NJ 
As Fatal Ship Fire Burns On, a New Challenge: Keep It From Capsizing


Tracey Tully and Erin Nolan
Fri, July 7, 2023

Firefighters at the scene of a blaze on the Grande Costa d’Avorio, which was carrying new and used vehicles when a fire started, in Port Newark, N.J. on July 6, 2023.

 (Dakota Santiago/The New York Times)

Smoke continued to pour from an Italian ship moored at Port Newark in New Jersey on Friday, more than 36 hours after vehicles stowed onboard the vessel burst into flames and started a fast-moving blaze that caused the deaths of two Newark firefighters.

The U.S. Coast Guard took control of the firefighting operation late Thursday after heavy smoke began to waft from the ship, the Grande Costa d’Avorio, and loud sounds could be heard coming from inside its 12-deck interior.

Early Friday, officials said they were still trying to contain the fire from outside the ship and to cool it down without filling the vessel with too much water, which could cause it to tip over into a channel that flows into Newark Bay and, farther away, the Atlantic Ocean.

The vessel is carrying about 1,200 used and new vehicles, many of them at least partially filled with gasoline and oil.

“Our goal is to always get it back to what we call an even keel, which is level,” said Gordon Lorenson, a project manager at Donjon Marine, a salvage and dredging company involved in the firefighting effort.

The fire erupted just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on the ship’s 10th deck and spread quickly to two upper decks. In the initial response, firefighters from around the region went onto the ship to try to knock the blaze down. Two Newark firefighters, Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks Jr., 49, died in the effort.

Officials said firefighters would not be able to reenter the ship until the fire was contained and cooled. Fire boats continued to spray the blaze with water siphoned from the channel early Friday. A similar volume of water was being pumped off the ship to keep it from listing further, officials said.

Since it started, the fire has burned at temperatures so extreme that firefighters said their feet were being scalded by water that had reached its boiling point soon after being sprayed at the flames.

At a news conference at the port Friday, Lorenson said the intense heat continued to pose a major risk.

“It’s a steel box,” he said. “So it’s a very complex situation.

“It is burning very hot,” he added, “so currently, a lot of the decks that are burning and the cars that are burning are inaccessible to our fire teams.”

c.2023 The New York Times Company

The UN refuses to retract its condemnation of Israel over the Jenin military operation

Palestinians walk on a damaged road following two days of Israeli military raid on the militant stronghold of the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. The Israeli military says it has withdrawn its troops from the refugee camp. The pullout Wednesday morning ended an intense two-day operation that killed at least 13 Palestinians, drove thousands of people from their homes and left a wide swath of damage in its wake. One Israeli soldier was also killed. 

(AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians walk by a damaged house in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Wednesday, July 5, 2023, after the Israeli army withdrew its forces from the militant stronghold. The withdrawal of troops from the camp ended an intense two-day operation that killed at least 13 Palestinians, drove thousands of people from their homes and left a wide swath of damage in its wake. One Israeli soldier was also killed. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Palestinians walk by a damaged house in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, Wednesday, July 5, 2023, after the Israeli army withdrew its forces from the militant stronghold. The withdrawal of troops from the camp ended an intense two-day operation that killed at least 13 Palestinians, drove thousands of people from their homes and left a wide swath of damage in its wake. One Israeli soldier was also killed. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY EDITH M. LEDERER
Published  July 7, 2023

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Israel’s United Nations ambassador called on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to retract his condemnation of the country for its excessive use of force in its largest military operation in two decades targeting a refugee camp in the West Bank.

U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said the secretary-general conveyed his views on Thursday “and he stands by those views.”

Guterres, angered by the impact of the Israeli airstrikes and attack on the Jenin refugee camp, said the operation left over 100 civilians injured, uprooted thousands of residents, damaged schools and hospitals, and disrupted water and electricity networks. He also criticized Israel for preventing the injured from getting medical care and humanitarian workers from reaching everyone in need.

Israel’s two-day offensive meant to crack down on Palestinian militants destroyed the Jenin camp’s narrow roads and alleyways, forced thousands of people to flee their homes and killed 12 Palestinians. One Israeli soldier also was killed.

“I strongly condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror,” Guterres told reporters.

Asked whether this condemnation applied to Israel, he replied: “It applies to all use of excessive force, and obviously in this situation, there was an excessive force used by Israeli forces.”

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the U.N. chief’s remarks “shameful, far-fetched, and completely detached from reality.” He said the Israeli military action in Jenin “focused solely on combating the murderous Palestinian terror targeting innocent Israeli civilians.”

Haq, the U.N. spokesperson, said Guterres “clearly condemns all of the violence that has been affecting the civilians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, regardless of who is the perpetrator.”

The U.N. Security Council discussed Israel’s military operation in Jenin behind closed doors Friday at the request of the United Arab Emirates and received a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari.

Erdan sent a letter to the 15 council members and Guterres before the council meeting saying that over the past year, 52 Israelis were killed by Palestinians, and many attacks were carried out from Jenin or from the area.

“The international community and the Security Council must unconditionally condemn the latest Palestinian terror attacks and hold Palestinian leadership accountable,” he said.

The Security Council took no action.

Mark Rutte Bets on Hard Migration Stance for New Dutch Election

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte pulled the plug on his own government by cornering coalition partners over a deal to limit the inflow of migrants, setting the stage for a more conservative campaign ahead of elections expected late this year.

