British Columbia declares state of emergency as fast-moving wildfire forces more than 20,000 to flee
British Columbia Premier David Eby declared a provincial state of emergency on Saturday, August 8, after the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people from communities along Okanagan Lake, including the full evacuation of Summerland (population 12,000) and about 8,000 residents in and around Peachland. The fire, discovered Friday, nearly doubled in size overnight to roughly 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres) amid hot, windy conditions and prolonged drought. More than 100 wildfires are burning across the province, nearly half of them out of control, with thousands fleeing on jammed roads as officials warned that "explosive" fire conditions could threaten additional communities; some residents were trapped as the fire advanced, and search-and-rescue crews continued looking for others who may have been caught.
Read more →British Columbia declares state of emergency as fast-moving wildfire forces more than 20,000 to flee
British Columbia Premier David Eby declared a provincial state of emergency on Saturday, August 8, after the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people from communities along Okanagan Lake, including the full evacuation of Summerland (population 12,000) and about 8,000 residents in and around Peachland. The fire, discovered Friday, nearly doubled in size overnight to roughly 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres) amid hot, windy conditions and prolonged drought. More than 100 wildfires are burning across the province, nearly half of them out of control, with thousands fleeing on jammed roads as officials warned that "explosive" fire conditions could threaten additional communities; some residents were trapped as the fire advanced, and search-and-rescue crews continued looking for others who may have been caught.
Typhoon Dolphin slams into China's east coast, forcing more than a million evacuations
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in China's Zhejiang Province around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, with winds reaching 94 mph, making it the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year. Authorities relocated more than 900,000 residents from the city of Wenzhou alone and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters, as flood warnings were issued across the region. The storm forced the cancellation of nearly 1,400 flights in and out of Shanghai's main airports, prompted China Railway Shanghai Group to suspend some rail services, and halted operations at Shanghai's largest ship-refueling ports. Dolphin's outer effects also brought heavy rain and strong winds to Japan's Okinawa and to Taiwan.
Read more →Typhoon Dolphin slams into China's east coast, forcing more than a million evacuations
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in China's Zhejiang Province around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, with winds reaching 94 mph, making it the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year. Authorities relocated more than 900,000 residents from the city of Wenzhou alone and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters, as flood warnings were issued across the region. The storm forced the cancellation of nearly 1,400 flights in and out of Shanghai's main airports, prompted China Railway Shanghai Group to suspend some rail services, and halted operations at Shanghai's largest ship-refueling ports. Dolphin's outer effects also brought heavy rain and strong winds to Japan's Okinawa and to Taiwan.
Syria and Russia strike deal to hand back Mediterranean bases, ending Moscow's military use of Hmeimim and Tartus
Syria and Russia announced on Sunday, August 9, that they reached a memorandum of understanding ending Russian military use of the Hmeimim air base near Latakia and the Tartus naval base, the two strategic Mediterranean outposts Moscow has held since intervening in Syria's civil war in 2015. Under the deal, reached after 18 months of negotiations, Syria will take control of Hmeimim and the commercial berth at Tartus port as part of its civil administration, while the military facilities at both sites will be converted into "joint training and qualification centers." The transition is set to be completed within three months. The agreement marks a further erosion of Moscow's regional influence following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in 2024, with President Vladimir Putin working to preserve ties with Syria's new authorities in Damascus to keep some foothold at the bases.
Read more →Syria and Russia strike deal to hand back Mediterranean bases, ending Moscow's military use of Hmeimim and Tartus
Syria and Russia announced on Sunday, August 9, that they reached a memorandum of understanding ending Russian military use of the Hmeimim air base near Latakia and the Tartus naval base, the two strategic Mediterranean outposts Moscow has held since intervening in Syria's civil war in 2015. Under the deal, reached after 18 months of negotiations, Syria will take control of Hmeimim and the commercial berth at Tartus port as part of its civil administration, while the military facilities at both sites will be converted into "joint training and qualification centers." The transition is set to be completed within three months. The agreement marks a further erosion of Moscow's regional influence following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in 2024, with President Vladimir Putin working to preserve ties with Syria's new authorities in Damascus to keep some foothold at the bases.
Russia batters Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk overnight as Ukraine warns of looming winter energy strike campaign
Russia launched 11 missiles — most of them ballistic — along with up to 100 drones and Banderol loitering munitions at Ukraine's Odesa region overnight into August 9, while separate strikes on the Dnipropetrovsk region killed one person and injured five others. Ukraine's General Staff reported 213 combat clashes over the day and said its forces downed 174 Shahed-type drones and five Banderol missiles. Russian attacks killed at least 13 people and injured 90 across the country over the past day. Ukrainian officials warned that Russia is preparing a large-scale strike campaign against Kyiv's energy infrastructure in the coming weeks, potentially launching its 2026–2027 winter bombardment campaign in August to exploit Ukraine's ongoing shortage of ballistic-missile interceptors; Ukraine's military separately launched a drone attack on the Russian city of Belgorod overnight.
Read more →Russia batters Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk overnight as Ukraine warns of looming winter energy strike campaign
Russia launched 11 missiles — most of them ballistic — along with up to 100 drones and Banderol loitering munitions at Ukraine's Odesa region overnight into August 9, while separate strikes on the Dnipropetrovsk region killed one person and injured five others. Ukraine's General Staff reported 213 combat clashes over the day and said its forces downed 174 Shahed-type drones and five Banderol missiles. Russian attacks killed at least 13 people and injured 90 across the country over the past day. Ukrainian officials warned that Russia is preparing a large-scale strike campaign against Kyiv's energy infrastructure in the coming weeks, potentially launching its 2026–2027 winter bombardment campaign in August to exploit Ukraine's ongoing shortage of ballistic-missile interceptors; Ukraine's military separately launched a drone attack on the Russian city of Belgorod overnight.