US says it will press Israel on rules of engagement after journalist’s killing
WASHINGTON — Washington will press Israel to review its policies and practices on rules of engagement after the Israel Defense Forces concluded that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely shot by an Israeli soldier, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday.
“We will continue to press Israel directly and closely at the senior-most levels to review its policies and practices on this to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again in the future,” Patel said at a regular press briefing. — Reuters
China clears roads to quake epicenter;
death toll rises to 74
BEIJING — China has reopened roads leading to the epicentre of Monday’s 6.8 magnitude earthquake in the southwestern province of Sichuan and traffic has resumed, state media reported on Wednesday, while the death toll has risen to 74.
In addition, a total of 259 people were injured in the disaster and 26 remained missing as of Tuesday night, the People’s Daily reported.
The strongest earthquake to hit the province since 2017 destroyed numerous buildings and caused severe damage to power and water infrastructure as well as telecommunications.
Rescuers had rushed to reach stranded people, restore utilities and send emergency relief, while 11,000 people were evacuated on Tuesday from Luding county, where the quake was centred.
Early on Wednesday, China Earthquake Networks Centre recorded a magnitude 3 aftershock at the epicentre, at a depth of 12 km (7.5 miles).
Weather forecasters have also warned of the prospect of heavy rains in the region until Friday. — Reuters
Taiwan military shows off mettle
with latest combat drills
PINGTUNG, Taiwan — Tanks pounded targets and fighter jets roared overhead on Wednesday as Taiwan’s military carried out its latest combat drills after weeks of sabre-rattling by giant neighbour China.
China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has been holding exercises around the island since a visit to Taipei last month by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwan, which rejects China’s sovereignty claims, has repeatedly stressed its calm reaction to Beijing’s activities, but that it also has the resolve and ability to defend itself if needed.
“Ground combat readiness training is an essential duty of the armed forces and is also something that we have to do each day and every moment,” defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang told reporters on a government-organized visit to Pingtung in Taiwan’s far south to see the drills.
“Regarding defence operations in Taiwan and its outlying islands, we conduct our exercises with the attitude of reacting to threats according to terrain and being able to fight everywhere to complete our duty of increasing war preparedness,” he added.
Taiwan’s armed forces are well-equipped but dwarfed by China’s. President Tsai Ing-wen has been overseeing a modernization programme and has made increasing defence spending a priority. — Reuters
Vietnam karaoke bar fire
kills at least 12 – state media
HANOI — At least 12 people died and 40 others were injured in a fire at a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam, state media reported on Wednesday .
The fire broke out on Tuesday night at the bar in Binh Duong province, an industrial production hub near Ho Chi Minh City, according to the official Vietnam News Agency.
Among the injured, 11 were in serious condition, the report said.
“When the fire broke out, I was so panicked and ran for safety and can’t remember how it happened,” a witness, who identified herself only as Quynh, was quoted as saying in the report.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Public Security and provincial authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.
Chinh also ordered cities and provinces across the Southeast Asian country to step safety standards at facilities prone to fire, including at karaoke bars.
Karaoke is popular in Vietnam, but lax safety standards at venues have raised concerns. Three firefighters were killed in a fire at another karaoke bar in Hanoi last month. — Reuters
Nigeria’s Rivers state police free
15 children abducted for trafficking
YENAGOA, Nigeria — Police in Nigeria’s Rivers state rescued 15 children who were abducted in order to be trafficked, police said in a statement on Tuesday.
The children, ranging from 4 years to 15 years old, were found with a 44-year-old woman claiming to be a nun in the southern state in Nigeria’s Delta region.
Police arrested the woman, Maureen Wechinwu, and said they were working to reunite the children with their parents.
“Investigation is ongoing with the view of arresting other suspects linked in the case,” Eboka Friday, Rivers state commissioner of police said in the statement.
One rescued nine-year-old boy had been taken from a market in October 2020 in neighboring Bayelsa state and had already been sold to a woman in Lagos and returned to Wechinwu, police said.
Human trafficking is common in Nigeria, according to the US State Department and non-profit organization Pathfinders Justice Initiative, with children kidnapped or coerced into domestic labour, sex work or other forced labor. — Reuters
