Category: Foreign

President Felix Tshisekedi has declared a national day of mourning from today to honour the victims of flooding in Congo.

The central government is sending a crisis management team to South Kivu to support the provincial government over the incident.

The death toll from flash floods and landslides in eastern Congo has risen beyond 200, with many more people still missing, according to local authorities in the province of South Kivu.

Thomas Bakenge, administrator of Kalehe, the worst-hit territory, told reporters on the scene Saturday that 203 bodies had been recovered so far, but that efforts to find others were continuing. In the village of Nyamukubi, where hundreds of homes were washed away, rescue workers and survivors dug through the ruins Saturday looking for more bodies in the mud.

Villagers wept as they gathered around some of the bodies recovered so far, which lay on the grass covered in muddy cloths near a rescue workers post. Grieving survivor Anuarite Zikujuwa said she had lost her entire family, including her in-laws, as well as many of her neighbours. “The whole village has been turned into a wasteland. There’s only stones left and we can’t even tell where our land once was,” she said.

Michake Ntamana, a rescue worker helping look for and bury the dead, said villagers were trying to identify and collect the bodies of loved ones found so far. He said some bodies washed down from villages higher in the hills were being buried shrouded just in leaves off the trees. “It’s truly sad because we have nothing else here,” he said.

Rivers broke their banks in villages in the territory of Kalehe, close to the shores of Lake Kivu on Thursday. Authorities have reported scores of people injured.

One survivor told AP the flash floods came so fast that they took everyone by surprise. South Kivu Governor Théo Ngwabidje visited the area to see the destruction for himself. He posted on his Twitter account that the provincial government had dispatched medical, shelter and food supplies.

Heavy rains in recent days have brought misery to thousands in East Africa, with parts of Uganda and Kenya also seeing heavy rainfall. Flooding and landslides in Rwanda, which borders Congo, left 129 people dead earlier this week. Local government official Bakenge told AP, “This is the fourth time that such damage has been caused by the same rivers. Not 10 years pass without them causing enormous damage.”

A police officer has killed a shooter who gunned down eight people in a mall in Dallas, Texas in the United States.

BBC reports that hundreds of people were evacuated from Allen Premium Outlets mall, after the shooter, a male, started shooting sporadically.

Children were among those killed in the incident, and the victims’ ages range from five to 51, the broadcaster said.

Jonathan Boyd, Allen fire chief, said seven people, including the shooter, were declared dead at the mall, but two later died in a hospital.

Brian Harvey, Allen police chief, said the police officer took down the shooter after he heard gunshots and engaged him in a duel.

The authorities in the state have already commenced an investigation and have asked witnesses to turn in any evidence on the incident.

Greg Abbott, Texas governor, expressed dismay over the incident, adding that the state would offer its assistance to the local authorities investigating the incident.

The U.S. has been experiencing a spike in mass shootings, leading to the death of many. This has resulted in some citizens calling for gun control.

Arab League foreign ministers have adopted a decision to readmit Syria after more than a decade of suspension, a League spokesperson said.

The move is consolidating a regional push to normalise ties with President Bashar al-Assad.

As part of the plan, a ministerial contact group will be formed to liaise with the Syrian government and seek “step-by-step” solutions to the crisis.

Syria’s membership was suspended in 2011 after a crackdown on street protests against President Assad that led to a devastating civil war.

The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings immediately, while calling for a resolution of the crisis resulting from Syria’s civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighbouring countries and drug smuggling across the region.

It was taken at a closed meeting of foreign ministers at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo, said Gamal Roshdy, spokesman for the Arab League’s secretary general.

All 13 of the 22 member states that attended the session endorsed the decision. The Arab League generally tries to reach agreements by consensus but sometimes opts for simple majorities.

Following the announcement on Sunday, Syria called for Arab states to show “mutual respect”.

Arab states should pursue “an effective approach based on mutual respect”, the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement that also stressed the “importance of joint work and dialogue to undertake the challenges facing Arab countries”.

There is still no Arab consensus on normalisation with Damascus.

While Arab states including the United Arab Emirates have pushed for Syria and Assad’s rehabilitation, others, including Qatar, have remained opposed to full normalisation without a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wins a fourth term in office with 95.1 per cent of the votes in an election critics say was marked by fraud.

Several governments did not attend the meeting, including Qatar, which continues to back opposition groups against the Assad government.

Some have been keen to set conditions for Syria’s return, with Jordan’s foreign minister saying last week that the Arab League’s re-acceptance of Syria would only be the start of “a very long and difficult and challenging process”.

