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Greek conservative party aims for a majority win in upcoming election led by Mitsotakis

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In Greece, conservative ex-Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is seeking a strong majority as voters head to the polls for the second time in a month. Mitsotakis emerged victorious in May’s election and called for new elections in order to govern without coalition partners.

Despite a recent migrant boat tragedy that claimed the lives of an estimated 500 people, the incident has had minimal impact on the election campaign. Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party secured a significant 20-point lead over the center-left Syriza party, led by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and he is confident of a repeat victory that would grant him a second term. Voting will continue until 19:00 (16:00 GMT).

Mitsotakis argues that a stable government requires a majority of more than 150 seats in the 300-seat parliament. Notably, the winning party in this election will be awarded between 20 and 50 bonus seats, potentially bolstering Mitsotakis’s mandate. Recognized for stabilizing and fostering growth in the Greek economy following a severe debt crisis and multiple bailouts, Mitsotakis has established a resilient image despite facing various crises over the past year.

Tsipras faces a challenging task in this election, with Mitsotakis focusing on his accomplishments and promising lower taxes and improved public health. The two leaders diverged in their responses to the recent migrant boat sinking, with Mitsotakis defending the coastguard and condemning people smugglers, while Tsipras raised concerns and highlighted his government’s previous focus on preserving human life during the 2015 European migrant crisis.

Greek voters’ views on migration have shifted toward stricter and more conservative policies since the 2020 migration crisis on the Evros River, which reinforced perceptions of migration as an external threat to national sovereignty. Additionally, Mitsotakis benefits from the fragmentation of the Greek left, with the Socialists now the third political force in Greece, making it unlikely for left-of-center parties to form a coalition with the conservatives.

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Storms in Europe cause huge damage and disruption

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Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, has been hit by severe storms and heavy rainfall, leading to significant damage and disruptions. Many towns and cities in the region have experienced torrential rain, causing floods and forcing the closure of numerous roads.

The rail traffic has also been affected, with the Hamburg-Berlin line and a major north-south line between Kassel and Goettingen being closed due to storm damage. Switzerland has also faced thunderstorms, resulting in numerous calls to the fire department.

Strong winds reaching speeds of up to 135 km/h have uprooted trees, damaged roofs, and street infrastructure, although no casualties have been reported. Austria has witnessed several landslides that have affected homes, and the state of Carinthia experienced large hailstones of up to 8 centimeters in diameter, causing significant damage to crops.

Videos circulating on social media show violent storms and flooded streets, including the complete submersion of the forecourt and road in front of the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe ICE train station.

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News Trending War

Wagner Mercenaries in Russian Urban Areas Defy Putin’s Accusations of Rebellion

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Russian Private Military Contractor, Wagner Group’s Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Claims Control of Military Sites in Rostov-on-Don, Defying President Putin’s Accusations of Betrayal

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, has asserted that his mercenaries have taken over “all military facilities” in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Reports suggest that they have also been deployed in Voronezh, located further north, following Prigozhin’s threat to march on Moscow and remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from power.

President Vladimir Putin has condemned these actions, referring to them as a “stab in the back” and vowing to punish those who have “betrayed” Russia. Security measures have been tightened in numerous regions, including Moscow.

The Wagner Group, known for its involvement alongside the regular Russian army in the conflict in Ukraine, has been experiencing increasing tensions with the military leadership over their differing approaches to the war. Prigozhin has been openly criticizing Russia’s military command in recent months.

The situation escalated dramatically after Prigozhin accused the Russian military of targeting his group’s base in Ukraine, a claim that Moscow denies.

Prigozhin insists that this is not a military coup, but rather an attempt to overthrow Russia’s military leadership. However, President Putin, in his address, described the situation as an act of “treason.”

While Prigozhin was not mentioned by name, President Putin warned that those who engaged in betrayal, armed rebellion, blackmail, or terrorist methods would face severe consequences under the law and before the Russian people.

In response, Prigozhin, for the first time directly criticizing the Russian leader, stated that his troops were “patriots of our motherland” and argued that President Putin was “profoundly mistaken” to accuse them of betrayal.

In a video shared on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin claimed that his fighters had entered Rostov-on-Don after crossing the border from Ukraine, asserting that his forces would eliminate anyone obstructing their path. However, the location and veracity of his claim regarding shooting down a Russian military helicopter that allegedly fired upon a civilian convoy remain unverified.

President Putin acknowledged the challenging situation in Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner forces reportedly control military installations. The city of Voronezh, en route to Moscow, is also said to be under their control, prompting the governor to initiate a “counter-terrorism operation.”