Diederik Baazil and Cagan Koc
Published Jul 08, 2023 • 

(Bloomberg) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte pulled the plug on his own government by cornering coalition partners over a deal to limit the inflow of migrants, setting the stage for a more conservative campaign ahead of elections expected late this year.

“All parties have gone to great lengths to find a solution,” Rutte said at a press conference on Friday as he announced the abrupt collapse of his fourth cabinet over a disagreement on the right to family reunions for refugees from war zones.

Rutte put himself into a position which could have let to only one outcome: the collapse of his four-party coalition, said people familiar with the talks who declined to be identified discussing non-public matters.

Rutte Coalition Falls Over Asylum Crisis as Dutch Face Vote

The coalition partners — Rutte’s VVD, the Christian Democrats, progressive D66 and the smaller Christian Union — have been in talks over the asylum policy for weeks. They were close to a deal at the start of the week until Rutte abruptly introduced non-negotiable demands on Wednesday, the people said.

The prime minister asked his coalition parties to leave the cabinet if they didn’t agree with a proposal to limit the right to family reunions for refugees from war zones to 200 people per month after a period of two years, two of the people said. That splintered trust among the coalition partners, said two people familiar with the thinking of D66 and the Christian Union. Rutte apologized on Thursday, but that was too little, too late for his coalition partners, the people said.

Spokespeople for the prime minister’s office, the Christian Union and D66 declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Christian Democrats didn’t respond to calls seeking comment.

Rutte’s proposal is set against the almost 48,000 asylum seekers who entered the Netherlands last year; of those, 10,927 arrived via family reunification, according to official data. The government expects the number of arriving asylum seekers to rise to about 70,000 this year.

The prime minister’s behavior was said to be very unlike Rutte, who’s known for tirelessly seeking compromises and an ability to form alliances in a fragmented political landscape — a trait that also makes him popular in the European Union.

The abrupt collapse of the coalition over the migration issue raised the possibility that Rutte was pursuing a deliberate tactic to enhance his prospects for reelection — by pushing his party further to the right at a time populism seems on the rise in Europe.

Some polls already suggest Rutte’s party remains the most popular and that he’ll look to secure a fifth term by stitching together a new coalition. Rutte, 56, signaled he may run for a fifth term as premier, saying “if you ask now, the answer is yes.” The vote is likely to be mid-November at the earliest.

Rutte is the Netherlands’ longest-serving prime minister and the most senior leader in the European Union along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. But Rutte also oversaw the worst Senate election result of his premiership this year as the Farmer-Citizen Movement, or BBB, became the biggest party in the Dutch upper house after opposing a government push to halve nitrogen emissions by 2030.

Intensive farming has devastated biodiversity in the Netherlands, the world’s second-largest exporter of food by value, forcing its government to impose drastic measures to comply with European Union rules on reducing nitrogen pollution.

Farmers have raged against new policies, with thousands taking part in months-long protests against measures likely to put some of them out of business. The stinging electoral defeat due to the nitrogen controversy pushed Rutte’s coalition to the brink of collapse earlier this year.

The Christian Democrats, who traditionally have appealed to farmers and people in rural areas, have suffered the most from the rise of the Farmer-Citizen Movement, winning record-low support in the senate election.

Rutte will likely need to seek new coalition partners, potentially among the right-wing parties who may be more in line with his new stance on migration.

Although BBB’s leader Caroline van der Plas said she wouldn’t favor a coalition with VVD under Rutte’s premiership, her party has recently signaled it may support some of the VVD’s asylum policies. Environmental policies in general, and the nitrogen crisis specifically, will be among the most important topics for any deal.

A June poll of Ipsos suggested VVD would take 28 seats in a parliamentary election against 22 for BBB, while coalition partners CDA and D66 stand to lose several seats. Also in June, an I&O poll projected BBB could overtake the VVD. And another challenge for Rutte may come from the left, amid an anticipated merger between the Green Left and the Labor Party.

The coalition’s collapse also comes amid a rise of anti-migration sentiment frequently stoked by Geert Wilders, who came to prominence for his anti-Islamic positions. Other parties have typically rejected the idea of working with Wilders’ Freedom Party, which came third after VVD and D66 in the 2021 vote. Wilders, who’s lived under police protection since 2004 following death threats, has been a vocal opponent migration to the Netherlands.

Rutte’s first cabinet, formed in 2010, fell in 18 months and was then supported by the Freedom Party. Wilders has signaled he’s willing to work with Rutte once again to limit the inflow of migrants to the Netherlands.

For all his challenges, Rutte is famous for surviving political crises and so far can count on his personal popularity with voters. His tenure as prime minister has spanned coalitions with parties across much of the political spectrum.

He endured a scandal over childcare subsidies, which tipped thousands into poverty and triggered the collapse of his third cabinet, and has battled with high inflation and an energy crisis over the past year. Rutte has repeatedly demonstrated his skills in escaping accountability from a slew of scandals, earning him the nickname “Teflon Mark.”

Yellen swaps stories of being 'the only woman in the room' with Chinese economists

Andrea Shalal , Yew Lun Tian | Posted: a day ago | 

By Andrea Shalal and Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, a trailblazer in the field of economics, met with six female economists in Beijing on Saturday, an effort to spotlight gender diversity following meetings with China's largely male government leaders.

Yellen, the first woman to head the U.S. Treasury, has made women's contributions and importance to economies a focal point of her tenure, often meeting with women economists and entrepreneurs during her travels, and hailing the benefits of boosting women's participation in the workforce and leadership.

