OSLO (AFP) – A United States (US) marine plane taking part in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise has crashed in Norway, killing all four Americans on board, the Scandinavian country’s army said yesterday. The four-person crew were taking part in the Cold Response 2022 military exercises involving 30,000 people from NATO and partner countries.
Their plane, a V-22B Osprey aircraft belonging to the US Marine Corps, was reported missing on Friday evening south of Bodo in northern Norway.
At 1.30am (0030 GMT) yesterday, “the police arrived at the scene. The police in Nordland County now confirm that the crew of four have died. As far as the police know, the four are of American nationality,” it said in a statement.
The US Marine Corps earlier confirmed “a mishap” involving a MV-22B Osprey during the exercises and said Norwegian civil authorities were leading the search and rescue efforts.
Cold Response 2022 aims to test how Norway would manage allied reinforcements on its soil in the event that NATO’s mutual defence clause were triggered.
Tensions between Russia and NATO have soared following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, but the exercises were planned long before that offensive began on February 24.
A United States Marine Corps Osprey aircraft. PHOTO: AFP
EASTLAND, TEXAS (AP) – Fire crews in West Texas made progress yesterday against a massive complex of wildfires that have killed one person and burned at least 50 homes, officials said.
Winds diminished yesterday, raising hopes for the attack on the flames, said spokesman for the task force attacking the wildfire complex near Eastland, about 120 miles west of Dallas, Angel Lopez.
However, gusty winds were expected to return, again raising the wildfire threat to critical levels in western and central Texas, he said.
At a news conference in Eastland, Governor Greg Abbott said late on Friday that at least 50 homes had been destroyed by flames with more possibly to be found.
He declared a disaster in the 11 counties hardest hit by wildfires. The Texas A&M Forest Services warned that fires could also affect parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, and Nebraska warned of an extreme fire risk.
Flames quickly spread through dry grass west of Abilene, Texas near Old Highway. PHOTO: AP
The Eastland County Sheriff’s Office released more details on the death of Deputy Sergeant Barbara Fenley. In a statement, the office said she was going door to door, getting residents to evacuate their homes on Thursday and it was “last heard that she was going to check on an elderly individual”.
“With the extreme deteriorating conditions and low visibility from smoke, Sergeant Fenley ran off the roadway and was engulfed in the fire,” the sheriff’s statement said. As of Friday afternoon, the fires had burned about 130 square miles, about 70 square miles in the Eastland Complex alone, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. The fires in that complex were only four per cent contained late on Friday, with fires burning in thick brush and grass fields.
About 18,000 people live in Eastland County. About 475 homes were evacuated in the town of Gorman, said spokesman for Texas A&M Forest Service Matthew Ford.
Several months of dry, windy weather have fuelled deadly wildfires in Kansas and Oklahoma, including one a few weeks ago. In remote, western Nebraska ranching country, a large wildfire has been burning for several days. Meteorologists said they were hopeful that rain showers expected early next week across the Plains would reduce the risk.
“We’ve been so dry that even an inch of rain would make a difference,” said National Weather Service meteorologist in Wichita Kansas Robb Lawson.
Twenty-nine representatives from public and private sectors attended a virtual outreach event on the ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) and the ASEAN Solutions for Investments, Services and Trade (ASSIST) on Tuesday.
The event was organised by the ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the European Union (ARISE Plus), in partnership and collaboration with ASEAN Business Advisroy Council (ASEAN-BAC) Brunei and DARe (Darussalam Enterprise).
DARe CEO Javed Ahmad said, “Trade facilitation is particularly important for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they are hit hardest by the crisis.
“In the midst of this global crisis, international cooperation in trade facilitation will remain important to keep trade flowing,” he said.
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman said, “ASEAN-BAC always emphasises on the importance of public-private sector engagement in driving regional economic integration and trade facilitation as our priority.
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman and other participants at the outreach programme. PHOTO: ATR-ASSIST
“We believe it has to go in tandem to achieve our ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) goals. After all, ASEAN has to remain in solidarity for collective action as we are set to become the fourth largest economy by 2030.”
