Latest news with #ThanassisStavrakis
Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Bold action to arrest climate crisis needed now
People fight against wildfires in Vounteni, on the outskirts of Patras, western Greece on Wednesday (Picture: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) On Sunday the skyline was dominated by smoke from the blaze on Arthur's Seat. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and due to the swift response of the fire service it was soon brought under control. I'd like to say thank you to those emergency service workers involved for their efforts. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Elsewhere in Europe, altogether more devastating wildfires are raging across Spain, Portugal, Greece and Albania, leading to mass evacuations, the destruction of homes and, sadly, deaths. My thoughts go out to those affected. The terrible fires in southern Europe are a reminder of the severe and very real effects the climate emergency is already having, and an ominous warning for what the future may hold if bold action to arrest the crisis is not taken now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's why the Labour Government has made the massive expansion of clean energy one of its six key missions. Since coming to office last July, we have already taken a slew of decisions to set this mission in train, including lifting the onshore wind ban and allocating £8.3 billion for GB Energy to invest in clean power produced right here in Scotland. Moreover, the Spending Review in June confirmed £200 million for the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage Project in the north east, for which the SNP promised £80m in 2022 but never delivered. Another of their broken promises. Once Acorn is fully operational alongside other carbon capture and storage projects we're funding, it could remove up to 18m tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere per year. South of the border, we're investing in a huge expansion of nuclear power, the biggest in half a century, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs and powering the future. But due to the SNP's opposition to nuclear, Scotland risks missing out on huge opportunities for skilled jobs, economic growth and lower bills. In time, these decisions will bring energy bills down, provide energy security and independence and help tackle the increasingly urgent climate emergency, which grows more devastating by the year and imperils the futures of our children. Meanwhile, Reform are waging an ideological crusade against renewable energy and net zero. Lower bills, less vulnerable to international price shocks, economic growth and thousands of highly skilled jobs; what exactly are they opposed to? GERS figures released this week Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government's own figures show that in 2024-25 people in Scotland benefitted by £2669 more per head in additional public spending compared to the UK average, up £358 on the previous year. It's a direct result of the Labour Government's decision to provide the Scottish Government with the biggest budget settlement since devolution. That's more money for schools, hospitals and policing, if the SNP gets its priorities right and decides to focus on the things that matter to people. The figures also show that in 2024-25, £91.4bn was raised in Scotland, compared to £117.6bn in public spending. This highlights that the Scottish Government's policy of full fiscal autonomy would mean turbo-charged austerity and economic chaos for Scotland. Labour will keep standing up for sharing resources across the UK as part of our Plan for Change, to grow the economy and put more money in working people's pockets. Ian Murray is MP for Edinburgh South and Secretary of State for Scotland
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Climate
- Boston Globe
See photos of the destructive wildfires in southern Europe
In central Albania, four villages were evacuated near a former army ammunition depot. Farther south in the Korca district, close to the Greek border, explosions erupted from buried World War II-era shells. Authorities say dozens of homes in the country's central region have been reduced to rubble. Here's a glimpse at the destruction left in the wildfires' wake: Advertisement Wildfire burns behind a cemetery in Tsoukalaiika of Achaia, Peloponnese, Greece on Wednesday. MENELAOS MICHALATOS/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images Firefighters use construction machinery during efforts to extinguish a wildfire near the city of Patras, western Greece on Wednesday. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images Burned cars are seen at an impound lot in Kato Achaia, during a wildfire near Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday. Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press Firefighters and others try to control a wildfire approaching a house in Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday. Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press A firefighter helicopter seen flying over a wildfire in Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday. Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press A man took away goats during a wildfire in Vounteni, on the outskirts of Patras, western Greece, Wednesday. Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press A firefighting helicopter sprayed water over a wildfire near the city of Patras, western Greece on Wednesday. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images A burned hill is seen from above in Kaminia seaside village, during a wildfire near Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday. Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press Burning trees are pictured during a wildfire in Carcastillo, northern Spain, Sunday. Eduardo Sanz/Associated Press Smoke from a wildfire covers the sky as firefighting aircrafts fly over the village of Kato Achaia near Patras city, western Greece, Tuesday. Andreas Alexopoulos/Associated Press A firefighter airplane drops water on a wildfire near the village of Abejera in Zamora province on Wednesday. CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images Firefighters battle a wildfire near the village of Abejera in Zamora province on Wednesday. CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images William Reed can be reached at
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
At least 3 dead and thousands displaced as wildfires rage across southern Europe
People try to control a wildfire in Vounteni, on the outskirts of Patras, western Greece, on Aug. 13, 2025. (Thanassis Stavrakis / AP Photo) ATHENS, Greece — Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday after a nightlong battle to protect the perimeter of Greece's third-largest city, with at least three more deaths reported in Spain, Turkey and Albania. Outside the Greek port city of Patras, firefighters struggled to protect homes and agricultural facilities as flames tore through pine forests and olive groves. Tall columns of flames exploded behind apartment blocks on the outskirts of the city, while dozens of vehicles were torched as flames swept through a nearby impound lot. 'Today is another very difficult day with the level of fire risk remaining very high across many parts of the country,' Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis said. As water-dropping planes and helicopters swooped overhead, residents joined the effort, beating back flames with cut branches or dousing them with buckets of water. After heatwaves, resources stretched thin Firefighting resources were stretched thin in many affected countries as they battled multiple outbreaks following weeks of heat waves and temperature spikes across the Mediterranean. On the Greek island of Chios, exhausted firefighters slept on the roadside following a night-long shift. Aircraft rotated between blazes on the western Greek mainland, the Patras area and the island of Zakynthos. Athens also sent assistance to neighboring Albania, joining an international effort to combat dozens of wildfires. An 80-year-old man died in one blaze south of the capital, Tirana, officials said Wednesday. Residents of four villages were evacuated in central Albania near a former army ammunition depot. In the southern Korca district, near the Greek border, explosions were reported from buried World War II-era artillery shells. Authorities said dozens of homes were gutted in a central region of the country. Deaths in Spain and Turkey Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences after the death of a firefighting volunteer in the hard-hit Castile and León region north of Madrid, where thousands have been displaced by evacuations. 