France and Spain are battling one of the worst wildfire emergencies in recent years as extreme heat, dry conditions, and powerful winds fuel massive blazes across Western Europe.

In France, thousands of residents have been evacuated after wildfires burned more than 14,000 hectares, forcing people to flee by land and sea. Tourist destinations have also been affected as emergency crews race to contain the flames.

In Spain, firefighters are battling fast-moving wildfires near Madrid and other regions, while authorities have declared emergency measures. NASA even evacuated one of its deep-space communication facilities as flames approached the area. European Union countries have deployed specialized firefighting aircraft to support efforts across both nations.

Europe Wildfire Crisis | France and Spain Battle massive blazes amid extreme heat

Climate activists throughout the world are using different modes of protests in a bid to create awareness regarding the lack of climate actions. Watch this video to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Climate activists stage protests across the globe

Records have tumbled and firefighters faced new blazes as much of Western Europe baked in a gruelling heatwave. Heatwaves have become more frequent and more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.

Records fall as extreme heat bakes Western Europe

Europe is witnessing a climate wrath; record-breaking temperatures, heat waves and now deadly wildfires. The temperature in Spain has already reached 45.6 degrees Celsius.

WION Climate Tracker: Western Europe sweltering in extreme heat | 20 wildfires across Portugal

Intel reports indicate that the Islamic State tried to develop chemical weapons to strike targets in western Europe. How close did ISIS get to developing these weapons? How can we avoid a repeat? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: ISIS planned chemical weapon attack on Europe

The Western Europe in particular is currently battling a dangerous heat wave. Large parts of the Iberian Peninsula have seen temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius and the temperatures are expected to spread to other parts of the continent in the coming days as well.

WION Climate Tracker | Dangerous heat wave threatens millions in Europe

Is the developed world trying to turn India into its dustbin? E-waste from Western Europe and Australia has been dumped illegally in India. Palki Sharma tells you how the toxic trash is poisoning our water, land & people.

Gravitas: Is the developed world trying to turn India into its dustbin?

India is now the world's third-largest e-waste producer. With the pandemic pushing up the sales of gadgets, the crisis of e-waste is only set to get bigger. How can India tackle the problem? Palki Sharma shares some ideas.

Gravitas: India's growing E-waste crisis

The unprecedented fatal flooding has wreaked havoc across western Europe killing at least 183 people. Watch this report to know more.

Fatal flooding ravage Western Europe, over 100 dead and hundreds missing

The last time&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/aung-san-suu-kyis-extraordinary-fall-from-grace-169425">Aung San&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi</a>&nbsp;traveled to western Europe, she was feted as the freshly elected civilian ruler of a fledgling democracy who had brought an end to half a century of military dictatorship.

When the Nobel peace prize laureate returns next week, her first trip to the region since a 2017 military crackdown on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-scraps-plan-to-send-rohingya-muslims-177557">Rohingya Muslims</a> in western&nbsp;Myanmar, it will be to face accusations of genocide, alongside the army she spent much of her life battling.

Gambia, a tiny, mainly Muslim West African state backed by the 57-nation Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), lodged a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month against&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;for genocide, including mass murder and rape.

Myanmar&nbsp;denies the allegations, and&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi's office said she would fly to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-objects-to-ukraine-sea-dispute-case-in-the-hague-226002">The&nbsp;Hague</a>&nbsp;for the first hearings, from December 10, to "defend the national interest".

"There is a discrepancy between the opinion of&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;and the international community," said Myo Nyunt, the senior spokesman for her National League for Democracy Party. "She has to explain what has really taken place in northern Rakhine."

Her decision to attend took some by surprise. People close to her with strong international connections voiced concerns it could further tarnish her image abroad, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

But at&nbsp;home, the announcement has unleashed a wave of popular support, with the&nbsp;leader&nbsp;who spent 15 years under house arrest for defying the army lauded as once again championing the interests of the people against a common enemy.

Richard Horsey,&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;advisor to the International Crisis Group, said while her appearance carried considerable risks for&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;overseas, "she likely feels that she must do all she can to defend the national interest against what most people in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;see as biased and politically-motivated charges".

Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;was still a heroine to many when she last visited western Europe and the United States months after taking office in 2016. Her star faded in office amid sluggish reform and protracted ethnic conflicts, and she faced increasingly harsh criticism from the West as the Rohingya crisis unfolded.

An offensive by security forces and local Buddhists in northern Rakhine state in August 2017 drove more than 730,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh, where they created the world's largest refugee camp.

United Nations investigators have said the exodus was the result of a military campaign executed with "genocidal intent".

Myanmar&nbsp;authorities have strongly disputed that conclusion, categorizing the military operation as a legitimate response to attacks by Rohingya militants that killed 13 members of the security forces.

In September 2017,&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;said terrorists were behind an "iceberg of misinformation" about the violence.

"Myanmar&nbsp;people do not support people being driven from their&nbsp;homes. But it is different with these Bengalis leaving," spokesman Myo Nyunt said, using a term common in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;but rejected by the Rohingya because it implies they are interlopers from Bangladesh who invented an ethnic identity.

Seven soldiers were jailed for 10 years for killing 10 Rohingya men and boys in the village of Inn Din but granted early release last November after serving less than a year in prison.

Late last month, the military began a court-martial of an unspecified number of soldiers over events in another village, Gu Dar Pyin, the site of an alleged massacre of 10 Rohingya. The military said the soldiers were "weak in following the rules of engagement." No further details were given about the court-martial, which is continuing.

"As far as we know there is Inn Din massacre and Gu Dar Pyin," said Myo Nyunt. "That's all as far as [Suu&nbsp;Kyi] knows, there is no such thing as genocide."

Recent weeks in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;have had the flavour of election season, with several pro-Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;rallies in major cities attended by hundreds of people carrying flags. More are planned for the first day of the hearings.

"Now there are demonstrations across the whole country. This is an attempt to make her image stronger," said Ko Ko Gyi, a longtime democracy activist and former&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;ally. "There is a saying everything is politics."

Myanmar&nbsp;is due to go to the polls again in 2020 and, while an opinion poll from the People's Alliance for Credible Elections, an independent group of election monitors, in July showed&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;retains tremendous support, her government has faced criticism for failing to bring an end to worsening ethnic conflicts in the borderlands or reform the constitution.

Under the charter drafted by the former ruling junta, the military chief nominates a quarter of lawmakers, giving it a veto over constitutional change.

In the southeastern Karen state, regional authorities put up dozens of billboards showing a smiling&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi&nbsp;flanked by three green-clad soldiers laughing heartily underlined by the words "we stand with you".

The last time Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi traveled to western Europe, she was feted as the freshly elected civilian ruler of a fledgling democracy who had brought an end to half a century of military dictatorship.

