News Wrap: Record-breaking heat wave grips Europe

Key Points:

• Europe is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave linked to human-caused climate change, with Belgium hitting its highest summer temperature and severe drought conditions fueling wildfires across the continent, including deadly blazes in Croatia and the UK.
• In Japan, unprecedented rainfall caused severe flooding east of Tokyo, resulting in at least five deaths and thousands stranded, while parts of the US Midwest continue to face flooding, and Hawaii braces for Tropical Storm Lala, expected to become a hurricane with heavy rain and strong winds.
• Ukraine suffered a deadly wave of Russian drone attacks, killing at least three people and injuring dozens, amid intensified bombardments following the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since Russia's 2022 invasion began.
• Nigel Farage regained his UK parliamentary seat after winning a special election triggered by his resignation last month amid campaign finance investigations, though inquiries into his donations remain active.
• An American missionary kidnapped in Niger since October has been released and is in good health, while Italian authorities recovered stolen masterpieces by Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse in a separate high-profile art theft case.