Yesterday’s decision said Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and the Arab League’s Secretary General would form a ministerial contact group to liaise with the Syrian government and seek “step-by-step” solutions to the crisis.

Practical steps include continuing efforts to facilitate the delivery of aid in Syria, according to a copy of the decision seen by Reuters.

The Arab rapprochement with Damascus accelerated after a deadly earthquake on February 6 that shattered parts of the war-torn country, most notably from Saudi Arabia, which once backed opposition groups trying to overthrow Assad

Syria’s membership of the Arab League was suspended in 2011 after a crackdown on street protests against Mr Assad that led to a devastating civil war, and many Arab states pulled their envoys out of Damascus.

The conflict has killed nearly a half million people since March 2011 and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.

Recently, Arab states have been trying to reach consensus on whether to invite Assad to an Arab League summit on May 19 in Riyadh to discuss the pace of normalising ties and on what terms Syria could be allowed back.

Responding to a question over whether Assad could participate at the summit in Saudi Arabia, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told a news conference in Cairo yesterday the Syrian leader could “if he wishes to”.

“If he wishes, because Syria, starting from this evening, is a full member of the Arab League, and from tomorrow morning they have the right to occupy any seat.

“When the invitation is sent by the hosting country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and if he wishes to participate, he will participate,” he added.

Saudi Arabia long resisted restoring relations with Assad but said after its recent rapprochement with Iran — Syria’s key regional ally — that a new approach was needed with Damascus.

In a significant recognition of his research prowess, Johnson Oliyide, was awarded the Graduate Student Research Award at the 2023 Maine Economics Conference. 

Oliyide’s notable study, titled “How Does the US Climate Policy Uncertainty Influence the Stocks of the Top 10 U.S. Utility Firms? Evidence from a Nonparametric Causality in Quantiles Approach”, has captured the attention of the academic community for its innovative approach and timely insights.

The Maine Economics Conference, held on April 15th at Bates College, is a prestigious gathering co-organised by Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, and the University of Maine. It serves as a platform for economists to present cutting-edge research that addresses pressing economic issues.

Johnson Oliyide, currently a Graduate Student at the University of Maine, has consistently demonstrated his dedication to leveraging economic research for regional and global development. 

His academic journey is marked by numerous notable publications that have received international recognition, garnering over a thousand citations. These citations highlight the significant impact and relevance of his research in the global economic community.

Oliyide’s award-winning research explores the complexities of how uncertainties in US climate policies affect the stock performance of the country’s top utility firms. 

By employing a sophisticated nonparametric causality in quantiles approach, his study provides a nuanced understanding of the diverse impacts of policy fluctuations across different market conditions.

Expressing his gratitude, Oliyide remarked, “Receiving this award is a profound honor. My research is aimed at uncovering the intricate linkages between climate policy and market responses, which are crucial for both investors and policymakers. This recognition reinforces my commitment to contributing valuable insights to the field of economics.”

Oliyide’s study highlights the critical need for robust financial strategies to mitigate risks associated with climate policy uncertainties. His findings suggest that policy-induced volatility has significant implications for investment decisions and financial stability, underscoring the importance of adaptive strategies in the utility sector.

Oliyide’s recognition at the 2023 Maine Economics Conference is not just a testament to his analytical prowess but also a reflection of the growing importance of research at the intersection of climate policy and financial markets. 

As he continues to push the boundaries of economic research, Oliyide’s work promises to play a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainable finance and policy-making.

A man has died days after getting injured when he became stuck inside an indoor caving attraction at a Lake District climbing centre.

Carl O’Keeffe, 49, from Lancaster, had been at Kong Adventure in Keswick on 22 April, when he became trapped inside a narrow tunnel.

Emergency crews including specialist cave rescuers attended the scene.

Mr O’Keeffe was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, where he died on Sunday, Cumbria Police said.

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Volunteers from Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were among those called to the centre just after 15:00 BST on 22 April after staff were unable to free Mr O’Keeffe using their normal rescue procedure, it said.

“While the emergency services were deciding on evacuation plans, the climbing wall staff, assisted by visiting climbers, started dismantling sections of the wall to aid access to tunnels hidden behind the climbing wall panels,” a statement said.

“With time passing there was growing concern for the trapped man’s health as he was in a static position in a confined space.”

It said there had been a “significant effort” by rescuers, including the fire and rescue service with specialist cutting equipment, climbing wall staff and Cumbria Ore Mines Rescue Unit, who managed to get him out.

