标签： Europe

A performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris on Thursday night was marred by protests and clashes, leading to the detention of four individuals by French police. The concert, conducted by Lahav Shani and featuring pianist Sir Andras Schiff, was interrupted three times, with protesters setting off flares and causing chaos in the auditorium. The event, which showcased works by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, had already faced criticism from a French performing arts union and pro-Palestinian activists, who called for a boycott. Despite the disruptions, the concert resumed and concluded peacefully. The Philharmonie de Paris condemned the incidents, emphasizing that such actions threaten public safety and are unacceptable. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati defended artistic freedom, while Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the police for their swift response. However, European Parliament member Manon Aubry refused to condemn the protests, arguing that the orchestra represents a state accused of war crimes. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding cultural events linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A devastating fire at a retirement facility in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, has resulted in the deaths of 13 elderly residents, with two more succumbing to their injuries in the hospital on Friday. The blaze erupted on Tuesday evening on the seventh floor of the boarding house, causing panic as residents scrambled to escape. Initial reports indicate that 11 individuals died from smoke inhalation on the day of the incident. Thirteen others remain hospitalized, according to medical authorities in Tuzla. An official investigation is currently in progress to ascertain the cause of the fire. Local media highlighted that the upper floors of the facility housed elderly residents with limited mobility or chronic illnesses, raising concerns about safety protocols. In the wake of the tragedy, the facility’s manager has resigned. The incident has sparked widespread grief and calls for improved safety measures in care facilities across the region.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance in Paris was marred by repeated disruptions as protesters brandished flares and triggered sound alarms, causing panic among the audience and forcing musicians to leave the stage. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night at the Paris Philharmonic concert hall, led to the detention of four individuals. Pro-Palestinian activists also demonstrated outside the venue, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the Gaza conflict spilling into European protests. The French government condemned the disruptions as antisemitic and an attack on cultural freedom. Witnesses inside the hall described a performance fraught with chaos, as the orchestra faced multiple interruptions. Osnat Menache, an official from the Israeli Embassy in Paris, recounted the ordeal, stating that every 10 to 20 minutes, someone attempted to sabotage the concert. Minutes into the performance, loud alarms forced the orchestra to halt and exit the stage. Protesters shouted slogans such as ‘Israel Assassin,’ as reported by Jonathan Arfi, president of France’s national Jewish organization CRIF. Flares were also ignited, with one landing dangerously close to the orchestra. Despite the turmoil, the musicians eventually returned to complete the concert. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez denounced the disruptions on social media, emphasizing that ‘nothing can justify them.’ Earlier, a group of pro-Palestinian musicians had urged the Paris Philharmonic’s director to cancel the event, arguing that it would endorse Israel’s impunity and misuse classical music to whitewash its policies. The group maintained its stance despite a recent ceasefire, citing unresolved historical issues. Arfi criticized the disruptions as an attempt to ‘kidnap culture and arts’ to propagate violent messages within French society. Menache emphasized the French government’s commitment to addressing such antisemitic acts, stating that ‘every antisemitic act should be brought to justice.’

VATICAN CITY — Six months into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV is steadily adapting to his role, demonstrating a blend of continuity with his predecessor, Pope Francis, and a willingness to carve out his own path. During a historic visit to the Vatican last month, King Charles III remarked on the omnipresent television cameras, to which Leo responded with a casual, “You get used to it.” This offhand comment underscores the pontiff’s growing comfort in his position, according to Vatican observers.

For the first time in years, the iconic Parthenon stood free of scaffolding, offering residents and visitors in Athens an unobstructed view of the ancient marble temple atop the Acropolis. This rare sight, lasting roughly four weeks, was a testament to the ongoing restoration efforts that have spanned decades. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described the scene as “breathtaking,” likening the gleaming temple to its appearance nearly 2,500 years ago. However, the scaffolding returned in late September, albeit in a lighter and less intrusive form, to continue fine-tuning work on the western façade. The Parthenon has been under restoration since 1975, a process that has already taken more than three times longer than its original construction. The project involves 161 highly specialized professionals, including engineers, archaeologists, and marble craftsmen, who meticulously work to stabilize and preserve the temple. The restoration includes replacing rusted iron clamps with titanium fasteners and reassembling over 1,500 marble blocks like pieces of a colossal puzzle. The Parthenon, built between 447 and 432 BC, remains a symbol of Greece’s Golden Age, showcasing the unmatched skill of its ancient builders. With 4.5 million visitors in 2024, the Acropolis is Greece’s most-visited site, and the current restoration phase is expected to conclude in 2026, marking a significant milestone in preserving this architectural marvel.

In a tense prelude to the Europa League soccer match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham, British police arrested six individuals on Thursday evening. The match, which saw Maccabi Tel Aviv fans banned from attending, was marked by heightened security and protests. West Midlands Police deployed over 700 officers to manage the situation, which included the arrest of a 21-year-old man for refusing to remove a face mask and a 17-year-old boy for violating a dispersal order. Three others were detained for racially aggravated public order offenses, and one for breach of the peace. Approximately 200 protesters, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, gathered near a children’s playpark adjacent to Villa Park’s Trinity Road stand. Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel were displayed, accompanied by pro-Gaza chants. Police briefly formed a cordon to prevent a surge of protesters after an Israeli flag was reportedly waved by a passer-by. Prior to kick-off, five vehicles with electronic billboards opposing antisemitism drove past the stadium. One message, featuring a Star of David, read “Ban hatred not fans,” while another quoted French soccer legend Thierry Henry, emphasizing football’s role in uniting people. The decision to ban visiting fans, made by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group last month, was widely criticized, including by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and led Maccabi Tel Aviv to announce their fans would not travel. The ban comes amid heightened concerns about antisemitism in Britain, following a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue earlier this month and calls for a sports boycott of Israel over the Gaza conflict. West Midlands Police deemed the match high-risk due to current intelligence and past incidents, including violence and hate crimes during Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match against Ajax in Amsterdam last season.

Four high-ranking officials from the Greek Coast Guard, including its current commander, Vice Admiral Tryfon Kontizas, are set to face criminal prosecution for negligent manslaughter in connection with the tragic sinking of the migrant vessel Adriana in 2023. The fishing boat, carrying approximately 650 people, capsized off the coast of Pylos, Greece, after a failed attempt by the coastguard to tow it. Survivors reported that the vessel sank due to the coastguard’s mishandling of the operation. The disaster, which occurred in June 2023, has been a subject of intense scrutiny and legal battles. Earlier this year, prosecutors at the maritime court in Piraeus recommended charges against 17 members of the coastguard, including the captain of the coastguard ship and the then-head of the coastguard, Vice Admiral Giorgos Alexandrakis. However, Vice Admiral Kontizas and three other senior officers were initially cleared of blame. This decision was later challenged by lawyers representing survivors and victims’ families. The charges now include manslaughter by negligence, exposure to danger, and failure to fulfill legal obligations to rescue. Although only 82 bodies were recovered, it is believed that hundreds more perished in the incident. Greece has consistently denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing its commitment to human rights and its record of rescuing over 250,000 people at sea in the past decade.