International News
Tragedy Strikes Algeria: Orphanage Fire Kills 11, Injures 19
A devastating fire has claimed the lives of at least 11 people, including several children, after an orphanage in Algeria’s capital, Algiers, was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Thursday.
The deadly incident occurred in the Mohammadia suburb as Algeria continues to grapple with an intense heatwave that has triggered hundreds of wildfires across the country’s northern regions.
Firefighters responded to the scene before dawn and battled the blaze for hours in an effort to contain the flames.
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A nearby resident, Abdessalam Merrah, recounted the horrifying moments when the fire broke out.
“At around 3 a.m., we heard the fire engines arriving and the children screaming,” he said.
“We helped as much as we could, but unfortunately we were told that 11 people had already died.”
Authorities said the death toll is provisional, while 19 other people were injured in the fire. The cause of the blaze has not yet been established.
Images from the scene showed blackened window frames and heavy fire damage to the orphanage.
A witness said firefighters had to use a chainsaw to cut through metal window bars to gain access to parts of the building during the rescue operation.
Rachid Belhadj, head of the forensic medicine department at Mustapha Bacha Hospital, said several of the victims were burned beyond recognition, making DNA testing necessary to confirm their identities.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune later confirmed that “several children” were among those killed in the tragedy.
National television also broadcast footage of Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visiting survivors receiving treatment at two hospitals in Algiers.
932 Fires Recorded in One Week
The orphanage tragedy comes as Algeria battles a severe heatwave that has fuelled widespread wildfires across the country.
According to the Civil Defence, 932 fires were recorded between July 8 and July 15, with the majority already extinguished while a handful remain active.
The worsening fire crisis has also claimed the life of a municipal worker who died while battling a wildfire in the northern province of Setif earlier this week.
To contain the fires, authorities have deployed more than 19,000 emergency personnel, over 700 fire trucks, six helicopters, and 12 water-bombing aircraft.
Residents have also been evacuated from several affected provinces, including Bejaia, Guelma, Bouira, and Mila, as emergency teams continue to battle the blazes.
Northern Algeria is hit by forest fires almost every summer, with experts pointing to prolonged drought and climate change as major factors behind the worsening outbreaks.
Authorities have also said they suspect some of the fires were deliberately started, with several suspects already taken into custody.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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