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Japan Today
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Japan Today
Heat wave scorches parts of Europe and fans wildfire threat in France
People cool off under showers at Paris Plage along the Seine river in Paris, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) By THOMAS ADAMSON A heat wave gripped parts of Europe on Monday, sending temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in southern France and increasing risks of wildfires in wine country, while Bulgaria suffered blazes along its southern borders as Hungary saw record-breaking weekend temperatures and fires caused evacuations in Turkey's northwest. Scientists say Europe is becoming the world's fastest-warming continent. According to the U.K.-based Carbon Brief, 2025 is predicted to be the second- or third-warmest year on record. Europe's land temperatures have risen about 2.3 C above pre-industrial levels, nearly twice the global rate, intensifying heat waves, the EU's Copernicus climate service reports. EU data show burned area across the continent is already far above the long-term average this summer, with major outbreaks in Spain, Portugal and deadly blazes in Greece since late June. On Monday, the French national weather authority, Météo-France, placed 12 departments on red alert, the country's highest heat warning, anticipating exceptional heat stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Forty-one other departments were under lower-level orange alerts, as was the neighboring microstate of Andorra, between France and Spain. 'Don't be fooled — this isn't 'normal, it's summer.' It's not normal, it's a nightmare,' agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka, told BFMTV from Montauban in France's Tarn-et-Garonne department, where the blistering heat pressed relentlessly throughout the day. Social media images showed shuttered streets in Valence, residents shielding windows with foil to reflect the light, and tourists huddling under umbrellas along the Garonne in Toulouse. Across the south, café terraces stood empty as people sought cooler corners indoors. In France's Aude department, a patchwork of vineyards and Mediterranean scrubland, hundreds of firefighters remained in the rolling wine country guarding the edges of a massive, deadly blaze that scorched 16,000 hectares last week. Officials say the fire is under control but warn it will not be fully extinguished for weeks, with hot spots still smoldering and at risk of reigniting. The red alert in France has been issued only eight times since it was created in 2004 after a deadly summer the year before. It is reserved for extreme, prolonged heat with major health risks and the potential to disrupt daily life. The designation gives local officials powers to cancel outdoor events, close public venues and alter school or summer camp schedules. The heat wave, France's second of the summer, began Friday and is expected to last all week, carrying into the Aug. 15 holiday weekend. It is already pushing northward, with 38 C (100.4 F) forecast in the Centre-Val de Loire region and up to 34 C (93.2 F) in Paris. Across the English Channel, the U.K.'s Met Office expects the country's fourth heat wave of the summer to peak around 33 C (90 F) in London on Tuesday. The U.K. Health Security Agency issued a yellow health alert for older adults and those with medical conditions. In Bulgaria, temperatures were expected to exceed 40 C (104 F) Monday at the day's peak, with maximum fire danger alerts in place. Nearly 200 fires have been reported; most have been brought under control, localized and extinguished, but the situation remains 'very challenging,' said Alexander Dzhartov, head of the national fire safety unit. Three major blazes continue along the borders with Greece and Turkey, including one near Strumyani that reignited after three weeks. More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel are battling flames in rugged terrain unreachable by vehicles, supported by army helicopters and two Swedish aircraft. In Turkey, a wildfire fueled by high temperatures and strong winds forced authorities to evacuate holiday homes and a university campus and to suspend maritime traffic in the country's northwest. The fire broke out in an agricultural field in the province of Canakkale and spread into surrounding forestland, just two days after firefighting teams had contained a similar blaze in the area. Canakkale Gov. Omer Toraman said the Dardanelles Strait — the narrow waterway linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara — was closed to allow water-dropping planes and helicopters to operate safely. Sunday brought a new national high of 39.9 C (104 F) on Sunday in the southeast, breaking a record set in 1948. Budapest also recorded a city record at 38.7 C (101.6 F). Authorities imposed a nationwide fire ban amid extreme heat and drought. __ Lydia Doye in London, Justin Spike in Budapest, and Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
A heat wave scorches parts of Europe and fans wildfire threat in France
People cool off under showers at Paris Plage along the Seine river in Paris, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PARIS — A heat wave gripped parts of Europe on Monday, sending temperatures up to 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in southern France and increasing risks of wildfires in wine country. Meanwhile, Bulgaria suffered blazes along its southern borders as Hungary saw record-breaking weekend temperatures and fires caused evacuations in Turkey's northwest. Scientists say Europe is becoming the world's fastest-warming continent. According to the U.K.-based Carbon Brief, 2025 is predicted to be the second- or third-warmest year on record. Europe's land temperatures have risen about 2.3 C above pre-industrial levels, nearly twice the global rate, intensifying heat waves, the EU's Copernicus climate service reports. EU data show burned area across the continent is already far above the long-term average this summer, with major outbreaks in Spain, Portugal and deadly blazes in Greece since late June. France on high alert On Monday, the French national weather authority, Météo-France, placed 12 departments on red alert, the country's highest heat warning, anticipating exceptional heat stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Forty-one other departments were under lower-level orange alerts, as was the neighboring microstate of Andorra, between France and Spain. 