Hanoi river level hits 20-year high as typhoon toll passes 150

Update Hanoi river level hits 20-year high as typhoon toll passes 150
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Above, the flooded Red River in Hanoi on Sept. 10, 2024 in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi hitting northern Vietnam. (AFP)
Update Hanoi river level hits 20-year high as typhoon toll passes 150
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People stand on their balcony above a flooded street in Trang Dinh district, Lang Son province after Typhoon Yagi swept through northern Vietnam. (File/AFP)
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Updated 11 September 2024
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Hanoi river level hits 20-year high as typhoon toll passes 150

Hanoi river level hits 20-year high as typhoon toll passes 150
  • Police, soldiers and volunteers help residents along the banks of the swollen river in Hanoi to evacuate their homes
  • Typhoons in the region are forming closer to the coast, intensifying more rapidly, and staying over land longer due to climate change

HANOI: Residents of Hanoi waded through waist-deep water Wednesday as river levels hit a 20-year high and the toll from the strongest typhoon in decades passed 150, with neighboring nations also enduring deadly flooding and landslides.

Typhoon Yagi hit Vietnam at the weekend bringing winds in excess of 149 kilometers per hour and a deluge of rain that has also brought destructive floods to northern areas of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

The Red River in Hanoi reached its highest level in 20 years on Wednesday, forcing residents to trudge through waist-deep brown water as they retrieved possessions from flooded homes.

Others fashioned makeshift boats from whatever materials they could find.

“This was the worst flooding I have witnessed,” said Nguyen Tran Van, 41, who has lived near the Red River in the Vietnamese capital for 15 years.

“I didn’t think the water would rise as quick as it did. I moved because if the water had risen just a bit higher, it would have been very difficult for us to leave,” Van said.

A landslide smashed into the remote mountain village of Lang Nu in Lao Cai province, levelling it to a flat expanse of mud and rocks, strewn with debris and laced by streams.

State media said at least 30 people had been killed in the village, with another 65 still missing.

Villagers laid dead bodies on the ground, some in makeshift coffins, some wrapped in cloth, while police with picks and shovels dug through the dirt in search of more victims.

Vietnamese state media said the toll from Yagi — the strongest storm to hit northern Vietnam in 30 years — had risen to 155 across the country, with 141 missing.

It was not clear whether that total includes victims of Tuesday’s landslide, where access remained difficult and Internet was cut off, reports said.

Mai Van Khiem, head of the national weather bureau, told state media that the water level in the Red River in Hanoi was at its highest since 2004.

He warned of serious widespread flooding in the provinces surrounding the capital in the days to come.

Police, soldiers and volunteers helped hundreds of residents along the banks of the swollen river in Hanoi to evacuate their homes in the early hours as the water level rose rapidly.

A police official in Hanoi, refusing to be named, said officers were going on foot or by boat to check every house along the river.

“All residents must leave,” he said. “We are bringing them to public buildings turned into temporary shelters or they can stay with relatives. There has been so much rain and the water is rising quickly.”

On Tuesday images showed people stranded on rooftops and victims posted desperate pleas for help on social media, while 59,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in Yen Bai province.

In neighboring Laos, authorities evacuated 300 people from 17 villages in northern Luang Namtha province, deputy district chief Sivilai Pankaew said.

He said the high-speed Laos-China railway was not affected by the floods.

In the historic city of Luang Prabang — a world heritage site and major tourist destination — houses and shops were inundated, Lao Post reported.

State media said at least one person has been killed and images showed rescuers working in murky brown flood waters.

Thai authorities said four people were killed in the kingdom’s northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and the army has been deployed to help around 9,000 flood-hit families.

In Myanmar, residents and local media said flooding knocked out power and telephone lines in the town of Tachileik, in eastern Shan state where further heavy rain was forecast.

Further south, hundreds of residents of the Myanmar border trade hub of Myawaddy left their homes to take shelter in schools and monasteries on higher ground as flood waters rose, a resident of the town, which sits on the border with Thailand, said.

Southeast Asia experiences annual monsoon rains, but human-made climate change is causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more likely.

Typhoons in the region are forming closer to the coast, intensifying more rapidly, and staying over land longer due to climate change, according to a study published in July.


China covered up sinking of newest submarine: US official

China covered up sinking of newest submarine: US official
Updated 54 min 54 sec ago
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China covered up sinking of newest submarine: US official

China covered up sinking of newest submarine: US official
  • The sinking at a shipyard earlier this year was first reported by The Wall Street Journal
  • “It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside,” the official said

WASHINGTON: China sought to cover up the sinking of its newest nuclear-powered submarine, a senior US defense official said on Thursday.
The sinking at a shipyard earlier this year was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which also said that satellite imagery later showed large floating cranes arriving to salvage it.
“It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside,” the senior US defense official said on condition of anonymity, referring to Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army Navy.
“In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA’s internal accountability and oversight of China’s defense industry — which has long been plagued by corruption,” the official said.
The incident is a setback for China, which is seeking to modernize its navy — the largest in the world, but which includes many smaller warships such as frigates and corvettes.
The United States and Britain are meanwhile working to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines — a move that would expand the pool of countries with the advanced undersea vessels.
Beijing has been critical of the effort, which also envisages jointly developing advanced warfighting capabilities and is seen as a strategic answer to Chinese military ambitions in the Pacific region.


