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Mourners Mark 20 Years Since Deadly Tsunami in Asia
Deutsche Welle
26 Dec 2024, 19:55
Photo: R.Satish Babu/AFP
Survivors and relatives held commemorations on Thursday in several countries to mark two decades since a shock tsunami claimed lives from Myanmar to Somalia. The 9.1-magnitude event, known scientifically as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, killed an estimated 226,408 people according to EM-DAT, a recognized global disaster database.
Waves as high as 30 meters (98 feet) battered the coastlines of 14 countries with deadly results after the shock. The four worst-affected countries were Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, with more than 170,000 of the fatalities in Indonesia alone.
Indonesia's Aceh province hardest hit by tsunami
In Indonesia's Aceh Province, where the tsunami claimed the lives of some 100,000 victims, a siren from the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was sounded to begin a series of memorials.
Thousands gathered at mass graves in the region, close to the geological epicenter off Sumatra's northwestern coast, where most of the Indonesian victims died.
Hundreds of survivors visited a mass grave in the Ulee Lheue village, where more than 14,000 unidentified victims are buried. They scattered flower petals on stones marking the graves of loved ones.
Tsunami derailed passenger train in Sri Lanka's Peraliya, killing nearly 2,000
In Sri Lanka, the day was marked with two minutes of silence at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial Statue in the town of Galle. Mourners laid flowers at a memorial to nearly 2,000 passengers who died when the giant waves hit their train, the Ocean Queen Express.
They boarded the restored train and headed to the exact spot where it was ripped from the tracks some 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of the capital, Colombo.
In Thailand, fishermen suffer huge toll
People in Thailand gathered and lay flowers at a ceremony in Ban Nam Khem, a fishing village in the hard-hit province of Phang Nga. Many of the 8,000 people killed there were foreign tourists there to celebrate Christmas on the area's sunny beaches.
About 300 people took part in a ceremony that featured Muslim, Buddhist and Christian prayers. The devastating wave claimed more than 8,000 people lives in Thailand, with many who remain missing. Some 400 bodies are still unclaimed there.
Indians gather in Chennai to offer prayers
Hundreds in India gathered at Marina Beach in the southern city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state. They poured milk into the sea, offering flowers and prayers for the dead to the beat of drums in the background.
Data shows that 10,749 people were killed in India, nearly 7,000 of them in Tamil Nadu alone. Almost 300 people died across the Indian Ocean in Somalia, while more than 100 perished in the Maldives and dozens in Malaysia and Myanmar.
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Mahathir Calls for Unity Among Bangladesh’s Political Leaders
Former Malaysian Prime Minister and architect of modern Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad, has urged Bangladesh's political leadership to work on the basis of consensus, avoiding divisions. He made this appeal on Wednesday (November 27) during an event in Kuala Lumpur.
Speaking at a press briefing following the event, in response to a question by Mohammad Alauddin, Executive Director of the International Islamic University’s PhD researchers' group (IPGZ), regarding recent developments in Bangladesh, Mahathir said, “The people of Bangladesh have bravely ousted an unpopular and autocratic ruler. They now have the opportunity to rebuild the country.”
He added that Bangladesh can move forward if its leaders avoid new divisions and work together in the national interest, prioritizing the country over individual agendas.
At the same event, another speaker, Malaysia’s former Foreign Minister and politician Tan Sri Hamid Albar, described Bangladesh as an important country in South Asia. He commended the hard-working nature of its people, noting that the country is progressing in various areas. Referring to the recent popular uprising, he remarked that Bangladesh now has a rare opportunity for reconstruction. He emphasized the need to take effective measures to reduce income and wealth inequality to ensure sustainable democracy.
Calling for efforts to enhance Bangladesh’s image internationally, he added, “We fully support Bangladesh’s inclusion in the Southeast Asian regional bloc, ASEAN.”
Sri Lanka: Several Dead as Storm Causes Floods, Landslides
At least 12 people have been killed due to flooding and landslides in Sri Lanka, authorities said on Thursday.
Rescue teams said they had recovered the bodies of four children who were swept away by the floodwaters while they were riding on a tractor in the town of Eravur on the east coast.
Others remain missing after torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides caused devastation in eastern and central parts of the South Asian country.
The powerful but slow-moving storm, which is now heading toward India, has forced more than 250,000 people in Sri Lanka to flee their homes, according to the island nation's Disaster Management Center.
Storm to reach India by Saturday
The India Meteorological Department said there was a "possibility" that the "deep depression" over the southwest Bay of Bengal could develop into a cyclonic storm.
India meteorologists said the storm was expected to hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry on Saturday with winds "gusting up to 70 km/h (43 mph)."
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has asked the army to help in relief operations.
Officials said search teams were still looking for two missing children and two men, who were also swept away by flash floods while on tractor and trailer.
Deadly floods and landslides are common across South Asia, but experts say climate change is causing extreme weather to be more frequent as well as more severe.