Previously, Prigozhin and President Putin had a close relationship. However, this latest challenge, combined with the complications arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has presented a headache for the Russian leader. Consequently, Putin has taken a firm stance, declaring “enough is enough.”

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Trending

Ryan Tubridy regrets not raising concerns about RTÉ payouts

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Ryan Tubridy, an RTÉ presenter, has apologized for not raising concerns about payments made to him that were larger than publicly disclosed.

The Irish national broadcaster acknowledged on Thursday that Mr. Tubridy received €345,000 (£296,800) more in compensation than had been disclosed in earnings reports.

The RTÉ board said that Dee Forbes, its director general, had been suspended as a result of the scandal on Wednesday.

The payments were made between 2017 and 2022 to the presenter, and they were discovered after auditors voiced their concerns.

of a statement released on Friday, Mr. Tubridy said he had “no responsibility for the corporate governance in RTÉ or how or what they publish in their accounts”.

He did, however, concede that he ought to have raised concerns when the broadcaster released the inaccurate data.

The wages of RTÉ’s top presenters have been made public for a number of years.

“I didn’t, and I am accountable for my negligence. I really apologize for this, Mr. Tubridy continued.

The speaker said that all of his taxes were “up to date” and that his revenues had been accurately documented in his company’s records.

Next month, Ms. Forbes was scheduled to leave her position as director general of the broadcaster.

The board stated that “processes are ongoing, and RTÉ must be mindful of its legal obligations and individuals’ rights.”

RTÉ stated that it will not be making any other comments at this time.

In response to her suspension, Ms. Forbes stated on Friday that she had “fully engaged” with the RTÉ board and was proud of her work as director general.

Patrick Kielty from Northern Ireland has been named as Mr. Tubridy’s replacement as presenter of RTÉ One’s The Late Late program, Ireland’s longest-running TV talk program.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr. Tubridy said that the issue surrounding his compensation had no impact on his choice to resign from the position.

On weekday mornings, Mr. Tubridy also does a radio show on RTÉ Radio 1, but he wasn’t the host on Friday and won’t be next week either.

There has been a “serious breach of trust and truth between RTÉ and the government, the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), and the people,” according to Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar.

On Saturday, RTÉ chairman Siin N. Raghallaigh will meet with Irish Minister of the Media Catherine Martin.

According to Mr. Varadkar, the minister will urge Ms. N. Raghallaigh to provide a detailed explanation of what happened and the actions the board is now taking.

“The public are right to expect high standards of transparency and accountability from RTÉ as it is extremely important that we can all have trust in our public service broadcasting,” the taoiseach added.

According to former RTÉ board chair Moya Doherty, neither she nor the other members of the board had any “knowledge relating to certain payments” made by the broadcaster or the “profoundly serious lack of transparency involved.”

According to her, the issues “go to the heart of a failure of good corporate governance.”

She said that before she finished her tenure in November 2022, she was not informed of the payments paid to Mr. Tubridy.

An emergency meeting of RTÉ-based National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members was held on Friday to examine the payments’ disclosures.

The incident, according to the union’s Irish secretary Séamus Dooley, “caused upset, anger and resentment right across the organization.”

“Grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented in scale,” he said of the scenario.

Former senior BBC News editor Kevin Bakhurst was named the new director general of RTÉ in April.

Next month, Mr. Bakhurst is slated to succeed Ms. Forbes.

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News Sports Trending

Victor Wembanyama chosen by San Antonio Spurs as first pick in 2023 NBA draft

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Victor Wembanyama, the 19-year-old French basketball player, has set his sights on winning an NBA championship ring after being selected as the number one overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 draft. Standing at 7ft 5in with an 8ft wingspan, Wembanyama is considered one of the most promising prospects in the game since LeBron James in 2003.

Wembanyama expressed his goal of learning as much as possible to achieve his dream of winning an NBA championship. The NBA draft consists of two rounds with 30 picks each, and teams select players based on their performance in the previous season, with the worst-performing teams having the opportunity to choose the best incoming talent.

The draft took place in Brooklyn, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver announcing the picks. Wembanyama was overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing his name called as the first pick. French president Emmanuel Macron congratulated him, recognizing him as the first Frenchman to be selected as the top pick in the NBA draft.

Wembanyama had an impressive season playing for Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in France, averaging 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots, and 2.5 assists in 44 games. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich expressed his excitement about having Wembanyama on the team, highlighting his talent and maturity.

LeBron James, star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, had witnessed Wembanyama’s skills during an exhibition game in Las Vegas and described him as a generational talent and an “alien” due to his extraordinary abilities on the court. Wembanyama embraced the term “alien” as a compliment, as he aspires to be something unique and original in the world of basketball.

