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- Wildfire prompts evacuation alerts and major response in Aspropyrgos
- FIFA COO Kevin Lamour claims staff misled about Infantino’s World Cup plan
- Canada and allies warn of insider threat from North Korean IT workers
- Trump may postpone Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination amid GOP opposition
- Urgent search launched for missing man with potentially contagious condition
- Putin’s ‘doomsday radio’ activated after Russian missile lands in Poland
- European football associations threaten World Cup boycott over FIFA comments
- EU unveils €10 billion plan to establish seven AI gigafactories in Europe.
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Wildfire prompts evacuation alerts and major response in Aspropyrgos
7:00 pm
Wildfire prompts evacuation alerts and major response in Aspropyrgos
Wildfire outbreak
A wildfire began at 15:29 on the slopes of Mount Poikilo in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, prompting evacuation alerts and a major firefighting response.
A wildfire began at 15:29 on the slopes of Mount Poikilo in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, prompting evacuation alerts and a major firefighting response.
Mobilisation Efforts
Firefighting operations involve 108 personnel, 27 vehicles, and five aircraft, underscoring the substantial resource commitment to managing the active wildfire risk.
Firefighting operations involve 108 personnel, 27 vehicles, and five aircraft, underscoring the substantial resource commitment to managing the active wildfire risk.
Firefighting Efforts
“A total of 108 firefighters are operating at the scene with six ground teams and multiple aerial support units deployed.”
“A total of 108 firefighters are operating at the scene with six ground teams and multiple aerial support units deployed.”
Wildfire breaks out near Athens, prompting evacuation alerts
By Konstantinos Tsellos & EU News with ΑΠΕ ΜΠΕ
Published on
A wildfire has broken out in a forested area in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, prompting evacuation alerts and a major firefighting response.
According to the fire service, the blaze broke out at around 15:29 in forest land on the slopes of Mount Poikilo, in the Aspropyrgos area, and is moving south.
Firefighting forces have been reinforced. A total of 108 firefighters are operating at the scene with six ground teams from the 1st EMODE special wildfire unit and 27 vehicles. Five aircraft and six helicopters have also been deployed for aerial firefighting, one of them for coordination.
Water tankers from the municipalities of Aspropyrgos, Fyli, Petroupoli and Peristeri are also assisting. In total, two messages have been issued via the 112 emergency alert system: the first at 16:03 informing people in the wider area about the fire, and the second at 16:22 calling on those in Afaia Haidariou and Ano Dasos Haidariou to move towards Peristeri via Athinon Avenue.
An earlier alert issued via the 112 emergency alert system had called on people in the wider area to remain on standby.
The fire service said the area is classified as Category 4 today, indicating a very high risk of wildfires, while the Western Attica Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been activated to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Throughout the operation, the Fire Service’s Operations Coordination Centre (ESKEDIK) has been receiving continuous imagery from a drone equipped with thermal and optical cameras.
FIFA COO Kevin Lamour claims staff misled about Infantino’s World Cup plan
6:00 pm
Get you up to speed: FIFA COO Lamour says staff deceived over Infantino’s World Cup plan
FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour stated that staff were “deceived” regarding President Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private equity funds, calling for the project to be halted. This statement followed the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who opposed the proposal and described it as a “bad deal for football.”
Kevin Lamour stated that FIFA staff were misled about the World Cup sell-off plan, which he argued should not proceed. The deadline for FIFA member federations to decide on Infantino’s $20m offers is set for September 19.
FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, has stated that staff were “deceived” over President Gianni Infantino’s plans to sell stakes in World Cup profits, urging that the project must not proceed. This criticism follows the resignation of Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, who labelled the selling proposal as “a bad deal for football” and called for greater transparency and integrity in decision-making within FIFA.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain what actions FIFA will take in response to Lamour’s concerns regarding the World Cup sell-off plan.
FIFA COO Kevin Lamour claims staff misled about Infantino’s World Cup plan
Sport|World CupFIFA COO Lamour says staff deceived over Infantino’s World Cup plan
Senior FIFA executive, Kevin Lamour, says staff were deceived over President Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan.
Published On 31 Jul 202631 Jul 2026
FIFA’s chief operating officer said its staff were deceived by their President Gianni Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan, and suggested the project must not go ahead.
Zurich-based executive Kevin Lamour all but invited Infantino to fire him in a statement to the news agency The Associated Press on Friday that defended his colleagues amid intense fallout from the FIFA boss’s plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private equity funds.
Lamour wrote that staff were “deceived” by Infantino’s lack of openness in planning the sale over recent months and “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.”
“It is the project of one person,” Lamour, a longtime colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and European football body UEFA, wrote. “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
Lamour’s statement came hours after Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented the football body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.
“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro wrote in a statement. The former US Soccer Federation president said he was not included in talks about the plan backed by a New York investment fund created by Joshua Kushner.
