Recently, no other sea has been warming as much as the Mediterranean. Its heat index has increased an average of five degrees between 1990 and 2020. Record temperatures have also been found on France’s south coast, impacting both animals and plants.

Nice

The Mediterranean Sea near Villefranche, France, has reached record-high temperatures, with surface water measured at 27 degrees Celsius. Local divers and researchers have observed significant changes in the marine ecosystem, including the arrival of new species and the proliferation of algae that threaten native corals and other sea life. 

Scientists from the National Oceanographic Institute have documented a steady rise in sea temperatures over the past 30 years, with increases of up to one degree per decade during summer. These changes are causing stress to marine organisms, particularly corals, and are linked to more frequent and intense heat waves. Efforts are underway to mitigate some impacts, such as manually removing harmful algae from corals, but concerns remain about the long-term effects on the region's biodiversity.

France: Mediterranean reaches record temperatures

Today, Christophe Ballester is diving in the bay of Villefranche, a Mediterranean port in France. He knows the area like the back of his swim fins. He dives up to 300 days per year, preferably in the eastern part of the bay. I love this spot. It's one of the most beautiful areas on the coast. You can dive down to 55 meters and see some really extraordinary corals. Christophe grew up here. Diving has been his passion since he first tried it at nine years old. But he's worried about what's happening now. The water is 27 degrees Celsius, far too warm for this time of year. The surface water has really warmed up in the last five years. New species are showing up. For the last two weeks, we've been seeing parrotfish. They usually only live in warmer parts of the Mediterranean. Christophe makes his descent. Christophe observes a lot more algae is spread across the seabed, threatening seaweed, coral and other sea life. Just a few years ago, there wasn't any algae here. These microalgae thrive in warmer water. They reproduce quickly and stick together, forming long threads. They cover the seaweed, the coral, everything. Christophe has taken pictures of how the algae prevent this starfish from moving. They deprive other sea creatures of their food source and solely suffocate these corals. Christophe explains that when the algae die, they change the ecosystem. The remains settle at the bottom of the bay. Thirty years ago, there was still sand here. Inorganic matter, which is called necromass, settles on the seabed and destroys life. It starves some animals of oxygen, like sea cucumbers. In the same bay, early in the morning, researchers from the National Oceanographic Institute in Villefranche are heading to their own boat. Once a week, they take their research instruments out to sea. For decades, they have been taking samples at exactly the same locations to study the changes. This lets us create an accurate profile of the water. We submerge it at three points in the bay. The researchers measure numerous factors like salinity, oxygen saturation and temperature. Research director Frédéric Gazot is concerned about the changes they have seen over the past 30 years. Temperatures have risen sharply by around 0.4 degrees per decade. The increase in summer is particularly striking, as much as one degree per decade. They lower the instruments several hundred meters deep. Heat waves in the Mediterranean are becoming more frequent and lasting longer. This is particularly dangerous in the fall. The sea is like a heat boiler. The atmosphere cools down more quickly in autumn, while the water stays warm. This great thermal difference leads to evaporation, clouds and severe storms. Samples are prepared on board. They must be processed quickly in the Marine Institute's laboratory on land to avoid skewing years of analysis. The scientists are also investigating how these higher temperatures are affecting the whole ecosystem. Doctoral student Melina Zinne checks on her coral farm. She is researching how different types of coral respond to higher water temperatures. If it gets too warm, they become stressed. And if the stress lasts too long, they die. This species, for example, lives at depths of 15 to 150 meters. This means that all the ones living at 15 meters will probably die in the future. But we hope the ones that exist at greater depths will survive. Higher water temperatures are a problem for all marine life that cannot retreat to deeper or cooler waters. This is also a concern for Christoph Ballester. His dive is over for today. Although he cannot change the rising temperatures, he is trying to do his part, by tackling the algae that thrive in the warmer waters. Divers can very gently clean the algae off the corals using their fins or hands without touching them. This lets them get oxygen again and feed normally. For Christoph, there is at least a ray of hope today. A storm has rolled in, cooling the sea by a few degrees. The only question is, how long will it last?