The last time Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi traveled to western Europe, she was feted as the freshly elected civilian ruler of a fledgling democracy who had brought an end to half a century of military dictatorship. When the Nobel peace prize laureate returns next week, her first trip to the region since a 2017 military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in western Myanmar, it will be to face accusations of genocide, alongside the army she spent much of her life battling. Gambia, a tiny, mainly Muslim West African state backed by the 57-nation Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), lodged a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month against Myanmar for genocide, including mass murder and rape. Myanmar denies the allegations, and Suu Kyi's office said she would fly to The Hague for the first hearings, from December 10, to "defend the national interest". "There is a discrepancy between the opinion of Myanmar and the international community," said Myo Nyunt, the senior spokesman for her National League for Democracy Party. "She has to explain what has really taken place in northern Rakhine." Her decision to attend took some by surprise. People close to her with strong international connections voiced concerns it could further tarnish her image abroad, according to two people familiar with the discussions. But at home, the announcement has unleashed a wave of popular support, with the leader who spent 15 years under house arrest for defying the army lauded as once again championing the interests of the people against a common enemy. Richard Horsey, Myanmar advisor to the International Crisis Group, said while her appearance carried considerable risks for Suu Kyi overseas, "she likely feels that she must do all she can to defend the national interest against what most people in Myanmar see as biased and politically-motivated charges". Suu Kyi was still a heroine to many when she last visited western Europe and the United States months after taking office in 2016. Her star faded in office amid sluggish reform and protracted ethnic conflicts, and she faced increasingly harsh criticism from the West as the Rohingya crisis unfolded. An offensive by security forces and local Buddhists in northern Rakhine state in August 2017 drove more than 730,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh, where they created the world's largest refugee camp. United Nations investigators have said the exodus was the result of a military campaign executed with "genocidal intent". Myanmar authorities have strongly disputed that conclusion, categorizing the military operation as a legitimate response to attacks by Rohingya militants that killed 13 members of the security forces. In September 2017, Suu Kyi said terrorists were behind an "iceberg of misinformation" about the violence. "Myanmar people do not support people being driven from their homes. But it is different with these Bengalis leaving," spokesman Myo Nyunt said, using a term common in Myanmar but rejected by the Rohingya because it implies they are interlopers from Bangladesh who invented an ethnic identity. Seven soldiers were jailed for 10 years for killing 10 Rohingya men and boys in the village of Inn Din but granted early release last November after serving less than a year in prison. Late last month, the military began a court-martial of an unspecified number of soldiers over events in another village, Gu Dar Pyin, the site of an alleged massacre of 10 Rohingya. The military said the soldiers were "weak in following the rules of engagement." No further details were given about the court-martial, which is continuing. "As far as we know there is Inn Din massacre and Gu Dar Pyin," said Myo Nyunt. "That's all as far as [Suu Kyi] knows, there is no such thing as genocide." Recent weeks in Myanmar have had the flavour of election season, with several pro-Suu Kyi rallies in major cities attended by hundreds of people carrying flags. More are planned for the first day of the hearings. "Now there are demonstrations across the whole country. This is an attempt to make her image stronger," said Ko Ko Gyi, a longtime democracy activist and former Suu Kyi ally. "There is a saying everything is politics." Myanmar is due to go to the polls again in 2020 and, while an opinion poll from the People's Alliance for Credible Elections, an independent group of election monitors, in July showed Suu Kyi retains tremendous support, her government has faced criticism for failing to bring an end to worsening ethnic conflicts in the borderlands or reform the constitution. Under the charter drafted by the former ruling junta, the military chief nominates a quarter of lawmakers, giving it a veto over constitutional change. In the southeastern Karen state, regional authorities put up dozens of billboards showing a smiling Suu Kyi flanked by three green-clad soldiers laughing heartily underlined by the words "we stand with you".

The Lady and the Hague: Myanmar leader Suu Kyi courts home audience

Teenagers from four big Chinese regions outshone Western contemporaries nations in a keenly watched survey of education capabilities published Tuesday, which also showed no improvement trend in developed countries over two decades.

The PISA survey is carried out every three years by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), this time among its 37 member states and 42 partner countries and economies.

The latest study, which was conducted last year among 600,000 15-year-old students who all took two-hour tests, showed that students in four Chinese regions of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as Singapore,&nbsp;topped the rankings, ahead of their Western counterparts in reading, mathematics and science.

In reading, which the OECD considers its headline indicator of education potential, the best performing OECD state was the tiny Baltic nation of Estonia, followed by Canada, Finland and Ireland.

Angel Gurria, the OECD's secretary-general, said the students from the four Chinese provinces had "outperformed by a large margin their peers from all of the other 78 participating education systems".

Moreover, the 10 per cent most socio-economically disadvantaged students in these four areas "also showed better reading skills than those of the average student in OECD countries, as well as skills similar to the 10 per cent most advantaged students in some of these countries."

He cautioned that these four provinces and municipalities in eastern China "are far from representing China as a whole." &nbsp;

Teenagers from four big Chinese regions outshone Western contemporaries nations in a keenly watched survey of education capabilities published Tuesday, which also showed no improvement trend in developed countries over two decades.