The second pick in the draft was Brandon Miller, a 6ft 9in player from the University of Alabama, who joined the Charlotte Hornets. Scoot Henderson, who had played in the NBA’s developmental G League, was chosen as the third pick by the Portland Trail Blazers. The Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar, rounded out the top five picks, with Amen joining the Houston Rockets and Ausar being selected by the Detroit Pistons.

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Health Trending

The danger of mosquito-borne illnesses is rising across Europe

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Leading specialists warn that mosquitoes that spread diseases like dengue and chikungunya have entered new regions of Europe.

According to European experts, the circumstances for the insects have improved due to more frequent heatwaves, floods, and longer, warmer summers.

They are requesting improved mosquito prevention and control tactics.

They assert that in the absence of these, mosquito-borne illnesses will probably cause more sickness and fatalities.

The study, published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), monitors the spread of several mosquito species that are capable of transmitting a wide range of viruses to people.

These include dengue and Zika, which in the worst instances may leave individuals critically unwell and produce a variety of symptoms including fevers and muscular pains.

  • One mutation in Zika might cause a fresh outbreak.
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The ECDC research claims that this year, compared to eight European nations a decade ago, the Aedes albopictus mosquito—known to transmit dengue and chikungunya—has “established” itself in 13 countries in Europe. This means it has grown a self-sustaining population and is reproducing.

Aedes aegypti, which can transmit illnesses including yellow fever, Zika, and West Nile virus, established itself in Cyprus last year, and scientists fear it may continue to spread to neighbouring nations.

“In recent years, we have observed a geographical spread of invasive mosquito species to previously unaffected areas in the EU/EEA,” said Andrea Ammon, head of the ECDC.

“If this keeps up, we may anticipate more instances and perhaps even fatalities from illnesses like dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile fever.

“Efforts need to concentrate on ways to control mosquito populations, improving surveillance and enforcing personal protective measures,” the report stated.

Healthcare professionals and the general public need to be more aware of the many diseases spread by mosquitoes, according to the ECDC.

Dengue, which is transmitted by daytime biting mosquitoes, can result in a fever, excruciating headache, pain behind the eyes, aching muscles and joints, and a blotchy rash.

Globally, the number of instances has increased in recent decades. It is endemic in more than 100 nations in the Western Pacific, South and South-East Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Most West Nile virus infections go unnoticed, but when it does, symptoms might include headaches, extreme fatigue, muscular pains, vomiting, rashes, and eye discomfort.

An sickness that affects the brain and can be deadly is more likely to impact older persons and those with compromised immune systems.

Along with headaches, muscular discomfort, and rashes, fever and joint pain are the chikungunya virus’ most typical symptoms.

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News Trending

British packages delivered to Ireland have decreased by 68%

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Since Brexit, the postal service in the Republic of Ireland reports a 68% decrease in parcels from the United Kingdom.

The problem has been made worse by stricter EU regulations intended to stop tax evasion in e-commerce.

A Post claims that because of Ireland’s trade with the UK, no other EU nation experiences the same volume of non-EU shipments.

The UK Post Office’s intention to implement “the necessary IT for customs” has been hailed as “excellent news”

Prior to this, An Post said that well-known British retailers like M&S and River Island had partnered with them to offer a clear and straightforward “duty paid” option at the online checkout where customers could pay all VAT and customs fees up front.

However, it claimed that small businesses and private individuals were having problems because they were not aware of the “new complex data and tax requirements” that were in effect as of July 2021.

With regard to the new regulations, “An Post has no simple way of advising the personal customers or small businesses posting parcels to Ireland from outside the EU,” the corporation stated. “In contrast to parcels which are posted in bulk from large non-EU retailers, An Post can advise and assist with the new rules.”

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland would have had comparable issues, but because of a grace period, EU regulations were never applied to GB-NI shipments.

This grace period is basically made permanent by the Windsor Framework, albeit there will be some obligations for logistics businesses.

To monitor and control any risks of smuggling into the EU market, authorized parcel operators will be required to exchange data with the government.

By September 2024, such data-sharing procedure need to be established.

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News Trending

Trucks become stalled in Sible Hedingham while travelling to the proposed asylum centre

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Three lorries suspected to be transporting movable structures for a potential refugee centre became stalled in an Essex village for almost five hours.

Between 07:30 and 13:30 BST, the cars were unable to pass at a pinch point near Sible Hedingham.

The Home Office aims to house 1,700 adult male migrants at MDP Wethersfield, and the locals were informed that the buildings were headed there.

According to a local, it demonstrated that the location was “inappropriate” for such a venture.

