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New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Firefighters struggle to contain wildfires in Turkey and Cyprus amid heatwave
BILECIK, Turkey/NICOSIA: Firefighters across Turkey and Cyprus battled multiple wildfires on Thursday amid a searing Mediterranean heatwave that has scorched swathes of land and killed 10 firefighters in central Turkey. At least six separate wildfires burned across Turkey and Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli warned that strong winds and scorching heat were creating extremely dangerous conditions. Late on Wednesday, Yumakli said 10 firefighters were killed while battling a fire in the central Eskisehir province, adding that 14 others were injured. Fanned by strong winds, the fire later spread to another central province, Afyonkarahisar, while some towns and villages were evacuated. In the northwestern province of Bilecik, fires raged for a fourth straight day, as firefighters struggled to contain them and evacuated several villages. Some residents were later allowed to return to areas declared safe. "They couldn't intervene. There is no decent road, forests are thick and it's rocky. Helicopters don't work at night, and because they don't work, they couldn't intervene," said Cemil Karadag, a resident of the village of Selcik. "It engulfed our village from two or three sides, they couldn't intervene ... It spread very quickly with the effect of the wind, but, thank God, (the centre of) our village wasn't damaged that much." In the Black Sea province of Sakarya, a wildfire erupted even as firefighters worked to contain another nearby. A key highway was shut due to the blaze, while some villages and towns were evacuated. Another fire in the neighbouring province of Karabuk, where the UNESCO World Heritage City of Safranbolu is located, quickly grew and led to 10 villages being evacuated, while a sixth blaze raged in the Western province of Manisa. 'SHEER HELL' In the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, firefighters battled for a second day to control a massive wildfire which engulfed mountain villages north of the city of Limassol. Two people were found dead in their car, trapped by the blaze which started on Wednesday. Scores of homes were destroyed as people fled their homes overnight from a towering wall of flames. Although the cause was not immediately known, authorities said they would be looking at the possibility of arson. "It was sheer hell," said Father Michalis, a Greek Orthodox priest who had to evacuate from Lofou village. After subsiding early Thursday, authorities were struggling to contain flare-ups at midday, stoked by strong winds. "Our focus right now is to control the fire, utilising to the maximum all ground and air forces," government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. "We are facing an unprecedented situation." In addition to air assets from Spain, Egypt and Jordan, Israel has also said it would send assistance, he said. Aircraft from the British bases on Cyprus were also assisting in the effort. Ersin Tatar, president of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey and has been split from the island's south, said his government was ready to help as well. Although heatwaves and wildfires are common in this region, their impact on human life and the damage has become much more pronounced in recent years. — REUTERS
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Cardinal says he returned from rare visit to Gaza with 'broken heart'
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch, said on Tuesday he and church leaders had returned from a visit to Gaza with "broken hearts", calling the spiralling humanitarian crisis there "morally unacceptable". Pizzaballa and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Friday visited the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City, where an Israeli strike last week killed three people and injured several more including the parish priest. "It is time to end this nonsense and the war," the cardinal, who is the most senior Catholic authority in the region, told a press conference in Jerusalem. He called for more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip, calling it "a matter of life or death." He added: "Every hour without food, water, medicine and shelter causes deep harm. It is morally unacceptable and unjustifiable." It is extremely rare for foreign officials to be allowed entry into Gaza as Israel has essentially sealed its borders since launching its war against Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday blamed "stray ammunition" for the strike on the church and said Israel was "investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites." Pizzaballa and a Vatican official have questioned Israeli explanations for the incident. When asked about his stance after his visit to the damaged church, Pizzaballa said on Tuesday that it was not clear what happened and they could not "prove anything." Netanyahu called Pope Leo on Friday and in their exchange the pontiff renewed appeals for an end to the war, protection of civilians and places of worship while voicing concern for "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza, the Vatican said.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Cardinal says he returned from rare visit to Gaza with 'broken heart'
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends a press conference after a trip to Gaza where he visited a church shelled by Israel, in Jerusalem, July 22, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad JERUSALEM - Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch, said on Tuesday he and church leaders had returned from a visit to Gaza with "broken hearts", calling the spiralling humanitarian crisis there "morally unacceptable". Pizzaballa and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Friday visited the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City, where an Israeli strike last week killed three people and injured several more including the parish priest. "It is time to end this nonsense and the war," the cardinal, who is the most senior Catholic authority in the region, told a press conference in Jerusalem. He called for more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip, calling it "a matter of life or death." He added: "Every hour without food, water, medicine and shelter causes deep harm. It is morally unacceptable and unjustifiable." It is extremely rare for foreign officials to be allowed entry into Gaza as Israel has essentially sealed its borders since launching its war against Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday blamed "stray ammunition" for the strike on the church and said Israel was "investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites." Pizzaballa and a Vatican official have questioned Israeli explanations for the incident. