Weekend Briefing

From Reuters Daily Briefing

By Robert MacMillan, Reuters.com Weekend Editor

Hello again, and thanks for joining us on the weekend desk. We have the latest news on heatwaves and climate, Yevgeny Prigozhin's sales pitch to Niger and, if you read to the bottom, the truth about Velveeta macaroni and cheese.

Coup supporters gather at the National Assembly in Niamey, Niger July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Balima Boureima

Prigozhin hails Niger coup, touts services

Your friend in Russia: Yevgeny Prigozhin offered Niger mercenary services to bring order to an unsettled state of affairs. Prigozhin, who was "exiled" from Russia after his own armed uprising, appears to have been in country this week, meeting attendees of a Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg.
News from Niamey: Coup leaders declared General Abdourahamane Tiani head of state after saying they ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Learn more about what the coup means for the fight against Islamic extremism and why Niger is a big deal in the production of nuclear weapons and energy, cancer treatments and naval propulsion.

Scorching heat settles over millions of people

Nearly sous vide: More than 175 million people in the U.S. are under excessive heat warnings and advisories until at least Saturday afternoon as heat-index readings surpass 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). Ocean temperatures in southern Florida reached hot-tub levels. Saguaro cacti in Arizona are losing their arms and falling over.
A global problem: July likely will be the world's hottest month on record, and human-induced climate change has played an "absolutely overwhelming" role in heatwaves across North America, Europe and China, scientists say. Here's one more freakish stat: The record-high temperatures Britain experienced in 2022 will be considered average by 2060, the Met Office says.

EU probes border agency's role after deadly migrant shipwreck

Scrutiny: The European Union's rights watchdog will investigate whether the bloc's Frontex border agency fulfilled its rescue duties when the boat sank off Greece last month, killing hundreds of people.
Tally: Tunisia recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast from the beginning of the year until July 20, an unprecedented number of victims. Fewer than a third of unaccompanied children succeeded in winning asylum in Greece last year. And Britain has been unlawfully keeping unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels for at least 18 months, London's High Court ruled.

Maybe we don't get a recession after all?

Softly as she goes: Annual U.S. inflation rose at its slowest pace in more than two years in June, while labor costs posted their smallest increase and consumer prices moderated. This is the kind of data that could push the Fed closer to ending its cycle of interest-rate rises. The European Central Bank might be getting closer to ending its tightening phase.
Good taste: U.S. fast-food chains reported wider profit margins as the cost of cheese, chicken and avocados fell following a period when everything we like to eat cost more because of inflation. McDonald's might even lower its prices.

Before I forget…

U.S. prosecutors broadened the case against former President Trump over his handling of classified documents. Rudy Giuliani admitted that he defamed two Georgia election workers.

Wish you were here: Ukrainian prosecutors opened a criminal case into a lawmaker suspected of taking a luxury holiday in the Maldives in breach of a wartime ban on private travel abroad.

Greek and Turkish leaders on Cyprus appealed for witnesses to help trace hundreds of people missing in the violence that tore the island apart decades ago, saying time was running out for families to learn the fates of their loved ones.

Athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, which is no picnic in the hotter months, won't get air conditioning. That's OK, they won't need it, the International Olympic Committee president said. Guests who pay VIP rates at the games can tell them to eat cake.

The FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament is underway. A special Saturday podcast examines gender disparity on the field in terms of shoes and facilities, and off the field when it comes to TV rights and pay.

A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Kraft Heinz of misleading consumers by promising it takes only 3-1/2 minutes to prepare a cup of microwavable Velveeta macaroni and cheese because it did not include time to remove the lid, add water and stir in a cheese-sauce pouch. Another judge threw out a California woman's claim that Subway's tuna products contain other fish species, chicken, pork and beef.

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