CAR RAMS POLICE VEHICLE IN PARIS Police secure the Champs Elysées in Paris after a driver rammed his car carrying explosives into a police vehicle Monday in the area’s shopping district, prompting a fiery explosion that killed the driver. No one else was
RUSSIA SAYS IT WILL START TRACKING U.S. PLANES
Russia said Monday it has suspended its communication hotline with U.S. forces operating in Syria a day after an American fighter plane downed a Syrian combat aircraft that was attacking U.S.-backed ground forces.
Russia’s Defense Ministry also said it would start tracking American planes as they fly over western Syria where Russian and Syrian jets have been commonly operating. The ministry said the jets would be tracked with ground-based air defense radar and Russian planes.
The hotline was designed to allow U.S. and Russian officials to communicate to avoid a mishap involving Russian and Syrian aircraft flying over the embattled country.
It is not clear what impact the suspension would have on U.S. air operations over Syria or whether Russia would carry out its threat.
79 PEOPLE DEAD OR MISSING IN LONDON HIGH-RISE BLAZE
British authorities said Monday that 79 people were confirmed dead or missing after the June 14 high-rise fire that has angered the public and placed pressure on the government of Prime Minister Theresa May.
Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy announced the new death toll — up from 58 — and said the figure still could change. Authorities are trying to determine whether any criminal offenses were committed by the building ’s managers.
IT'S SO HOT IN PHOENIX, THEY CAN'T FLY PLANES
The extreme heat forecast for Phoenix on Tuesday has caused the cancellation of 20 American Airlines flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport.
According to a statement from American Airlines, the American Eagle regional flights use the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which has a maximum operating temperature of 118 degrees. Tuesday’s forecast for Phoenix included a high of 120 degrees, and the flights that are affected were to take off between 3 and 6 p.m. MT.
Customers were told to contact American Airlines for rebooking options or to request a refund.
Extreme heat affects a plane’s ability to take off. Hot air is less dense than cold air, and the hotter the temperature, the more speed a plane needs to lift off.