MAE SAI, Thailand The rescuers trying to help a youth soccer team stranded in a Thai cave suffered a disheartening loss Friday with the death of a former SEAL diving in the flooded passageways to deliver supplies, as authorities raced against worsening weather and lessening oxygen where the 12 boys and their coach have been trapped for two weeks.
“We can no longer wait for all conditions (to be ready) because circumstances are pressuring us,” Thai SEAL commander Rear Adm. Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference. “We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time, but circumstances have changed. We have limited amount of time.”
Oxygen levels are decreasing because of the amount of workers inside the cave and workers were trying to run an oxygen line into the chambers in addition to the oxygen canisters used by divers, Chiang Rai province Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn had said late Thursday.
A senior army commander, Maj. Gen. Chalongchai Chaiyakam, said the most pressing mission is the oxygen line. It is tied to a telephone line to provide a channel of communication for the kids, who are stuck deep in the complex but are being looked after by four SEALs, including a medic.
The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the cave after a soccer game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days as the only way to reach them was by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents.
Authorities have been racing to pump out water from the cave before more storms raise the water level again. At this time though, diving is the only possible method of escape, even though cave rescue experts warn it is extremely dangerous even for those with experience.
The death of former Thai navy SEAL Saman Gunan underscored those risks. The diver, the first fatality of the rescue effort, was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters along the route divers use to reach the children, Arpakorn said.
The strategically placed canisters allow divers to stay underwater for longer during what is about a five-hour trip to reach the stranded team.
While underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed, Arpakorn said. Some officials said his collapse was due to his oxygen supply running out, but the cause of his collapse was not confirmed.
“Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,” Arpakorn said.
The governor has said the 13 may not be extracted at the same time, depending on their condition. They boys are weak but for the most part physically healthy. They’ve practiced wearing diving masks and breathing, in preparation for the diving possibility.
Officials prefer to get the boys out as soon as possible because heavy rain is expected by Saturday.
They are hoping an upgraded draining effort can lower the water in an area where it is still at or near the ceiling. The idea is to get some headroom so the boys would not be reliant on scuba apparatus for a long stretch and could keep their heads above water.
Cave rescue experts have said it could be safest to simply supply the boys where they are, and wait for the flooding to subside. That could take months, however, given that Thailand’s rainy season typically lasts through October. And without proper oxygen levels, staying put could also prove deadly.
The dramatic rescue efforts have garnered international attention, perhaps most notably at soccer’s most widely watched event, the World Cup, being played in Russia. A diver who spent time with the boys said earlier the youngsters wanted to know the results of the matches. Players from teams including England and Sweden have recorded good luck video messages for the trapped boys, and FIFA has invited the 13 to the World Cup final should they be rescued in time and are healthy enough to travel.
The effort has also brought international assistance including US military personnel and the British cave-divers who first found the boys on Monday. The latest was Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind the Tesla automobile and the SpaceX rocket company, who said he would send engineers to help. One of his enterprises is Boring Co, which digs tunnels for advanced transport systems and has advanced ground-penetrating radar. Musk also brainstormed on Twitter about possible technology for a safe evacuation, suggesting that an air tunnel constructed with soft tubing like a Bouncy Castle could provide flexible passage out.
Thais fight water and oxygen levels in cave as diver dies
Thais fight water and oxygen levels in cave as diver dies
Spared from Indonesian firing squad, Filipina convict to return home after years of protests
- Mary Jane Veloso has been in Indonesian prison since 2010, awaiting execution
- She will be returned to the Philippines through a transfer of prisoners, authorities say
Jakarta: A Philippine woman who was spared from execution on drug trafficking charges in Indonesia is set to be transferred to her homeland, officials in Manila and Jakarta said on Wednesday, after nearly 15 years of protests and outcry over her case in both countries.
Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina domestic worker, was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 for allegedly smuggling 2.6 kg of heroin from Malaysia into Indonesia. She denied the charge, saying she was tricked by a recruiter to bring a suitcase with the drugs hidden in its seams.
Indonesian and Philippine officials announced on Wednesday that a deal has been reached to fulfill Manila’s longstanding request for Veloso to be brought back home to serve her sentence in her country.
“We are doing a transfer of prisoners. We will transfer the convict, and the Philippines will implement the sentence handed down by the Indonesian court,” Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration and correctional institutions, said in a video statement.
“We have submitted the conditions (for the transfer), and it has been accepted by the Philippine government,” he said. “Once she is returned to the Philippines, it is within the authority of President Marcos to grant her pardon … We remain consistent in our ways; Indonesia has never granted pardon for drug convicts.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the first announcement that Manila had reached an agreement to bring Veloso back to the Philippines after more than a decade of negotiations with the Indonesian government.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill,” he said. “Thank you, Indonesia. We look forward to welcoming Mary Jane home.”
Indonesia has one of the world’s harshest anti-narcotics laws, and drug trafficking is punishable by death.
