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Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros

Friday, July 27, 2018

Greek newspaper cites “example of Portuguese minister” to demand resignations following country's killer fires

[Green light given for “1234 young doctors”: Algarve to get 50]Sifting through the wreckage of fires of biblical proportions, people in Greece have been turning their anger on the authorities in much the same way as they did in Portugal a year ago. But this time round, Greek media has a precedent: the example of minister of internal administration Constança Urbano de Sousa who (finally) resigned after the worst two fire tragedies in Portugal’s living memory.


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Greece PM Alexis Tsipras takes blame for deadly fires that killed 87

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took responsibility Friday for this week's deadly wildfires after criticism about rescue efforts and blocked escape routes.


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Tsipras takes political responsibility for Greece's wildfire disaster

Prime minister expresses ‘pain, devastation and anguish’ over deaths of at least 87 people Five days after devastating wildfires decimated seaside communities outside Athens, leaving 87 dead and countless missing, Greece’s embattled prime minister Alexis Tsipras has assumed political responsibility for the disaster. At an emergency meeting of his cabinet, he acknowledged that the tragedy had left him wondering whether his government could have done more to prevent such loss of life. “This is a difficult moment, perhaps the heaviest of our term in office,” he said. “The dead cannot talk, but the least we can do in their memory is to show respect for the truth. Related: Greece wildfires: satellite imagery shows devastation in Mati – visual guide Continue reading...


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Victims of the deadly wildfires in Attica become 87, coast guard search for bodies in the sea

The pain is endless in Greece as the death toll keeps risingOne more person who was in intensive care at a central Athenian hospital a 62yearold male did not make itAl


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As Greek Wildfire Death Toll Climbs, Government Takes Responsibility

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras blamed widespread building-code violations for the death toll of 87 in resort areas near Athens; ‘We have to consider whether we did enough’


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Volunteer divers search the sea for Greek fire victims

MATI, Greece (AP) — The mother's hand-written note to her young son was left on a Greek beach, framed by a ring of pebbles. It was a parent's promise of future summers spent together as a family on this beach. It spoke of the pride their son felt at impressing his parents with his improving swimming skills. "We'll play in the sea lovingly as a family again," the note ended. It's a heart-rending message to a missing son who's likely among those who drowned seeking refuge in the azure waters off the Greek hamlet of Mati from a raging wildfire that incinerated everything in its path with unfathomable speed.


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Arson Is Suspected in Deadly Fires in Greece, Government Says

The death toll in the first this week rose to at least 84, with many more people still missing, in the worst disaster in the country’s recent history.


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Greek fire damages over 2,000 homes, 500 of them gutted

Marked with an X in red spray paint, more 500 homes have been gutted in Greece's deadly wildfire


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Athens wildfires: No apology, no resignation and “no mistakes”?

It was all fine during the press conference on the Athens wildfires late on Thursday evening.  Alternate Minister for Civil Protection, the chief of the Fire Service and the Greek Police, the CEO of the Greek Space Agency and the government spokesman sat next to each other in front of reporters to brief about the … The post Athens wildfires: No apology, no resignation and “no mistakes”? appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.


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Record temps spark fires in Greece, UK, US

EXTREME temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere have caused devastating fires from Europe to the US, and scientists say the record highs are being caused by climate change.


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Greece PM Alexis Tsipras assumes responsibility for deadly fires

After three days of national mourning, Alexis Tsipras is facing condemnation from the opposition for his government's response. At least 87 people perished in some of Europe's worst wildfires.


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Greece: Loans of 25,000 euro but unsecured!

The Ministry of Economy and Development activates the introduction of microcredit ie loans up to EUR 25000 without collateral by putting in place the appropriate institutiona


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Spain Is Main European Entry Point for Migrants by Sea

Spain’s mainland has for the first time surpassed Italy and Greece to become the main entry point for migrants arriving in Europe from Africa by sea.


