Turkey detains hundreds of migrants who crossed from Iran

Turkey have detained more than 1,400 illegal migrants smuggled across the border from Iran this month amid rising concern about a surge in migrant numbers from Afghanistan as the US and Nato withdraw forces and fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces becomes heavier.

Turkey’s border with Iran has long been a smuggling route for people, mainly Afghans, Iranians and Pakistanis, seeking to enter Turkey before heading west to cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.

The migrants typically hope to raise money in Turkey by working in the black market before moving on to Europe.

The governor's office in Van province, eastern Turkey, said more than 1,450 migrants were found in abandoned buildings around Mount Erek, which towers over the city of Van, since July 10.

Eleven organisers were detained in the operation, six of whom have been held in prison by a court order. Officials said that 11 barrack-style buildings for holding migrants were demolished.

Police and border agents, backed by drones, caught 27,230 migrants crossing the Iranian border this year, the governor's office said.

The vast majority of migrants seeking to reach Europe from Turkey attempt the dangerous crossing from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands in overcrowded and inflatable dinghies.

Turkish and Greek coastguard services are looking for at least eight migrants missing after a boat carrying about 45 people capsized off the island of Crete on Thursday.

Thirty-seven people, mostly from Syria and Iraq, were picked up in adverse weather after the boat sank near international waters near the Greek island, Greek port police told AFP.

Survivors said that eight to 12 other people had been on board the boat when it went down, 11 kilometres south-east of Crete, police said.

Five of those rescued were taken by helicopter to the Greek island of Karpathos on Thursday, while 30 others, including a woman and a child, were taken to the town of Ierapetra in south-east Crete.

Rescued migrants whose boat sank near Crete disembark from a Greek coast guard vessel at the port of Ierapetra on July 23, 2021. AFP

The search operation on Friday was impeded by gale-force winds, Greek port police said.

Two Turkish frigates and a maritime patrol aircraft were also searching for the missing migrants, the Turkish Defence Ministry said.

Separately, Greek police said on Friday that 11 people had been arrested on suspicion of organising the transport of migrants who crossed into Greece illegally over its land border with Turkey using pick-up trucks and luxury cars to avoid detection.

The EU’s Agency for Criminal Justice Co-operation said it assisted in the investigation against the trafficking ring accused of smuggling about 350 migrants in more than 50 transfers.

Police said the people smugglers raced through the Greek border region at speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour in luxury cars with migrants in the boot.

The gang transported vehicles registered in Bulgaria and Georgia to northern Greece and Hungary, from where they were used to smuggle migrants through the border region.

One smuggler was killed and a number of migrants and smugglers were injured in several speeding accidents, police said.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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Evacuations to France hit by controversy

Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”

In The Heights

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda

Rating: ****

Greatest Royal Rumble results

John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match

Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus

Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal

Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos

Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe

AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out

The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match

Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

While you're here

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Fight card

Preliminaries:

Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)

Main card:

Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)

Title card:

Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)

Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)

Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)