Teenagers from four big Chinese regions outshone Western contemporaries nations in a keenly watched survey of education capabilities published Tuesday, which also showed no improvement trend in developed countries over two decades. The PISA survey is carried out every three years by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), this time among its 37 member states and 42 partner countries and economies. The latest study, which was conducted last year among 600,000 15-year-old students who all took two-hour tests, showed that students in four Chinese regions of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as Singapore, topped the rankings, ahead of their Western counterparts in reading, mathematics and science. In reading, which the OECD considers its headline indicator of education potential, the best performing OECD state was the tiny Baltic nation of Estonia, followed by Canada, Finland and Ireland. Angel Gurria, the OECD's secretary-general, said the students from the four Chinese provinces had "outperformed by a large margin their peers from all of the other 78 participating education systems". Moreover, the 10 per cent most socio-economically disadvantaged students in these four areas "also showed better reading skills than those of the average student in OECD countries, as well as skills similar to the 10 per cent most advantaged students in some of these countries." He cautioned that these four provinces and municipalities in eastern China "are far from representing China as a whole."

China outshines West in survey on educational capabilities

The United States is to cut its contribution to NATO's operating budget, officials said Thursday, with Germany increasing payments as the alliance tries to appease President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-hong-kong-democracy-act-china-threatens-firm-countermeasures-264966">Donald Trump</a> ahead of a summit next week.

Trump has repeatedly criticised European members for freeloading on the US, singling out Germany,&nbsp;the continent's economic powerhouse, for lagging behind on an alliance commitment to spend at least two per cent of GDP on defence.

While most of Trump's anger has been focused on European national defence budgets, there has also been American grumbling about how much Washington contributes to NATO's own running costs, and the 29-member alliance has now agreed to a change.

"All allies have agreed a new cost-sharing formula. Under the new formula, cost shares attributed to most European allies and Canada will go up, while the US share will come down," a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-says-death-greatly-exaggerated-to-adopt-new-strategies-on-space-china-263436">NATO</a> official said.

"This is an important demonstration of allies' commitment to the alliance and to fairer burden-sharing."

The US currently pays 22.1 per cent of the NATO budget,&nbsp;which totalled $2.5 billion (2.37 billion euros) in 2019,&nbsp;and Germany 14.8 per cent, under a formula based on each country's gross national income.&nbsp;

Under the new agreement, the US will cut its contribution to 16.35 per cent of the total, Germany's will rise to the same level and other allies will pay more.

Though the sums involved are small in military terms,&nbsp;the 29 alliance members spent a total of nearly a trillion dollars on defence in 2018,&nbsp;not all allies are happy with the move.

Diplomats say France has refused to go along with the new arrangement and will keep its contribution the same at 10.5 per cent, arguing that the deal to change the figures was cooked up between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel without properly consulting other allies.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is expected to announce new figures on Friday showing how much more allies have spent since Trump came to power in 2016 in a bid to improve the mood going into Wednesday's leaders' <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-attend-nato-summit-in-london-days-before-uk-vote-262476">meeting in London</a>.

There are fears Trump will repeat his performance at the 2016 summit in Brussels, where he launched into an extraordinary public tirade during a breakfast meeting with Merkel, berating her for weak defence spending and accusing her of cosying up to Russia.

Adding to the clouds over the London gathering are French President Emmanuel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-says-frances-macron-comments-on-nato-dangerous-261350">Macron's attack on NATO</a> as "brain dead" and ongoing tensions with fellow NATO ally Turkey over its purchase of Russian missiles and its military operation in northern Syria.

The United States is to cut its contribution to NATO's operating budget, officials said Thursday, with Germany increasing payments as the alliance tries to appease President Donald Trump ahead of a summit next week.

