The fires have burned around 50,000 hectares, affected an estimated 7,000 people and claimed at least 21 lives. The Mexican personnel come from the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) and the Secretariat of National Defence (Sedena), and are trained to operate in complex wildfire scenarios.

Chile’s Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren thanked the Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, for its rapid response, saying Mexico offered assistance “from the very first moment”. He highlighted the broader international backing Chile has received, describing it as a reflection of the solidarity Chile has also shown other countries in times of crisis.

During the dry season, firefighters call nearby rural producers, visit farms, and even provide drip torches with the correct fuel mix to support controlled burns. “It’s worse to fight a wildfire in the forest… and I prefer less work,” joked Manoel Delvo, head of fire combat for ICMBio in Pará state.

Trust with local communities has taken time to build. Farmers who once viewed oversight as burdensome are now more willing to request support for safe burns, often used ahead of planting rice and cassava.

The shift follows a disastrous 2024, when extreme heat and drought saw more than 156,000 square kilometres of the Amazon burn – the largest area recorded since monitoring began in 1985. Authorities concluded that almost all the blazes were human-driven, linked to negligence or deliberate deforestation.

This year, however, fire hotspots have dropped by 81% compared to 2024, from 102,000 to just over 19,000 – the lowest figure since 1998. Researcher Ane Alencar credits increased rainfall as the main factor, but also notes intensified government inspections, expanded firefighting resources, and farmers’ fear of repeating last year’s devastation.

The federal government has purchased new aircraft, toughened penalties for arson, and increased the number of environmental firefighters by 26% to 4,385. Despite the progress, the scale of the Amazon means resources remain stretched.

Firefighting brigades recently managed to bring under control blazes in San Matías National Park and the Noel Kempff Mercado Natural Area, though officials said those zones will remain under close surveillance for at least 48 hours to prevent reactivation. A fire remains active in Concepción municipality, where emergency teams and volunteers are working from a newly established field camp.

International assistance has started to arrive. A helicopter from Chile, provided with support from the Airbus Foundation and the French government, has been deployed in San Ignacio de Velasco to patrol and contain fires on the Caparuch plateau. Local officials noted that additional cooperation is expected following recent discussions with the diplomatic corps.

Recent rainfall in parts of Chiquitanía, including Roboré, Carmen Rivero Torres, San Matías, and areas near San Ignacio de Velasco, has helped reduce the intensity of some fires. Still, authorities have urged residents to remain alert, stressing that while many blazes are now under partial control, the risk of flareups remains.

Traditional Filipino dance captivates audiences

In Marawi City, students at Dansalan Polytechnic College celebrated the school’s 23rd anniversary with a mesmerizing performance of ‘singkil’, a traditional dance of the Maranao people. The dance, rooted in the epic ‘Darangen’, showcases rich costumes and rhythmic bamboo pole movements, embodying the vibrant culture of Southern Philippines. Read more here .

Vietnam’s young coffee entrepreneurs brew a revolution

In Vietnam, young innovators like Vu Dinh Tu are using coffee culture to challenge traditional career paths. Once a finance professional, Vu now runs a cafe, reflecting a growing trend of young people seeking independence through creative ventures in a society that still values conventional careers in medicine or law. Coffee, long a staple of Vietnamese life, is becoming a symbol of self-expression. Read more here .

South Korean author wins Nobel Prize

Celebrated South Korean novelist Han Kang received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her “intense poetic prose” that delves into historical traumas. Best known for ‘The Vegetarian’, Han's work often explores suffering and human fragility. Her 2014 novel, ‘Human Acts’, deals with the violent Gwangju Uprising and its aftermath. Read more here .

Africa

Tunisia's president celebrates with supporters

Tunisian President Kais Saied secured over 89% of the vote in the recent elections, despite a low turnout of just 27.7%. Following this, his supporters celebrated in the streets, while his main rivals Ayachi Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaou trailed far behind. They chanted slogans such as "People want Kais Saied back!" as they gathered in the streets. Read more here .

Artists transforming a Nigerian slum

In Lagos, artists have used dance festivals to uplift Orowonshoki, one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods. The initiative called the Slum Party, has garnered attention and even led to infrastructural improvements, like road repairs. Founder Sunday Ozegbe highlights how dance can attract government support and bring international focus to neglected communities. Read more here .

Mozambique’s calm post-election

Following tense elections, Mozambique has remained peaceful as citizens hope for stability. Frelimo, the ruling party since independence, is expected to extend its 49-year grip on power with Daniel Chapo as its next presidential candidate. Mozambique began counting votes on Wednesday, October 9, following tense presidential and parliamentary elections, expected to allow the ruling Frelimo party to extend its 49-year hold on power. President Filipe Nyusi is concluding his tenure after two terms, with Daniel Chapo set to succeed him as the party's candidate. Frelimo, which has governed Mozambique since its independence from Portugal in 1975, first allowed elections in 1994. Read more here .