Belgium joins the ranks of Australia, France, Canada and the UK, all who have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state at the UNGA next week in a bid to ramp up pressure on the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza.

Brussels

Middle East Conflict

Belgium to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 1,400 people, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Thousands more were  injured.

Kunar

At least 1,400 killed in powerful Afghanistan earthquake

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Tianjin

Russia, China, India tout renewed co-operation

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Plovdiv

Von der Leyen's plane affected by alleged Russian GPS jamming

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Jerusalem

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, scholars' association says

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a new global security and economic order at a regional summit on Monday (September 1), as India and Russia continued to express strong ties between their nations.

China's Xi, Russia's Putin share vision for new global order

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Kabul

Powerful earthquake in Afghanistan kills hundreds, destroys villages

Iran-backed Houthis raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health and children's agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining several UN employees, officials said. The rebels tightened security across Sanaa following the Israeli killing of their prime minister and several Cabinet members.

Sana'a

Houthis raid UN offices in Yemen, detain 11 employees

A large buildup of U.S. naval forces in and around the Southern Caribbean has officials in Caracas and experts in the United States asking: is the move aimed at combating drug cartels, as the Trump administration has suggested, or is it for something else entirely?

Caracas

U.S. builds up forces in Caribbean as officials, experts concerned

Officials from the Trump administration spent the weekend pushing back against a U.S. appeals court ruling that most tariffs against Canada were illegal. Economic adviser Peter Navarro called the decision politically motivated.

Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump officials push back after court rules tariffs illegal

Israel's security cabinet is considering a plan to seize Gaza City with attacks ramping up over the weekend. The Israeli military has now ended a temporary pause of military action around aid delivery locations ahead of an expected 'full-scale assault'.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel intensifying attacks ahead of planned seizure of Gaza City

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he's making every effort to stop President Trump from using the military to "invade states." But the White House claims the National Guard is needed to stop violent crime in Chicago.

Chicago

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Hershey

Boy rescued from monorail track at Pennsylvania amusement park

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Barcelona

Greta Thunberg onboard second aid flotilla heading for Gaza Strip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi was committed to improving ties with China in a key meeting with President Xi Jinping, as the two leaders discussed the need to expand trade and investment ties against the backdrop of U.S. tariffs.

Beijing

Modi meets with Xi, vows to improve China ties

Pakistan's eastern Punjab province is facing one of the worst flood emergencies in recent history. Authorities say raging waters have affected the lives of more than 2 million people.

Punjab

Pakistan's Punjab province battered by historic flood

China’s Xi Jinping has welcomed Russia’s Vladimir Putin, India’s Narendra Modi and leaders from around 20 countries to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a high-security gathering aimed at boosting Beijing’s influence and promoting "a multipolar world order."

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Putin arrives in China for key regional security summit

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson detailed his plan Saturday to resist President Trump's threatened immigration crackdown in his city. CBS News has learned the Trump administration plans to intensify immigration enforcement in the city as early as next week.

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Zaporizhzhia

Russia continues assault on Ukrainian cities

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Minneapolis

Mass held at site of Minneapolis church shooting

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New York

U.S bars Palestinian leadership from attending UN

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The Israeli military on Friday declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone” before a new offensive in the Palestinian enclave's largest city. Israel is moving forward with plans to seize Gaza City despite growing international pressure to end the nearly two-year conflict.

Israel declares Gaza City a 'dangerous combat zone'

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Paris

Ukraine Invasion

Macron says Putin 'played Trump' if Zelenskyy meeting isn’t set soon

The Trump administration is planning expanded immigration operations in Chicago next week, two Department of Homeland Security sources tell CBS News. Camilo Montoya-Galvez reports.

Breakdown