THE REGISTER
a 40% chance it could reach as many as 100,000 — BBC News
Two earthquakes strike near Caracas as Venezuela's interim government scrambles to respond.
The USGS placed a 40 percent probability on 100,000 dead before rescue teams had reached most of the affected areas.
Today's stories
More from today's coverage, told in the same calm voice.
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Two Major Earthquakes Strike Northern Venezuela
Two successive major earthquakes hit northern Venezuela near Caracas, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700. Dozens of buildings collapsed and rescue teams are working to free people trapped under rubble. Interim president Delcy Rodríguez is overseeing the government response. The USGS has warned that the final death toll could rise significantly in the coming days.
"The USGS said there was a 36% chance that the death toll could reach 10,000 and a 40% chance it could reach as many as 100,000."
6 outlets · Read more →
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Trump Plans Politicized Mall Rally for US Semiquincentennial
President Trump is organising a large national celebration on the Washington DC Mall to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event has drawn concern that a publicly funded national occasion is being shaped around the current administration's political identity. Road closures will affect DC residents and visitors. Critics question whether a shared national milestone should centre on a sitting president.
5 outlets · Read more →
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US and Turkey Draw, Group Stage Tightens
The United States and Turkey played to a draw in their 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match, leaving the standings tight and multiple teams with a path to advancement. Scotland remain in contention despite two defeats, needing results to fall their way. A single deflected goal separates them from an unlikely progression through the tournament.
"Progressing after one deflected goal and two defeats would be the strangest kind of achievement in the history of the national team."
5 outlets · Read more →
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Trump requests $87bn for Iran military operation
President Trump has sent Congress a supplemental spending request for $87 billion, the majority of which he says covers costs from Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran. The request arrives as congressional oversight of the conflict remains limited, with Senate Republican leadership broadly aligned with the administration's war posture. A separate airstrike on a girls' school in Minab, Iran, has been reported to have killed 160 people, adding pressure on lawmakers weighing the request.
"Most of this request will address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury."
4 outlets · Read more →
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De la Espriella wins Colombian presidential election
Abelardo de la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer backed by Donald Trump, has won Colombia's 2026 presidential election. The left-wing incumbent's candidate conceded after the count showed a clear result. The outcome shifts Colombia away from the progressive policies of outgoing president Gustavo Petro, with implications for coca-growing communities and the country's relationship with Washington.
"At this stage of the count, I have decided to accept the result of the process, which indicates that Abelardo de la Espriella is the new president of the republic."
3 outlets · Read more →
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Air Canada First Officer Lands Safely After Captain Incapacitated
Air Canada Flight 7664, carrying 61 passengers from Newark to Halifax, diverted to Boston on 2026 after the captain suffered a medical emergency and was removed from the cockpit. The first officer took sole control and landed the aircraft without further incident. Passengers assisted in managing the situation before the plane touched down safely. The captain was taken to hospital, and passengers eventually continued to Halifax.
"The first officer brought the plane down alone after the captain was removed from the cockpit mid-flight."
3 outlets · Read more →
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Anthropic Says Alibaba Harvested Claude's Core Capabilities
Anthropic has accused operators linked to Alibaba of systematically extracting capabilities from its Claude AI model, including its handling of complex, long-horizon tasks and its decision-making processes. The US company says the extraction was conducted at scale, effectively using Claude as a source of training material for competing systems. Anthropic has not detailed what legal or contractual remedies it is pursuing.
"Alibaba-linked operators targeted Claude's most valuable capabilities, including its ability to tackle longer and more complex tasks and its approach to decision-making."
2 outlets · Read more →
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Israel Holds Southern Lebanon Despite Diplomatic Pressure
Israel has confirmed its military will remain in southern Lebanon, with officials stating no withdrawal is planned and no American demand to leave is currently in place. The ongoing occupation follows a conflict in which Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,200 people in Lebanon, while Hezbollah attacks killed 36 Israeli soldiers and 3 civilians. The position complicates broader regional diplomacy, including efforts to stabilise relations with Iran.
"We announced that in any case we are not withdrawing, and as of this moment there is no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon."
2 outlets · Read more →
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Western Europe Heatwave Kills Dozens by Drowning
A sustained heatwave across western Europe has pushed temperatures to record levels in France, Spain, and the UK, prompting emergency alerts from national meteorological agencies. At least 40 people drowned in France since Thursday, including a six-year-old child at a beach in Gironde, as people sought relief in open water. Additional drowning deaths were recorded in Germany. Tens of millions of residents across eight countries are affected.
"At least 40 people drowned in heatwave-related incidents in France since Thursday, including a six-year-old at a beach in Bègles, Gironde."
2 outlets · Read more →
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Half of French Homes Lack Adequate Heat Protection
A report commissioned by the Fondation pour le Logement found that half of all homes in France offer insufficient protection against high temperatures. Low-income residents in suburban estates around Paris, particularly in Essonne and Seine-Saint-Denis, face the worst conditions, with little means to cool their homes or leave them. Wealthier municipalities have more green space, better insulation, and access to air conditioning, widening the gap between those who can manage the heat and those who cannot.
"Half of all French homes have insufficient protection from high temperatures, leaving inhabitants dangerously overheated."
2 outlets · Read more →