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Middle East: Germany, France, UK demand 'urgent' cease-fire
Deutsche Welle
12 Aug 2024, 19:18
Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APAimages/IMAGO
A joint statement from the leaders of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom on Monday called for an immediate end to fighting in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and the prevention of further escalation, especially on the part of Iran and its allies.
"The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
The three leaders, all considered major supporters of Israel, called on Iran and its allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, "to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardize the opportunity to agree to a cease-fire and the release of hostages."
Cease-fire calls amid rising tensions
The 10-month-long conflict has seen repeated calls for cease-fire negotiations, but the only success so far has been a one-week truce agreed back in November.
Monday's renewed call comes after a deadly Israeli airstrike killed more than 90 people sheltering in a school that had been set up as a refuge for displaced people.
Almost 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the conflict, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Meanwhile, fears that the conflict may erupt into an all-out regional war continue unabated.
The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran's capital, Tehran, at the end of July was followed by comments from Iran vowing to respond to what it called an Israeli attack. In response, the US has pledged to bolster Israel's defenses, with reports that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided-missile submarine to the region and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly.
Scholz, Macron, and Starmer warned that whoever escalates the conflict "will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardize this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East."
What is the Gaza cease-fire plan?
The statement praised the "tireless" work of Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators who have been working to bring Israel and Hamas to the negotiation table.
A proposal pushed by US President Joe Biden laid out a plan to release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners with the long-term aim of rebuilding Gaza.
"The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid," the statement said. "There can be no further delay."
This most recent surge of violence in Gaza followed attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants in southern Israel that left around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead. A further 251 people were taken hostage, with some 111 still in Gaza, including dozens believed to already be dead.
Hamas is designated as a terror organization by Israel, the US, and Germany, among others.
Israel is being tried at the International Court of Justice over claims that its operations in Gaza amount to genocide, but a decision will likely take years.
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Report: Biden approved China-focused nuclear strategic plan
According to the New York Times, the roadmap highlights the United States' wariness of the growing threat of Russia, North Korea, and in particular China.
US President Joe Biden gave the green light for a top-secret strategic nuclear plan in March of this year that, for the first time, reshapes Washington's strategy to focus on China's expansion of its nuclear arsenal, The New York Times (NYT) reported on Tuesday.
The plan also reportedly seeks to prepare the US for possible coordinated nuclear challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea.
The NYT said Washington had never announced that Biden had approved the new proposal, entitled the "Nuclear Employment Guidance," but an unclassified notification to Congress of the revision is expected to be sent before Biden departs the White House in January 2025.
How did officials respond?
The US-based Arms Control Association, however, said it understood Washington's nuclear weapons strategy and posture remained the same as described in the Biden administration's 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, and there had been no reorientation away from Russia and toward China.
Asked about what the US daily had reported, White House spokesperson Sean Savett said: "This administration, like the four administrations before it, issued a Nuclear Posture Review and Nuclear Weapons Employment Planning Guidance."
"While the specific text of the Guidance is classified, its existence is in no way secret. The Guidance issued earlier this year is not a response to any single entity, country, nor threat."
Growing threat of China
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said that the Pentagon believes China may increase the size of its nuclear arsenal from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030 while Russia currently has some 4,000 nuclear warheads. "It remains the major driver behind US nuclear strategy," he said.
The United States Department of Defense revealed in its annual report that China's military will continue to grow until 2035 and emphasized that Beijing's strategy considers the "unlimited" partnership with Russia as fundamental to its development as a power.
India: Blast at pharmaceutical factory kills 17
At least 17 people were killed in India after a blast occurred at a pharmaceutical plant in the country's southern state of Andhra Pradesh, police said Thursday.
The magnitude of the explosion was so high that the victims' bodies were severed and left scattered at the site.
Some other 40 people were injured in the blast with severe skin burns, officials said.
What do we know about the blast?
Local police official M. Buchaiah told the Indian Express newspaper that the workers caught in the blast suffered horrific chemical burns.