A senior Treasury official said the lunch with the Chinese economists would give Yellen, who was also the first woman to head the U.S. Federal Reserve, a chance to "interact with a number of people kind of outside the normal policy structure." Treasury did not name the women participating.

Yellen, 76, told the women she had seen China's adoption of market-based economic policies transform the country and lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty since she began her career in the 1970s.

"It is my hope for the benefit of both China and the United States, as well as for the broader global economy, that those policies are carried out moving forward," Yellen said, echoing comments on Friday to Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in which she urged China to adopt more market-based reforms.

Yellen told the women - one of whom described herself as a feminist economist - she was curious to learn more about their backgrounds and research.

"I'm sure we share similar stories and experiences about what a career in economics is like, and the challenges you can face," Yellen said. "I see it all the time when I'm almost the only woman in the room, and I'm sure many of you have that same experience at decision-making tables."

Treasury said Yellen and the participants discussed the Chinese economy and opportunities to increase the representation of women in the workforce, including in leadership positions.

"The Secretary underscored that women’s participation in the workforce is one of the major drivers of creating inclusive growth," Treasury said. "She also noted that women’s contributions to economics, in particular, are important to help ensure that economic research and policymaking appropriately reflect society’s priorities."

Chinese President Xi Jinping's decade as the ruling Communist Party's general secretary has seen the number of women in politics and top government roles decline and gender gaps in the workforce widen, with the government emphasizing more traditional roles for women.

A June report by the United Nations urged China to adopt statutory quotas and a gender parity system to boost women's representation in government.

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women found that women comprise just over 26% of deputies to China's 14th National People's Congress and since October have had no representation in the 24-member Politburo of the Communist Party, a first in 20 years.

China's top female politician is Shen Yiqin, appointed in March as one of five state councillors. She ranks higher than a minister and oversees social welfare, veteran affairs and sports.

President Joe Biden's 25-member Cabinet, by contrast, is the most gender-diverse in U.S. history, with Yellen being one of 13 female members.

One-quarter of the U.S. Senate and 28.7% of the House of Representatives seats are held by women, according to Rutgers University's Center for Women in Politics.

China also lags in terms of women's representation in the top echelons of industry, a recent study showed.

Bain & Co and leadership advisory firm Spencer Stuart reported in March that women account for only 19% of top business executives, compared to an average of 25% in leading countries.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Leslie Adler, William Mallard and Kim Coghill)

'Absolutely logical' Japan's Fukushima water release draws interest: IAEA chief

Protesters march toward the Japanese Embassy during rally against the Japanese government's decision to release treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, July 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

09 Jul 2023 

SEOUL: It is "absolutely logical" that Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from its Fukushima nuclear plant is attracting great interest in the region, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said on Sunday (Jul 9).

Grossi also said he understands concerns remain over the plan but added that a review by the IAEA released last week found it was "in conformity with international safety standards" if executed according to plan.

Grossi met with South Korea's opposition Democratic Party members on Sunday who expressed strong public concerns over Japan's plan and criticised the IAEA's findings.

"The issue at hand today has attracted a lot of interest, and this is absolutely logical because the actions and the way in which Japan will be addressing this ... have important implications," Grossi said in the meeting.

Students wearing masks featuring Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi attend a protest against Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima plant into the ocean, in Seoul, South Korea, Jul 7, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Yonhap)

A Democratic Party member who chairs a special committee on the issue said the IAEA's findings had "shortcomings", and the widespread public concerns over safety in the country were "legitimate and reasonable".

"We deeply regret that the IAEA concluded Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant meets international standards," Wi Seong-gon, the committee chairman, told Grossi.

Grossi was met with angry protests by civic groups as he arrived in South Korea on Friday from Japan and drew street rallies on Saturday criticising the plan.

South Korea's government said on Friday it respected the IAEA's report and that its own analysis had found the release will not have "any meaningful impact" on its waters.

Protesters stage a rally against the Japanese government's decision to release treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, in Seoul, South Korea, Jul 8, 2023.

 (Photo: AP/Ahn Young-joon)

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Wednesday criticised the move towards discharging the water and threatened action if the plan should move ahead.

North Korea also criticised IAEA's backing of Japan's plan, calling it "unjust" and a demonstration of double standards, citing the UN nuclear watchdog's work to curb Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

North Korea has faced UN Security Council sanctions for its six underground nuclear tests.

South Korea: IAEA chief discusses Fukushima water concerns

Rafael Grossi traveled to South Korea to advocate for Japan's plan to release water from the Fukushima nuclear plant amid harsh criticism from the South Korean public and opposition party.

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi was met by protesters upon arrival in South Korea

YONHAP NEWS AGENCY via REUTERS

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in South Korea following his trip to Japan, in an attempt to allay concerns about Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Grossi's three-day visit included meetings with South Korea's foreign minister and a top nuclear safety official.

Demonstrators criticized the IAEA for not being able to verify environmental standards

Yonhap/picture alliance

Upon arriving in South Korea, Grossi was met by protesters at Gimpo Airport in Seoul. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in central Seoul, criticizing the IAEA's review as inadequate. Demonstrators held signs criticizing the IAEA and Japan's plan, with one stating, "IAEA is not qualified to verify environmental standards."

There had been "no disagreement" among experts involved in the review that gave the go-ahead for the decades-long project, the IAEA chief said in an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

"This is the final comprehensive report... No experts have come to me saying he or she disagrees on the contents," he said.

