16-02-2019

INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 16, 2019
3
A 12-year-old boy carries soap supplied by the UN in the Bani Harith neighbourhood of Sana'a in
Yemen.
Photo : AP
Nearly 24 mln Yemenis need aid: UN
The United Nations and its humanitarian
partners on Thursday released a
needs assessment for Yemen, reporting
nearly 24 million people in need of
"some form of humanitarian or protection
assistance," a UN spokesman said,
reports UNB.
"The crisis remains the worst in the
world with an estimated 80 percent of
the population -- that's nearly 24 million
people -- in need of some form of
humanitarian or protection assistance,
including 14.3 million people who are
in acute need," said UN spokesman
Stephane Dujarric.
"The number of acute need people is
now 27 percent higher than it was last
year," he told reporters at a regular
briefing, in announcing a pledging conference
sponsored by Sweden, Switzerland
and the world organization set for
Feb. 26.
"More than 20 million people across
the country are food insecure, half of
them with extreme levels of hunger,"
Dujarric said. "For the first time we
have confirmed pockets of catastrophic
hunger, with 238,000 people affected
in some locations."
The United Nations and its humanitarian
partners have been warning for
several weeks that the Arab country is
on the brink of famine, a result of a
nearly four-year-old civil war.
"Some 3.2 million people require
treatment for acute malnutrition, 2
U.S. moving troops
for "military
adventure" against
Venezuela: Cuba
The Cuban government on
Thursday criticized the
recent U.S. troop movements
in the Caribbean, saying
that Washington is
preparing for a military
intervention in crisis-hit
Venezuela, reports UNB.
In a statement, Havana
said that between Feb. 6 and
10, there were flights of military
transport aircraft to the
airport in Puerto Rico, the
San Isidro Air Base in the
Dominican Republic, and to
"strategically located"
Caribbean islands.
It said the flights originated
from U.S. military installations
where its Special
Forces units and Marines
operate and these forces are
often used in "covert actions,
including against leaders of
other countries."
The statement also
described possible U.S. military
actions in Venezuela as
"a military adventure disguised
as humanitarian
intervention."
Venezuela is currently
troubled by a political crisis.
Opposition leader Juan
Guaido declared himself
interim president on Jan. 23
and was recognized by the
United States and some other
countries. Guaido's declaration
came about two
weeks after President Nicolas
Maduro, who won the
2018 presidential vote, was
inaugurated for a second
term on Jan. 10.
Havana in its statement
also accused Washington of
seeking a "coup d'etat in
Venezuela through the illegal
self-proclamation of a
president."
In addition, it said U.S.-led
humanitarian aid to
Venezuela, if any really, is far
from making up for the
damage made by Washington's
economic blockade
against Caracas.
million under 5 (years of age) and more
than 1 million pregnant and lactating
women, for a total of 17.8 million people
who lack access to safe water and
sanitation," he said. "Almost 20 million
people lack access to adequate health
care."
An estimated 3.3 million people
remain displaced in Yemen, up from
2.2 million last year, and this includes
685,000 people who fled fighting in
Hodeidah and on the west coast from
June onward, the spokesman said.
Hodeidah is a key west coast port city
and home to the Red Sea Mills, housing
enough grain to feed millions of
people for a month, but presently inaccessible
to aid workers, the UN has
said. Negotiations between government
and rebel representatives were
suspended last week for leadership
consideration of a tentative accord on
demilitarizing the port to allow access
to humanitarian aid and the distribution
of it to those in need.
"The number of acute need people is
now 27 percent higher than it was last
year," he told reporters at a regular
briefing, in announcing a pledging conference
sponsored by Sweden, Switzerland
and the world organization set for
Feb. 26.
"More than 20 million people across
the country are food insecure, half of
them with extreme levels of hunger,"
Dujarric said. "For the first time we
have confirmed pockets of catastrophic
hunger, with 238,000 people affected
in some locations."
The United Nations and its humanitarian
partners have been warning for
several weeks that the Arab country is
on the brink of famine, a result of a
nearly four-year-old civil war.
