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South Korea Struggles to Contain Deadly Wildfires

The level of damage would make the fires collectively the third-largest in South Korea's history. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP
The level of damage would make the fires collectively the third-largest in South Korea's history. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP
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South Korea Struggles to Contain Deadly Wildfires

The level of damage would make the fires collectively the third-largest in South Korea's history. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP
The level of damage would make the fires collectively the third-largest in South Korea's history. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP

Deadly wildfires in South Korea worsened overnight, officials said Tuesday, as dry, windy weather hampers efforts to contain one of the country's worst-ever fire outbreaks.
More than a dozen different blazes broke out over the weekend, with the safety minister reporting thousands of hectares burned and four people killed, AFP said.
"The wildfires have so far affected approximately 14,694 hectares (36,310 acres), with damage continuing to grow," acting Interior and Safety Minister Ko Ki-dong said.
The extent of damage would make the fires collectively the third-largest in South Korea's history. The largest was an April 2000 blaze that scorched 23,913 hectares (59,090 acres) across the east coast.
More than 3,000 people have been evacuated to shelters, Ko said. At least 11 people have been seriously injured.
"Strong winds, dry weather, and haze are hampering firefighting efforts," Ko told a disaster and safety meeting.
The government is "mobilizing all available resources", he said, and today, "110 helicopters and more than 6,700 personnel will be deployed".
In Uiseong, the sky was full of smoke and haze, AFP reporters saw. Workers at a local temple were attempting to move historical artefacts and cover up Buddhist statues to protect them from possible damage.
The Korea Forest Service said the containment rate for the fire in Uiseong decreased from 60 to 55 percent by Tuesday morning.
More than 6,700 firefighters have been deployed to battle the wildfires, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, with nearly two-fifths of the personnel dispatched to Uiseong.
The government declared a state of emergency in four regions, citing "the extensive damage caused by simultaneous wildfires across the country".
Other phenomena, such as forest fires, droughts, snowstorms and tropical storms can result from a combination of complex factors.

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France’s Le Pen Found Guilty in Graft Trial, Ruling on Punishment to Follow

President of the parliamentary group of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen arrives at the Paris courthouse for her trial verdict on suspicion of embezzlement of European public funds, in Paris, on March 31, 2025. (AFP)
President of the parliamentary group of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen arrives at the Paris courthouse for her trial verdict on suspicion of embezzlement of European public funds, in Paris, on March 31, 2025. (AFP)
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France’s Le Pen Found Guilty in Graft Trial, Ruling on Punishment to Follow

President of the parliamentary group of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen arrives at the Paris courthouse for her trial verdict on suspicion of embezzlement of European public funds, in Paris, on March 31, 2025. (AFP)
President of the parliamentary group of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen arrives at the Paris courthouse for her trial verdict on suspicion of embezzlement of European public funds, in Paris, on March 31, 2025. (AFP)

A French court found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty on Monday of misappropriating EU funds, in a trial that could potentially see her barred from the 2027 presidential race.

The verdict on what punishment she will face, expected later in the day, could upend politics in France. Le Pen, head of the far-right National Rally (RN), is the front-runner in opinion polls ahead of the 2027 vote.

Prosecutors have asked that Le Pen face an immediate five-year ban from public office if found guilty, regardless of any appeal process, using a so-called "provisional execution" measure. Judges can adopt, modify or ignore the prosecutors' request.

An automatic five-year ban would hammer Le Pen, 56, a three-time presidential contender who has said 2027 will be her final run for top office. She would retain her parliamentary seat until the end of her mandate.

Le Pen, who did not speak to reporters as she arrived in court, has accused prosecutors of seeking her "political death", alleging a plot to keep the RN from power that echoes claims made by US President Donald Trump about his legal woes.

Le Pen, the RN and two dozen party figures were accused of diverting European Parliament funds to pay France-based party staff. The defendants said the money was used legitimately and the allegations define too narrowly what a parliamentary assistant does.

However, judge Benedicte de Perthuis ruled: "It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their (EU) lawmaker had not given them any tasks."

"The investigations also showed that these were not administrative errors ... but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party's costs."