heat-related fatalities is placing significant mounting pressure on emergency services and hospital systems.

• The CDC reports that drug overdose deaths decreased by 13.2% over the most recent 12-month period. • Experts warn this progress is fragile due to the emergence of new synthetic drugs and the use of medetomidine. • Separately, a June 2026 clinical trial indicated that seniors with depression showed greater improvement when adding a daily probiotic to their antidepressant regimen compared to a placebo.

• The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of several prominent figures in 2026, including music executive Kanya King and artists such as Tay Keith and Clive Davis. • Kanya King, described by the MOBO Organisation as a "fearless champion," passed away surrounded by family and friends, leaving a legacy of cultural justice through her work with awards ceremonies. • The deaths mark a significant loss for Hollywood and the global music community, impacting various sectors from music production to broadcasting.

High commissioner for human rights calls for ‘those responsible for violations of the law’ to be held to accountUS politics live – latest updatesThe United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, on Friday raised the alarm internationally about deaths in US government immigration custody and called for “prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations”.Türk’s call came as the Trump administration faced investigations by watchdogs at its own Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into deaths and use of force against people detained in its expanding immigration detention system across the country. Continue reading...

• An early summer heat wave is sweeping across Europe, with France, Italy, Spain, and Britain experiencing significantly high temperatures. • France has been the most severely affected nation, reporting 40 drowning deaths as people sought relief from the heat in bodies of water. • The extreme weather is particularly concerning due to its early arrival in the season, putting immediate pressure on public health and safety infrastructure.

• France has reported 40 drowning deaths since last Thursday as a severe heatwave grips the region. • While temperatures on the Iberian peninsula are expected to decline starting Wednesday, the heat is shifting northward. • Record June heat is projected to peak in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands this Friday.

However, Imperial College team also find that pollution has worse health impact than previously understoodDeaths linked to air pollution fell by an estimated 40% in London over the five years from 2019, according to new analysis.The city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, welcomed what he called “overwhelming evidence” that his ultra-low emission zone was saving lives. Continue reading...

Temperatures could hit 38-40C in parts of England and Wales, smashing June record set in 1976; red alerts in France after 19 heat deathsTwo children found dead in car in France as heatwave hits EuropeWith temperatures forecast to reach 38-40C in parts of England and Wales, Britain’s national weather forecaster issued a rare red weather warning covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.These were reserved for the most severe events, the Met Office said, meaning this heatwave was expected to bring “severe and significant impacts” including widespread health risks for many – not just those who were normally more vulnerable to the heat – and even danger to life. Continue reading...

Outcry as experts from African and Asian countries – where mortality is highest – prevented from attending Portugal conference on preventionVisa rejections have threatened progress on mother and baby health after experts from struggling countries were barred from talks, global midwife leaders have said.Politicians, donors and UN agencies convened this week at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) congress in Lisbon, Portugal, a key conference to discuss the millions of avoidable mother and baby deaths every year.Emily Maclean is a midwife Continue reading...

A five-year-old girl was swept away and a woman was pulled into the water, prompting authorities to urge precautionMassive waves, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents are roiling the California coastline this week as authorities advise people to take precautions while visiting beaches following two deaths last week.Turbulent waters swept a five-year-old girl, who was walking with her mother and brother, out to sea from the shore of Treasure Island Beach in Orange county in southern California on Tuesday. Bystanders were able to rescue the mother and son, but the girl was not found and her body was recovered on Thursday. Continue reading...

• On June 2, 2026, the CDC issued a travel alert for seven Sub-Saharan African countries—Chad, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, and Somalia—following a severe diphtheria outbreak. • The alert follows alarming 2025 WHO data documenting 20,412 suspected cases and 1,252 deaths across Africa, highlighting a critical public health crisis. • The warning serves as a vital notice for travelers and unvaccinated Americans to ensure proper immunization before visiting the affected regions.

Senior medical staff call for solutions to tackle root causes of excess deaths amid tenfold increase in a decadeMore than 1,300 patients a month in England are dying needlessly due to long A&E waits, a tenfold rise in a decade, figures suggest.There were more than 300 deaths linked to long waits every week in 2025, up from 30 a week in 2015, according to analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Continue reading...

Dr David Jackson gave ‘effectively an unlimited supply for a drug binge’ to one addict, inquest findsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former medical practitioner who was the subject of multiple red flags played a direct role in the deaths of two patients through grossly irresponsible drug prescribing, a coroner has found.Nicholas Brown, Matthew Winwood, Toni Wiki and Belinda Kemp, who were all drug dependent, died in Tasmania between September 2016 and August 2017.In Australia, the Opioid Treatment Line is at 1800 642 428 or call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015. In the UK, Action on Addiction is available on 0300 330 0659. In the US, call or text SAMHSA’s National Helpline on 988 Continue reading...