Europe

Firefighters Master one Turkey Wildfire as Two Others Rage On

Firefighters early Friday gained control over a major wildfire in the western Turkish province of Izmir but two others continued to ravage forests there, a minister said. Although Turkey was spared the recent heatwaves that hit the rest of southern Europe, firefighters have been battling more than 600 fires in the drought-hit nation over the past ...

Two Dead as Wildfires Rage Near Turkish Resort of Izmir

An elderly man and a forestry worker died on Thursday in wildfires in Turkey, as firefighters battled high winds fanning two blazes in the western province of Izmir, lawmakers said. Turkey, which was spared the recent heatwaves that gripped the rest of Southern Europe, has been battling the effects of a long-term drought brought on by climate ...

Macron Wants EU-US Trade Deal 'As Soon As Possible'

France's President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he wanted an EU-US trade deal "as soon as possible, with the lowest tariffs possible", with a Washington-set deadline looming to reach an accord. "The right deal for me is the deal that is struck as soon as possible, with the lowest tariffs possible, and that must be fair and firm," Macron ...

Hundreds Evacuated as Greece Wildfire Rages on Crete

A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of locals and tourists, officials said on Thursday. Greece is sweltering in a heatwave that is searing much of southern Europe. The country has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to summer wildfires, which are fueled by strong ...

Ireland Hosts First Ever Saint Charbel Conference

This summer, from July 11 to 13, Meigh in County Armagh will host a landmark gathering for Catholics across Ireland and the United Kingdom: the first-ever Saint Charbel Conference.  Organized by the Family of Saint Charbel Ireland, the event invites participants into a rich journey of Maronite mysticism, ancient liturgy and devotion to ...

Spain Wildfires Claim Two Lives Amid Record Heatwave

Firefighters in northeastern Spain discovered two bodies following wildfires that broke out during a severe heatwave sweeping across Europe. The extreme temperatures shattered records, led to school closures and significantly increased the risk of fires. In Catalonia’s Lerida province, authorities confined nearly 14,000 residents to their ...

European Security Tops Denmark's EU Presidency Priorities

Pushing countries to keep vows to boost defense spending and bolstering Europe's "dangerous" security will top Denmark's agenda as it takes over the European Union's rotating presidency on Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Denmark is among European nations put on edge by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and who have already ...

EU Strikes New Trade Deal with Ukraine Covering Farm Imports

The European Union said Monday it had agreed to a new long-term trade deal with Ukraine, covering imports of food products from the war-torn country that have angered EU farmers. "With this modernized agreement, we are securing trade flows from Ukraine to Europe and global markets," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen ...

Historic Heatwave in Europe: Extreme Temperatures and Maximum Vigilance

A punishing heat wave gripped southern Europe on Monday, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar again. France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have been sweltering for several days as the mercury climbed to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in some places. "This is unprecedented," Agner ...

Top Chinese Diplomat in Europe to Promote Closer Ties

China's top diplomat heads to Europe on Monday for a visit that Beijing said will highlight ties as an "anchor of stability" in a world in turmoil. Wang Yi's tour will take him to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels as well as France and Germany as China seeks to improve relations with the bloc as a counterweight to superpower rival the ...

After NATO Deal, How Far Will EU Go for Trade Peace with Trump?

After satisfying Donald Trump's calls for Europe to ramp up defense spending in NATO, EU leaders in Brussels turned Thursday to the next big challenge ahead: how to seal a trade deal with the US leader. Time is running out. The European Union has until July 9 to reach a deal or see swingeing tariffs kick in on a majority of goods, unleashing ...