Opava, Czech Republic (AFP) Sept 15, 2024 The sun was shining and the sky was bright blue with just a few white clouds, but in downtown Opava in the Czech Republic, most people only talked about the weather with concerned frowns. Local people gathered on bridges and the embankment in the city centre to watch the eponymous Opava river gradually rise level with the banks, … Continue reading Czech city awaits the inevitable as floodwave looms

Shanghai (AFP) Sept 15, 2024 Chinese authorities prepared for heavy rain on Sunday as a strong typhoon approached the country’s heavily populated eastern seaboard. Typhoon Bebinca was expected to make landfall along a swath of coastline including the megacity of Shanghai sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning, according to Beijing’s emergency management ministry. The ministry said in a statement on Saturdahttp://dlvr.it/TDFw5G Continue reading China prepares for heavy rain as typhoon nears Shanghai

Slobozia Conachi (AFP) Sept 15, 2024 Four people have died in Romania in floods triggered by Storm Boris, which has brought torrential rains and widespread disruption to central and eastern Europe, rescue services said Saturday. Since Thursday, swathes of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia have been hit by high winds and unusually fierce rains. “We are again facing the effects of climate … Continue reading Storm Boris wreaks havoc across eastern and central Europe

Yangon (AFP) Sept 14, 2024 Myanmar’s junta chief made a rare request Saturday for foreign aid to cope with deadly floods that have displaced hundreds of thousands of people who have endured three years of war. Floods and landslides have killed almost 300 people in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand in the wake of Typhoon Yagi, which dumped a colossal deluge of rain when it … Continue reading Myanmar junta makes rare request for foreign aid to cope with deadly floods

Kano, Nigeria (AFP) Sept 13, 2024 Fatima Yakubu woke up in the middle of the night to find her legs submerged as water rose in her home in northeastern Nigeria earlier this week. She screamed and people helped her escape with her six children. Flood waters have displaced more than one million people in and around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, in one of … Continue reading Flooding in northeast Nigeria could displace up to one million

Aboard The Papal Plane (AFP) Sept 13, 2024 The pope praised China on Friday, ahead of a possible renewal of a deal between Beijing and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops. “I would like to visit China, which is a great country,” Pope Francis told reporters during a press conference on his papal plane, as he returned to Rome from his 12-day tour … Continue reading Pope calls China ‘promise’ for Catholic Church

Abidjan (AFP) Sept 13, 2024 Relatives of victims of a jihadist attack that killed hundreds of civilians in Burkina Faso in August have slammed the “contempt” of the country’s junta ruler and said he bore responsibility. The massacre that took place in the north-central village of Barsalogho on August 24 was one of the deadliest reported in the West African country, which has fought jihadist … Continue reading Burkina victims’ groups blame junta chief for massacre

Hong Kong (AFP) Sept 13, 2024 Dozens of Hong Kong journalists have faced “systematic and organised” harassment and intimidation in recent weeks that included leaked personal information and death threats, the city’s press group said Friday. The Chinese finance hub was once known for its freewheeling press but has plummeted in media freedom rankings since Beijing cracked down on dissent following huge pro-democracy proteshttp://dlvr.it/TDDKDb Continue reading Hong Kong journalists face ‘systematic’ harassment: press group

Domblans, France (AFP) Sept 12, 2024 Heavy rainfall, hail and mildew have destroyed most of the wine harvest in eastern France’s Jura region for this year, leaving winegrowers struggling. The Jura, nestled between the famous Burgundy wine region and Switzerland, is one of France’s oldest wine-growing areas, featuring some 200 vineyards spread over 2,000 hectares. Their unusual elevation and the region’s cool climate give ahttp://dlvr.it/TD9vxB Continue reading ‘Historic’: Bad weather slashes wine harvest in France’s Jura

Dakar (AFP) Sept 12, 2024 The number of people killed after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Senegal over the weekend has risen to at least 39, the country’s navy said Thursday. The vessel, which witnesses say was carrying dozens of passengers, capsized a few kilometres from the Western port town of Mbour shortly after setting off on Sunday. In a post … Continue reading Senegal migrant shipwreck death toll rises to at least 39: navy