Cincunri Sakia: Januari 2023

Selasa, 31 Januari 2023

Ukraine preparing for major escalation by Russia, top Ukrainian security official tells Sky News - Sky News

Ukraine is preparing for a major escalation by Russia - possibly even in the next two to three weeks, the Ukrainian president's top security official has said.

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, told Sky News that the hardest fighting was yet to come and said the next few months would be crucial in deciding the course of the war.

He urged western allies to send more weapons, including Royal Air Force Typhoon jets from the UK and fighter aircraft from other partners.

"Russia is preparing for maximum escalation," Mr Danilov said in an interview on Tuesday at his headquarters in the capital Kyiv.

"It is gathering everything possible, doing drills and training."

He did not rule out the possibility that President Vladimir Putin attempts another attack from the north, south and east, as happened on 24 February 2022 - maybe even to coincide with the anniversary.

"We do understand everything is on the table… I can say that we are not excluding any scenario in the next two to three weeks."

He said that Ukraine's military was preparing for all possibilities and this time around had significantly more support from western partners such as the UK than 12 months ago.

"Those countries who help us in our struggle have started to provide us maximum help."

A western official, however, said that they had not seen sign yet of Russia planning anything specifically for 24 February.

"We will continue to monitor that," the western official said in a briefing to journalists.

"Traditionally they [Russia] have tried to do things on dates. The Ukrainians come from a similar culture as well in that regard, but I haven't seen anything from either side to suggest they do have plans afoot."

Mr Danilov said he expected about half of more than 320,000 soldiers mobilised by Russia last September would be involved in the second wave whenever it came.

The first half of the manpower have already been deployed to Ukraine to replenish Russian lines after Moscow's invading forces suffered significant losses.

Ukraine has also paid a heavy price in military personnel and civilians killed and wounded.

'Bloodier days to come'

Yet the top security official predicted even bloodier days ahead.

"Of course. We went through an extensive difficult period, but I'm conscious the main fights are yet to come and they will happen this year, within two to three months. These will be defining months in the war," Mr Danilov said.

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It is why the Ukrainians are desperate for their western partners to send more lethal weapons and faster.

They have secured tanks - belatedly - and are now after fast jets.

"It would be great if they were [RAF] Typhoon jets. F-16s are also good," Mr Danilov said.

"Any help would be good."

It is not just Russian forces rearming and preparing to go on the attack.

"We have our own plans and they are clear to us," Mr Danilov said - but they are secret.

"They're not hidden from our main partners: the UK, US and other countries who are helping us. We will follow our plan."

The ultimate goal is to retake all territory captured by Russian forces - not just since 24 February 2022 but since Russia launched its first invasion of Ukraine back in 2014, capturing the Crimean peninsula and backing so-called separatists in the eastern Donbas region.

"We will definitely win due to having all the world's support behind us," Mr Danilov said.

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2023-01-31 20:40:16Z
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Pakistan mosque attack: At least 100 killed in suicide bombing - as militant commander tries to claim responsibility - Sky News

The number of people killed in a suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Pakistan has risen to at least 100 – and authorities have warned there could be more casualties.

A further 225 people were left injured in the blast, which saw a bomber detonate a suicide vest as numerous worshippers – including many local policemen – were praying inside.

Local police officer Zafar Khan said the impact of the explosion caused the roof of the mosque to cave in, injuring dozens.

Rescuers worked through the night and into Tuesday morning, removing mounds of debris to reach worshippers still trapped under the rubble.

The death toll rose as more bodies were found and several of the critically injured died, said Mohammad Asim, a government hospital spokesman in Peshawar.

Most of the victims were police officers, he said.

Riaz Mahsud, a senior local government official, added that the casualty toll was likely to rise as workers continued to clear the debris.

Officials initially said at least 59 people were killed. A hospital spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed the death toll had risen to 100.

The 'handiwork of a well-organised group'

Who carried out the bombing remains unclear, but a commander from the Pakistani Taliban, known as the TTP, did try to claim responsibility.

However, a spokesman for the group later distanced it from the carnage, saying it was not its policy to target mosques.

It comes at a time when the TTP, which is the main anti-government militant group, has stepped up attacks, particularly targeting the police and the military.

Counter-terrorism police are investigating how the bomber was able to reach the mosque, which is inside a walled-off police headquarters compound called Police Lines.

Akhtar Ali Shah, a former regional interior secretary once based in Peshawar, said it "was not a spur of the moment attack".

"It was the handiwork of a well-organised group," he said, adding that those behind the attack must have had inside help to gain access to the compound and probably entered it several times for reconnaissance or even to plant explosives ahead of time.

Local media published a photograph showing people gathering around the collapsed wall of the mosque.

One survivor, 38-year-old police officer Meena Gul, said he was inside the mosque during the blast, and that he did not know how he survived unhurt.

He said he could hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded, adding there were more than 150 worshippers inside the mosque when the bomb went off.

PM vows to take 'stern action'

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the bombing in a statement, before ordering authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the victims.

He also vowed "stern action" against the perpetrators.

Former prime minister Imran Khan described the bombing as a "terrorist suicide attack".

"My prayers & condolences go to victims families," the ex-premier said on Twitter.

"It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."

The Pakistani Taliban is usually suspected of such attacks in the country, after claiming similar bombings in the past.

Known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, the Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, which seized power in neighbouring Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their withdrawal from the country after 20 years of war.

The group has waged an insurgency in Pakistan over the past 15 years, fighting for stricter enforcement of Islamic laws, the release of their members who are in government custody, along with a reduction of Pakistani military presence in the country's former tribal regions.

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2023-01-31 15:22:30Z
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Ukraine war: Joe Biden rules out sending F-16 fighter jets - BBC

By Kathryn Armstrong

BBC News

US President Joe Biden has ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, despite renewed calls from Ukrainian officials for urgent air support.

Asked by a reporter on Monday if the US would be providing the planes, Mr Biden simply replied "no".

His comment comes a day after Germany's leader also ruled out sending jets.

Ukraine has long been pushing its allies to send advanced war planes to help Kyiv take control of its airspace in its ongoing war with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country's top military officials say there should be no taboos on such military aid - but the US and its partners fear this would lead to further escalation with a nuclear-armed Russia.

US-made F-16 Fighting Falcons are widely considered one of the world's most reliable fighter jets and are used by other countries, such as Belgium and Pakistan.

They would be a significant upgrade on the Soviet-era fighting jets - mostly MiGs - Ukraine is currently using, which were made before the country declared independence from the USSR in 1991.

However, Mr Biden has repeatedly rebuffed Ukraine's pleas for the jets, instead focussing on providing military support in other areas.

The US announced last week it would supply Kyiv with 31 Abrams tanks, reversing its earlier stance on the issue. The UK and Germany also pledged similar support..

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk welcomed that announcement but asked allies for the creation of a "fighter jet coalition" that would also provide Ukraine with Eurofighters, Tornados, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets.

In an interview on Sunday, Germany's chancellor said that it "seemed frivolous" to discuss sending other military aid to Ukraine when his government had just committed to sending Leopard 2 tanks.

Olaf Scholz also reiterated to German newspaper Tagesspiegel that the Nato military alliance was not at war with Russia and that it would "not allow such an escalation".

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macon said on Monday that "by definition, nothing is excluded", referring to military assistance to Ukraine. But he stressed that it must neither further inflame the situation nor limit France's ability to defend itself.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov is now in Paris, where he is expected to discuss the issue with top French officials.

Poland - another key ally of Ukraine - has also not ruled out sending F-16s to Kyiv. However, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said any such move would only be possible "in complete co-ordination" with other Nato members.

Andriy Yermak, the head of President Zelensky's office, said that Ukraine had received "positive signals" from Warsaw.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Nato of being an aggressor by proxy and members of the alliance, including the US and Germany, have been reluctant to send military aid that could see the conflict escalate.

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2023-01-31 08:12:37Z
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Suicide bomber kills at least 83 in Pakistan mosque attack - Sky News

At least 83 people have been killed and 57 injured after a suicide bomber struck a mosque in Pakistan.

The bomber detonated his suicide vest as a large number of worshipers - including many policemen from nearby police offices - were praying inside.

Local police officer Zafar Khan said the impact of the explosion caused the roof of the mosque to cave in, injuring dozens.

Officials initially said at least 59 people were killed. A hospital spokesperson later confirmed the death toll had risen to 83.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, local police said.

Local media published a photograph showing people gathering around the collapsed wall of the mosque.

One survivor, 38-year-old police officer Meena Gul, said he was inside the mosque during the blast, and that he did not know how he survived unhurt.

He said he could hear cries and screams after the bomb exploded, adding there were more than 150 worshippers inside the mosque when the bomb went off.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the bombing in a statement, before ordering authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the victims.

He also vowed "stern action" against the perpetrators.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan described the bombing as a "terrorist suicide attack".

"My prayers & condolences go to victims families," the ex-premier said on Twitter.

"It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism."

The Pakistani Taliban is usually suspected of such attacks in the country, after claiming similar bombings in the past.

Known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, the Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighbouring Afghanistan in August 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their withdrawal from the country after 20 years of war.

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Senin, 30 Januari 2023

Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in suicide attack that kills 59 - BBC

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By Carrie Davies in Peshawar, Laura Gozzi & Malu Cursino in London

BBC News

At least 59 people have been killed by a suicide bombing that apparently targeted policemen praying in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The mosque is within the tightly guarded police headquarters area.

"Terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.

The Pakistani Taliban denied involvement after an initial claim by one of its commanders.

The group ended a ceasefire in November, and violence has been on the rise since.

In December it targeted a police station - like Peshawar, in the north-west of the country - leading to the deaths of 33 militants.

A hospital spokesman told the BBC the death toll stood at 59, while 157 people had been injured.

Between 300 and 400 police officers were in the area at the time, Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan told local media.

The mosque is in one of the most heavily controlled areas of the city, which includes police headquarters and intelligence and counter-terrorism bureaus.

Mr Sharif said those behind the attack had "nothing to do with Islam". He added: "The entire nation is standing united against the menace of terrorism."

The blast took place around 13:30 (08:30 GMT) during afternoon prayers in the north-western city, near the country's border with Afghanistan.

A video circulating on social media and verified by the BBC shows that half of a wall caved in. The mosque was covered in bricks and debris as people clambered over the rubble to escape.

Security officials inspect the site of a mosque blast inside the police headquarters in Peshawar on January 30, 2023.

Hours after the blast, BBC News witnessed a facility full of the injured, many still wearing their police uniforms.

Some were covered in burns cream, their skin red with burns from the explosion. Others have broken bones from being hit by falling rubble.

One man said he still could not hear because of the sound of the blast. Another man said he had been rescued after being trapped under the rubble for almost an hour.

The prime minister travelled to Peshawar on an emergency visit, where he will be briefed by local officials and visit those wounded by the blast.

A man, still wearing his police uniform, receiving treatment in hospital in Peshawar

UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the attack, with his spokeswoman saying: "It is particularly abhorrent that such an attack occurred at a place of worship."

The attack on the mosque took place at the start of a key week for Pakistani diplomacy.

On Monday, the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was due to visit Islamabad - although the trip was cancelled at the last minute because of bad weather.

On Tuesday, an International Monetary Fund delegation is meant to visit Pakistan as part of the process to unlock a bailout loan to prevent the country from defaulting.

Last March, Peshawar was the target of another bombing, which killed dozens in a Shia Muslim mosque in the majority Sunni Muslim country.

In the capital Islamabad, police issued a high alert and said security at all entry and exit points to the city had been increased.

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2023-01-30 23:53:26Z
1756379324

US not interested in pressing Israel amid violence: Experts - Al Jazeera English

Washington, DC – Even compared with the volatile nature of Israel’s decades-long occupation of the Palestinian territories, the last few weeks have been marked by extraordinary tensions and deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

But when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel this week, he only reiterated Washington’s longstanding positions on the conflict: an “ironclad” commitment to Israel, a call for calm, and rhetorical support for the two-state solution.

Almost everything that Blinken said during a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday was drawn — at times verbatim — from previous State Department statements.

George Bisharat, a professor at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, said the US administration views occasional eruptions of violence in Israel-Palestine as “inconveniences to be managed” while maintaining unconditional support for the Israeli government.

“From the United States’ point of view, let’s be real: They don’t give a damn about Palestinian lives,” Bisharat told Al Jazeera.

“They only care to the extent that these flare-ups interfere with what the United States perceives to be its strategic interests in the region, which have nothing to do with human rights — of anybody, not just the Palestinians.”

‘Status quo’

Blinken’s visit comes after a Palestinian gunman on Friday fatally shot seven Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem after Israeli forces killed 10 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in one of the deadliest days in recent memory.

Despite the mounting tensions, the US administration is unlikely to change course soon, said Annelle Sheline, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a US-based think tank.

“The Biden administration policy towards the Middle East in general, and Israel specifically, is premised on maintaining the status quo, and not acknowledging the ways that the status quo is shifting under their feet,” Sheline told Al Jazeera.

“It is long past time for a new approach, but I don’t think we’re likely to see one,” she added.

“I haven’t seen any inclination from anyone in the administration that they’re interested in trying to pressure Israel. I think they worry about the optics of that.”

[embedded content]

Although Biden promised to centre human rights in his foreign policy when he took office, his administration has pushed to strengthen US support for Israel, which major rights groups have accused of imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians.

Israel receives $3.8bn in US military aid annually, and Biden increased the assistance by $1bn last year.

Criticising Israel still enacts a high political cost in the US, experts have pointed out, while President Joe Biden has touted his own ideological stance as a self-proclaimed Zionist.

Meanwhile, amid the Ukraine war, intensifying US competition with China and a busy domestic agenda, Israel-Palestine is far from the top of Biden’s priorities — a reality that Bisharat said cements Washington’s view of the current crisis as a minor, manageable matter.

Echoing Sheline, Bisharat said US officials waving prospects of the two-state solution only serves to maintain the status quo of indefinite Israeli occupation by treating it as temporary.

“It’s a distraction from people appreciating the reality that we have been stuck in this rut of continuing, ongoing settler colonialism in the West Bank — and all of the apartheid measures that are necessitated by it,” he said.

No public criticism of Israel

Blinken, like other officials in the Biden administration, has been reluctant to criticise Israel publicly.

The top US diplomat did not waver from that approach on Monday, as he lauded the US-Israel alliance and highlighted Washington’s efforts to further “integrate” Israel into the Middle East and strengthen its normalisation deals with Arab states.

Blinken cautioned against moves that would go against the “vision” of the two-state solution, which he said would be “detrimental to Israel’s long-term security and its long-term identity as a Jewish and democratic state”.

He also failed to provide a clear answer when asked about punitive measures that Netanyahu’s government is considering imposing on families of Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israelis, including deportations and home demolitions.

“There is no question that this is a very difficult moment. We’ve seen the horrific terrorist attacks in recent days. We’ve seen over many months rising violence that is affecting so many,” Blinken said in Cairo earlier on Monday before heading to Jerusalem.

During the news conference alongside Netanyahu, he paid tribute to the seven Israelis killed by the Palestinian gunman last week.

Israeli forces take up position during confrontations with Palestinians, in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. — The Israeli military has been conducting near daily, fatal raids in the occupied West Bank [Mussa Qawasma/Reuters]

But Blinken did not mention the at least 35 Palestinians, including eight children, killed by Israel this month, nor did he criticise Israeli settlements or make reference to Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a US citizen who was fatally shot by Israeli forces last year.

The US Department of State did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on whether Blinken raised Abu Akleh’s case with Israeli officials on Monday.

After decades of unquestioning US support for Israel, many Palestinian observers say they do not expect Blinken’s ongoing trip to bring about any change. The top US diplomat is set to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday in Ramallah.

Yara Hawari, senior analyst at the Al-Shabaka policy network, a Palestinian think tank, called Blinken’s visit to the region “insignificant”.

“Indeed, his visit so far has been textbook — he reiterated the US’s unwavering support of the Israeli apartheid regime and praised the so-called special US-Israeli relationship,” Hawari told Al Jazeera in an email.

“And let’s be clear, this is a support which is not only diplomatic but also a support that sees billions of dollars of bilateral aid and military assistance every year.”

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2023-01-30 23:05:11Z
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Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in attack that kills 59 - BBC

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By Carrie Davies in Peshawar, Laura Gozzi & Malu Cursino in London

BBC News

At least 59 people have been killed by a bomb that apparently targeted policemen praying in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The mosque is within the tightly-guarded police headquarters area.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said "terrorists want to create fear by targeting those who perform the duty of defending Pakistan".

No group has said it carried out the attack, but it has been linked to the Pakistan Taliban.

The group ended a ceasefire in November, and violence has been on the rise since.

In December it targeted a police station - like Peshawar, in the north-west of the country - leading to the deaths of 33 militants.

Early unconfirmed reports said a bomber had blown himself up in the mosque on Monday.

A hospital spokesman told the BBC the death toll stands at 59, while 157 people were injured.

Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan told local media that between 300 and 400 police officials were in the area at the time.

The mosque is in one of the most tightly controlled areas of the city, which includes police headquarters and intelligence and counter-terrorism bureaus.

In a statement, PM Sharif said those behind the attack "have nothing to do with Islam". He added: "The entire nation is standing united against the menace of terrorism."

The blast took place around 13:30 (08:30 GMT) during afternoon prayers in the north-western city, near the country's border with Afghanistan.

A video circulating on social media and verified by the BBC showed that half of a wall caved in. The mosque was covered in bricks and debris as people clambered over the rubble to escape.

A rescue operation is continuing inside the mosque and "more bodies are being taken out," Peshawar city Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan said.

"Currently our priority is to save people buried under the debris," Mr Khan added.

Hours after the blast, BBC News witnessed a facility full of the injured, many still wearing their police uniforms.

Some were covered in burns cream, their skin red with burns from the explosion. Others have broken bones from being hit by falling rubble.

One man said he still couldn't hear because of the sound of the blast. Another man said he had been rescued after being trapped under the rubble for almost an hour.

The prime minister travelled to Peshawar on an emergency visit, where he will be briefed by local officials and visit those wounded by the blast.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, with his spokeswoman saying: "It is particularly abhorrent that such an attack occurred at a place of worship."

The attack on the mosque took place at the start of a key week for Pakistani diplomacy.

On Monday, the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was due to visit Islamabad - although the trip was cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather.

On Tuesday, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is meant to visit Pakistan as part of the process to unlock a bailout loan to prevent the country from defaulting.

Last March, Peshawar was the target of another bombing, which killed dozens in a Shia mosque.

In the capital, Islamabad Police issued a security high-alert and said security at all entry and exit points to the city had been increased.

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Mining giant 'sorry' over lost radioactive capsule in Australia - BBC

An illustration showing the size of the capsule

By Monica Miller

BBC News

Mining giant Rio Tinto says it is working with authorities to try to find a radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia this month.

"We recognise this is clearly very concerning and are sorry for the alarm it has caused," the firm told the BBC.

The casing contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness if touched.

It was lost between the town of Newman and the city of Perth, a distance of roughly 1,400km (870 miles).

"As well as fully supporting the relevant authorities, we have launched our own investigation to understand how the capsule was lost in transit," Rio Tinto's Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said in a statement.

"As part of this investigation we are working closely with the contractor to better understand what went wrong in this instance," he added.

Urgent search for radioactive capsule in Australia

Rio Tinto said the device involved was a density gauge which is commonly used in the mining industry. It was being used at its Gudai-Darri mine site in Western Australia to measure the density of iron ore feed.

The silver capsule is just 6mm (0.24 inches) in diameter and 8mm long.

The company said the capsule left the mine on 12 January. It was reported missing on 25 January, although it remains unclear how long the item has been missing.

"Rio Tinto engaged a third-party contractor, with appropriate expertise and certification, to safely package the device in preparation for transport off-site ahead of receipt at their facility in Perth. Prior to the device leaving the site, a Geiger counter was used to confirm the presence of the capsule inside the package."

A Geiger counter is an electronic device used for detecting and measuring radiation.

Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri mine area in Western Australia

State officials have issued a radiation alert across a vast swathe of Western Australia.

Authorities are now searching for the capsule on the route from Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth.

However, exposure to trace quantities of the metal is like "receiving 10 X-rays in an hour, just to put it in context, and... the amount of natural radiation we would receive in a year, just by walking around," said Western Australia's chief health officer Andrew Robertson.

The state's desert is remote and one of the least populated places in the country. Only one in five of Western Australia's population lives outside of Perth, the state's capital.

However, officials say they are concerned that someone could pick up the capsule, not knowing what it is.

"If you have contact or have it close to you, you could either end up with with skin damage, including skin burns... and if you have it long enough near you, you could cause what is called acute radiation sickness, and that will take a period of time," Mr Robertson added.

This incident comes as the company is trying to repair its reputation in Australia after it was hit by a backlash for destroying sacred Aboriginal rock shelters in Western Australia.

Rio Tinto blasted the 46,000-year-old rock shelters at Juukan Gorge to expand an iron ore mine.

The incident sparked a major outcry that led to several of the company's top bosses standing down.

In September 2020, then-chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques and other senior executives, including the heads of its iron ore and corporate relations divisions, said they would leave the company.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiLGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2J1c2luZXNzLTY0NDQ4ODc50gEwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYnVzaW5lc3MtNjQ0NDg4NzkuYW1w?oc=5

2023-01-30 07:36:45Z
CBMiLGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2J1c2luZXNzLTY0NDQ4ODc50gEwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYnVzaW5lc3MtNjQ0NDg4NzkuYW1w

Selasa, 31 Januari 2023

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Senin, 30 Januari 2023

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‘Status quo’

No public criticism of Israel

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