"It was horrible, heartbreaking," he told the paper, describing the pain people suffered as those who survived were carried to ambulances. "They were screaming before they lost consciousness."
Families of the workers rushed to the blast site to check on their loved ones as soon as the news of the incident spread.
The state government has ordered a probe into the case.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims.
"Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Anakapalli. Condolences to those who lost their near and dear ones," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on messaging platform X, formerly Twitter. He added that financial sums would be disbursed to the victims and their families.
What may have caused the explosion?
The explosion occurred on Wednesday at the Escientia Company in Anakapalle District, which is about 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Amaravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The pharmaceutical company employs about 380 workers. Many were luckily spared as they were on their lunch break when the explosion occurred, prompting the fire.
Officials suspect there was an explosion in the chemical reactor. CCTV footage was being checked and the victims were being questioned to determine whether human error caused the blast.
District police superintendent M. Deepika said that investigators believe the blast was caused by a "gas leak... which eventually hit an electrical panel."
India is a global hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing but fires in factories are quite common as owners often flout regulations and do not follow safety norms.
Taylor Swift says she felt 'fear' over canceled Vienna shows
US pop star Taylor Swift expressed the cancellation of her Vienna show over a suspected suicide attack filled her with "fear" and "guilt."
This is the first time Swift has commented since reports of the suspected attack emerged two weeks ago.
What did the singer say?
"Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many had planned on coming to those shows," the American singer said in a post on Instagram.
"All of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London," she added.
In her post, Swift also praised the efforts of the authorities who thwarted the planned attack.
"I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives. I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together," she said.
Swift also clarified why she had remained silent about the cancellation of her show and the suspected attack.
"Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows," Swift wrote.
What do we know about the now-foiled terror attack?
Swift's shows in Vienna were canceled after authorities warned of a planned terror plot by sympathizers of the Islamic State armed group.
Three suspects have been detained by Austrian police over the alleged attack. The US said that it shared intelligence to assist in the probe.
A 19-year-old Austrian man is the main suspect who had allegedly confessed that he "intended to carry out an attack using explosives and knives," according to Austrian domestic intelligence agency (DSN) head Omar Haijawi-Pirchner.
The Vienna shows were part of the European leg of Swift's "Eras" which is the highest-grossing concert tour in history.
The Eras Tour concluded on Tuesday with five shows at London's Wembley Stadium.
'Bangladesh floods not due to release of water from Tripura dam'
Allaying concerns that the current flood situation in Bangladesh was caused by the release of waters from Tripura's Dumbur dam, India said on Thursday that this was not correct.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the catchment areas of Gumti River have witnessed the heaviest rains of this year and the flood in Bangladesh was 'primarily due to waters from these large catchments'.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 'We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flood in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by the opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura. This is factually not correct.'
'We would like to point out that the catchment areas of Gumti River that flows through India and Bangladesh have witnessed the heaviest rains of this year over the last few days.
The flood in Bangladesh is primarily due to waters from these large catchments downstream of the dam.'
Ministry of External Affairs said again, 'The Dumbur dam is located quite far from the border - over 120 Km upstream of Bangladesh. It is a low height (about 30m) dam that generates power that feeds into a grid from which Bangladesh also draws 40MW power from Tripura.
Along the about 120 Km river course we have three water level observation sites at Amarpur, Sonamura and Sonamura 2.
Heavy rainfall has been continuing since 21 August in the whole of Tripura and adjoining districts of Bangladesh. In the event of heavy inflow, automatic releases have been observed.
Amarpur station is part of a bilateral protocol under which we are transmitting real-time flood data to Bangladesh.
Data showing a rising trend has been supplied to Bangladesh up to 1500 hrs on 21 August 2024. At 1800 hrs, due to flooding, there was power outage leading to problems in communication. Still, we have tried to maintain communication through other means created for urgent transmission of data.
Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting suffering to people on both sides and requires close cooperation towards resolving them.'
Finally, MEA said, 'As two countries sharing 54 common cross-border rivers, river water cooperation is an important part of our bilateral engagement. We remain committed to resolving issues and mutual concerns in water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.'
