Staff

February 06, 2025

Staff

87 irregular migrants held in southern Turkey

June 17, 2021

At least 87 irregular migrants who entered Turkey illegally were held in two southern provinces, security sources said on Wednesday.

Police stopped a passenger bus in the Haci Sabanci Organized Industrial Zone in the Adana province and held 45 foreign nationals for illegally entering the country, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The bus drivers were also detained.

Another group of 42 irregular migrants were held in the Osmaniye province, according to the provincial governorate.

Irregular migrants, including 36 Afghan and six Pakistani nationals, were found on a vehicle that was stopped for a search on the Osmaniye-Gaziantep highway, according to security sources.

The migrants were transferred to the provincial migration management directorates.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

The country hosts nearly 4 million refugees, including over 3.6 million Syrians, more than any other country in the world./aa

Kuwait

WHO opens country office in Kuwait

June 16, 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) today opened a country office in Kuwait in a move set to strengthen its presence and cooperation with the Government to advance the health and well-being of the country’s population. The newly established office will enable WHO to work on the ground with national health authorities, United Nations partners and a range of stakeholders in all sectors to foster public health collaboration at the national, regional and international levels.

H.E. the Minister of Health of Kuwait Dr Bassel Humoud Hamad Al-Sabah formally opened WHO’s new premises in Kuwait City in a ceremony that was attended virtually by WHO's Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Dr Tarek El-Sheikh, and WHO’s Representative in Kuwait, Dr Assad Hafeez, who attended in person.

Kuwait has long been an influential and strategic Member State and partner for WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond. Kuwait was one of the first countries to respond to WHO’s COVID-19 appeal, and provided crtitical support to the global and regional response to the pandemic. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has been leading a well-coordinated multisectoral response to the pandemic within the country and has strengthened national capacity across all levels of government.

“The inauguration of the WHO country office in Kuwait comes at a critical time as the world faces unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19 and its effects on health care systems worldwide,” noted H.E. Dr Bassel Humoud Hamad Al-Sabah. “This requires strengthening of international solidarity and cooperation to enable us at the country level to share experiences and lessons learned in the fields of surveillance, preparedness, prevention and response to COVID-19.”

“Kuwait is one of the world’s largest humanitarian donors and is among WHO’s top 20 donors. We greatly value this support,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros. “WHO’s mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – and that is what we will work for in Kuwait, as we do in every country. Kuwait has many achievements to be proud of in health in each of these 3 areas.”

WHO’s Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari said that enhancing national and regional collaboration with Kuwait was a major priority. “Kuwait has historically been a generous supporter of WHO causes and initatives, especially in the context of emergency response, and has always provided its support where and when it is most needed. We are most grateful for this partnership. The inauguration of this new country office will further advance our collaboration and bring us even closer towards achieving our vision of Health for All by All in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.”

The opening of the Kuwait office reflects the critical importance of close contact with states and governments in WHO’s work. Country offices represent a link between the Organization and governments. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region comprises 22 countries and territories, and WHO has offices in most of them: the opening of the Kuwait office brings the number of WHO country offices in the Region to 19. WHO country offices play a key role within the Organization in ensuring appropriate WHO technical cooperation with countries and leadership in the health sector. Functions of country offices include policy advice and technical support, information, public relations and advocacy, and management and administration.

“As a partner and advocate of WHO’s mandate, Kuwait has always upheld the guiding principle of the United Nations Charter to "leave no one behind" through enabling the provision of life-saving interventions to affected communities,” said the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, Dr Tarek El-Sheikh. “In doing so, Kuwait has supported United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to protect access rights to essential preventive and curative care for millions of vulnerable people.”