"It was a very thorough process."

Japan to release treated Fukushima wastewater into Pacific  02:43

Opposition wants to put halt to the plan

South Korea conducted an independent review of the plan and concluded that Japan would meet or exceed international standards, with the release having minimal environmental consequences.

During a press conference held in Japan, Grossi expressed his intention to also meet with South Korea's opposition party, which had been critical of the discharge plan.

The leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, has urged the government to try to stop the plan, suggesting that it be taken to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

The South Korean government stated that it respected the IAEA's report. President Yoo Suk Yeol's administration has been cautious in its stance on Japan's proposal, aiming to foster better ties with Tokyo.

Nevertheless, the plan has sparked anger and concern among South Koreans, leading some individuals to stock up on sea salt. Despite South Korea giving its approval to the discharge plan, a ban on food and seafood products from the Fukushima region will remain active.

los/ab (AFP, Reuters)

South Koreans protest against Japan’s Fukushima water release plan during IAEA chief’s visit

Editorial by SCMP 

No room for mistakes with release of water from Fukushima

As Japan prepares to put plan at wrecked nuclear power station into action, the radiation concerns of neighbouring countries must be addressed

Published:  8 Jul, 2023

People gather near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Friday to protest against Japan’s plan to release treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. 

Photo: Kyodo

Radiation cannot be seen or felt, so it is often feared regardless of whether it exists at benign natural levels or dangerous doses.

It is understandable that grave concern has been raised by Japan’s plans to release radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.

The water was contaminated while cooling three reactors that melted down after a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the country’s coast killing thousands of people. For 12 years, the waste liquid has been stored on-site in 1,000 huge tanks that are now nearly full.

Japan has proposed resolving the crisis by filtering and diluting the water before releasing it through an underwater tunnel that stretches 1km (0.6 miles) into the ocean.



Why fears remain about Japan's plan to release treated Fukushima nuclear plant water into the sea

Tokyo insists that radiation levels in the water will be below international safety standards, an assessment supported by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Neighbouring countries are far from convinced. Pacific island nations fear the water will contribute to nuclear contamination of the so-called Blue Pacific.

South Korea is on edge with panicked consumers buying sea salt, and seafood markets stepping up the frequency of radiation tests. The Seoul government, however, said yesterday that it respected the IAEA review.

China has extended its ban on edible imports from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, and will require full screening of all shipments from other regions instead of spot checks.

Customs officials said Tokyo “failed to fully reflect expert opinions” and “all necessary measures” must be taken ensure the safety of Chinese consumers, who are already boycotting cosmetics from Japan.

IAEA did not fully consult experts in Fukushima report: Chinese researcher
7 Jul 2023


Yesterday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government was considering an outright ban on food from high-risk areas. Hong Kong currently does not allow imports of live or frozen aquatic products from Fukushima and four neighbouring prefectures without a certificate showing they are free of radiation.

Such action will deepen concerns among those in Japan’s fishing industry who have already voiced opposition to the plan saying it will only increase reputational damage from the initial disaster.

The liquid is too dangerous to simply leave in place, so it seems unlikely that Japan will change its plans.

But since releasing more than 1 million tonnes of water may take two to three decades, Tokyo must diligently monitor the discharge for as long as it takes.

It is imperative that those authorities concerned act responsibly and provide clear, transparent details about how such hazardous waste is being handled, since failure to get it right may have a profound impact on public health.

China imposes ban on Japanese seafood over Fukushima water release plan

UK will not supply cluster munitions to Ukraine, says Sunak

Prime minister rules out following controversial US move but says he will urge allies to increase other aid

Luke Harding in Kyiv and Michael Savage

THE GUARDIAN

Sat 8 Jul 2023 

Rishi Sunak has ruled out supplying Ukraine with cluster bombs, saying the UK will not follow the Biden administration’s controversial move and will instead press countries to boost their aid to Kyiv “in other ways”.

On Friday, Joe Biden defended what he said was a “difficult decision” to send widely banned cluster munitions to Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government. Human rights groups criticised the White House and there was unease among some Democrats, with one calling it “unnecessary and a terrible mistake”.

On Saturday, the prime minister pointed out the UK was a signatory to an international convention that discourages the use and production of cluster munitions – unlike the US, Russia and Ukraine.

Sunak said: “We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. But we’ve done that by providing heavy battle tanks and, most recently, long-range weapons.

“Russia’s act of barbarism is causing untold suffering to millions of people.”

Sunak said he was travelling this week to the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and would discuss with allies how to “strengthen our support for Ukraine”. It is unclear if Zelenskiy will attend in person. He has been pressing for immediate Nato membership for Ukraine, something Biden has so far ruled out.

The US and other countries including Germany are fearful that admitting Ukraine into Nato now – 16 months after Vladimir Putin’s invasion – will escalate tensions with Moscow. Nato members are instead likely to offer Kyiv a number of “security guarantees” as a sign of their long-term commitment.

Zelenskiy has welcomed the US provision of cluster munitions, which are part of a new $800m (£625m) security package. It comes amid western concerns that Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive is making slow progress. Commanders say their dug-in Russian opponents have superiority in artillery and heavy tanks, limiting the ability of their troops to advance.

Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically scatter numerous smaller bomblets over a wide area, sometimes as big as a football pitch, and can kill indiscriminately. Those that fail to explode threaten civilians, especially children, for decades after a conflict ends.

