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EU sends water bombers to help fight wildfires around AthensFlying boats dispatched as state of emergency called in Loutraki, with firefighters battling fast-moving blazeThe EU has weighed in with help to combat wildfires in Greece, dispatching four Canadair water bombers as the battle to douse blazes that have raged around Athens intensified.Conflagrations whipped by gale-force winds left a trail of devastation, decimating pine forests, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee as flames tore through terrain turned tinder dry by extreme heat.
Family abandons £2,000 Greek holiday as heatwave turns hotel into ‘giant oven’Sally Urwin and her two teenage sons relieved to be back in rainy UK after being trapped in ‘suffocating’ heatA family abandoned their £2,000 Greek holiday three days early because of the unbearable Cerberus heatwave – saying their hotel turned into a “giant oven”.Sally Urwin, 49, and her two teenage sons decided to jet back from Rhodes after temperatures soared above 40C (104F).The author and her boys, aged 16 and 13, then returned to the UK on July 16 to welcome rainfall.
Families unable to cancel summer holidays despite extreme heat warnings and wildfiresUK government has so far stopped short of issuing ‘don’t travel’ advice, meaning travel firms won't cover cancellationsFamilies face having to cancel their summer holidays to Spain and Greece with no compensation, despite the exceptional heatwave subjecting swathes of Europe to extreme temperatures and wildfires.While the Foreign Office has issued warnings over scorching temperatures in both Spain and Greece, as wildfires rage on La Palma and near Athens, the UK government has so far stopped short of issuing “don’t travel” advice.
Tony Blair was urged to back Ukraine's EU dream in face of Russia threats - recordsTony Blair was urged to back Ukraine's dream to join the EU to form a barrier against Russian threats, newly released records from his time as PM show.His special Europe adviser told him Kyiv wanted a "special relationship... if only we would show more interest," the National Archives reveal.Ukraine's then-president, Leonid Kuchma, also wrote to Mr Blair appealing for his support.Mr Kuchma had first declared Ukraine's intention to join the EU in 1998, but there was little enthusiasm for it in Germany or France. One of the biggest stumbling blocks was that Ukraine was beset with corruption and its businesses run by powerful oligarchs.For all his Western leanings, Mr Kuchma's own government was tainted by the gruesome 2000 murder of a journalist, Georgiy Gongadze, who was one of the Ukrainian leader's biggest public critics. Mr Kuchma has always denied complicity in his death.In 2004 Ukrainians took to the streets protesting against electoral fraud, in an Orange Revolution that saw supporters back a pro-European president over a candidate backed by the Kremlin.In the event the EU did choose a watered-down relationship for Ukraine and its neighbours, and the UK played a big role in supporting it.That agreement was eventually signed in 2014, months after Ukraine's pro-Russian president had refused to go through with it, triggering a revolution that ultimately brought him down.
Margaret Thatcher praised Tony Blair for supporting US after 9/11, files reveal‘I greatly admire the resolve you are showing,’ former PM said in handwritten note released to National ArchivesMargaret Thatcher privately praised Tony Blair over his support for the US after the 9/11 attacks, according to newly released government files.“You will have found, as I did, that just as one international crisis subsides, another soon threatens,” she wrote in a handwritten note dated 4 April 2002, seven months after al-Qaida passenger jet hijackers carried out four suicide attacks, including on the Twin Towers in New York City.“I greatly admire the resolve you are showing. You have ensured that Britain is known as a staunch defender of liberty, and as a loyal ally of America. That is the very best reputation our country can have.”She signed off: “With all good wishes, Margaret T.”
Crete: Human head discovered in waste sorting facilityPolice in Crete are investigating the discovery of a human head, likely to be that of a male aged in his 30s, at a waste sorting facility in Hania.A forensic examiner, Giorgos Mylonakis, said his first impressions are that the head belongs to a man and that his death occurred within the last 10 days.
Family evicted from rental home every eight minutes in EnglandA no-fault eviction is being handed to a family every eight minutes in England - equating to nearly 200 every day - according to research from a housing charity.Shelter said its survey suggested more than 188,000 private renters with children have received a section 21 notice - also known as 'no-fault' evictions as the landlord does not need to provide a reason to evict the tenant - in the past three years.
Animal protection group issues fresh appealAn animal protection group that is responsible for running an emergency shelter for cats and dogs rescued from the ongoing wildfires in the Greek capital issued a fresh appeal for the public’s assistance on Wednesday.In a social media post, Dog’s Voice said that it is currently looking after 380 animals at the makeshift shelter at the former Lato quarry in Galatsi, northern Athens, and needs help as arrivals are constant and temperatures are rising. More specifically, the group said it needs permanent or temporary homes for the more vulnerable animals in its care, cooling mats, pee pads, puppy food and old sheets, as well as collars and leads.
Villages evacuated on Rhodes as wildfire bears its teethFour villages and a hotel are being evacuated on the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes as strong winds continue to stoke a wildfire that broke out in the early hours of Wednesday near the village of Apollonas in the western mountains.Residents and visitors in Eleousa, Salakos, Dimilia and Profitis Ilias, as well as staff and patrons at the Elafos Hotel, were told to head for the coastal resort of Kolymbia, where five boats have been put on standby to help evacuees if this becomes necessary.
Israel Sends Aid as Huge Wildfires Ravage GreeceIn the midst of a devastating wildfire outbreak in Greece, the country has sought international assistance to combat the raging infernos. Within the past 24 hours, large swathes of land have been consumed by the relentless flames, prompting the Greek Government to appeal for help. Responding to this urgent call, Israel has swiftly offered aid by dispatching firefighting aircraft to support the firefighting efforts in Greece.
Michael Gove pledges 30,000 new social homes per year to tackle 'indefensible' housing crisisHousing Secretary Michael Gove says the government will build at least 30,000 new social homes a year to tackle the housing crisis, and says it is "indefensible" working people are having to live in vans, caravans, and hostels. In an exclusive interview with ITV News, it is the first time Mr Gove has put a number of the amount of social housing he wants built and said the government would "step up" its plans before the next general election.Housing charities including Shelter estimate 90,000 new social homes are needed each year in England to meet demand. There are more than 1 million households on social housing waiting lists.Government data shows 7,644 social homes were built in England in 2021/22, while 24,932 were sold under Right to Buy and 2,757 were demolished.
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Topic: 19/07/23 (Read 1759 times)
