France, Spain Battle Raging Wildfires As Fresh Evacuations Ordered, One Killed

<p><strong><em>Edited by: Rana Taha</em></strong></p> <p>Massive wildfires in France and Spain continued to gather strength overnight with yet more evacuations for residents near France's western Bordeaux and Spain's capital Madrid.</p> <p>A new fire outside the Spanish coastal town of Valencia claimed one life and forced residents to flee.</p> <h2>What is the latest on the French wildfires?</h2> <p>French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Sunday said that the blaze raging in the Gironde region near popular Bordeaux had become "extremely intense and unpredictable again" overnight.</p> <p>Some 2,500 firefighters as well as 1,500 military personnel and 1,200 police have been deployed to the region.</p> <p>New overnight evacuations brought the total number of displacements in France to over 220,000.</p> <p>Fires near Bordeaux &mdash; a city of 268,000 residents &mdash; have also blocked roads, including a highway along the Atlantic coast, and halted train service near the major wine producing city.</p> <p>In all, the fires have consumed some 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) &mdash; an area four times the size of Paris, or seven times the size of Manhattan &mdash; laying waste to more land than at any time since 1949, when fires destroyed 50,000 hectares.</p> <p>Separately, firefighters are battling an active fire in the southern Var region, where 3,000 people have been evacuated.</p> <h2>New Valencia fire in Spain killed one before being brought under control</h2> <p>In neighboring Spain, fires continued to consume areas west and north of the capital Madrid, where tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.</p> <p>On Saturday, authorities ordered the evacuation of eight municipalities near Toledo.</p> <p>A new fire raging outside the seaside town of Valencia killed one individual before firefighters could get it under control.</p> <p>Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday said, "difficult hours lie ahead" as he toured areas impacted by fire west of the capital, before adding "positive" developments had been seen in containing the fire overnight.</p> <p><em><strong>Disclaimer:</strong></em>&nbsp;This report first appeared on&nbsp;<em><strong>Deutsche Welle</strong></em>, and has been republished on&nbsp;<em><strong>ABP Liv</strong></em><strong>e</strong>&nbsp;as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by&nbsp;<em><strong>ABP Live.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

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1 Dead, 16 Injured After Vehicle Ploughs Into Crowd At Berlin Pride Event; Massive Hunt Launched

<p>One person was killed and at least 16 others injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd attending Berlin's annual Pride celebrations late Saturday, prompting a large-scale police operation and the cancellation of the event.</p> <p>Police said an intensive manhunt was underway for one or more suspects and urged people to stay away from the area around Tiergarten park in central Berlin, where the incident occurred.</p> <p>Emergency services treated several injured people at the scene, with some reported to be in life-threatening condition.</p> <p>"We believe that a vehicle entered the Tiergarten park and hit several people and injured them," Berlin police said in a statement posted on social media.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b0U7weIX8-k?si=g78rK0t_ZDvG5Psc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/indian-origin-punjab-woman-damanpreet-kaur-strangled-to-death-in-canada-22-year-old-man-charged-1858595">Punjab Woman Killed In Canada, Indian Man Charged; Autopsy Reveals Shocking Cause Of Death</a></strong></p> <h3>Witnesses Describe Chaotic Scene</h3> <p>According to eyewitnesses, a white van sped into a crowd shortly after 10 p.m. local time, triggering panic as people screamed and fled into Tiergarten park.</p> <p>Local media reported that the vehicle was later found abandoned at the scene.</p> <p>Images from the area showed a heavy deployment of police officers, firefighters and ambulances, with at least one victim being carried away on a stretcher.</p> <p>Authorities appealed to members of the public to share any photographs or videos that could assist the investigation.</p> <p>Organisers cancelled the remainder of the annual Pride event, also known as Christopher Street Day, following the incident.</p> <p>Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of people had participated in the parade, one of Germany's largest celebrations of LGBTQ+ rights.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-updates-ayatollah-mojtaba-khamenei-more-willing-to-pursue-nuclear-weapons-than-his-father-report-1858616">Iran's New Leader More Willing To Pursue Nuclear Weapons Than His Father: Report</a></strong></p> <h3>German Leaders React</h3> <p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.</p> <p>"Make sure this horrific act is fully investigated and punished," he said in a statement.</p> <p>Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as "an attack on our free and open-minded society."</p> <p>"My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and their friends," he wrote on social media, adding that he had full confidence in police and security agencies investigating the attack.</p> <p>Police have not yet disclosed a motive and said the investigation remains ongoing.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/berlin-pride-event-incident-1-dead-16-injured-after-vehicle-ploughs-into-crowd-massive-hunt-launched-1858635

