Paris reopens the Seine for public swimming after more than 100 years
Parisians took the plunge into the Seine on Saturday, enjoying public swimming in the river for the first time in over 100 years....
A massive wildfire erupted in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate as flames engulfed homes and spread rapidly under fierce winds.
A massive wildfire erupted in Pacific Palisades, an affluent area of Los Angeles, United States, on Tuesday, January 7, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate as flames engulfed homes and spread rapidly under fierce winds. The blaze, which has already scorched over 1,262 acres (510 hectares), sent plumes of smoke billowing across the city, choking the air and creating traffic gridlock as residents fled.
The fire, driven by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, ignited near the ridge of Palisades Drive and Lachman Lane and swiftly moved toward the coast. "The wind was howling... blowing right down to the beach," said local resident Michael Cardenas, who watched as embers lit palm trees along Sunset Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and aircraft, worked tirelessly to battle the flames, scooping water from the sea to douse the inferno. Bulldozers cleared abandoned vehicles from roads, while some residents were forced to flee on foot as traffic snarled on the limited escape routes from the canyon.
The fire comes after a prolonged dry spell and amid "red flag" warnings issued by the National Weather Service. The agency predicted Santa Ana winds—known for their dry, gusty power—would hit speeds of 50 to 80 mph across much of Los Angeles County, with some mountain areas experiencing gusts as high as 100 mph.
Residents expressed fear for the safety of people and animals. "Property damage is one thing, but losing lives, pets, and horses is what really matters," Cardenas said, as firefighters worked tirelessly to protect neighborhoods at risk.
Officials warned that the worst wind conditions were expected overnight, raising concerns that the fire could spread further and force more evacuations. As the flames advanced, scenes of devastation unfolded, with apartment buildings shrouded in smoke, homes reduced to ashes, and emergency vehicles lining the streets.
The Pacific Palisades fire is one of the many blazes to hit California in recent years, as the state grapples with intensifying fire seasons linked to prolonged drought and climate change. Firefighters remain on high alert as strong winds and dry conditions continue to threaten the region.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Afghanistan has asked Azerbaijan to support its export efforts to Türkiye and Europe via the Port of Baku, aiming to boost trade through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor.
Parisians took the plunge into the Seine on Saturday, enjoying public swimming in the river for the first time in over 100 years.
The Dalai Lama, already the longest-lived head of Tibetan Buddhism, now says he hopes to live beyond 130, delighting followers during a prayer ceremony in Dharamshala.
The first half of 2025 saw a sharp decline in asylum applications across Europe, with Germany experiencing a nearly 50% drop compared to last year.
A boat capsized in central China’s Dongjiang Lake, leaving several people missing and prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
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