A house fire during a party in central Madagascar on Saturday night killed 38 people including 16 children as the blaze ripped through a thatched roof, police said on Monday.

The victims, the youngest only six months old, were trapped inside the house in Ambalavato village of Ikalamavony district in the rural centre of the island.

The party-goers, including several relatives of the home owner, were celebrating the renovation of the same house in which they perished.

&quot;Of the 39 people in the house, 38 were killed, including 16 children,&quot; Herilalatiana Andrianarivosona, spokesman for the police, told AFP, adding that the fire was an accident.

&quot;A celebration had been held following the completion of the renovations to the house,&quot; he added.

The blaze is believed to have started from embers of a fire that had been used earlier to cook food for guests. It was swept by winds, spreading first to a bale of dry rice straw adjacent to the house before it caught hold of the grass thatch on the roof.

Other villagers tried to rescue the people trapped inside but failed to open the door.&nbsp;Only one 14-year-old boy managed to escape the inferno by jumping through a small window, police said.

Narrow windows to deter burglars are part of the design of many houses in the central region of the impoverished Indian Ocean island.

Due to crime and frequent muggings, the party guests chose to stay at the host&#39;s house rather than return home at night.

Funerals for the 39 victims were held on Monday.&nbsp;Madagascar is one of the world&#39;s poorest countries and relies heavily on international donors.

After a period of political instability triggered by the 2009 ousting of president Marc Ravalomanana by Antananarivo&#39;s then-mayor Andry Rajoelina, it is struggling to foster an economic recovery. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The blaze is believed to have started from embers of a fire that had been used earlier to cook food for guests

A house fire during a party in central Madagascar on Saturday night killed 38 people including 16 children as the blaze ripped through a thatched roof, police said on Monday. The victims, the youngest only six months old, were trapped inside the house in Ambalavato village of Ikalamavony district in the rural centre of the island. The party-goers, including several relatives of the home owner, were celebrating the renovation of the same house in which they perished. "Of the 39 people in the house, 38 were killed, including 16 children," Herilalatiana Andrianarivosona, spokesman for the police, told AFP, adding that the fire was an accident. "A celebration had been held following the completion of the renovations to the house," he added. The blaze is believed to have started from embers of a fire that had been used earlier to cook food for guests. It was swept by winds, spreading first to a bale of dry rice straw adjacent to the house before it caught hold of the grass thatch on the roof. Other villagers tried to rescue the people trapped inside but failed to open the door. Only one 14-year-old boy managed to escape the inferno by jumping through a small window, police said. Narrow windows to deter burglars are part of the design of many houses in the central region of the impoverished Indian Ocean island. Due to crime and frequent muggings, the party guests chose to stay at the host's house rather than return home at night. Funerals for the 39 victims were held on Monday. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries and relies heavily on international donors. After a period of political instability triggered by the 2009 ousting of president Marc Ravalomanana by Antananarivo's then-mayor Andry Rajoelina, it is struggling to foster an economic recovery. (AFP)

House fire kills 38 in central Madagascar

Evidence gathered in an investigation into the crash of EgyptAir flight 804 in May shows the plane likely broke up midair after a fire near or inside the cockpit that quickly overwhelmed the crew, according to Egyptian officials involved in the inquiry, the New York Times reported.

But officials could not determine whether the fire thought to have caused the crash had been set off by a mechanical malfunction or by a malicious act, the report said.

The findings are based on information from the Airbus A320&rsquo;s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder along with an analysis of the condition and distribution of recovered debris, including human remains, according to forensic and aviation officials in Cairo, the report said.

The officials spoke this week on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly, the New York Times said.

The Airbus A320 from Paris to Cairo plunged into the eastern Mediterranean on May 19 and all 66 people on board were killed. 
 