“Let me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,” Cordeiro said. He called the $20bn commercial subsidiary “a bad deal for football.”
Lamour did not resign the post he has held since 2024, but said he had a duty to his colleagues.
“And if that means I lose my job then so be it” the French official said. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”
Lamour came to football from politics two decades ago as an aide to then-UEFA President Michel Platini. He often had an international role in football politics, liaising with FIFA member federations in Africa and Asia who are weighing their own decisions about Infantino’s offers of $20m each by a September 19 deadline.
Cordeiro often joined Infantino on working visits to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in recent years.
“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away,” he said. “That is why this proposal should be rejected.”
Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA’s commercial businesses – including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women – into a $20bn subsidiary with 20 percent owned by private investors. The “anchor investor,” described by FIFA, is Kushner, the younger brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“FIFA already has access to extraordinary financial resources. The organization sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt,” Cordeiro said. He noted FIFA’s revenue of $15bn over the last four years tied to the men’s World Cup just ended.
“Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2bn makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification,” he said.
Cordeiro said he shared five years of working for FIFA alongside Infantino with “dedicated, principled people who care deeply about the game.”
“I hope they, too, will speak up,” he wrote, “because decisions of this magnitude should be made in the interests of football, not those who stand to profit from it.”
Infantino has been president of FIFA for more than 10 years and seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next March. FIFA has set a November 18 deadline for challengers to come forward.
Lamour was part of Infantino’s inner circle that campaigned for him to become the surprise winner of that FIFA presidential election in February 2016.
Canada and allies warn of insider threat from North Korean IT workers
5:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Canada, allies warn North Korea IT workers pose ‘insider threat’ abroad
A joint advisory has been issued urging countries and companies to enhance their understanding of specific tactics employed. The advisory focuses on implementing measures to counter these tactics effectively.
The advisory has prompted governments and organisations to enhance their knowledge of specific tactics employed in the ongoing situation. As investigations continue, it remains unclear if any legal actions will be taken against those involved.
A joint advisory has been issued, urging countries and companies to “deepen their understanding” of the tactics employed in recent activities. In response, stakeholders are expected to implement countermeasures to enhance security and mitigate risks.
What remains unclear — It is not specified which countries and companies will be targeted by the advisory’s recommendations.
Canada and allies warn of insider threat from North Korean IT workers
The joint advisory urged countries and companies to ‘deepen their understanding’ of the tactics used and implement measures to counter them.
Trump may postpone Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination amid GOP opposition
3:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Trump may pull Blanche attorney general nomination for now as key Republicans withhold support
President Trump may withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general due to opposition from Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The senators have threatened to block the nomination unless the controversial “anti-weaponization” fund is formally terminated by Trump and the Department of Justice.
President Trump is considering delaying Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general until next year, amid resistance from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The senators have indicated they will oppose the nomination unless the controversial “anti-weaponization” fund is formally terminated by the President and the Department of Justice.
President Trump is reportedly considering postponing Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general until next year due to opposition from Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The senators demand the formal cancellation of a contentious “anti-weaponization” fund as a condition for advancing Blanche’s confirmation.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how the alleged withdrawal of Todd Blanche’s nomination will impact the confirmation process.
Trump may postpone Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination amid GOP opposition
Urgent search launched for missing man with potentially contagious condition
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Urgent hunt for man who ‘may have contagious condition’ after vanishing from hospital | News UK
Dean Hesketh, 51, was last seen leaving Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire on Tuesday at 11.16am. Lancashire Police have launched an urgent search for him, warning the public not to approach due to a potentially contagious health condition.
An urgent search for Dean Hesketh, who was last seen leaving Royal Preston Hospital on Tuesday at 11.16am, is underway as authorities express growing concern for his welfare. Lancashire Police have stated that enquiries are ongoing, and they are urging the public to contact them with information rather than approach him directly due to a potentially contagious health condition.
Police have issued a warning to the public regarding Dean Hesketh, who has gone missing from Royal Preston Hospital and may possess a potentially contagious health condition. Authorities are urging anyone who sees him to contact them via 999, as concerns for his welfare are growing amid ongoing search efforts.
What remains unclear — Authorities have not disclosed the specific contagious health condition that Dean Hesketh may have.
Urgent search launched for missing man with potentially contagious condition
Police have warned the public not to approach a man with a potentially ‘contagious health condition’ who has vanished from hospital.
An urgent search has been launched since Dean Hesketh, who also uses the names Tim, Dean, or Anthony Gledhill, disappeared.
The 51-year-old was last seen when he left Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire on Tuesday at 11.16am.
Footage shows him wearing a blue surgical face mask as he walks along a hospital corridor.
Shortly before going missing, he was seen wearing a khaki green and black jacket, black trainers, and a Lyle and Scott jumper.
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He is described as 5ft 4in tall, with black hair, blue eyes, and a slim build.
While authorities have warned that he may have a contagious condition, what that is has not been disclosed.