"Some 3.2 million people require
treatment for acute malnutrition, 2
million under 5 (years of age) and more
than 1 million pregnant and lactating
women, for a total of 17.8 million people
who lack access to safe water and
sanitation," he said. "Almost 20 million
people lack access to adequate health
care."
An estimated 3.3 million people
remain displaced in Yemen, up from
2.2 million last year, and this includes
685,000 people who fled fighting in
Hodeidah and on the west coast from
June onward, the spokesman said.
Hodeidah is a key west coast port city
and home to the Red Sea Mills, housing
enough grain to feed millions of
people for a month, but presently inaccessible
to aid workers, the UN has
said.
Negotiations between government
and rebel representatives were suspended
last week for leadership consideration
of a tentative accord on
demilitarizing the port to allow access
to humanitarian aid and the distribution
of it to those in need.
Indonesia land-burning fines
unpaid years after fires
Indonesian plantation companies fined for
burning huge areas of land since 2009 have
failed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars
in penalties meant to hold them accountable
for actions that took a devastating environmental
and human toll, reports UNB.
The palm oil and pulp wood companies
involved in fires owe more than $220 million
in fines and the figure for unpaid penalties
for environmental destruction swells to $1.3
billion when an illegal logging case from
2013 is included, according to separate summaries
of the cases compiled by Greenpeace
and the Ministry of Environment and
Forestry.
Indonesia's annual dry season fires were
particularly disastrous in 2015, burning 2.6
million hectares (10,000 square miles) of
land and spreading health-damaging haze
across Indonesia, Singapore, southern Thailand
and Malaysia. The World Bank estimated
the fires cost Indonesia $16 billion and a
Harvard and Columbia study estimated the
haze hastened 100,000 deaths in the region.
President Joko Widodo and other senior
officials vowed action but repeated legal
appeals by the 10 companies taken to court
by the environment ministry have dragged
the cases out for years.
The ministry has issued statements trumpeted
progress in sanctioning companies
involved in land fires. But the two companies
mentioned in those statements that have
paid fines totaling $2 million involved environmental
damage from open cast mining,
not fires, the ministry's law enforcement
director-general, Rasio Ridho Sani, told The
Associated Press.
Greenpeace Indonesia said the unpaid
fines are money owed to the Indonesian people
that could pay for large-scale forest
restoration and for health and emergency
infrastructure for when the fires strike again.
"By not enforcing these laws the government
is sending a dangerous message: company
profit comes before law, clean air,
health and forest protection," forests campaigner
Arie Rompas said in a statement Friday.
In a case that cited fires between 2009 and
2012, palm oil company Kallista Alam
appealed its 336 billion rupiah ($24 million)
fine all the way to the Supreme Court and
then sought a judicial review of the Supreme
Court decision against it.
Fires intentionally set by the company in
2012 to clear land for palm oil tore through
the Tripa peat swamp in Aceh on the island
of Sumatra, killing wildlife including endangered
Sumatran orangutans and blanketed
surrounding areas in a thick haze.
Indonesia's annual dry season fires were
particularly disastrous in 2015, burning 2.6
million hectares (10,000 square miles) of
land and spreading health-damaging haze
across Indonesia, Singapore, southern Thailand
and Malaysia. The World Bank estimated
the fires cost Indonesia $16 billion
and a Harvard and Columbia study estimated
the haze hastened 100,000 deaths in the
region.
President Joko Widodo and other senior
officials vowed action but repeated legal
appeals by the 10 companies taken to court
by the environment ministry have dragged
the cases out for years.
Thick haze from forest fires shroud Palangka Raya in central Borneo in
October 2015.
Photo : AP
Brazil proposes minimum
retirement age
amid social security
reform
Brazil proposes that the
social security reform establishes
a minimum retirement
age of 65 for men and
62 for women, the government
announced Thursday,
reports UNB.
A bill on the new social
security regime, which has a
transition period of 12 years,
will be sent to Congress for
approval on Feb. 20, said
Rogerio Marinho, secretary
of labor and social security
at Ministry of Economy.
The social security reform
requires changes to the
Brazilian Constitution. To
be approved, an amendment
requires a majority of
three fifths in both houses.
Brazilians currently do not
have a minimum retirement
age. Men are qualified to
retire once they work for a
minimum of 35 years and
women 30 years.