A helicopter from the Great North Air Ambulance Service was also called.

Cumbria Police said it will be investigating the circumstances of Mr O’Keeffe’s death on behalf of the coroner.

BBC

Russia has launched a series of missiles at Ukrainian cities in the second pre-dawn attack in three days.

Pavlohrad, a logistics hub near the central city of Dnipro, was hit ahead of a much-anticipated counter-offensive by Ukraine.

The strike sparked a major fire, destroyed dozens of houses, and wounded 34 people.

Hours later, the air raid alert sounded across the country, with the capital Kyiv among the targets.

Across the country, the Ukrainian army said it shot down 15 of the 18 cruise missiles that had been fired.

The most significant damage was in Pavlohrad, a city in Ukrainian-held territory around 70 miles (110km) from the frontline. Pictures posted on social media showed a massive blaze.

One resident, Olha Lytvynenko, said she was getting dressed to leave their house when “both doors were smashed out by the explosion wave”.

“I ran outside and saw that the garage was destroyed. Everything was on fire, glass shards everywhere. Had we been outside, we would have been killed,” she said.

Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk military administration described it as a “tragic night and morning”, saying an industrial site had been hit.

Nineteen high-rise apartment blocks, 25 private houses, six schools and kindergartens and five shops were also damaged, it added.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official, said the strike targeted railway infrastructure and fuel depots, in a message on Telegram with a thumbs-up gesture.

At around 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) the air raid alert sounded in Kyiv and lasted for about three hours.

The military administration said all missiles and drones directed at the capital were destroyed.

In the Kherson region – which is still partly controlled by Russia – Ukrainian regional authorities said Russia had carried out 39 shellings.

They came from ground-based weapons, as well as drones and planes, the authorities said, adding that one person was killed.

Recent days have seen an increase in attacks in Ukraine, with places away from the front lines being targeted. On Friday, 23 people were killed in the central city of Uman.

Ukraine says it is finishing plans for a long-awaited offensive against Russian forces, supported by Western-supplied weapons and military equipment.

Russia, meanwhile, is also preparing for a Ukrainian push, and has fortified its positions in occupied territory.

In the latest change at the country’s military leadership, Cl Gen Mikhail Mizintsev – the Russian deputy defence minister who oversaw armed forces logistics – has been sacked, after being appointed to the role only last September.

There have been longstanding complaints that front line troops are not getting sufficient military equipment, and suffer shortages of food and uniforms.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian official on Monday said the army had ousted Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut, an eastern city that has been under siege for months.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of ground forces, said on Telegram the situation remained “quite difficult” – but “the enemy is unable to take control of the city”.

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Buckingham Palace has released details about the various thrones that King Charles III and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, will use during their formal coronation ceremony on May 6.

One of them, according to the woman who was tasked with sprucing it up, is “the oldest surviving piece of furniture still used for its original purpose, so it’s incredibly rare.”

Krista Blessley, Paintings Conservator at Westminster Abbey in London, spent weeks before the coronation giving the incredibly fragile “Coronation Chair,” also known as St. Edwards Chair, a makeover.

The Coronation Chair’s role

 Built in 1309, the six-and-a-half-foot tall throne made of Baltic oak has “been used for every coronation of an English monarch, with a few exceptions, since then,” Blessley told CBS News. She said a lot of the renovation work involved “sticking those layers of gilding back down and making sure it’s completely sound before the coronation.”

Buckingham Palace said St Edward’s Chair would be used, as it has been for centuries, for the “moment of crowning”.

Charles and Camilla, who will lose the “Consort” from her title and become simply Queen Camilla upon her crowning, will use several other chairs during the ancient ceremony, however.

According to the palace, the couple will sit in the “Chairs of Estate” and two “Throne Chairs” during other parts of the service.

“In the interests of sustainability, Their Majesties have chosen to use Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs from the Royal Collection made for previous Coronations,” the palace said in its statement.

The World Bank Group has said countries can revive private investment, create jobs and quicken the transition to cleaner energy if they do more to make their economies business-ready.

The bank’s Group Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Indermit Gill, on Monday, while announcing the bank’s plan for a report to measure countries’ business climate, said: “The World Bank Group is bringing back a fuller and sharper measure of the investment climate of countries—something that is badly needed in a global economy in the midst of a generalized slowdown,” said the World Bank “Governments that do more to make their economies business-ready will do better in reviving private investment, creating jobs, and quickening the transition to cleaner energy.”

The Business Ready Project first report is due out in Spring 2024.

