Fireworks display goes wrong in Japan as boats catch fire
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Arab Times
an hour ago
- Arab Times
KFSD tackled over 1,300 fire incidents and 3,500 rescues so far in 2025: official
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 7: The Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) responded to 1,304 fire reports across residential and non-residential areas in all six governorates during the first half of 2025, according to Brigadier Mohammad Al-Gharib, Director of Public Relations and Media at KFSD. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday, Al-Gharib revealed that Hawalli Governorate recorded the highest number of fire reports with 215, followed by Mubarak Al-Kabeer with 202, Ahmadi with 195, Farwaniya with 183, the Capital with 171, and Jahra with 147. Al-Gharib stated that in total, 1,648 fire incidents were recorded during this period, along with 3,532 rescue operations and 2,538 good-faith reports, indicating a high level of preparedness and sustained effort by firefighting teams across the country. The Fire Service also dealt with 18 fatalities resulting from drowning or body recovery operations—14 handled directly by the fire brigades, while four were transferred to other competent authorities. Addressing the causes of fires, Al-Gharib noted that electrical overloads were responsible for 118 incidents, while 169 fires resulted from children playing with heat sources or flammable materials. An additional 159 incidents were due to deliberate or semi-deliberate causes. He emphasized that the KFSD had implemented a proactive and integrated emergency response plan during the first half of the year. This strategy allowed for rapid intervention and effective incident management while safeguarding lives and property. Al-Gharib praised the efficiency of operational plans and the high state of readiness among firefighting teams. The reported cases varied in nature, ranging from residential fires to blazes in industrial and commercial facilities, and included rescue operations on roads and at multiple locations. Al-Gharib affirmed that all incidents were addressed by the highest international standards in firefighting and emergency response. Calling for greater public involvement, Al-Gharib urged citizens and residents to adhere to safety guidelines and promptly report emergencies, underlining that 'safety is a collective responsibility.' He also warned of the increased risk of electrical short circuits, particularly during the summer months, due to heightened demand on power systems from heavy appliance usage. Al-Gharib called on the public to inspect electrical connections, avoid using worn-out wires, and not to overload sockets, stressing that negligence or mishandling of electrical devices could result in serious consequences. The KFSD continues to operate at a high level of readiness, aiming to prevent disasters and ensure the protection of lives and property through swift action, public awareness, and community cooperation.
Arab Times
an hour ago
- Arab Times
UN rights chief condemns escalating attacks on civilians by armed groups in eastern DR Congo
GENEVA, Aug 7, (Xinhua): UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Wednesday condemned the escalation in deadly attacks by the March 23 Movement (M23) and other armed groups against civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the past month. According to first-hand accounts received by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), between July 9 and 21, at least 319 civilians were killed by the M23 in four villages in the Rutshuru territory, in North Kivu Province. Most of the victims, including at least 48 women and 19 children, were local farmers camping in their fields during the planting season. The OHCHR also documented multiple attacks on civilians by other armed groups in the North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri Provinces in July. Turk said in a statement that he was "appalled" by the attacks, and stressed that "all attacks against civilians must stop immediately, and all those responsible must be held to account." He renewed his call on all parties to the conflicts in eastern DRC to protect civilians from harm, and to uphold all their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. He also urged all parties to the recently signed declaration of principles to commit to the peace process in good faith and to act decisively to end the cycles of recurring violence. On July 19, the DRC government and the M23 signed a declaration of principles in Doha to end the conflict in the country's eastern region.
Arab Times
2 hours ago
- Arab Times
Roadside bomb targeting police vehicle in northwest Pakistan kills 2 officers, wounds 14
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 7, (AP): A powerful roadside bomb struck a police vehicle in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the restive northwest of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least two officers and wounding 14 others, mostly passersby, officials said. The attack took place in the city of Wana in South Waziristan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local police chief Adam Khan. Militant violence has surged in recent weeks, claiming the lives of dozens of security personnel. Pakistan is also preparing for a military operation in Bajur, another northwestern district, where elders are in talks with the government and insurgents to avoid violence. Previous such operations years ago displaced thousands of residents. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on police, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, known as TTP. The group frequently targets security forces and civilians across the region. TTP is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces after two decades of war. Since then, many TTP fighters and leaders have found refuge in Afghanistan, with some living openly under Taliban rule - a development that has emboldened the group in Pakistan.
