Marseille: A fast-moving wildfire has reached the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-largest city, causing injuries to over 100 individuals and burning through approximately 700 hectares of land. The blaze originated near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of the city, and quickly spread towards the urban area. According to Emirates News Agency, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that around 800 firefighters were deployed to combat the fire, with water-bombing aircraft playing a crucial role in averting a major disaster. Approximately 400 tonnes of water were used to suppress the flames. While no fatalities have been reported, 110 people sustained minor injuries, including 31 firefighters

Moscow: In a new milestone for the UAE, 17-year-old Fatima Abdulrahman Al Awadhi has become the youngest Emirati to summit Mount Elbrus in Russia, Europe’s highest peak at 5,642 metres. According to Emirates News Agency, the achievement marks the latest step in her pursuit of the ‘Seven Summits’ challenge, a global mountaineering goal. Last year, she successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa. Supported by UAE-based Finance House, which advocates youth empowerment, Al Awadhi braved extreme weather and difficult terrain to raise the UAE flag atop the mountain. Her climb serves as a message of hope and inspiration

Abu dhabi: Floods triggered by torrential rains tore through a Himalayan mountain valley between China and Nepal on Tuesday, leaving at least eight people dead and 31 missing, according to officials and state media. According to Emirates News Agency, in Nepal, eight bodies have been recovered, while 20 others-14 Nepalis and six Chinese-remain missing, as confirmed by local sources. On the Chinese side, 11 individuals have been reported missing. The sources added that the competent authorities have so far rescued 57 people, noting that search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Beijing: China’s consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose by 0.1 percent year-on-year in June, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday. The increase reflects a modest uptick in consumer prices across the country. According to Emirates News Agency, the data revealed that while the CPI in urban regions saw a 0.1 percent increase year-on-year last month, rural regions experienced a decrease of 0.2 percent. On a monthly basis, the CPI dipped slightly by 0.1 percent in June. In addition, the report highlighted that the country’s CPI experienced a 0.1-percent decline during the

Kuwait city: Kuwait’s Financial Intelligence Unit has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with India’s Anti-Money Laundering Bureau and Iraq’s Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Bureau, focusing on enhancing information exchange and financial intelligence efforts. The agreements were signed during a meeting of the Egmont Group, a global financial watchdog body. According to Emirates News Agency, the chief of Kuwait’s financial watchdog, Hamad Al-Mekrad, emphasized that these agreements underscore a collective commitment among the nations to improve transparency and cooperation. He highlighted that the collaboration is based on the principles and guidelines of the global financial organization of intelligence units. The

Washington: US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism on Tuesday about reaching a 60-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza by the end of the week. Witkoff’s comments came during a Cabinet meeting where he discussed recent progress achieved in proximity talks. According to Emirates News Agency, Witkoff highlighted that discussions have narrowed from four issues to one after two days of negotiations. This development has raised hopes for a potential ceasefire agreement that could be finalized by week’s end. Witkoff also mentioned that the proposed agreement includes the release of 10 living hostages. He

The hague: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a decisive step by issuing arrest warrants for two prominent Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, including the supreme spiritual leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada. The warrants accuse them of perpetrating persecution against women and girls in the country. According to Emirates News Agency, the ICC has identified reasonable grounds to believe that both Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s chief justice, are responsible for crimes against humanity. These crimes specifically involve persecution on gender grounds, targeting girls, women, and individuals who do not conform to the Taliban’s stringent policies regarding gender identity and

Cairo: Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated that Islamophobia is a dangerous phenomenon that cannot be ignored or overlooked. The AL secretary-general emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to examine the dimensions of Islamophobia, analyze its roots, and search for clear solutions to confront and prevent it in the future. According to Emirates News Agency, Aboul Gheit’s remarks were delivered in a speech by ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, AL Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Media and Communication Department, during an international conference on combating Islamophobia. The conference was held at the AL headquarters under the