(Reuters)

It could not be determined whether the fire was caused by a mechanical malfunction or a malicious act, the report said

Evidence gathered in an investigation into the crash of EgyptAir flight 804 in May shows the plane likely broke up midair after a fire near or inside the cockpit that quickly overwhelmed the crew, according to Egyptian officials involved in the inquiry, the New York Times reported. But officials could not determine whether the fire thought to have caused the crash had been set off by a mechanical malfunction or by a malicious act, the report said. The findings are based on information from the Airbus A320’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder along with an analysis of the condition and distribution of recovered debris, including human remains, according to forensic and aviation officials in Cairo, the report said. The officials spoke this week on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly, the New York Times said. The Airbus A320 from Paris to Cairo plunged into the eastern Mediterranean on May 19 and all 66 people on board were killed. (Reuters)

EgyptAir flight 804 broke up midair after fire: New York Times

Several people were killed on Friday in a shooting rampage by a lone gunman in a Munich shopping centre, police said. 
 
Police have cordoned off a wide area around the Olympia shopping centre in the southern part of the city after shots were fired, a spokeswoman for the police said. 
 
At least six people are believed to have been killed in the shooting rampage, police source said. Witnesses say they spotted three different people with firearms, who are believed to be still at large. A manhunt is under way. 
 
Authorities were evacuating people from the Olympia mall but many others were hiding inside. A Munich police spokeswoman said mulitple people were killed or wounded. 
 
&quot;We believe we are dealing with a shooting rampage,&quot; the spokeswoman said. More than one gunman was believed to be involved and no one had been arrested, she said. 
 
The Bild newspaper reported that the gunman ran through the mall, firing on several people before fleeing in the direction of a nearby metro station. 
 
Staff in the mall were still in hiding, an employee told Reuters by telephone. 
 
&quot;Many shots were fired, I can&#39;t say how many but it&#39;s been a lot,&quot; the employee, who declined to be identified, said from the mall in Munich. 
 
&quot;All the people from outside came streaming into the store and I only saw one person on the ground who was so severely injured that he definitely didn&#39;t survive.&nbsp;We have no further information, we&#39;re just staying in the back in the storage rooms. No police have approached us yet.&quot; 
 
Local TV images showed dozens of emergency vehicles outside the mall.&nbsp;NTV television reported that German police special forces had arrived at the scene.&nbsp;Munich police tweeted urging people to avoid the area. 
 
&quot;At the moment we have a major police operation on OEZ. Please avoid the area around the mall.&quot; &nbsp; 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-x-mtfrom-de">
Im Moment haben wir einen gro?en Polizeieinsatz am OEZ. Bitte meiden Sie den Bereich um das Einkaufszentrum.
&mdash; Polizei M?nchen (@PolizeiMuenchen) <a href="https://twitter.com/PolizeiMuenchen/status/756527978411094016">July 22, 2016</a> 
&nbsp;</blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
Officials say the main train station in Munich has been evacuated, metro and bus transport have also been suspended. 
 
The U.S. State Department says &quot;our thoughts are with the victims and their families&quot; after gunmen went on a shooting rampage in a shopping mall in the southern German city of Munich. 
 
The shopping center is next to the Munich Olympic stadium, where the Palestinian militant group Black September took 11 Israeli athletes hostage and eventually killed them during the 1972 Olympic Games. 
 
Friday&#39;s attack took place a week after a 17-year-old asylum-seeker wounded passengers on a German train in an axe rampage claimed by Islamic State. Bavarian police shot dead the teenager after he wounded four people from Hong Kong on the train and injured a local resident while fleeing. 
 
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas told Bild newspaper&#39;s Friday edition that there was &quot;no reason to panic but it&#39;s clear that Germany remains a possible target&quot;. 
 
Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the teenager was believed to be a &quot;lone wolf&quot; attacker who appeared to have been &quot;inspired&quot; by the Islamic State group but was not a member of the jihadist network. 
 
The incidents in Germany follow an attack in Nice, France, on Bastille Day in which a Tunisian drove a truck into crowds, killing 84. Islamic State also claimed responsibility for that attack. 
 
