3 Jul 2025 The hilltop weather station in Telegrafenberg, Germany, has faithfully measured the elements since 1893, clocking key climate data without pause through two world wars and the splitting of the country into east and west. On Tuesday, July 1, it announced that rainfall levels in the first half of this year were the lowest it had seen in its 132-year history.

When it comes to coral, the Great Barrier Reef steals the global limelight. It’s a bucket-list place for many and, when it gets hit by coral bleaching, it makes news around the world. But Australia has another group of spectacular reefs on the west of the continent. Many of them had managed to escape the worst of global heating, until the worst marine heatwave ever recorded for this region.

At the end of July Trump was back in Scotland and fulminated once again about wind energy. “Wind is a disaster,” the US president said in a press conference at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland, beside a doleful-looking Keir Starmer. “You are paying massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place.” Starmer, for his part, said that “we believe in a mix” that includes wind but did not mention the pressing reason for clean energy – a climate crisis that is unleashing its fury in increasing bursts in the UK, US and elsewhere.

Just a side step

During this summer, there has already been a lot of commotion in Belgium around wolves that have attacked sheep and horses. Even with wolf-safe fences, wolves have been cut to get to the fenced animals. Europe’s wolves and predators are thriving – can we learn to live among them? Eating grandmothers, blowing down houses – the wolf is the fairytale villain.

Axios, August 29 Event The Trump administration announced Friday, August 29, that it won't issue visas to senior Palestinian officials who wish to travel to New York to attend the UN General Assembly in September, and will revoke visas that were previously granted. A State Department official confirmed that applied to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 additional officials. The U.S.

August 31 + September 2 Event Palestinians could each be offered $5,000 cash to leave the Gaza Strip as well as subsidies to cover four years’ worth of rent “elsewhere” under a White House plan to take over and reconstruct the ravaged territory, according to reports. The plan would involve Gaza’s two million population leaving, at least temporarily, through “voluntary” departures to another country or pre-approved “restricted, secured” zones inside the coastal enclave during postwar reconstruction, according to proposals laid out in a 38-page prospectus reported by the Washington Post.

Xi, Putin and Kim show united front at huge Chinese military parade + Xi and Putin discuss immortality Event The leaders of China, Russia and North Korea have appeared in public together for the first time in a show of solidarity at a massive military parade in Beijing. President Xi Jinping said the world faced a choice between peace and war as China unveiled a huge arsenal of weapons - including nuclear missiles with a global reach - to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The Times, August 28, 2025 Event The Pope has attacked Israel’s plans to evacuate Gaza City by force as Catholic priests and nuns caring for the sick in the war zone refused to leave and the UN secretary-general condemned the “endless catalogue of horrors”. Speaking at the Vatican, Leo criticised the “forced displacement” of Gazan residents after Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said that evacuation was key to rescuing the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Preceding: Trump wishing to get the Nobel Peace prize The Economist, August 21, 2025 Event Mr Trump wants his dealmaking skills to be recognised in endeavours beyond the building of gaudy skyscrapers, and there is no greater arena than diplomacy. The global elites sneer at mere moneymaking. But recognition from Oslo is worth much more than the medal’s weight in gold (about 200 grams, or $20,000).

In his actions to get the Nobel Peace prize Trump wants to meddle with the disputes that are between certain countries all over the world. Same with North and South Korea. Trump claims to be on good terms with the North Korean leader, who, according to Trump's approval, has also provided thousands of troops to Russia for his Russian friend to bring the war in Ukraine to a successful end.

The Telegraph, August 8, 2025 Event Germany has suspended the sale of weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza, Friedrich Merz has announced. The German chancellor said it was “increasingly difficult to understand” how Israel’s operations in the Strip, which now include seizing Gaza City, would help achieve its aims. The European nation had been one of Israel’s strongest backers until the decision by the Israeli security council on Thursday to approve Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand the military’s control of the war-shattered enclave.

If all of us chip in the cost of a coffee we can rush them cash immediately to pay expensive court fees, and STOP Leonardo sending weapons to Israel. Over the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed a significant surge in Jewish protest over Israel’s starvation/genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. On July 28,… More Jewish Leaders are Speaking Out on Gaza: But Will it Be Enough?

