ATHENS: Firefighters in Greece battled scattered fires as Tuesday broke, hoping to contain the remains of a major wildfire that burned into the northern suburbs of Athens, triggering multiple evacuations and leaving at least one person dead.
With strong winds that had fanned the flames on Sunday and Monday dying down overnight, the fire department said the fire no longer had any active, advancing fronts and firefighters were concentrating their efforts on extinguishing the flames in hundreds of slow-burning areas. Reinforcements of water-dropping aircraft and firefighters were expected to arrive from other countries after Greece requested assistance from Europe’s joint disaster response mechanism.
Authorities were racing to extinguish as much of the blaze as possible ahead of Tuesday afternoon, when winds were predicted to pick up again, with a forecast of gusts reaching up to 60-70 kilometers (37-43 miles) per hour.
Helicopters, planes and hundreds of firefighters and vehicles were arriving from France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Turkiye, Serbia and Romania. Turkiye’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said two firefighting planes and one helicopter had taken off Tuesday morning headed to Greece.
“I wish all the best to our colleagues who work with the motto ‘Forests are the world’s common heritage,’” Yumakli posted on the social media platform X.
Relations between neighbors Greece and Turkiye are frequently tense, with disputes including territorial claims in the Aegean Sea, but they tend to put aside their differences when faced with natural disasters such as earthquakes and forest fires, with each sending assistance to the other when the need arises.
The blaze began Sunday afternoon near Lake Marathon, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Athens, coursed across Mount Pendeli and descended onto the northern and northeastern suburbs of Athens.
Firefighters found the burned body of a woman in an industrial building in the suburb of Vrilissia just after midnight. The woman, an employee of the business, was believed to have become trapped inside the building in an area that had been under evacuation orders.
More than a dozen people were treated by paramedics, mostly for smoke inhalation, while five firefighters suffered light burns and breathing problems, the fire department said.
Three hospitals, including a children’s hospital, two monasteries and a children’s home were evacuated on Monday afternoon. At least 30 push alerts were sent to cell phones in the area warning people in several Athens suburbs and settlements further from the city to flee.
The flames, which reached heights of about 25 meters (80 feet), were fanned by strong winds that hampered the efforts of more than 700 firefighters and nearly three dozen water-dropping planes and helicopters on Monday.
Six water-dropping plans and six helicopters took off at first light on Tuesday, the fire department said, to back up the hundreds of firefighters on the ground. Dozens of homes and businesses were reported to have burned, although authorities did not yet have an exact number.
The wildfire raced through pine forests left tinder-dry by repeated heat waves this summer. June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Greece, which also recorded its warmest winter ever. An early start of the fire season this year has strained Greece’s firefighting force.
“Firefighters have been working at full tilt for months,” said Nikos Lavranos, head of Greece’s main firefighters’ union. “They are exhausted.”
On Monday, police said 380 police officers had assisted in evacuations, helping to move more than 250 people away from the path of the flames. It posted a video on social media showing officers carrying elderly people out of their homes to waiting vehicles against the backdrop of a flame-red nighttime sky.
Authorities said some people who refused to leave their homes later became trapped and required rescuing, endangering the lives of firefighters. The affected areas — at the closest, some 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the heart of Athens — typically have thousands of residents. However, it was unclear how many were away on vacation at the height of the summer season, and how many had obeyed the evacuation orders or stayed to fight the blaze.
Meteorologists warned of the increased danger of wildfires because of weather conditions from Sunday until Thursday. Dozens of other wildfires also broke out in several parts of Greece on Monday. The fire department said Tuesday that two teenagers were arrested the previous day on suspicion of arson for allegedly deliberately setting a fire in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada at a time when firefighters were focused on battling the blaze in the north of the city. The Glyfada fire was quickly extinguished.
Wildfires are frequent in the Mediterranean country during its hot, dry summers, but authorities have said climate change is fueling bigger and more frequent blazes.
In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on the roads as they tried to flee in their cars. More than 100 people died, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames.
