August 16, 2023

More than 3,000 tourists have been evacuated from a British holiday hotspot in France after ‘catastrophic’ wildfires ravaged homes and holiday campsites. The blazing wildfires have ripped through 500 hectares of land and seen thousands of terrified tourists flee for their lives from their holiday homes and campsites close to the Spanish border. The flames have so far gutted scores of homes and destroyed a campsite in the popular holiday region of Pyrenees-Orientales, southern France, as it swept through villages close to the seaside resort of Argeles. Video shows the flames getting perilously close to campsites, where children can be heard screaming in terror. Families quickly packed their belongings and fled in droves as black smoke filled the sky. More than 3,000 tourists have now been evacuated from their holiday campsites across the region to temporary accommodation in town halls. The local mayor described how she saw dozens of ‘families with flabbergasted children’ walk through the doors, some still in their swimsuits as they were unable to reach their campsite due to flames. Harrowing photographs show the extent of the damage caused by the wildfires, with the charred remains of a blackened campsite seen in the commune of Saint-Andre. Cars were incinerated and homes gutted by the blaze. Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12408257/More-3-000-tourists-evacuated-Brit-holiday-hotspot-catastrophic-wildfires-ravage-homes-campsite-near-French-seaside-resort.html

At least 35 people have died in an explosion at a petrol station in southern Russia, according to local officials. Russia’s Health Ministry said 115 people were injured in the blast and subsequent fire, and 35 of them died, including three children. A total of 65 of those injured, including 16 children, remained in hospital as of Tuesday afternoon the ministry said. Eleven people, including two children, were in a grave condition. Russian state media said some of those injured would be airlifted to Moscow for treatment. The explosion occurred on Monday night on the outskirts of the city of Makhachkala, the regional capital of Dagestan and more than 950 miles south of Moscow. A fire started at a car repair shop and spread to a nearby petrol station, triggering the blast and a fireball that engulfed an area covering around 600 square metres. The fire started at the repair shop and spread to a car as well, an unnamed witness told Russian newspaper Izvestia. “From there, everything went to our gas station. After the explosion, everything fell on our heads, we couldn’t see anything.” This handout photograph taken and released by Russian Emergency Ministry on 14 August 2023, shows rescuers pushing out a fire at a gas station in the city of Makhachkala Russian emergencies ministry members remove debris at the accident scene following an explosion at a gas station in Makhachkala in the region of Dagestan, Russia, 15 August 2023, Pictures from the site showed an inferno, as firefighters struggled to contain the damage. The authorities have begun a criminal investigation. Tuesday has been declared a day of mourning in Dagestan. Nearly 260 emergency workers were deployed to help evacuate buildings in the area. Source:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/dagestan-petrol-station-fire-makhachkala-russia-b2393151.html

WASHINGTON: The US on Tuesday expressed its readiness to work with the caretaker government in Pakistan on issues of mutual interest, including the conduct of free and fair elections. “We look forward to working with the interim prime minister and his team as they prepare to hold elections,” the State Department principal deputy spokesperson said during the press briefing. He acknowledged that the US was aware of the allied government’s dissolution and the nomination of Senator Anwar Kakar as caretaker prime minister. “We, of course, will continue to partner with Pakistan on areas of mutual interest including our interest on Pakistan’s economic stability, prosperity and stability and the conduct of free and fair elections in the respect for democracy and rule of law,” the spokesperson maintained. Responding to a question, the spokesperson underscored that the US was in regular conversation with Pakistani leadership to discuss Afghanistan in detail including through the two countries’ counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations. “We have a shared interest with Pakistan, quite candidly, in combating threats to regional stability and remain ready to work with Pakistan to combat militant and terrorist groups,” he said, adding that the US also supports the Pakistani government’s own efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law. source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1100526-us-ready-to-work-with-caretaker-government