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US nuclear weapons facility reopens after wildfire threat
Deutsche Welle
28 Feb 2024, 17:15
The Pantex Plant reopened after being shut down for a day given the threat of fires sweeping the northern Texas region. The fires prompted the Texas governor to issue a disaster declaration in the area.
A nuclear weapons facility in the Texas Panhandle said it has reopened for operations on Wednesday, after it shut down for a day as a series of blazes burned in the region.
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the US state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. Texas has a total of 254 counties, more than any other US state.
Pantex reopens for 'normal' operations
The Pantex Plant said the plant “is open for normal day shift operations” and that all personnel were to report for duty according to their assigned schedule. The plant earlier said Tuesday it was monitoring the threat and that there was no fire at the site.
"Since 1975, Pantex has been the nation’s primary assembly, disassembly, retrofit, and life-extension center for nuclear weapons," the websitefor the plant says. It assembled the last new atomic bomb in 1991 and has also disassembled thousands.
Pantex is about 17 miles (27.36 kilometers) northeast of the northern Texas city of Amarillo and some 320 miles (515 kilometers) northwest of Dallas.
What do we know about the fires?
At least five fires were burning in the Texas Panhandle region as of early Wednesday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
So far, more than 381,000 acres have been burned by the fires, according to the forest service. But 25 out of 31 fires in the state had been brought under control.
On Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties as the largest blaze, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, burned nearly 400 square miles (1,040 square kilometers), according to the forest service. That is more than twice its size since the fire sparked Monday.
As of Wednesday, the Smokehouse Creek Fire was burning in the Hutchinson County, which includes the city of Canadian, a city about 100 miles northeast of Amarillo.
An unknown number of homes and other structures in Hutchinson County have been damaged, officials said, and the air quality in the region has severely dipped.
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India's Supreme Court: / No Citizenship for Bangladeshis in Assam After 1971
The Supreme Court of India has upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, delivered the judgment on Thursday. However, the verdict was not unanimous. While Justices Surya Kant, M.M. Sundresh, and Manoj Misra concurred with Chief Justice Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala dissented, calling Section 6A “unconstitutional.”
According to Anandabazar, a total of 17 petitions had been filed, challenging the legality of this section, which concerns illegal immigration into Assam. These petitions were consolidated, and the Constitution Bench began hearing the case in December last year. On Thursday, the court ruled, stating, “This provision is a political solution to the problem of illegal immigration, in accordance with the Assam Accord.”
The petitioners argued that Section 6A of the Citizenship Act violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality. They contended that under this section, individuals identified as “illegal immigrants” in Assam must prove their citizenship, which contradicts the equal rights granted to all individuals—citizen or non-citizen—residing in India. However, the Supreme Court clarified that this case was not about granting asylum but focused solely on the constitutional validity of citizenship provisions.
Context of Section 6A
Section 6A was introduced exclusively for Assam as part of the Assam Accord, signed in 1985, following a bloody anti-immigration movement. Under this section, those who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971 from Bangladesh were granted citizenship. However, people who crossed the border after this date would not be eligible for Indian citizenship.
The central government argued that since East Pakistan became independent Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared in 1972 that all those who left Bangladesh after 1971 could return. Therefore, March 25, 1971, was chosen as the cut-off date, just a day before Bangladesh’s independence on March 26.
The petitioners, however, claimed that the Assam Accord lacked legal authority under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution, which governs the implementation of international agreements. Therefore, they questioned the accord’s validity. The Supreme Court, siding with the central government, upheld the March 25, 1971 cut-off date as constitutionally valid.
India’s Evolution in Preventing and Combatting Maritime Piracy
Maritime piracy is one of humanity’s pet-peeves that should have been rooted out through collective efforts of the nations a long time ago. Concerted efforts have indeed been made by United Nations since the 1950s to define, analyse, monitor and tackle piracy issues head-on. However, maritime piracy has slowly evolved from a traditional problem to a critical global concern of the 21stcentury.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, defines “piracy” as an act of unlawful violence, plunder or detention by a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft, goods or persons on board that is not authorised by any State, and committed for personal purposes or private gain in high seas or in places without jurisdiction of any state.
The UNCLOS casts a positive obligation upon its 170 signatories to cooperate to the fullest possible extent in the repression of piracy. UNCLOS created a harmonized regime for the high seas and reaffirmed international customs and principles that were codified through earlier attempts like the High Seas Convention, 1958, especially those relating to acts of non-state actors on high seas or terra nullis.
India, being the world’s only country with an ocean named after it has historically played a pivotal role in navigation, commerce and security endeavours at high seas. With one of the world’s largest navy fleet, India’s maritime approach is articulately encapsulated in its vision of ‘SAGAR’- ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’.