Latin America

Colombian startup shields savings from currency devaluation

Colombian engineer Martín Peláez developed Plenti, an app that protects savings from devaluation through blockchain. This platform has already processed $500 million in transactions, helping over 20,000 users avoid the volatility of the peso. Currently, the app only operates in Colombia and the United States, but the team has plans to expand into other Latin American countries facing similar issues. Read more here .

Bolivia’s wildfires break records

Wildfires in Bolivia have ravaged over 10 million hectares, the worst fire season on record. Santa Cruz, a key farming region, has been hit hardest, accounting for almost 7 million hectares of the damage. The new figures released on Monday by non-governmental organization Tierra Foundation represent the equivalent of nearly 19 million American football fields. Read more here .

Ecuador declares state of emergency

A recent massacre in Ecuador, leaving five dead, has heightened concerns about rising gang violence. The government declared a state of emergency as the homicide rate soared from 6 per 100,000 people in 2018 to 47 in 2023, despite a slight decrease in overall homicide numbers this year. The Ecuadorian government has reported a decline in overall homicide rates, from 6,037 deaths in the first ten months of 2023 to 4,959 in the same period this year. However, violent crime remains a critical issue, with the homicide rate skyrocketing from 6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 to 47 in 2023. Read more here .

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor reveals troubling connections between child labour and the mining of zinc in Bolivia, which is used in the production of indium in South Korea. The report meticulously documents hazardous working conditions for children in mines, particularly in the regions of Potosi and Oruro. The Korea Times reports that in 2022 alone, South Korea imported more than $385 million worth of zinc concentrate from Bolivia, significantly impacting the supply chain of indium. Notably, South Korea is a major global player in indium production, contributing to 22.2% of the world's supply. The findings of this report raise critical alarms regarding the presence of child labour across various products derived from zinc and indium, especially in the electronics and solar panel industries.

National emergency due to fires

Bolivia faces a national emergency due to unprecedented forest fires, as declared by Defence Minister Edmundo Novillo. The intense fires have already consumed over three million hectares, marking the worst wildfire season since 2010, intensified by earlier fire outbreaks linked to drought conditions. According to The Star , Bolivia's firefighting capabilities are under strain, prompting indigenous volunteers to step in to protect their lands amid widespread evacuations. The situation is further complicated as Brazil witnesses similar disastrous wildfires, exacerbated by record-breaking drought conditions in the Amazon rainforest.

Bilateral ties with Egypt

To fortify bilateral relations, Egypt and Bolivia are actively pursuing collaboration in tourism and cultural initiatives. Egyptian Foreign Minister Nashar has articulated a vision to enhance tourism and invest in site infrastructure, while Bolivia’s representatives laud Egypt’s development efforts. Egypt Today reports mutual discussions encompass joint tourism campaigns and agreements focused on safeguarding cultural heritage, curbing illegal artefact trafficking, and improving archaeological cooperation. Plans are in motion to exhibit replicas of Egyptian artefacts in Bolivia to promote Egyptian culture within the region.

Heavy rains call for a state of emergency

Catastrophic heavy rains in La Paz have necessitated a state of emergency declaration by local authorities, following severe flooding that has obliterated numerous homes. President Luis Arce has announced the mobilisation of heavy machinery and the deployment of 3,000 troops to alleviate subsequent damages. As reported by Nasdaq , the flooding has critically disrupted vital services across several districts, resulting in one fatality over the weekend, and contributing to an alarming total of nearly 50 deaths throughout the country since the onset of the rainy season in January.

Inflation soars

Bolivia's inflation rate escalated to 5.19% in August, reaching the highest point in nearly a decade with a noteworthy monthly surge of 1.58%. This increase significantly surpasses the central bank’s annual target of 3.6%. Cumulative inflation figures for the first eight months of 2023 stand at 4.61%, markedly higher than the mere 0.39% recorded in August of the previous year. According to Investing.com , the price increase trend is predominantly observed in essential commodities such as rice, chicken, and tomatoes, while sectors such as education and transport have reported price declines. Simultaneously, Bolivia grapples with the dual challenges of rampant wildfires and fuel shortages, following a 2022 annual inflation rate of 2.12%.

According to Lucas Albanaz, a doctor who spoke to AFP, "It seems that these past days, everyone noticed an increase, particularly related to respiratory illnesses, conjunctivitis—everything associated."

A resident, Adoaldo Dias Alencar, who also shared his health risk said "After I arrived, it all started again. A cough. A runny nose, difficulty breathing, and so on."

In response to the crisis, the government has mobilised firefighting efforts and is working to control the spread of the fires. Officials are also investigating the causes, with some attributing the blazes to illegal land-clearing practices.

Governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, told local media on Monday, August 26 that Soldiers and firefighters stayed on high alert to "prevent the reignition" of fires from, anticipating a spell of dry weather.

According to Reuters , two firefighters died on Friday, August 23 while trying to quench a fire at an industrial plant in the city of Urupes.

In response to the fires, São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas has ordered planes to spray water over the affected areas.

"We are chartering planes to spray water in addition to fire department aircraft," said Tarcisio de Freitas.