The United States is to cut its contribution to NATO's operating budget, officials said Thursday, with Germany increasing payments as the alliance tries to appease President Donald Trump ahead of a summit next week. Trump has repeatedly criticised European members for freeloading on the US, singling out Germany, the continent's economic powerhouse, for lagging behind on an alliance commitment to spend at least two per cent of GDP on defence. While most of Trump's anger has been focused on European national defence budgets, there has also been American grumbling about how much Washington contributes to NATO's own running costs, and the 29-member alliance has now agreed to a change. "All allies have agreed a new cost-sharing formula. Under the new formula, cost shares attributed to most European allies and Canada will go up, while the US share will come down," a NATO official said. "This is an important demonstration of allies' commitment to the alliance and to fairer burden-sharing." The US currently pays 22.1 per cent of the NATO budget, which totalled $2.5 billion (2.37 billion euros) in 2019, and Germany 14.8 per cent, under a formula based on each country's gross national income. Under the new agreement, the US will cut its contribution to 16.35 per cent of the total, Germany's will rise to the same level and other allies will pay more. Though the sums involved are small in military terms, the 29 alliance members spent a total of nearly a trillion dollars on defence in 2018, not all allies are happy with the move. Diplomats say France has refused to go along with the new arrangement and will keep its contribution the same at 10.5 per cent, arguing that the deal to change the figures was cooked up between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel without properly consulting other allies. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is expected to announce new figures on Friday showing how much more allies have spent since Trump came to power in 2016 in a bid to improve the mood going into Wednesday's leaders' meeting in London. There are fears Trump will repeat his performance at the 2016 summit in Brussels, where he launched into an extraordinary public tirade during a breakfast meeting with Merkel, berating her for weak defence spending and accusing her of cosying up to Russia. Adding to the clouds over the London gathering are French President Emmanuel Macron's attack on NATO as "brain dead" and ongoing tensions with fellow NATO ally Turkey over its purchase of Russian missiles and its military operation in northern Syria.

US to cut spending on NATO budget, Germany to pay more

Thousands of French police officers demonstrated in Paris Wednesday for better working conditions, against the backdrop of a spike in suicides in the force and allegations of police brutality that have sapped morale.

The demonstration was the biggest by the police in years, reflecting the frustration among officers after a year of battling weekly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-paris-police-deployed-over-yellow-vest-clash-fears-250913">"yellow vest" protests </a>that have regularly turned violent.

Many of the officers, who gathered in plainclothes at Bastille Square for a "march of anger" through eastern Paris, complained of a lack of recognition and support from both the state and the public.

"We are the dregs of society," Frederic Govin, an officer from a riot police unit in northern France, told AFP bitterly.

Over the past few years, the police have held several protests over violent attacks on officers during anti-government protests as well as during operations in high-rise housing estates, where youths periodically clash with the police.

A key theme in Wednesday's protest was the sharp rise this year in the number of police taking their own lives.

Cyril Benoit, an officer with 20 years of service, told AFP that the weekly yellow vest protests had stretched an already strained force to the limit.

In the past two years, one officer in his riot police unit in the central town of Auxerre committed suicide and another attempted to take her own life, he said.

So far this year 49 officers have killed themselves, up from a total of 35 in 2018, according to interior ministry figures.

Benoit blamed the malaise on "physical and psychological fatigue" as well as increased pressure from senior officers to meet targets.

"There's always been a bit of pressure on the police but never like this," he said.

Under French law, the police are not allowed to strike or demonstrate while on duty.

Some officers told AFP they had been given leave by their station chiefs to skip work to attend the protest.

"I see colleagues crying," Antoine, a 40-year-old policeman with 15 years of crime-fighting to his name, told AFP.

He accused the government of failing to defend officers in the face of recurring allegations of brutality, particularly against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-100-arrested-in-paris-yellow-vest-protests-251045">yellow vest protesters</a>, dozens of whom have been seriously injured by rubber bullets and stun grenades.

"Television keeps replaying videos of (allegedly brutal) police actions but you don't see the paving stone that flew overhead seconds before," Antoine said.

The police have also opposed a major overhaul of the pensions system, which could come of their perks scrapped.

"There is a deep sense of discontent", David Le Bars, general secretary of the SCPN-Unsa union said, describing an "ailing force."

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has assured that the dangerous conditions faced by the police will be factored into the pension reforms.

He has also pointed to the money ploughed into the force under President Emmanuel Macron - more than a billion euros since the centrist leader took office in 2017, according to the minister.

During campaigning for president Macron pledged to hire an extra 10,000 police over the course of his five-year term.

But the new recruits cannot come fast enough for a force facing 23 million unpaid overtime hours, according to a count by Le Parisien newspaper in mid-September.

