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VANCOUVER: More than 20,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in British Columbia as a fast-moving wildfire tore through communities around Okanagan Lake, prompting provincial authorities to declare a state of emergency. The Bald Range wildfire exploded in size within hours, driven by hot, dry and windy conditions, sending residents scrambling for safety and creating an increasingly dangerous situation for firefighters and emergency crews. The blaze had expanded to roughly 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres) by Saturday, according to Reuters. Premier David Eby announced the state of emergency on Saturday as more than 100 wildfires were burning across the province. The emergency declaration gives authorities additional powers to restrict travel, coordinate resources and secure accommodation for people displaced by the fires. Thousands ordered to evacuate The communities of Summerland and Peachland were among those heavily affected. Summerland, home to around 12,000 people, was placed under an evacuation order, while thousands more residents in surrounding areas were also told to leave. Officials have warned that conditions remain extremely dangerous, with rapidly changing winds and intense flames making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage. A number of homes and other properties have already been destroyed, although authorities have yet to determine the total number of structures lost because some affected areas remain inaccessible. The wildfire has also disrupted essential services. Power outages have been reported, while Summerland issued a boil-water advisory after untreated water entered part of the system. Highway 97, an important transportation route through the region, was also closed as the fire threatened nearby communities. Residents rescued by helicopter The rapidly spreading flames left some residents trapped after escape routes became unsafe. Emergency crews used helicopters to reach people who could no longer evacuate by road, while search-and-rescue teams continued checking areas behind the fire lines for anyone who may have been left behind. The intensity of the fire has created exceptionally dangerous conditions. Officials said the blaze generated its own weather, including lightning, making firefighting operations even more challenging. Authorities are also investigating a possible wildfire-related death near Summerland. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said hazardous conditions were making it difficult to confirm details immediately. Why the situation is so severe British Columbia entered the 2026 wildfire season with significant concerns about drought and unusually warm conditions. The BC Wildfire Service had warned earlier this summer that much of the province could experience elevated wildfire activity because of persistent drought, below-average snowpack and warmer-than-normal temperatures. The Okanagan was among the areas facing above-average drought conditions. The District of Peachland had already raised its local fire danger rating to extreme in July, warning that dry forests and grasslands could allow any new fire to spread rapidly. A growing national wildfire crisis The emergency in British Columbia is part of a wider wildfire crisis affecting Canada this summer. Thousands of firefighters are battling blazes across multiple provinces, while smoke from major fires has repeatedly affected air quality and visibility. For residents forced from their homes, the immediate priority remains safety as emergency crews work to contain the Bald Range fire. With flames moving quickly and weather conditions remaining difficult, officials continue to urge residents in threatened areas to follow evacuation orders and avoid returning until authorities declare it safe. For British Columbia, the latest disaster is another stark reminder of how quickly a wildfire can transform from a remote blaze into a community-wide emergency.

Norway is mourning the death of King Harald V, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89 after more than three decades on the throne. The Norwegian royal palace said Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35am local time. He had been receiving treatment after being hospitalised earlier this month with a serious illness and a bacterial infection in his blood. Harald’s death brings an end to a 35-year reign during which he became one of Norway’s most respected and popular public figures. He was widely regarded as a modernising monarch who helped make the royal institution more open, accessible and closely connected with ordinary citizens. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, immediately became king following his father’s death. Haakon, 53, is expected to formally address the government and parliament as Norway begins the transition to a new reign. Born on February 21, 1937, Harald was the first Norwegian-born heir to the throne in almost six centuries. His childhood was shaped by the Second World War. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the young prince left the country with his mother and sisters. The family spent time in Sweden before travelling to the United States, where they lived during the war. Harald returned to Norway after the war and later completed his education and military service. He studied social sciences, history and economics at Oxford University before becoming increasingly involved in royal duties. One of the defining moments of his personal life came in 1968, when he married Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman. The marriage broke with royal tradition because Sonja was a commoner. Harald had reportedly waited years for permission to marry her and eventually made clear that he would rather remain unmarried than give her up. Queen Sonja remained his partner throughout his nearly six decades of marriage and his entire reign. Harald became king in January 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. Over time, he developed a reputation for showing emotion and speaking openly on issues affecting Norwegian society. His role as a national unifier became particularly important after the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and on Utøya, in which 77 people were killed. Harald’s public response focused on solidarity, compassion and rejecting fear. He also became known for advocating tolerance and diversity. In a widely remembered speech in 2016, he emphasised that Norway was home to people of different nationalities, religions and sexual orientations. Outside his official duties, Harald was a passionate sailor and represented Norway at three Olympic Games. He was also interested in environmental conservation and supported efforts to protect nature. His later years were marked by repeated health problems. In 2024, he was hospitalised while visiting Malaysia and later received a pacemaker. He subsequently reduced his public engagements but rejected calls for abdication, maintaining that his commitment to the throne was lifelong. Harald’s death also comes at a difficult time for Norway’s royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced scrutiny over her past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while her son Marius Borg Høiby was convicted this year of rape and domestic violence. Mette-Marit has also undergone a lung transplant after suffering from a serious pulmonary condition. Despite the controversies surrounding members of his family, Harald himself retained strong personal popularity among Norwegians. Tributes have poured in from European leaders and fellow monarchs. Britain’s King Charles III described Harald as a much-loved relative and friend, while Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf remembered him as a close friend of his family and Sweden.

A group of New York City homeowners has taken legal action against Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city’s finance authorities over the rollout of a new pied-à-terre tax, arguing that the administration wrongly identified some primary residences as potential second homes. The lawsuit was filed on Friday by homeowners Simon Hedley, Rachel O’Brien and Carmine Morano. The plaintiffs are not challenging the legality of the tax itself. Instead, their case focuses on how city officials identified properties and made information about potentially affected homeowners publicly available. The dispute follows the publication of a city property tax roll containing the names and addresses of more than 900,000 property owners. Although most of those properties are not subject to the new surcharge, nearly 17,000 homeowners received notices warning that their properties could potentially fall under the tax. The homeowners allege that the city’s process has incorrectly flagged primary residences and unnecessarily exposed private information. O’Brien said her family’s permanent home was identified as a possible second residence despite records indicating that the property was their primary residence. She described the situation as unreasonable and questioned why homeowners were publicly listed when their properties might not ultimately be subject to the tax. The plaintiffs have asked the court to declare the notices and the publicly released property information unlawful. They are also seeking restrictions on public access to the list. In addition, the homeowners want the city to suspend response requirements and halt enforcement measures while the legal proceedings are underway. A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani said the administration was committed to ensuring that the tax process remained clear and accessible. The spokesperson added that the city’s Law Department was prepared to defend the administration against the lawsuit. The pied-à-terre tax targets qualifying non-primary residences valued at more than $5 million, along with certain cooperative apartments valued at $1 million or above. The surcharge was included in Mamdani’s fiscal 2027 budget as part of efforts to address New York City’s budget shortfall. The rollout has triggered significant criticism from affected homeowners. In response, Mamdani extended the deadline for property owners to demonstrate that their homes are their primary residences by four weeks. The new deadline is now September 18, giving homeowners additional time to challenge their classification and provide documentation to city authorities.