Veloso had been due to be executed by firing squad in 2015 after an Indonesian court convicted her of drug trafficking and gave her the death penalty. But she was granted a stay of execution at the 11th hour to testify in a human trafficking case against her recruiter in the Philippines.
The case has sparked numerous protests in both Indonesia and the Philippines, where people demanded Jakarta spare her from the firing squad. The Philippine government has also sought clemency for Veloso in high-level bilateral meetings, including when former President Joko Widodo visited Manila in January.
Should Veloso’s transfer proceed, it would remove the possibility of her facing an execution, as the Philippines has long abolished the death penalty.
Bangladeshis gear up for legendary Bengali rock star’s Riyadh Season debut
- James is widely celebrated both in Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal
- He will perform on Friday, under Riyadh Season’s Bangladeshi culture segment
Dhaka: Bangladeshi fans are anticipating the upcoming Riyadh Season concert by the legendary singer James, seeing it as an opportunity to showcase their pop culture to a Saudi audience.
A songwriter, guitarist, composer, and playback singer, James started his career with Feelings — currently known as Nagar Baul — a band considered to be the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh.
One of the most popular artists performing in Bengali, he has been widely celebrated both in Bangladesh and in the Indian state of West Bengal since the 1990s.
He will perform in the Kingdom on Friday, as part of the Bangladeshi culture segment of the Riyadh Season — an annual series of entertainment, cultural, and sporting events running in the Saudi capital throughout winter months.
It will be the first time James will perform in the Kingdom — to the great enthusiasm of the Bangladeshi expat community.
“James is a Bangladeshi music icon. He is our superstar. It’s something like a dream that I will be able to watch his performance here. During my teenage years, I grew up listening to his songs, but I never got the opportunity to attend any of his concerts. This is like the experience of a lifetime,” Alamgir Hossain, a shopkeeper who has been working in Riyadh for the past seven years, told Arab News.
Other fans living in different parts of Saudi Arabia will be coming to the capital to witness the performance too.
“Two of my friends will travel to Riyadh from their workplace in Al-Kharj. All Bangladeshis in the Kingdom are excited. We are preparing to attend the concert in a group. I have already requested leave from my employer so that we can enjoy the event,” Hossain said.
“James is popular not only in Bangladesh, he has performed for the Bollywood industry in Hindi songs, so he is popular among South Asian music lovers also. Some of my Indian and Pakistani friends will also attend the concert.”
Nagar Baul’s manager Rubaiyat Thakur Robin told the local Bangladeshi media Prothom Alo that the show would be free for attendees, and he was expecting a big turnout, given that 3 million Bangladeshis were living and working in the Kingdom.
Some of them, like Abdul Hannan, a driver in Riyadh, were excited about the whole Bangladeshi culture segment.
“It will bring us closer and strengthen the bond with Saudi Arabia … I thank the Saudi authorities for giving us this opportunity,” he said.
But the concert was for him the most important highlight, also as his friends will drive to Riyadh from places as far as Dammam, over 400 km away, to take part as well.
“I am waiting to meet old friends from different parts of the Kingdom. We have been living here for many years, far, far away from family and friends. This concert gives an opportunity for us to meet. I am very excited about it,” he told Arab News.
“I am also waiting to hear my favorite song, ‘Amar sonar Bangla, ami tomai valobashi’ — ‘My Bengal of gold, I love you.’ I can’t hold my tears when I listen to this song. It’s the best patriotic song after our national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore. I strongly believe that James will perform this song here as well.”
Youth voices at COP29 demand a seat at the table
- Advocates on the ground are clear: climate action cannot succeed without fully integrating the voices of the generation that will live with its consequences
BAKU: At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, young climate leaders are amplifying their calls for meaningful inclusion in global climate negotiations. Despite their innovative solutions and unique perspectives, many youth-led initiatives continue to face barriers such as underfunding and tokenism. Advocates on the ground are clear: climate action cannot succeed without fully integrating the voices of the generation that will live with its consequences.
Children as climate stakeholders
Catarina Lorenzo, a 16-year-old Youth Climate Champion, emphasizes the critical need for young people to be involved in decision-making processes. “Children are among the most vulnerable groups, yet their voices are often excluded,” Lorenzo says. She highlights the unique perspectives that children bring to the table, including an innate connection to nature and firsthand experiences of climate impacts such as floods and school disruptions.
Lorenzo points to a concerning statistic: only 2 percent of global philanthropic investments in development directly benefit children, despite their making up a third of the world’s population. “We need concrete actions,” she asserts, calling for greater investment and a dedicated youth and children-focused section in national contributions to climate goals. While she acknowledges an increase in youth presence at COP events compared to earlier years, she stresses that their voices remain sidelined during key negotiations.
Progress amid tokenism
While initiatives like the COP29 Youth Delegates Program, led by Presidency Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova, aim to train young people in policy-making and technical advocacy, gaps in meaningful inclusion persist. Youth advocate Yitong Li recognizes a growing interest in youth participation but criticizes the tokenistic nature of many engagements.