'Don't be fooled — this isn't 'normal, it's summer.' It's not normal, it's a nightmare,' agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka, told BFMTV from Montauban in France's Tarn-et-Garonne department, where the blistering heat pressed relentlessly throughout the day. Social media images showed shuttered streets in Valence, residents shielding windows with foil to reflect the light, and tourists huddling under umbrellas along the Garonne in Toulouse. Across the south, café terraces stood empty as people sought cooler corners indoors. In France's Aude department, a patchwork of vineyards and Mediterranean scrubland, hundreds of firefighters remained in the rolling wine country guarding the edges of a massive, deadly blaze that scorched 16,000 hectares last week. Officials say the fire is under control but warn it will not be fully extinguished for weeks, with hot spots still smoldering and at risk of reigniting. The red alert in France has been issued only eight times since it was created in 2004 after a deadly summer the year before. It is reserved for extreme, prolonged heat with major health risks and the potential to disrupt daily life. The designation gives local officials powers to cancel outdoor events, close public venues and alter school or summer camp schedules. The heat wave, France's second of the summer, began Friday and is expected to last all week, carrying into the Aug. 15 holiday weekend. It is already pushing northward, with 38 C (100.4 F) forecast in the Centre-Val de Loire region and up to 34 C (93.2 F) in Paris. Across the English Channel, the U.K.'s Met Office expects the country's fourth heat wave of the summer to peak around 33 C (90 F) in London on Tuesday. The U.K. Health Security Agency issued a yellow health alert for older adults and those with medical conditions. Maximum fire danger alerts in Bulgaria In Bulgaria, temperatures were expected to exceed 40 C (104 F) Monday at the day's peak, with maximum fire danger alerts in place. Nearly 200 fires have been reported; most have been brought under control, localized and extinguished, but the situation remains 'very challenging,' said Alexander Dzhartov, head of the national fire safety unit. Three major blazes continue along the borders with Greece and Turkey, including one near Strumyani that reignited after three weeks. More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel are battling flames in rugged terrain unreachable by vehicles, supported by army helicopters and two Swedish aircraft. Evacuations in Turkey In Turkey, a wildfire fueled by high temperatures and strong winds forced authorities to evacuate holiday homes and a university campus and to suspend maritime traffic in the country's northwest. The fire broke out in an agricultural field in the province of Canakkale and spread into surrounding forestland, just two days after firefighting teams had contained a similar blaze in the area. Canakkale Gov. Omer Toraman said the Dardanelles Strait — the narrow waterway linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara — was closed to allow water-dropping planes and helicopters to operate safely. Hungary records record-breaking heat Sunday brought a new national high of 39.9 C (104 F) on Sunday in the southeast, breaking a record set in 1948. Budapest also recorded a city record at 38.7 C (101.6 F). Authorities imposed a nationwide fire ban amid extreme heat and drought. __ Lydia Doye in London, Justin Spike in Budapest, and Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report. Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press
Irish Examiner
13-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's social media regulator gives X extra time to clarify child safety rules
Elon Musk-owned X asked Ireland's media regulator to extend its deadline for the social media giant to clarify how it is keeping children safe on its platform. Coimisiún na Meán confirmed to the Irish Examiner that X had requested extra time to respond to its statutory notice seeking information on how it will comply with specific sections of the Online Safety Code. Having originally been asked to provide this information by July 22 or risk facing 'criminal liability', a new deadline of August 8 has been set. Crucially, this new deadline comes after the High Court is set to rule on a judicial review taken by X challenging what it has called the "regulatory overreach' from Coimisiún na Meán in how it proposes to hold big tech companies to account. X has asked the court to overturn the decision to apply the Online Safety Code to its platform. The decision in that judicial review is set to be delivered on July 25. Elon Musk's X now has until August to clarify how it is keeping children safe online. File picture: AP Photo/Michel Euler The regulator has fully contested the case, and has said the code is aimed at keeping people, especially children, safe online. The Online Safety Code sets binding rules on major platforms that also include Facebook and YouTube to prohibit harmful content like cyberbullying, racism, or incitement to hatred. It also makes it incumbent on platforms to have robust age assurance such as verifying a passport photo to prevent children from seeing pornography or gratuitous violence online, as 'merely asking users whether they are over 18 will not be enough'. Coimisiún na Meán says its code — which fully comes into effect this month — fits in with broader European legislation aimed at protecting people online, with big firms such as Meta, YouTube and TikTok obliged to adhere to its rules. Last month, the regulator wrote to X asking it to explain how it is complying with the code. 'Under Part A of the Code designated platforms must establish and operate age verification systems for users with respect to content which may impair physical, mental, or moral development of minors,' it said. 'For the purposes of Part A, the term 'age verification' includes effective age assurance measures including age estimation. 'Information provided by X so far is not sufficient to assess whether X's current measures are sufficient to protect children using the service. An Coimisiún is therefore using its statutory powers to seek further information.' The regulator said it would review the response from X if it has complied with part A of the code and determine if further action should be taken. Facing criminal liability If X does not respond, it said it could face a 'criminal liability, including a fine of up to €500,000'. If it is eventually found that X has breached its obligations under the Online Safety Code, it can be fined up to €20m or 10% of its turnover. A spokesperson for Coimisiún na Méan said: 'In June, [we] issued a statutory Information Notice to X Internet Unlimited Company, the provider of the platform X, with an obligation to respond by July 22, 2025. 'X have since requested an extension to this deadline and this request has been granted by An Coimisiún with a new deadline of August 8, 2025.' Read More US tariff announcement is deeply regrettable, Simon Harris says