Europe Wildfires Force More Than 250,000 People To Evacuate

<p><em>Edited by: Kieran Burke and Rana Taha</em></p> <p>As wildfires continue to engulf massive stretches of western France and central Spain, more than 250,000 people have been forced to flee, with flames devouring forests and homes near Bordeaux and Madrid.</p> <p>Firefighters have said that the blazes, the largest recorded in both countries in recent years, are so massive that they cannot be tackled head on.</p> <h2>Man killed in wildfire near Valencia</h2> <p>The Spanish Interior Ministry said Saturday that a man was killed in a wildfire in the town of Manises, near Valencia.</p> <p>Local authorities said firefighters managed to bring the blaze in Manises under control but "unfortunately the fire has claimed the life of one person." The body was found in a car in a ravine.</p> <p>Two French firefighters died earlier this week near Bordeaux and one in Sicily, Italy, which is now also battling blazes.</p> <p>On France's Atlantic coast, 44,000 people were removed from the Cap Ferret peninsula, many by boat.</p> <p>Towns near Bordeaux, the famed winemaking town popular with tourists, were evacuated "as a precaution" as strong winds fueled approaching flames.</p> <p>On Saturday morning, regional authorities further ordered the evacuation of three of the city's western suburbs "to ensure residents' safety."</p> <p>In all, French authorities say more than 197,000 people have been evacuated in France's western Gironde and Landes departments.</p> <p>In Spain, the Interior Ministry said 70,000 have been forced to flee.</p> <h2>EU sending firefighting aircraft to France and Spain</h2> <p>Authorities in France say the country's two main blazes were sparked accidentally, however, as summers become drier and hotter the magnitude of such fires has increased exponentially.</p> <p>French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who said the government would do everything possible to protect citizens, warned that a wind shift had transformed the Cap Ferret blaze into "a large, self-sustaining fire that is extremely difficult to bring under control."</p> <p>"It is now moving east, toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area," added Nunez, who pledged, "We are going to reorganize our response so we can fight it from the ground and prevent it from advancing toward Bordeaux."</p> <p>French President Emmanuel Macron called for European Union assistance on Friday as well as the mobilization of the French army to halt fires that have so far destroyed 22,000 hectares (54,000 acres) of land.</p> <p>The European Commission announced that it is sending three firefighting aircraft to France and four to Spain in an effort to gain the upper hand.</p> <p>This week's fires have injured dozens of firefighters and killed three of them &mdash; two in western France and one in Sicily, Italy, which is now also battling blazes.</p> <p>The Tour de France has been shortened and will be effectively limited to Paris on Sunday because emergency services are needed to deal with wildfires in the country.</p> <h2>Spain declares national emergency</h2> <p>In Spain, the government has declared a national emergency as two of the country's three current fires, all burning near the capital Madrid, merge into one.</p> <p>Madrid's regional emergency management services said the massive blaze has now reached "its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain."</p> <p>The largest active fire in the region, in Guadalajara province, has already laid waste to some 32,000 hectares.</p> <p>Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited affected areas west of the capital on Saturday and stressed that the priority was "to save lives," as temperatures in the region topped 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit).</p> <h2>NASA abandons comms facility amid Spain's summer of fire</h2> <p>The US space agency NASA on Saturday reported that it had been forced to evacuate its Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC), which is located in the region. The facility is one of three worldwide that allow the agency to communicate with spacecraft in distant parts of the galaxy &mdash; the others are located in Australia and the US.</p> <p>"The safety and well being of our personnel is our highest priority and our thoughts are with the families and neighbors who are also experiencing the impact of the wildfires in the surrounding communities," said a statement released by the agency.</p> <p>Spain, which regularly sees wildfires, has experienced an especially devastating summer. Earlier this month, fires in the south of the country killed 13 people.</p> <p>Environmental officials say that 1,140 square kilometers (440 square miles) have already been lost to flames this year, more than five times the area burnt throughout the first half of 2025.</p> <p><em>Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.</em></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: This report first appeared on&nbsp;<strong>Deutsche Welle</strong>, and has been republished on<strong>&nbsp;ABP Live</strong>&nbsp;as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by&nbsp;<strong>ABP Live.</strong></em></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/europe-wildfires-force-more-than-250-000-people-to-evacuate-1858622

