US strikes Iran as widening war engulfs more countries

Kuwait’s Ministry of Social Affairs has confirmed that restrictions on bottled water purchases will remain in place as part of efforts to discourage panic buying and ensure supplies remain available for everyone. Under the current rules, shoppers can buy no more than five cartons of bottled water per invoice at central markets and cooperative society branches across the country. The ministry said all cooperative societies are required to enforce the purchase limit without exception. Officials have instructed the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies to make sure every branch follows the directive and prevents customers from making unusually large purchases. Authorities believe the measure will help stop unnecessary stockpiling that could leave other shoppers without access to essential supplies. According to officials, the restriction is purely a precaution and should not be seen as a sign of a shortage. The ministry stressed that bottled water production remains stable and factories continue to operate at full capacity. Regular deliveries are being made to markets and cooperative stores, ensuring that supplies remain sufficient to meet consumer demand. Officials explained that the temporary limit is designed to promote fair distribution and prevent panic buying during the current situation. They said excessive purchasing by a small number of customers can quickly create empty shelves, increase crowding at stores and trigger unnecessary public concern even when supplies remain adequate. The ministry also confirmed that it is closely monitoring the implementation of the policy. Cooperative societies that fail to follow the instructions or violate the regulations could face action from the authorities. Officials urged retailers to strictly apply the purchase limit so that bottled water remains available to all consumers. Residents have been encouraged to buy only the amount they genuinely need and avoid hoarding. The ministry also warned against spreading unverified information or rumors that could create unnecessary fear and encourage panic buying among the public. Officials emphasized that responsible purchasing will help maintain steady supplies and prevent disruption in the market. In a separate development, Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced a new legal framework for e-commerce platforms to improve consumer protection and regulate the country’s rapidly growing online marketplace. The regulations were introduced under Ministerial Resolution No. 109 of 2026 and officially came into force on July 8. They apply to all digital platforms involved in selling, ordering and delivering products within Kuwait. The new rules clearly define the responsibilities of online platforms, merchants, delivery companies and consumers. Officials said the regulations are intended to create a more transparent business environment while encouraging fair competition and supporting future investment in the digital economy. Under the updated framework, companies operating electronic platforms must obtain the required licences and comply with existing laws. They are also required to strengthen cybersecurity measures and protect their digital systems and customer information from cyberattacks, data breaches and misuse. Authorities believe the updated regulations will help build greater public confidence in online shopping while ensuring higher standards of safety and accountability across Kuwait’s expanding e-commerce sector.

North Korea is highlighting traditional foods, health advice and leisure activities as an intense heatwave sweeps across the Korean Peninsula. State media reported that temperatures in the country reached 36.7°C, the highest recorded since modern weather observations began. The extreme heat has also brought a series of unusually warm nights. With the hottest period of summer underway, North Korean media has focused heavily on ways for people to stay cool and maintain their health. One of the recommendations receiving particular attention is dog-meat soup. State media described the dish as a traditional summer food and promoted a long-standing belief that it can help people cope with extreme heat. Other foods recommended by state media include watermelon, cucumbers, mung beans, fish porridge and red-bean porridge. Chicken soup prepared with ginseng, sticky rice and dates has also been promoted as a popular summer meal. Health programmes on North Korean television have urged people to remain hydrated and take precautions while swimming or exercising outdoors. The country has not released figures on deaths linked to the current heatwave. South Korea, meanwhile, has reported more than 20 heat-related deaths. North Korean state media has also used the extreme weather to highlight leader Kim Jong Un’s image as a leader who shares difficult conditions with ordinary citizens. A recent report recalled a 2013 visit by Kim to a construction site during hot weather. The report said his clothes became soaked with sweat during the inspection. According to the account, Kim insisted that important work for the people should continue despite the heat. State media also highlighted other past inspections in difficult weather conditions. These included a trip through mountainous terrain during heavy rain and a visit to a seafood factory where temperatures were reportedly around 39°C. There has been no detailed report on Kim’s activities during the current heatwave. Meanwhile, state television has shown large crowds visiting beaches, swimming pools and water parks to escape the extreme temperatures. Thousands of people have reportedly visited the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, one of Kim’s major tourism projects on the country’s eastern coast.

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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deploying North Korean ballistic missiles during a series of overnight attacks across Ukraine that left at least seven people dead in Zaporizhzhia. Local officials in Zaporizhzhia reported that the strikes hit the city’s Zaporizhstal metallurgical plant with guided bombs and missiles, killing seven employees, injuring 24 others, and forcing the facility to suspend operations. The barrage was part of a broader aerial offensive involving 120 Russian drones and multiple missile launches that disrupted power supplies in Kharkiv and Kherson while damaging civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy. In response, Ukrainian forces launched retaliatory deep-space strikes targeting critical Russian supply and industrial assets. Ukrainian drones struck facilities belonging to online retailer Wildberries in the Voronezh region, as well as a petrochemical plant in western Siberia. The long-range campaign follows a strike on the Tanevo oil refinery in Tatarstan, located over 680 miles inside Russian territory, which killed 13 people and injured dozens. Zelensky warned that Moscow’s growing reliance on North Korean weaponry and troops presents a expanding international security threat. Western military intelligence previously noted that thousands of North Korean soldiers had been deployed to support Russian units in the Kursk region, where allied forces suffered heavy casualties during autumn combat.