Vlaanderen mag dan al voor meerdere jaren sterke economische banden met de Verenigde Staten onderhouden – in 2024 alleen al bedroeg onze uitvoer naar de VS 26,4 miljard euro. Het handelsakkoord dat er nu gesloten is is een zeer ongebalanceerd akkoord dat ons verder nog afhankelijker van de Verendigde Staten van Amerika maakt. Als we de bedragen moeten behalen van de inport van olie en gas, gaan we zelfs ofwel de Scandinaviërs hun olie en gas leveringen moeten afzeggen, en dan nog met overschotten zitten.

PROTECT THE PROTEST Eis gerechtigheid voor demonstranten in Georgië In Georgië protesteren moedige demonstranten al maanden tegen repressieve wetten en voor EU-toetreding. De overheid reageert met geweld, mishandeling en zelfs foltering. Toon je solidariteit. Met één klik kan jij gerechtigheid eisen en laten zien dat de wereld toekijkt. De Georgische regering moet deze mensenrechtenschendingen onderzoeken, politieagenten verantwoordelijk houden voor hun daden, en toekomstige misstanden voorkomen. ✍Ik teken de petitie 

On Monday the 14th of July, Trump said that Russia's failure to reach a negotiated settlement with Ukraine within 50 days would lead to his administration imposing a 100% tariff rate on Russian imports as well as what he called "secondary tariffs" on countries that have continued to do business with Moscow. Trump said he became tired with Russia, them seeming not to be interested to end the war.

The Times July 30 Sir Keir Starmer has announced that Britain will join France in formally recognising a Palestinian state in September, unless Israel takes action to end the “appalling” situation in Gaza. The announcement was met with criticism by Israel. Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said that the decision “rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims”. Starmer gave Israel an ultimatum on Tuesday afternoon as he said that the catastrophic failure to supply aid to Gaza meant that…

The Standard, July 26 2025 Event Sir Keir Starmer has rejected calls from MPs to immediately recognise a Palestinian state, as US President Donald Trump arrived in the UK amid the continued desperate situation in Gaza. Some 221 MPs have signed a letter urging the British Government to recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN next week.

“From time to time, I’ll be talking with someone and they’ll express that they don’t really like getting into Bible prophecy. I think what they mean is that they don’t enjoy trying to interpret the minute details, especially trying to figure out in advance what will happen in the “last days” – the time just before and after the return of Christ.”

3 And sitting upon the mount of Olives, his disciples came to him apart, saying, Say to us when these shall be, and what the sign of thy arrival, and the termination of the time. 4 And Jesus having answered, said to them, See lest any lead you astray. 5 For many shall come upon my name, saying, I am Christ; and deceive many.

Nu we in de zomer zijn vinden we heel wat mensen die aan de televisie gekluisterd zijn, omdat ze niets van de Tour de France willen missen. Het is werelds meest prestigieuze en moeilijkste wielerwedstrijd. Van de drie belangrijkste wedstrijden (de andere zijn de Giro d'Italia en de Vuelta a España) trekt de Tour de France de beste renners ter wereld aan. De fietswedstrijd werd in 1903 opgericht door Henri Desgrange (1865-1940), een Franse wielrenner en journalist, en werd elk jaar verreden, behalve tijdens de wereldoorlogen. De krant van Desgrange, L'Auto (nu L'Equipe), sponsorde de Tour om de oplage te verhogen.

Now that we are in summer, we find a lot of people glued to the television because they do not want to miss anything from the Tour de France. It is the world's most prestigious and difficult cycling race. Of the three main races (the others being the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), the Tour de France attracts the best riders in the world. The cycling race was founded in 1903 by Henri Desgrange (1865-1940), a French cyclist and journalist, and was run every year except during the World Wars.

Maintenant que nous sommes en été, beaucoup de gens sont rivés à la télévision pour ne rien manquer du Tour de France. Il s'agit de la course cycliste la plus prestigieuse et la plus difficile au monde. Des trois courses principales (les autres étant le Giro d'Italia et la Vuelta a España), le Tour de France attire les meilleurs coureurs du monde. La course cycliste a été fondée en 1903 par Henri Desgrange (1865-1940), un cycliste et journaliste français, et s'est déroulée tous les ans, sauf pendant les guerres mondiales. Le journal de Desgrange, L'Auto (aujourd'hui L'Equipe), sponsorisait le Tour pour augmenter son tirage.