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Greek PM says assumes political responsibility for wildfires

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday he took full political responsibility for a devastating wildfire which has killed at least 87 people and led to opposition accusations over the government's failure to protect lives.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.reuters.com

Greek PM takes responsibility for wildfire as criticism mounts

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took political responsibility on Friday for a wildfire that killed at least 87 people and led to opposition accusations that the government failed to protect lives.


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Death toll from Greek wildfire rises to 87, as arson indicated

The death toll from the wildfire which swept through a once idyllic seaside resort in eastern Attica on Monday has risen to 87 by Friday, according to the latest update from local authorities.


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Greek officials say arson may have caused wildfires killing 83

Investigators in Greece say wildfires killing at least 83 people may have been started deliberately.          


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Firefighter’s baby dies in Athens fires, wife in critical condition

A 6-month-old baby boy died in the arms of his mother, as she fled the inferno beginning of the week. The boy’s father was one of the firefighters fighting against the raging Athens wildfires on Monday. Mother and son were found in the sea, five hours after the blaze reached Mati, the area in East … The post Firefighter’s baby dies in Athens fires, wife in critical condition appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.


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Athens wildfires: Turkish citizens wish Greeks “Get Well, Neighbor!”

Hundreds of Turkish citizens gathered outside the Greek consulate in the city of Izmir on Thursday to express their solidarity with the Greek people following the devastating wildfires and the heavy death toll. Simple people and members of trade unions held banners reading “Hold On, Neighbors!” Some were holding a banner in fact a copy … The post Athens wildfires: Turkish citizens wish Greeks “Get Well, Neighbor!” appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.


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Spain Becomes Main Entry Point to Europe for Migrants Crossing by Sea

Spain’s mainland has for the first time surpassed Italy and Greece to become the main entry point for migrants arriving in Europe from Africa by sea.


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Blame game blows up over deadly Greek wildfires

Grief and shock over Greece’s deadliest wildfires were clouded Friday by a bitter debate over who was to blame, as the opposition rejected the government’s suggestion that the blazes were started deliberately.


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Three conditions to force the US dollar system to collapse

Russia has recently disposed of US Treasury bonds, but the move was like a gnat bite for the US financial system. To force this system to collapse, one needs to meet three requirements. Does one need to force the US dollar to collapse, though? In 2015, Donald Trump told Fox News that the United States could become another Spain or Greece that were standing on the verge of financial collapse. According to him, the US has been borrowing from China and other countries and has thus amassed the public debt of 13 trillion dollars. If America's debt is so large, why hasn't it collapsed yet? The answer is simple: there are too many of those who want to invest in the US economy. During Trump's presidency, USA's public debt has increased to 21 trillion dollars - all because the Americans accurately pay off their bonds worth about ten trillion dollars a year. The US dollar is a commodity, a world reserve currency, and if banks run out of dollars, the entire world economy will collapse. The more dollars creditors have in their reserves, the more stability one gets. Can the USA come across difficulties in attracting new loans to pay off old ones? The world community is convinced in the stability of the US dollar based on the Bretton Woods agreement. Plus, the US and Saudi Arabia had agreed to trade oil in US dollars, and all countries had subsequently joined their agreement. All exchanges buy and sell oil and other raw materials only for dollars. All banks maintain more than 60 percent of their liquidity in dollars. The euro accounts for only 30 percent, whereas the yuan and other currencies account for only ten percent.It is very hard to shatter the world's faith in the US dollar. The above-mentioned agreements and treaties can be revised only as a result of a war. Is there a peaceful way? Technically, the dollar may decline in value considerably, prompting market members to sell their dollar assets. These market members are the countries that hold US bonds and futures, as well as ordinary investors, such as, for example, citizens having dollar bank accounts. For this situation to happen, at least several conditions are required.First, the dollar should be weak. Trump as President has broken the 70-year tradition to support the strong dollar. The weak dollar gives the government an opportunity to service the debt more easily. In addition, Trump sees the strong dollar as a hindrance to his trade war with the world. The Wall Street Journal said that the dollar exchange rate remains ten percent overvalued. To liquidate the USA's trade deficit of 500 billion dollars, the rate of the US currency will have to decrease considerably. There is a reverse side to it too. The debt-to-GDP ratio currently stands at over one hundred percent, and calculations show that it will grow. This factor will undermine confidence in the dollar.Secondly, one needs to have a viable monetary alternative for buyers and investors. If we get rid of the dollar, what are we going to buy instead? How are we going to trade? One may suggest the yuan and the euro, but the yuan is a regulated currency, and the euro is a regional one. It does not look like China wants to switch from commodities to capital trade to make the yuan a convertible and strong currency. Thirdly, someone needs to push the dollar to make it collapse. Debt holder nations could, as it seems, massively dispose of US bonds. It's only about five trillion dollars: if China and Japan started disposing their treasury stock on the secondary market, this would cause great panic. Yet, the yuan fluctuates within a corridor. China artificially lowers its rate to quietly enter the US market. In addition, US bonds bring China a stable income in dollars, which the country needs to meet importers' demand. Japan is now trying to exit the 15-year deflation cycle after the 2011 earthquake and Fukushima  nuclear disaster. If the dollar becomes weak, then the goods valued in yuan and yen will cost relatively more in the United States. They will become less competitive. The countries that lend to the US may start selling US bonds either for political reasons or if they see their stocks dropping in price too quickly and they have another export market to replace the American one.Thus, the collapse of the dollar, and therefore of the American system of living in debt is unlikely to happen. If it happens, the world will experience a global economic shock. Gold, the euro, energy carriers and other goods will become more expensive. The debt service will grow, US import prices will rise sharply, hyperinflation will follow, and exports will not yield any revenue. Inflation, high interest rates and volatility will suppress the growth of the real sector. The United States, perhaps, will launch military redivision of the world, since every war brings profit and economic recovery. Lyuba Lulko (Stepushova) Pravda.Ru Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru


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Greeks question capabilities of emergency response amid destructive weather conditions

Several days after wildfires killed more than 80 people in Greece, a thunderstorm brings flashflooding to the same region. The Greek population is now asking whether its country's emergency response teams are capable of dealing with such events.


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No apology, no resignation: pressure grows on Greek government over fire deaths

Greece's opposition accused the government on Friday of arrogance and an utter failure to protect lives in responding to a devastating wildfire as questions remained unanswered over how at least 86 people died in the town of Mati.


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This week in photos: Kim’s plant tour, Greek inferno’s aftermath and Trump's star smashed

The world in pictures in a photo gallery by TASS


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WATCH Dramatic moment man escapes Greece wildfire as flames consume his home

[Preview] A chilling video has gone viral in Greece, showing a local man who suddenly found himself in the middle of a huge wildfire that consumed his house and the wider vicinity in a matter of minutes. Read Full Article at RT.com


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Arson linked to the death of at least 86 in Athens wildfires (picts)

There is serious evidence of arson for the Athens wildfires in East and West Attica, the Greek government said during a press conference. Friday morning, the chief coroner of the central morgue where the bodies of the people who lost their lives on land or in the sea have been transferred make a shocking announcement. … The post Arson linked to the death of at least 86 in Athens wildfires (picts) appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.


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Arson suspected in Greece fires; officials deny responsibility

Satellite images and ground inspections of charred areas near Athens have led Greek investigators to believe at least some of the fires this week were set.


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Charred Remains Making Greek Fire Victims Identification Difficult

ATHENS – With forest fires reaching temperatures of as much as 1,742 degrees Fahrenheit, some of the 85 dead in the Greek Wildfires are proving […] The post Charred Remains Making Greek Fire Victims Identification Difficult appeared first on The National Herald.


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Bank of Greece, National Bank Pledge Aid for Fire Victims, More Coming

ATHENS – The families of victims of the Greek Wildfires that swept a series of forested seaside areas after apparently being deliberately set will get […] The post Bank of Greece, National Bank Pledge Aid for Fire Victims, More Coming appeared first on The National Herald.


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Fire-Destroyed Village of Mati Was Death Trap, Greek Geologists Find

ATHENS – After the sorry and compassion for the victims of the Greek Wildfires, with 85 dead and dozens missing, signs are emerging that the […] The post Fire-Destroyed Village of Mati Was Death Trap, Greek Geologists Find appeared first on The National Herald.