Toronto Sun
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Israel condemns black partition walls around its Paris Air Show pavilions
A French appeals court ruled against activist groups who sought to block Israeli companies from participating in the show Published Jun 16, 2025 • 2 minute read A black wall that blocks the Israeli pavilions has been erected at the Paris Air Show , Monday, June 16, 2025 in Le Bourget, north of Paris. Photo by Michel Euler / AP PARIS — French authorities ordered black partition walls erected around some Israeli defence industry exhibits at the Paris Air Show, a move denounced by Israel's Defense Ministry, which demanded an immediate reversal. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A French appeals court had ruled Friday against activist groups who sought to block Israeli companies from participating in the show due to the war in Gaza. The Paris Air Show, held at Le Bourget north of Paris, is one of the world's largest and most prestigious events for the aerospace and defense industry. The black walls appeared overnight ahead of the show's opening Monday, visually isolating Israeli booths from dozens of other international exhibitors. The Israeli Defense Ministry said the move followed a last-minute demand from organizers to remove offensive weapons systems from display — a request they rejected. 'The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries,' the ministry said in a statement Monday, calling the action 'ugly and improper.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A French official said the decision came from the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security, under the prime minister. The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the details. The official said Israeli exhibitors were told weeks in advance that they couldn't exhibit certain types of equipment, and that the walls were erected as a last resort when five of them didn't comply. Four others did and are allowed to exhibit. The official did not elaborate on what kind of equipment was not allowed, or why. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou officially opened the air show Monday, visiting several stands, and was expected to give a news conference later in the day. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Sylvain Pavillet, a lawyer working with the air show organizers, said the final decision on which countries are allowed to exhibit lies with the French government, not the show itself. 'We are not a state. We are a commercial company,' he told the Associated Press. The president and CEO of Israeli company IAI, Boaz Levy, said it has exhibited at the Paris Air Show for decades and had received authorizations to display its equipment. 'Last night, after our booth was set up and ready for the show, we were asked to remove some of our systems from the booth. We tried to negotiate with them, but it seems these orders came from the highest levels in Paris,' he said in a statement. 'This morning, when we arrived at our booth, we were shocked to find out that we were blocked by black walls built overnight.' Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA World Canada
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Champions League winner PSG short-lists two sites outside Paris for future stadium
Supporter celebrate PSG's opening goal during the the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PSG supporters celebrate during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PSG supporters celebrate during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Supporter celebrate PSG's opening goal during the the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PSG supporters celebrate during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, Saturday, May 31, 2025 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain has short-listed two sites outside the capital city to build its future stadium. The Qatar Sports Investments-owned club wants its own stadium, but Paris city hall has so far refused to sell Parc des Princes, the 48,000-capacity venue that has served as PSG's home since 1972. Advertisement 'Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League triumph marks a major milestone in the club's development,' PSG said in a statement Tuesday. 'In order to remain competitive at the highest level, to consolidate its business model over the long term and to welcome a greater number of supporters in the best possible conditions, the club must now acquire a stadium that matches its ambitions. This is an essential prerequisite if the club is to sustain its growth over the long term.' PSG said it will now focus on two sites — one in the town of Massy, just south of Paris near Orly airport; the other in Poissy, 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of the city. The club opened its new training center in Poissy last year. 'Further studies will be undertaken to assess more precisely the real feasibility of such a project on each of the two sites and to build an ambitious, responsible and meaningful project for the club, our supporters and the local authorities for the coming decades,' PSG said. 'At this stage, neither of the two sites is favored," it added. "The club will conduct both studies with the same seriousness, rigor and openness, in order to make the best possible decision.' Advertisement PSG said it will keep playing at the Parc des Princes 'for several years' until the final project is delivered. PSG said last year it had invested more than 85 million euros ($92 million) in maintenance costs for the Parc des Princes, adding that it was committed to investing a further 500 million euros in renovations in order to compete with other clubs at the highest level in Europe. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said after PSG's Champions League victory that she would be open to refurbishment works to increase the stadium's capacity, although she remains opposed to a sale. ___ AP soccer:
