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Al Arabiya
12 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Israel kills dozens in Gaza; Kremlin awaits Trump envoy ahead of sanctions deadline
In this episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, we report on the ongoing war in Gaza, where health officials say at least 40 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes, including 10 who were seeking aid. We also cover the Kremlin's statement that it expects 'important' talks later this week with US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, ahead of Trump's looming deadline to impose new sanctions on Russia unless it makes progress toward a peace deal in Ukraine. Guests: Moshe Elad – Middle East specialist Ahmed Fattouh – Fatah spokesperson Dasha Chernyshova – Correspondent Ander Antikov – Political analyst
Arab News
12 minutes ago
- Arab News
Hundreds gather to mark five years since Beirut blast, but justice still elusive
BEIRUT: Hundreds of Lebanese gathered solemnly near Beirut's coast on Monday to commemorate a half-decade since the cataclysmic port blast of 2020, when more than 200 people were killed in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Carrying Lebanese flags and portraits of some of the victims, many of those standing said they felt deeply disappointed that no one has been held to account for the devastating explosion.'Can someone tell me why five years on we're still standing here? If everyone stands with this cause, then who's against us?' said William Noun, whose brother Joseph, a firefighter, was killed by the blast.'This file needs to close. It's been five years and we don't want to have a sixth,' Noun said from a stage set up near the blast destroyed large swathes of Beirut, leaving tens of thousands of people names of all those killed were read out as protesters stood facing the wreckage of the Beirut grain silos, which were heavily damaged in the blast and continued to deteriorate and collapse for years after. At 6:07 p.m. — the time of the blast five years ago — the few hundred gathered stood for a moment of silence.'I'm here because I find it crazy that five years later, we still don't know exactly what happened,' said Catherine Otayek, 30. 'I had hope for answers in 2020. I didn't think we'd still be here.'Although she did not lose anyone herself, the Lebanese expatriate living in France said she made it a point to return to Beirut every year for the commemoration as a duty to fellow port blast came nearly a year into Lebanon's catastrophic economic collapse, and was followed by a political crisis that paralyzed government and a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel starting in STYMIEDThe blast is thought to have been set off by a fire at a warehouse on the evening of August 4, 2020, detonating hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate. Lebanese officials promised at the time that an investigation into the blast's root causes would be completed in five days. But years of political interference stymied the probe, with judicial officials and then-ministers continually raising legal challenges against the investigating judges, effectively paralysing the investigation. Some Lebanese have drawn hope from pledges by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam — both of whom came to power at the beginning of this year — to prioritize justice for blast Monday, Aoun pledged to hold those responsible for the blast accountable, regardless of their position or political affiliation. 'Justice will not die, and accountability will inevitably come,' he president and prime minister did not attend Monday's commemoration. Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year and has questioned several officials in recent months — but he has yet to issue a preliminary indictment, which many Lebanese were hoping for ahead of the fifth anniversary.'We want a preliminary indictment that is complete and comprehensive,' said Paul Naggear, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra was killed in the blast. 'We want to know who was supposed to evacuate our neighborhoods, so that we could get to the hospital, and so my daughter could have survived.'Naggear and his wife Tracy have been among the most vocal advocates for accountability for the groups have pressed for a full investigation that will establish the full chain of responsibility. 'Justice delayed is justice denied,' said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty International's Lebanon campaigner. 'The families of those killed and injured in the Beirut explosion have waited an intolerable five years. They must not be forced to endure another year of impunity.'
Arab News
12 minutes ago
- Arab News
PM announces Rs4 billion for mapping, rebuilding flood-hit infrastructure in Gilgit-Baltistan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced Rs4 billion ($14 million) funds for mapping and rebuilding flood-hit infrastructure in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region. At least 10 people have died and five others have sustained injuries in the region in rain- and flood-related incidents in GB, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Several people, including tourists, remain missing after deadly flash floods. The region, home to thousands of glaciers and five out of 14 world peaks above the height of 8,000 meters, has suffered the highest infrastructure losses, with 347 houses destroyed and 196 partially damaged, and several roads and bridges damaged and blocked by raging floodwaters over the last few weeks. Sharif arrived in Gilgit city on Monday to review the flood situation in the region and presided over a meeting, attended by senior officials and ministers of the regional and central governments, to take stock of the damages during the monsoon season. 'Today, I stand before you, alongside members of my cabinet, to express our heartfelt solidarity with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. I assure you, God willing, that I will remain present with you until you are fully settled in your homes once again,' he told affected people at a ceremony to distribute compensation cheques, urging regional and federal authorities to work relentlessly to prepare against climate disasters. 'I will return at the end of August, God willing, during which [NDMA chief] Inam Haider is tasked to conduct full mapping of the losses, estimate damages, and report back. I expect contributions from both federal and Gilgit-Baltistan governments. Today, I announce a fund of 4 billion rupees for this purpose.' Pakistan ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The country has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years, including record-breaking rains, floods, heatwaves, droughts and severe storms. Sharif said his government was responsible for installing advanced warning systems across the region, acknowledging that though development programs had been ongoing in the region on paper for seven years, 'little real work has been done, whether by the federal or provincial governments.' 'Over these seven years, negligible progress occurred,' he said. 'I emphasize that the timeline set must be adhered to strictly — not even an hour of delay is acceptable.' The prime minister announced Rs1 million for the deceased individuals, Rs400,000 for severely injured persons, Rs300,000 for the injured, Rs600,000 for those whose houses were destroyed and Rs400,000 for the one with partial damages to their homes. 'Those with business losses, shops, or small enterprises will receive tiered compensation accordingly,' he announced, tasking members of his cabinet with overseeing road repairs, water and power projects. 'I previously announced a 100 MW solar power project through the national solar energy program. I expect that by next summer, especially in the harsh winter months when you face acute power shortages, this project will significantly alleviate them,' Sharif told the attendees. The PM's visit came hours after the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of more rains in the country, saying monsoon currents penetrating Pakistan were expected to intensify from Aug. 4. It said heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab and Azad Kashmir from Aug. 5 to Aug. 7. 'Landslides/mudslides may cause roads' closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir during the forecast period,' the PMD said. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of Pakistan was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.