(Reuters, AFP) 
&nbsp;

Munich Olympia shopping centre under fire. Three armed suspects are still at large: Reports

Several people were killed on Friday in a shooting rampage by a lone gunman in a Munich shopping centre, police said. Police have cordoned off a wide area around the Olympia shopping centre in the southern part of the city after shots were fired, a spokeswoman for the police said. At least six people are believed to have been killed in the shooting rampage, police source said. Witnesses say they spotted three different people with firearms, who are believed to be still at large. A manhunt is under way. Authorities were evacuating people from the Olympia mall but many others were hiding inside. A Munich police spokeswoman said mulitple people were killed or wounded. "We believe we are dealing with a shooting rampage," the spokeswoman said. More than one gunman was believed to be involved and no one had been arrested, she said. The Bild newspaper reported that the gunman ran through the mall, firing on several people before fleeing in the direction of a nearby metro station. Staff in the mall were still in hiding, an employee told Reuters by telephone. "Many shots were fired, I can't say how many but it's been a lot," the employee, who declined to be identified, said from the mall in Munich. "All the people from outside came streaming into the store and I only saw one person on the ground who was so severely injured that he definitely didn't survive. We have no further information, we're just staying in the back in the storage rooms. No police have approached us yet." Local TV images showed dozens of emergency vehicles outside the mall. NTV television reported that German police special forces had arrived at the scene. Munich police tweeted urging people to avoid the area. "At the moment we have a major police operation on OEZ. Please avoid the area around the mall." Im Moment haben wir einen gro?en Polizeieinsatz am OEZ. Bitte meiden Sie den Bereich um das Einkaufszentrum. — Polizei M?nchen (@PolizeiMuenchen) July 22, 2016 Officials say the main train station in Munich has been evacuated, metro and bus transport have also been suspended. The U.S. State Department says "our thoughts are with the victims and their families" after gunmen went on a shooting rampage in a shopping mall in the southern German city of Munich. The shopping center is next to the Munich Olympic stadium, where the Palestinian militant group Black September took 11 Israeli athletes hostage and eventually killed them during the 1972 Olympic Games. Friday's attack took place a week after a 17-year-old asylum-seeker wounded passengers on a German train in an axe rampage claimed by Islamic State. Bavarian police shot dead the teenager after he wounded four people from Hong Kong on the train and injured a local resident while fleeing. German Justice Minister Heiko Maas told Bild newspaper's Friday edition that there was "no reason to panic but it's clear that Germany remains a possible target". Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the teenager was believed to be a "lone wolf" attacker who appeared to have been "inspired" by the Islamic State group but was not a member of the jihadist network. The incidents in Germany follow an attack in Nice, France, on Bastille Day in which a Tunisian drove a truck into crowds, killing 84. Islamic State also claimed responsibility for that attack. (Reuters, AFP)

Shots fired at shopping centre in Munich, at least 8 dead, 10 wounded

Turkish military forces on Saturday opened fire on crowds gathered in Istanbul following a coup attempt, causing casualties, an AFP photographer said.

The soldiers opened fire on grounds around the first bridge across the Bosphorus dividing Europe and Asia, said the photographer, who saw wounded people being taken to ambulances. 
 
(AFP)

There are an unconfirmed number of casualties

Turkish military forces on Saturday opened fire on crowds gathered in Istanbul following a coup attempt, causing casualties, an AFP photographer said. The soldiers opened fire on grounds around the first bridge across the Bosphorus dividing Europe and Asia, said the photographer, who saw wounded people being taken to ambulances. (AFP)

Turkey's military opens fire on crowd following coup attempt

More than 3,000 vacationers were evacuated after a blaze threatened to spread across four campsites in the south of France, as a fireman died on his way to the scene, officials said. 
 
Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed. 
 
&quot;We saw smoke...the people from the campsite asked us to leave straight away and leave our cars behind us,&quot; said one retired holidaymaker. 
 
The fireman travelling to the site lost control of his vehicle due to an unexplained engine fault and died at the scene. 
&nbsp; 
Three volunteer firefighters in the fire-engine with him were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, local official Helene Girardot told AFP. 
 
A further 17 firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation and two others were injured when one of the campers gas canisters exploded as they battled the flames. 
 
All but a handful of families were able to return to their camps by nightfall. 
 
