Races

Somosierra will be prime spot to view celestial alignment on 12 August, an event that poses logistical challengesLittle stirs in the mountains above Somosierra beyond the wind that lashes the flat peaks, the cows that graze on parched grass and the sun that beats down on the abandoned aerodrome where generations of glider pilots learned to ride air currents alongside squadrons of vultures and red kites.But all this stillness will disappear, albeit temporarily, on the evening of 12 August, when swathes of northern and eastern Spain and the Balearic islands experience a total solar eclipse, the likes of which has not been seen here for more than 120 years. Continue reading...

• Democratic candidate El-Sayed is challenging incumbent Stevens in a Michigan primary race, focusing on critical policy differences regarding foreign aid. • El-Sayed has condemned Stevens for supporting continued military funding for Israel and criticized the millions in spending by AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project. • Aligning with progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, El-Sayed is campaigning against corporate political influence and accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

• Primary elections are taking place across five states, including Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Washington, and Michigan. • In Michigan, the Democratic Senate primary features a key contest between Representative Haley Stevens and public health official Abdul El-Sayed. • Kansas voters are deciding on a conservative-led proposal to elect state Supreme Court justices instead of having them appointed by the governor.

Soaring temperatures continue to sweep parts of Europe, while Okinawa faces powerful winds and storm surgesEurope live – latest updatesUnbearable, record-breaking heat has dominated the summer of 2026 across much of Europe. New records were set in central Europe last week, with Wieselburg in Austria registering a new July peak of 40.3C (104.5F). This is particularly significant as it is just 0.2C behind the all-time high, set in the August of 2003.However, not all of the northern hemisphere has experienced extreme heat and aridity. Vancouver recorded its wettest July since 2016 and the third wettest since 2008, with 33.6mm of rain. While that total may not appear exceptional, it is only a touch above the 1991-2020 climate average, highlighting how unusually dry July has been in the Canadian city over the past decade. Continue reading...

• Wall Street investors are awaiting the release of the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report on August 7 and upcoming corporate earnings to determine the market's next direction. • Markets are currently navigating significant volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's future interest rate policies. • The situation is critical because the Federal Reserve's most recent communication failed to provide a clear roadmap for monetary policy, leaving stocks without a definitive outlook.

Temperatures up to 35C forecast, triggering heat health alerts and pleas to take care in parched parks and rural areasParamedics and firefighters are braced for emergencies across the country this week after UK forecasters predicted a fourth heatwave of the year.Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 35C by Wednesday, triggering heat health alerts and an appeal from fire chiefs to take care in parched parks and rural areas. Continue reading...

• House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries launched the "Fighting for an Affordable America" agenda, marking the start of the 100-day countdown to the midterm elections. • The battle for House control is expected to be decided by just 20 key races, with Pennsylvania identified as a critical "swingy" state. • These elections serve as a referendum on the Trump administration's second term, specifically focusing on economic policies and military actions against Iran.