Reaffirming WHO’s aim to provide support to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, Dr Assad Hafeez, WHO Representative in Kuwait, commented: “We are looking forward to working closely with the Kuwaiti government and all stakeholders, especially the United Nations family, to advance the health and well-being of the population in Kuwait. I have the privilege of being the first WHO Representative in Kuwait and I am committed to exerting all efforts to support the Ministry of Health and other sectors in their endeavours to achieve national and global health goals, including in the response to COVID-19 pandemic.”/ agencies

Kuwait

Kuwait administers 180,000 second doses of Oxford vaccine in 6 days

June 16, 2021

Kuwait City: Less than a week since Kuwait began administering the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, more than 180,000 citizens and residents have received the jab IN six days, local media reported.

On Wednesday, Kuwait began administering the second dose to those who received their first dose, eight weeks or more ago, with the aim of vaccinating 200,000 citizens and residents within 10 days.

The jabs are being given out across 30 centres in Kuwait, including the Al Jaber Causeway bridge drive-thru vaccination centre. Yet, on Sunday and Monday all appointments scheduled at the Al Jaber bridge were transferred to Mishref fairground due to the severe winds and dust storm.

Vaccination progress

The Ministry of Health indicated how many total doses have been administered for over a month now. But, according to health officials who spoke with local media, in the next few days Kuwait is expected to have administered a total of three million doses.

In order to take the vaccine, one must be over the age of 16. The Ministry of Health is reviewing the likelihood of authorising the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12-15, especially as they are expected to be back in schools by September.

Kuwait has granted emergency authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The latter is yet to arrive in the country./agencies

Health

South Africa tightens pandemic restrictions as country battles 3rd wave

June 16, 2021

South Africa’s president introduced new coronavirus restrictions late Tuesday to help the country curb the spread of the virus and save lives as it battles a third wave of the pandemic.

In a televised address to the nation, Cyril Ramaphosa said that due to a rising number of infections, his cabinet has decided to move the country to Alert Level 3, which involves harsher lockdown restrictions including a nightly curfew that will start at 10 p.m. and end at 4 a.m.

Previously, under Alert Level 2, the curfew started at 11 p.m. and ended at 4 a.m.

Ramaphosa said the average number of daily new infections has more than doubled in the past two weeks from around 3,700 to 7,500.

“The average number of people who die from COVID-19 each day has increased by 48% from 535 two weeks ago to 791 in the past seven days,” he said.

Ramaphosa said that due to the increase in infections, all gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. These include religious services, political events and social gatherings.

The South African leader further announced that attendance at funerals and cremations may also not exceed 50 people and all social distancing and health protocols must be observed.

Night vigils and after-funeral gatherings are not allowed, he said, adding the sale of alcohol from retail outlets for off-site consumption will only be permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.

The president also said that consumption of alcohol in all public spaces, such as beaches and parks, is strictly forbidden.

He said it remains mandatory for everyone to wear a face mask that always covers their nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces.

“It is a criminal offence not to do so,” he warned.

South Africa recorded 8,436 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the confirmed number of cases in the country to 1.76 million.

A further 208 COVID-19 related deaths were also reported in the same period, taking the total number of fatalities to 58,087, according to figures released by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)./aa

Terrorism & Violence

At least 36 wounded in car bombing at Colombian military base

June 16, 2021

At least 36 people were wounded Tuesday when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated twice at a military base used by Colombia’s 30th Army Brigade in the northeastern city of Cucuta near the border with Venezuela.

“We reject and repudiate this terrorist and vile act that sought to attack the soldiers of Colombia here in the brigade,” said Defense Minister Diego Molano at a press conference from the scene.

Molano said two people in a vehicle managed to enter the base after “impersonating public officials.”

The attack was carried out by the leftist rebel group the National Liberation Army, or ELN, and dissident groups of the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), said Molano, who confirmed that 36 people were injured.

The ELN carried out a deadly attack on a police academy in Colombia's capital, Bogota, in January 2019 that left 23 dead.

President Ivan Duque announced that he had instructed Molano to visit the site of the attack.

“Because of the explosion of a vehicle inside the 30th Army Brigade in the city of Cucuta, I have instructed Defense Minister Diego Molano to go to the city and carry out an investigation that will allow us to clear up this unfortunate situation,” Duque said on Twitter.

Minutes later, Duque got on a plane and headed to Cucuta to take charge of the situation.