(AFP)

Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed

More than 3,000 vacationers were evacuated after a blaze threatened to spread across four campsites in the south of France, as a fireman died on his way to the scene, officials said. Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed. "We saw smoke...the people from the campsite asked us to leave straight away and leave our cars behind us," said one retired holidaymaker. The fireman travelling to the site lost control of his vehicle due to an unexplained engine fault and died at the scene. Three volunteer firefighters in the fire-engine with him were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, local official Helene Girardot told AFP. A further 17 firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation and two others were injured when one of the campers gas canisters exploded as they battled the flames. All but a handful of families were able to return to their camps by nightfall. (AFP)

3,000 campers evacuated in French blaze, fireman dead

One more youth was killed today in a clash between a stone-pelting mob and security forces in Kashmir, raising the toll in the five-day unrest to 35, even as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed &quot;great sadness and sorrow&quot; over the deaths and promised a &quot;healing touch&quot;. 
Shattering the peace during most of the day, clashes erupted this evening at Harnag in Koimoh with a group of youth pelting stones on passing vehicles of security forces. 
In retaliatory action by the security forces, one youth was injured, officials said, adding he succumbed while being shifted to hospital. This raised the toll during the five-day unrest to 35. 
As soon as the news of death of the youth spread, angry protesters set ablaze a forest hut at Khannabal in Anantnag district town, the officials said. 
In another incident, a youth was injured when security forces opened fire at Koil in Pulwama district to disperse a mob which was pelting stones at an Indian Air Force base, the officials said. 
They said Reyaz Ahmad Padder was admitted to District Hospital Pulwama where his situation is stated to be stable. 
Earlier, barring some incidents of stone-pelting, Kashmir was relatively calm through the day as curfew remained in force in some parts of Kashmir, including Pampore and Kupwara towns, restrictions were in place on movement of people in the rest of the Valley. 
A police spokesman said barring &quot;some incidents&quot; of stone pelting at various places, the situation &quot;remained under control&quot; in the valley. 
The stray incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Khudwani, Kulgam, Iman Sahib, Shopian and Kakpora in south Kashmir, Kralpora, Kupwara, Trehgam, Langate, Lalpora, Putkha Sopore and Main Chowk Sopore in north Kashmir, he said. 
Reaching out to people, Mehbooba sought their &quot;support in pulling J&amp;K out of the vortex of violence and bloodshed.&quot; 
She said she needs people&#39;s support in realising the dream of a politically-emancipated, economically self-reliant and socially secure Jammu and Kashmir. 
&quot;The 27-year-long violence has left deep wounds in almost each home here and we have to jointly safeguard our state and our people from further bloodshed and destruction,&quot; she said after paying homage to the martyrs of 1931 at the Martyrs graveyard in Khawaja Bazar area of downtown Srinagar. 
Commenting on the current unrest, Mehbooba said, &quot;My heart is overwhelmed with great sadness and sorrow as a result of the killings in the latest spate of violence in Kashmir.&quot; 
Asserting that &quot;I won&#39;t let the people down, despite facing a challenging task&quot;, she said, &quot;While my government&#39;s immediate priority would be to reach out to the affected families with a healing touch, in the long run a concerted effort shall have to be launched to make peace and stability a reality in J&amp;K, with youth being the focus of the government&#39;s welfare initiatives.&quot;&nbsp; 
Urging people not to &quot;play with peace&quot;, the Chief Minister asked them not to fall prey to the machinations of those elements who want to disturb peace in the state. 
&quot;I think the biggest tribute to them would be to protect that peace and not fall prey to the machinations of those elements who want to disturb peace here,&quot; said Mehbooba who was accompanied by some of her Cabinet colleagues, legislators, party functionaries and top officers of the civil and police administration. 
According to the latest figures available, most deaths over the last four days have taken place in Anantnag district (16) followed by Kulgam (eight), Shopian (five), Pulwama (three), Srinagar and Kupwara (one each). 
Meanwhile, militants fired at the vehicle of a Sub Divisional Police Officer in Shopian district but he escaped unhurt, police said. 
Normal life remained affected for the fifth consecutive day today due to the shutdown called by separatist groups to protest the civilian killings in the clashes with security forces. The separatists today extended the shutdown by two more days till July 15. 
Shops and business establishments remained closed while public and private transport remained off roads due to the strike. 
Mobile Internet and train services remained suspended while mobile telephony has been snapped in Kupwara area following the death of a youth during protests yesterday. Mobile telephony is partially suspended in south Kashmir&#39;s four districts. 
Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained by police after they tried to defy restrictions and lead a march to Martyrs graveyard in downtown Srinagar. 
Geelani, who was under house arrest, was detained by the police on the airport road outside his residence in uptown Hyderpora after he defied restrictions and tried to take out a march to commemorate the 85th anniversary of those who laid down their lives fighting the Aristocratic rule in the state in 1931. 
Police also detained Mirwaiz, who was under house arrest, after he defied the restrictions and came out of his Nigeen residence to lead a march to the Martyrs graveyard. 
Mirwaiz climbed the main gate of his residence as a heavy deployment of police had barricaded the gate and did not open it, a spokesman of the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat said. 
 
