AFP Video

Tunisians dream of moving to Germany as crisis bites


Elyes Jelassi, a Tunisian nurse, packs his bags before travelling to Germany to take up a new job. Germany is becoming a key destination for disillusioned young Tunisians despite a language barrier and the North African nation’s long history of ties with France.

At least 27 killed in Colombia landslide


Heavy rains in northwest Colombia sent a wall of earth crashing onto a winding road, swallowing up a bus and other vehicles and killing 27 people on Sunday. The landslide prompted a large rescue effort, with dozens of people in hard hats using backhoes and excavators to dig through the earth looking for victims.

Italy’s Mount Stromboli erupts, spewing lava and ash


Stromboli (Italy) (AFP) – Ashy smoke billows and lava flows from Mount Stromboli in Italy after a 4.6 magnitude tremor on Sunday, caused by the ‘sciara del fuoco’ section of the volcano that broke off and slammed into the sea, triggering a tsunami wave off the volcanic island. The wave, which was about one and a half metres high, did not reach the coast. According to the Civil Protection Services no damage was reported.

©AFP

Chile on alert as Villarrica volcano rumbles


Pucon (Chile) (AFP) – A string of seismic events from Villarrica volcano in the south of Chile has alerted authorities to make emergency plans. At the Southern Andes Volcanological Observatory scientists monitor the volcano and data “to avoid any natural disaster.”

©AFP

China defends its Covid policy as it eases strict virus measures


Beijing (AFP) – China’s foreign ministry defends its Covid measures saying that they have protected people’s lives and the country continued to ‘optimise and improve’ their policies ‘according to the development of the epidemic situation’. Businesses reopened and testing requirements were relaxed in Beijing and other Chinese cities on Monday as the country tentatively eases out of a strict zero-Covid policy that sparked nationwide protests.

©AFP

Climate’s toll threatens the sound of music in Swiss forest


Le Chenit (Switzerland) (AFP) – Switzerland’s Risoud Forest is filled with spruce trees which are hundreds of years old. Their wood is perfect for crafting acoustic guitars, violins and other string instruments, making it sought after by luthiers around the world. But climate change has brought drier, warmer weather, threatening the special tonal qualities of the wood.

©AFP

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