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After Deadly Greek Fires, Rage Builds, Families Desperate to Find Missing

ATHENS – With survivors and others still trying to deal with grief over the Greek wildfires that killed at least 85 people – with dozens […] The post After Deadly Greek Fires, Rage Builds, Families Desperate to Find Missing appeared first on The National Herald.


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Turks Gather Outside Smyrna Consulate in Solidarity Rally for Fire-Stricken Greece

SMYRNA – Hundreds of Turkish citizens rallied outside the historic building housing the Consulate General of Greece in Smyrna with candles, placards and flowers in […] The post Turks Gather Outside Smyrna Consulate in Solidarity Rally for Fire-Stricken Greece appeared first on The National Herald.


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Τhe National Bank of Greece Opens an Relief Account for the Victims of Wildfires

ATHENS – Τhe National Bank of Greece opened a relief account for the victims of the wildfires in Attica this week, through the bank’s crowdfunding […] The post Τhe National Bank of Greece Opens an Relief Account for the Victims of Wildfires appeared first on The National Herald.


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Forensics experts work on identifying the dead in Greek fire

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The head of the Athens Forensics Department says all autopsies on the dozens of people who died in Greece's deadliest wildfire in decades have been completed, although the identification process continues. Nikos Karakoukis said coroners had completed autopsies on 86 bodies. It was the first indication the death toll had increased, as the official figure provided by the fire service still stood at 83. Many of the dead were burned beyond recognition and the identification procedure, relying on DNA samples from relatives, is expected to take several days to be completed. Germany's federal criminal police has sent a team of its forensics specialists to help in the process.


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A Colombian sniffer dog is so good at finding cocaine that narco gangsters have put a $70,000 bounty on her head

[Sombra Colombia police dog]Twitter/PolicĂ­a AntinarcĂ³ticos * SOMBRA, A COLOMBIAN SNIFFER DOG, HAS TAKEN PART IN OPERATIONS LEADING TO 245 ARRESTS, AND HAS FOUND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF COCAINE. * IN THE LAST THREE YEARS SHE HAS BECOME THE "TORMENT" OF THE URABEĂ‘OS GANG, AND HAD LOCATED NINE TONNES OF THEIR COCAINE, POLICE SAY. * NOW THE URABEĂ‘OS HAVE PUT A BOUNTY OF 200 MILLION PESOS ($70,000) ON HER HEAD, ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL POLICE. * THE DOG HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE AIRPORT FOR HER SAFETY, WHERE SHE WILL CONTINUE TO SNIFF OUT DRUGS. ------------------------- A police dog in Colombia that has sniffed out a record amount of drugs had to be relocated and given police protection after a gang put a $70,000 bounty on her head, according to the national police. Sombra, German Shepherd, has taken part in operations leading to the arrest of at least 245 suspected drug runners, and has found a total of nine tonnes of cocaine, which could otherwise have been sold for more than $200 million.SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDERNOW WATCH: Why the World Cup soccer ball looks so different SEE ALSO: * Photos show victims of Greece wildfires desperately stranded on the beach as flames engulf their homes * A hydroelectric dam in Laos collapsed, causing a flash flood that left an unknown number of people dead and forced 6,600 to flee their homes * A 3-year-old boy who had acid thrown in his face could have been collateral damage in an attack meant for his mother


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Greece Suspects Arson In Deadly Forest Fire

Monday night’s blaze trapped dozens of people in their cars trying to flee a barreling wall of flames.


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Human Rights Watch sounds alarm for refugees in Greek centres

Officials say they have received no harassment complaints in centres, while refugees allege abuse in new HRW report.


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Rep. Maloney Speaks on House Floor about Greece and U.S.-Cyprus Relationship

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, spoke on the House floor on July 25 during […] The post Rep. Maloney Speaks on House Floor about Greece and U.S.-Cyprus Relationship appeared first on The National Herald.


