WMO warns of risks as heatwave intensifies

Plus, Russia strikes Ukraine grain port.

View in Browser Sign up for Reuters newsletters Daily Briefing If you live somewhere in the northern hemisphere, chances are it's pretty hot outside. The World Meteorological Organization is warning of heatwave health risks. And one day after pulling out of an export deal, Russia struck Ukraine's port of Odesa.   Plus, 50 years on, Bruce Lee's legacy squares up to modern life in Hong Kong.   By Edson Caldas Today's Top News People walk near the Colosseum during a heat wave across Italy as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, July 17, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli HOT TOPIC The heatwave engulfing the northern hemisphere is set to intensify, leading to an increased risk of heart attacks and deaths, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Temperatures in North America, Asia, and across North Africa and the Mediterranean will be above 40°C for a prolonged number of days this week, the WMO said. Soaring temperatures across southern Europe could prompt a shift in tourist habits, with more travelers choosing cooler destinations, experts predict. Breaking News Editor for Companies Jo Mason tells the Reuters World News podcast why Ireland, Bulgaria and Denmark are the upcoming top tickets. Meanwhile, India has received average monsoon rains since the start of the season on June 1, despite concerns that an El Nino weather pattern could lead to lower rainfall this year. While average monsoon rains are ordinarily good for Indian farmers, uneven distribution this year has created new worries. AROUND THE WORLD Russia struck Ukraine's port of Odesa with missiles and drones, a day after pulling out of a deal to let Kyiv export grain. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential staff, said that Moscow was endangering "the lives of 400 million people in various countries that depend on Ukrainian food exports." The attacks on Ukraine's ports followed a pledge by Russia to retaliate for blasts on its bridge to the occupied Crimean Peninsula, knocked out by what Moscow said were strikes by Ukrainian seaborne drones. Our graphics team unpacked Ukraine's counteroffensive in Crimea. A US national is likely to be in North Korean custody after crossing the inter-Korean border during a tour without approval, the U.N. Command said. The person was taking part in a tour to the Joint Security Area, the border village in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas where soldiers from both sides stand guard. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to make it easier to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is set to become law after the government defeated attempts by parliament's upper house to make changes to the legislation. The plan has been criticized by some opposition politicians, lawyers, and civil rights groups as cruel and ineffective. US President Joe Biden, after a lengthy delay, invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an official visit later this year. Dan Williams, in Jerusalem, breaks down the diplomacy. Back in Israel, protesters blocked highways as legislators prepared to ratify one of Netanyahu's judicial bills. Business & Markets China is entering an era of slower growth, raising a daunting prospect: it may never get rich. Whether its economy chugs ahead at 3-4% annually or flirts, as some expect, with Japan-like "lost decades" of stagnation, it looks set to disappoint its leaders, its youth, and much of the world. World Bank President Ajay Banga unveiled plans to stretch the bank's balance sheet and help countries tackle climate change, but said a capital increase would still eventually be needed. Banga announced the proposals to "make our balance sheet work harder" during the G20 finance chiefs meeting in India. The European Union is lobbying Asian countries to follow its lead on artificial intelligence in adopting new rules for tech firms that include disclosure of copyrighted and AI-generated content, according to senior officials from the EU and Asia. For more on AI, sign up to the Technology Roundup newsletter.  Studios offered Hollywood actors more than $1 billion in higher compensation and enhanced benefits before the SAG-AFTRA union called a strike, a group that represents media companies said. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said SAG-AFTRA "continues to mischaracterize the negotiations." The Wider Image Students attend a nunchaku performance event, in a tribute to the late martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, in Hong Kong, China April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Fifty years after the death of Bruce Lee, who galvanized the imaginations of generations of young people worldwide with feats of kung fu immortalized on screen, his legacy squares up to modern life in Hong Kong.  See our photo essay. And Finally... A 'black sheep' jumper worn by the Britain's late Diana, Princess of Wales, is displayed at Sotheby's, in London, July 17, 2023, REUTERS/Rachel Adams A jumper worn by Britain's late Princess Diana and depicting a black sheep is headed for auction later this summer with a price estimate of up to $80,000. Designed by knitwear label Warm & Wonderful, the sweater, which will headline Sotheby's Fashion Icons online sale, was rediscovered in an attic earlier this year by one of the brand's founders. Read more here: Princess Diana's 'black sheep' jumper to be auctioned Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Reuters Daily Briefing is sent 5 days a week. 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