Humanitarian charities and NGOs project pro-Palestine messages on Brooklyn Bridge during UNGA

Humanitarian charities and NGOs project pro-Palestine messages on Brooklyn Bridge during UNGA
Updated 26 September 2024
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Humanitarian charities and NGOs project pro-Palestine messages on Brooklyn Bridge during UNGA

Humanitarian charities and NGOs project pro-Palestine messages on Brooklyn Bridge during UNGA
  • Organizations highlighted the death toll in Gaza and called for immediate ceasefire

LONDON: A coalition of humanitarian organizations projected messages of support for Palestine and a demand for a ceasefire in Gaza on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Wednesday evening.

The coalition, which included Action for Humanity, Avaaz, Christian Aid and Medical Aid for Palestinians, projected messages calling for the suspension of arms sales to Israel, calling for an immediate ceasefire and highlighting the more than 40,000 people killed in the conflict.

In a joint statement, the organizations highlighted the toll of 11,355 children among the dead, caused by Israeli military actions in Gaza.

“For over 11 months, humanitarians have been raising the alarm about Israel’s potential violations of international law, including the use of starvation and denial of water as weapons of war, attacks on civilian and so-called ‘safe’ areas, and targeting of aid operations,” the coalition said.

“Already, more than 40,000 people have been killed, 11,355 of whom are children, and hundreds of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained, while 90 percent of Palestinians in Gaza are displaced from their homes, and polio has resurged in Gaza after a quarter of a century, putting the lives of many children at risk,” it added.

They also pointed out Israel’s intensified attacks in Lebanon, which have already claimed nearly 600 lives, including 50 children and two UN staff members.

As member states gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, the coalition also urged countries to facilitate humanitarian aid and the safe release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.


Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards

Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards
Updated 26 September 2024
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Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards

Amir Khan and Nighat Arif collect Asian Achievers Awards
  • Evening was a testament to the exceptional achievements within the British Asian community
  • Lifetime Achievement Award went to former Member of Parliament Virendra Sharma

LONDON: Former boxer Amir Khan and TV doctor Nighat Arif were amongst the winners of Asian Achievers Awards in London.

The 22nd Asian Achievers Awards brought together over 500 distinguished guests from around the world to celebrate the outstanding contributions of leading South Asians in the UK. Hosted by former Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra and ITV newsreader Anila Dhami, the evening was a testament to the exceptional achievements within the British Asian community.

Amongst the night’s winners were fusion sound duo Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan, Leicester City footballer Hamza Choudhury, GP specializing in women’s health Dr. Nighat Arif, the founder of the Indian street food chain Chaiiwalas, and the founder of the largest distributor of car parts in Europe Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia.

For his over 50 years in public service, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to former Member of Parliament Virendra Sharma.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “British Asians are a driving force behind much of the social, cultural and economic innovation we see in Britain today. You represent so many of the values that help our communities thrive — ambition, hard work and inclusivity, to name just a few. This is why it is wonderful so see so many British Asian change-makers being recognized tonight by the team at EPG.”

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also sent his congratulations to the winners and the EPG team.

Boxer Amir Khan was awarded a Special Award for Philanthropy and said: “It’s a privilege to be recognized for the work I’ve always felt deeply passionate about. The real champions are those working every day to improve the lives of others, and I’m proud to play my part in that. This award is recognition for all those who have supported my foundation in the last decade and the brilliant team who work tirelessly on the ground.”

Organizer of the Awards, Pratik Dattani, said: “The British Asian community adds so much to Britain today. Tonight was testament to the longevity of our Awards – after 22 years, they still matter and they still are able to unearth the most exceptional people from across the country.”

Host Ganatra said: “Every year I come to these Awards and am impressed by the standard of nominations and the quality of the shortlist. Just look back at the last two decades of winners and you’ll see the event has tracked the growth of our community for more than a generation.”

The evening saw electric performances from Brit Asian music pioneer Juggy D and Edinburgh Fringe Festival winner, stand-up comedian Ahir Shah.

The event raised a large sum of money for the charity partner The Leprosy Mission’s efforts at helping marginalized communities across South Asia prosper.

