British driver sets hydrogen vehicle speed record at 654 km/h

Finland has temporarily closed part of its airspace and restricted maritime traffic along its southern coast near the Russian border due to concerns over possible stray drones. The Finnish military announced the measures on Tuesday. Officials said the restrictions were introduced to ensure authorities can respond safely if drones enter the area. A military spokesperson said the measures would allow authorities to take necessary countermeasures while protecting people in the affected areas. The military did not disclose the source of information about the possible drone activity. The spokesperson said details could not be shared because they were related to ongoing operational matters. The move comes amid growing concerns among NATO countries that the war in Ukraine could spill across alliance borders. Ukrainian drones targeting Russian positions have reportedly entered the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this year. Ukraine has increased its use of long-range drones against targets inside Russia. Kyiv and several NATO members have blamed Russian electronic interference for causing some Ukrainian drones to deviate from their intended routes and enter NATO airspace. Moscow, however, has accused Ukraine of deliberately directing drones across international borders. Finland’s latest restrictions highlight the security concerns facing NATO’s northern members as drone warfare continues to expand in the region. Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely and adjust the restrictions depending on the potential threat.

The United States walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday during remarks by France’s ambassador, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two allies over human rights and the leadership of the UN’s top human rights office. The disagreement began after a recent vote on extending the term of Volker Turk as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United States joined Russia and North Korea in opposing his reappointment, placing Washington on the same side as two countries it has frequently criticized over human rights issues. Following the vote, France’s mission to the United Nations strongly criticized the US position on social media, saying Washington had once been a global symbol of human rights but no longer deserved that reputation. The statement drew a sharp response from American officials and set the stage for the diplomatic confrontation that followed. The latest tension unfolded during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine. As France’s UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont began speaking, members of the US delegation left the chamber in protest. US Ambassador Dan Negrea later said the walkout was a direct response to what he described as France’s disrespectful and condescending language toward the United States. He warned that similar protests would continue unless France changed its approach and withdrew its criticism. Earlier, US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended Washington’s opposition to Turk’s second term. He argued that the human rights chief had unfairly criticized democratic countries while failing to take a strong enough stance against governments with poor human rights records. Waltz did not identify specific examples to support his criticism. During his time in office, Turk has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has also raised concerns about Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Despite US objections, his second term was approved by a large majority of UN member states, with 144 countries voting in favor, 10 voting against and 13 abstaining. The dispute reflects broader tensions between the United States and the United Nations under President Donald Trump’s administration. In recent years, Washington has reduced financial support for several UN agencies and withdrawn from a number of UN bodies as part of a wider review of its international commitments. After the vote on Turk’s reappointment, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos warned that the United States would reconsider its participation, engagement and funding for UN institutions. He accused the organization of allowing procedural abuses and political deals to influence key appointments. France, however, strongly defended Turk’s leadership. Ambassador Bonnafont described him as a principled and impartial official who had carried out his responsibilities with integrity during his first term. France argued that his reappointment reflected the confidence of the overwhelming majority of UN member states. A spokesperson for the United Nations declined to comment directly on the American walkout but said the organization expects all member countries to respect decisions made through its established voting process. The incident has added to growing friction between Washington and the UN at a time when international cooperation is already under pressure from several global conflicts.

US President Donald Trump has accused Canada of “poisoning” American air with smoke from widespread forest fires, threatening to impose 50% tariffs and demand compensation from its northern neighbour. Speaking following the World Cup final, Trump claimed he urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to halt the blazes from crossing the border, declaring that the US was being “unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted and unhealthy air”. In support, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno announced plans to introduce legislation sanctioning Canada for alleged forest mismanagement. Over 8.1 million acres of Canada’s boreal forest have burned following a severe heat dome, causing hazardous, hazy air across major US and Canadian cities. Leading climate scientists and ecologists have forcefully dismissed Trump’s claims, describing the rhetoric as unfounded, logistically impossible, and a form of victim-blaming. Experts, including Michael Mann and Lori Daniels, emphasised that the intensified fires are a direct symptom of global climate change rather than improper forest management. They pointed out that clearing or “raking” Canada’s vast, remote boreal forests is physically unfeasible, noting that the smoke flows both ways across the border and requires international climate action rather than trade penalties.