Source: MEA, India
Event Dedicated to Russian Federation's National Flag Day celebration
A festive event dedicated to State Flag Day of the Russian Federation was organized by the Russian House in Bangladesh in cooperation with the Alumni and Friends Association of People’s Friendship University of Russia, headed by the Chairman of the organization, engineer Alamgir Jalil in Ishwardi on August 22, 2024.
In his opening speech the director of the Russian House in Dhaka Mr. P. Dvoychenkov said that on August 22, 1991, the tricolor Russian flag was officially raised over the White House in Moscow for the first time, replacing the red banner with a hammer and sickle as the national symbol.
By the Presidential Decree No. 1335 of August 20, 1994, 22 August became a national holiday—State Flag Day of the Russian Federation. The tricolor represents freedom, independence, and the continuity of Russia's heritage through generations.
He also reminded the audience that following Bangladesh’s independence, friendly relations with the Soviet Union were established on January 25, 1972. The Soviet Cultural Center, now the Russian House in Bangladesh was founded in 1974 to strengthen these ties. Since then, Bangladesh and Russia have maintained deep bilateral relations.
After the introductory remarks by the organizers and local officials, the participants watched a documentary biographical film titled "Peter I: The Last Tsar and the First Emperor," directed by Andrei Kravchuk.
The event featured a drawing competition of the Russian state flag, a quiz on the history and geography of Russia, and a concert program with performances of Russian songs. The active participants in the competitions were awarded gifts and commemorative souvenirs. School students expressed interest in pursuing higher education in Russia and participating in similar large-scale joint events.
Over 1,000 students from 40 public schools in the region participated in the celebration. Each participant received a tricolor flag of Russia, symbolizing the festivity.
Ukraine updates: Biden announces new military aid for Kyiv
US President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced a new military aid package ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on Saturday.
Biden speaks with Zelenskyy, announces new military aid for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, announcing a new military aid package ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on Saturday.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov on Friday, said on social media the package was worth $125 million (€112 million).
In the call with Zelenskyy, Biden reaffirmed Washington's support, which the White House called "unwavering", for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
The aid package includes air-defense missiles, counter-drone equipment, anti-armor missiles and ammunition, the White House said in its statement.
According to the US State Department, Washington has provided more than $55 billion in military assistance to Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ambassador Yao Wen Calls on Dr Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh
Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, welcomed the formation of the Interim Government, congratulated Professor Muhammad Yunus on his assumption as Chief Adviser, and stressed the support for the Interim Government to build a poverty-free and democratic, prosperous Bangladesh.
He made this call on Sunday (August 25), 2024.
Ambassador Yao said that China strictly follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, respecting the development path independently chosen by the Bangladesh people, and expects that Bangladesh would realize unity, stability, development and prosperity at an early date. No matter what changes have taken place in the domestic situation of Bangladesh, China’s commitment to develop China-Bangladesh relations remains unchanged.
Ambassador Yao said that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. The bilateral relationship sets up a model of mutual respect, cooperation for win-win results for developing countries. China firmly supports Bangladesh in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, maintaining national unity and stability, and playing a more significant role in international and regional affairs.
Ambassador Yao stated that both China and Bangladesh are at a crucial stage of development and revitalization, with enormous potential for cooperation. China stands ready to share its experience in reform and development with Bangladesh, implement the agreements and consensus reached by the two sides, and push forward pragmatic cooperationin various sectors.
China is about to import fresh mangoes from Bangladesh, expedite the negotiation for a Free Trade Agreement, optimize the China-Bangladesh Investment Agreement, encourage local currency settlement in bilateral trade and support Chinese enterprises in investing in Bangladesh. China is committed to work with Bangladesh to organize and carry out activities for the 'China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges' in 2025.
China will also maintain visits and exchanges at all levels and in various sectors, elevating the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a new height.
Ambassador Yao reiterated that China is determined to encourage and engage with the relevant parties in Myanmar for a cease fire, so as to create amicable conditions for the early repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State of Myanmar.
