Caracas (AFP) – When Luis Diaz retired, he was unable to feed his family by relying solely on the food parcels provided by the government at subsidized prices, so he and his friends decided to grow their own. Eight years of recession and four years of hyperinflation have decimated Venezuela’s economy that has lost 80 percent of its value since 2014 leading to regular shortages of basic necessities.
Milford, California (United States) (AFP) – Flames surge into the air as firefighters try to contain the Dixie Fire near Milford, California. The wildfire in Northern California has grown to become the largest single wildfire in California state history.
Gonfaron (France) (AFP) – Violent forest fires have been raging in the Var region of southern France where thousands of people have been evacuated including tourists from campsites. The fires are spreading at a speed of 4km per hour and hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze in windy conditions.
Brussels (AFP) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Afghanistan’s “situation is extremely serious and unpredictable” after the Tabiban takeover and that what is happening in the country “is a tragedy”.
Herat (Afghanistan) (AFP) – As concern grows internationally about an expected clampdown by the Taliban on women’s rights, students at one girls’ school are “happy” to be returning. Schools in Herat faced long closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing security concerns over Taliban advances before insurgents finally captured the city on August 12. The school’s director says it reopened on Monday and students are attending class, with more of the girls wearing the hijab and choosing conservative dress than before the Taliban takeover.
Singapore (AFP) – A panda bred via artificial insemination has been born in Singapore’s zoo, the first cub to be born in the city-state. Jia Jia, the zoo’s 12-year-old female giant panda, gave birth to the cub after she was artificially inseminated with frozen semen from 13-year-old Kai Kai.
Les Cayes (Haiti) (AFP) – Mexican and Colombian aid arrives in Haiti, after the Caribbean nation was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that left more than 1,400 dead.
Abidjan (AFP) – Ivorian medical staff are receiving the first doses of the Ebola virus vaccine as the country records its first case in nearly 30 years.
Bangkok (AFP) – Protesters march in Thailand’s capital to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Demonstrations have become increasingly frequent on the streets of Bangkok, with protesters flinging projectiles to defend from riot police using rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons.
Evora (Portugal) (AFP) – Residents of the southern Portuguese city of Evora seek shade and other ways to cool down as temperatures hit 40 degrees.
Herat (Afghanistan) (AFP) – The Taliban are on the brink of total victory in Afghanistan, with its fighters ordered to wait on the outskirts of the capital and the government conceding it is preparing for a “transfer of power”.
Paralimni (Cyprus) (AFP) – Facilities to encourage visitors to avoid the use of single use plastics are installed by several NGOs and the municipality at the Ayia Triada beach in Paralimni. The beach is now equipped with a water station for cold, filtered and free water. It includes an area for smokers and signs with information on how the visitors can become part of the solution, not the problem are also found at selected points.