The bombing has stoked anxiety about a return to the violence that the country has experienced for decades./aa

Environment

Mucilage from Turkey's Sea of Marmara not hazardous or toxic: Minister

June 16, 2021

Initial studies have shown that the mucilage in Turkey’s Sea of Marmara is "not hazardous waste and does not show toxic properties," the country’s environment and urbanization minister said Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting of the Marmara Sea Action Plan Coordination Board, Murat Kurum said that if the nitrogen level of the Marmara Sea decreases by 40%, the sea will return to normal.

Increasing the oxygen level at the surface and bottom of the sea is among their goals, he added.

The minister noted that a total of 2,942 inspections aimed at minimizing the pollution in the Marmara Sea were carried out in seven provinces, and as a result, a fertilizer factory, a thermal facility and three shipyards were closed, while an administrative fine of 10 million liras ($1.16 million) was imposed on 55 facilities and nine ships.

Kurum said he is hopeful about completing scientific studies on the Marmara Sea by the end of July as well as work on declaring the entire sea a protected area.

He added that a continuous wastewater monitoring system will be introduced at all wastewater treatment plants to control all sources of pollution in the sea.

"We will establish a zero-waste system in all buildings in the Marmara region, without any discrimination of public institutions and organizations, our municipalities, our citizens," he vowed.

Last week, Turkish authorities announced a 22-point action plan to clear a surge of mucilage, which covers parts of the Sea of Marmara in the country's northwest.

The mucilage -- mostly accumulated in Mudanya, Gemlik Bay, Gebze and its surroundings, the coastal areas of Istanbul’s Anatolian side, and around the Princes' Islands -- also partially covered the shores of the Sea of Marmara.

The substance covering the central coast of northwestern Yalova province was dispersed by the wind to coastal areas of Cinarcik and Armutlu districts as well as the town of Esenkoy, which are important tourist hubs./aa

Health

‘Acute’ phase of pandemic nearing its end in Turkey: Health minister

June 16, 2021

The “acute” phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey is nearing an end, the health minister announced on Tuesday.

 In a statement, Fahrettin Koca said he held a virtual meeting with Hans Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe.

“In these days we are in, I think that the acute period of the pandemic is nearing its end and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Koca said.

In the meeting, many issues such as global and regional developments regarding the pandemic, Turkey’s vaccination studies and vaccination program were discussed.

 Kluge thanked Turkey for its international cooperation and solidarity.

 Emphasizing that Turkey supports more than 100 countries and dozens of international organizations, Kluge said: “I congratulate you on the rapid implementation of COVID-19 vaccination.”

 Koca said Turkey's efforts to develop its own vaccine continue at full speed.

 Expressing that Turkey is in a good position regarding vaccination, he said: "I think we will go a long way with the effective campaigns we will carry out until autumn. Today, I estimate that we will exceed 1 million doses of vaccine daily.”/aa

Varieties

South African woman’s claim of giving birth to 10 babies ‘hoax’: Statement

June 16, 2021

The family of a South African man whose girlfriend reportedly gave birth to 10 babies last week concluded in a statement released Tuesday that they do not exist until proven otherwise.

Last week, local media reported that Gosiame Sithole, 37, had delivered 10 babies -- seven boys and three girls -- by caesarean section at an undisclosed hospital in the capital Pretoria.

But the family of Tebogo Tsotetsi, the “father,” said in a statement he had confirmed to them that he has not seen the babies and had relied on his girlfriend, who called to inform him of their birth.

The statement further claims that Tsotetsi had made several attempts to visit Sithole and the babies at the hospital but she did disclose her whereabouts to him or inform him of the condition of the babies.

Sithole’s “miracle birth” was believed to have set a new Guinness World record after news of a Malian woman giving birth to nonuplets in Morocco last month excited the world.

However, the secrecy of Sithole, her boyfriend and his sister Mathapelo Tsotetsi had left the country wondering if the 10 miracle babies existed.

