US accuses Russia of using ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine

US accuses Russia of using ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine
A Ukrainian serviceman walks near destroyed building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the frontline town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region. (Reuters/FIle)
Short Url
Updated 02 May 2024
Follow

US accuses Russia of using ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine

US accuses Russia of using ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine

WASHINGTON: The US State Department accused Russia Wednesday of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow.
In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used “riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC,” the department said in a factsheet.
“The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident, and is probably driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield,” the State Department said.
Meanwhile the US Treasury Department announced sweeping sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s military and industrial capabilities — including targeting nearly 300 entities in Russia, China and other countries accused of supporting President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The sanctions are meant to punish companies that help Moscow acquire weapons for its war in Ukraine. They also target Russian government entities and companies involved in the country’s chemical and biological weapons programs.
Russia has said it no longer possesses a military chemical arsenal, but the country faces pressure for more transparency over the alleged use of toxic weapons.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, the chemical chloropicrin is used both as a warfare agent and pesticide. If inhaled, it poses a health risk.
“Today’s actions will further disrupt and degrade Russia’s war efforts by going after its military industrial base and the evasion networks that help supply it,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
The accusations and sanctions come a week after US President Joe Biden signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as Kyiv’s military struggles to hold back Russian advances.
“Even as we’re throwing sand in the gears of Russia’s war machine, President (Joe) Biden’s recently-passed National Security Supplemental is providing badly-needed military, economic, and humanitarian support to bolster Ukraine’s courageous resistance,” Yellen said.
“Combined, our support for Ukraine and our relentless targeting of Russia’s military capacity is giving Ukraine a critical leg-up on the battlefield.”
As part of the measures, the State Department blacklisted additional individuals and companies involved in Moscow’s energy, mining and metals sectors.
The sanctions also targeted individuals connected to the death of Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny who died in a Siberian prison in February.
The almost 300 targets sanctioned included dozens of actors accused of enabling Russia to acquire desperately needed technology and equipment from abroad, the Treasury said.
Some of those targeted were based in countries such as China that have faced increasing pressure from Washington over support for Russia during its 15-month invasion of Ukraine.
“This support enables Russia to continue its war against Ukraine and poses a significant threat to international security,” the Treasury Department said.
Other than China, targeted non-Russian entities were located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.
These companies “enable Russia to acquire desperately-needed technology and equipment from abroad,” the statement said.


Earthquakes under a volcano near Alaska’s largest city raise concerns

Earthquakes under a volcano near Alaska’s largest city raise concerns
Updated 07 December 2024
Follow

Earthquakes under a volcano near Alaska’s largest city raise concerns

Earthquakes under a volcano near Alaska’s largest city raise concerns

ANCHORAGE: An increase in the number of earthquakes under a volcano near Alaska’s largest city this year has geologists paying attention.

Mount Spurr, about 129 kilometers northwest of Anchorage, last erupted in 1992, spewing an ash cloud nearly 19 kilometers into the air, prompting flights to be canceled and people to don masks. Another eruption at the 3,383-meter stratovolcano could be severely disruptive to the city, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

The observatory raised its alert status for Mount Spurr in October — from green to yellow — when the increase in seismic activity became pronounced and a ground deformation was spotted in satellite data. Observatory scientist David Fee said Friday there have been about 1,500 small earthquake below the volcano this year, compared to about 100 in a normal year.

While that might seem like a lot, it’s “not an enormous amount,” Fee said. It could be a precursor to an eruption — or not. Similar seismic unrest occurred from 2004 to 2006 before subsiding without an eruption.

“We don’t see any significant change in our data that would tell us that an eruption is imminent,” Fee said. “Things have been kind of this low-level unrest for a while now and we’re, of course, watching it very closely to detect any changes and what that might mean.”

Scientists are monitoring seismic stations, global satellite data and a webcam for additional changes that would signal an impending eruption. If magma is moving closer to the surface, there would be an increase in earthquakes, ground deformations, the creation of a summit lake or fumaroles, which are vents that open in the surface to vent gas and vapors. 


