Italy on red alert; Hottest May day recorded in Portugal

ROME: Italy issued a red alert warning for the capital Rome on Thursday and Portugal and France reported their hottest days in May, as Europe grapples with a heatwave that has broken records across the continent.Britain and France have already reported their hottest May days this week as the “heat dome” brought extreme temperatures not usually seen until midsummer across Western Europe.Several people have died in both Britain and France, mostly in drowning accidents, which authorities have linked to the extreme heat, while Portugal’s Health Minister Ana Paula Martins reported that the number of hospitalizations had increased due to the heatwave.The mercury reached 40.3C in Portugal’s central city of Mora on Wednesday, surpassing the previous record of 40C set in May 2001, the meteorological agency announced on Thursday, warning that there was a “high probability” the heatwave would last until early June.Italy has so far avoided record high temperatures but on Thursday authorities warned people in Rome and four northern cities to stay out of the sun.“We’re sweating a lot,” said Spanish tourist Nana Martínez García, who was trying to stay cool outside Rome’s Colosseum on Thursday in temperatures of 32C. “We’re drinking a lot of water so we can cool off,” she said, with her friend María Angeles Melinas Tello adding that they are “staying in the shade” whenever possible.The first red alert of the year in Italy – which also included Florence, Bologna, Brescia and Turin – warned of “potential negative effects on the health of healthy, active people”.Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing such extremes, making weather events such as heat waves, droughts and floods more intense and frequent.tennis crisisThe extreme heat seemed to have passed in Britain, but much of France continued to heat up on Thursday.The temperature in the south-western city of Angoulême reached a maximum of 37.8C, breaking the May day temperature record set Monday and Tuesday, according to provisional data from Météo France in the evening.A school in the south-west was forced to close its doors on Thursday and Friday afternoons as temperatures in corridors reached 53C on Tuesday, causing pupils to fall ill, a local official said.“There was even someone who fainted and vomited,” said Florian Degas, an official in the Landes region.After record-breaking days in France on Monday and Tuesday, national weather service Meteo France said temperatures in Paris were expected to reach 34C and would remain on orange heatwave alert.Players are suffering from the heat at the French Open tennis tournament on the outskirts of Paris, with one player fainting after winning a grueling match that lasted hours.Italy’s Jannik Sinner, a strong favorite at the Roland Garros tournament, complained of dehydration, dizziness and nausea as he battled the heat following an unexpected second-round loss to rival Juan Manuel Cerundolo.Workers at the venue are spraying water on the red clay courts after every set and once the day’s matches are over, “we flood the courts with water, we soak them, so that the water can replenish the different layers that make up the clay”, said Philippe Vaillant, head maintenance worker.In Spain, national weather office Emet issued a heat warning for Friday for parts of the northeast and north, where temperatures were forecast to rise to 37C.The office said in a social media post that temperatures across Spain were “exceptionally high” for this time of year, compared to what is usually seen in summer. It predicted that temperatures would drop significantly over the next week.Back in Rome, American tourist Josh Renn said he has a game plan for the summer: “Get up early, work early, take lots of breaks. “Go sit in an air-conditioned restaurant, go to a museum, stay inside a little more during the hottest time of the day.”