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei More Willing To Pursue Nuclear Weapons Than His Father: Report

<div class="qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot"> <div class="" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:f7d0e449-98f0-430d-a903-da56659823cd-29" data-is-intersecting="true"> <section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:f7d0e449-98f0-430d-a903-da56659823cd-29" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:f7d0e449-98f0-430d-a903-da56659823cd-29" data-testid="conversation-turn-60" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-15 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)"> <div class="[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn" data-conversation-screenshot-content=""> <div class="flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="41c055b4-efc9-493e-be02-60c9af4973ad" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-5" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling"> <p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="170" data-end="435">American intelligence agencies believe Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is significantly more inclined than his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to pursue nuclear weapons, according to New York Times citing officials familiar with classified US assessments.</p> <p data-start="437" data-end="664">While Ali Khamenei had publicly opposed the development of nuclear weapons and issued a religious decree (fatwa) against their use, US intelligence believes his successor is more receptive to advancing Iran's nuclear ambitions.</p> <p data-start="666" data-end="874">Although Mojtaba Khamenei has never publicly advocated building a nuclear bomb, US agencies assess that he and Iran's new hardline leadership are interested in developing advanced nuclear weapon capabilities.</p> <h2 data-section-id="wiygef" data-start="876" data-end="923"><span role="text">Leadership Change Raises Fresh Concerns</span></h2> <p data-start="925" data-end="1093">The assessment comes after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike reportedly supported by US intelligence, triggering a leadership transition in Tehran.</p> <p data-start="1095" data-end="1321">US officials say Mojtaba Khamenei remains in charge despite sustaining serious injuries during the conflict. However, they believe he currently wields less authority than his father, who ruled Iran for more than three decades.</p> <p data-start="1323" data-end="1537">Officials also cautioned that much of the intelligence on Mojtaba Khamenei's views was collected before the recent war, noting that his injuries have significantly reduced his public appearances and communications.</p> <h2 data-section-id="175f68l" data-start="1539" data-end="1579"><span role="text">Trump Weighs Military Escalation</span></h2> <p data-start="1581" data-end="1704">The intelligence assessment comes as US President Donald Trump considers whether to intensify military action against Iran.</p> <p data-start="1706" data-end="1880">According to officials, evidence suggesting that Iran's new leadership may be willing to pursue a nuclear weapon could strengthen the case for additional military operations.</p> <p data-start="1882" data-end="2059">Despite these concerns, US intelligence agencies say Tehran has not yet resumed active nuclear enrichment or restarted its weapons programme following recent US-Israeli strikes.</p> <p data-start="2529" data-end="2677">&nbsp;</p> <p data-start="1882" data-end="2059"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/536HzbCFtVc?si=UNNapNW7cFkymXzZ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></p> <p data-start="1882" data-end="2059">&nbsp;</p> <h2 data-section-id="1pee1ut" data-start="2061" data-end="2119"><span role="text">Iran Moves Nuclear Equipment to 'Pickaxe Mountain'</span></h2> <p data-start="2121" data-end="2277">American officials say Iran has relocated some nuclear centrifuges to a heavily fortified underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran.</p> <p data-start="2279" data-end="2421">The facility, buried deep beneath a mountain, is believed to be beyond the reach of America's most powerful conventional bunker-busting bombs.</p> <p data-start="2423" data-end="2572">US officials believe the move is primarily aimed at protecting critical nuclear infrastructure rather than immediately restarting uranium enrichment.</p> <p data-start="2574" data-end="2758">Satellite imagery and intelligence reports indicate Iran has also reinforced the site with additional ground forces amid concerns that US special forces could attempt a ground assault.</p> <p data-start="2760" data-end="2982">Earlier this week, President Trump described Pickaxe Mountain as "a possible target for a nice big fat shot right in their front door," while claiming the United States had not detected active nuclear work at the facility.</p> <h2 data-section-id="b3r6xl" data-start="2984" data-end="3032"><span role="text">Nuclear Programme Slowed, Not Eliminated</span></h2> <p data-start="3034" data-end="3235">US officials maintain that last year's American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan significantly damaged Tehran's programme but did not destroy it completely.</p> <p data-start="3237" data-end="3384">Initial intelligence estimates suggested the attacks delayed Iran's nuclear programme by only several months rather than eliminating it altogether.</p> <p data-start="3386" data-end="3570">Officials believe Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains intact and accessible, meaning the country still retains the core materials needed for a potential nuclear weapon.</p> <h2 data-section-id="84qs8h" data-start="3572" data-end="3608"><span role="text">A Shift In Nuclear Doctrine?</span></h2> <p data-start="3610" data-end="3788">US intelligence believes Ali Khamenei's religious opposition to nuclear weapons acted as a restraint on Iran's nuclear ambitions, even as Tehran expanded enrichment capabilities.</p> <p data-start="3790" data-end="3873">However, assessments suggest Mojtaba Khamenei does not share the same reservations.</p> <p data-start="3875" data-end="4164">According to US officials, Iran's previous leadership explored developing a basic nuclear device as a deterrent. Intelligence now indicates the new Supreme Leader may favour pursuing more sophisticated thermonuclear warheads capable of being miniaturised for long-range ballistic missiles.</p> <p data-start="4759" data-end="5000" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-updates-ayatollah-mojtaba-khamenei-more-willing-to-pursue-nuclear-weapons-than-his-father-report-1858616