(PTI)

Total toll reaches 35. Another youth is injured after security forces open fire to disperse a mob pelting stones at an air force base

One more youth was killed today in a clash between a stone-pelting mob and security forces in Kashmir, raising the toll in the five-day unrest to 35, even as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed "great sadness and sorrow" over the deaths and promised a "healing touch". Shattering the peace during most of the day, clashes erupted this evening at Harnag in Koimoh with a group of youth pelting stones on passing vehicles of security forces. In retaliatory action by the security forces, one youth was injured, officials said, adding he succumbed while being shifted to hospital. This raised the toll during the five-day unrest to 35. As soon as the news of death of the youth spread, angry protesters set ablaze a forest hut at Khannabal in Anantnag district town, the officials said. In another incident, a youth was injured when security forces opened fire at Koil in Pulwama district to disperse a mob which was pelting stones at an Indian Air Force base, the officials said. They said Reyaz Ahmad Padder was admitted to District Hospital Pulwama where his situation is stated to be stable. Earlier, barring some incidents of stone-pelting, Kashmir was relatively calm through the day as curfew remained in force in some parts of Kashmir, including Pampore and Kupwara towns, restrictions were in place on movement of people in the rest of the Valley. A police spokesman said barring "some incidents" of stone pelting at various places, the situation "remained under control" in the valley. The stray incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Khudwani, Kulgam, Iman Sahib, Shopian and Kakpora in south Kashmir, Kralpora, Kupwara, Trehgam, Langate, Lalpora, Putkha Sopore and Main Chowk Sopore in north Kashmir, he said. Reaching out to people, Mehbooba sought their "support in pulling J&K out of the vortex of violence and bloodshed." She said she needs people's support in realising the dream of a politically-emancipated, economically self-reliant and socially secure Jammu and Kashmir. "The 27-year-long violence has left deep wounds in almost each home here and we have to jointly safeguard our state and our people from further bloodshed and destruction," she said after paying homage to the martyrs of 1931 at the Martyrs graveyard in Khawaja Bazar area of downtown Srinagar. Commenting on the current unrest, Mehbooba said, "My heart is overwhelmed with great sadness and sorrow as a result of the killings in the latest spate of violence in Kashmir." Asserting that "I won't let the people down, despite facing a challenging task", she said, "While my government's immediate priority would be to reach out to the affected families with a healing touch, in the long run a concerted effort shall have to be launched to make peace and stability a reality in J&K, with youth being the focus of the government's welfare initiatives." Urging people not to "play with peace", the Chief Minister asked them not to fall prey to the machinations of those elements who want to disturb peace in the state. "I think the biggest tribute to them would be to protect that peace and not fall prey to the machinations of those elements who want to disturb peace here," said Mehbooba who was accompanied by some of her Cabinet colleagues, legislators, party functionaries and top officers of the civil and police administration. According to the latest figures available, most deaths over the last four days have taken place in Anantnag district (16) followed by Kulgam (eight), Shopian (five), Pulwama (three), Srinagar and Kupwara (one each). Meanwhile, militants fired at the vehicle of a Sub Divisional Police Officer in Shopian district but he escaped unhurt, police said. Normal life remained affected for the fifth consecutive day today due to the shutdown called by separatist groups to protest the civilian killings in the clashes with security forces. The separatists today extended the shutdown by two more days till July 15. Shops and business establishments remained closed while public and private transport remained off roads due to the strike. Mobile Internet and train services remained suspended while mobile telephony has been snapped in Kupwara area following the death of a youth during protests yesterday. Mobile telephony is partially suspended in south Kashmir's four districts. Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained by police after they tried to defy restrictions and lead a march to Martyrs graveyard in downtown Srinagar. Geelani, who was under house arrest, was detained by the police on the airport road outside his residence in uptown Hyderpora after he defied restrictions and tried to take out a march to commemorate the 85th anniversary of those who laid down their lives fighting the Aristocratic rule in the state in 1931. Police also detained Mirwaiz, who was under house arrest, after he defied the restrictions and came out of his Nigeen residence to lead a march to the Martyrs graveyard. Mirwaiz climbed the main gate of his residence as a heavy deployment of police had barricaded the gate and did not open it, a spokesman of the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat said. (PTI)