Sonam Wangchuk (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Worker Sonam Wangchuk The Congress on Thursday doubled its support for the CPI(M) Janata Party (CJP) and rejected Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s claim that he was unsure about the origins of the online movement. Wangchuk also questioned the LG’s publicizing of their recent meeting and said the tone of Saxena’s social media posts was in stark contrast to the cordial discussions he and his wife had with her.Recalling the meeting, Wangchuk said he was surprised by the message conveyed through Saxena’s post on X, which he described as a friendly and constructive discussion.He said, “I thought it was probably to please some boss somewhere in Delhi, who had instructed me to call and say such things, but there was no meeting like that, there was only a tweet.”The academic said he decided not to respond immediately and waited for several days before addressing the matter publicly.He said he deliberately avoided reacting to what he described as “childish behavior” and responded only after the comments were published by several newspapers.The exchange followed a post by Saxena on Tuesday after he met Wangchuk and his wife, HIAL co-founder Gitanjali J Angmo. In the post, the lieutenant governor said he had cautioned the activist against “weaving a misleading and provocative narrative” and claimed that Wangchuk had admitted that comparing Ladakh to Manipur was an “error of judgment.”Saxena also said that Wangchuk was unsure about the origins of the Cockroach Janata Party and had agreed to study the motivations of its founders before reconsidering his position if necessary.Rejecting those claims, Wangchuk said the meeting took place over tea and lasted for about an hour, in what he described as a warm and cordial atmosphere.“LG Ladakh invited us for a meeting over a cup of tea. We spent about an hour in a cordial and friendly atmosphere discussing his initiative, our work and possibilities of cooperation,” Wangchuk told news agency PTI.According to him, the Lieutenant Governor did talk about comparing Ladakh with Manipur and supporting the cockroach Janata Party, but no warning or reprimand was given during the discussion.“An hour after we left, we were surprised, and not a very pleasant one, to see that he had tweeted as if he had condemned us or cautioned us,” he said.Wangchuk also refuted Saxena’s claim that he had made the Manipur comparison a mistake.He said, “I don’t think it’s an error in my judgment. I still stand by it completely.” He also said that he had merely commented that using the example “could have been avoided” in these circumstances.“An avoidable error is very different from an error of judgment,” Wangchuk said.He also rejected suggestions that he had distanced himself from the cockroach Janata Party. According to Wangchuk, Saxena had described the movement as influenced by foreign powers and external funding sources, claims he neither accepted nor supported.He insisted, “I never said I was unsure about the origins and that I would reconsider my stance.”Wangchuk said the lieutenant governor had described the movement as “unfortunate” and accused it of being linked to organizations such as the Soros Foundation as well as countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh.He said, “Inwardly I was laughing at the story that he was telling to a person who was in jail under the NSA. You’re giving the same story to the person to whom it all happened,” he said.The Magsaysay Award winner reiterated his support for the online movement and described himself as a fan of its campaign.He said, “I’m a big fan of the Cockroach Party and I will remain so… I stand by what I said, I’m an honorary cockroach and I support it.”Wangchuk said that he had only expressed his willingness to review any evidence presented regarding the group’s origins and that such openness should not be interpreted as a withdrawal of support.In a direct appeal to the movement’s founder Abhijit Dipke, whom he called the ‘cockroach-in-chief’, Wangchuk said, “I am formally asking Mr Dipke to give me the figures.”Dipke, who founded the satirical social media platform that later grew into an online movement, has previously denied allegations of substantial foreign support. He shared audience data on X, claiming that more than 94 percent of the group’s followers are from India and rejected suggestions that its support base is dominated by foreign or Pakistani users.Wangchuk said making such data public would help resolve the debate.He commented, “If it is an Indian youth initiative with foreign followers, I become an even bigger fan and supporter… Even if 70 per cent are from India and the rest are spread across many countries, it at least makes India the world leader in constructive protest.”In his first post, Saxena said both sides had agreed that an “atmosphere of positivity” should prevail in Ladakh and cautioned that the protests seen in the Union Territory last year could harm tourism and economic activities.The exchange came soon after discussions between representatives of Ladakh and a sub-committee of the Home Ministry. In previous interviews, Wangchuk had expressed concern that Ladakh risked moving towards a division similar to Manipur, though he later said recent talks had helped improve the atmosphere.

A resurfaced video of Charlie Kirk defending Candace Owens has reignited debate online. In the clip, Kirk calls Owens “the best” and says, “We’re on Team Candace.” Owens shared the video, writing that Kirk “always supported me.” However, many social media users criticized him, arguing that his recent attacks on Kirk’s family and organization are a contrast to the loyalty and support he once showed.

Months after conservative commentator’s death charlie kirkA resurfaced video of him and Candace Owens has caused heated debate online. The clip, which recently went viral on social media, shows Kirk publicly defending Owens and praising his role in the conservative movement. Although the video was filmed years ago, its revival has received renewed attention due to the growing controversy surrounding Owens’ comments and actions following Kirk’s death.The viral clip comes at a time when emotions are still running high among Kirk’s supporters, political allies and critics. Many users saw the video as a reminder of the once strong professional relationship between the two. Others said the circumstances of its reappearance have deepened divisions within conservative circles.

Charlie Kirk’s support of Candace Owens is in the news again

In the resurfaced clip, Charlie Kirk expressed his strong support for Owens, and made clear that he sees him as an important ally. “We’re on Team Candace and I’m also, you know, I’m on Team Freedom,” she said in the interview.Owens later posted the clip on social media and reflected on Kirk’s support during a challenging time in his career. In her post, she wrote, “Charlie has always supported me, but especially after the Daily Wire controversy and the subsequent media shaming.The exchange quickly went viral online with thousands of reactions. Supporters praised the friendship and loyalty shown in the video, while others questioned the timing of its release. The conversation soon moved beyond the clip into a larger discussion about Kirk’s legacy and the tensions that arose after his death.

Candace Owens faces criticism over Charlie Kirk’s posthumous claims

The resurfaced footage also revived criticism of Owens over statements he made after Kirk’s death. Critics argue that his recent allegations involving Kirk’s family and leadership at Turning Point USA contradict with the supportive relationship shown in the older videos.Social media users were particularly vocal in the comments section. One commenter wrote, “And you repaid it by tarnishing his legacy, his family, and trying to destroy the organization he dedicated his life to. With such friends..” Another said, “It would have been nice if you returned the favor.”A third user posted, “Hey Candace, Charlie and Erica are one flesh. Attacking Erica is attacking Charlie. Bringing up old videos to justify your attack on his wife is disgusting. Charlie will choose his wife over you every day. Stop pretending he’ll side with you on this.”As the debate continues on online platforms, the resurfaced video has become more than a mere nostalgia for the previous alliance. Instead, it has developed into a flashpoint in the ongoing battle over loyalty, legacy and how Charlie Kirk should be remembered.