Ukraine Updates: / Zelenskyy Hints at Ending 'Hot War'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for NATO to offer security guarantees to parts of Ukraine controlled by Kyiv in order to "stop the hot stage of the war." About one-fifth of Ukrainian territory is currently under Russian control.
Zelenskyy implied that he would be willing to wait to regain that territory, if a deal with NATO could ensure security for the rest of Ukraine and end the fighting.
"If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," Zelensky told Britain's Sky News, according to a voiceover translation of his remarks from Ukrainian into English.
"That's what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically," he added.
Zelenskyy, however, insisted any offer to join NATO must be given to the whole of Ukraine. "The invitation must be given to Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. You can't give an invitation to just one part of a country."
The comments come ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in January. Trump, who is seen as being an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has said he would end the war on day, without explaining what that would look like.
Scholz reassures Zelenskyy of German support
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where Scholz sought to reassure Ukraine of Germany's continued solidarity.
"We will continue our military support for Ukraine in close coordination with our European and international partners," Scholz said in a post on X after the call.
He said he had agreed with Zelenskyy to remain in contact "also with a view to possible paths to a just peace" to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
For his part, Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for Germany's help and support, particularly with air defense weapons, in a post on his Telegram channel.
The Ukrainian president said that Scholz had also discussed the details of his recent telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It is obvious that only the strength of arms and the strength of diplomacy can force the perpetrator of the war to make peace and that this peace can only be achieved through strength," Zelenskyy said.
Kolkata Hospital Announces Not to Provide Treatment to Bangladeshis
A hospital in Kolkata has announced that it will no longer treat Bangladeshi patients. They allege that Bangladeshis are insulting the Indian flag. Although Bangladeshis also have the same complaint. Last Thursday, a Hindu organization in Kolkata called Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch also set fire to the national flag of Bangladesh.
The Times of India reported that JN Roy, an official of the hospital in Maniktala, North Kolkata, West Bengal, alleging atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, said that the decision was taken because Bangladeshis are disrespecting the Indian flag.
Another hospital official, Shuvrangshu Bhakta, told Indian news agency PTI that we have decided not to treat Bangladeshi patients for an indefinite period. Because they have shown disrespect to India.
Meanwhile, Dhaka has condemned the violent protests in front of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, West Bengal against the burning of the national flag of Bangladesh. The condemnation was made through a statement from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on Friday (November 29).
The statement said that the Bangladesh government notes with deep concern that a Hindu organization from Kolkata called Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch held a violent protest outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata on Thursday (November 28) afternoon. The protesters broke through the police barricade and reached the premises of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. They set fire to the national flag of Bangladesh and burnt the effigy of the Chief Advisor of the Bangladesh government. Although the situation seems to be under control at present, there is insecurity among all the members of the Deputy High Commission.
It said that the Bangladesh government strongly condemns the heinous act of desecrating the national flag and burning the effigy of the Chief Advisor. Along with this, the statement called on the Government of India to take necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.
It also said that the Bangladesh government condemns any kind of violent act. At the same time, the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata and other diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India have urged the Indian government to ensure the safety of diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff.
JN Roy said that minorities are being persecuted in Bangladesh, so he has urged other hospitals to adopt the same approach.
He also said that India has made an important contribution to the independence war of Bangladesh. However, we are seeing increasing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. We hope that other hospitals will also take the same steps.
Leavitt Named Youngest White House Press Secretary in History
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Karoline Leavitt will be returning to the White House next year as his press secretary, making her the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history at 27 years old.
Leavitt has been a staunch defender of Trump throughout his campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris, facing attacks labeling Trump as a 'fascist' and drawing comparisons to Adolf Hitler.
Trump praised Leavitt's performance as the National Press Secretary during his campaign and expressed confidence in her ability to effectively communicate the administration's message.
Leavitt previously served as an assistant press secretary in Trump's first administration and later worked as a communications director for New York Rep. Elise Stefanik. She also ran for Congress in New Hampshire during the 2022 cycle.
Leavitt has been actively involved in Trump's campaign, engaging with the media, defending Trump's policies, and supporting him through legal battles and political challenges.
China Discovers World's Largest Gold Deposit Worth $83 Billion
A massive deposit of high-quality gold ore, containing an estimated 1,000 metric tons (1,100 US tons) of gold, has been uncovered in central China.
Valued at approximately 600 billion yuan or US$83 billion, the discovery could be considered the largest and most lucrative reservoir of gold ever uncovered, surpassing the 900 metric tons estimated to lie within the mother of all gold reserves, South Deep mine in South Africa, News Az reports, citing foreign media.
The Geological Bureau of Hunan Province announced the detection of 40 gold veins within a depth of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in the northeast Hunan county of Pingjiang.
These alone were thought to contain 300 metric tons of gold, with 3D modeling suggesting additional reserves may be found to a depth of 3 kilometers.
