Explainers
Reader-oriented breakdowns of complex topics and ongoing events.
"A sad inevitability": why Europe is still so unprepared for rising heat
Europe’s record June 2026 heatwave is exposing persistent gaps in heat preparedness across housing, hospitals, schools, transport and workplaces, despite decades of climate warnings and policy debate.
Exact temperature too hot to work in Scotland and when you can get sent home
Scotland’s latest heatwave has revived questions about workplace safety, but there is no legal temperature at which workers are automatically entitled to go home.
The 7 things you need to know for Thursday, June 4
A same-day roundup brings together fresh political, legal and public-interest developments, including the House’s Iran war powers vote, Trump’s planned nomination of Todd Blanche, a Pentagon hire tied to Jan. 6, California’s still-counted governor primary and an East Coast heat risk forecast.
Today is the 1st day of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
June 1 marks the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, and NOAA’s preseason outlook calls for a below-normal season with 8 to 14 named storms, 3 to 6 hurricanes and 1 to 3 major hurricanes.
Dollar firm after Fed holds rates as Iran tensions keep FX volatile
The dollar firmed after the Fed held rates steady, while Middle East tensions and higher oil kept foreign-exchange markets volatile.
King Charles and Queen Camilla Arrive for High-Profile US State Visit
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived in the United States for a four-day state visit that both governments are framing as a major diplomatic event.
Have US-Iran Talks Failed? Why No Deal Yet Doesn’t Mean Diplomacy Is Dead
U.S.-Iran diplomacy is stalled, but Reuters, the White House and other reports indicate backchannel contacts and third-party mediation are still active.
Trump deadline on Iran draws fresh warnings as talks and threats escalate
Trump’s Iran deadline appears firm as reporting points to escalating threats, rejected ceasefire talks and possible consequences if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.