While CM talks of 'healing touch', one more youth killed in Kashmir

North Korea on Saturday test-fired what appeared to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Seoul&#39;s defence ministry said, a day after the US and South Korea decided to deploy an advanced missile defence system in the South. 
 
The launch was apparently successful but the missile failed in the early stage of flight, the South Korean defence ministry said in a statement. 
 
North Korea previously fired an SLBM on April 23 in a test hailed as an &quot;eye-opening success&quot; by leader Kim Jong-Un, who at the time declared his country had the ability to strike Seoul and the US whenever it pleased. 
 
Seoul said the North launched &quot;what was believed to be an SLBM&quot; from waters off the northeastern port of Sinpo at around 11:30 am (0230 GMT). 
 
Yonhap news agency said the missile, launched from a Sinpo-class submarine, reached an altitude of some 10 kilometres (six miles) before exploding in mid-air. 
 
The US Strategic Command said the missile was tracked over the Sea of Japan, where initial indications suggested it fell. 
 
The North American Aerospace Defense Command said the launch did not pose a threat to North America. 
 
&quot;We strongly condemn this and North Korea&rsquo;s other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea&#39;s launches using ballistic missile technology&quot;, Pentagon Spokesman Gary Ross said. 
 
He urged the North &quot;to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region&quot;. 
 
Seoul&#39;s defence ministry noted that &quot;North Korea has been persistent in violating UN resolutions by launching ballistic missiles continuously&quot;. 
 
It added that the North carried out back-to-back tests of a powerful new medium-range missile on June 22, which sparked swift international condemnation. 
 
The two missiles achieved a significant increase in flight distance over previous failed launches and were believed to be of a much-hyped, intermediate-range Musudan missile -- theoretically capable of reaching US bases as far away as Guam, the ministry said in June. 
 
&quot;We strongly condemn such provocative acts&quot;, it said Saturday. 
 
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch did not pose an immediate threat. 
 
&quot;We don&#39;t consider the missile launch to be anything that would immediately affect Japan&#39;s national security directly. We have to cooperate with the international community and condemn North Korea,&quot; he told public broadcaster NHK. 
 
&#39;Declaration of war&#39; 
The new launch came after Seoul and Washington Friday announced their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, or THAAD, to the Korean peninsula and the North warned US sanctions against its leader amounted to a &quot;declaration of war&quot;. 
 
Tensions have soared since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches that analysts said show the North is making progress toward being able to strike the US mainland. 
 
The plan to deploy the powerful THAAD system in South Korea has angered Beijing and Moscow, which both see it as a US bid to flex military muscle in the region. 
 
News of the deployment came after the US on Wednesday placed &quot;Supreme Leader&quot; Kim on its sanctions blacklist for the first time, calling him directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses. 
 
Pyongyang lashed out at Washington on Friday, warning North Korea would instantly cut off all diplomatic channels with the US if the sanctions were not lifted. 
 
The North&#39;s foreign ministry called the sanctions against Kim &quot;the worst hostility and an open declaration of war&quot;, vowing to take &quot;the toughest countermeasures to resolutely shatter the hostility of the US&quot;. 
 
