112.6: It’s dangerously hot in Brazil. The country just recorded its highest temperature ever on Sunday in the southeastern town of Araçuaí: 112.6 degrees Fahrenheit (44.8 degrees Celsius). The heatwave, which has been linked to El Niño, has seemingly contributed to mass faintings at Taylor Swift concerts in the South American country in recent days. One fan at the pop star’s Friday show in Rio de Janeiro on Friday died amid the unbearable temperatures. Meanwhile, scientists continue to ring alarm bells about climate change as average global temperatures enter threatening territory.
37: At least 37 people were killed on Monday in a stampede at a military recruitment event in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo. This came after the army announced it was recruiting 1,500 people between 18 to 25, leading droves of young people to flock to recruitment centers in the central African country — where there are few economic opportunities. Youth unemployment in the Republic of Congo stands at roughly 42%, according to the World Bank. After the deadly stampede, which occurred at a stadium, the Congolese Armed Forces Command announced it was suspending recruitment in the nation’s capital.
700,000: Flash flooding in Somalia caused by heavy rains has killed at least 50 people and displaced nearly 700,000, according to comments on Monday from Mohamud Moalim Abdullahi, director of the Somali Disaster Management Agency. The recent torrential rainfall in Somalia has been tied to El Niño, much like the extreme heat in Brazil, and more downpours are expected before the end of the month.
As AI creates new opportunities, the people who understand a community best play an important role in determining how those opportunities take shape. Across the US, Microsoft is supporting AI literacy classes as part of a new program developed in collaboration with the Public Library Association, working through trusted local institutions to help people build practical AI skills. By pairing new technology with local knowledge, the initiative is helping communities explore how AI can support their needs and open new possibilities, while putting local leaders and organizations at the center of that work. Read the full story here.
Russia is testing NATO’s red lines with escalating drone attacks and airspace violations. Can Europe defend Ukraine and itself without help from the US? Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.
Who among us has not gotten stiffed by a superpower. #PUPPETREGIME
Is Putin's war machine starting to crack? Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski discusses Ukraine's battlefield gains and mounting economic pressure on Russia.