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Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Greece appeals court rules 10 people guilty over deadly 2018 wildfire near Athens
FILE PHOTO: Eleni Anagnostaki, 85, sits in the yard of her destroyed house in the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece, August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo ATHENS - A Greek appeals court found 10 people guilty on Tuesday of misdemeanour charges over a wildfire in 2018 that killed 104 people, a ruling that angered relatives of those who died in the country's worst such disaster in living memory. The court upheld a lower court verdict from last year but ordered the conviction of an additional four people on misdemeanour charges, including involuntary manslaughter, bringing the total to 10, among them former fire brigade officials and a man accused of arson, legal sources said. Eleven people, including regional governors, were cleared. The sentences will be announced on Wednesday. The penalty for a misdemeanour may be a suspended prison sentence or a jail term with the alternative of a fine. The blaze that ripped through the seaside town of Mati, about 27 km (17 miles) east of the capital Athens, in July 2018 killed 104 people and injured dozens. Most of those killed were caught in a maze of thickly-forested streets as they tried to flee in their cars. "Such a horrible disaster so badly handled and it's being treated as a misdemeanour. That's far too lenient. It's sad," said Alexandros Papasteriopoulos, a lawyer representing relatives of the dead. Survivors and relatives released black balloons and held white roses during the trial to honour those killed. They shouted "shame" when the verdict was announced. The disaster cast a pall over the then-leftist Syriza government, with survivors accusing authorities of botching rescue attempts. Authorities dismissed the accusations, saying that erratic winds fuelling the flames meant there was no time for coordinated action. Devastating wildfires have become more frequent in Mediterranean countries. Scientists attribute their frequency and intensity to the increasingly hot and dry weather conditions linked to climate change. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Greece appeals court rules 10 people guilty over deadly 2018 wildfire near Athens
FILE PHOTO: Eleni Anagnostaki, 85, sits in the yard of her destroyed house in the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece, August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo ATHENS (Reuters) -A Greek appeals court found 10 people guilty on Tuesday of misdemeanour charges over a wildfire in 2018 that killed 104 people, a ruling that angered relatives of those who died in the country's worst such disaster in living memory. The court upheld a lower court verdict from last year but ordered the conviction of an additional four people on misdemeanour charges, including involuntary manslaughter, bringing the total to 10, among them former fire brigade officials and a man accused of arson, legal sources said. Eleven people, including regional governors, were cleared. The sentences will be announced on Wednesday. The penalty for a misdemeanour may be a suspended prison sentence or a jail term with the alternative of a fine. The blaze that ripped through the seaside town of Mati, about 27 km (17 miles) east of the capital Athens, in July 2018 killed 104 people and injured dozens. Most of those killed were caught in a maze of thickly-forested streets as they tried to flee in their cars. "Such a horrible disaster so badly handled and it's being treated as a misdemeanour. That's far too lenient. It's sad," said Alexandros Papasteriopoulos, a lawyer representing relatives of the dead. Survivors and relatives released black balloons and held white roses during the trial to honour those killed. They shouted "shame" when the verdict was announced. The disaster cast a pall over the then-leftist Syriza government, with survivors accusing authorities of botching rescue attempts. Authorities dismissed the accusations, saying that erratic winds fuelling the flames meant there was no time for coordinated action. Devastating wildfires have become more frequent in Mediterranean countries. Scientists attribute their frequency and intensity to the increasingly hot and dry weather conditions linked to climate change. (Reporting by Renee MaltezouEditing by Frances Kerry)
The Standard
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Standard
Cardinals set for second day of conclave to elect a new pope
People line up to enter St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on the first day of conclave to elect the new pope, as Cardinals are displayed on a screen, as seen from Rome, Italy May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Cardinals set for second day of conclave to elect a new pope
