Six In The Morning Monday 8 August 2022

 

UN chief condemns 'suicidal' shelling around Ukrainian nuclear plant

By Tim Lister, Yulia Kesaieva and Tara John, CNN

Updated 1429 GMT (2229 HKT) August 8, 2022

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described recent artillery and rocket fire around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in central Ukraine as "suicidal," further adding to fears of an accident at the plant, which is the largest of its kind in Europe.

"Any attack on nuclear power plants is a suicidal thing," Guterres told reporters Monday in Tokyo. "I hope that these attacks will end," he said, and called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be given access to the plant.

The Zaporizhzhia plant occupies an extensive site on the river Dnipro. It has continued operating at reduced capacity since Russian forces captured it early in March, with Ukrainian technicians remaining at work.

China resumes military drills off Taiwan after shelving US talks

Anti-submarine attack and sea raid exercises begin, as Beijing maintains pressure on Taiwan’s defences

Helen Davidson in Taipei and agencies

China’s military has announced new drills near Taiwan, including anti-submarine attack and sea raid operations, a day after its major live-fire exercises targeting the territory were supposed to end.

Beijing’s defence ministry also defended its shelving of military talks with the US in protest against Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last week, which have raised concerns about potential accidents escalating into conflict.

Last week, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) targeted Taiwan with days of major live-fire exercises, which were scheduled to end on Sunday. Their end was never announced by the PLA, but notices of avoidance were reportedly lifted and normal sea and air traffic had resumed.

Hard times ahead but Germany says it will stick by Ukraine

‘It is clear that we stand firmly on the side of Ukraine,’ says Berlin

David Harding

German backing for the sanctions imposed on Russia after Moscow invaded Ukraine is not waning, even despite a looming energy crisis for the crisis in the shape of rising bills and potential rationing, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday.

Berlin has long been reliant on Russian gas, with some 55 per cent consumed by Germany imported from Moscow before the start of the war. Since the invasion, Berlin has scrambled to import energy from elsewhere, including deals with Norway and Gulf gas giant, Qatar.

Despite this, the country should prepare for “difficult months ahead”, the Chancellor’s spokesperson said on Monday. Many German homes are still reliant on Russian gas, meaning it could be a very long winter for ordinary citizens.

UK museum agrees to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Horniman Museum in London said it was clear the objects had been "acquired through force" by British colonial troops and that handing them back to Nigeria was the right thing to do.

A museum in Britain agreed Sunday to return a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in 1897 to Nigeria.

The decision comes as European institutions come under increasing pressure to repatriate artifacts that were taken during the colonial era.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens in London's southeast said 72 items would be handed over to the Nigerian government. Among them are 12 brass plaques, known as Benin Bronzes, a brass cockerel altarpiece, ivory and brass ceremonial objects, brass bells and a key to the king's palace.

Third fuel tank collapses as helicopters battle Cuban blaze

Cuban army helicopters scrambled to contain a blaze that felled a third tank at a fuel depot on Monday after burning for days, as the search continued for 16 missing firefighters.

According an official update, the confirmed toll from the fire was one person dead, with 24 people receiving treatment in hospital -- five of them in a critical condition. Many others were treated for burn wounds.

The fire on the outskirts of Matanzas, a city of 140,000 people 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Havana, broke out late Friday after lightning struck one of eight tanks at the depot.

Gaza hospital at breaking point after Israeli bombardment

Latest Israeli attack on coastal enclave exacerbates crisis of health sector, already in dire condition due to 15-year-old blockade.

By Maram Humaid

Published On 8 Aug 20228 Aug 2022

Amina Ashkinan’s grandchildren were playing in front of their house at Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday when an Israeli strike came from the sky.

Her granddaughter, 10-year-old Mayar, was hit by shrapnel in the abdomen. Her grandson, nine-year-old Ahmed, got injuries all over his body. Both children were rushed to Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, just two of the dozens of Palestinians to be transported to the main hospital in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s latest bombardment of the besieged enclave.

Mayar was immediately taken to the operation room. Her condition, along with that of her brother, has since stabilised but Ashkinan is still worried.