WILDFIRE RAGES IN SOUTHWESTERN A wildfire in the Corbieres hills in southwestern France, inland from the Mediterranean coast, has already closed a major highway and left nine people injured, one critically, local officials said. The fire started in the town of Ribaute and has since spread over 11,000 hectares, the affected Aude department said on social media in an update early on Wednesday morning. Seven firefighters and two other people have been injured, "including one person in critical condition with severe burns," Aude department said. Another fire had since broken out some 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of the original blaze. Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated in the department, and several local roads were closed. Authorities shut parts of the A9 motorway linking France to Spain on Tuesday. The section between the cities of Perpignon and Narbonne in both directions has been affected, France's fire agency and Aude department said on social media. Late Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said on X the fire was progressing and that "all the nation's resources were mobilized." A Canadair CL-415 of the French civil security flies over thick black smoke from a wildfire in southwestern France on August 5, 2025. A Canadair CL-415 of the French civil security flies over thick black smoke from a wildfire in southwestern France on August 5, 2025. More than 1,200 firefighters are being mobilized, supported by water bomber planesImage: Idriss Bigou-Gilles/AFP "The fire is spreading very quickly because the weather conditions are unfavorable. It's one of the driest areas in the department and the wind is strong," Lucie Roesch, secretary general of Aude prefecture, told AFP news agency on Tuesday. More than 1,200 firefighters have been mobilized to battle the flames, supported by water bomber planes, Aude prefecture said on X. 6th August,2025

US-PAKISTAN PARTNERSHIP Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian traveled to Pakistan on Saturday and Sunday, a visit in which he and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed to boost bilateral relations. The leaders signed deals to increase trade to $10 billion (€8.6 billion) and boost their security ties. Both countries face security challenges related to militant activity near their border, where groups such as Jaish Al-Adl in Iran and the Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have carried out numerous attacks. "Iran appears to be shifting toward security diplomacy rather than confrontation. Tehran is actively seeking intelligence-sharing mechanisms, joint border patrols, and other forms of coordinated security engagement with Islamabad," Fatemeh Aman, senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told DW. Pakistan and Iran share a 900-kilometer (560-mile) border that runs through Balochistan, a region which comprises the Pakistani province of the same name and the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, as well as parts of Afghanistan. The region has struggled for decades with a separatist insurgency on both sides of the border. Iran and Pakistan have a strategic alliance fighting those militant groups, but their relationship has at times been strained due to the cross-border terrorism, which resulted in clashes and tit-for-tat missile strikes last year. Despite those issues, relations between Iran and Pakistan remain largely amicable. Pakistan sided with Iran during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, condemning Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and clearly labeling Israel as the aggressor. But even with that show of support, Pakistan's growing partnership with the United States — whose ties with Iran have been marked by decades of hostility and tensions, especially over Iran's nuclear program — could become a cause for concern in Tehran. Aman said that "despite its history of close ties with Washington, Pakistan has consistently avoided direct military alignment when it comes to Iran." Because of their strategic ties, "Tehran views Islamabad as unlikely to serve as a military platform for hostile actions against Iran," she added. 6th August,2025

ARMY PLAN Lebanon's government has tasked the army with developing a plan in which only state institutions will have weapons by the end of the year. Such a move would effectively disarm Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. Tuesday's Cabinet decision follows heavy pressure from the United States to disarm the group. It comes as part of implementing a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war. Under the ceasefire, Lebanese government authorities, including the army and internal security services, should be the only armed forces in Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the government "tasked the Lebanese army with setting an implementation plan to restrict weapons" to the army and other state forces "before the end of this year." The plan is to be presented to the Cabinet by the end of August for discussion and approval, Salam told a press conference after a marathon Cabinet session lasting nearly six hours. Lebanon-Israel conflict stokes sectarian tensions 03:07 Why does Hezbollah have so many weapons? Hezbollah is a political party and militant group based in Lebanon that is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and others. The group is the only faction that kept its weapons after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, doing so in the name of "resistance" against Israel. It was long Lebanon's strongest military force — even more powerful than the army — thanks to funding, training and weapons from Iran. It was viewed as the most heavily armed nonstate actor in the world. But the war with Israel saw Hezbollah severely weakened, with its arsenal pummeled and many of its political and military leaders dead. Will Hezbollah agree to disarm? Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the group wouldn't disarm while Israeli attacks continue. "Any timetable presented for implementation under ... Israeli aggression cannot be agreed to," he said, speaking as the Cabinet meeting was underway. "The issue has become simply: give us weapons, but no national security. How is that possible? We do not accept it, because we consider ourselves a fundamental component of Lebanon," Qassem said. Hezbollah still retains significant support among Lebanon's Shiite Muslim community. But polling by the Arab Barometer, undertaken in early 2024, found that "despite Hezbollah's significant influence in Lebanon, relatively few Lebanese support it." 6th August,2025