The Indian maritime policy is aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and ensuring a favourable and positive maritime environment. In addition to playing role of the good Samaritan for the maritime nations of the global south during the COVID era, India has empowered the naval security apparatus of various countries in the IOR through fleet-empowerment, capacity building and training exercises. However, the issue of maritime piracy is still a looming concern in the IOR and the oceans of the world at large.
Rise in Maritime Piracy
A resurgence and increase in maritime piracy has been observed in the Indian Ocean region and the Gulf of Aden near Somalia. Between the period of November 2023 and April 2024, as many as 25 reported cases of attacks on ships have been linked to piracy. Piracy and armed robbery increased by nearly 20% in 2023, with 194 recorded incidents as against 161 such incidents in 2022.
Somalia has been particularly flagged as a critical area of concern, noting a significant rise in the hijacking of dhows.Somali piracy operates in large areas that cover Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mozambique, Madagascar, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and even the areas near the west coast of India and Maldives.
The role of climate change and deteriorating fish stocks has also led to “occasional piracy”, where individuals engage in piracy out of economic distress. As a result, poverty, lawlessness and take-over of important institutions remain pervasive in Somalia, especially in the backdrop of the ongoing civil war.
Another key hotspot for piracy is the Gulf of Aden, being a critical maritime trade hub in the Horn of Africa. The area has been infamous for pirate activities since 2005 and has recently seen a spike in reported incidents.
Experts attribute this to the shift in global security focus from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea primarily due to increased Houthi attacks. Further, the suspension of NATO operations and reallocation of naval resources, primarily U.S., United Kingdom and France, has led to increased pressure on regional naval resources. Key regions of piracy activities in the Pacific Ocean include the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca Strait and Bab-elMandeb, also serve as key economic chokepoints since a large part of Asia’s oil supply is transported through these regions.
India’s role in combatting maritime piracy
The Indian Navy has played an active role in combatting piracy in the IOR. It has often emerged as the first-responder to pirate attacks upon commercial vessels. For instance, on 14 December 2023, a commercial vessel named MV RUEN was hijacked by Somali piratesand detained in Somalia’s Puntland region.
The anti-piracy mission, which took place 260 nautical miles east of Somalia and 1,400 nm (2,600 km) from the Indian coast, saw the Indian Navy’s elite commandoes—MARCOS PRAHARs—being air-dropped by a C-17 aircraft and rescuing the crew besides apprehending 35 pirates.
In recent years, India has significantly enhanced its maritime strategy by bolstering its naval capabilities. Aiming to establish itself as a global maritime leader, India has developed the Maritime India Vision 2030, which outlines an ambitious plan for rapid growth within the maritime sector over the next decade.
Additionally, the Indian Navy has been committed to achieving full self-reliance — Atmanirbhar — by the centenary of India's independence in 2047. The appointment of the country's first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) in February 2022 underscores India's strong dedication to the maritime domain. The maritime sector has taken on a more prominent role in government policies, driven by India's expanding maritime and Blue Economy interests.
Several initiatives have been launched by the Indian government to promote the development of the maritime sector and increase Maritime Domain Awareness. These initiatives include the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Through the IPOI that builds up on India's “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR) vision.
India has also implemented a comprehensive maritime cooperation strategy that addresses maritime safety and security in addition to conservation and sustainable use of the maritime domain. Additionally, in December 2018, the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) was established in Gurugram, Haryana to house shared information on piracy, illegal fishing, drug smuggling, maritime terrorism and even environmental hazards, with some special emphasis on the Gulf of Aden.
India’s most notable efforts to combat regional piracy can be seen through its operations and regional efforts for a cohesive response. Since January 2024, the Indian Navy tracked the movements of MV Ruen, which was used by pirates to launch attacks in IOR, before being recaptured in mid-March by the INS Kolkata. Other significant rescue operations include the rescue of 21 crew members from the bulk carrier Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea.
Additionally, under the Indian Navy-led Operation Sankalp over 5000 personnel have been deployed at sea, over 21 ships patrol the waters and over 900 hours of flying by maritime aircraft have been recorded to address maritime threats. Operation Sankalp has enabled India to play a strategic role as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the IOR, having responded to over 18 incidents until March 2024.
Deeper emphasis has been laid on bolstering regional cooperation to combat maritime piracy. Key issues facing contemporary India, like connectivity and resilient supply chains, are closely linked to the stability and freedom of navigation in the Pacific Ocean. In 2018, the Prime Minister of India signed the Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and a Defence Cooperation Agreement with Indonesia that granted access to the strategic port of Sabang in northern Sumatra, which is situated at the entrance of the Malacca Strait.
India has also established a legal framework for maritime piracy through the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022 (“MAP Act”). The MAP Act was passed by the Parliament in 2022 to give effect to UNCLOS’s framework for combatting piracy and armed robbery at sea.