Last year, wildfires in Greece killed more than 20 people, including 18 migrants who became trapped by the flames as they trekked through a forest in northeastern Greece and were caught by a massive blaze that burned for more than two weeks.
Crews battle scattered fires in Athens suburbs
https://arab.news/nxn2p
Crews battle scattered fires in Athens suburbs
- Helicopters, planes and hundreds of firefighters and vehicles were arriving from France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Turkiye, Serbia and Romania
Bangladesh bans student wing of Sheikh Hasina’s party under terrorism law
- Ban in response to pressure from student movement that toppled Hasina
- Experts warn against banning of political groups, polarization of society
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s interim government has banned the student wing of the Awami League party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s, citing the group’s role in the deadly violence during the recent popular uprising.
A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday night said the Bangladesh Chhatra League was banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act with immediate effect.
The ministry accused the BCL of misconduct over the past 15 years, including violence, harassment and exploitation of public resources.
The notification said there was evidence of the group’s “conspiratory, destructive and provocative acts against the nation along with various terror activities” during the nationwide protest that forced Hasina to flee to India.
Initially peaceful student-led demonstrations started in Bangladesh in early July against public-sector job quotas. Two weeks later, they were met with a violent crackdown by security forces aided by BCL activists, which according to UN estimates left more than 600 people dead.
The violence led to a nationwide uprising, which on Aug. 5 forced Hasina to leave for neighboring India and an interim cabinet led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge.
There was no comment from the Awami League as many of its leaders have been arrested over accusations of their role in the unrest, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party — the main opposition party, whose members were persecuted during Hasina’s 15-year rule — was not enthusiastic about the ban.
“What we believe in is the rule of law. Whenever any such decision is taken, it ought to be made through a process of law. Anything that is extraordinary and beyond due process will always have some pitfalls. I believe, if a public hearing or some more clear legal process was adhered to prior to invoking such a decision, it would be more acceptable,” Nawshad Jamir, BNP’s international affairs secretary, told Arab News.
“BCL has done some most heinous crimes in the past however, even then, they are also entitled to a fair justice system.”
The banning of BCL and crackdown on Awami League comes in response to escalating demands from the student movement that organized the July protest. The movement’s members have been also calling for the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin — an Awami League member, who in accordance with Bangladesh’s constitution remained in office after Hasina’s resignation.
Prof. Touhidul Islam, who teaches conflict resolution at Dhaka University, warned against growing social polarization if the interim government was going to achieve national reconciliation, which was one of the first promises made by Yunus as he took office.
“This ban will have a significant influence in the broader political scenario of the country,” he said.
“When there is polarization in society, it always keeps away the concept of reconciliation. The focus should be on minimizing the differences. We are cautiously watching the political developments at the moment.”
The banning of political entities did not contribute to “healthy politics and a democratic system,” Prof. Zarina Rahman, former public administration lecturer at Dhaka University, told Arab News.
“If someone, or an organization, is found to be a terrorist or anti-social element, they should be tried. Someone should be charged with specific accusations,” she said.
“We have a common tendency to remove the head in case of a headache ... If someone violates the rules, we should hold him or her responsible for the particular misdeeds. The authorities should try this method first.”
French culture minister proposes entrance fee for Notre Dame to help fund preservation work
- The iconic cathedral is set to open its lofty doors again five years after it was ravaged by fire
- “Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With 5 euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France,” Dati said
PARIS: France’s culture minister, Rachida Dati, has proposed introducing an entrance fee to visit Notre Dame cathedral when it reopens in December, aiming to raise funds for the preservation of the nation’s religious heritage.
The iconic cathedral is set to open its lofty doors again five years after it was ravaged by fire.
The storied interiors, with their soaring ceiling, intricate stained-glass windows and world-class organ, are set to welcome visitors once more — five years after the catastrophic fire in April 2019. Dati’s plan would charge tourists 5 euros ($4.16), which could generate 75 million euros ($62.41 million) annually to help restore France’s crumbling religious buildings. Dati believes Notre Dame could serve as a model for the country’s preservation efforts.
“Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With 5 euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France. It would be a beautiful symbol,” Dati said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper published Wednesday evening.
The funds are desperately needed. France is home to approximately 42,000 Catholic churches, many of which are in a state of disrepair. Experts estimate that one religious building is lost every two weeks due to neglect, fire or vandalism.
The French government has launched several campaigns to combat this crisis, including the (asterisk)Loto du patrimoine(asterisk), which funds restoration efforts. In 2022 alone, the Interior Ministry spent 57 million euros on religious heritage, and over the past five years 280 million euros have gone toward restoring over 8,000 sites. Yet many rural churches remain at risk.
Notre Dame’s reopening is particularly poignant. It once stood as one of the world’s most-visited monuments, attracting 12 to 14 million visitors each year.
Dati’s proposals have garnered support, with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau saying: “If 5 euros can save our religious heritage, it’s worth it — whether you’re a believer or not.”
Dati said on social platform X that the entrance fee would apply to cultural visitors, not those attending mass or other religious services.
“Religious services must remain free, but every cultural visitor should contribute to preserving our heritage,” she said.
Prior to the fire, Notre Dame’s iconic towers had already charged an entry fee. Visitors paid 8.50 euros to climb the 387 steps and gain access to a panoramic view of Paris and a close-up of the cathedral’s famous gargoyles.
Boats carrying Rohingya land in Indonesia’s North Sumatra and Aceh
- A boat carrying 64 men, 62 women and 20 children landed early on Thursday morning, in the Deli Serdang area of North Sumatra, Raphael Sandhy Cahya Priambodo, the head of regional police, told Reuters
JAKARTA: About 146 Rohingya, including children, came ashore in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Thursday, an official said, the second wave of arrivals to the Southeast Asian country within a week.
A boat carrying 64 men, 62 women and 20 children landed early on Thursday morning, in the Deli Serdang area of North Sumatra, Raphael Sandhy Cahya Priambodo, the head of regional police, told Reuters.
“The Rohingya were swimming from the boat to reach the shore,” Raphael said, adding they were temporarily placed in a local administration office.
“All of them survived and are now in a good condition.”
Their arrival came after another boat also carrying about 150 Rohingya, a minority group who have faced persecution in Myanmar, had been stranded in Indonesia’s Aceh province for a week after local residents refused to let it come ashore.
The boat, which arrived in Indonesian waters on Oct. 17, was finally allowed to land on Thursday, the head of fishing community in South Aceh Muhammad Jabal told Reuters, after an appeal from the UN refugee agency to the Indonesian government.
From October to April, when the seas are calmer, many Rohingya Muslims leave Myanmar on rickety boats for Thailand, Muslim-majority Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
More than 2,300 Rohingya arrived in Indonesia last year, UNHCR data showed, more than the combined total of arrivals in the previous four years.
They have faced increasing rejection in Indonesia as locals grow frustrated at the number of arrivals.
Pakistan court orders former PM Imran Khan’s appearance as wife released on bail
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered the administration of Central Prison Rawalpindi to produce jailed former prime minister Imran Khan by 3 p.m. to facilitate a meeting with his lawyers, as his wife Bushra Bibi was released after securing bail a day earlier.
The development follows Khan’s legal team moving the court, complaining that prison officials were preventing them and the ex-premier’s family from meeting him. Khan has been imprisoned for over a year, facing various charges, including corruption and sedition.
Currently, he is incarcerated in the state repository case, involving the possession of a jewelry set comprising a ring, bracelet, necklace and earrings gifted to his wife by a foreign dignitary. The couple allegedly undervalued the set and retained it at a lower price.
Bibi was released from jail after spending 265 days in the same case after the IHC granted her bail on Wednesday.
“Bring Imran Khan to Islamabad High Court at 3 PM to arrange his meeting with his lawyers,” Justice Ijaz Ishaq Khan remarked during the hearing. “I know you won’t implement my orders, but let me issue directions.”
