by Helene Colliopoulou and Patrick Galey Agence France-Presse ATHENS, Greece (AFP) – At least 81 people died in huge wildfires around Athens, Greek authorities have said, as rescuers scoured scorched homes and burned-out cars for victims of one of the world’s deadliest fire outbreaks. Scores of locals and holidaymakers fled to the sea to try to escape the flames as they tore through towns and villages near the capital stoked by 100-kilometre-per-hour wind gusts, devouring […]
Europe
Greek wildfires toll rises to 79 amid search for survivors
by Hélène COLLIOPOULOU Agence France-Presse ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — At least 79 people died in huge wildfires around Athens, Greek authorities said Wednesday, as rescuers scoured scorched homes and burned-out cars for survivors of one of the deadliest fire outbreaks in Europe’s modern history. Scores of locals and holidaymakers fled to the sea to try to escape the flames as they tore through towns near Athens stoked by 100-kilometre-per-hour wind gusts, devouring woodland and hundreds […]
Greece in mourning as horrifying wildfires kill 74
by Hélène Colliopoulou Agence France Presse ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Greece was in mourning Tuesday following some of the worst wildfires this century, with fears the toll — at least 74 dead and 187 injured so far — could rise, as rescuers search for people trapped in their homes or burned-out cars. The fires, which broke out on Monday afternoon, devoured homes and forests, forcing terrified residents to flea into the sea for safety, while […]
At least 20 dead in Greek wildfires
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) – At least 20 people have died and more than 100 injured after wildfires tore through woodland and villages around Athens, as Greek authorities rushed to evacuate residents and tourists stranded on beaches in coastal areas early Tuesday. The majority of victims were found in their homes or cars in the seaside resort of Mati, 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of the capital, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said. Eleven people were seriously […]
France interior minister to face griling over Macron security aide assault
by Anne Pascale Reboul and Joseph Schmid Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — France’s interior minister Gerard Collomb was due to appear before parliament on Monday, as opposition MPs accused the government of a cover-up over a former top presidential security aide who was charged with gang violence. In the most damaging scandal to hit President Emmanuel Macron since he took office last year, Alexandre Benalla was charged Sunday after he was […]
Forest fires destroy 800 hectares in Latvia
RIGA, Latvia (AFP)–Fires raging for five days have destroyed more than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) of western Latvia, authorities said Sunday, with continuing extreme temperatures hampering firefighters’ efforts. Satellite images showed the fires have wiped out 170 acres of forest, 257 hectares of scrubland and nearly 400 hectares of peatland. A peat fire in the Courland region broke out last Tuesday and spread eastwards, with the smoke noticeable in the resort town of Jurmala, more […]
Vatican suspends Chilean deacon accused of child abuse
SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — The Vatican dismissed a Chilean deacon over sexual abuse accusations in central Chile, the archdiocese of the city of Rancagua said Friday, amid a widespread abuse scandal gripping the country’s Catholic Church. Luis Rubio was arrested for improper conduct and sexual abuse of minors when he was in charge of a Las Cabras school in 2013. A year later, the archdiocese of Rancagua dismissed him from his duties while an […]
France, Russia to jointly deliver humanitarian aid to Syria
PARIS, France (AFP) — France and Russia will jointly deliver humanitarian aid to the former Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, the French Presidency said in a statement with Russia on Friday. A Russian cargo plane arrived late Friday in Chateauroux in central France to load 50 tons of medical equipment and essential goods provided by France, said an AFP videographer at the scene, to be transported to the former rebel area which was […]
Spanish rescue ship heads home after dramatic rescue
ITALY (AFP) – A Spanish NGO that saved a woman off Libya who was drifting on a deflated dinghy next to the bodies of a boy and another woman said Wednesday it is taking her to Spain for her safety. Proactiva Open Arms, whose two ships sail back and forth in the Mediterranean to rescue migrants in distress, said it had decided to return a day after saving the 40-year-old woman from Cameroon. In a […]
19 drown, dozens missing as migrant boat sinks off Cyprus
by Odul Asik Ulker Agence France Presse NICOSIA, Cyprus (AFP) — At least 19 migrants drowned and up to 30 were missing Wednesday after their boat sank in the Mediterranean off the north of Cyprus, local security forces said. The boat was carrying 150 people, reportedly Syrians, when it went down off the coast of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot-controlled portion of the island, which is only recognised by Ankara. More than 100 people were […]
Trump tells critics of summit with Putin: “I would rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace”
(Eagle News) — US President Donald Trump said he would “rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace” in deciding to push through with his historic summit on Monday, July 16, with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite criticism on the home front. Trump thanked President Niinisto of Finland for graciously hosting the summit, the first ever official meeting for the two world leaders after previous unofficial talks at the G20 Hamburg and APEC […]
Russia and US should “join ranks” and “work together” to address global challenges, says Putin
(Eagle News) — Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of Russia and the United States “working together” saying that this was the only way to cope with a new set of global challenges, including threats of terrorism and transnational crime, and rising problems on the economy. In a news conference after his historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Helsinki, Putin said his negotiations with Trump “took place in a frank and […]