LPG Tanker Disha Carrying 28 Indian Crew Members Attacked In Iranian Waters; All Safe

<p>A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker DISHA, carrying 28 Indian crew members, came under attack in Iranian territorial waters. All crew members are safe, the Indian Embassy in Tehran said on Friday.</p> <p>In a statement, the embassy said it had remained in close contact with the relevant authorities since the incident involving the tanker, identified by IMO No. 8818219, to ascertain the condition of the crew.</p> <p>"The vessel has 28 Indian crew members on board. The Embassy has been in close contact with the relevant authorities and has confirmed that all Indian crew members are safe," the statement said.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQp-gOH_qCY?si=EH6fL3fjAOFLIpcW" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The embassy added that it was continuing to monitor the situation and remained in touch with the concerned authorities.</p> <p>Officials, however, did not disclose the nature of the attack or provide details on the condition of the vessel.</p> <h3>Jaishankar Condemns Attacks On Civilian Shipping</h3> <p>The development comes a day after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India's opposition to attacks on merchant shipping and civilian maritime infrastructure.</p> <p>Addressing the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila on Thursday, Jaishankar said international waterways must remain secure and open in accordance with international law.</p> <p>"India stresses that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded, fully in consonance with international law," Jaishankar said.</p> <p>"Under no circumstances can attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure be countenanced," he added.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ:<a href="https://ift.tt/Au8O9on"> Russia Warns Black Sea Is Unsafe For Navigation After Spike In Ukrainian Strikes</a></strong></p> <h3>India Issues Advisory For Seafarers</h3> <p>The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in the Gulf region and continuing attacks on merchant vessels.</p> <p>Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.</p> <p>In a July 17 advisory, the DGMA said the "safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers" remained central to its mandate.</p> <p>The advisory cited recent attacks on merchant vessels, including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN and AL REKAYYAT, saying the incidents had significantly increased the risks faced by commercial ships and their crews operating in the conflict-affected region.</p> <p>"In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region, including incidents resulting in casualties among Indian seafarers and continuing attacks on merchant vessels during the ongoing conflict, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region," the advisory said.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/bangladesh-president-mohammed-shahabuddin-resigns-citing-health-issues-1858430">Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin Resigns Citing Health Issues</a></strong></p>

