Turkey battles wildfires for sixth day


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Turkish firefighters are battling to control the flames tearing through forests near Turkey’s beach resorts.

Fed by strong winds and scorching temperatures, the fires that began Wednesday have left eight people dead.

Many villagers have lost their homes and farm animals, and have had trouble breathing amid the heavy smoke.

Speaking to British broadcaster Sky News, one resident of Cokertme village described feeling “very tired and helpless”, adding that “our houses are burning, our forests are burning and there is nothing we can do”.

Another said there was no help from the government, “no planes” and “no helicopters”, and that things would be worse if it had not been for the villagers.

Cokertme residents watched as flames surrounded their village on Monday until they had to run from the rapidly approaching fires.

Bushfires raging near Turkey’s holiday destinations of Antalya and Mugla forced residents and tourists to flee by boat as the death toll in the country's south and south-east rose to eight on Sunday with the discovery of two more bodies.

Most of the 100-plus blazes that have erupted in Turkey since Wednesday have been contained, authorities said, but firefighters were still trying to bring about half a dozen fires under control.

More people fled their homes on Sunday as pressure on the government grew over its response.

The EU said it helped mobilise firefighting planes from Croatia and Spain to help Turkey. Planes from Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran have also been fighting the blazes. Spain said it was sending two water-dumping aircraft and one transport plane, as well as 27 soldiers.

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The EU announcement followed allegations the Turkish government was compromising firefighting efforts by refusing help from Western nations.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli refuted that, saying the government had only refused offers for planes whose water-dumping capacities were less than five tonnes.

A total of 16 planes, 51 helicopters and more than 5,000 personnel were tackling the fires, he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has also been widely criticised for failing to purchase state-of-the-art firefighting planes.

  • A forest burns in Marmaris, a popular tourist destination in south-western Turkey.
    A forest burns in Marmaris, a popular tourist destination in south-western Turkey.
  • A plane pours water over Sirtkoy, a village near Manavgat, Antalya.
    A plane pours water over Sirtkoy, a village near Manavgat, Antalya.
  • People use a boat to flee fire in Mazi, a village near the port city Bodrum. A house and car can be seen burning in the background.
    People use a boat to flee fire in Mazi, a village near the port city Bodrum. A house and car can be seen burning in the background.
  • Firefighters tackle a burning building in Sirtkoy.
    Firefighters tackle a burning building in Sirtkoy.
  • A man reacts as a helicopter pours water over Sirtkoy, a village near Manavgat.
    A man reacts as a helicopter pours water over Sirtkoy, a village near Manavgat.
  • Tourists flee smoke-engulfed Mazi, near Bodrum, as bushfires roll down the hill towards the shore.
    Tourists flee smoke-engulfed Mazi, near Bodrum, as bushfires roll down the hill towards the shore.
  • A man walks with his dog on the beach of smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, in Bodrum, Mugla.
    A man walks with his dog on the beach of smoke-engulfed Mazi area as wildfires rolled down the hill toward the seashore, in Bodrum, Mugla.
  • People move away from fire in Sirtkoy.
    People move away from fire in Sirtkoy.
  • A man flees the flames in Sirtkoy.
    A man flees the flames in Sirtkoy.
  • People watch the fire spread in Sirtkoy after fleeing their homes in the village.
    People watch the fire spread in Sirtkoy after fleeing their homes in the village.
  • A British couple board a boat with their cat after fleeing their home in Turunc, a village near Marmaris.
    A British couple board a boat with their cat after fleeing their home in Turunc, a village near Marmaris.
  • People wait near bushfire in a rural part of Marmaris.
    People wait near bushfire in a rural part of Marmaris.
  • Locals take water from the sea to battle the blaze in Turunc.
    Locals take water from the sea to battle the blaze in Turunc.
  • People use a scooter in Turunc before the village is evacuated.
    People use a scooter in Turunc before the village is evacuated.
  • Firefighters and volunteers try to extinguish a fire near Marmaris.
    Firefighters and volunteers try to extinguish a fire near Marmaris.
  • People ride a scooter near a bushfire in rural Marmaris.
    People ride a scooter near a bushfire in rural Marmaris.
  • A helicopter pours water on Sirtkoy.
    A helicopter pours water on Sirtkoy.
  • People try to put out a fire in Marmaris.
    People try to put out a fire in Marmaris.
  • Vegetation burns behind a hotel in Icmeler, near Marmaris.
    Vegetation burns behind a hotel in Icmeler, near Marmaris.
  • Tourists wait to be rescued from smoke-engulfed village of Mazi as flames roll down the hill towards the shore.
    Tourists wait to be rescued from smoke-engulfed village of Mazi as flames roll down the hill towards the shore.

The interior ministry said authorities were investigating the causes of the fires, including human “carelessness” and possible sabotage by outlawed Kurdish militants. He said one person was detained over allegations he may have been paid by the group to start a fire.

Experts, however, mostly point to climate change as being behind the fires, along with accidents caused by people. Mr Erdogan said one of the blazes was started by children.

A heatwave across southern Europe has led to wildfires across the Mediterranean, including in Italy and Greece.

Wildfires are common in Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean regions during the arid summer months, but this year Turkey has suffered the worst fires in at least a decade, official data shows.

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Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

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Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

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International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Brown/Black belt finals

3pm: 49kg female: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) v Thamires Aquino (BRA)
3.07pm: 56kg male: Hiago George (BRA) v Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA)
3.14pm: 55kg female: Amal Amjahid (BEL) v Bianca Basilio (BRA)
3.21pm: 62kg male: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) v Joao Miyao (BRA)
3.28pm: 62kg female: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR)
3.35pm: 69kg male: Isaac Doederlein (BRA) v Paulo Miyao (BRA)
3.42pm: 70kg female: Thamara Silva (BRA) v Alessandra Moss (AUS)
3.49pm: 77kg male: Oliver Lovell (GBR) v Tommy Langarkar (NOR)
3.56pm: 85kg male: Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE) v Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA)
4.03pm: 90kg female: Claire-France Thevenon (FRA) v Gabreili Passanha (BRA)
4.10pm: 94kg male: Adam Wardzinski (POL) v Kaynan Duarte (BRA)
4.17pm: 110kg male: Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE) v Joao Rocha (BRA

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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THE%20SPECS
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The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

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Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Third Test

Day 3, stumps

India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151

India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

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Updated: August 03, 2021, 8:02 AM