The Act defines piracy along similar lines as the UNCLOS, and extends its application to high seas, including the Exclusive Economic Zone of India and other States as well as all waters beyond the jurisdiction of any other State i.e. international waters. It enables Indian enforcement agencies and authorised personnelto arrest any ship and crew on suspicion of piracy in high seas. Penalties for offences include imprisonment for life and even death in cases of acts of piracy causeor attempt to cause death. The provisions also include extradition clauses whereby offences are extraditable even in the absence of such treaties on the basis of reciprocity between countries.
The resurgence of maritime piracy, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, presents serious challenges to global maritime security, stability and trade. Various factors, including the changing focus of security forces, climate change, and economic instability in certain countries, have fuelled this rise in piracy.
Unless checked, incidents may increase substantially. In response, India has developed a comprehensive maritime strategy that enhances its naval capabilities and promotes regional cooperation. The Indian Navy has undertaken proactive operations, such as those under Operation Sankalp and the successful recapture of hijacked vessels, showcasing its dedication to safeguarding the region's seas.
Additionally, India's legislative measures, particularly the MAP Act of 2022, bolster its legal framework for combating piracy. By fostering maritime domain awareness and establishing strategic partnerships through initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, India is positioning itself as a vital player in ensuring both regional and global maritime stability.
(Times of Oman)
One Direction Singer Liam Payne Dies Aged 31
Buenos Aires police on Wednesday said former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead outside a hotel after falling from his balcony.
Police discovered the body upon arrival at the hotel where they were answering a prior call about an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol."
Police release 911 transcript
Police later released a transcript of the 911 call for help, where the caller from the hotel says that an "intoxicated" guest is "breaking the whole room" when he's conscious.
"And we need you to send someone urgently because, well, I don't know if the guest's life is at risk. He is in a room with a balcony," the caller said.
Hotel staff made at least two phone calls to emergency services before Payne fell to his death.
Police said that, once they had arrived, "total disorder was observed, with various elements broken," in Payne's room.
Liam Payne's family say they're 'heartbroken'
Liam Payne's family said in a statement that they were "heartbroken" to learn the news about Payne's death.
"Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time," they said via the BBC.
Former One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson also posted a tribute online.
"I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to every day, such a positive, funny, and kind soul," he said.
The band's singer, Harry Styles, wrote: "I will miss him always, my lovely friend."
What we know about the singer's death
Police said in a statement that the 31-year-old fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital's fashionable Palermo neighborhood, resulting in "extremely serious injuries."
Medics had confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, told Argentina's Todo Noticias television channel that authorities were investigating the circumstances and conducting an autopsy.
He declined to elaborate on the incident, including whether Payne had jumped from the balcony or fell accidentally.
Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to the Associated Press news agency that Payne "had thrown himself from the balcony of his room."
After the news was released, fans quickly gathered outside the hotel. Later, they started placing candles and other tributes in the singer's memory.
Payne had been open about his struggle with alcoholism, posting a video in July 2023 to his YouTube channel saying he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.
Payne recently attended a concert by his former bandmate Niall Horan in Buenos Aires during his trip to Argentina and his social media accounts remained active, even on Wednesday.
Rapid rise to fame after 'X Factor' discovery
Payne shot to prominence as one of five band members of One Direction, which got its big break in 2010 when the various members auditioned for the British singing competition series "The X Factor."
Each singer failed to progress as a solo act, but the judges assembled Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson into a boy band that would become one of the most successful in the world.
They became known for romantic hits like "What Makes You Beautiful" and had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts by the time they disbanded in 2016. Officially the group only ever called their pause a hiatus.
After the group disbanded, Payne pursued a solo career, releasing the album "LP1" in 2019. His last release was the single "Teardrops," in March.
Payne had a 7-year-old son with his former girlfriend, musician Cheryl who was known as Cheryl Cole when she performed with pop act Girls Aloud.
41.7 Million Bangladeshis Live in Extreme Poverty: UNDP
In Bangladesh, 41.7 million people are living in extreme poverty, with 6.5% of them in critical conditions, according to a report recently released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
On Thursday, October 17, the report titled "Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024: Poverty Amid Conflict" was published jointly by the UNDP and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at Oxford University.
The study covered 6.3 billion people across 112 countries, analyzing data spanning over a decade until 2022–23. It assessed access to essential services, such as adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking oil, and nutrition. School attendance rates for children were also included.
According to the report, 1.1 billion people worldwide live in extreme poverty, with nearly half residing in conflict-affected countries. Over 83% of those in extreme poverty live in Africa and South Asia. In South Asia alone, 272 million people live in families where at least one member is malnourished.
In Bangladesh, the primary contributors to poverty are the quality of living standards (45.1%), followed by education (37.6%), and health (17.3%).
