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Gazans await ‘life and death’ aid, Israel readies invasion
Thousands of tonnes of "life and death" aid for Gaza should be delivered soon, the United Nations said Friday, to relieve a "beyond catastrophic" situation after unrelenting Israeli bombing in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack. Some 175 lorries stuffed with vital medicines, food, and water stretched into the distance at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which has removed concrete roadblocks and is scrambling to repair the route into besieged Gaza -- the only one not controlled by Israel. Overseeing operations personally, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters: "These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza." Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group launched a shock raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians shot, mutilated or burned to death, according to Israeli officials. Hamas gunmen also kidnapped some 200 hostages including foreigners from around two dozen countries. The Islamist group said Friday that its armed wing had released two Americans among the captives, a mother and her daughter, the first fruit of mediation efforts by the Gulf state of Qatar. The Islamist group did not detail how or when the hostages were released. The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive. It said more than 20 were minors. In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli bombers have levelled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion they say is coming soon. The Hamas-run health ministry said 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the onslaught. Israeli jets pounded more than 100 Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, the army said, with AFP reporters hearing loud explosions and witnessing plumes of smoke billowing from the northern Gaza Strip. Embracing front-line soldiers and clad in body armour, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to "fight like lions" and "win with full force". Fists clenched and voice raised, Netanyahu told cheering troops: "We will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told some of the tens of thousands of personnel preparing the ground invasion that "the order will come soon". 'Beyond catastrophic' US President Joe Biden said Friday he expected the first aid for Gaza to pass through the Rafah crossing from Egypt within the next two days, under a deal he clinched to allow in 20 trucks of supplies for civilians. Medicine, water purifiers and blankets were being unloaded at El Arish airport near Gaza, an AFP reporter saw, with Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, saying he was getting "two to three planes of aid a day". But World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said Biden's 20-truck deal was "a drop in the ocean of need" and that 2,000 trucks were required. The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people are displaced, with the humanitarian situation "beyond catastrophic" and deteriorating daily. Refugees from northern Gaza told harrowing tales of bombs, profiteering and extreme temperatures as whole families trekked on foot to flee the violence. Mother of seven Fadwa Al-Najjar walked for 10 hours with her family from northern Gaza to reach a UN camp in the southern city of Khan Yunis, saying she saw cars hit by a strike just in front of them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she said. 'It's unimaginable' On the other side of the conflict, the full horror of what Israel suffered on October 7 and following days was still emerging, as traumatised residents recounted their stories. Shachar Butler, a security chief at the Nir Oz kibbutz, where Hamas militants killed or kidnapped a quarter of the 400 residents, recalls more than a dozen gunmen spraying bullets indiscriminately and lobbing grenades at homes. "It's unimaginable," the 40-year-old told AFP as part of a trip organised by the Israeli military. "Anytime someone tried to touch my window, I shot him," he said. "The people who came out got kidnapped, killed, executed, slaughtered." Butler estimated as many as 200 militants attacked the kibbutz, entering from three sides before going house-to-house. Homes there were still charred with burnt personal belongings strewn everywhere. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control. 'No safe place' Biden requested a massive $105 billion security package Friday, including $14 billion for Israel, but paralysis in the still speakerless Congress means it will hit an immediate wall. Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, Biden is hoping to staunch the possibility of a wider Middle East war. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, from getting involved. After days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the Lebanese border, Israeli authorities announced the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a nearby town which is home to some 25,000 residents, many of whom have already left. The conflict has inflamed passions across the region, with protests held in several countries. Thousands flooded into Egypt's iconic Tahrir Square in support of Gaza, an AFP correspondent said. Protests were also held outside the French and US embassies in Tunis. Following a strike at a church compound late Thursday, the Hamas-controlled interior ministry said several people sheltering at the church were killed and wounded, blaming an Israeli strike. The Israeli army acknowledged a church wall had been damaged in one of its air strikes targeting a "command and control centre belonging to a Hamas terrorist". "This place is dedicated for praying, a place of love and peace," said witness Abu Khalil Jahshan. "There is no safe place here in Gaza." The post Gazans await ‘life and death’ aid, Israel readies invasion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel strikes Gaza again amid new violence at border
