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Portugal Combats Wildfires Amid Third Heatwave Of The Year

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Firefighters in Portugal are endeavouring to control wildfires that have spread across thousands of hectares in the midst of soaring temperatures.

Approximately 800 personnel responded to a fire near the southern town of Odemira overnight on Monday, resulting in the evacuation of over 1,400 individuals.

At least nine firefighters sustained injuries while combating the fires.

Temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) are anticipated to affect a significant portion of the Iberian peninsula this week.

Three major fires that scorched hundreds of hectares in Spain over the weekend have been brought under control, but weather alerts remain in place across much of the country.

In Portugal, Monday saw a temperature of 46.4C (116F), the hottest of the year so far, recorded in Santarém.

The fire near Odemira began on Saturday and was driven south into the hilly interior of the Algarve, Portugal’s main tourism region, by strong winds.

It has so far destroyed some 6,700 hectares (16,600 acres) of land, while a total of 19 villages, four tourist accommodations and a camping site have been evacuated.

The town’s mayor, Helder Guerreiro, has said the situation is “critical, difficult, and complex”.

A map of wildfires in Portugal
In the centre of the country, other major fires prompted the closure of several stretches of motorway, including parts of the A1 between Lisbon and Porto.

Sixteen waterbombing aircraft have been deployed to support firefighting efforts across the two areas.

Authorities have declared more than 120 municipalities across Portugal at maximum risk of wildfires.

Climate change amplifies the likelihood of experiencing hot and arid conditions, which can intensify the occurrence of wildfires.

Since the onset of the industrial era, the global temperature has already risen by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius.

Unless governments worldwide implement significant reductions in emissions, temperatures will continue to rise.

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I Don’t Debate As Well As I Used To,’ Biden Reflects On Debate Performance

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President Joe Biden emphasized his capacity to deliver results while acknowledging challenges with his mobility and speech during a campaign rally in North Carolina.

His remarks followed a heated debate against former President Donald Trump in Georgia, marking a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle.

At the campaign rally in North Carolina on Friday, President Biden addressed supporters stating “Folks, I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong.”

To downplay suggestions of being replaced in the presidential race, Democrat Joe Biden emphasized resilience, stating, “I know, as millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up.”

He also asserted his commitment to safeguarding democracy, declaring, “I won’t allow Trump to attack our democracy again, I don’t think so folks.”

Reflecting on progress made since his predecessor’s tenure, Biden remarked, “The US has come a long way from the mess that Donald Trump left,” highlighting the past “constitutional crisis and international embarrassment” caused by the former president.

Biden reaffirmed his belief that America embodies “honesty and decency” and serves as a “beacon of the world,” contrasting this with Donald Trump’s motives of “revenge and retribution,” which he criticized as never having “built a damn thing.”

Reflecting on the recent debate, President Biden remarked, “I don’t know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating with a guy who has the morals of an alley cat.”

He also commented on Trump’s performance, alleging, “Did you see Trump last night? My guess is he set, and I mean this sincerely, a new record for the most lies told in a single debate.”

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ICC Issues War Crime Arrest Warrants Against Russia’s Army Chief, Ex-Minister

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The International Criminal Court announced on Tuesday that arrest warrants had been issued against Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, and former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The warrants, issued on Monday and made public on Tuesday, allege their involvement in directing attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure deemed as war crimes.

These actions include targeting civilian sites and causing disproportionate harm to civilians, along with committing inhumane acts considered crimes against humanity in Ukraine, according to the ICC statement.

The ICC warrants mark the latest developments in the court’s actions related to the Ukraine conflict, which notably include an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

ICC judges stated that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the two suspects are responsible for missile strikes conducted by the Russian armed forces on Ukrainian electrical infrastructure between October 10, 2022, and March 9, 2023.

According to the court, these strikes targeted civilian objects, and even when the targets could be considered military, the civilian casualties were deemed disproportionate to any anticipated military advantage.

Ukraine welcomed the decision, with President Volodymyr Zelensky describing it as significant.

He expressed hope that the suspects would be apprehended and emphasized that the decision underscores the inevitability of justice for Russian actions against Ukrainians.

Russia has dismissed the warrants as “insignificant,” with the country’s security council stating that the ICC’s jurisdiction does not extend to Russia and labeling the decision as part of the West’s hybrid warfare against Russia.

The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, lacks its own enforcement mechanism for arrest warrants and instead depends on its 124 member states’ justice systems to execute them.

In practice, individuals under an ICC warrant are theoretically barred from traveling to any ICC member state due to the risk of arrest.

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Kenyan Protesters Shot Dead Amid Tax Bill Unrest

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Violence erupted in Nairobi, Kenya, after protests turned deadly following the passage of a contentious tax bill in parliament.

Reports indicate that demonstrators breached the parliament compound, prompting police to open fire, resulting in at least 10 deaths and leaving around 50 others injured, according to paramedics on the scene.

Paramedic Vivian Achista confirmed the casualties, describing a scene of chaos as protesters clashed with security forces.

Images from the scene depicted motionless bodies on the ground, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Thousands had gathered in Nairobi earlier to protest against the tax legislation, underscoring widespread public discontent.

Inside parliament, footage showed overturned furniture, while outside, scenes of fires, tear gas, and water cannon illustrated the intensity of the clashes.

The unrest escalated with protesters issuing threats towards politicians, prompting some lawmakers to evacuate through tunnels to ensure their safety amidst the escalating turmoil.

The office of Nairobi’s governor was among the targets set ablaze amidst the escalating turmoil.

In a dramatic turn, Kenyan-British activist Auma Obama, who is also the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was teargassed during a live interview with CNN.

The contentious tax bill in Kenya is set to introduce new levies, including an eco-levy expected to hike prices on essential items such as period products and nappies.

Public outcry has forced the removal of proposals to tax bread, cooking oil, car ownership, and financial transactions, with many Kenyans expressing anger over the escalating cost of living in the East African nation.

Protests have marked every stage of the bill’s passage, culminating in Tuesday’s third and final reading.

President William Ruto now holds the decision to approve the legislation, with the option to send it back to parliament if he has objections. The bill’s fate remains uncertain amid ongoing public and political tensions.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission has condemned the violent crackdown on protesters, sharing a video depicting police firing at demonstrators and pledging accountability for those responsible.

In a direct message to President William Ruto on social media, the commission accused his regime of undermining democracy, stating, “The world is watching your descent into tyranny!” They demanded that all individuals involved in the shooting, whether actively or passively, be held accountable for their actions.

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