One of the lorry drivers said the constructions were a proposed health clinic and office space for the refugee complex, according to Alan MacKenzie, head of The Fields Association, a group that has fought against the exploitation of rural north Essex for government developments.

They were “poking out quite some distance” from the vehicles they were on and were roughly 4.2m (13.7ft) wide, he claimed.

The drivers became aware that a choke point was approaching that they would be unable to pass.

If the route was free of parked automobiles, Mr. MacKenzie said they “might have just made it through,” but it “would be tight.”

According to him, after police instructed locals to relocate their cars, additional people began to do so in order to “make a point,” and all of the lorries were halted in Rectory Lane to “await instructions.”

They eventually turned around and left.

“It is a medieval road network full of B roads and unclassified roads which are narrow and all terrible for getting wide loads through,” Mr MacKenzie said.

“The situation has just demonstrated what local residents have been saying to the government about the road system here.

“It shows it is inappropriate trying to put a very large operation on a remote airbase, the infrastructure around here cannot support such a large asylum centre.”

The Home Office said that it will construct a facility in Wethersfield, with the first immigrants coming in this summer. They would be housed in temporary housing while awaiting a verdict on their claim.

A spokesman said: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.

“We are continuing to work extremely closely with local councils, the local NHS and police services, to manage any impact and address the local communities concerns, including through substantial financial support.”

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News Trending

Titanic Sub Crew Dead After “Catastrophic Implosion”: US Coast Guard

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The recent incident involving the missing submersible, known as the Titan, and its crew members has resulted in a tragic outcome. According to the US Coast Guard, the five crew members aboard the Titan died due to a “catastrophic implosion” of their vessel. This conclusion was reached after examining debris found underwater, approximately 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic.

The missing craft, Titan, had garnered global fascination as numerous ships and aircraft were involved in the search efforts across an area of the North Atlantic twice the size of Connecticut. The submersible had lost contact with the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince on June 18, raising concerns about the crew’s diminishing oxygen supply.

During the search, unidentified sounds were detected, but they were not connected to the missing craft. The crew members aboard the Titan were identified as Hamish Harding of the UK, Paul-Henry Nargeolet of France, Stockton Rush of the United States, and Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood of Pakistan. They were described as passionate explorers who had a deep love for the oceans.

The Titan, a 6.7-meter-long craft constructed from carbon fiber and titanium, was designed to carry a pilot and four crew members to a maximum depth of 4,000 meters (13,120 feet). It had systems in place to monitor the crew’s health and provide early warning in case of any issues during the dive.

OceanGate Expeditions, the operator of the mission, expressed their condolences to the families of the crew members and acknowledged their significant contributions to ocean exploration and conservation. The company offers expeditions to the Titanic site, allowing qualified explorers to join as mission specialists and support the scientific exploration of the historic shipwreck.

The loss of the Titan and its crew members is a tragic event, and the global community mourns their passing.

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News Trending War

Ukraine strikes Chonhar bridge to Crimea, says Russia

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According to Russian officials, Ukraine has launched an attack on a bridge that connects southern Ukraine to the Crimean peninsula using long-range British missiles. The two Chonhar bridges were both damaged, but there were no casualties reported. The governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, claimed that the attack was likely ordered by London and carried out using British Storm Shadow missiles. The bridge is a crucial route from Crimea to the front line in the south and serves as a significant link to the occupied city of Melitopol. Photographs shared by Vladimir Saldo revealed a significant hole in one of the bridges, but he assured that repairs would be made promptly and temporary alternative routes would be provided for vehicles.

Russia relies on this road as a land connection to Crimea, and Melitopol is believed to be one of the targets of Ukraine’s counter-offensive, which commenced in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia earlier this month. In 2014, Russian forces seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and subsequently invaded Ukraine’s southern coastal region in February of the following year. Last autumn, Ukraine recaptured the Kherson region situated north of the Dnipro river. However, this month, the Kakhovka dam on the river was destroyed in a suspected Russian sabotage attack, which has impeded a Ukrainian offensive across the Dnipro.

Ukraine’s offensive has been progressing slowly, with the recapture of eight villages thus far. Russian forces have continued targeting Ukrainian cities, including residential areas in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyih Rih and the southern port of Odesa. President Zelensky informed the Ukrainian people that intelligence services had received information about Russia planning a “scenario of a terrorist attack” on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which was seized during last year’s full-scale invasion. The plant, the largest in Europe, has all its reactors shut down; however, the United Nations’ atomic energy agency warned about the “extremely fragile” safety and security situation there. Water levels in the channel used to cool the reactors have decreased due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, and tensions have risen around the plant amid reports of Ukraine’s counter-offensive. The Kremlin swiftly dismissed President Zelensky’s comments as “another lie.”

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