It said any problem arising in relations with the US would be handled under its &quot;wartime law&quot;. 
 
North Korea often issues bellicose statements against the US, but the reference to &quot;wartime law&quot; is rare and analysts warned of more sabre-rattling to come over the sanctions. 
 
(AFP)

The launch on Saturday has come after the US and South Korea decided to deploy THAAD to the Korean peninsula

North Korea on Saturday test-fired what appeared to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Seoul's defence ministry said, a day after the US and South Korea decided to deploy an advanced missile defence system in the South. The launch was apparently successful but the missile failed in the early stage of flight, the South Korean defence ministry said in a statement. North Korea previously fired an SLBM on April 23 in a test hailed as an "eye-opening success" by leader Kim Jong-Un, who at the time declared his country had the ability to strike Seoul and the US whenever it pleased. Seoul said the North launched "what was believed to be an SLBM" from waters off the northeastern port of Sinpo at around 11:30 am (0230 GMT). Yonhap news agency said the missile, launched from a Sinpo-class submarine, reached an altitude of some 10 kilometres (six miles) before exploding in mid-air. The US Strategic Command said the missile was tracked over the Sea of Japan, where initial indications suggested it fell. The North American Aerospace Defense Command said the launch did not pose a threat to North America. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea’s other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology", Pentagon Spokesman Gary Ross said. He urged the North "to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region". Seoul's defence ministry noted that "North Korea has been persistent in violating UN resolutions by launching ballistic missiles continuously". It added that the North carried out back-to-back tests of a powerful new medium-range missile on June 22, which sparked swift international condemnation. The two missiles achieved a significant increase in flight distance over previous failed launches and were believed to be of a much-hyped, intermediate-range Musudan missile -- theoretically capable of reaching US bases as far away as Guam, the ministry said in June. "We strongly condemn such provocative acts", it said Saturday. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch did not pose an immediate threat. "We don't consider the missile launch to be anything that would immediately affect Japan's national security directly. We have to cooperate with the international community and condemn North Korea," he told public broadcaster NHK. 'Declaration of war' The new launch came after Seoul and Washington Friday announced their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, or THAAD, to the Korean peninsula and the North warned US sanctions against its leader amounted to a "declaration of war". Tensions have soared since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches that analysts said show the North is making progress toward being able to strike the US mainland. The plan to deploy the powerful THAAD system in South Korea has angered Beijing and Moscow, which both see it as a US bid to flex military muscle in the region. News of the deployment came after the US on Wednesday placed "Supreme Leader" Kim on its sanctions blacklist for the first time, calling him directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses. Pyongyang lashed out at Washington on Friday, warning North Korea would instantly cut off all diplomatic channels with the US if the sanctions were not lifted. The North's foreign ministry called the sanctions against Kim "the worst hostility and an open declaration of war", vowing to take "the toughest countermeasures to resolutely shatter the hostility of the US". It said any problem arising in relations with the US would be handled under its "wartime law". North Korea often issues bellicose statements against the US, but the reference to "wartime law" is rare and analysts warned of more sabre-rattling to come over the sanctions. (AFP)

North Korea test-fires submarine-launched missile, says Seoul

A fire that tore through a nursing home killed five people and injured another 29 in Taiwan today. 
 
Television footage showed elderly people being evacuated from the facility, some in clothes blackened by smoke.&nbsp; 
 
Three bodies were found in the private nursing facility on the eighth floor of a ten-storey building in Xindian, New Taipei City, while rescuers rushed 31 people to hospital. 
 
Two people were later pronounced dead, while 18 were found to be suffering from serious injuries, the local fire department said. 
 
The fire was extinguished in around 30 minutes but the evacuation process was made more difficult by the fact that most elderly residents were bedridden or wheelchair-bound, it added.&nbsp; 
 
Authorities are looking into claims that insufficient staffing at the home had further complicated the rescue effort. 
 
&quot;The facility has passed inspections but we are investigating if its response (to the fire) and the staffing on the day met regulations,&quot; New Taipei City deputy mayor, Hou You-yi, told reporters.&nbsp; 
 
The facility has seven members of staff, according to the authorities. Local media reported that there were only two or three workers looking after some 40 residents at the time of the fire. 
 