Moscow has used cluster munitions extensively, dropping them on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and in other heavily populated areas. Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, described the US-supplied munitions as “liberation weapons” that would “significantly help us to de-occupy our territories while saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers”.

Reznikov said he had given Washington written and “personal” guarantees. He promised his armed forces would not use cluster weapons inside Russia, and would avoid bombing urban areas where Ukrainian civilians could be killed or injured. “These are our people,” he said in a tweet.

He explained: “Cluster munitions will be used only in the fields where there is a concentration of Russian military. They will be used to break through the enemy defence lines with minimum risk for the lives of our soldiers.”

Kyiv would also keep a record of where it had fired cluster shells, known in Ukraine as “cassette bombs”. Based on these records, it would seek to de-mine affected areas as a priority once Ukraine had defeated Russia, Reznikov wrote.

Speaking on Friday, Biden said he had made the move because the Ukrainians were running out of ammunition.

In an interview with CNN, the US president said: “This is a war relating to munitions. And they’re running out of that ammunition, and we’re low on it and so, what I finally did, I took the recommendation of the defense department to – not permanently – but to allow for this transition period, while we get more 155 weapons, these shells, for the Ukrainians.”

End justifies means for Biden in sending cluster bombs to Ukraine

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters at the White House: “We recognise that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance. This is why we deferred the decision for as long as we could. But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory and subjugate more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine does not have enough artillery.

“That is intolerable to us. Ukraine would not be using these munitions in some foreign land. This is their country they’re defending. These are their citizens they’re protecting and they are motivated to use any weapon system they have in a way that minimises risks to those citizens.”

01:19  US decision to send cluster munitions ‘unanimous’, says US national security advisor – video    IT WAS NOT!!!

Zelenskiy described the aid package as “timely, broad and much-needed defense”, in a tweet thanking Biden for “decisive steps that bring Ukraine closer to victory over the enemy”.

“The expansion of Ukraine’s defense capabilities will provide new tools for the de-occupation of our land and bringing peace closer,” he wrote.

Several nations, rights groups and UN oppose US move to send cluster bombs to Ukraine

Washington, United StatesEdited By: Nishtha BadgamiaUpdated: Jul 08, 2023,  

The announcement of sending Ukraine cluster munitions, as a part of an $800 million security package, was made on Friday and announced by US President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan (R). (File Photo) Photograph:(Reuters)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Washington's allies, including UK, Germany, and Canada have opposed its decision of sending 

Ukraine cluster munitions, as a part of an $800 million security package. Here's why

Since the United States, announced that it would send the controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine for the first time amid Kyiv’s counteroffensive, it has drawn opposition and criticism from its allies in Europe, the United Nations, and international organisations. Meanwhile, Kyiv, on Saturday (July 8) welcoming Washington’s decision said that cluster bombs would be used for retaking Ukrainian territory and vowed not to use them in Moscow. 

About cluster munition

Cluster munitions have been widely denounced for killing and maiming civilians as they typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets which had targets indiscriminately over a wide area, threatening civilians. Additionally, some of the small bomblets do not explode when deployed and can pose a danger for years after a conflict ends.

Different countries about US’ decision

The announcement of sending Ukraine cluster munitions, as a part of an $800 million security package, was made on Friday by US President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan. “We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance,” said the White House official. He added, “This is why we’ve deferred the decision for as long as we could.”

Germany

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the country as a part of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), opposes Washington’s decision. 

BAERBOCK TOLD REPORTERS, “I HAVE FOLLOWED THE MEDIA REPORTS. FOR US, AS A STATE PARTY, THE OSLO AGREEMENT APPLIES”. SHE SAID REFERRING TO THE CCM, WHICH WAS OPENED FOR SIGNATURE IN THE NORWEGIAN CAPITAL IN 2008. 

The CCM bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. The US along with countries like China and Russia is not a part of the treaty which bans the bombs in more than 100 countries. 

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Saturday also announced Britain’s opposition to sending cluster munitions to Ukraine in line with the CCM, while reiterating support for Kyiv. “We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion,” said the British PM. 

Spain

Similarly, the Spanish defence minister, Margarita Robles, on Saturday also said that cluster bombs should not be sent to help Ukraine. Spain is also a signatory of CCM, in line with which, has also banned cluster munitions. She went on to reiterate Spain’s support for Ukraine. 

“Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances,” said Robles. She added, “No to cluster bombs and yes to the legitimate defence of Ukraine, which we understand should not be carried out with cluster bombs.” 

Canada

Canada also expressed its opposition to Washington’s decision and reiterated its commitment to the Oslo agreement. “We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children,” said the Canadian government. 

It added, “Canada is fully compliant with the Convention and we take seriously our obligation under the Convention to encourage its universal adoption.” 

United Nations

The spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN chief also opposed the move and that he “does not want there to be continued use of cluster munitions on the battlefield.”

Rights groups fume 

In a series of statements, several international human rights organisations have criticised Washington’s decision and raised alarm about how it would affect civilians’ lives. 

Human Rights Watch said that “transferring these weapons would inevitably cause long-term suffering for civilians and undermine the international opprobrium of their use opposes.” 

Similarly, Amnesty International said that the Biden administration should understand that “any decision enabling the broader use of cluster bombs in this war will likely lead to one predictable outcome: the further death of civilians.” It added, “Their (cluster munitions) transfer and use by any country under any circumstances is incompatible with international law.” 