They can also retire at 65
after contributing at least 15
years to the social security
system. Some categories,
such as teachers, policemen
and rural workers, are
allowed to retire slightly earlier.
In Brazil, life expectancy
at birth in 2016 is 71 years
for men and 79 for women,
according to the World
Health Organization.
With the proposed
reform, in addition to the
required years of contribution,
workers have to obey
the minimum age requirements,
which will lead to
many citizens working for
over 40 years before retirement.
Full details of the reform
bill will only be known on
Feb. 20.
Though the government
has said that the reform is
necessary for the country to
resume growth, critics think
that the new system will put
an excessive burden on
poorer workers.
In Brazil, life expectancy
at birth in 2016 is 71 years
for men and 79 for women,
according to the World
Health Organization.
With the proposed
reform, in addition to the
required years of contribution,
workers have to obey
the minimum age requirements,
which will lead to
many citizens working for
over 40 years before retirement.
Death toll in deadliest car bombing
in Kashmir climbs to 41
Security officials say the death toll from a car
bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir has
climbed to 41 after rebels fighting against
Indian rule struck a paramilitary convoy in
the single deadliest attack in the divided
region's volatile history, reports UNB.
India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police
Force spokesman Sanjay Sharma said Friday
that at least 41 soldiers died in Thursday's
attack.
The attack is likely to ratchet up tensions
between already hostile India and Pakistan,
who administer parts of the territory but
claim it entirely. Kashmir has experienced
renewed attacks and civilian protest against
Indian rule in recent years as a new generation
of Kashmiri rebels has revived the
armed rebellion.
Officials said a local Kashmiri militant
rammed an explosives-laden van into a bus
as the convoy reached Lethpora, a town outside
Srinagar.
Indian paramilitary soldiers stand by the wreckage of a bus after an explosion
in Pampore, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. Security
officials say at least 10 soldiers have been killed and 20 others wounded by a
large explosion that struck a paramilitary convoy on a key highway on the outskirts
of the disputed region's main city of Srinagar.
Photo : AP
Netanyahu leaves Poland after plane
mishap delayed departure
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu was forced to spend an
extra night in Warsaw after his plane
was damaged following an airport
mishap shortly before departure. He
departed around noon Friday, marking
an inauspicious ending to a turbulent
visit, reports UNB.
The prime minister and his entire
entourage were on-board a chartered
El Al plane the night before after a twoday
visit to a high-profile security conference,
when a vehicle towing the aircraft
on the runway crashed into it. A
photo circulated to traveling journalists
showed large scrapes in the underbelly
of the aircraft.
Netanyahu and his wife were taken
off the plane and ushered back to their
hotel. Other aides, including
Netanyahu's national security adviser
and his military secretary, spent the
night on the aircraft, saying they did
not want to go through the hassle of
pre-boarding security checks again.
A replacement plane was dispatched
from Israel to urgently return the prime
minster before the beginning of the
Jewish Sabbath at sundown.
The mishap happened as
Netanyahu's government is trying to
purchase an official plane for the prime
minister to use.
It capped a tumultuous visit for
Netanyahu, who was in Poland for a
U.S.-sponsored security conference
attended by several high-profile Arab
officials from Gulf countries.
Netanyahu had hoped to use the
gathering to showcase his budding ties
with the Gulf Arabs. But a verbal gaffe
and a video leaked by his office threatened
to overshadow the event.
On the eve of the meeting, Netanyahu
appeared to call on other participants
to prepare for "war with Iran." His
office later said he had been mistranslated
and only called on other countries
to "combat" Iranian influence in the
US envoy says talks
made headway
The Latest on China-U.S. trade talks in Beijing
(all times local):
Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says
U.S. and Chinese negotiators "made headway on
very, very important" issues in talks on a technology
dispute, reports UNB.
Lighthizer expressed optimism but gave no
details after President Donald Trump's economic
adviser said he yet to decide whether to go
ahead with a March 2 tariff increase.
Business groups and economists said the two
days of talks in Beijing were unlikely to be
enough time to resolve the sprawling dispute.
They said China's goal probably was to persuade
Trump they were making enough progress to
postpone the penalties.