Representatives from National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD), Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPMB), French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA), SME business owners and other trade associations attended the outreach event.
Meanwhile, an ASSIST Train-the-Trainers Workshop was held on March 16-17, to helped participants develop, organise and deliver training modules on how to use ASSIST.
“Businesses can also leverage on the adoption of technology and digital tools, such as the ASSIST platform and reap the benefits of an online, consultative mechanism to find solutions to problems encountered by the ASEAN private sector on cross-border issues,” said CEO of Dynamik Technologies Haslina binti Haji Mohd Taib.
Managing Director of Adinin Group of Companies Haji Musa bin Haji Adnin said, “Participants that are now elevated to the role of trainers are encouraged to benefit from the ASSIST platform by sharing the information to their colleagues, business organisations and fellow entrepreneurs.”
TORONTO (AP) – LeBron James scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Russell Westbrook had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Raptors 128-123 early yesterday.
Avery Bradley hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 32.5 seconds left in the extra session, putting the visitors up 125-123, then added a pair of free throws after a turnover by Toronto rookie Scottie Barnes.
”To be able to come into a very hostile environment and win a basketball game, and the way we won it, was big for our team,” James said. ”We needed literally every minute, all 53 of them, to accomplish that.”
Wenyen Gabriel scored 17 points, Bradley had 14 and Austin Reaves 10 as Los Angeles avenged last Monday’s home loss to the Raptors and ended Toronto’s winning streak at five.
”I thought we did a great job of just sticking to our principles, grinding the game out,” Westbrook said. ”This was a grind-out game.”
The Lakers snapped an 11-game road losing streak that dated back to a January 25 victory at Brooklyn. Los Angeles also ended a seven-game losing streak north of the border.
Toronto Raptors Dalano Banton has his shot blocked by Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James. PHOTO: AP
”It’s a great feeling,” Bradley said. ”It was a great accomplishment for us tonight to go out there and be able to play the right way on both ends of the floor. It was really refreshing.”
James shot 15 for 26 and went two for seven from three-point range. He had nine rebounds.
”That’s part of what makes him the greatest is his ability to just make whatever play is necessary, whatever side of the floor,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
Barnes set career-highs with 31 points and 17 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr scored 23 points and Fred Van Vleet 20. Precious Achiuwa scored 18 points, but made a costly turnover that led to Westbrook’s tying three with less than a second to play.
Toronto looked to have the game won after Trent hit a go-ahead three with 25 seconds left, and James and Westbrook both missed from distance at the other end, with Trent grabbing the rebound.
Los Angeles got a break when Achiuwa turned the ball over with five seconds left and Westbrook hit a tying three with less than one second remaining.
Westbrook said he snuck a look at his feet and slid his right toe back to make sure he wasn’t on the line for his pivotal shot. His triple-double was his 10th of the season and the 194th of his career.
Toronto couldn’t get a shot off on its final possession, sending it to OT.
The Lakers made their first six field-goal attempts of the game, including three from long range, to lead 15-5, but Toronto reclaimed the advantage with a 18-3 spurt. Making his first start for Los Angeles, Gabriel shot six for six in the first quarter and scored 14 points as the Lakers led 33-30 after one.
James scored 12 points in the second. Los Angeles led 59-55 at the half, but Barnes had 12 in the third as Toronto took an 89-88 lead to the fourth.
BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Star forward Lionel Messi returns to the Argentina fold for two World Cup qualifiers later this month after he was included in coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad announced on Friday.
But the big surprise was the inclusion of seven teenagers playing for academy teams in Europe, including Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.
Born in Spain to Argentine parents, 17-year-old Garnacho moved from Atletico Madrid to Manchester two years ago but has not yet played for the first team.
However, he caught the eye earlier this season with a stunning length-of-the-field solo goal against Everton in the FA Youth Cup.
Like the other young players in Scaloni’s squad – Nicolas Paz of Real Madrid, Villarreal’s Tiago Geralnik, Inter Milan brothers Franco and Valentin Carboni, Matias Soule of Juventus and Lazio’s Lucas Romero – Garnacho qualifies to play for another country.
