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Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

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Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

As the region experiences record high temperatures during a summer heatwave, wildfires have continued to spread over southern Europe.

More than 21,000 people had to be evacuated from the islands of Corfu and Rhodes as a result of the spread of forest fires, making Greece one of the most impacted nations.

However, a number of other nations are also battling wildfires because of the hot weather.

Biztellers looks at the European countries where wildfires have spread in recent days

GREECE

Wildfires continue to rage on the Greek island of Rhodes, where 19,000 people have been evacuated from homes and hotels since the weekend.

Fires burning since 19 July spread to the coastal resorts on the south east of the island. An estimated 2,000 people left the island by plane on Tuesday.

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

Hundreds of firefighters, helped by staff from Turkey and Slovakia, have been battling blazes near the villages of Gennadi and Vati on the south east of Rhodes.

About 2,500 people were evacuated because of fires on the island of Corfu on Sunday 23 July, although many returned to their hotels on Monday. Local officials claimed the fires on Corfu were started by arsonists.

Wildfires are also burning on the island of Evia, east of Athens. On Tuesday, it was reported that a plane fighting wildfires on Evia crashed with at least two people on board.

ITALY

There are a number of wildfires burning on the Italian island of Sicily as temperatures reached 47C.

Palermo airport was forced to close for several hours on Tuesday morning after flames reached just outside the perimeter.

Italy has been severely impacted by the heatwave across southern Europe, and 16 of its cities are on red alert, including Palermo and Catania on Sicily.

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

Elsewhere on the island, 120 families were evacuated from their homes near the seaside resort of Mondello, according to the Ansa news agency.

There have been wildfires this week near the city of Messina, and in the San Martino delle Scale area near Palermo, where Ansa said an 88-year-old woman had died in the fires.

TURKEY

On Tuesday 25 July, firefighters battled a wildfire near the seaside resort of Kemer in Turkey.

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

Turkish officials said 11 aircraft and 22 helicopters were tackling the blaze, which burned 120 hectares of woodland.

A local hospital was evacuated as a precautionary measure and six people were hospitalised because of smoke inhalation

SPAIN

On 16 July, more than 4,000 people were evacuated on the Spanish island of La Palma after a wildfire.

The blaze burned 2,900 hectares of the island, including 200 hectares of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.

Agents of the Forest Fire Intervention and Reinforcement Teams (EIRIF) of the Government of the Canary Islands intervene in the La Palma fire on July 17, 2023, in La Palma, Canary Islands (Spain).

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

The Forest Fire Intervention and Reinforcement Teams (EIRIF) of the Government of the Canary Islands have been working on the La Palma fire creating fire breaks.

The Spanish islands of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca have reportedly remained on high alert this week for the risk of fires.

SWITZERLAND

On Tuesday 18 July, firefighters in Switzerland battled a forest fire on a mountain in Bitsch in the Valais area near the border with Italy.

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

More than 200 people were evacuated as helicopters flew overhead during the night to tackle the blaze.

The fire spread to 100 hectares of forest and was still not completely under control at the weekend.

PORTUGAL

On Tuesday 18 July , Portugal requested help in the management of wildfires from the European Union civil protection mechanism, Finland’s Interior ministry said.

Finland will send 48 rescue workers to help Portugal in the event of wildfires.

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

While Portugal has escaped the worst of the recent southern Europe heatwave, it is facing widespread drought, with some 90% of the country affected, after an unusually hot and dry April.

MALTA

This week, a heatwave in Malta caused temperatures to soar as high as 42C.

Europe Fires: Countries Hit By Wildfires In Past Weeks

Its Civil Protection Department was on high alert on Monday due to the potential for wildfires in the archipelago.

By Wednesday, the island country’s temperatures should be in the mid-30s.

International News

US Diplomats In Israel For High-Stake-Talks On Lebanon Truce

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Senior U.S. officials are set to meet their Israeli counterparts on Thursday to negotiate a potential agreement aimed at stabilizing Israel’s northern border and reducing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This high-stakes visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals as Israeli strikes persist.

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Just days before the U.S. presidential election, American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk are expected to arrive in Israel.

Their mission focuses on securing a framework that could see Hezbollah withdraw approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) north, beyond the Litani River.

In exchange, Israeli forces would pull back from Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, to manage border security.

Under this arrangement, Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming, while Israel would retain its right to self-defense under international law, according to Israeli media reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire could be reached “in the coming hours or days.”

Newly appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has indicated that the group would consider a truce under certain conditions, saying Hezbollah could sustain its resistance but remains open to negotiation.