The event was supported by pioneers of financial inclusivity Andaria, Dubai-based real estate innovators Aries Global, pioneer in luxury ayurveda Forest Essentials, India’s largest bank State Bank of India, solar panel installer Solar4Good, the home of zafran tea FiLLi Cafe, AI-driven legal solutions provider LexLegis.ai, Indian single malt whisky Indri, the world’s most famous cornershop Fortnum & Mason and others, as well as media partners Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar and LycaRadio.

Full List of Winners:

Special Award for Philanthropy: Amir Khan

Art and Culture Award: Abi Sampa and Rushil Ranjan

Business Person of the Year: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia

Community Service Award: Iftikhar Chaudhri

Entrepreneur of the Year: Muhammad Ibrahim (Chaiiwala)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Virendra Sharma

Media Person of the Year Award: Tasnim Nasser

Professional of the Year: Dr. Kesar Singh Sadhra

Sports Personality of the Year: Hamza Choudhury

Woman of the Year: Dr. Nighat Arif

Special Award for Entrepreneurship: Irshad Akhtar

Special Award for Young Business Person of the Year: Krishan and Shyam Sedani

Special Award for International Business Person of the Year: Bipen Sharma

Special Award for Professional Impact: Navita Yadav


Japanese court acquits the longest-serving death row inmate of a 1966 quadruple murder

Japanese court acquits the longest-serving death row inmate of a 1966 quadruple murder
Updated 26 September 2024
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Japanese court acquits the longest-serving death row inmate of a 1966 quadruple murder

Japanese court acquits the longest-serving death row inmate of a 1966 quadruple murder
  • Iwao Hakamada’s acquittal by the Shizuoka District Court makes him the fifth death row inmate to be found not guilty in a retrial in postwar Japan
  • The court found that evidence was fabricated and planted by investigators and that Hakamada was not the culprit, his lawyer Hideyo Ogawa said

TOKYO: A Japanese court found an 88-year-old former boxer not guilty on Thursday after a retrial for a 1966 quadruple murder, reversing a decision that made him the world’s longest-serving death row inmate.
Iwao Hakamada’s acquittal by the Shizuoka District Court makes him the fifth death row inmate to be found not guilty in a retrial in postwar Japan, where prosecutors have a more than 99 percent conviction rate. The case could rekindle a debate around abolishing the death penalty in Japan.
The court found that evidence was fabricated and planted by investigators and that Hakamada was not the culprit, his lawyer Hideyo Ogawa said.
After the ruling and an explanation were read out, his 91-year-old sister Hideko Hakamada walked out of the courthouse with a big smile, welcomed by cheers and two big bouquets of flowers to celebrate the acquittal of her brother after the 58-year legal battle.
“Thank you, everyone, we won an acquittal,” she told a televised news conference. “When I heard the main sentence, it sounded almost divine. I was so touched and could not stop crying with joy.”
Hakamada was convicted of murder in the 1966 killing of an executive and three of his family members, and setting fire to their home in central Japan. He was sentenced to death in 1968, but was not executed due to the lengthy appeal and retrial process in Japan’s notoriously slow-paced criminal justice system.
He spent 48 years behind bars — more than 45 of them on death row — making him the world’s longest-serving death row inmate, according to Amnesty International.
Ogawa said he asked the prosecutors not to appeal the case, as is possible, but was told they have not yet decided what to do.
The lawyer also said the defense team is considering filing a lawsuit against the government, in part to learn more about the troubled investigation. If prosecutors do not appeal and his acquittal is finalized, Hakamada would be entitled to seek compensation.
It took 27 years for the top court to deny his first appeal for retrial. His second appeal for a retrial was filed in 2008 by his sister.
That request was granted in 2014, when a court ruled there was evidence suggesting he was wrongly accused. He was not cleared of the conviction, but he was released from prison and allowed to await retrial at home because his poor health and age made him a low risk for escape.
But the case continued to bounce among several courts, until one finally ruled in his favor in 2023, paving the way for the latest retrial that began in October.
Following his arrest, Hakamada initially denied the accusations, but then confessed. He later said his confession was forced during a violent interrogation by police.
“I have nothing to do with the case … I am innocent,” he wrote in his letter to his mother while on trial in 1967.
On Thursday, the court concluded that five pieces of bloodstained clothing that investigators claimed to have found hidden in a tank of fermented soybean paste, or miso, a year after Hakamada’s arrest must have been put there long after the arrest.
The court cited scientific experiments that showed the bloodstains should not have been visible on clothing soaked in miso for a year. The ruling concluded that investigators, who had said Hakamada wore the clothes during the crime, had applied the bloodstains themselves and planted the clothing.
According to defense lawyers and earlier court rulings, the blood samples did not match Hakamada’s DNA, and trousers that prosecutors submitted as evidence were too small for him.
Thursday’s ruling also blamed the prosecutors for forcing Hakamada into a false confession because of an “inhumane” interrogation.
Ogawa, Hakamada’s lawyer, praised the ruling as “groundbreaking” for clearly stating that the prosecution fabricated key evidence at the beginning. “I believe this ruling puts an end to the case. ... Now we must prevent prosecutors from appealing no matter what.”
After Hakamada was sentenced to death, he expressed fear and anger at being falsely accused.
“When I go to sleep in a soundless solitary cell every night, I sometimes cannot help cursing God. I have not done anything wrong,” he wrote to his family. “What a cold-blooded act to inflict such cruelty on me.”
Hakamada, whose Christian name is Paulo, was invited to a Mass in Tokyo during Pope Francis’ visit in 2019, five years after his release.
Supporters say Hakamada’s nearly half-century detention took a toll on his mental health. Most of his 48 years behind bars was spent in solitary confinement. The first two months after Hakamada’s release, he kept pacing inside the apartment, without even trying to go outside, his sister said.
One day, she asked him to help her with groceries to get him to agree to leave the house. Going out for a walk then became his daily routine, though today he is less able and he goes out by car, assisted by his supporters.
The case has drawn attention to and criticism of Japan’s legal system. Japan Bar Association Chairperson Reiko Fuchigami urged the government and parliament on Thursday to promptly take steps to abolish the death penalty and lower hurdles for retrials.
“The Hakamada case clearly shows the cruelty of the wrongful death penalty, and the tragedy should never be repeated,” she said, expressing hope that Hakamada truly regains his freedom and lives in serenity as a citizen.
At a final hearing at the Shizuoka court in May before Thursday’s decision, prosecutors again demanded the death penalty, triggering criticism from rights groups that prosecutors were trying to prolong the trial.
Japan and the United States are the only two countries in the Group of Seven advanced nations that retain capital punishment. A survey by the Japanese government showed an overwhelming majority of the public supports executions.
Executions are carried out in secrecy in Japan and prisoners are not informed of their fate until the morning they are hanged. In 2007, Japan began disclosing the names of those executed and some details of their crimes, but disclosures are still limited.
Hideko Hakamada has devoted around half of her life to her brother’s case. Before Thursday’s ruling, she said she was in a never-ending battle.
“It is so difficult to get a retrial started,” She told reporters in Tokyo. “I’m sure there are other people who have been wrongly accused and crying. … I want the criminal law revised so that retrials are more easily available.”