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Greece’s Credit Profile Supported by Debt Relief Measures, Moody’s Says

Greece’s credit profile is supported by the substantial debt relief granted by the country’s euro area creditors in June, Moody’s Investors Service said in an […] The post Greece’s Credit Profile Supported by Debt Relief Measures, Moody’s Says appeared first on The National Herald.


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US Drones, Naval Aircraft Show Greek Fires Set, Anti-Terror Police Probing Cause

ATHENS – With crews still going house-to-house looking for more victims of the Greek wildfires that killed at least 83 people, US military drones based […] The post US Drones, Naval Aircraft Show Greek Fires Set, Anti-Terror Police Probing Cause appeared first on The National Herald.


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Pets rescued after Greece's devastating fire find new homes

PIKERMI, Greece (AP) — The kitten lay on the ground so perfectly still that passing volunteer rescuers had initially written her off as just another of the many victims — human and animal — of this week's ferocious wildfires near Athens. But then came a hint of life — the frail feline began crying out and slowly moving her tiny body, singed by heat and flames. Rescuers turned her over to veterinarians at Vets 4 Life, a pet clinic in Pikermi just west of the coastal resorts of Rafina and Mati, sites devastated by the blaze. Clinic veterinarians have so far treated around 70 animals injured in the fire, some four times normal numbers during this period.


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Greek government takes no responsibility for wildfire deaths in press briefing

Minister of Nikos Toskas alleged evidence of arson behind the fires


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Breaking News! Greek PM calls extraordinary meeting over fire tragedy

The meeting will take place at 5 pm on Friday


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IMF meeting in Washington to decide on Greek debt sustainability

Final results of meeting expected to become public next week


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‘Serious indications’ of arson in Greek inferno that consumed seaside village, killing 82

Greek authorities said Thursday there were serious indications that a deadly wildfire that gutted a vacation resort near Athens was started deliberately, while experts warned that the devastated coastal town had been built like a “fire trap,” with poor safety standards and few escape routes. The death toll from Monday’s blaze east of the Greek capital rose to 82 as rescuers and divers continued to search for more bodies in burnt-out homes and at sea, where hundreds fled to try...


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Victims of GREECE wildfires get help from NJ Greek-Americans

Many Greek-Americans in New Jersey are doing their part to help the victims of the burning wildfires in GREECE, as the death toll climbs.


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The Queen pays tribute to the people of GREECE following devastating wildfires

"Prince Philip and I offer our deepest sympathies to the people of GREECE in the wake of the devastating fires in Attica and across GREECE," the monarch ...


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Authorities say Greek wildfires that killed 83 people may have been caused by arson

[greece wildfire rafina.JPG]REUTERS/Costas Baltas * WILDFIRES THAT RAVAGED SEVERAL SEASIDE TOWNS IN GREECE ARE SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ARSON.  * CLIMATE CHANGE LIKELY ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH EXACERBATED FLAMES. * 83 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN FIRES THAT ENGULFED POPULAR SUMMER RESORT SPOTS NEAR ATHENS, AND DOZENS MORE REMAIN IN HOSPITAL. ------------------------- Wildfires that ravaged several seaside towns in Greece and left 83 people dead are suspected to have been caused by arson.  Nikos Toskas, deputy minister for citizen protection, said in a press conference Thursday that the nature of the fires indicated deliberate human action. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDERNOW WATCH: Why penalty kicks are so unfair to goalies SEE ALSO: * How extreme summer heat affects your body and brain * Greece is burning because dry, blisteringly hot conditions are hitting Europe hard this summer — take a look * Flood-prone US states have billions of dollars of property at stake in the next 15 years — here's where it will be worst SEE ALSO: GREECE IS BURNING BECAUSE DRY, BLISTERINGLY HOT CONDITIONS ARE HITTING EUROPE HARD THIS SUMMER — TAKE A LOOK


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Sarah Ferguson promises to help victims of Greek wildfires

Sarah Ferguson said she would provide 'every possible help' as she met with Greek tourism minister Elena Kountoura in Athens on Thursday in the wake of the deadly fires.


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