Biden decries gun violence as shootings across US mar Fourth of July festivities | First Thing

At least 15 people killed in mass shootings so far on the holiday weekend. Plus, the trauma of Cary Grant

Good morning.

A long holiday weekend of bloodshed has intensified after a heavily armed gunman in a bulletproof vest opened fire on the streets of Philadelphia on the eve of Fourth of July celebrations, in yet another mass shooting in the US, killing five people and wounding two boys before surrendering to the police.

What did Biden say? The president said: Our nation has once again endured a wave of tragic and senseless shootings in communities across America. Today, Jill and I grieve for those who have lost their lives and, as our nation celebrates Independence Day, we pray for the day when our communities will be free from gun violence."

Is this a one-off? No. China regularly faces severe flooding, and as global warming produces more frequent extreme weather, problems are likely to intensify. Chinese meteorological authorities warned the country could expect multiple natural disasters in July, including floods, severe convection weather, typhoons and high temperatures", AFP reported.

What else is happening? Monday 3 July 2023 was the hottest day ever recorded globally, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The average global temperature reached 17.01C (62.62F), surpassing the August 2016 record of 16.92C (62.46F), as heatwaves sizzled around the world.