देश-विदेश

King Charles III has expressed grief over the death of former British soldier and renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who was killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan. According to international media reports, the British monarch paid tribute to Purja’s life and achievements. He said the former soldier had rendered distinguished service in the British Army before becoming one of the world’s most respected high-altitude climbers. King Charles praised Purja for his dedication, courage and outstanding achievements in mountaineering. He acknowledged that Purja earned global recognition after completing several challenging climbing expeditions and inspiring climbers around the world. The monarch said Purja’s contribution extended beyond mountaineering, noting that he had first built an impressive military career before gaining international fame through his record-breaking achievements in the world’s highest mountain ranges. Meanwhile, rescue teams in Pakistan continue recovery operations following the deadly avalanche on Broad Peak. Authorities have confirmed that the bodies of eight climbers who lost their lives in the incident have been recovered. Search and rescue teams are still looking for two missing mountaineers. The operation remains difficult because of harsh weather conditions, deep snow and the challenging terrain of one of the world’s highest peaks. Emergency personnel have continued the mission despite the risks, using all available resources to locate the remaining missing climbers. Officials said the operation will continue until all those affected by the tragedy are accounted for. The avalanche has shocked the international mountaineering community and prompted tributes from climbers, officials and supporters around the world. Many have remembered Nirmal Purja for his remarkable achievements, leadership and commitment to pushing the limits of high-altitude climbing. Broad Peak, located in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, is among the world’s highest mountains and is considered one of the most demanding peaks for climbers because of its extreme weather and difficult climbing conditions.

The US state of Washington is facing one of its most severe wildfire emergencies of the year as rapidly spreading fires continue to burn across vast areas, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and leaving tens of thousands without electricity. State authorities have declared a state of emergency after wildfires scorched more than 250,000 acres of land. Officials said the total area burned since the beginning of the current wildfire season has now exceeded 450,000 acres, highlighting the scale of the crisis. Governor Bob Ferguson announced emergency measures and imposed a statewide burn ban. He said extremely high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have created dangerous conditions that are allowing the fires to spread quickly. Firefighters are battling more than a dozen active wildfires across the state. More than 4,000 emergency personnel have been deployed to contain the blazes and protect communities under threat. The Old Trails Fire has become one of the most destructive wildfires in eastern Washington. The fire is threatening thousands of homes and buildings, particularly around the city of Spokane. Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations in several areas as flames continue to move toward residential communities. Emergency officials have also evacuated important public facilities as a precaution. These include a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, a waste-to-energy plant and water treatment facilities. Authorities said the measures were taken to protect patients, staff and essential infrastructure. The wildfire emergency has also disrupted electricity services across eastern Washington. Utility provider Avista reported that around 60,000 customers remain without power because of fire damage and precautionary shutdowns designed to reduce additional risks. One of the largest active blazes is the Kaiser Canyon Fire in northeastern Washington. The wildfire has expanded to nearly 134,000 acres and continues to challenge firefighters because of difficult terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions. Fire crews from more than a dozen US states have joined local emergency responders to strengthen firefighting operations. National Guard personnel have also been mobilised to assist with evacuation efforts, logistics and emergency response. Authorities are using helicopters, aircraft, bulldozers and other heavy equipment to slow the spread of the fires and establish containment lines. Emergency teams are working around the clock to protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. Residents in affected communities have been urged to follow evacuation orders without delay and remain informed through official emergency updates. Officials warned that weather conditions could continue to fuel the fires in the coming days. Despite the widespread destruction and the large-scale emergency response, authorities have confirmed that no deaths or injuries have been reported so far. Firefighters continue working to bring the blazes under control while monitoring the risk of new fires across the state.

LIMA: A tourist aircraft crashed in southern Peru on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board during a sightseeing flight over the world-famous Nazca Lines, authorities confirmed. The aircraft, identified as a Cessna Caravan C-208, was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two pilots when it went down near the Nazca archaeological site shortly after taking off from Pisco Airport. According to officials, the passengers included seven Italian nationals, two Germans and two Spaniards. Emergency responders rushed to the crash site, but there were no survivors. Police and rescue teams launched recovery operations immediately after the accident. Authorities said the impact completely destroyed the aircraft, making rescue efforts impossible. Investigators have begun examining the wreckage to determine what caused the crash. The Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attract thousands of visitors every year. The enormous ancient geoglyphs, etched into the desert more than 1,500 years ago, are best viewed from the air, making sightseeing flights a popular tourist activity. Local authorities expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the victims’ families. The airline operating the flight said it would cooperate fully with investigators and review its flight operations in line with directives from aviation authorities. The accident is the latest in a series of aviation incidents involving sightseeing flights over the Nazca Lines. Similar crashes in previous years have raised concerns about the safety of tourist flights in the region. Officials said a full investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances behind the fatal crash.