"Many drilled rock cores showed visible gold," says bureau prospector Chen Rulin.
Core samples suggest every metric ton of ore could contain as much as 138 grams (nearly 5 ounces) of gold – an extraordinary level of quality considering ore excavated from underground mines is considered high grade if it contains more than 8 grams.
China already dominates the world's gold market with reserves considered to be in excess of 2,000 tons earlier in 2024 with its mining industry contributing around 10 percent of the global output.
Announcements of the findings have contributed to a further increase in the already skyrocketing gold price as demands for the resource continue to rise amid global uncertainty.
Based on these latest findings, we might be far from exhausting economically viable reserves.
Core samples taken around the periphery of the Hunan site hint that the deposit may extend even further than initial predictions, making the reservoir beneath its soil a true dragon's haul.
It's been a notable year for gold discoveries.
In March, a treasure hunter in England found what was estimated to perhaps be the biggest gold nugget ever found in the country.
And just two months ago, research by scientists in Australia discovered a new mechanism that may lead to the formation of gold, suggesting the seismic activity of earthquakes actually plays a role in the creation of large nuggets.
But that's not all. In addition to learning more about how gold naturally forms, scientists are also investigating new things that can be done to manipulate the precious resource.
A study published in April reported the creation of a new kind of two-dimensional gold called 'goldene', measuring only a single layer of atoms in height, which has some interesting properties not seen in the three-dimensional form of gold.
While gold is an ancient metal that has been prized all throughout human history, there's clearly a lot we're still finding out about it.
Taliban Overhaul Afghanistan's Education System
"The Taliban have made fundamental changes to the country's school and university curricula over the past three years," Afghan human rights organization Rawadari reported. The organization, which was founded by the former head of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission Shahrzad Akbar, documents human rights violations in the country.
The Islamist Taliban rulers have banned girls from attending school beyond sixth grade and women from going to university. They have also removed all topics related to human rights and women's rights from school and university curricula, saying issues related to equality, liberty, elections, and democracy contradict Taliban ideology.
They are not stopping there. Inclusive and non-discriminatory educational approaches, which are particularly important in Afghanistan due to its many ethnic and religious minorities, are also being scrapped.
A Taliban takeover of classrooms and lecture halls
"Teaching in different mother tongues and covering subjects relating to religion, culture, and history has been severely restricted for students from these minorities," Rawadari said. "Access to literacy and vocational training programs has also been severely restricted for girls with disabilities."
"The Taliban have removed a lot of content from school textbooks," said Sardar Mohammad Rahimi, who served as Afghanistan's deputy minister of education until the Taliban took over in August 2021.
"The Taliban cannot yet create new content," Rahimi, who now lives in French exile and works as a visiting professor at INALCO University in Paris, told DW. "They lack both the experts and the technical means to completely redesign and publish curricula. It would take them around five years to fundamentally transform the education system."
Many Afghan intellectuals and academics have left the country since the Taliban takeover. The Islamist rulers have also dismissed numerous lecturers and professors from schools and universities over the last three years. They have mainly been replaced by religious school graduates who follow the Taliban's ideology.
"The Taliban are currently focusing on expanding their religious schools, the madrassas; this is a dangerous development," Rahimi said.
Rejection of women's and human rights
Madrassas, or religious schools, exist in many Islamic countries. In Afghanistan, these schools are controlled by the Taliban. They aim to promote a strict interpretation of Islam and ensure theirs is the view of Islam passed to the next generation.
The Taliban follow an extremely conservative interpretation of Sunni Islam, which calls for the application of Sharia, or Islamic law, in all areas of life. It also propagates a rigid social order. The Taliban rejects women's rights, and human rights and regards the Western world as a harmful influence on Islamic society. Since coming back to power in 2021, the Taliban have reversed progress made over the last two decades regarding Afghan women's rights.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International often report how Afghan women and girls are subjected to brutal punishments for allegedly "un-Islamic behavior." Punishments include imprisonment, suffering sexual violence while in custody, and public floggings. In addition, many girls who are no longer allowed to go to school are forced into marriage.
'A hell of structural oppression and systematic violence'
"The Taliban have turned the country into a hell of structural oppression and systematic violence against Afghan women and girls," Maryam Marof Arwin told DW. The Afghan women's and human rights activists have urgently warned of the consequences of criminalizing women, referring to Taliban laws imposing far-reaching restrictions on women and girls.
These laws not only oblige women to cover their faces and bodies in public but also prohibit them from raising their voices outside the home. Young men monitor women and act as moral police to enforce the rules.
"We urgently need a coordinated plan for online education for all Afghanistan school children," Rahimi said. "There are numerous foreign-led projects that currently support girls, in particular, who have no access to secondary schools, with teaching materials. If these projects were better coordinated, they could make a significant contribution to the education of all Afghanistan children."