In 2012, 13 people were killed and 60 others injured in a nursing home fire in southern Taiwan set by a 67-year-old man. 
 
The culprit, who was later sentenced to death, said he was in a bad mood, and was suffering from cancer and other chronic health problems. 
 
(AFP)

Authorities are looking into claims that insufficient staffing at the home had further complicated the rescue effort

A fire that tore through a nursing home killed five people and injured another 29 in Taiwan today. Television footage showed elderly people being evacuated from the facility, some in clothes blackened by smoke. Three bodies were found in the private nursing facility on the eighth floor of a ten-storey building in Xindian, New Taipei City, while rescuers rushed 31 people to hospital. Two people were later pronounced dead, while 18 were found to be suffering from serious injuries, the local fire department said. The fire was extinguished in around 30 minutes but the evacuation process was made more difficult by the fact that most elderly residents were bedridden or wheelchair-bound, it added. Authorities are looking into claims that insufficient staffing at the home had further complicated the rescue effort. "The facility has passed inspections but we are investigating if its response (to the fire) and the staffing on the day met regulations," New Taipei City deputy mayor, Hou You-yi, told reporters. The facility has seven members of staff, according to the authorities. Local media reported that there were only two or three workers looking after some 40 residents at the time of the fire. In 2012, 13 people were killed and 60 others injured in a nursing home fire in southern Taiwan set by a 67-year-old man. The culprit, who was later sentenced to death, said he was in a bad mood, and was suffering from cancer and other chronic health problems. (AFP)

Five killed, 29 hurt in Taiwan nursing home fire

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a &quot;sleeping giant&quot; in check, officials said. 
 
So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. 
 
Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. 
 
The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. 
 
The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn&#39;t wake up,&quot; Schwarber said. 
 
So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. 
 
But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. 
 
More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. 
 
&quot;Red flag warnings&quot; were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. 
 
One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. 
 
About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. 
 
That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. 
 
Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. 
(Reuters)

It has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the area close to Santa Barbara

A stubborn wildfire stoked by triple-digit temperatures raged for a sixth day outside Santa Barbara in coastal Southern California on Monday as crews worked to keep the blaze some have called a "sleeping giant" in check, officials said. So far, the so-called Sherpa Fire burning in chaparral and tall grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Santa Barbara has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from ranches and campgrounds in the hilly area. Authorities said they expected to begin allowing homeowners and farm laborers back into those areas on Wednesday, though county health and environment officials issued an air quality warning for smoke and falling ash from the fire. The tally of acreage burned held at nearly 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) since late Sunday, said Jim Schwarber, a spokesman for the multi-agency team combating the blaze. The fire, which broke out last Wednesday in the Los Padres National Forest and was 54 per cent contained by Monday, has been called a sleeping giant due to the triple-digit temperatures and dense, bone-dry brush in the area that has not burned in decades, he said. "We're working hard to keep that giant contained so it doesn't wake up," Schwarber said. So far, the blaze has destroyed only one building - a water-treatment center at a campground, he said. But it has threatened more than 200 structures and forced officials to close the 101 Freeway near the Pacific Coast periodically as flames crept to within less than a mile of the shore. More than 1,900 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. "Red flag warnings" were also posted for the mountains around Los Angeles on Monday as two fires erupted in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest north of the city. One blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, had consumed some 1,500 acres by late afternoon and prompted the evacuation of about 70 homes. The second blaze a few miles away devoured about 1,000 acres, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Lulu Castillo said. About 160 miles farther south, firefighters battled flames roaring through dry brush and chaparral near the Mexican border for a second day, keeping the desert community of Potrero under evacuation. That fire, about 50 miles southeast of San Diego, had charred more than 1,900 acres and was just 5 per cent contained on Monday, California fire officials reported. Two states away, the 6-day-old Dog Head Fire in central New Mexico has charred more than 17,000 acres and was 9 per cent contained after destroying 24 homes. (Reuters)

Firefighters hold 'sleeping giant' wildfire in check in California,

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