10 things you need to know today: July 16, 2023

A sign warning of extreme heat danger in Death Valley, California.

At least 100 million people are still battling extreme heat throughout the United States

(Image credit: David McNew / Getty Images)

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1. At least 100 million Americans still under heat warnings
2. European heat wave prompts alerts throughout Italy
3. US, South Korea, and Japan hold drill following North Korean missile launch
4. At least 4 killed in Georgia mass shooting, gunman remains at large
5. United reaches labor deal with pilots for 40% raises
6. Federal judge upholds Oregon's strict gun control law
7. Marketa Vondrousova becomes first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon
8. American released after being held captive for 8 months in Mexico
9. Lionel Messi officially signs with Inter Miami
10. Singer and actress Jane Birkin dies at 76

By Justin Klawans, The Week US

published 16 July 2023

1. At least 100 million Americans still under heat warnings

At least 100 million Americans remain under some level of heat warning Sunday, as scorching temperatures continue to plague the country. "Take the heat seriously and avoid time outdoors," the National Weather Service (NWS) warned in a bulletin. Experts also repeated a message from the previous day, which noted that current temperatures "pose a health risk and are potentially deadly to anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration." Heat advisories remain in place "from the Pacific Northwest, California, and the Great Basin to parts of the Southern Plains, Central Gulf Coast, and southern tip of Florida." Many single-day heat records in cities such as Phoenix and Austin, Texas, have already been broken.

As temperatures climb in the United States, Europe continued dealing with a blistering heat wave of its own on Sunday. The epicenter of the heat was in southern Europe, where officials have issued an "extreme" health advisory for 16 cities across Italy. The Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia could reach up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit, the European Space Agency (ESA) said, "potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe." The extreme heat was also seen in parts of southern Germany and Greece, where the latter was forced to shut down its famous Acropolis to tourists. Spain, France, and Poland are all expected to see similarly high temperatures in the coming days.

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The United States, South Korea, and Japan held a trilateral missile defense drill in the Sea of Japan on Sunday, following the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by North Korea. The South Korean Navy said that the exercise focused on tracking and detecting a computer-simulated ICBM that had been launched from the Korean Peninsula. Naval officials said the drills were "intended to vigorously promote trilateral cooperation to address regional security challenges amid the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan." The exercises come five days after North Korea confirmed the launch of a Hwasong-18 missile off its east coast as a "strong practical warning" to its foes.

Police continued to search Sunday for a gunman who killed four people in an Atlanta suburb, with the suspect believed to be on the run. The shooting occurred on Saturday around 10:45 a.m. in Hampton, Georgia, a small town about 30 miles outside of Atlanta, the town's police chief, James Turner, said during a news conference. The victims included three men and one woman, and the motive for the shooting remains unknown. The suspect was identified as Andre Longmore, 40, as a warrant was issued for his arrest. Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said a $10,000 reward would be offered for any information leading to Longmore's capture.

United Airlines and its pilots union agreed Saturday to a preliminary deal that would raise pilot salaries by as much as 40% over four years. The deal, which was valued by the union at around $10 billion, still has to be ratified by the company. If this occurs, it would place pilot salaries at United around those of Delta Airlines and American Airlines, who both inked similar union deals earlier this year. United's union said the deal also included a number of other benefits, such as better job security and additional retirement compensation. The agreement marks the end of months of negotiations and airport pickets by United's pilots.

A federal judge said Friday that Oregon's new stringent gun law did not violate the Consitution, allowing it to remain in place. U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut declared in her ruling that the law, Oregon Measure 114, upheld "the nation's history and tradition of regulating uniquely dangerous features of weapons and firearms to protect public safety." Measure 114 bans the sale and import of any firearm magazines with more than 10 rounds, and also requires all residents to obtain a firearms purchasing permit for new guns. However, those who already own a high-capacity magazine will reportedly not be required to turn them in.

The Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova won the women's single Wimbledon title on Saturday, making her the first unseeded woman to claim victory in the prestigious tennis tournament. The 24-year-old Vondrousova won unexpectedly over her opponent, Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, who was the odds-on favorite in the match. Vondrousova dominated the London-based court to win both games by 6-4 scores and capture the Wimbledon title. While she was once ranked as high as No. 14 in the world, a series of injuries saw Vondrousova enter Wimbledon unseeded at world No. 42. She was also the first unseeded woman to even make the Wimbledon final in 60 years.

An American woman who was held captive in Mexico for the past eight months was released by her captors and is on her way back home, the FBI said Saturday. Monica De Leon Barba, 40, was released this past week, officials said. The native of San Mateo County, California, had been abducted this past November while walking home from work with her dog in Tepatitlán, Mexico. Authorities did not say what precipitated her release, but the FBI said it had "worked tirelessly with the family and with partners here and in Mexico" to secure Barba's return. Information on her captors was not made public, though drug cartels have contributed to rising kidnappings in Mexico.

Lionel Messi is Florida-bound. The global soccer phenom officially signed with MLS club Inter Miami on Saturday, joining the American team after two years of playing for French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain. Messi, who captained Argentina's national team to the FIFA World Cup in 2022, signed a contract with Miami through 2025 that will see him earn a reported $60 million per year. "I'm very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States," Messi said in a statement. "This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project."

Singer and actress Jane Birkin died Sunday at the age of 76, French media reported. The English-French star reportedly passed away at her home in Paris. A cause of death was not released. Birkin became an icon of the 1960s and 1970s, helping to mold fashion throughout Europe and inspiring the famous Birkin handbag. She relocated to France in the 1970s after finding fame as a singer in the country, and was also well-known for her relationship with songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, who helped her craft her global hit "Je t'aime...moi non plus." The couple had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, who is also an award-winning actress.

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Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.