France: Large Wildfire Breaks Out in Aude, Threatens Communities

A major wildfire that broke out late Tuesday, August 5 in Ribaute, southern France’s Aude region near the Spanish border, has scorched more than 11,000 hectares of forest, according to local authorities. The blaze has damaged at least 25 homes and destroyed around 30 vehicles, while some 2,500 households remain without electricity. The A9 motorway, the main road link between France and Spain, has been closed in both directions, along with several local roads.

UK: Widespread Flooding Hits Greater Manchester Forcing Hundreds To Evacuate 6

Heavy rain caused severe flooding across Greater Manchester on New Year's Day, forcing at least 13,000 people to evacuate. Emergency services declared a major incident. The River Mersey reached its highest levels in 66 years and burst its banks. Around 400 homes were evacuated, and 500 people, including asylum seekers, were rescued from the Britannia Country Park Hotel.

(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-FIGURE SKATING-ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL-WOMEN(CN)

(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-FIGURE SKATING-ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL-WOMEN(CN)

(231208) -- BEIJING, Dec. 8, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during the women's short program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)

(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-FIGURE SKATING-ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL-WOMEN(CN)

(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-FIGURE SKATING-ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL-WOMEN(CN)

(231208) -- BEIJING, Dec. 8, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during the women's short program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)

(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-FIGURE SKATING-ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL-WOMEN(CN)

(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-FIGURE SKATING-ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL-WOMEN(CN)

(231208) -- BEIJING, Dec. 8, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during the women's short program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

American figure skater Ava Marie Ziegler (C) poses with the gold medal after winning the NHK Trophy women's event on Nov. 25, 2023, in the Osaka Prefecture city of Kadoma, western Japan, alongside compatriot Lindsay Thorngren (L), who won silver, and bronze medalist Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium.

Figure skating: Grand Prix de France

Figure skating: Grand Prix de France

Isabeau Levito (C) of the United States poses for a photo after winning the Grand Prix de France figure skating competition in Angers, France, on Nov. 4, 2023, alongside Belgium's Nina Pinzarrone (L) and Japan's Rion Sumiyoshi, who finished second and third, respectively.

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's free skating at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 28, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI HÄMÄLÄINEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Hämäläinen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's free skating at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 28, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI HÄMÄLÄINEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Hämäläinen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's free skating at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 28, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI HÄMÄLÄINEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Hämäläinen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's free skating at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 28, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI HÄMÄLÄINEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Hämäläinen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's short program at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 26, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's short program at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 26, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland

Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium performs during women's short program at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland, on January 26, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)