The Israeli army launched a drone strike on the Gaza Strip on Saturday after violent protests in which three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, sources on both sides said. The early evening strike is one of a series that has come amid near-daily protests at the border by Palestinians after Israel closed the Erez crossing from Gaza. A drone "struck a military post belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, adjacent to the area where a violent riot was taking place", the army said. It added that "shots were fired toward" Israeli soldiers near the border during the strike, without reporting any casualties. A Palestinian security source told AFP that an "Israeli aircraft had targeted a Hamas surveillance site east of Gaza City", without mentioning any casualties. Earlier in the day, Palestinian demonstrators faced off against Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, an AFP journalist reported. Demonstrators set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. Three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel has imposed an air, land and sea blockade on the impoverished Palestinian enclave ever since the Islamist group Hamas seized control in 2007. Thousands of Palestinian workers from Gaza have been prevented from entering Israel by the closure of the Erez crossing, which an Israeli NGO, Gisha, condemned as "collective punishment". Israel has issued work permits to some 18,500 Gazans, COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs, said on Tuesday. Since September 13, six Palestinians have been killed and nearly 100 wounded during violence at the border, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza. Armed conflict sporadically erupts between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire resulted in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. The post Israel strikes Gaza again amid new violence at border appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Small plane crashes into road killing 10
Investigation has started to determine the cause of a small plane’s crash into a road near Malaysia’s capital on Thursday that killed eight people aboard and two on the ground. The cockpit voice recorder recovered from the Beechcraft Model 390 is being analyzed Friday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Friday. The CVR records what happens in the cockpit, including the final conversations of the flight crew and other sounds. “I have instructed for investigations to be sped up and done thoroughly. We will make the results public as soon as possible once analysis is concluded,” Loke told reporters. He added that all human remains of fatalities have been recovered. The plane exploded into a fireball on impact on the four-lane road in Selangor state west of the capital Kuala Lumpur Thursday night. Thick black smoke seen rising from the site, video clips from the scene showed. The plane took off from the northern resort island of Langkawi and was approaching Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Selangor at the time of the crash, civil aviation authority chief Norazman Mahmud said on Thursday. Loke said earlier that the plane had been cleared to land but “veered to the right of the landing flight path” before it crashed. Mohamad Syahmie Mohamad Hashim, a former member of the Malaysian air force who happened to witness the lead-up to the crash, said he saw the plane flying erratically and then heard an explosion. He told reporters Thursday he rushed to the scene and saw debris from the aircraft as well as a “human body on fire.” WITH AFP The post Small plane crashes into road killing 10 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ten killed in light plane crash on street in Malaysia
A light plane crashed into a street in Malaysia's central Selangor state on Thursday, killing eight people on board and two motorists on the ground, the local police chief said. "For now, I can say at least 10 people were killed in the plane crash. Two passing motorists -- one in a car and one on a motorcycle -- also perished together with the eight on board the plane," Mohamad Iqbal Ibrahim told AFP. Johari Harun, a state assemblyman in central Pahang state in charge of housing and the environment, was among the plane passengers killed, police said. Malaysia's civil aviation authority said in a statement that six passengers and two flight crew were on board the aircraft when it crashed, although it did not confirm any casualties. The plane took off from the northern resort island of Langkawi and was heading to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, west of the capital Kuala Lumpur, civil aviation authority chief Norazman Mahmud. "No mayday call was made," he said. An investigation into the crash will be made by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau, he said. Mohamad Syahmie Mohamad Hashim, a former member of the Malaysian air force, said he saw the plane flying erratically. "Not long after that I heard a loud boom," he told reporters. "I sped towards the location and saw the remains of an aircraft. I also saw (a) human body on fire. I couldn't do anything," he said. Other witnesses said the Beechcraft Model 390 burst into flames as it hit the ground in Elmina Estate near the suburb of Shah Alam, which houses a mix of residential homes and factories. An explosion was also heard, they said. One user of X, formerly called Twitter, shared a brief video showing fire and black smoke billowing from the crash site, which was covered with dark soot. Debris was scattered around and houses could be seen in the background. In September 1977, a Japan Airlines plane bound for Singapore crashed into another housing estate. Forty-five people survived and 34 were killed. The post Ten killed in light plane crash on street in Malaysia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAL to add new aircraft this week