Ukraine responds to criticism 

Amid criticism, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov took to Twitter and welcomed US’ decision and said it would help to “de-occupation of our internationally recognized territories” and vowed that the munitions would be not used in “officially recognized territory of Russia.”

“Our position is simple - we need to liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people,” said Reznikov. He also spoke about how the munitions would help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and that Kyiv will keep a strict record of their use and exchange information with its partners.

US cluster bombs for Ukraine show ‘weakness’: Russia

Russian Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in a statement, said that the US decision to send cluster munitions is an “act of desperation and shows weakness against the backdrop of the failure of the much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive.” 

She added, “The latest ‘miracle weapon’ which Washington and Kyiv are betting on, without thinking about the grave consequences, will have no effect on the special military operation,” referring to what Moscow officially calls its campaign in Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine vows it won't use cluster bombs in Russia
Jul 8, 2023

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian military serviceman Igor Ovcharruck holds a defused cluster bomb from an MSLR missile, among a display of pieces of rockets used by Russian army, that a Ukrainian munitions expert said did not explode on impact, in the region of Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 21, 2022. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo


U.S. Army soldiers draw 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) rounds to carry into their vehicles during a load exercise at Camp Hovey, South Korea September 20, 2016. U.S. Army/2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo


A U.S. Army soldier transfers a 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) round into a vehicle during a load exercise at Camp Hovey, South Korea September 20, 2016. U.S. Army/2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo


Dozens of 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) rounds wait to be loaded into M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and M992 Field Artillery Support Vehicles at a U.S. Army motor pool at Camp Hovey, South Korea September 20, 2016. U.S. Army/2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov welcomed a U.S. decision to send cluster bombs to Kyiv, saying it would help to liberate Ukrainian territory but promised the munitions would not be used in Russia.

The U.S. announced on Friday it would supply Ukraine with widely banned cluster munitions for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.

Reznikov said the munitions would help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, adding Ukraine would keep a strict record of their use and exchange information with its partners.

"Our position is simple - we need to liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people," Reznikov wrote on Twitter.

"Ukraine will use these munitions only for the de-occupation of our internationally recognized territories. These munitions will not be used on the officially recognized territory of Russia."

Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Those that fail to explode pose a danger for decades.

Moscow again criticised the U.S. decision on Saturday, describing it as another "egregious" example of Washington's "anti-Russian" course.

"Another 'wonder weapon', which Washington and Kyiv are counting on without considering its grave consequences, will in no way affect the course of the special military operation, the goals and objectives of which will be fully achieved," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

Jake Sullivan, U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser, sought on Friday to make the case for providing the arms to Ukraine to reclaim territory seized since Russia invaded in February 2022.

"We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance," Sullivan told reporters. "But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory and subjugate more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine does not have enough artillery," he said.

Reznikov said the military would not use cluster munitions in urban areas and would use them only "to break through the enemy defence lines".

Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of the weapons.

Spain, a signatory to the convention, said it opposed the decision.

"Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances," Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters at a Madrid rally on Saturday.

Britain is also a signatory to the convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

"We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion," he told reporters on Saturday.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv, additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in MoscowEditing by Ros Russell and Mark Potter) 

CLUSTER BOMBS KILL KIDS

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Opinion

 
Here’s why supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions would be a terrible mistake

By Patrick Leahy and  Jeff Merkley

The Washington Post
July 7, 2023 

The remains of a rocket that carried cluster munitions found in the Kherson region of Ukraine in April. (Alice Martins for The Washington Post)

Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, is a former U.S. senator from Vermont. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, is a U.S. senator from Oregon who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee.

A few weeks after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, reports from the battlefield revealed that Russian troops were using cluster munitions against Ukrainian targets. This news prompted a top U.S. official, as well as observers from dozens of other countries and humanitarian organizations, to denounce Moscow’s use of a weapon widely recognized as causing disproportionate civilian casualties.

Yet President Biden has now approved providing cluster munitions to Ukraine. This is a serious mistake.

We voted for billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine and strongly believe we must continue to help the Ukrainian people defend themselves against Russian aggression. But supplying Kyiv with cluster munitions would come at an unsupportable moral and political price. Knowing that these weapons cause indiscriminate terror and mayhem, both of us — like many others in the international community — have worked for years to end their use.

Cluster munitions, such as land mines, undeniably offer some battlefield advantages — yet using them would compound the already devastating impact of the war on civilians and Ukrainian troops, with effects lasting for years to come.

Unlike Russian President Vladimir Putin, the United States subscribes to the laws of war and the importance of minimizing civilian casualties, and our support for Ukraine must be guided by such principles. Biden has recognized that this effort is about standing up for sovereignty, freedom and democracy in the face of horrific war crimes justified with Putin’s lies.

The impact of cluster munitions on innocent civilians persists for weeks, months, even years, sometimes long after a conflict ends. These weapons are designed to disperse swarms of small submunitions, known as “bomblets,” over large areas, causing widespread death and destruction. To make matters worse, they often fail to explode as designed. Russia’s use of cluster munitions in Ukraine killed and wounded hundreds of civilians between February and July 2022. In Laos and Vietnam, some of the tens of millions of unexploded U.S. cluster munitions deployed more than 50 years ago continue to maim and kill civilians. As senators, we traveled to Vietnam, where we witnessed firsthand the devastating and long-lasting effects these weapons have had on civilians.