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California’s Diwali holiday law faces legal challenge

<p> Washington, Jul 24 (PTI): A California law recognising Diwali as an official state holiday has run into a legal challenge with the court finding it in violation of several provisions of the federal and state constitutions.</p><p> “The Court finds that AB 268 violates several provisions of the federal and state constitutions by giving Diwali special treatment expressly based on its religious importance without any significant secular considerations,” said Judge Stephen Acquisto of the Superior Court of California.</p><p> AB 268 refers to the bill passed by the California state assembly last year that added ‘Diwali’ to the list of state holidays.</p><p> The judge ruled on a petition filed by the San Francisco Taxpayers Association.</p><p> The judge made it clear that the Court’s ruling only addresses the constitutionality of AB 268, a specific piece of legislation, based on its express terms and legislative history.  “The Court is not making broader findings about the nature of Diwali that would preclude future legislation designating Diwali as a state holiday for constitutionally valid reasons,” Judge Acquisto said.</p><p> In a statement, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said the court ruling focused on the wording of the law describing the religious significance of Diwali, rather than the practical purpose of the holiday.</p><p> “HAF is monitoring this lawsuit and will continue supporting Hindu Americans in California as we work to protect the ability of our community to celebrate the holidays that matter,” the advocacy group said in a statement.  A final judgement in favour of the petitioners on the issue is awaited. PTI SKU SKS SKS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/california-s-diwali-holiday-law-faces-legal-challenge-1858466

Russia Warns Black Sea Is Unsafe For Navigation After Spike In Ukrainian Strikes

<p>Russia has warned that its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea is no longer safe for navigation following a rise in Ukrainian strikes on vessels, according to a Bloomberg report.</p> <p>The warning comes as shipping companies have suspended services to Black Sea ports amid escalating attacks in the region.</p> <h2><strong>Russia Issues Navigation Warning</strong></h2> <p>According to a weekly bulletin published on the website of Russia's Defence Ministry, the advisory was issued to all vessels operating within the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.</p> <p>The notice cited potential threats from Ukraine's unmanned aerial and marine vehicles.</p> <p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Attacks On Vessels Intensify</strong></h2> <p>The warning followed an escalation in Ukraine's attacks on ships operating in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.</p> <p>According to statements from Ukraine's General Staff, at least 124 Russia-linked vessels, including 89 tankers, were targeted between July 8 and July 20.</p> <p>The reported number of attacked vessels could not be independently verified.</p> <h2><strong>UN Raises Concerns Over Seafarer Safety</strong></h2> <p>UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed concern over the safety of seafarers operating in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.</p> <p>The UN human rights office said it had verified at least four attacks on civilian vessels in Ukraine's Odesa region this month, in which 34 vessel workers were killed or injured.</p> <h2><strong>UN Urges Protection For Seafarers</strong></h2> <p>Highlighting the risks faced by maritime workers, Volker Turk's spokeswoman, Shabia Mantoo, said:</p> <p>"Seafarers should not be forced or compelled to endanger their lives by sailing through conflict zones. Nor should they face the risk of reprisal by shipowners if they decline these assignments."</p> <p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</p>

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