The first report will assess business climate in 54 economies. The flagship Business Ready project is a key instrument of the bank’s new strategy to facilitate private investment, generate employment, and improve productivity to help countries accelerate development.

The Business Ready, the bank said, improves on and replaces the World Bank Group’s earlier Doing Business project.

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“It reflects a more balanced and transparent approach toward evaluating a country’s business and investment climate—one that has been shaped by recommendations from experts from within and outside the World Bank Group, including governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The first annual Business Ready report, covering 54 economies, will be published in the Spring of 2024,” the bank said.

On Monday, the World Bank Group published the Business Ready Manual and Guide detailing protocols and safeguards to ensure the integrity of the assessments. It also published the Business Ready Methodology Handbook, which details the project’s indicators and scoring methodology.

“Data collection on the business environment of the initial 54 economies is being done through extensive consultations with regulatory experts and nationally representative World Bank Enterprise Surveys, collected by competitively selected survey companies.

“The World Bank Group has long been a leader in spurring business-regulatory reforms across the world. Its assessments of the business-enabling environment worldwide helped spur nearly 4,000 regulatory reforms in developing and developed economies over the past two decades. They also significantly advanced academic research in this area, resulting in 4,000 peer-reviewed research papers and at least 10,000 working papers. Countries, moreover, often use these assessments to shape their development strategies,” the bank said.

The Director of the World Bank’s Indicators Group, which leads the project, Norman Loayza, said the project represents a new approach to assessing the business and investment climates.

Loayza said: “The ‘Business Ready’ approach aims to establish a better balance between the ease of conducting a business and the broader implications for society as a whole. It gives a more positive role for governments, advocating for better public services for businesses. In addition to experts’ assessments, it includes direct information from entrepreneurs and managers on their experience navigating the economy’s business environment.”

The report, it said, will focus on 10 topics covering business entry, business location, utility services, labour, financial services, international trade, taxation, dispute resolution, market competition, and business insolvency.

“Over the next three years, the project will grow to cover about 180 economies worldwide annually, starting with 54 economies in 2023-24, 120 economies in 2024-25, and reaching 180 economies in 2025-26,” it said.

India’s defence minister has accused China of eroding the “entire basis” of ties between the countries by violating bilateral agreements.

This is a reference to a nearly three-year-old standoff involving thousands of soldiers stationed along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with visiting Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and “had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations,” India’s Defence Ministry said.

Singh told Li that “development of relations between India and China is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranqulity at the borders,” and that all border issues need to be resolved in accordance with existing agreements and commitments, the ministry said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment on the talks by the Chinese side.

India said the deployment of a large number of Chinese troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the border status quo violate agreements between the countries. The violations have “eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations,” Singh said.

A clash three years ago in the Ladakh region killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese. It turned into a long-running standoff in the rugged mountainous area, where each side has stationed tens of thousands of military personnel backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets.

Days before Li’s visit, top Indian and Chinese army commanders held an 18th round of talks in an attempt to work out a disengagement of troops from areas of tension.

Both India and China have withdrawn troops from some areas on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Galwan Valley, but continue to maintain extra troops as part of a multitier deployment.

A Line of Actual Control separates Chinese and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. India and China fought a war over their border in 1962.

Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu is visiting New Delhi to attend a meeting of the defence chiefs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation today. The group consists of China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Krgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Singh also met separately yesterday with the defence ministers of Iran, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Amid speculations about his health, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday briefly appeared in a video conference attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders addressed a ceremony to mark the delivery of nuclear fuel to the first power unit at Turkey’s Akkuyu plant.

The 20-billion-dollar facility was built by Russia’s Rosatom in Mersin, southern Turkey.

The loading of the first fuel is the final step before Turkey starts nuclear power production, Erdogan said, calling the step a strategic investment to reduce the country’s energy dependency.

The plant is scheduled to be put into service gradually until 2028, to provide 10 per cent of Turkish electricity consumption, according to the pale-looking Turkish leader.

Putin lauded Erdogan’s role in realising what he called one of the largest joint Turkish-Russian projects.

Late on Tuesday, the 69-year-old Turkish president, had to interrupt a live TV interview due to a stomach upset.

Erdogan then cancelled election rallies for two days in a row.

The president is well and resting, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

It was not immediately clear when Erdogan would resume his campaign for Turkey’s May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Putin and Erdogan also discussed the Ukraine war and the Black Sea grain deal in a phone call prior to yesterday’s ceremony, Erdogan’s office said.