ABOARD GEO BARENTS: Guards at a Libyan detention center for migrants shot and killed at least six people amid chaos in the overcrowded facility, UN officials said Saturday as they again condemned widespread abuses against migrants in the North African country.
The development comes a week after authorities rounded up more than 5,000 migrants in a massive crackdown and after UN-commissioned investigators said abuses and ill treatment of migrants in Libya amount to crimes against humanity.
The shooting took place Friday in the Mabani detention center west of the capital, Tripoli, where authorities earlier this month sent 4,187 new detainees, including 511 women and 60 children, according to the International Organization for Migration.
A spokesman for Libya’s Interior Ministry, which oversees migrant detention centers, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
It wasn’t immediately clear what triggered the violence. But Vincent Cochetel, the UN refugee agency’s special envoy for the Central Mediterranean, said “human rights violations and inhuman conditions” at Libya’s overcrowded detention centers led to the mayhem, which included “indiscriminate shooting.”
Cochetel urged the European Union and UN to impose sanctions on those implicated in the abuses against migrants, especially after the findings of UN-commissioned investigators.
“Some individuals bear special responsibility for the human rights abuses committed either because they are directly involved in them or because they cover them under their authority. It is time for the UN and the EU sanctions committee to take action and list some individuals,” he told The Associated Press.
Federico Soda, the head of IOM’s mission in Libya, said at least six migrants were shot dead by guards.
Footage circulated online purporting to show hundreds of migrants fleeing the detention center through a gap in the facility fence. Some were seen helping apparently injured fellow migrants. Other videos showed large numbers of migrants running through the streets in Tripoli.
Gabriel Akoulong, 24, of Cameroon, was among the fleeing migrants. He was detained in the crackdown in the western town of Gargaresh, a major hub for migrants in Libya, and imprisoned in Mabani.
“They put us into crowded cells where we couldn’t even breathe. There was no food, no water, no oxygen,” he said.
During the escape, some migrants fell and were caught by Libyan guards who beat them. Some of the migrants trying to flee were shot, he said.
“I still ask myself why we have been detained and imprisoned,” he told the AP in a phone interview from Tripoli where he was in hiding.
Earlier this week, many migrants attempted to flee from the Mabani center, but they were met “with extreme violence,” said medical aid group Doctors without Borders, which was granted a rare visit to the center.
The group, also known by its French acronym MSF, said its visiting team “heard two rounds of heavy gunfire at very close range and witnessed the indiscriminate beating of a group of men who were later forced into vehicles and driven to an unknown destination.”
More than 5,000 migrants were rounded up in the crackdown earlier this month, including 215 were children and more than 540 women, at least 30 of whom were pregnant, according to the IOM. The crackdown, which left one migrant dead and 15 others injured, began Oct. 1 in Gargaresh and spread to surrounding areas.
Libyan authorities described the crackdown as a security operation against illegal migration and drug trafficking. But they made no mention of any traffickers or smugglers being arrested.
Hours before Friday’s chaos in Mabani, the UN refugee agency said authorities demolished many buildings and makeshift houses for migrants during the crackdown.
“The raids ... have created widespread panic and fear among asylum seekers and refugees in the capital,” the UNHCR said. Many migrants, including unaccompanied children and young mothers, have protested at the agency’s Community Day Center in Tripoli, demanding evacuation from Libya.
The UNHCR said it temporality suspended its activities in the center after two of its workers were injured.
Libya has been engulfed in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The county has since emerged as migrant hub for those fleeing poverty and civil war in Africa and the Middle East and hoping a better life in Europe.
Thousands of migrants have been intercepted at the Mediterranean Sea and returned to Libya’s detention centers which are rife with widespread abuses, torture and sexual violence.
UN-commissioned investigators said violations against migrants at sea, in detention centers and at the hands of traffickers amount to crimes against humanity.