'The wildfire situation remains serious, and taking extra precautions is essential,' Sánchez wrote in an online post. 'Thank you, once again, to all those working tirelessly to fight the flames.' Evacuation centers were filled to capacity in parts of central Spain, with some spending the night outdoors on folding beds. The most severe fires pushed northward into more rural areas, where some residents hosed the walls of their homes to try and protect them from fire. The government raised its national emergency response level, preparing additional support for regional authorities overseeing multiple evacuations and highway closures. A forestry worker was killed Wednesday while responding to a wildfire in southern Turkey, officials said. The Forestry Ministry said the worker died in an accident involving a fire truck that left four others injured. Turkey has been battling severe wildfires since late June. A total of 18 people have been killed, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died in July. In France, which is recovering from massive recent fires in the southern regions, temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celcius (108 Fahrenheit) were expected for the third consecutive day. Officials issued weather alerts giving local authorities discretion to cancel public events and cordon off areas with high fire risks. Lightening storms and farming practices cited as possible causes Authorities across European countries have cited multiple causes for the massive fires, including careless farming practices, improperly maintained power cables and summer lightening storms. Law enforcement officials in North Macedonia also cited indications of arson, motivated by rogue developers. Firefighters struggled to contain a blaze at a nature reserve outside the capital Skopje on Wednesday. The European Union has rushed aid to fire-hit countries, including non-member states, with ground crews and water-dropping aircraft. Much of the recent effort was concentrated on Montenegro, where major wildfires continued to burn in rugged areas near the capital Podgorica. 'Natural disasters know no borders,' Ljuban Tmusic, head of Montenegro's civil protection agency said. 'In Montenegro the resources we have ... are clearly not enough.' —- Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Andrew Wilks in Istanbul, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, and Konstantin Testorides in Skopje, North Macedonia contributed. Derek Gatopoulos And Llazar Semini, The Associated Press
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
Three dead and thousands displaced as wildfires rage across southern Europe
Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday after a overnight battle to protect the perimeter of Greece's third-largest city, with at least three more deaths reported in Spain, Turkey and Albania. Firefighters outside the Greek port city of Patras struggled to protect homes and agricultural facilities as flames tore through olive groves. As water-dropping planes and helicopters swooped overhead, residents joined the effort, beating back flames with cut branches or dousing them with buckets of water. Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) Firefighting resources were stretched thin in many affected countries as they battled multiple outbreaks following weeks of heat waves and temperature spikes across Mediterranean Europe. Aircraft rotated between blazes on the western Greek mainland, the Patras area and the island of Zakynthos. Athens also sent assistance to neighbouring Albania, joining an international effort to combat dozens of wildfires. An 80-year-old man died in one blaze south of the capital, Tirana, officials said on Wednesday. Firefighters gather to tackle a wildfire on the outskirts of Patras in western Greece (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) Residents of four villages were evacuated in central Albania near a former army ammunition depot. In the southern Korca district, near the Greek border, explosions were reported from buried Second World War-era artillery shells. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences after the death of a firefighting volunteer in the hard-hit Castile and Leon region north of Madrid, where thousands have been displaced by evacuations. The government raised its national emergency response level, preparing additional support for regional authorities overseeing multiple evacuations and major road closures. A man douses flames with a bucket of water in Vounteni, outside Patras (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) A forestry worker was also killed on Wednesday while responding to a wildfire in southern Turkey, officials said. The forestry ministry said the worker died in an accident involving a fire truck that left four others injured. Turkey has been battling severe wildfires since late June. A total of 18 people have been killed, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died in July.
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Climate
- Western Telegraph
Three dead and thousands displaced as wildfires rage across southern Europe
Firefighters outside the Greek port city of Patras struggled to protect homes and agricultural facilities as flames tore through olive groves. As water-dropping planes and helicopters swooped overhead, residents joined the effort, beating back flames with cut branches or dousing them with buckets of water. Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) Firefighting resources were stretched thin in many affected countries as they battled multiple outbreaks following weeks of heat waves and temperature spikes across Mediterranean Europe. Aircraft rotated between blazes on the western Greek mainland, the Patras area and the island of Zakynthos. Athens also sent assistance to neighbouring Albania, joining an international effort to combat dozens of wildfires. An 80-year-old man died in one blaze south of the capital, Tirana, officials said on Wednesday. Firefighters gather to tackle a wildfire on the outskirts of Patras in western Greece (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) Residents of four villages were evacuated in central Albania near a former army ammunition depot. In the southern Korca district, near the Greek border, explosions were reported from buried Second World War-era artillery shells. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences after the death of a firefighting volunteer in the hard-hit Castile and Leon region north of Madrid, where thousands have been displaced by evacuations. The government raised its national emergency response level, preparing additional support for regional authorities overseeing multiple evacuations and major road closures. A man douses flames with a bucket of water in Vounteni, outside Patras (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) A forestry worker was also killed on Wednesday while responding to a wildfire in southern Turkey, officials said. The forestry ministry said the worker died in an accident involving a fire truck that left four others injured. Turkey has been battling severe wildfires since late June. A total of 18 people have been killed, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died in July.