Restored Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens, five years after fire

Restored Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens, five years after fire
Updated 07 December 2024
Follow

Restored Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens, five years after fire

Restored Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens, five years after fire
  • The 860-year-old medieval building has been meticulously restored, with a new spire and rib vaulting
  • Tourists, who still cannot go inside the cathedral, snapped pictures with the restored building in the background as final preparations for the event went on inside

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed guests set to include Donald Trump on Saturday at Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral for its reopening ceremony, five-and-a-half years after a huge fire brought the Gothic masterpiece close to collapse.
The 860-year-old medieval building has been meticulously restored, with a new spire and rib vaulting, its flying buttresses and carved stone gargoyles returned to their past glory and white stone and gold decorations shining brightly once again.
Getting US President-elect Trump to attend, and organizing a meeting between him and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace ahead of the Notre-Dame ceremony was a coup for Macron as he faces a political crisis at home, after parliament ousted his prime minister.
Zelensky joined Britain’s Prince William, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former French presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, who were arriving for the evening ceremony.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close adviser in Trump’s transition team, was also set to attend, a French government source said.
Earlier, tourists, who still cannot go inside the cathedral, snapped pictures with the restored building in the background as final preparations for the event went on inside.
“It was very sad to see it burnt down and all black and ashy but amazing to see it rebuilt. Yeah, it’s very special,” said 26-year-old US tourist Amanda Nguyen, from Texas.
Some Parisians were particularly thrilled.
“What does Notre-Dame mean to me? This. Look, it’s here,” said careworker Pascal Tordeux, displaying a tattoo on his arm representing the cathedral. “It means everything.”
“I saw the construction every day from my window, the spire being brought down, being brought back. I saw it burn, I saw it rise again. I followed it day by day,” said Tordeux, who lives across the river from Notre-Dame.
On the evening of April 15, 2019, dismayed Parisians rushed to the scene and TV viewers worldwide watched horrified as the fire raged through the cathedral.
“The planet was shaken on that day,” Macron said ahead of Saturday’s event. “The shock of the reopening will – I believe and I want to believe – be as strong as that of the fire, but it will be a shock of hope.”
THOUSANDS WORKED ON RESTORATION
Forecast strong winds mean the non-religious part of the celebrations, including Macron’s speech, which had been set to be held outside the cathedral, will also be held inside.
Would-be visitors can now book a free ticket online, on the Cathedral’s website. But on Saturday, the first day bookings could be made for the coming days, all tickets were gone, a message on the site said.
Group visits will be allowed next year — from Feb. 1 for religious groups or from June 9 for tourists with guides. The Catholic Church expects the cathedral to welcome 15 million visitors each year.
Thousands of experts — from carpenters and stonemasons to stained glass window artists — worked around the clock for the last five years, using age-old methods to restore, repair or replace everything that was destroyed or damaged.
“Notre-Dame is more than a Parisian or French monument. It’s also a universal monument,” said historian Damien Berne.
“It’s a landmark, an emblem, a point of reference that reassures in a globalized world where everything evolves permanently,” said Berne, a member of the scientific council for the restoration.
The cathedral’s first stone was laid in 1163, and construction continued for much of the next century, with major restoration and additions made in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Victor Hugo helped make the cathedral a symbol of Paris and France when he used it as a setting for his 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.” Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed in Hollywood movies, an animated Disney adaptation and in musicals.
So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world — more than 840 million euros ($880 million), according to Macron’s office — there are still funds left over for further investment in the building.


Hundreds of thousands in Ireland and UK left without power as Storm Darragh batters the region

Hundreds of thousands in Ireland and UK left without power as Storm Darragh batters the region
Updated 07 December 2024
Follow

Hundreds of thousands in Ireland and UK left without power as Storm Darragh batters the region

Hundreds of thousands in Ireland and UK left without power as Storm Darragh batters the region
  • Officials sent a rare emergency alert by phone to about 3 million households
  • Major highways and bridges across the country were closed

LONDON: Hundreds of thousands of people in Britain and Ireland were left without power and millions were warned to stay indoors Saturday as high winds and heavy rain battered the region.
Gusts of up to 93 miles per hour were recorded as officials sent a rare emergency alert by phone to about 3 million households in Wales and southwest England early Saturday.
The official alert, which came with a loud siren-like sound, warned people to stay indoors and was sent to every compatible mobile phone in the areas impacted by Storm Darragh.
On Friday the UK’s weather forecasters, the Met Office, issued a red weather warning — the most serious type. Thousands of homes, many in Northern Ireland, Wales and western England, were left without power overnight.
Major highways and bridges across the country were closed because of strong winds, and multiple train services were suspended.
In Ireland, almost 400,000 homes, farms or businesses were without power as a result of the storm. Some flights at Dublin Airport were canceled.


