Athens is in the news for protests over Gaza flotilla, wildfires amid heatwave, and a shooting that left a woman dead. Greece’s capital, historic and resilient.
Since the start of the week, the UK has experienced dry, sunny weather driven by high pressure, but recent shifts in wind patterns are causing instability. Temperatures are rising, but unsettled conditions with rain and thunderstorms are expected to develop by the weekend, just in time for the bank holiday.
Amid ongoing Middle East conflict, Greece has successfully evacuated 45 pets and 101 people from Abu Dhabi to Athens on a special flight. The operation highlights the importance of keeping pets with their owners during crises, despite widespread travel disruptions caused by regional hostilities.
A severe storm, Storm Erminio, has caused widespread flooding and dust storms across Greece, notably turning Crete's sky red. A man died in Nea Makri after being swept by floodwaters. Emergency services responded to hundreds of calls, and travel disruptions occurred on the islands.
A suspected 89-year-old man has opened fire with a shotgun at a social security office and a court building in Athens, wounding several people. The gunman fled the scene after the attacks, and police are actively searching for him. The motive remains unclear as authorities investigate.