Modern U.S. cluster munitions are no exception. They are scattered by the thousands, and while they have lower dud rates than in the past, those that fail to detonate can be activated by anyone who encounters them, whether a child or a Ukrainian soldier or anyone else. That is why 123 countries, including 23 out of 31 NATO members, have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use and transfer of these weapons. While the United States is not a party to the convention, since 2003 the U.S. military used them only once, in Yemen, in 2009.

Since then, Congress, in a law one of us wrote, has prohibited the transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate greater than 1 percent, which would restrict the number of unexploded bomblets that could endanger civilians long after the end of a conflict. Previously, this was also the Pentagon’s own policy. The law also stipulates that any agreement pertaining to the transfer of cluster munitions must specify that the munitions will not be used where civilians are known to be present. Any cluster munitions provided to Ukraine would exceed the 1 percent failure rate, and in providing Ukraine with cluster munitions the White House would therefore be acting contrary to that law.

The United States is by far the world’s largest donor for the clearance of land mines, cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance, having contributed $213 million in 2022 alone. We have worked to increase Ukraine’s capabilities to clear Russian mines and unexploded munitions, and this costly, dangerous work will need to continue for decades.

Sending cluster munitions to Ukraine would not only reverse decades of U.S. policy and practice. It would also kill more civilians and exacerbate the very problem we are seeking to address when we provide millions of dollars for ordnance clearance. And it would go against the two-thirds of NATO members and other allies and partners who are party to the convention, and whose support is critical to our collective defense of Ukraine. The last thing we need is to risk a rupture with key allies over a weapon that the United States should be leading the global effort to prohibit.

Finally, providing cluster munitions to Kyiv would erode the moral advantage held by Ukraine and its supporters since the start of the war. While Russia has used cluster munitions in its barbaric onslaught, Putin’s propagandists could use our actions to further discredit Ukraine and its allies among nonaligned countries.

We must continue to provide Ukraine with the military, economic and humanitarian aid it needs to persevere, but in a manner that is worthy of the United States.

CLUSTER BOMBS KILL KIDS

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Canada condemns use of cluster munitions following U.S. decision to send weapon to Ukraine


Melissa Lopez-Martinez
CTVNews.ca Writer
July 7, 2023

\

The remains of a cluster-type munition lie in a field in Cherkaska Lozova, outskirts of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Canada is reiterating its stance against the use of cluster munitions following the Biden administration’s decision to send the controversial weapon to Ukraine amid Russia's invasion.

In a statement sent to CTV News, the Government of Canada said its longstanding position on the weapon is clear in that Canada is fully against its use in accordance with Canada's ban against landmines.

"Building on the trailblazing work of Lloyd Axworthy on the Ottawa Treaty to ban landmines, Canada championed the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which is now ratified by more than 100 countries," the statement said.

"We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children."

Canada, along with 123 nations, have pledged to the Convention on Cluster Munitions introduced in 2008 that prohibits the production, use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. In 1997, Canada introduced the Ottawa Treaty to ban the weapon that disperses explosive bomblets at random, which can lead to civilian injuries and deaths.

"Canada is fully compliant with the Convention and we take seriously our obligation under the Convention to encourage its universal adoption," the statement continued.

On Friday, the U.S., which is not a part of the global convention, announced it will be sending cluster munitions to Ukraine despite its risk to civilians. During a White House briefing, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan argued that because Ukraine does not have enough artillery, the weapons can be used to save more civilian lives against Russian troops moving in on Ukrainian territory.

Earl Turcotte, who led the Canadian delegation in negotiations of the convention and was the former UN chief advisor to the government of Laos, compared the decision made by the U.S.to having similar repercussions as the Vietnam War.

"There was extensive carpet bombing in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and the war ended for America in the late 70s, but it continues in Southeast Asia," Turcotte told CTV News.

"People continue to die because of the use of this type of weapon."

Turcotte said cluster munitions are far more dangerous than landmines because of the extensive ground they cover once they're released, becoming an indiscriminate weapon that can put anyone in danger. Additionally, he notes sub-munitions often fail to detonate on impact and become a threat to lives in the future.

While the Canadian government has not specifically condemned the move by the U.S., or Ukraine and Russia's use of cluster munitions, Turcotte said officials have a legal obligation to the convention to speak out.


In a letter written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Turcotte noted reports from the Human Rights Watch (HRW) that found Russia has used six types of cluster munitions since the war began, likely killing thousands and damaging hundreds of homes and hospitals. A separate report by the HRW estimates at least eight civilians were killed in 2022 by Ukrainian cluster munition rocket attacks in Izium, and at least 15 were injured; however the HRW says these numbers are likely to be greater.

"The point must be made clearly and forcefully that any immediate military benefit cluster munitions might afford would be nullified and far exceeded by their humanitarian impact on the Ukrainian citizenry over the longer term," Turcotte said in the letter.

Since the start of the war, Canada has contributed $8 billion in aid for Ukraine, $1 billion of which has gone towards military aid including the donation of eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks.

With files from CTV National News Washington Bureau Chief files from the Associated Press and the Canadian Press.

U.S. to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions despite allies’ weapons ban

ADRIAN MORROW

U.S. CORRESPONDENT
IAN BAILEY
WASHINGTON AND OTTAWA

GLOBE AND  MAIL

PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO

This handout picture provided by the DVIDS on July 7 shows soldiers participating in a load exercise.

United States President Joe Biden has agreed to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs as part of his latest US$800-million package of military aid for the country, despite bans on the weapons by Canada and other U.S. allies.