Scaloni has been quick to include them in his senior plans in an attempt to tie their futures to the two-time World Cup winners.
Garnacho and Paz, the son of former Argentina international Pablo Paz, have already played for Spain’s age-grade teams.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi missed the previous two qualifiers in January having contracted COVID in December.
But the 35-year-old – his country’s captain, most capped player and record goalscorer – will be available to face Venezuela in Buenos Aires on March 25 and Ecuador in Quito four days later.
The handing over of personal gift (kurnia peribadi) dates from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) workforce was held at the ministry’s building in Jalan Dewan Majlis yesterday.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman presented the kurnia dates to the officers and staff of the MoRA through their respective departments and units. Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang were also present.
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman presenting the kurnia dates to ministry officials and staff.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Six Western nations accused Russia of using the United Nations (UN) Security Council to launder disinformation, spread propaganda and justify an unprovoked attack on Ukraine on Friday, and the United States (US) again warned that Moscow’s claim the US has biological warfare laboratories in Ukraine “is really a potential false flag effort in action”.
The meeting was originally intended for a vote on Russia’s draft resolution on humanitarian relief for Ukraine, which has been widely criticised for making no mention of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour. But Russia cancelled the vote on Thursday and announced it would use the meeting instead to raise what it called new allegations of US involvement in biological warfare activities. Those have been repeatedly denied by both the US and Ukraine.
The six Western nations – US, the United Kingdom (UK), France, Albania, Ireland and Norway – delivered a joint statement just before the session saying: “This meeting and these lies are designed for one purpose, to deflect responsibility for Russia’s war of choice and the humanitarian catastrophe it has caused.”
They said that Russia, not Ukraine, has long maintained a biological weapons programme in violation of international law and has a well-documented history of using chemical weapons.
And they accused Russia of abusing its responsibilities and privileges as a permanent member of the Security Council and subverting the council’s mandate to ensure international peace and security, calling its “horrific campaign of violence against the Ukrainian people… deeply shameful”.
Russia’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaking at the United Nations Security Council meeting at UN headquarters. PHOTO: AP
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who read the joint statement, later told the Security Council not to forget why they were meeting – “because Russia knew its cynical ploy to pass an exculpatory resolution had failed” and it had to cancel Friday’s vote.
The resolution would have needed at least nine “yes” votes in the 15-member council and no veto by a permanent member to be approved. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia indicated it didn’t have the votes, accusing the West, and especially the US and Albania, on Thursday of using “unprecedented pressure” on UN member nations to oppose the measure.
On Friday, Thomas-Greenfield reiterated what she told the council at a March 11 session called by Russia on its original bioweapons allegations: “Ukraine does not have a biological weapons programme. There are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories – not near Russia’s border, not anywhere.”
Ukraine only has public health facilities supported by the US, the World Health Organization, and other governments and international institutions, she said.
Reiterating the Biden administration’s concern about a potential false flag effort, Thomas-Greenfield said, “We continue to believe it is possible that Russia may be planning to use chemical or biological agents against the Ukrainian people.”
Nebenzia responded by calling accusations that Russia intends to deploy biological and chemical weapons against Ukraine “real cynicism”.
“We’ve already warned about the fact that we know, and we officially warned… about Ukrainian nationalists using chemical agents in some regions to carry out a provocation and then accuse Russia of having done it,” he said. “This is a false flag operation.”
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (AP) – A federal prosecutor said on Friday that a former Boeing test pilot lied to regulators about changes to a critical flight-control system on the 737 Max to reduce the cost of pilot training and save the company tens of millions of dollars.
However, a defence lawyer said Boeing engineers kept Mark A Forkner in the dark about changes to the system, which played a role in two crashes that killed 346 people.
Forkner went on trial in United States (US) district court in Fort Worth on four charges of fraud. He is the only person facing criminal charges in the case, which brought widespread condemnation to Boeing.
As the trial started with jury selection and opening statements, Forkner spoke only briefly, when the judge asked for his plea.
