Ukrainian Ambassador Visits Pattaya to Strengthen Ties and Boost Tourism Cooperation

Thousands of residents have been allowed to return to their homes after authorities eased evacuation orders in several parts of Spain affected by devastating wildfires. However, officials are warning that a new heatwave expected to hit the country could reignite existing fires and create fresh emergencies as firefighters continue battling dangerous conditions. Restrictions have been lifted in areas across Toledo, Madrid, Ávila and Castellón, allowing many displaced families to go back home after days of uncertainty. In the Madrid region alone, around 24,000 people have been permitted to return, while lockdown measures affecting another 20,000 residents have also been removed. Despite the progress, several fires remain active. One of the biggest concerns is the wildfire near Burgohondo, about 150 kilometers west of Madrid, which has already burned more than 43,000 hectares of land. Authorities say it is now considered the largest wildfire ever recorded in Spain. Across the country, more than 207,000 hectares have been destroyed by wildfires so far this year. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the coming hours would be critical as firefighters work to bring the remaining blazes under control. He noted that conditions had improved but warned that rising temperatures, low humidity and strong winds could quickly reverse the progress made in recent days. Emergency crews remain on high alert as Spain prepares for its fourth major heatwave of the summer. Fire officials said the Burgohondo blaze had not spread overnight, but they remain concerned that extreme weather could cause new flare ups. Firefighters are focusing on securing a perimeter stretching about 180 kilometers to prevent the flames from spreading into nearby communities and forests. Among those returning home are residents of the towns of Navas del Rey and Chapinería, who had been evacuated earlier in the week. Many families have found damaged homes, destroyed property and lost livelihoods. Chapinería Mayor Lucía Moya said the community faces a long recovery, with many residents needing support to rebuild their lives after the disaster. Some evacuees are still unable to return. Around 300 people displaced from the nearby Tiétar Valley continue to stay in temporary accommodation provided by local authorities. Officials have pledged to maintain support services until it is safe for everyone to go home. While no deaths have been reported in the fires near Madrid or Castellón, authorities confirmed that a woman injured in an earlier wildfire in Almería has died in hospital. The Almería fires, which occurred earlier this month, claimed the lives of 14 people, including citizens of the United Kingdom, Belgium, the United States, France and Spain. Wildfires are also creating challenges elsewhere in Europe. In neighboring France, firefighters continue to monitor large blazes in the Gironde region, where several flare ups have occurred despite efforts to stabilize the fires. Authorities have warned that temperatures could reach 41 degrees Celsius, with dry winds increasing the risk of further outbreaks. Special protection measures have also been introduced around defense and aerospace facilities located in the affected area. Portugal and Greece are facing similar threats. Emergency crews in northern Portugal are working to contain an active wildfire near Valpaços while protecting nearby infrastructure, including a water treatment plant and a gas storage facility. In Greece, firefighters are responding to blazes on the island of Paros and in the southern mainland region of Trifylia. Scientists continue to warn that climate change is contributing to longer and more intense heatwaves across Europe. Rising temperatures, prolonged dry conditions and stronger winds have increased the frequency and severity of wildfires, making firefighting operations more difficult and placing greater pressure on communities across the continent. Authorities are urging residents in high risk areas to remain cautious as extreme weather conditions are expected to continue in the coming days.

WASHINGTON: A longtime CIA analyst who became the first agency officer to transition while serving has spoken publicly about her dismissal from the White House after her transgender identity was exposed online. Julia Curlee, who spent about two decades with the CIA, said she was retained by the White House when Donald Trump returned to the presidency in 2025, despite his administration’s strong opposition to transgender rights. Curlee told AFP that officials initially wanted her to remain in her position. She said senior members of the new administration treated her professionally and her gender identity did not appear to affect her work. However, the situation changed after far-right influencer Laura Loomer publicly identified Curlee as transgender in a post on X and questioned why she remained in the White House National Security Council’s intelligence office. Curlee said she was dismissed shortly afterward. She recalled receiving a phone call from her new supervisor while she was spending time with her family. According to Curlee, the supervisor told her she had been fired but could not explain the reason. She described the dismissal as evidence that her transgender identity became a problem only after it turned into a public and political controversy. Curlee transitioned in 2013 while working at the CIA, becoming the first officer at the agency to do so while in service. She later joined the National Security Council during Trump’s first presidency in 2017. During her time at the NSC, Curlee provided daily intelligence briefings to then-Vice President Mike Pence. Despite Pence’s conservative views and opposition to several LGBTQ rights, Curlee said her identity never affected their professional relationship. She said her experience during Trump’s first term had led her to believe that she could continue working under a second Trump administration. After Trump’s return to office, however, Curlee said she worked under considerable uncertainty. Several NSC employees were dismissed soon after the new administration took office, but she was initially allowed to remain. She continued working at the White House for roughly 10 weeks before her dismissal. The White House defended the decision, pointing to a 3,000-word opinion article Curlee later wrote for The Atlantic, in which she criticised the president. A White House spokesperson said that someone who publicly attacked the president was not suitable for government service. Pence, meanwhile, expressed support for Curlee and said he and his wife believed people should be treated with dignity and respect. Following her dismissal, Curlee returned to the CIA but remained there for less than a year. She said returning to her former workplace became difficult for several reasons and described having to use a unisex or family bathroom as a humiliating experience.