French Air Traffic Controllers Strike, Disrupting Travel
French air traffic controllers have started a two-day strike over working conditions, leading to significant disruptions in air travel as the summer season begins.
Ryanair reported cancelling 170 flights, affecting around 30,000 passengers, with additional delays for flights passing through French airspace. The airline criticized the strike, stating that repeated disruptions harm travelers across Europe.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, commented that passengers are being unfairly impacted by the strike, describing it as unreasonable during peak holiday travel. Meanwhile, Air France adjusted its flight schedules but maintained long-haul services, though specific details were not provided.
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Wildfires Spread Rapidly in Turkey Due to Strong Winds
Two wildfires near the western Turkish resort of Izmir intensified on Thursday, driven by strong winds and remaining uncontrolled. Authorities reported that firefighting efforts were being hindered by the challenging conditions.
Residents in multiple areas were evacuated as a precaution, though no injuries were immediately reported. Turkey has experienced numerous wildfires in recent days, with high winds accelerating their spread. Earlier this week, more than 50,000 people were evacuated, primarily from Izmir and the southern province of Hatay.
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Heatwave Fuels Wildfires Across Southern Europe
Over 1,500 people were evacuated overnight from Crete as firefighters battled a rapidly spreading wildfire on the Greek island’s southern coast.
Greek authorities described the situation as challenging, with more than 230 firefighters deployed to contain multiple outbreaks. A separate fire in the Halkidiki region required an additional 160 responders. Officials warned that August would be particularly difficult due to strong winds and dry conditions.
Wildfires were also reported in Germany, where at least two people were injured and more than 100 evacuated in Saxony, as well as in Spain. The ongoing heatwave has brought extreme temperatures to several European countries, with Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Croatia all experiencing mid-30°C heat.
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Over 1 million people gather in Madrid for outdoor mass with Pope Leo
Over one million people gathered in Madrid for an open-air mass led by Pope Leo. During the service, the American pontiff highlighted the contradiction between Christian principles and far-right ideology, stating, “No one can kneel before the Lord and despise their brother.”
Crowds began forming hours before dawn on Sunday
Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang to strengthen China-North Korea relations
Xi Jinping has begun a two-day visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years as he seeks to strengthen relations with the ally.
Footage from the Xinhua state news agency showed the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arriving at Sunan international
Denmark's mullet championship celebrates the 'beautifully ugly' and divisive hairstyle
Copenhagen recently hosted the 2026 Mullet Championship, where more than 1,000 spectators gathered on an outdoor stage to celebrate the enduring hairstyle characterized by short hair in the front and length in the back.
Twelve participants competed in the event, which was organized by 37-year-old electrician Steffen Stiw Weber.