South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after his party boycotts vote

South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after his party boycotts vote
Updated 07 December 2024
Follow

South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after his party boycotts vote

South Korea’s Yoon survives impeachment after his party boycotts vote
  • Yoon Suk Yeol stunned the nation and the international community Tuesday night by suspending civilian rule
  • The probable outcome is likely to enrage crowds demonstrating outside parliament for Yoon’s ouster

SEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment motion in the opposition-led parliament on Saturday that was prompted by his short-lived attempt to impose martial law this week, after members of his party boycotted the vote.

Only 195 votes were cast, below the threshold of 200 needed for the vote to count.

“The entire nation is watching the decision being made here at the National Assembly today. World is watching,” National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik said with a sigh. “It’s very unfortunate that there wasn’t even a vote.”

The main opposition Democratic Party has said it will revive the impeachment motion next week if it failed on Saturday.

Yoon shocked the nation late on Tuesday when he gave the military sweeping emergency powers in order to root out what he called “anti-state forces” and overcome obstructionist political opponents. He later rescinded the order.

He apologized to the nation in a speech on Saturday morning but resisted calls to resign ahead of the vote.


Festive spirit in full swing as Filipinos observe world’s longest Christmas season

Festive spirit in full swing as Filipinos observe world’s longest Christmas season
Updated 07 December 2024
Follow

Festive spirit in full swing as Filipinos observe world’s longest Christmas season

Festive spirit in full swing as Filipinos observe world’s longest Christmas season
  • Most Filipinos start celebrating the Christmas spirit in September, some even earlier
  • Blend of Catholic, folk, and Western influences creates a unique holiday season

MANILA: In many parts of the world, the holiday rush has just begun, but for Filipinos, it is already in full swing as they embrace local traditions and the festive spirit of what is known as the world’s longest Christmas season.

Christmas songs begin airing on the radio as early as September and continue through October, November, and December — the so-called “ber months,” a time when the northeast monsoon brings cooler weather.

“As soon as September rolls around, Christmas songs start playing, and the festive spirit begins to take over. Personally, I love it — it’s such a reflection of our celebratory and joyful nature as a culture. Stretching out the season just gives us more time to embrace the happiness and togetherness that Christmas brings,” Noelle Lejano, 24, a writer and brand strategist, told Arab News.

For her, Christmas is a time that brings people together like no other.

“Christmas in the Philippines stands out because it’s not just a day or even a week — it’s a months-long celebration that showcases our strong sense of community and joy,” she said. “The blend of our festive spirit, the warmth of our traditions, and our love for making every moment count makes Christmas in the Philippines truly one-of-a-kind.”

A blend of the country’s deep-rooted Catholic influences, indigenous folk traditions, and adopted Western commercial practices has created a unique holiday season for Filipinos.

Its significance is especially felt in provinces such as Pampanga, about 80 km north of Manila, where the season also marks a surge in livelihood opportunities.

The province is known as a food capital and a hub for lantern makers, with traces of the holiday spirit season felt even earlier in the year.

Parol, the traditional star-shaped lantern that Filipino households hang in front of their homes each year, is one of the most famous items produced in Pampanga’s capital city, San Fernando. The parol symbolizes the star that guided the Three Wise Men to the manger of Jesus in Bethlehem.

“The festive spirit begins as early as July, when lantern makers start crafting their giant creations for the famous Giant Lantern Festival. By August, streets are adorned with vibrant lanterns of all shapes and sizes. From the food to the atmosphere and various festivities, Pampanga truly embodies the essence of Christmas,” said Gerald Gloton, a Pampanga-based photographer.

Many Filipinos believe in the spirit of the holidays as a time for families to reunite, with Filipinos in the country and abroad traveling to their native towns to be with their loved ones.

“That is the only time we can spend time together as a family. They are staying in Sorsogon while I’m currently working and living in Quezon City,” said Nicca Parico, a government employee.

“It’s magic. It’s also a time for reconciliation. Those who do not speak for months suddenly smile at each other or have small talks.”

While Christmas is marked by traditional delicacies that many Filipinos eat only once a year, what truly matters is not what is on the table, but the time spent reuniting with loved ones and witnessing the joy of children like never before.

“This is the season where kids are anticipating so many things to happen and of course for them to receive gifts,” said Paul Caneda, an executive at a sporting company. “(Christmas for me) is mainly for family gatherings, being with people you love most.”