Washington wildfires force 50,000 evacuations Tour de France Femmes draws record 1M viewers

Wildfires raged through Washington state, burning more than 50,000 acres and forcing thousands to evacuate, while Europe’s scorched landscapes stretched from Greece to Portugal as record heat turned forests to tinder. A Thai school shooting left two students and a security guard dead and six others wounded in the northern province of Uttaradit, marking one of the country’s deadliest school attacks in years. Meanwhile, the second edition of the Tour de France Femmes kicked off in Clermont-Ferrand, giving women’s cycling its biggest stage yet with eight days of racing across France.

This week’s disasters and spectacles reflect twin crises of climate and safety. Washington’s fires have grown worse due to prolonged drought and high temperatures, a pattern scientists link to climate change that has made wildfires bigger and harder to control. In Thailand, the shooting has shocked a nation still recovering from a 2022 mass shooting in Nong Bua Lam Phu that killed 37 people and raised fresh questions about gun laws and school security. The Tour de France Femmes, now fully integrated into the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar, arrives as women’s cycling enjoys unprecedented investment and fan interest, showing how sport can challenge old inequalities even as the world burns.

Firefighters in Washington are battling 15 active blazes with help from National Guard troops and crews flown in from other states. In Greece, more than 1,800 firefighters and 40 aircraft are fighting fires near Athens as temperatures push 44°C, while Portugal has mobilized 1,000 troops to help contain outbreaks in the north. Thailand’s education minister has ordered a review of school safety protocols after the shooting, and local authorities have banned firearms within 500 meters of schools. The Tour de France Femmes meanwhile drew a record TV audience in France, with stages broadcast in 190 countries, and organizers announced a €1 million prize pot for this year’s edition.

The fires will likely burn for weeks, with forecasts calling for more heat and no rain. Thailand’s government faces pressure to tighten gun laws and improve mental health support in schools. For cycling, this year’s success could push organizers to expand the race further, setting a new standard for women’s sport. But the contrast is stark: as flames and bullets dominate headlines, the Tour de France Femmes offers a fleeting reminder that progress can still unfold, even in a summer of crisis.