At least eight Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to Gaza’s civil defence authorities, as violence continued despite renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring a ceasefire. Officials said the latest strikes targeted several locations across the enclave, including Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis and Gaza City. Among the victims were a man and a woman who were killed when an Israeli helicopter struck a residential apartment in southern Deir el-Balah. Additional attacks claimed the lives of three people in Khan Younis and another person in Gaza City’s Old City. The latest escalation came just days after the United States unveiled a new roadmap intended to revive the stalled Gaza ceasefire agreement. The proposed plan reportedly includes steps toward Hamas’ disarmament and a phased Israeli military withdrawal from the territory. However, both sides remain divided over the conditions for implementing the proposal. Hamas has maintained that it will only place its weapons under supervision after Israeli military operations end and troops withdraw in accordance with the previously agreed ceasefire framework. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have insisted that any withdrawal depends on what they describe as the complete and genuine disarmament of Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the latest proposal, while some members of his coalition have rejected the initiative and called for continued military operations against Hamas. Diplomatic contacts are continuing in an effort to reduce tensions and revive negotiations. Former Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan said discussions involving senior US representatives were ongoing and focused on securing an end to the fighting, although no breakthrough has yet been announced. Meanwhile, another Israeli strike reportedly destroyed a medical supply warehouse in central Gaza, causing extensive damage and raising further concerns over the humanitarian situation.

IDAHO: A shooting at a busy fast-food restaurant in the US state of Idaho left three people dead, including the suspected gunman, and injured seven others, authorities said. The attack occurred at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls on Saturday, triggering a major emergency response as police, paramedics and other first responders rushed to the scene. According to local police, the suspect opened fire inside or near the restaurant before the incident came to an end. Officials later confirmed that the gunman was among those killed. The identities of the victims have not yet been released as authorities continue notifying their families. Police Chief Matthew Hicks said officers believe there was only one attacker and assured residents that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Investigators are working to establish the motive behind the shooting and determine the sequence of events that led to the violence. Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire erupted. One eyewitness said he saw an armed man carrying a rifle before shots were exchanged. Restaurant employees also rushed to help injured victims, with one worker reportedly pulling a wounded woman to safety while waiting for emergency medical teams. Seven injured people were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials have not yet released updates on their conditions. Law enforcement agencies have secured the area and launched a full investigation. Detectives are examining evidence, reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to understand what triggered the deadly attack. Public officials praised the swift response of emergency services, saying their actions helped secure the scene and prevent further casualties. Authorities have urged anyone with additional information or video footage to assist investigators as the inquiry continues.

Thousands of students across the Gaza Strip achieved success in this year’s Tawjihi high school examinations despite months of conflict, displacement and severe disruptions to daily life, demonstrating remarkable determination to continue their education under extraordinary circumstances. The annual Tawjihi examinations, which play a decisive role in determining admission to universities and future careers, were completed by thousands of Palestinian students who prepared for the tests while living through prolonged instability, damaged infrastructure and limited access to educational resources. Among the success stories were three siblings from Khan Younis who earned outstanding grades after months of dedicated study. Despite facing repeated challenges during the academic year, the family celebrated their achievements, describing education as a source of hope and resilience. The students said the difficult conditions often made it emotionally exhausting to continue studying. However, they remained focused on their academic goals and credited their family for providing encouragement throughout the year. They said their success represented not only personal achievement but also a reward for months of perseverance. The family’s journey was particularly challenging because two of the siblings have physical disabilities, making regular attendance at private tuition difficult. Their parents arranged for teachers to conduct lessons at home, ensuring they could continue their studies despite mobility challenges and the difficult security situation. Their mother said years of continuous support, confidence and determination helped her children overcome obstacles. She expressed pride in their achievements, saying their success proved that dedication and family support can help students overcome even the most difficult circumstances. Education officials said nearly 89,000 students from the occupied Palestinian territories took the Tawjihi examinations this year, while thousands of Palestinian students living abroad also participated. Authorities added that more than 36,000 students from Gaza alone sat for the examinations despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Officials also noted the heavy impact of the conflict on the education sector. Hundreds of schools have reportedly been damaged, while many educational institutions remain unusable because of destruction. In many areas, students attended lessons inside temporary shelters, tents or partially damaged buildings where classrooms lacked desks, chairs and basic learning facilities. Teachers continued providing instruction despite the challenging conditions. Many educators said they had to support students emotionally as well as academically because many had lost family members or been forced to leave their homes during the conflict. One mathematics teacher said students often arrived carrying emotional trauma, making psychological support just as important as classroom instruction. She explained that teachers tried to encourage students, helping them remain focused on their studies despite the hardships surrounding them. Several students also shared deeply personal stories of loss. One student who lost multiple close family members during the conflict said completing her examinations became both an emotional struggle and a tribute to her loved ones. Although she celebrated passing the exams, she said the moment was bittersweet because many family members were no longer alive to witness her achievement.