Latest news with #Kathimerini
Libya Review
2 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Greek Navy Joins EU Push to Stop Migration from Libya
In a decisive move, Greece has deployed two naval frigates to patrol international waters near Libya aimed at thwarting irregular migrant crossings to islands like Crete and Gavdos. According to local media, including Kathimerini, the warships are equipped with advanced sensors and radars to detect vessels linked to smuggler networks operating in the Central Mediterranean. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the deployment following a surge in migrant departures from eastern Libya—many escaping conflict zones such as Sudan and the Middle East—as part of broader efforts to protect national borders and maintain regional stability. Once suspicious boats are spotted, the navy flags the vessels and coordinates with Libyan authorities to intercept them before they enter international search-and-rescue zones. Due to their size, Greek frigates refrain from direct interception, instead acting as deterrents while maintaining constant surveillance. This action aligns with similar EU maritime security initiatives like Frontex's Operation Themis and the naval Operation Irini enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya. Critics caution that the emphasis on containment may clash with international legal obligations against 'pushbacks,' particularly if migrant vessels are turned back without proper screening or assistance. Experts note the move comes amidst a coordinated strategy: an EU delegation—including migration ministers from Greece, Italy, and Malta—is set to visit Libya in early July to enhance cooperation on migration management. Tags: euGreecelibyamigrants
MTV Lebanon
6 days ago
- Climate
- MTV Lebanon
26 Jun 2025 22:56 PM Homes burn in Greece as wildfire sweeps through coastal towns
A large wildfire swept through the coastal towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Athens, destroying homes and forcing evacuations as it neared the beach. The flames erupted in low vegetation but quickly spread into residential areas, as Greece experienced its first heatwave of the summer. At least 20 homes were destroyed and many others suffered structural damage, according to local officials. Strong winds and soaring temperatures of up to 40°C made the fire extremely difficult to control. Local residents joined firefighters, forest rangers and aircraft in trying to contain the fire and protect their homes. The coast guard was also deployed along the coastline. Emergency alerts were issued via the 112 system, urging residents to evacuate the a series of towns and villages. Greece has sought to beef up its response to wildfires, which have become increasingly common because of its long, hot summers and warming climate. An extra 18,000 firefighters backed up by volunteers have been deployed this year, officials say, for the rest of the fire season which ends in October. Earlier this week thousands of hectares were torched on Chios, Greece's fifth-largest island. A Georgian woman was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of unintentionally starting a fire by dropping a cigarette. One resident in Thymari told Greek website Kathimerini on Thursday that by the time she had reached her home it had burned down because of the strong winds. Another said his neighbours' homes had been destroyed but he had been more fortunate. Further east along the coast towards Cape Sounion, on the tip of the Attica peninsula, the fire crossed the coastal road and moved toward the ridge of a nearby hill. Authorities said more than 1,000 people were evacuated from affected areas. Eleven tourists were rescued from a beach after becoming trapped by the advancing flames, according to local authorities. Despite evacuation orders, some residents refused to leave and attempted to defend their homes using garden hoses and other improvised means. Authorities warned that such actions endangered lives and obstructed emergency services. According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, at least 40 people, including children and elderly residents, were rescued by police after becoming trapped. Fire Service spokesperson Vasileios Vathrakogiannis said firefighters were engaged in an intense battle on the ground and by air, particularly in areas where the fire was burning close to houses. Local officials in villages inland from Thymari described the situation as extremely difficult. "All of the municipality's facilities were open to anyone who needed shelter or medical help," Babis Galanis, a local deputy mayor told ERT. The head of Greece's fire service has ordered a special arson investigation unit to the scene to examine whether the fire had been deliberately set. According to a report by Greece's Risk Assessment Committee, extremely high temperatures are expected on Friday, with a very high risk of wildfires in Attica, Evia, the Peloponnese, and the northern Aegean.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Indian Express
Woman faces arson charges after her cigarette sparks Chios wildfire