“There’s more interest in involving young people, but it’s often superficial,” says Li, referencing instances where youth demands were disregarded, such as the controversy surrounding the creation of a Youth Climate Champion role. Despite these setbacks, Li remains optimistic about the growing influence of youth coalitions such as the Global Youth Statement, which has gained traction with world leaders and international organizations. “Young people remind us of what truly matters beyond the technicalities of negotiations,” she adds.
Concrete demands from youth advocates
Representing the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, Anjali Chalise brings a focus on actionable outcomes. At COP29, she outlined three key demands from the Global Youth Statement: integrating children’s rights into climate policies, prioritizing children in adaptation measures, and establishing early warning systems for climate impacts.
However, Chalise expresses frustration at the lack of responsiveness from decision-makers. “We participate in negotiations and present our demands, but they are not fully reflected in final decisions,” she explained. Despite this, Chalise underscored the importance of continuing to advocate for increased climate finance, particularly for youth-driven projects that address green initiatives and adaptation strategies.
Building a framework for youth inclusion
Programs like the COP29 Youth Delegates initiative are attempting to bridge the gap between youth participation and actionable outcomes. These efforts align with the conference’s broader emphasis on amplifying the role of young leaders in addressing interconnected climate crises, such as biodiversity loss, desertification, and sustainable development.
The Presidency Youth Climate Champion has highlighted the role of youth networks in fostering collaboration across Central Asia, where the program has helped align national actions with international commitments. In parallel, events like “Youth at the Forefront of Climate Action” have underscored the urgency of meaningful youth inclusion in the climate agenda, particularly as youth advocates call for safeguards against greenwashing in nature-based solutions and demand greater accountability from world leaders.
A call for action
The growing presence of youth voices at COP29 signals a shift in global climate discourse. However, advocates insist that recognition must translate into action. They demand not just applause for their speeches but a tangible seat at the table — one that allows them to co-create policies and implement solutions.
By addressing systemic barriers and investing in youth-led initiatives, COP29 has the potential to set a new standard for inclusive climate governance. The stakes are high, but the message is clear: the future of the planet depends on listening to those who will inherit it.
Putin gifts North Korea a lion, bears and ducks
- Putin previously gifted Kim 24 purebred horses, known to be Kim’s favorite
- The two countries, both under heavy Western sanctions, signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea dozens of animals, including a lion and two bears, as a sign of friendship between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russian officials said Wednesday.
The two countries have deepened political, military and cultural ties amid Russia’s offensive on Ukraine, with Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un repeatedly professing their personal camaraderie.
“An African lion, two brown bears, two domestic yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants of various species and 40 mandarin ducks were transferred from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Zoo,” Russia’s natural resources ministry said in a post on Telegram.
It posted a video of the animals in cargo boxes being unloaded off a government plane, and another of the lion in its new enclosure at the Pyongyang Zoo.
Putin previously gifted Kim 24 purebred horses, known to be Kim’s favorite, while Kim sent Putin a pair of local dogs.
The two countries, both under heavy Western sanctions, signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year that obligates them to provide immediate military assistance if the other is invaded.
Western capitals, as well as Ukraine and South Korea, say North Korea has recently deployed more than 10,000 of its troops to Russia, to be sent into combat against Kyiv’s forces.
Trump names former wrestling executive as Education Secretary
- Linda McMahon, former CEO of WWE, will lead Department of Education that Trump has pledged to abolish
- McMahon is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, on Tuesday to lead the Department of Education, which he has pledged to abolish.
Describing McMahon as a “fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights,” Trump said in a statement: “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
McMahon is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January. It is tasked with filling some 4,000 positions in the government.
Regarding McMahon’s experience in education, Trump cited her two-year stint on the Connecticut Board of Education and 16 years on the board of trustees at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic school.
McMahon left WWE in 2009 to run in vain for US Senate, and has been a major donor to Trump.
Since 2021, she has chaired the Center For The American Worker at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.
During the election campaign Trump promised to do away with the federal education department when he returns to the White House.
“I say it all the time. I’m dying to get back to do this. We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” he said in September during a rally in Wisconsin.
At the Republican convention in Milwaukee, McMahon said she was “privileged to call Donald Trump a colleague and a boss,” as well as “a friend.”
Her ties with Trump go back to her years in the professional wrestling industry — she said she first met him as chief executive at WWE.
At the culmination of a staged feud, Trump once body-slammed her husband, legendary wrestling promoter Vince McMahon, and shaved his head in the middle of a wrestling ring on live television.
In 2017, she was confirmed as the head of the Small Business Administration, which is responsible for supporting America’s millions of small businesses, which employ around half the country’s private-sector workforce.
In nominating her, Trump pointed to her experience in business, helping to grow the WWE.
After leaving the administration, she served as chair of the pro-Trump America First Action SuperPAC, or political action committee.
