ENVIRONMENT: Ocean temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef hit their highest level in 400 years over the past decade, according to researchers who warned that the reef likely won’t survive if planetary warming continues to rise.

Between 2016 and 2024, the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and one of the most biodiverse, suffered mass coral bleaching events.

“The reef is in danger and if we don’t divert from our current course, our generation will likely witness the demise of one of those great natural wonders,” the study’s lead author said.

RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin described a Ukrainian incursion into the country’s south-western Kursk region today as a “large-scale provocation” as his officials asserted that they were fighting off cross-border raids for a second day.

Ukrainian officials remained silent about the scope of the operation.

Mr Putin met with his top defence and security officials to discuss what he called the “indiscriminate shelling of civilian buildings, residential houses, ambulances with different types of weapons.” The fighting is about 320 miles from Moscow.

CATALONIA: Carles Puigdemont, the former independence leader who fled Spain after organising an independence referendum in the region nearly seven years ago, announced that he plans to return home on Thursday despite the likelihood he will be arrested.

Puigdemont, 61, who fled to Belgium after the breakaway bid in 2017, said today that he would attend an event organised by his political party Together for Catalonia (Junts) near Barcelona’s regional parliament building, hours before a new regional government takes office.

SOUTH CHINA SEA: The US, Australia, Canada and the Philippines held air and naval manoeuvres in the region today which they said aimed to promote the rule of law in the disputed waters.

In an apparent response, China said it conducted air and sea combat patrols on the same day. The Philippine military said three Chinese navy ships “tailed” the four-nation manoeuvres off the western coast of the Philippines, but did not provide more details.