Greek officials say most fires in recent weeks were started by people

Most of the 667 fires that have broken out in Greece in recent weeks have been started "by human hands", climate crisis and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias has said, according to The Guardian, quoted by News.ro

Coup d'état in Niger: The head of the presidential guard has proclaimed himself the country's new leader

General Abdourahmane Tchiani has declared himself Niger's new leader after a dramatic coup. Also known as Omar Tchiani, he staged a takeover that began on Wednesday when the presidential guard unit he led captured the country's leader. This destroys Niger's first peaceful and democratic transition since independence in 1960, reports the BBC.

Study// African countries will pay millions more for Putin's "generous offer" to export Russian grain

Moscow will continue grain exports to poor African countries despite Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin has assured at the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg. At the same time, the Kremlin leader pledged to provide 25 to 50 tonnes of Russian grain to six African countries free of charge. The statement was made amid concerns by these countries after the recent termination of the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea. According to expert calculations, each of the poorest African countries will pay between $15 million and $115 million for this gift.

The UN has suspended its humanitarian operations in Niger after the coup d'état

The United Nations (UN) says it has suspended its humanitarian operations in Niger after soldiers announced the overthrow of the country's elected president, reports the BBC.

Ukrainian army announces it has liberated a village in Donetsk region

The Ukrainian army has cleared the village of Staromaiorske on the southern front from Russian troops, where Kiev forces have intensified their counter-offensive in recent days, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar announced, AFP reports.

Wildfire in Greece triggers explosions at ammunition depot and relocation of fighter jets

A wildfire whipped on by strong winds triggered a series of massive explosions Thursday at an air force ammunition depot in central Greece, and F-16 fighter jets were being moved from a nearby air base as a precaution while firefighters worked to tame multiple blazes in the country, AP reports.

Putin promises free grain to six African nations after collapse of Black Sea deal

Vladimir Putin has promised free grain supplies to six African nations as Moscow seeks to capitalise on the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal, The Guardian reports.

New fires in heat-hit Greece force evacuations

Thousands of people have evacuated in the region this week as fires also flared in Croatia and Italy, and flames killed 34 in Algeria in extreme heat that has left landscapes tinder dry, RFI reports.

Laundromat file: Veaceslav Platon, sentenced to 20 years in prison, in Moscow

The controversial businessman Veaceslav Platon, investigated in several criminal cases in the Republic of Moldova, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison by a Moscow court. Platon was found guilty of illegally withdrawing funds in foreign currency from the Russian Federation in the amount of more than 126 billion rubles (about 1.25 million euros), being part of a "criminal group", Kommersant newspaper writes.

Jens Stoltenberg: “We remain ready to defend every inch of Allied territory from any aggression”

The NATO-Ukraine Council met on Wednesday (26 July 2023) to address the serious security situation in the Black Sea region following Russia’s unilateral termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convened the meeting following a request for crisis consultation from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană chaired the Council, reads a press release of NATO.

African leaders arrive in Russia for summit

Some African leaders arrived in Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin as he seeks allies amid the fighting in Ukraine, while the Kremlin accused Western powers of “outrageous” efforts to pressure other African heads of state not to attend, AP reports.

NATO slams 'dangerous' Russian blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports

NATO condemned Russia's "dangerous" moves to block Ukrainian grain exports in the Black Sea after urgent consultations with Kyiv on Wednesday following Moscow's withdrawal from a key grain deal last week, AFP reports.