Israeli PM Netanyahu caused controversy by holding a map showing the disputed Western Sahara as an independent state, instead of part of Morocco, an interview. This sparked a backlash in Moroccan media and prompted an apology from Israel's foreign ministry. The incident has increased calls among the Moroccan public for a break in diplomatic ties with Israel, reports The New Arab .

Port improvement

Morocco is set to initiate a bidding process this upcoming summer for the construction of a floating LNG terminal at the Nador West Med port in the northeast, according to the country's energy ministry's oil and gas director, who announced on Friday, May 31. The ministry anticipates finalising the financial aspects by 2025, with the terminal's construction, activation, and commencement of commercial activities projected for 2026, as stated by Abdelghafour El Hadjaoui during a presentation reported by Reuters .

Joint exercise with USA military

Senior U.S. military leaders and their principal African partners observed closely as the Sahara Desert's terrain erupted with dust and fire from the impact of tank and artillery rounds. Their gaze followed the F-16 pilots as they executed precise formations overhead. Attentively, they absorbed briefings by Moroccan and American teams on the strategic establishment of beachheads to safeguard the Atlantic shore against any hypothetical assault. The Associated Press reported that this tactical drill was one of several undertaken during the African Lion exercises, the most extensive annual U.S.-led military drills in Africa, which wrapped up on Friday, May 31 in Morocco.

Explosion kills seven

A deadly explosion occurred on the bulk carrier Toro Rosso near the Port of Jorf Lasfar, off the coast of Morocco, killing 7 crew members and injuring a dozen others. The ship was chartered by a company based in Ethiopia and was carrying phosphate fertilisers. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and the port authorities have emphasised their strict safety protocols for handling dangerous cargo, reports Marine Insight .

Forest fires

Morocco is raising awareness of the risk of forest fires as summer approaches. The Sakina forest in Kenitra is popular for picnicking, but the increase in visitors increases the risk of fires. The National Agency for Water and Forestry promotes fire safety to park visitors, as Moroccan forests are extremely flammable during the summer, as reported by Africanews . The agency has managed to reduce the area affected by wildfires in 2023 by 70% compared to the previous year. It has allocated a budget of 153 million dirhams for the prevention and fight against forest fires in 2024. They have also expanded their fleet of specialised Canadair firefighting aircraft.

The president told reporters on March 27 that all the deaths were from Mexico State, the most populous region encircling the capital.

The Latin American nation is currently facing a severe crisis with 116 forest fires burning across the country.

As of March 15, Mexico has witnessed approximately 400 fire incidents, collectively destroying more than 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres) of land.

The affected areas are spread across the country, with some fires occurring as far south as Chiapas state, which shares its border with Guatemala.

Official data reveals that fires are caused by both intentional actions and agricultural activities.

According to La Tercera , The Investigations Police (PDI), one of the two police bodies in Chile, has registered 804 homicides throughout the country in 2023. Of those, 497 occurred in Santiago‘s metro area. The PDI also found a rise in drug trafficking, use of firearms, extortion, people smuggling and kidnappings. According to prosecutors and government officials, the spike in those cases is due to increased activity of international criminal organizations operating in Chile, an emerging phenomenon that dominated the public agenda in 2023. 

Large majority of Chileans feel unsafe 

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), many Chileans feel unsafe. The latest Urban Citizen Security poll, conducted by the INE, shows that 90.6% of people think insecurity and violence have increased in the last year. This represents a 4% increase compared to 2022 and the highest number in at least 10 years. Poll results also show that 21.8% said they had been a victim of a crime in the last year, the highest figure in three years. According to the INE, women tend to feel more unsafe than men.

Over 1.6 million immigrants live in Chile

According to Emol , the National Migration Service and the National Statistics Institute (INE) estimated that Chile is home to over 1.6 million immigrants. Almost a third of those (32.8%) come from Venezuela, the largest community of immigrants, followed by Peruvians (15.4%), Colombians (11.7%), Bolivians (11.7%), and Haitians (11.4%). Immigrants in Chile constitute roughly 8% of the country’s 20 million population. According to those government bodies, the figure was 25% smaller four years ago. 

Chile and Australia work together to mitigate the risks of wildfires

Constanza González, a researcher at Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD), spoke to CNN about the platform Wildfire X Exchange, which aims to connect key people who work on risk prevention to exchange their knowledge and experiences in real-time. Wildfire X Exchange is a joint venture with resources and ideas from both Chile and Australia, two countries severely hit by wildfires. González explained that the online platform can classify areas depending on their risk which can lead to a better use of resources and preparedness.

Unemployment soars to 8.7%

CNN reports that the unemployment rate in Chile rose to 8.7%, a 0.8% increase in the last year alone. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), Chile’s unemployment rate has risen steadily for the last thirteen years. The situation worsens in the country’s capital, Santiago, where the unemployment rate sits at 9.7%. In the last quarter of the year, however, there was timid growth in job creation, as the INE estimates that 2.4% of Chileans found a job.