The judge’s remark came amid an ongoing tussle between the executive and the judiciary, with the latter accusing the country’s powerful military and intelligence agencies of exerting pressure to secure favorable verdicts in political cases, particularly those involving Khan.
The military and intelligence agencies have denied these allegations, maintaining that they do not interfere in political matters.
Khan has not physically appeared in a court since August last year, with all hearings being held in the high-security Rawalpindi prison due to security concerns.
For the last two weeks, the Punjab government has banned all meetings with Khan and other prisoners in the jail, citing security reasons.
“A contempt of court petition was filed by the legal team after the jail administration, following Punjab government orders, banned meetings with Imran Khan, defying clear instructions from the court of Justice Ijaz Ishaq to arrange a meeting via video link if otherwise not possible,” Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said in a statement.
Khan’s legal team has struggled to secure his release, arguing that all charges against him are fabricated to keep him out of politics.
The PTI also confirmed that a bail bond for his wife was submitted in the court earlier in the day, leading to her release in the afternoon.
Mozambique tense ahead of election results
- It is widely expected to declare that ruling party Frelimo to be declared winner
- Frelimo has been in power since Mozambique’s independence from Portugal in 1975
MAPUTO: Mozambique’s capital Maputo was deserted early Thursday ahead of the announcement of results of the October 9 elections that an opposition candidate has rejected while calling for fresh protests against the ruling party which is expected to be declared winner.
In an announcement due at 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT), the Mozambican National Electoral Commission (CNE) is widely expected to declare that Frelimo will remain in power, which it has held since independence from Portugal in 1975.
Emerging opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, backed by the Podemos party, has already claimed he won the vote, alleging electoral fraud and manipulation in favor of Frelimo and its candidate, Daniel Chapo.
Since voting day Mondlane has issued calls on social media for protests. In a new message on Facebook late Wednesday, he encouraged a “great national demonstration” against Frelimo’s half-a-century in power.
“The time has come for the people to take power and say that we now want to change the history of this country,” he said.
“In all the neighborhoods, all the districts, we are going to be on the streets, there won’t be enough bullets for everyone, there won’t be tear gas for everyone, there won’t be enough armored vehicles.”
Tensions in a country that has already seen bouts of post-election violence were exacerbated by the assassination on Saturday of a lawyer and political ally of Mondlane who were preparing a legal case to contest the vote on behalf of the opposition leader.
Thousands of people gathered outside Maputo Wednesday to bury the lawyer, Elvino Dias, who was killed in an ambush on a car alongside opposition activist, Paulo Guambe.
Mondlane, 50, has accused the security forces of the attack and claimed he could be next. Police said they have launched an investigation into the killings, which Frelimo “vehemently” condemned as a “macabre act.”
Outgoing president Filipe Nyusi, 65, warned Wednesday that calls for violent protests could be considered criminal acts.
“Inciting the population to revolt, misinforming the world and creating chaos for political purposes can be considered criminal acts,” said Nyusi, who has served a maximum two-term limit.
Police also called for calm on Wednesday, saying people should not allow themselves to be manipulated by “incendiary speeches and misinformation.”
Mondlane, a former radio presenter who has been able to attract younger voters in the destitute coastal country, was among a group of protesters tear gassed by police in a demonstration in the capital on Monday.
He has also accused security forces of wounding three people when they opened fire to disperse hundreds of his supporters in a protest in the northern city of Nampula on October 17.
Last year, several people were killed in clashes after Frelimo won municipal elections.
Election observers from the EU have raised concerns about the legitimacy of this month’s polls, noting “irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level.”
Initial indications of a low turnout in the country of some 33 million people could further erode the vote’s credibility.
Expected to be declared winner of the presidential polls, Daniel Chapo, 47, would be Mozambique’s first president born after independence from Portugal.
A former provincial governor with no experience in national government, he would also be the first leader not to have fought in the 1975-1992 civil war between Frelimo and Renamo, which claimed around a million lives.
Renamo’s leader Ossufo Momade, 63, also stood for election on October 9, as did Lutero Simango, 64, of the Mozambique Democratic Movement.