The Philippine Airlines (PAL) is slated to receive a second aircraft, Airbus A321CEO, this week as part of its fleet expansion and network dependability improvement. In a statement, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the A321 aircraft, which can accommodate 199 passengers in a dual-class configuration, will be used for PAL's domestic and regional routes. This single-aisle jet is the first of several aircraft that PAL is working to acquire or reactivate in the coming months. Villaluna added that additional aircraft are anticipated to join the fleet soon, including one Airbus A330-300 wide-body aircraft with a capacity of 363 seats to be used on medium-haul routes and one De Havilland Dash 8-400NG aircraft with a capacity of 86 seats to be used for PAL's inter-island operations. Negotiations are also underway to secure additional aircraft. As a result of supply chain delays that affect the whole airline sector, PAL is also actively working to coordinate with its suppliers and service partners to re-activate more aircraft that have been idle for a long time while awaiting new engines and parts. PAL Vice President for Network Planning Christoph Gaertner said that they are taking various actions to boost their fleet count and enable them to meet the continuing surge in travel demand while minimizing delays and cancellations. Gaertner added that they have also proactively reduced some frequencies on a number of routes as part of a rationalization of their schedules so that they can ensure high reliability going forward. They are working with their suppliers as well as aircraft and engine manufacturers on initiatives to increase efficiency without compromising safety, which is their absolute top priority, and this is their obligation to their passengers, who expect a pleasant flying experience when traveling on our global network. For its popular operations in North America and maybe Europe, PAL recently announced that it had finalized the purchase of nine brand-new Airbus A350-1000 long-haul aircraft. These 380-seater new-generation jets will be the most cutting-edge aircraft to fly over the Philippine skies when they begin to be delivered in 2025. The post PAL to add new aircraft this week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Budget airline but with better services
Passengers of AirAsia Philippines can expect better services from low-cost air carrier sets to add more routes, increase the frequency and utilize wide-body aircraft following its recent transfer to a bigger terminal. AirAsia Philippines started welcoming passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 last week. It will operate all its domestic flights to and from the Centennial terminal — offering guests bigger space, better amenities, and a more comfortable travel experience. “We keep saying that this is a winning move for our guests because they deserve only the best from us. Moving to Terminal 2 will allow us to add more routes, increase the frequency and utilize wide-body aircraft soon to improve connectivity and enhance customer experience,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said. Isla also pointed out that AirAsia Philippines’ On-Time Performance, or OTP the past months reached an average of around 80 to 85 percent. 100% on some days “We even reach a high of 100 percent on some days when there are no factors causing disruptions such as weather or lightning red alerts, air traffic congestion, and non-scheduled maintenance,” he added. For Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla, “industry stakeholders and government to continue to engage to ensure that passengers ultimately win.” “We shall work closely with the industry towards full and strict adherence to the Air Passenger Bill of Rights as we endeavor to go above and beyond in the service of the Filipino people,” Arcilla said. AirAsia Philippines has been allocated 20 check-in counters for guests entering the south wing of the terminal. At Terminal 2, AirAsia Philippines passengers can utilize the seven operational aero bridges in the south wing and four remote parking bays during high traffic or peak hours. AirAsia operates more than 100 domestic flights daily and aims to increase routes and frequency during winter to provide guests with affordable flights. The post Budget airline but with better services appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
At its 787 Dreamliner factory, Boeing prepares for takeoff