The latest data from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in 2022 shows that 18.7% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 5.6% classified as extremely poor. Based on the most recent census, Bangladesh has a population of 169.8 million, meaning 31.8 million people are poor.
Former Director-General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), K.A.S. Murshid, noted that comparing the UNDP's measurements with BBS or other local surveys may not be appropriate. He explained that the survey offers insights into Bangladesh’s poverty in a global context, highlighting the deterioration in poverty levels due to dollar shortages and economic challenges. He emphasized that the findings could guide future planning to address these issues.
The report identified India as having the highest number of people in extreme poverty, with 234 million of its 1.4 billion population affected. Pakistan follows with 93 million, Ethiopia with 86 million, Nigeria with 74 million, and the Democratic Republic of Congo with 66 million. Nearly half of the world's extreme poor live in these five countries.
Children are disproportionately affected by poverty. Of the 1.1 billion people in extreme poverty, 584 million are under 18 years old, accounting for 27.9% of the global child population. In comparison, only 13.5% of the world’s adults live in extreme poverty.
The report also revealed that 455 million people in extreme poverty reside in conflict-affected areas, where the child mortality rate is 8%. In peaceful regions, the child mortality rate drops to just 1.1%. Populations in war-torn countries suffer severe deprivation of nutrition, electricity, water, and sanitation services.
Gold Prices Make New History in World Market
A new history has been created in the gold prices, breaking all previous records in the world market. For the first time in the world market, the price of one ounce of gold exceeded 2,724 dollars.
The price of gold in the spot market was at 2,724.7 dollars till 5 pm on Friday (October 18). The price of gold has increased by about 13 dollars per ounce in a span of one day.
The US election, the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut, and tensions in the Middle East are now driving gold prices higher in the global market, Reuters reported.
Bangladesh Jewelers Association (BAJUS) determines the price of gold in the country's market.
According to the latest price offered by the organization, the best quality or 22-carat gold per bhori is priced at Tk1,37,453. This is the highest price of gold in the market of the country so far. The price of 21-carat gold is fixed at Tk1,31,197, 18-carat is Tk1,12,453 and the traditional method is Tk92,286 per bhori.
North Korea Claims to Have Found Crashed South Korean Drone
North Korea on Saturday released photos of the remains of a South Korean military drone that it said was found in Pyongyang, which analysts confirmed resembled South Korean military drones.
According to state media KCNA, Seoul uses drones to drop propaganda over the capital Pyongyang.
"It is quite likely that the drone is the one which scattered leaflets over the center of Pyongyang Municipality," said KCNA. "But the conclusion has not yet been drawn."
A North Korean defense ministry spokesperson said authorities found the remains of the crashed drone during a search of the capital on October 13, KCNA reported.
The North's investigation "scientifically proved" that the drone came from the South, the official said.
In images released by the North, supposedly of the recovered drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be seen lodged in a tree and others featuring North Korean officials.
Drone detection 'declaration of war'
Pyongyang on Saturday reiterated its earlier warning that another drone incursion will be seen as "a declaration of war" and vowed immediate retaliation.
Initially, South Korea's military denied sending drones, but later released a statement saying there is "no value in verifying or responding to North Korea's unilateral claims."
Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said that based on the images released by the North, the drone was "clearly a long-range reconnaissance small drone used by ...the South Korean military".
"It is the same model that our military showcased during the Armed Forces Day event last year," he told AFP news agency.
Tensions on the rise
Tensions in the Korean Peninsula have been rising steadily as relations between the two countries increasingly deteriorate.
On Friday, Seoul accused North Korea of sending troops including special forces, to Russia to support its war in Ukraine.
This comes after South Korea's military said earlier this week that it fired warning shots near its heavily fortified border after North Korean forces reportedly destroyed roads along the border.
Pyongyang vowed to permanently seal off its southern border.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has frequently threatened to use nuclear weapons against South Korea and the United States, if attacked, while he pushed to accelerate North Korea's military growth, including its nuclear capabilities.
Amid stalled diplomatic communication, the North has been engaging in provocative missile tests, while the South intensified its military exercises with the US.
Fuel Oil Price Increases in World Market
After a decrease of 7 percent last week, the price of fuel oil has increased slightly in the world market.
Reuters reported this information on Monday (October 21).
According to the report this morning, the price of Brent crude oil in the world market rose by 0.11 percent or by 8 cents to 73.14 dollars per barrel.
At the same time, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil, or WTI crude oil increased by 0.14 percent or by 10 cents to 69.32 dollars per barrel.
Global oil prices rose as China's growth slowed and the risk of war in the Middle East eased, Reuters reported.
Earlier, Brent crude fell 7 percent per barrel and WTI crude fell 8 percent per barrel last week.