Philippines to launch first nuclear power plant by 2032 

Philippines to launch first nuclear power plant by 2032 
Updated 26 September 2024
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Philippines to launch first nuclear power plant by 2032 

Philippines to launch first nuclear power plant by 2032 
  • Under national energy plan, Manila aims to have 4,800 MW of nuclear capacity by 2050
  • Philippine energy demand is expected to increase fourfold from 2020 to 2040

MANILA: The Philippines is planning for its first nuclear facility to be operational by 2032 and aims to add at least 1,200 megawatts of atomic power to the country’s grid, the Department of Energy has announced.

The government is exploring nuclear as an alternative energy option to reduce the Philippines’s dependency on coal, which is mostly imported and accounts for over half its power generation. 

“We aim to have commercially operational nuclear power plants by 2032, with at least 1,200 MW initially entering the country’s power mix, gradually increasing to 4,800 MW by 2050,” Undersecretary of Energy Sharon Garin said in a statement on Wednesday. 

As part of the Philippine Energy Plan, the government will establish an independent nuclear regulatory authority to oversee the safe and secure development of the Philippines’ nuclear energy program. It will prioritize legislation focused on nuclear safety, covering aspects of public health, environmental protection and national security, according to the Department of Energy. 

“The beneficial uses of nuclear technology have been extensive across sectors, leading to improved quality of life. These uses span the fields of health and medical, agriculture, industrial and energy,” Garin said. 

The Philippines joins other Asian countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, which are considering nuclear power in order to meet rapidly rising power demands and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 

Manila stopped accepting new proposals for coal-based power projects in 2020 to encourage investment in other energy sources. 

Under the national energy plan, the government aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix from 22 percent currently to 50 percent by 2040.

Philippine authorities expect the country’s power demand to increase almost fourfold from 2020 to 2040, especially as it remains dependent on imported fossil fuels and has insufficient renewables.

“The Philippines energy mix is precarious — 60 percent imported coal, 20 percent from depleting Malampaya gas,” Carlo Arcilla, director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, told Arab News, referring to a gas field in the western Philippines that is expected to run dry by 2027.

“We actually need more nuclear because most of the Philippines’ electricity comes from coal ... Coal and gas, which are base load, are polluting and expensive. No choice (for the Philippines) but clean and dependable nuclear as base load support for renewables.”

The Philippines is home to Southeast Asia’s first nuclear power plant, which was completed in 1986 but has never produced electricity. It was never used and was closed due to safety concerns following the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in April 1986.