UN officials say guards kill 6 migrants detained in Libya
https://arab.news/m4pqx
UN officials say guards kill 6 migrants detained in Libya
- UN-commissioned investigators said abuses and ill treatment of migrants in Libya amount to crimes against humanity
- The UN refugee agency’s special envoy for the Central Mediterranean said “human rights violations and inhuman conditions” at Libya’s overcrowded detention centers led to the mayhem
Wembanyama returns to Paris for NBA games as a global star
- Wembanyama admitted on Wednesday it was a reassuring feeling being back in the Bercy Arena where he helped France to the Olympic silver medal in August, when they were beaten by the USA in the final
- The games in Paris — the second takes place on Saturday — have attracted spectators from 53 countries, reflecting the interest in Wembanyama, who is averaging 24.4 points and 10.8 rebounds a game this season
PARIS: Victor Wembanyama will take to the court in Paris on Thursday with the San Antonio Spurs in front of an adoring home crowd, having gone from the French league to global stardom.
The 21-year-old 7ft 3in (2.21m) center was playing for the Metropolitans 92 on the edge of the French capital a year and a half ago before being chosen as the No.1 NBA draft pick, putting him on the path to global stardom.
In just his second year in the NBA, he returns home as a Spurs player and as one of the US league’s brightest stars for two regular-season games against the Indiana Pacers.
The towering Frenchman is also a big part of the US league’s efforts to project its reach beyond its borders — and basketball is growing fast in France.
Since stepping foot back on French soil, “Wemby” has visited his former teammates, opened an outdoor basketball court in his home town of Le Chesnay on the Paris outskirts and been guest of honor at an LVMH fashion show.
Wembanyama admitted on Wednesday it was a reassuring feeling being back in the Bercy Arena where he helped France to the Olympic silver medal in August, when they were beaten by the USA in the final.
“I can feel a different energy,” he said at a press conference. “It’s great to be back here. It’s a venue that’s close to my heart.
“All in all, I haven’t been out much in Paris. I haven’t had a chance to see it for myself yet.
“But yes, it’s different from last time. We know it’s a different fanbase. Fans who wait all their lives, all year, for the chance to see an NBA game. So it’s different.”
The games in Paris — the second takes place on Saturday — have attracted spectators from 53 countries, reflecting the interest in Wembanyama, who is averaging 24.4 points and 10.8 rebounds a game this season.
Chris Paul, the 12-time All-Star guard recruited this season to bolster a Spurs team packed with young, raw talent, said playing with Wembanyana had been a revelation.
“Vic is so unique. Everybody expects him to dunk because he’s so tall, but that is not him by any means,” the 39-year-old said.
“He can dribble, he can pass, he can shoot, he does a little bit of everything. That’s why it has been so fun to play with him.”
As a rookie, Wembanyama generated 1.3 billion views on NBA social media channels, becoming the fastest player ever to one billion views.
He is currently the third most-viewed NBA player globally on social media with 735 million views, trailing only LeBron James and Steph Curry.
After the game in Paris on Thursday, he will learn whether he has landed a place in the starting five for this year’s the All-Star game. If he doesn’t make the cut, he is almost guaranteed a spot on the bench.
Top Saudi university wins Japan Prize for contributions to marine ecosystem research
- KAUST biological oceanography and marine ecology Professor Carlos Duarte is among the elite recipients of the prize
- University's latest achievement solidifies Saudi Arabia's global standing in developing marine solutions to combat the impacts of climate change
JEDDAH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) was awarded the prestigious Japan Prize for its contributions to advancing the understanding of changing marine ecosystems and pioneering research in blue carbon.
The university's achievement solidifies Saudi Arabia's global standing in developing marine solutions to combat the impacts of climate change.
KAUST biological oceanography and marine ecology Professor Carlos Duarte is among the elite recipients of the Japan Prize. His groundbreaking work in marine ecology has earned him international recognition.
KAUST board of trustees' secretary-general Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Toonsi expressed pride in the university's achievement, emphasizing its role in enhancing global understanding of marine ecosystems.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia's efforts in sustainable innovation and impactful contributions to climate-change solutions and marine conservation, a milestone reflecting KAUST's commitment to excellence as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
Established in 1985 and often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Japan,” the Japan Prize is awarded annually to scientists who make exceptional innovations in science and technology that promote peace and prosperity for humanity.
Professor Duarte will travel to Tokyo in April to receive the award from Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
Olympic push for kho kho, India’s ancient tag sportOlympic push for kho kho, India’s ancient tag sport
- Kho kho, a catch-me-if-you-can tag sport, has been played for over 2,000 years in southern Asia but saw its rules formalized in the early 20th century
- Although it was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, it did not gather enough support to be included in the Summer Games
New Delhi: The ancient game of kho kho is enjoying a resurgence in India, with organizers of the first international tournament hoping their efforts will secure the sport’s place in the Olympics.
