Greek minister sacked for laughing about natural disasters

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister has sacked the country’s agriculture minister after video surfaced of him laughing approvingly as a local party official expounded on how compensation payments for natural disasters can help win elections. A government statement said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to the minister, Spilios Livanos, to demand explanations over his reaction to the “unacceptable reference.” The statement said Livanos “admitted that he should have reacted differently” and offered his resignation, which was accepted. Mitsotakis’ governing New Democracy also expelled the mayor of the southern town of Sparta, saying his remarks were at odds with its principles and values.