In the Americas

At least 235 people have been killed and more than 4,300 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela 39 seconds apart. The quakes hit Caracas, La Guaira, and surrounding areas, and rescue crews are still searching collapsed buildings while families wait for news of missing relatives.

In business and housing

New York City’s rental board has approved Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s two-year rent freeze for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. In France, a Paris court ruled that TotalEnergies must account for indirect emissions and tighten its climate policy, while stopping short of holding the company directly liable for what customers do.

In tech and media

DuckDuckGo’s AI search tool briefly told users Donald Trump had died from rabies after a viral hoax polluted its results, a reminder that search tools can still be led around by nonsense if the nonsense is popular enough. Separately, Hasbro is facing backlash after reports that child actors on Peppa Pig are being asked to sign over voice rights for AI use, prompting an open letter from 1,000 industry professionals over consent and compensation.

In public health

French authorities have temporarily restricted public alcohol sales and takeaway alcohol in Paris as hospitals deal with a surge in heat-related emergencies during one of Europe’s most severe early-summer heatwaves in years. In Nepal, a new survey found child malnutrition has reached alarming levels after USAID cut funding for nutrition programs, and experts warn earlier gains in reducing child mortality could be at risk.

Meanwhile, outbreaks linked to Vibrio vulnificus and Group A strep, both sometimes called flesh-eating bacteria, have killed hundreds worldwide. Warming seas are helping Vibrio spread into new areas.