Qassem’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.

In parallel, U.S. and Qatari mediators are attempting to negotiate a brief humanitarian pause in Gaza, where Israel’s campaign against Hamas is ongoing.

However, on Thursday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated the group’s stance against a temporary ceasefire, stating, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on.

Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

This proposed pause would have allowed essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and opened up negotiations for a longer-term resolution, but Hamas’s rejection of the offer dims prospects for an immediate breakthrough.

As a result, attention remains firmly fixed on Lebanon, where efforts for a ceasefire along Israel’s northern front are likely to take precedence.

Last week, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi spoke to the growing potential for resolution in Lebanon, saying, “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion.”

Israel’s military has since intensified its strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon, where it issued evacuation orders in areas such as the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, warning of imminent action following previous strikes.

 

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International News

Deadly Super Typhoon Kong-rey Wreaks Havoc Across Taiwan

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Super Typhoon Kong-rey barreled into Taiwan on Thursday, bringing fierce winds, towering waves, and heavy rainfall that led to widespread destruction and the suspension of daily activities across the island.

Packing sustained winds of 184 km/h (114 mph) and waves reaching 10 meters high, the typhoon marked one of the most powerful storms to strike Taiwan in nearly three decades.

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Kong-rey’s vast radius of 320 kilometers made it the largest storm to hit the island since 1995, surpassing Typhoon Gaemi earlier this year in both size and scope.

Officials say the storm could continue to impact the island through Friday morning, with flooding and dangerous winds expected to persist.

Fatalities and Damage as Taiwan Endures Kong-rey’s Wrath

Amid the chaos, one fatality was reported in central Nantou County, where a falling tree crushed a vehicle, while 73 others have been injured across Taiwan as the storm swept through.

Hundreds of rescue workers, including nearly 35,000 military troops, have been deployed island-wide to manage emergency responses, with ongoing rescues in the hardest-hit areas, like coastal Hualien County.

In Hualien, floodwaters rose quickly, prompting emergency evacuations. “The situation is very serious,” reported Wang Ming-chung, Hualien’s fire department chief.

First responders are grappling with multiple incidents involving fallen trees, downed power lines, and injuries from flying debris.

The typhoon has also led to power outages for more than 100,000 households, cancellations of over 400 flights, and suspension of all ferry services.

Four mudslides have been reported so far, and roads across Taiwan remain blocked by fallen trees and debris.

A Country on High Alert

Officials in Taiwan have evacuated more than 8,600 residents from high-risk regions, including Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. Residents have been advised to stay indoors, and public schools and workplaces were closed as the storm approached.

Authorities have also managed to reach two Czech tourists who were reported missing while hiking in Taroko Gorge; they are now safely sheltering in the mountains.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te urged citizens to prioritize safety, emphasizing that Kong-rey’s effects would continue to be felt well into the night.

“This storm is extremely dangerous. Please avoid any unnecessary outings, especially near the coast,” he said.

Growing Storm Intensity a Sign of Climate Change

Scientists warn that climate change is contributing to stronger storms worldwide, with rising temperatures leading to heavier rainfall and intense winds.

Chu Mei-lin from Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration reiterated that Kong-rey’s size and strength are a clear sign of this trend, stressing the need for preparedness in the face of increasingly severe storms.

Economy on Alert, but Industry Resilient

As Taiwan mobilizes recovery efforts, the island’s crucial semiconductor industry remains largely unaffected.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a global chip leader, announced it has activated storm preparedness measures, stating it does not expect significant disruptions at its facilities.

Kong-rey is the third typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan this year, following Typhoons Gaemi and Krathon.

Both previous storms caused fatalities, extensive injuries, and widespread property damage, adding to the urgency of Taiwan’s disaster response efforts.

 

 

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International News

Hezbollah Appoints Naim Qassem As New Secretary-General After Nasrallah’s Death

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Hezbollah has appointed Naim Qassem as its new secretary-general, following the killing of Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces last month.

The announcement was made by the group’s media office in a statement on Tuesday.

Hezbollah’s Senior Council stated that the selection of Qassem adhered to the group’s established leadership protocols.

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Known for his deep-rooted commitment to “Prophet Mohammed’s authentic Islam” and Hezbollah’s founding principles, Qassem brings decades of experience within the organization.

Qassem, who has long served as a prominent figure within Hezbollah, was a close associate of Nasrallah and previously held the position of deputy secretary-general.

The leadership change comes at a volatile time, with increased regional tensions and ongoing conflicts impacting Lebanon.

 

 

 

More to follow………. 

 

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