The Biden administration says the bombs, which can remain unexploded after they are dropped and pose a hazard to civilians for decades, are meant to shore up Kyiv’s arsenal while the U.S. ramps up production of howitzer artillery shells to contribute.

“Ukraine needs artillery to sustain its offensive and defensive operations. Artillery is at the core of this conflict,” Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden’s national security adviser, said at the White House. “We will not leave Ukraine defenceless at any point in this conflict period.”

Mr. Sullivan said the U.S. had long resisted Ukrainian requests for the munitions, but relented in part because Russia is already using them.

“We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance. That is why we deferred the decision for as long as we could. But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions,” he said.

The decision, made the week before a NATO summit in Lithuania, opens up a rare gap among alliance members on the subject of Ukraine.

More than 100 countries, including Canada and a majority of NATO members, are part of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which prohibits signatories from making, using, transferring or encouraging others to use the weapons. The U.S., Ukraine and Russia have not signed the agreement.

Cluster munitions consist of small “bomblets” packed into missiles or other canisters. When released over a target, the bomblets scatter across an area as wide as a football field, setting off dozens or hundreds of deadly explosions.

The concern about the weapons is that the wide dispersal of the bomblets, and the fact that they don’t always explode on contact, make it more likely they will kill civilians, sometimes long after a war is over.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s office said Canada remains opposed to the use of cluster weapons. Stephen Harper’s government ratified the CCM in 2015, and the Canadian military destroyed its stockpile.

“Canada’s long-standing position on cluster munitions is clear and Canadians can be proud of our leadership on this issue,” Emily Williams, Ms. Joly’s communications director, wrote in an e-mail. “We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children.”

Asked how Ottawa feels about the U.S. providing cluster weapons to Ukraine, Ms. Williams would not comment. In a background briefing by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office on the NATO summit, an official would not say whether the matter is expected to come up at the meeting.

Just last month, the House of Commons unanimously passed a bill that included measures to strengthen Canada’s anti-cluster-munitions law. The new measures are intended to defund companies that build cluster bombs.

“Cluster munitions, of course, are really not even effective war tools. They’re in fact just tools of terror,” Conservative MP Philip Lawrence said in a committee hearing on the bill.

Lloyd Axworthy, a former foreign minister who was instrumental to a 1997 treaty to ban land mines, urged Ottawa to rally opposition to the supply of cluster weapons to Ukraine. He contended that the move could cost Ukraine its moral authority.

“My advice would be to take the position that Canada stands opposed to their use, and take a big step forward and say, at the NATO summit, that this issue needs to be brought forward and debate take place … and force Americans to change their decision,” he said in an interview.

Mr. Axworthy said Canada should be on the diplomatic circuit, rallying like-minded NATO countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands. Ukraine should receive the military aid it needs, he said, but that should not include weapons that violate international standards.

“This is a weapon that could change the narrative of the war itself. It would become so much harder to convince people that the conflict is a serious effort to stop needless aggression and protect people,” he said. “If we’re fighting a war against this kind of Russian immorality, then we shouldn’t be hypocritical about this situation.”

Mr. Sullivan said some U.S. allies who are party to the CCM have privately told the White House that “they understand our decision.” In an interview with CNN, Mr. Biden said he had discussed the move “with our allies.” Neither specified which countries had backed the U.S. decision.

“It was a very difficult decision on my part,” Mr. Biden said. “The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.”

The U.S. military has been moving away from the use of cluster bombs. The Pentagon issued an order in 2008 banning the use of any cluster weapons in which more than 1 per cent of the bomblets fail to explode. The Biden administration said Friday that the President would use a national security exception to override that order.

Colin Kahl, the U.S. undersecretary of defence for policy, said the bombs provided to Ukraine would have a failure, or “dud,” rate of less than 2.5 per cent, while Russia’s versions of the weapons have a far higher incidence of not immediately exploding.

“We have hundreds of thousands that are available at this dud rate,” he said, adding that the bombs would “signal to Vladimir Putin that he can’t just outlast the Ukrainians.”

Ukrainian forces, he contended, have incentive not to use the weapons indiscriminately, since they are on home turf. They have also committed to a demining program after the war.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters the alliance does not take a position on cluster bombs, and that it is up to each country to make its own decisions. “We are facing a brutal war, and we have to remember this brutality is reflected, that every day we see casualties, and that cluster munitions are used by both sides,” he said Friday in Brussels.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for the bombs as a way of breaking entrenched Russian positions in the south of Ukraine. Kyiv’s current counteroffensive got started late, and has not made much progress, which Mr. Zelensky has blamed on too-slow weapons shipments from the West.

On previous occasions, Washington resisted authorizing transfers of tanks and F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv before ultimately relenting. But in those cases Mr. Biden changed his position in concert with allies. Germany, Canada and several other countries, for instance, also participated in the tank deal. Germany this week reaffirmed its position against cluster bombs.

In a report this week, Human Rights Watch found that Russia had “extensively used cluster munitions,” killing and injuring “many” civilians. Ukrainian forces used cluster bombs in rocket attacks last year against Russian forces in the city of Izyum, the group said, killing eight civilians and injuring 15.

Mines Action Canada, an advocacy group, called on Ottawa to oppose the U.S. sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. “Choosing a weapon that is proven to kill civilians and prevent displaced persons from coming home will not help win the peace,” the group’s executive director, Erin Hunt, said in a statement.

 

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