“I am not guilty,” he said, standing and turning to face the jury.
Based on court filings by both sides, the trial is likely to feature testimony from technical experts and also internal Boeing communications to shed light on discussions about the Max inside the company.
Prosecutors will also attempt to use Forkner’s own text messages against him, especially one in which he said, “So I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly).”
“The defendant had contempt for these regulators, and he mocked these regulators,” prosecutor Scott Armstrong told jurors, adding that as Forkner learnt more about changes to the flight-control system called MCAS, “He doubled down on the lies.”
An American Airlines Boeing 737 Max jet plane at a maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahama. PHOTO: AP
Defence attorney David Gerger said his side will show jurors that Boeing engineers withheld information from Forkner.
And it wasn’t Forkner who set out to save the company money by minimising pilot-training requirements, that objective came down directly from Boeing’s board of directors, he said.
The opening statements came after the selection of a jury of 11 men and one woman, plus four alternates.
An American Airlines pilot was dismissed; so was a man who said he had flown several times on Boeing Maxes.
Judge Reed O’Connor made it clear there was no way to disqualify every potential juror who had read or seen news accounts about the Boeing Max.
He quizzed several people whether they could set aside their notions of the issue and focus on evidence that will be presented when testimony starts tomorrow.
Until he left in 2018, Forkner was Boeing’s chief technical pilot for the Max, which gave him a key role in evaluating the differences between the Max and previous 737s, and deciding how much training pilots needed to fly the new version.
According to the indictment, Forkner knew about changes that made a key flight-control system activate more often than originally planned, but he withheld that knowledge from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulators.
As a result, information about the new flight-control system, MCAS, was deleted from an FAA report and airplane manuals. Most pilots didn’t know about it.
MCAS activated on faulty sensor readings minutes before crashes in 2018 off the coast of Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia. It repeatedly pushed the noses of the planes down, and pilots were unable to regain control.
MOSCOW (AFP) – Russia used its newest Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in Ukraine on Friday to destroy a weapons storage site in the country’s west, the Defence Ministry said.
Russia has never before admitted using the high-precision weapon in combat, and state news agency RIA Novosti said it was the first use of the Kinzhal hypersonic weapons during the conflict in pro-Western Ukraine.
“The Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground warehouse containing missiles and aviation ammunition in the village of Deliatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region,” the Russian Defence Ministry said yesterday.
A Defence Ministry spokesman declined to comment when reached by AFP.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has termed the Kinzhal (dagger) missile “an ideal weapon” that flies at 10 times the speed of sound and can overcome air-defence systems. The Kinzhal missile was one of an array of new weapons Putin unveiled in his state-of-the-nation address in 2018.
Deliatyn, a village in the foothills of the picturesque Carpathian mountains, is located outside the city of Ivano-Frankivsk.
The region of Ivano-Frankivsk shares a 30-mile long border with Romania.
Russia’s MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jets carrying hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles flying over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. PHOTO: AFP
NEW YORK (AP) – A second Amazon warehouse in the New York City borough of Staten Island will have a union election in April, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said on Friday.
In-person voting will be held at the facility known as LDJ5 every day from April 25-29, except for April 26, an NLRB spokesperson said. The count is expected to take place on May 2.
The United States (US) federal labour board had approved the second union vote on Staten Island earlier this month. Amazon is already facing another in-person union vote March 25-30 at JFK8, a separate warehouse neighbouring LDJ5.
“We look forward to having our employees’ voices heard in this election, and our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work,” said an Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel.
Amazon has long been criticised for poor working conditions. The organisation effort at both warehouses is being led by the Amazon Labor Union, a group headed by a former Amazon employee who was fired after protesting working conditions at the company in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employees at another company warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, are now casting mail ballots for a union election, with a tally expected to begin on March 28. Last year, workers at the Alabama facility voted against unionising. US federal labour officials scrapped the results and ordered a re-do in November, ruling the Seattle-based online retail giant had tainted the results.
People arrive at the Amazon distribution centre in the Staten Island borough of New York. PHOTO: AP