However, officers have said they are becoming ‘increasingly concerned’ for his welfare and have urged anyone who spots him to call 999 immediately, rather than approach him.
He has links to Preston, Penwortham, and Blackpool.
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: ‘Enquiries to locate Dean are ongoing, and we are growing increasingly concerned for him.
‘We ask that if you see Dean, don’t approach him, as he may have a contagious health condition.
‘If you do see Dean, it’s really important that you get in touch with us on 999 as soon as you can so that we can make sure he is safe.’
Those with information should call 101 quoting log 1051 of July 28.
Putin’s ‘doomsday radio’ activated after Russian missile lands in Poland
1:31 pm
Get you up to speed: Putin’s ‘doomsday radio’ crackles into life after Russian missile hits Poland | News World
A Russian missile struck NATO territory in Poland, leaving a 33ft-wide crater and prompting NATO to scramble its warplanes. The incident is described as a “very serious” event by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, though he stated there were “absolutely no reasons to believe that Poland was the target.”
NATO’s warplanes were deployed in response to the missile crossing into Polish territory, creating a 33ft-wide crater in Lublin, 56 miles from Ukraine’s border. Investigations are ongoing regarding the missile’s origin, with initial claims suggesting it was a North Korean missile linked to a recent attack in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte denounced the missile strike in Poland as “yet another reckless act by Russia and a dangerous consequence of its war against Ukraine.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterised the incident as “very serious,” but asserted, “There are absolutely no reasons to believe that Poland was the target.”
What remains unclear — The precise operator and purpose of the ‘doomsday radio’ remain undisclosed.
Putin’s ‘doomsday radio’ activated after Russian missile lands in Poland
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow (Picture: Alexander Kazakov/Pool Sputnik K)
Vladimir Putin’s notorious ‘doomsday radio’ crackled into life with a string of codewords after a suspected Russian missile hit NATO territory in Poland.
The mysterious Cold War relic spewed out a sequence of cryptic messages hours after the incursion, which could further deepen tensions between the military alliance and Moscow.
Volodymyr Zelensky also claimed yesterday that early data suggests Putin deployed a North Korean missile in an attack that killed six people in a Ukrainian village.
The secret cyphers usually make little sense, with the latest series including the words BRIBETAKER, SEXFAT or SEXOFAT, MONARCHIST, MOTEL, MUZOPAYUS, STEPENNY and LEVRETKA.
One message included KLETKA, or ‘CELL’, while another used NEDOTEPA, roughly translating as ‘DIMWIT’.
A Russian missile and drone barrage across Ukraine killed at least 10 civilians, including children, overnight, officials said yesterday.
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The mysterious Cold War relic spewed out a sequence of cryptic messages (Picture: east2west news)
A 33ft-wide crater pictured in the Lublin region of eastern Poland, 56 miles from the Ukrainian border (Picture: Radio ESKA /east2west news)
NATO scrambled its warplanes after one crossed the country’s western border into Poland leaving a 33ft-wide crater.
The blitz expanded Russia’s almost daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including the capital of Kyiv where tens of thousands spent the night sheltering in subway stations.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called it ‘yet another reckless act by Russia and a dangerous consequence of its war against Ukraine’.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was ‘a very serious incident’, but added: ‘There are absolutely no reasons to believe that Poland was the target.’
The attack came two days after Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump and representatives of American defence companies as part of a plea for swifter deliveries of air defence systems.
Washington, DC – JULY 28: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) attends the funeral for the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) with U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at The Washington National Cathedral on July 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. Graham’s family, friends and fellow senators were joined during the memorial service by political leaders from around the world, including Zelensky, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others. Graham,??who was elected to the Senate in 2002, died suddenly on July 11th from an aortic dissection. He was 71 years old. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) attends the funeral for the late US Senator Lindsey Graham with US President Donald Trump (Picture: Getty)
Caption: KHERSON, UKRAINE – AUGUST 2: (—-EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT – ‘KHERSON REGIONAL MILITARY ADMINISTRATION OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT’ – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS—-) Fire breaks out after a Russian attack at the 3 private house and one apartment building as the emergency officials work at the area in Kherson, Ukraine on August 2, 2025. A Ukrainian local resident was injured after the attack, according to the reports. (Photo by Kherson Regional Military Administration/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu
The radio – on air for half a century and nicknamed The Buzzer – is linked to Russia’s Strategic Forces.
The 4625 kHz frequency usually carries a repetitive buzzing sound, but when a message is sent, the buzzing stops and a ghostly operator reads out codewords in Russian.
The purpose of its messages remains unclear, but they tend to appear at times of high tension.
It is widely believed to form part of a Russian military command-and-control network, allowing instructions to be transmitted to designated units through one-time codes.
The precise operator and purpose have never been officially disclosed.
Bursts of activity may indicate military exercises, readiness tests or operational communications.
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