POPULATION Young people have made up just 10% of Germany's population at the end of last year, the lowest share ever recorded, Destatis has reported. The low is a continuation, with the proportion having remained unchanged since the end of 2021. However, the number would have been even lower, just 8.5%, if not for the arrival of mostly young immigrants after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The highest youth share, over 20%, has been among children of immigrants, while Germany overall has remained below the EU average of 10.7%. Meanwhile, the conservative head of Berlin's state government has said Germany's harsher migration policies are beginning to lessen pressure on the country's resources. This blog is now closed. Read below for a roundup of headlines, backgrounders and analysis on issues from and connected with Germany on Tuesday, August 5: 6th August,2025

CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL MINING Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, has shut down a notorious galamsey settlement known as ‘Operator’ at Sugbukrom, in the Banda District. 7th August,2025

HELICOPTER CRASH The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah announced that Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah was among the people who died in the fatal military helicopter crash. 7th August,2025

INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICITS IN SHSS The Central Regional Education Directorate has expressed concern over the widespread infrastructural deficits in Senior High Schools across the region. According to the Directorate, the lack of adequate facilities is hampering effective supervision and impeding smooth academic progress. Speaking to Citi News during the 13th anniversary and second Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Fettehman Senior High School, Regional Director Dr. Juliet Dufie Otani noted that the infrastructural challenges are pervasive. “The infrastructural deficit cuts across schools in the region,” she said, adding that the situation is compounded by the fact that many teachers live off-campus, making effective supervision particularly difficult. The issue has also drawn the attention of legislators in the region. Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, told Citi News that schools in her constituency—including Obrachire Senior High, Bawjiase, Senya Breku, and Bontrase Senior High—are all affected. In the Gomoa East Constituency, MP Desmond De-Graft Paitoo cited similar challenges at ST Gregory, Fettehman, and Potsin T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High Schools. Responding to the concerns, Stephen Kwaku Owusu, Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, stated that efforts are underway to address the infrastructure gap in schools across the country. 4th August,2025

FIRE OUTBREAK The Accra Regional Police Command has launched investigations into a fire outbreak that occurred at Madina Ritz Junction on the morning of Sunday, August 3, 2025, which left seven people injured. The fierce fire swept through several makeshift wooden and metal structures near the Madina Redco Flats. According to the Ghana National Fire Service, an emergency call was received at 12:36 p.m., with the first fire appliance from the Madina Fire Station arriving at the scene just four minutes later, at 12:40 p.m In a statement issued by the Command and signed by Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs, on August 4, preliminary information revealed that a shooting incident occurred during the chaos of the fire, resulting in injuries to seven individuals. Firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control, while police officers ensured the protection of lives and property in the area. The police said the injured victims, who have since been identified, are currently receiving medical treatment at various hospitals. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to apprehend the individuals responsible for the shooting. In response to the incident, police visibility in the affected area has been increased to maintain peace and prevent further disturbances. The Police Command urged the public to volunteer credible information to assist ongoing investigations. The police also warned against taking advantage of emergencies to commit crimes, emphasising that anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law. The police encouraged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security personnel, and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station. Read the statement by the Police below SEVEN PERSONS INJURED IN FIRE OUTBREAK AT MADINA – POLICE INVESTIGATE 1. The Accra Regional Police Command is investigating a fire outbreak that occurred at Madina Ritz Junction on Sunday, 3rd August 2025, in the Morning, which left seven persons injured. 2. Preliminary information indicates that during the outbreak, there was a shooting incident that resulted in injury to seven people amidst the chaos. 3. Fire personnel successfully brought the fire under control, and police officers ensured security for lives and properties in the area. 4. The seven victims who have been identified are currently receiving medical treatment at the various hospitals. An investigation has been launched into the incident, and efforts are underway to apprehend the perpetrators. 5. Meanwhile, Police visibility has been enhanced in the affected area to maintain peace and prevent further disturbances. Members of the public are encouraged to volunteer credible information to aid with ongoing investigations. 6. The Accra Regional Police Command cautions individuals against taking advantage of emergencies to commit crimes and warns that anyone found culpable will face the full rigours of the law. The Command also urges the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel. Residents are encouraged to promptly report suspicious characters or activities to the nearest police station. 4th August,2025