As airlines seek to fulfill customers' growing post-pandemic appetites for long-haul travel, Boeing is aiming to speed up production of its 787 Dreamliners after a period plagued by repeated delivery interruptions due to manufacturing defects. At a hangar in the US East Coast state of South Carolina, the plane begins to take shape on its first assembly line -- here, the wings, cockpit, cabin and tail are still in separate pieces. It will take about a month for the entire aircraft to come together, with the final touches added later, in the parking lot. The US aerospace giant has already managed to up its manufacturing rate from fewer than two 787s per month in 2021 to four, and is hoping to get up to five by the end of the year. On the second assembly line in the hangar, located in the city of North Charleston, three completed airplanes are inspected. They had to be returned for adjustments, after the discovery of several production flaws beginning in 2020. There are still several dozen other planes under inspection, but Boeing plans to move that review process to its factory in Everett, in Washington state, by the end of the year. That will allow them to devote the second assembly line in South Carolina solely to plane construction, meaning they can ramp up to 10 787s per month by 2025 or 2026. That would bring the factory close to Boeing's pre-pandemic production rate of 14 jets per month, which was achieved by splitting 787 construction between South Carolina and Washington state, before it was all consolidated to the East Coast in 2021. Boeing says it's not worried about potential cancelations from airline clients unhappy with the delays. "Our problem right now is more to just getting these planes in the hands of the customers," Lane Ballard, the 787 program's general manager said during a press visit to Boeing's South Carolina locations Tuesday and Wednesday, ahead of the Paris Air Show later this month. Despite the rebound in sales of its flagship medium-haul 737 MAX last year -- giving the company its best delivery numbers since 2018 -- Boeing is pinning its financial hopes on the 787, after four consecutive years in the red. Recent months have finally seen an uptick in orders for large planes, the market for which was already suffering before the drop in long-haul air traffic during Covid lockdowns. Boeing has historically dominated the high-margin long-haul manufacturing scene with its 787 and 777 configurations, competing with Airbus's A350 and A330. Now, with Boeing no longer producing its 747 jumbo jet, the lag on its 777 passenger model and the five-year delay in certification for its 777X, set for 2025, the company is counting on the 787. It took a gamble on the 787 line -- which launched in 2004 and began flying in 2011 -- by increasing its use of carbon fiber composites for the fuselage and wings. As a result, the plane is lighter and requires less fuel. Many of the aircraft's major parts are shipped in from Italy, Japan and Kansas in one of Boeing's so-called Dreamlifters -- modified 747s specially designed for carrying cumbersome equipment. And back in South Carolina, the back of the aircraft is built in an adjacent hangar next door. Betting on the 787 seems to have paid off so far: Boeing has received 250 orders for the plane just in the last six months. "By the end of this year, it's almost guaranteed the 787 will be the most popular passenger wide-body in history," with even more total purchases than the 777 or Airbus A330, Boeing vice president of commercial marketing Darren Hulst predicted. The post At its 787 Dreamliner factory, Boeing prepares for takeoff appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAL picks long-haul fleet as travel surges
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines or PAL has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the purchase of nine A350-1000s for its ultra-long-haul fleet project. The A350-1000 will be operated for non-stop services from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the US and Canada. The new aircraft will join two A350-900s already in service and currently flying to destinations in North America, Asia and Australia. As with the A350-900, the PAL A350-1000s will have separate Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins. Stanley Ng, president and chief operating officer of Philippine Airlines, said the range of the A350-1000 would enable the airline to fly non-stop transpacific and transpolar routes in both directions all year. These will include some of the longest commercial flights in the world, such as those linking the Philippines with New York and Toronto. With an expanded A350 fleet, PAL will have the ability to once again provide a direct link from the Philippines to Europe. “The A350-1000 combines greater range capability with the higher capacity needed to serve future demand. It’s the perfect aircraft to enable PAL to meet its expansion plans in a sustainable way while offering passengers the highest levels of onboard comfort,” he said. Best possible experience We are committed to offering our passengers the best possible travel experience, and these state-of-the-art aircraft will enable us to do just that as we carry out our mission to connect the world, and grow trade and tourism.” “Flying passengers farther and in greater comfort, the A350 brings a step-change in fuel efficiency and an immediate significant contribution to reduced emissions. We look forward to working closely with our long-standing customer Philippine Airlines as it moves forward with its long-haul fleet modernization program,” Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer, said. At the end of April 2023, the A350 Airbus line had won 928 firm orders from 54 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever. Some 530 aircraft are currently in the fleets of 40 airlines, flying primarily on long-haul routes. Philippine Airlines operates various Airbus types on its network. In addition to the A350 on long-haul intercontinental routes, PAL flies A330-300s on services to the Middle East. The post PAL picks long-haul fleet as travel surges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAL to acquire 9 Airbus planes
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines will purchase nine new wide-body aircraft in the next four years to be deployed for long-haul services to North America and, possibly, to Europe......»»