Kho kho, a catch-me-if-you-can tag sport, has been played for more than 2,000 years across southern Asia but only saw its rules formalized in the early 20th century.
It was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin but did not gather enough support to be included in the Summer Games and since then has been largely eclipsed by India’s ferocious love of cricket.
Nearly a century later, enthusiasts have sought to raise its profile with the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup featuring teams from 23 nations competing in India’s capital New Delhi.
The tournament’s opening ceremony saw a gala of song, dance and an Olympic-style team parade, reflecting the aspirations of organizers and athletes to take the sport global.
“My elder sister played the sport, but was not able to pursue her dreams,” Indian women’s team player Nasreen Shaikh, 26, told AFP.
“We have crossed the first barrier of playing in a World Cup. The next big step would be an entry in the Olympics.”
Kho kho is traditionally played outside on a rectangular court, divided in two by a line that connects two poles at either end of the field.
Teams switch between attack and defense, with the former chasing and tagging defending players around the field.
Only one player can give chase at a time and attacking players can only move in one direction around the court, forcing them to tag in team-mates crouched on the center line to take over pursuit.
The match is won by whichever team can gain the most points, primarily by tagging defenders faster than the opposing team.
The franchise-based Ultimate Kho Kho League, founded in 2022, brought the sport off grassy fields and onto indoor mats, also boosting its profile with a television audience.
Since then the league has become the third most-watched non-cricket sports tournament in the world’s most populous country after the Pro Kabaddi League — another ancient Indian tag sport — and the Indian Super League football competition.
“The turning point was when it transitioned from mud to mat. It made it into a global game,” Kho Kho Federation of India president Sudhanshu Mittal told AFP.
“Today we are in 55 countries... Native players in countries like Germany, Brazil, and Kenya are embracing the game because of its speed, agility and minimal equipment required.”
Mittal said he expected the sport to gain a foothold in dozens more countries by the end of the year, giving it a strong claim to be featured in the Olympics in the coming decade.
That would coincide with India’s audacious bid to host the 2036 Games in the city of Ahmedabad, 100 years after kho kho last appeared at the Olympics.
The United States, England and Australia were among the nations that competed in this month’s World Cup in New Delhi, with expatriate Indians heavily represented after taking the game to foreign shores.
But Pakistan is a glaring omission from the competition despite the sport being popular there — a reflection of the deep animosity between the nuclear-armed archrivals.
World Cup organizers refused to comment on the absence, which failed to dim the sense of optimism at the competition that the sport is destined to thrive.
“There has been a sea change in the sport,” Indian men’s team captain Pratik Waikar, 32, told AFP.
“Cricket has a rich history and they developed it well by going live on TV, and now our sport has also gone live,” he said. “In the next five years it will be on another level.”
In southern Pakistan, septuagenarian artist fights to keep century-old ‘Matka Dance’ alive
- Traditional “Matka Dance” involves dancing while balancing earthen pot, attached to a pole, above one’s head
- Performing arts expert urges provincial government to support traditional dance, warns it may become extinct
KARACHI: Sain Dad, 73, expertly balances a round earthen pot, also known as a “matka” in the local language, four feet high above his head attached to a metal rod. Dad dances to the beat of the drums, using his hands not once to steady the rod as he performs a century-old art only a handful of people in southern Pakistan can perform.
The “Matka Dance” is a traditional folk dance performed in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province which involves expertly balancing an earthen pot above your head. The trick is to not use your hands as you dance while balancing the rod atop your head.
While the exact origin of the matka dance remains unknown, Dad traces its lineage back to Saleh Muhammad Shah, one of Sindh’s earliest known practitioners. Over a century ago, Dad says Shah pioneered the technique of lifting the earthen pitcher using a bamboo stick.
The skill was passed down through generations, until Mehrab Dad, Sain Dad’s father, ultimately taught his son the dance when he was 13 years old. It has been 60 years since then and Dad continues to keep the legacy alive.