A woman on the Greek island of Chios has been charged with unintentional arson after allegedly sparking one of the several wildfires by discarding a lit cigarette. The fires, which erupted simultaneously in different parts of the island on Sunday, have scorched an estimated 40,000 hectares, prompting evacuations and emergency declarations. The accused, a Georgian national working as a housekeeper, has reportedly admitted to causing the fire during questioning by fire brigade officials. Speaking to The Guardian, Lt Constantine Kozanis said the woman would remain in detention and appear before court on Thursday. 'Because she was caught red-handed the process will move fast now that she has appeared before a public prosecutor. In her testimony to fire brigade investigators, she admitted she had thrown a cigarette that had ignited one of [the five] fronts,' Kozanis said. Eyewitnesses reportedly corroborated the incident. The woman is expected to face trial on charges of negligence leading to unintentional arson. Since the fires broke out, over 400 firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft and hundreds of volunteers, have been deployed to contain the flames, reported The Guardian. Villages have been evacuated across Chios. According to The Guardian, Giorgos Toumbos, president of the Chios Mastic Producers Union, told Greek daily Kathimerini that firefighting efforts were concentrated on a vital plateau to prevent the fire from reaching the historic fortified mastic villages to the south—renowned for producing the rare mastic resin. Despite progress in containing the fires, Kozanis confirmed they are still active: 'Yes, they are in recession but they have not been extinguished… They have yet to be fully contained.' Greece, a Mediterranean hotspot vulnerable to climate change, has experienced an increasing number of wildfires due to hotter, drier summers. The current blazes coincide with the country's first major heatwave of the season, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C in the coming days, as per The Guardian. In response to a growing wildfire crisis, Greece has toughened penalties for arson. (With inputs from The Guardian)
Libya Observer
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Greek FM to visit Libya amid maritime border dispute
Greece's Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, will travel to Libya on 1 July for talks focusing on contested maritime boundaries and rising migration across the Mediterranean, Greek newspaper Kathimerini has reported. A diplomatic source said Gerapetritis will visit both Tripoli and Benghazi and reiterate Athens' call for negotiations on maritime boundaries. The minister is also expected to raise the issue of irregular migration from Libyan shores, which has surged this year. The source said Greece was prepared to provide resources to help Libya combat the flow of migrants and disrupt human trafficking networks. The dispute between Greece and Libya centres on the status of islands including Strofades, Sapienza, Schiza, Gavdos and Chrisi, and their role in drawing maritime borders. Greece maintains these islands must be factored into any agreement. Libya disagrees, arguing that the islands have no effect on the boundaries. Relations between the two nations have been strained recently after Libya's Government of National Unity and its rival administration in the east opposed a Greek call for international oil and gas exploration licences in waters south of Crete. Tags: Greece
Libya Review
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Ageela Saleh Discusses Libya's Political Future with Greek Ambassador
On Monday, the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Ageela Saleh, met with Greek Ambassador to Libya Nikolaos Garilidis to discuss recent developments and potential solutions to the country's prolonged political crisis. The meeting was held in the city of Qubbah and included the presence of Greek Consul General Agapios Kalognomis and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelhadi Al-Hwaij, representing the eastern-based government. The talks focused on the path toward resolving Libya's institutional deadlock through the formation of a unified national government and holding presidential and parliamentary elections. According to Saleh's media office, the discussion emphasized the need for a single executive authority capable of overseeing the electoral process throughout the country. The meeting comes ahead of a planned visit to Libya by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis at the end of June. According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Gerapetritis is expected to meet with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba in Tripoli, Speaker Ageela Saleh in the east, and the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Athens is closely watching the shifting dynamics in eastern Libya, particularly regarding maritime agreements. Greece is concerned that the eastern authorities, led by Haftar and aligned with Saleh, may be open to negotiating a maritime border agreement with Turkey. The newspaper reported that Haftar appears more receptive to such talks as Turkey intensifies its outreach in the region. On June 2, Libya's House of Representatives formed a technical committee to examine the maritime agreement proposal submitted by the eastern-based government under Prime Minister Osama Hammad. The move comes amid growing coordination between eastern Libyan officials and Turkish authorities. In April, General Saddam Haftar, Chief of Staff of Libya's ground forces, traveled to Ankara and met with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. In May, Libyan National Army units took part in joint military exercises with Turkish forces, a development seen by Greece as a potential threat to its maritime interests. Tags: Greek AmbassadorlibyaParliament SpeakerPolitical TransitionTurkey