Myanmar junta admits village air strike
Myanmar’s ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out an air strike on a village in which dozens of people were reported killed, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers. The early Tuesday morning strike on the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region killed at least 50 and wounded dozens, according to reports by BBC Burmese, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia, as well as a witness contacted by Agence France-Presse. Military aircraft strafed Pazi Gyi village, where scores of locals had gathered to mark the opening of a local defense force office connected to junta opponents, a witness told AFP. One fighter jet and a helicopter were involved in the attack, a security source told AFP. The junta confirmed Wednesday it had “launched limited air strikes” after receiving a tip-off from locals about the event. Graphic video clips circulating on social media — footage AFP has been unable to verify or geo-locate because of the absence of significant landmarks — show bodies scattered among ruined homes. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by the deadly air strike, whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun late on Tuesday said some of the dead were anti-coup fighters in uniform, though “there could be some people with civilian clothes.” The spokesperson went on to blame mines planted by the People’s Defence Force — coup opponents — for some of the deaths. Buddhist New Year The attack came as Myanmar was preparing to mark the Buddhist new year — Thingyan — which begins Thursday and traditionally involves public water fights, but celebrations are expected to be muted. “As the people of Myanmar celebrate their New Year, the EU (European Union) is deeply shocked by reports of the latest atrocity committed by the military regime in Sagaing, taking the lives of dozens of innocent civilians,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali said. The UN while not confirming a toll, said several civilians were killed, with Turk accusing Myanmar’s military of once again disregarding “clear legal obligations... to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities.” Military aircraft strafed Pazi Gyi village. The military’s crackdown on dissent following the February 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government has left more than 3,200 people dead, according to a local monitoring group. Sagaing region — near the country’s second-largest city of Mandalay — has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military’s rule, with intense fighting raging there for months. The post Myanmar junta admits village air strike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Myanmar confirms deadly air strike as international outcry rises
Myanmar's ruling junta confirmed on Wednesday that it carried out an air strike on a village in which dozens of people were reported killed, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers. The official death toll from the Tuesday morning strike on the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region remains unclear, with at least 100 fatalities reported by the BBC, The Irrawaddy, and Radio Free Asia. A villager involved in rescue and recovery efforts at Pazi Gyi village -- who asked not to be named to protect his safety -- said body parts had been strewn across the site of the attack, and estimated the death toll to be higher than 120. Following a coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in 2021, the military's crackdown on dissent and armed groups opposed to their rule has left more than 3,200 people dead, according to a local monitoring group. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the deadly air strike, whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. On Wednesday, the villager told AFP it was difficult to identify the dead. "We can not identify anymore who is who among the dead because they all became pieces," he said. The man estimated about 80 bodies had been cremated on Wednesday, with rescuers halting efforts to recover roughly 40 more bodies "because we were afraid of more air strikes". Village strafed Tuesday's strike saw military aircraft strafe Pazi Gyi, where scores of locals had gathered to mark the opening of a local defense force office connected to junta opponents, a witness told AFP. One fighter jet and a helicopter were involved in the attack, a security source told AFP. The junta confirmed Wednesday it had "launched limited air strikes" after receiving a tip-off from locals about the event. It did not say how many were killed but insisted the military had tried to minimize harm to civilians. "We heard that more people were killed because of big explosions from weapons and ammunitions... displayed at the opening event," a junta statement said. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun late on Tuesday said some of the dead were anti-coup fighters in uniform, though "there could be some people with civilian clothes". The spokesman went on to blame mines planted by the People's Defence Force -- coup opponents -- for some of the deaths. Sagaing region -- near the country's second-largest city of Mandalay -- has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military's rule, with intense fighting raging there for months. The attack came as Myanmar was preparing to mark the Buddhist new year -- Thingyan -- which begins Thursday and traditionally involves public water fights, but celebrations are expected to be muted. International condemnation "As the people of Myanmar celebrate their New Year, the EU is deeply shocked by reports of the latest atrocity committed by the military regime in Sagaing, taking the lives of dozens of innocent civilians," EU foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali said. France's foreign ministry said in a statement that the "abominable" strike demonstrated "the strategy of indiscriminate violence the Myanmar junta has inflicted on Myanmar's people for more than two years". UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and reiterated his call "for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country", according to a statement from his spokesperson. Washington also denounced the "reprehensible" attack. "We strongly condemn the regime's air strikes and urge the regime to cease the violence," US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet tweeted. Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director Phil Robertson said the strike was likely to have a chilling effect across Myanmar society. "I think this will cause greater fear amongst the people," he told AFP. "I think in the future, communities will be reluctant to hold a... mass gathering of any sort, recognizing that they could be bombed". According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Myanmar conflict tracker, the military has carried out 689 air and drone strike attacks since the coup. Rights groups have called for the international community to further restrict Myanmar's access to aviation fuel in the wake of the attack. But Bangkok-based security analyst Anthony Davis told AFP that demand was "divorced from reality". "Russia is a firm ally of the junta and one of the world's largest oil exporters. Do we seriously believe Moscow will sit and watch the Myanmar Air Force being slowly grounded for a lack of aviation fuel?" he said. The post Myanmar confirms deadly air strike as international outcry rises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Myanmar confirms deadly air strike as international outcry mounts
Myanmar's ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out an air strike on a village in which dozens of people were reported killed, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the deadly air strike, whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. The death toll from the Tuesday morning strike on the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region remains unclear, with at least 50 fatalities and dozens of injuries reported by BBC Burmese, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia, as well as by a witness contacted by AFP. Myanmar's military has cracked down on dissent following a February 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government, with the ensuing unrest leaving more than 3,200 people dead, according to a local monitoring group. Tuesday's strike saw military aircraft strafe Pazi Gyi village, where scores of locals had gathered to mark the opening of a local defense force office connected to junta opponents, a witness told AFP. One fighter jet and a helicopter were involved in the attack, a security source told AFP. The junta confirmed Wednesday it had "launched limited air strikes" after receiving a tip-off from locals about the event. It did not say how many were killed but insisted the military had tried to minimize harm to civilians. "We heard that more people were killed because of big explosions from weapons and ammunitions... displayed at the opening event," a junta statement said. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun late on Tuesday said some of the dead were anti-coup fighters in uniform, though "there could be some people with civilian clothes". The spokesman went on to blame mines planted by the People's Defence Force -- coup opponents -- for some of the deaths. Sagaing region -- near the country's second-largest city of Mandalay -- has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military's rule, with intense fighting raging there for months. Buddhist New Year The attack came as Myanmar was preparing to mark the Buddhist new year -- Thingyan -- which begins Thursday and traditionally involves public water fights, but celebrations are expected to be muted. "As the people of Myanmar celebrate their New Year, the EU is deeply shocked by reports of the latest atrocity committed by the military regime in Sagaing, taking the lives of dozens of innocent civilians," EU foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali said. While not confirming a toll, the UN said several civilians were killed, with Turk accusing Myanmar's military of once again disregarding "clear legal obligations... to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities". A rescuer connected to a People's Defence Force group told AFP that children were among the dead. After recovering bodies and transporting survivors to safety, he estimated the death toll could be as high as 100. 'Reprehensible' UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and reiterated his call "for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country", according to a statement from his spokesperson. Washington also denounced the "reprehensible" attack. "We strongly condemn the regime's air strikes and urge the regime to cease the violence," US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet tweeted. Human Rights Watch Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson said the strike was likely to have a chilling effect across Myanmar society. "I think this will cause greater fear amongst the people," he told AFP. "I think in the future, communities will be reluctant to hold a... mass gathering of any sort, recognizing that they could be bombed, they could be attacked." According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Myanmar conflict tracker, the military has carried out 689 air and drone strike attacks since the coup. Rights groups have called for the international community to further restrict Myanmar's access to aviation fuel in the wake of the attack. But Bangkok-based security analyst Anthony Davis told AFP that demand was "divorced from reality". "Russia is a firm ally of the junta and one of the world's largest oil exporters. Do we seriously believe Moscow will sit and watch the Myanmar Air Force being slowly grounded for a lack of aviation fuel?" he said. Myanmar's National Unity Government, a shadow body dominated by former lawmakers from ousted civilian leader Suu Kyi's party, called the strike a "heinous act". "We... share the great pain felt by the families affected by this tragedy," it said in a statement. The post Myanmar confirms deadly air strike as international outcry mounts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Air New Zealand puts two Dreamliners on the ground
Due to emergency maintenance of their aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Air new zealand Had to Two of these aircraft are grounded Wide body and Cancel.....»»
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Revisiting Uniteam (Last of 2 parts)
THE Uniteam coalition of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, described by many political analysts as the "dream team", had come a long way since sweeping the 2022 elections......»»
Double pay for workers reporting on Holy Week
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Red carpet to be rolled out for FIVB world meet
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BTr raises P120 billion from T-bond sale
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Beijing 2008 Olympics: one world, one dream
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