Europe sizzles under heat wave that’s going to get worse

ROME — Scorching temperatures across Europe forced the closure of the Acropolis in Athens for a second day as officials warned Saturday of even hotter weather next week, when the mercury is forecast to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several popular Mediterranean tourist destinations.

Kaua‘i North Shore Lions roar with $50,000 in scholarships

PRINCEVILLE — With the help of the Steve and Janine Hunt Family Foundation, a golf tourney and Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, the Kaua‘i North Shore Lions Club celebrated its $50,000 goal for scholarships that were shared by 29 North Shore students on Wednesday.

Kawaihau Minors earn District 1 title

KAPA‘A — The Kawaihau Community Little League Minors division is a step closer to reaching the pinnacle of its division after the Kawaihau Minors All-Stars captured the District 1 title with a 7-3 win over Kainalu at the Hawai‘i Little League Minors Division District 1 championship game on Wednesday afternoon on O‘ahu.

Happy Camper for Saturday, July 15, 2023

Don’t forget, Saturday is the Back to School Bash when nearly 3,000 backpacks of school supplies — there’s more than 1,500 for elementary (kindergarten through Grade 5), and more than 1,200 backpacks for middle and high school (Grades 6 through 12) — will be given away …

Bird cape making workshop coming up

HANAPEPE — The Storybook Theatre invites everyone to learn from fabric artist Evelyn Roth on July 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Storybook Theatre in Hanapepe.

CRITTER: “Sharktober” October shark attacks explained

For the past five years I have been in the National Geographic series every summer called When Sharks Attack. The purpose of the show is to expose possible explanations for why sharks sometimes bite swimmers, surfers, paddlers and divers here in Hawai‘i.

ERSOY: Newest miracle weight loss drug

You might have heard about a new weight loss drug called “Semaglutide”. It has been in use for some time already for treating type 2 diabetes, and the FDA approved it in 2021 to also be used for weight loss in obese individuals.

TAX MAN: How not to cool the schools in the Aloha State

Imagine Hawai‘i’s keiki sitting in hot classrooms. That has been an issue for our public schools for many years, with then-Governor Ige signing several bills, such as Act 47 of 2016 that appropriated $100 million toward heat abatement upgrades, and Act 260 of 2022 that appropriated another $10 million.

Some Republicans worry Trump may be unstoppable

NEW YORK — He’s been indictedtwice. Found liable for sexual abuse. And he’s viewed unfavorably by about a third of his party. But six months before Republicans begin to choose their next presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump remains the race’s dominant front-runner.

Movie, TV stars join screenwriters in picket lines

LOS ANGELES — “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis, Rosario Dawson and other top movie and TV actors joined picket lines alongside screenwriters Friday on the first full day of a walkout that has become Hollywood’s biggest labor fight in decades.

Tens of millions across U.S. endure scorching temperatures

LAS VEGAS — Visitors to Las Vegas on Friday stepped out momentarily to snap photos and were hit by blast-furnace air. But most will spend their vacations in a vastly different climate — at casinos where the chilly air conditioning might require a light sweater.

Why a single senator is blocking U.S. military promotions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is waging an unprecedented campaign to try to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions, forcing less experienced leaders into top jobs and raising concerns at the Pentagon about military readiness.

Japan prepares to release radioactive water from Fukushima

FUTABA, Japan — At Japan’s tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, giant blue pipes have been constructed to bring in torrents of seawater to dilute treated, radioactive water under a plan to discharge it gradually into the Pacific Ocean.

F-16 fighter jets to protect ships from Iranian seizures

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East.

France celebrates Bastille Day with parades, parties, extra police

PARIS — French fighter jets trailed red-white-and-blue smoke over Paris monuments, families held picnics and firefighters hosted holiday balls around France to celebrate Bastille Day on Friday, a moment of much-needed festivity after mass protests, riots and political divisions that have riven the country this year.

Putin wants to attend an August economic summit

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to attend an economic summit in South Africa next month and the country is desperately trying to persuade him to stay away to avoid the legal and diplomatic fallout over his international arrest warrant, South Africa’s deputy president said in an interview with a news website on Friday.

Political turbulence rolling through Central America

MEXICO CITY — Central America is experiencing a wave of unrest that is remarkable even for a region whose history is riddled with turbulence. The most recent example is a political upheaval in Guatemala as the country heads for a runoff presidential election in August.

Brazil wants 10-year pause on deep sea mining

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Brazil on Friday urged a 10-year precautionary pause on deep sea mining in international waters just days after companies and countries were allowed to start applying for provisional licenses.