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Woman evacuated from lift in Supreme Court building after falling glass triggers emergency halt Asia Malaysian aide's unresolved 2009 death tests govt's reform pledge despite DAP chief's apology Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Singapore not affected by haze despite smoke plumes in Sumatra: NEA Singapore Miscalculation of MOH subsidies and grants led to $7m in overpayments, $2m in shortfalls Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving When asked about his stance after his visit to the damaged church, Pizzaballa said on Tuesday that it was not clear what happened and they could not "prove anything." Netanyahu called Pope Leo on Friday and in their exchange the pontiff renewed appeals for an end to the war, protection of civilians and places of worship while voicing concern for "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza, the Vatican said. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Top Catholic cleric says Gaza humanitarian situation ‘morally unacceptable'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (left) and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem on July 22. JERUSALEM - The Roman Catholic church's most senior cleric in the Holy Land said on July 22 the humanitarian situation in Gaza was 'morally unacceptable', after visiting the war-battered Palestinian territory. 'We have seen men holding out in the sun for hours in the hope of a simple meal,' Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa told a news conference in Jerusalem. 'It's morally unacceptable and unjustified,' he added. Patriarch Pizzaballa said the Church and 'the entire Christian community, will never abandon' Gazans, repeating what he had told Christians in Gaza during his visit. He specified that his mission applied not only to a specific group but to all. Patriarch Pizzaballa and his Greek Orthodox counterpart Theophilos III, made a rare visit to Gaza on July 18 after Israeli fire hit the Holy Family Church , Gaza's only Catholic church, killing three people. 'Three people died of our community, but thousands of people already died in Gaza,' Patriarch Pizzaballa said, adding that the entire Palestinian people was affected in Gaza by the ongoing war, as well as in the West Bank which he recently visited to denounce Israeli settler violence. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Miscalculation of MOH subsidies and grants led to $7m in overpayments, $2m in shortfalls Asia Malaysian aide's unresolved 2009 death tests govt's reform pledge despite DAP chief's apology Singapore Woman evacuated from lift in Supreme Court building after falling glass triggers emergency halt Singapore 2 charged over alleged role in posting bail for man who later absconded Business Chat with experts on brand media coverage at the latest Conversations with ST Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Though the Italian foreign ministry announced Patriarch Pizzaballa had entered Gaza with 500 tonnes of aid, Patriarch Pizzaballa said the aid had not yet entered Gaza due to logistical issues. Patriarch Pizzaballa and Theophilos III reported meeting people in Gaza whose faces were emaciated from hunger, at a time when finding food in the Palestinian territory has become nearly impossible. Patriarch Pizzaballa, who has previously advocated for an end to the war in Gaza, said that he had witnessed unprecedented levels of destruction in comparison to his last visit in December. Patriarch Pizzaballa said he acknowledged the efforts of 'many parts of the Israeli society' that helped with deliveries, but said that 'this (war) policy of the Israeli government in Gaza is unacceptable'. Known as a supporter of interfaith dialogue, Patriarch Pizzaballa said he was praying for the liberation of people taken hostage during Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023. He also said he hoped for a free press access to Gaza, with foreign journalists barred from entry since the start of the war save for a few visits embedded with Israel's military. AFP
NBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Pope calls for end to 'barbarity' after deadly Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
The church was watched over closely by the late Pope Francis, who spoke daily with its parish priest and once gifted his popemobile to the children there. In a rare and risky visit to Gaza — largely sealed off from foreign officials — Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, led a delegation into the territory on Friday to show their support. Video footage captured their arrival at the church, greeted by cheers and ringing bells. 'On behalf of all the Christians of our land, all the churches all over the world are united with us in this moment,' said Pizzaballa, who also led Sunday morning mass at the church. President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the strike. White House spokesperson Tammy Bruce said it was an understatement to say Trump was not happy with Netanyahu during the call, adding that the U.S. had asked Israel to investigate the strike and 'ensure that all civilians, including Christian civilians, remain safe.' "Everyone is appalled," she said. On Friday, staunch Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced a bill to strip $500 million in U.S. military funding to Israel, a measure that was overwhelmingly rejected but marked a rare rebuke. Netanyahu said that Israel 'deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church" and called Pope Leo on Friday night. The Israel Defense Forces said it was reviewing the incident. Israel's Foreign Ministry said the results of the investigation would be published. Bruce called the prime minister's response 'an appropriate start' and reiterated Israel's framing of the strike as an accident. But admissions of regret have not satisfied the grieving Catholic community, which has amplified its calls for a ceasefire. The Jerusalem branch of the Vatican's Caritas federation named two of the dead as Saad Salameh, 60, the church's janitor, and Fumayya Ayyad, 84, who had been sitting inside a Caritas psychosocial support tent when the blast sent shrapnel and debris flying. The pope named the other as Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoud. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for peace and an 'immediate ceasefire' following the strike, echoing Pope Leo and renewing calls made so often under Francis. 'With the Holy Father, the Catholic bishops of the United States are deeply saddened to learn about the deaths and injuries at Holy Family Church in Gaza caused by a military strike,' Broglio said in a statement. "May there be peace in Gaza." Pax Christi International, a Christian peace organization, condemned the strike, and called for "an immediate and permanent ceasefire." Yet while those calls may have intensified in the wake of the attack, there was little sign of one this weekend. Since Pizzaballa visited the Holy Family Church on Friday, Israeli air strikes had killed more than 100 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities. On Sunday, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders that suggested its ground offensive may be about to extend into new areas at the heart of the enclave, while the United Nations said that civilians were starving and in urgent need of aid. Pizzaballa, closer to the carnage than most foreigners have managed since the current conflict began, once again called for peace. "Churches all over the world, especially the church in the Holy Land, the Greek Orthodox, and all the churches, will never abandon and neglect you," he said, addressing the church. 'We are working in the diplomatic world in order for a ceasefire, to stop this war, this tragedy,' he said.