People wait at St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on the first day of conclave to elect the new pope, as seen from Rome, Italy May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis People wait at the Vatican, on the first day of the conclave to elect the new pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis Faithful react to black smoke rising from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel indicating no decision has been made to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco Black smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating no decision has been made to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay People line up to enter St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on the first day of conclave to elect the new pope, as Cardinals are displayed on a screen, as seen from Rome, Italy May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis Cardinals set for second day of conclave to elect a new pope VATICAN CITY - The largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history was due to resume on Thursday, with Roman Catholic cardinals returning to the Sistine Chapel to try to settle a wide-open papal election. The red-hatted "princes of the Church" started the heavily ritualised process of choosing a new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Wednesday. In the evening, black smoke billowed from a specially-installed chimney visible from St Peter's Square to signal an inconclusive ballot. No pope in modern times has been elected on the first attempt, so that outcome was widely expected. But given recent history, a final result is possible from the second day, when up to four rounds of voting can take place. A record 133 cardinals from 70 countries are involved in the secret ballot, up from 115 from 48 nations in the last conclave in 2013 - growth that reflects efforts by the late Pope Francis to extend the reach of the Church during his 12-year tenure. Argentine-born Francis, who died last month, was elected at the end of the second day, after five rounds of voting. Eight years earlier, it also took two days but only four votes to elevate Germany's Benedict XVI to the papacy. White smoke would signal the election of a new Church leader. There are no clear favourites, although Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as the Vatican's number two under Francis, and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the front-runners. If it becomes obvious that neither can obtain the necessary two-thirds majority, votes are expected to shift to other contenders, with the electors possibly coalescing around geography, doctrinal affinity or common languages. Other potential "papabili" - papal candidates in Italian - are France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungary's Peter Erdo, American Robert Prevost and Italy's Pierbattista Pizzaballa. During the conclave, cardinals are sequestered from the world and sworn to secrecy, their phones and computers confiscated, while they are shuttled between the Sistine Chapel for voting and two Vatican guesthouses to sleep and dine. In recent days, they have offered different assessments of what they are looking for in the next pope, following a relatively liberal pontificate marked by bitter divisions between traditionalists and modernisers. While some urged for continuity with Francis' vision of greater openness and reform, others longed to turn the clock back and embrace traditions. Many have indicated they want a more predictable, measured pontificate. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Cardinals set for second day of conclave to elect a new pope
People line up to enter St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on the first day of conclave to elect the new pope, as Cardinals are displayed on a screen, as seen from Rome, Italy May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history was due to resume on Thursday, with Roman Catholic cardinals returning to the Sistine Chapel to try to settle a wide-open papal election. The red-hatted "princes of the Church" started the heavily ritualised process of choosing a new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Wednesday. In the evening, black smoke billowed from a specially-installed chimney visible from St Peter's Square to signal an inconclusive ballot. No pope in modern times has been elected on the first attempt, so that outcome was widely expected. But given recent history, a final result is possible from the second day, when up to four rounds of voting can take place. A record 133 cardinals from 70 countries are involved in the secret ballot, up from 115 from 48 nations in the last conclave in 2013 - growth that reflects efforts by the late Pope Francis to extend the reach of the Church during his 12-year tenure. Argentine-born Francis, who died last month, was elected at the end of the second day, after five rounds of voting. Eight years earlier, it also took two days but only four votes to elevate Germany's Benedict XVI to the papacy. White smoke would signal the election of a new Church leader. There are no clear favourites, although Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as the Vatican's number two under Francis, and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the front-runners. If it becomes obvious that neither can obtain the necessary two-thirds majority, votes are expected to shift to other contenders, with the electors possibly coalescing around geography, doctrinal affinity or common languages. Other potential "papabili" - papal candidates in Italian - are France's Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungary's Peter Erdo, American Robert Prevost and Italy's Pierbattista Pizzaballa. During the conclave, cardinals are sequestered from the world and sworn to secrecy, their phones and computers confiscated, while they are shuttled between the Sistine Chapel for voting and two Vatican guesthouses to sleep and dine. In recent days, they have offered different assessments of what they are looking for in the next pope, following a relatively liberal pontificate marked by bitter divisions between traditionalists and modernisers. While some urged for continuity with Francis' vision of greater openness and reform, others longed to turn the clock back and embrace traditions. Many have indicated they want a more predictable, measured pontificate. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer, Joshua McElwee and Philip Pullella; Editing by Nia Williams)
