Six Killed in Explosion at Czech Restaurant

An area is sectioned off in the aftermath of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERS
An area is sectioned off in the aftermath of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERS
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Six Killed in Explosion at Czech Restaurant

An area is sectioned off in the aftermath of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERS
An area is sectioned off in the aftermath of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERS

Six people died when a propane-butane cylinder exploded at a restaurant in the northwest Czech city of Most, setting the building on fire, emergency services said on Sunday.
Eight people were injured in the fiery blast that occurred late on Saturday evening, and 30 people were evacuated from the restaurant and surrounding buildings, the Czech fire rescue service said on X social media platform.
"According to initial information from witnesses, a heater overturned, causing a fire," Reuters quoted the fire brigade as saying.
Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told Czech Radio the cause was likely a propane-butane heater overturning in the restaurant's front garden.
The fire brigade said it had rescued one seriously injured restaurant guest who had been trapped in a bathroom.
Around 20 guests were in the restaurant at the time of the explosion, Czech Radio said.



Fresh Term for Türkiye's Erdogan ‘On Our Agenda’, Ruling Party Spokesman Says

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a plenary session at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Budapest, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a plenary session at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Budapest, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP)
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Fresh Term for Türkiye's Erdogan ‘On Our Agenda’, Ruling Party Spokesman Says

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a plenary session at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Budapest, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a plenary session at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Budapest, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP)

Paving the way for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run for a fourth term in office is "on our agenda", the spokesman for the president's ruling party said on Monday, adding that the important factor was whether the people wanted it.

Erdogan, modern Türkiye's longest-serving leader, has been in power for more than two decades, first as a premier and later as president. Under Türkiye's presidential term limits, he is in his final term of office unless there is a constitutional amendment or parliament calls an early election.

He was first elected president in 2014 under a parliamentary system, and was later re-elected in 2018 and 2023 following some constitutional amendments by his ruling AK Party (AKP) and their nationalist MHP allies to impose an executive presidency.

Asked by reporters about an exchange between a singer and Erdogan at the weekend in which Erdogan responded to a question about running for a new term by saying: "I am in if you are", AKP spokesman Omer Celik said the AKP was pleased that the issue had been brought on the agenda.

"As those of us who march with our President, it is on our agenda," he said at a press conference in Ankara. "We will see about a formula. In politics, one year is a very short time, one day is very long. What is important is that our people want it," he added.

"When we look at events transpiring around us, it is visible at every opportunity how important our president's knowledge and political will is for our country," he added. In November, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli floated the idea of a constitutional amendment to allow the president to run again in elections set for 2028.

A constitutional change can be put to a referendum if 360 lawmakers in the 600-seat parliament back it. An early election also needs the support of 360 MPs.

AKP and its allies have 321 seats.