In the past few years, the number of protests by the police -- once a rare event -- have increased.

In October 2016, hundreds of officers, some in uniform, staged wildcat protests in several cities over several consecutive nights after youths in a Paris suburb tried to set fire to a police car with two officers inside, seriously injuring them.

Earlier that year, a police car was also firebombed on the sidelines of a separate police demonstration over anti-police violence.

Thousands of French police officers demonstrated in Paris Wednesday for better working conditions, against the backdrop of a spike in suicides in the force and allegations of police brutality that have sapped morale.

Thousands of French police officers demonstrated in Paris Wednesday for better working conditions, against the backdrop of a spike in suicides in the force and allegations of police brutality that have sapped morale. The demonstration was the biggest by the police in years, reflecting the frustration among officers after a year of battling weekly "yellow vest" protests that have regularly turned violent. Many of the officers, who gathered in plainclothes at Bastille Square for a "march of anger" through eastern Paris, complained of a lack of recognition and support from both the state and the public. "We are the dregs of society," Frederic Govin, an officer from a riot police unit in northern France, told AFP bitterly. Over the past few years, the police have held several protests over violent attacks on officers during anti-government protests as well as during operations in high-rise housing estates, where youths periodically clash with the police. A key theme in Wednesday's protest was the sharp rise this year in the number of police taking their own lives. Cyril Benoit, an officer with 20 years of service, told AFP that the weekly yellow vest protests had stretched an already strained force to the limit. In the past two years, one officer in his riot police unit in the central town of Auxerre committed suicide and another attempted to take her own life, he said. So far this year 49 officers have killed themselves, up from a total of 35 in 2018, according to interior ministry figures. Benoit blamed the malaise on "physical and psychological fatigue" as well as increased pressure from senior officers to meet targets. "There's always been a bit of pressure on the police but never like this," he said. Under French law, the police are not allowed to strike or demonstrate while on duty. Some officers told AFP they had been given leave by their station chiefs to skip work to attend the protest. "I see colleagues crying," Antoine, a 40-year-old policeman with 15 years of crime-fighting to his name, told AFP. He accused the government of failing to defend officers in the face of recurring allegations of brutality, particularly against yellow vest protesters, dozens of whom have been seriously injured by rubber bullets and stun grenades. "Television keeps replaying videos of (allegedly brutal) police actions but you don't see the paving stone that flew overhead seconds before," Antoine said. The police have also opposed a major overhaul of the pensions system, which could come of their perks scrapped. "There is a deep sense of discontent", David Le Bars, general secretary of the SCPN-Unsa union said, describing an "ailing force." Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has assured that the dangerous conditions faced by the police will be factored into the pension reforms. He has also pointed to the money ploughed into the force under President Emmanuel Macron - more than a billion euros since the centrist leader took office in 2017, according to the minister. During campaigning for president Macron pledged to hire an extra 10,000 police over the course of his five-year term. But the new recruits cannot come fast enough for a force facing 23 million unpaid overtime hours, according to a count by Le Parisien newspaper in mid-September. In the past few years, the number of protests by the police -- once a rare event -- have increased. In October 2016, hundreds of officers, some in uniform, staged wildcat protests in several cities over several consecutive nights after youths in a Paris suburb tried to set fire to a police car with two officers inside, seriously injuring them. Earlier that year, a police car was also firebombed on the sidelines of a separate police demonstration over anti-police violence.

'I see colleagues crying': Ailing French police force hit by officer protests

The Acropolis and Slopes, a world-famous archaeological site in the Greek capital Athens, were closed on Thursday and Friday afternoon due to high temperatures. The heatwave began hitting Greece starting last Tuesday, with temperatures higher than 38 degrees Celsius recorded from Wednesday to Friday. The Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens, a department within the Greek Ministry of Culture, said on Wednesday that due to the heatwave, the site would remain closed from 13:00 to 17:00 on Thursday and Friday. The Acropolis and its Slopes are located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, with few trees available to provide shade for visitors against the scorching sun. In addition to hurting tourism, high temperatures are also affecting people's livelihoods.

Acropolis closes due to heatwave in Athens

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