Tebogo Tsotetsi and his sister Mathapelo told the media last week that the 10 babies would only be shown to the world at an appropriate time.

“In our cultural beliefs, babies and pregnancies are very fragile things. We usually don’t like focusing [on] and disclosing such things, especially now that these babies are premature and still in incubators,” Mathapelo told local broadcaster Enca at the time, when the news anchor asked her when the world would get to see the babies.

Tebogo told the Independent Media consortium last Wednesday that he had cried and walked around his house alone when he heard the news of the 10 babies being born.

He also said he was grateful that God had chosen him to be the father of the babies, especially in a trying time amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

The family concluded that the current uncertainties and public discourse about the decuplets is of major concern to them, especially in the absence of any proof of their existence other than text and WhatsApp messages from the mother.

“The family has resolved and concluded that there are no decuplets born between Tebogo Tsotetsi and Gosiame Sithole, until proven otherwise,” it said.

It also apologized for any inconvenience and embarrassment caused./aa

Terrorism & Violence

US records more than 280 mass shootings so far in 2021

June 16, 2021

The number of mass shootings jumped in the US on Tuesday with shootings in Chicago and the state of Alabama that left six dead.

Gun violence is tracked in competing ways, but one widely-accepted definition comes from the nonprofit group, Gun Violence Archive. It defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot in roughly the same place, excluding the shooter.

By that metric, there have now been 282 mass shootings since the start of the year.

In Chicago, four people were shot dead inside a home after an argument broke out. Three of the dead are women, and four more were wounded.

And in Albertville, Alabama a man shot two co-workers dead at a factory and wounded two more, before later killing himself. The police chief said it appeared the shooting was unprovoked and a motive is not yet known.

The number of mass shootings in the US has exploded in recent weeks, as coronavirus restrictions have lifted and warmer weather brings crowds out in mass gatherings.

Despite lockdowns in 2020, gun violence actually rose last year across the nation, with 614 mass shootings, compared to 434 in 2019.

And the shootings are breaking out now in random situations and for countless motives -- in workplaces, house parties, outdoor gatherings, street corners and in even downtown entertainment districts.

In Austin, Texas during this past weekend, more than one dozen people were shot at a popular outdoor nightclub district.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday that the Biden administration had reached out to the city. Chicago has long been plagued by gun violence. Gun laws are stricter in the city than in many other parts of the country, but guns often flow like a river into the city from the neighboring state of Indiana, where gun laws are much looser.

And most of those killed in Chicago, as of Tuesday, live in predominantly Black, lower-income neighborhoods. It is not uncommon for retaliatory shots to ring out at gatherings of those who are mourning a previous victim of gun violence.

The most notable American mass shooting in recent years was the 2019 mass killing of 23 people inside a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. The shooter, who said he was motivated by hatred of Hispanics, is still sitting in jail, awaiting trial./aa

Muslims Around The World

US Muslim group urges Hilton to drop project on bulldozed Uyghur mosque

June 16, 2021

The largest Muslim advocacy organization in the US urged Hilton Worldwide Holdings on Tuesday to drop plans to build a hotel on the site of a bulldozed mosque in China’s Xinjiang region.

The call by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) came after a report this week by the British daily The Telegraph that China is building a new commercial center, including an upscale Hilton Hotel, on the site where a mosque was initially demolished.

CAIR’s National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said Hilton has a unique opportunity to take a clear stance against China's ongoing genocide of Uyghur Muslims and set an example for other prominent corporations.

"Hilton must stand on the right side of history by announcing it will cancel this project and cease any operations in the Uyghur region of China until its government ends its persecution of millions of innocent people," Mitchell said in a statement.

Since 2017, China has carried out massive and systematic abuses against Muslims living in Xinjiang.

China's alleged erosion of religious, cultural and human rights for more than 1 million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang in the last decade has enraged western countries, prompting sanctions against Chinese officials and firms.

Officials are accused of putting Uyghurs in concentration camps which China defines as re-education and training centers. Beijing vehemently denies rights violations of its citizens./aa

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