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Fresh wildfire erupts in Los Angeles, National Guard deployed amid escalating crisis

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Firefighters battling flames during a Los Angeles wildfire with smoke in the background

Los Angeles is grappling with devastating wildfires that have left destruction in their wake, forcing thousands to evacuate and stretching firefighting resources to their limits. The infernos, which have destroyed thousands of structures and scorched vast tracts of land, have been described by authorities as some of the worst in California’s history.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna painted a grim picture of the situation, saying, “It looks as though an atomic bomb dropped in these areas,” during a press conference on Thursday.

Rapid spread and destruction

A new fire broke out Thursday evening in the West Hills neighborhood, consuming over 900 acres in mere hours. Across Southern California, multiple wildfires have claimed at least 10 lives, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and razed entire neighborhoods. In total, the Pacific Palisades fire has burned over 19,000 acres, while the Altadena fire has destroyed 13,000 acres.

Mass evacuations and celebrity homes affected

Nearly 180,000 residents are currently under evacuation orders. Pacific Palisades and Altadena, home to numerous celebrities like Paris Hilton and Anthony Hopkins, have been among the hardest-hit areas, with multi-million-dollar properties reduced to ash.

“This is absolutely an unprecedented, historic firestorm,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a briefing.

National Guard and federal support

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of the National Guard to assist in the firefighting efforts and protect vulnerable communities. “We’re throwing everything at our disposal to safeguard lives and properties,” he stated, while also issuing stern warnings against looting in evacuated zones.

President Joe Biden has pledged federal support, describing the situation as “the most widespread, devastating fire in California’s history.” He emphasized that the federal government is fully committed to aiding the state in its response.

Political tensions and conspiracy theories

The crisis has sparked political friction, with President-elect Donald Trump accusing Governor Newsom of mismanagement on social media. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories have emerged online, including baseless claims about firefighting resources being diverted to Ukraine.

International support and climate challenges

Canada’s outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered assistance, sharing a video of Canadian firefighters battling the California blazes. “Neighbors helping neighbors,” Trudeau wrote, emphasizing international solidarity during the crisis.

Experts attribute the fires’ intensity to decades of drought followed by unusually wet years, which created an abundance of dry vegetation now fueling the flames. Meteorologists warn that strong winds and dry conditions are likely to persist, exacerbating the situation.

Community response and recovery efforts

Shelters have been inundated with donations from local residents, though officials are redirecting supplies to other areas in need. Meanwhile, containment efforts in some regions, such as the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills, have allowed residents brief reprieves to check their homes.

As California grapples with these catastrophic fires, the focus remains on safeguarding lives, controlling the blazes, and addressing the long-term implications of climate-driven disasters.

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Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

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Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

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Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

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PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.

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