“You cannot hold it and then have to control your neck,” Dad told Arab News, demonstrating how to execute the dance. “It is practice. It takes almost ten years to learn this.”
In six decades, Dad has graced various stages across 18 countries, even performing before the late Princess Diana during his tour of the United Kingdom in 1995.
While he is proud of the craft, it is a dying one and Dad lives an impoverished life in Khuda Bux Goth, a Karachi suburb, in a shanty house that only has a mat for a roof.
Apart from him, Dad says only his two sons and two students can perform the matka dance in Sindh.
Sheema Kermani, a renowned classical dancer and performing arts expert, said the matka dance is a “dance of joy and celebration” that was traditionally performed before nomadic communities left one area for another.
“All these folk dancings are rooted in people’s lives, in their work, in the kind of labor that they do,” Kermani explained.
She lamented the lack of government support for the craft, saying that the art form would die unless it received support from authorities.
“You see these people who are still practicing, they are the ones, they need to be supported,” Kermani told Arab News. “This is our heritage. This is the beauty of this culture.”
‘WEALTH OF RESPECT’
Muhammad Saleem Solangi, deputy director of culture in Sindh government, says his department actively promotes traditional artists by sending them overseas to perform at international festivals.
“I personally had our legendary artist, Sain Dad sahib, recommended for the Presidential Award in Islamabad,” Solangi told Arab News, adding that artists receive “substantial remuneration” for their performances at festivals.
“The department, within its limited resources, also provides him with an annual stipend,” he said. “In times of illness or financial crisis, they continue to support him, and they also look after his children.”
Dad’s 30-year-old son Muhammad Iqbal is a skilled drummer who accompanies his father and brothers to their performances. He says they typically perform three to four times a month, and during peak seasons, even six. Their earnings range up to Rs 30,000 [$107.66] per performance, which they divide among themselves.
“Whenever there is an exhibition or a wedding program, or a mehndi event, we perform in these programs,” Iqbal said.
But earnings hardly matter for Dad, who says the respect he enjoys from performing means the world to him.
“We may not have wealth in terms of money, but the wealth of respect is immense,” he said.
While the art form may be a dying one, Dad is already teaching his 15-year-old grandson how to balance a water bottle on his head.
And so far, Mehtab Ali is determined to master the matka dance.
“Just like my grandfather and uncle lift the pitcher, I will also, God willing, be able to lift it in four months,” Ali said.
Drone Racing World Cup at Boulevard City begins; SAR1.3 million in prizes at stake
- The three-day event is among the myriad activities in the ongoing Riyadh Season
- The cup marks the first of its kind in the MENA region since its inception in 2016
RIYADH: Prizes exceeding SAR1.3 million await winning participants in the Drone Racing World Cup, which begins Thursday at Boulevard City in Riyadh.
Organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones, in collaboration with the World Air Sports Federation, the three-day event is among the myriad activities in the ongoing Riyadh Season.
The cup marks the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa since its inception in 2016, highlighting Saudi Arabia's commitment to the sector.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), this year's edition will feature world champions in drone racing, including Kim Minjae and Yuki Hashimoto, winners of the 2024 FAI World Drone Racing Championship; Killian Rousseau, winner of the 2023 FAI Drone Racing World Cup; Luisa Rizzo, twinner of the 2024 Women's FAI Drone Racing Championship; and Min Chan Kim, the winner of the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship;
Several Saudi pilots will also compete, including Muhannad Al-Wohaibi, Ibrahim Al-Sultan, Dalia Al-Safar, Al-Anoud Al-Shalaan, Bader Mutlaq Al-Raqas, Nawaf Al-Hamoud, and Salma Attallah Al-Aqbi.
The qualifying rounds will start Thursday and continue until midday Friday, followed by the finals on Saturday.
The event will host an activity zone featuring various accompanying activities, including a Drones Hub for teaching amateurs and professionals; a Drag Racing Zone for speed competitions on a straight path; a Fly Free Zone designed for testing and operating drones; a VR Drone Racing simulation using virtual-reality glasses; Drone Workshops for training, designing, assembling, and building drones; and a Fans Zone dedicated to watching the Drone Racing World Cup competitions.
This edition marks the inaugural season of the Drone Racing World Cup, consisting of a series of rounds held in leading countries in the drone racing field, SPA said.