In a courtesy call on Chinese President Xi Jinping
after the talks wrapped up, Lighthizer said,
"We feel we have made headway on very, very
important and difficult issues. We have additional
work we have to do but we are hopeful."
Two days of U.S.-Chinese trade talks have ended
with no immediate indication whether they
made progress on a battle over Beijing's technology
ambitions.
Delegations led by U.S. Trade Representative
region.
Late Thursday, his office briefly
leaked a video showing Bahrain's foreign
minister, and representatives of
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
playing down the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and harshly criticizing Iran.
Netanyahu's office said the video's
release was a "technical error" and
quickly deleted it.
Vadim Vasilyev has been released
from his role as vice president and CEO
following a six-year stint at Ligue 1
struggling side Monaco, the club's president
Dmitry Rybolovlev announced
through a statement on Thursday.
Rybolovlev said that over the six
years of Vasilyev's tenure at Monaco,
they had come a long way together and
achieved much success, including the
team's first Ligue 1 title in 17 years and
a semifinal appearance in the Champions
League.
"However, over the past year, serious
mistakes had been made that have led
to the team's worst performance in seven
years," he said.
The 2017 French champions languish
at 18th after 24 rounds this season. The
team at this position need to contend
for a top-flight spot next season
through the playoffs.
"Since recently, I have had to deal
with the club's problems. I took a number
of difficult, but, in my opinion, necessary
decisions.
"In particular, I called Leonardo
Jardim myself, apologizing for the mistake
made back in October and asking
him to return to lead the team. I have
approved all of his proposals in relation
to the acquisition of new players during
the winter transfer window,"
Rybolovlev pointed out.
Jardim was fired as head coach last
October, but took the helm again just
three months later.
"Now it is time for change. Changes
relate not only to the players, but also to
Robert Lighthizer and his Chinese counterpart,
Vice Premier Liu He, met at a government
g.uesthouse. They left without talking to
reporters. Earlier, President Donald Trump's top
economic adviser said he has yet to decide
whether to go ahead with a March 2 tariff
increase on Chinese imports from China. Companies
and investors worry the fight between the
two biggest global economies could drag on
weakening world growth.
U.S. and Chinese envoys are holding a second
day of trade talks after the top economic adviser
to President Donald Trump said he has yet to
decide whether to go ahead with a March 2 tariff
increase on imports from China.
Business groups and economists say the two
days of negotiations due to run through Friday
are too brief to resolve a sprawling dispute over
Beijing's technology ambitions. They say China's
goal is to persuade Trump to push back the
March 2 deadline.
Trump's economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, told
reporters in Washington the "vibe is good" in the
talks, but he said Trump has made no decision
on whether to escalate the dispute by letting the
March 2 tariff hike go ahead.
the top management of the club,"
Rybolovlev talked about Vasilyev's
departure, adding that "I am very grateful
to Vadim for all that he has done for
our club, and I wish him all the best."
Rybolovlev said that he's planning to
submit a new candidate for the posts of
vice president and CEO to the club's
board of directors for consideration on
February 22.
"It is not the first time that Monaco
finds itself in a crisis situation. Seven
years ago we managed to get through it.
We are striving to repeat that success,"
Rybolovlev said.
Showing his gratitude to Rybolovlev
and supporters, Vasilyev added that
"during this time, I did my best to
ensure that the club achieved the
results we expected."
"Despite the challenges of recent
months, I am proud of the results that
we achieved over these six intense
years. "I am convinced that the group is
on the right track and that by the end of
the season the players will have had the
opportunity to show their best to save
this wonderful club," he said.
The prime minister and his entire
entourage were on-board a chartered
El Al plane the night before after a twoday
visit to a high-profile security conference,
when a vehicle towing the aircraft
on the runway crashed into it. A
photo circulated to traveling journalists
showed large scrapes in the underbelly
of the aircraft.
Netanyahu and his wife were taken
off the plane and ushered back to their
hotel. Other aides, including
Netanyahu's national security adviser
and his military secretary, spent the
night on the aircraft, saying they did
not want to go through the hassle of
pre-boarding security checks again.
A replacement plane was dispatched
from Israel to urgently return the prime
minster before the beginning of the
Jewish Sabbath at sundown.