South Korean air force officer’s death sees 15 people charged

Fifteen people have been charged in South Korea over the death of an air force officer who alleged sexual abuse by a colleague and took her own life.

Dozens of air force officials will also face disciplinary action, including for trying to cover up the case.

It had sparked a public outcry and the air force chief resigned in June.

Separately, a court ruled the military had unlawfully discriminated against a transgender soldier who was forced to quit and was later found dead at home.

The cause of death of Byun Hee-soo, South Korea’s first transgender soldier, has not officially been given but it is reported she took her own life.

South Korea’s military has been questioned for a number of years over its failure to protect female personnel.

Amid a number of sexual abuse cases involving the military, lawmakers this year passed legislation requiring them to be addressed by civilian courts.

• South Korea soldier: ‘Criminal because I’m gay’

‘Heavy responsibility’

In March, the air force master sergeant had been returning by car to base from a dinner meeting when she was allegedly abused in the vehicle by a male colleague.

She reported the case to superior officers, but the investigation found that they tried to cover up the incident and force her into a private settlement with the colleague.

She took her own life in May.

President Moon Jae-in apologised over the case and accepted the resignation of Chief of Staff Gen Lee Seong-yong, who said he took “heavy responsibility” for the officer’s death.

A male master sergeant was arrested in June over the abuse allegation and legal proceedings continue.

President Moon ordered the investigation after hundreds of thousands signed a petition over the case.

In addition to those charged, dozens more will face disciplinary action.

Issues will include trying to cover up the case, trying to pressure the woman to reach a private settlement with her abuser and the destruction or leaking of evidence.

‘No grounds for dismissal’

In the second case, a court in Seoul ruled that Staff Sgt Byun Hee-soo had been wrongfully discharged and her dismissal should be annulled.

It said the military’s classification of her gender reassignment surgery as a disability was highly discriminatory.

Staff Sgt Byun, 23, had launched a landmark legal challenge against the military in January last year after her request for transfer to the female corps was rejected and she was dismissed.

She died in March this year.

The Daejeon District Court ruled there were “no mental or physical disability grounds for dismissal”.

Transgender people are unable to join South Korea’s military, but there is no specific law on gender reassignment operations for serving personnel.

Activists welcomed the latest ruling, saying it gave grounds for hope among sexual minorities.

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Afghanistan war: Services mark 20th anniversary of UK operations

Commemorations have been held to mark the 20th anniversary of the start of UK military operations in Afghanistan.

Wreaths were laid in memory of the 457 British personnel killed during the conflict.

UK troops left Afghanistan at the end of August, bringing an end to the 20-year war.

“The hurt never goes away,” said Claire Hill, whose only son James was killed in 2009. “We have to believe he did make a difference.”

The war in Afghanistan began on 7 October 20 years ago, with American-led coalition airstrikes against airports and terrorist training camps, in response to the 11 September terror attacks in the US.

Two small wreath-laying ceremonies took place place at 07:30 BST, intended by the Ministry of Defence to honour “the courage and commitment of its people” during the two decades of conflict.

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Wreaths dedicated to those who lost their lives in combat in Afghanistan were laid at the Bastion Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

At the same time, another wreath was laid at the Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial near the Ministry of Defence in central London.

Piper Major Colour Sgt Peter Grant, who led the procession in Staffordshire, said the service was an important moment to reflect on what had happened in Afghanistan.

Speaking before the service, he told the BBC that having served in Afghanistan, it was “quite emotional” to see the names of people he knew on the wall of the Bastion memorial.

Sgt Grant, who also served as the lone piper at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, said: “It gives me the opportunity to reflect on my time out there, think about the people who have lost their lives, the soldiers who are living with life-changing injuries and also the families who are living through the pain and hardship of losing people out there.”

The commemoration comes as veterans and their families try to reckon with the legacy of the war, having watched the Taliban swiftly regain control of Afghanistan as UK and US forces withdrew.

Nearly 12 years to the day since L/Cpl James Hill died, his parents Claire and Brian are proud of his service and sacrifice, but also acknowledge the pain of seeing the Taliban return.

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA

Image caption,RAF trumpeter Sgt Matt Peck, who served in Afghanistan, said it “meant the world” to him to be able to play The Last Post at the ceremony

Image caption,Mr Heappey reflected at the Bastion memorial, which mirrors the memorial wall at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, in Afghanistan

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA

Image caption,Piper Major Colour Sgt Peter Grant led the procession at the service

“If we were to say that James’ life is wasted then that would hurt us all over again, because we have to believe he did make a difference,” said Mrs Hill. “They all gave so much. Not just the ones who died but the ones who carry on with injuries.”

James was 23 and about to get married when he was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

“It never leaves us, we don’t have a son anymore. We don’t have any other children. There’s an emptiness, there’s a hole here that nothing can fill,” Mrs Hill said. “The hurt never goes away.”

“Remembrance Day for most people is 11 November, but for the likes of us Remembrance Day is every day,” said Mr Hill.

Stuart Tootal – a former colonel who commanded 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment – saw the first serious casualties of the war when he led British troops into Helmand in 2006, and a simple peace support operation became a bloody counter-insurgency conflict.

Image caption,“There is no victory here, ” says Stuart Tootal, whose battalion suffered 15 deaths in the first major casualties of the war

His view of the war now is very clear: “The intent of what we were trying to do was always right. The concept was flawed: too little, too late. And we quit far too soon.

“And that is the great tragedy of Afghanistan.”

While Afghanistan had 20 years to see how life could be different, Mr Tootal adds that the opportunity was never fully realised because the Taliban regained power.

“I don’t think we can be very proud of the outcome. We can be proud of what we tried to do as soldiers,” he said.

“But in terms of those responsible for the strategic decisions, I don’t think there’s a great deal to crow about… There is no victory here. You know, we did not win that conflict.”

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Travel red list cut to just seven countries

The number of countries on England’s Covid travel red list will be cut from 54 to seven, the government says.

South Africa, Brazil and Mexico come off the red list, which requires travellers to quarantine in an approved hotel at their cost for 10 full days.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the changes begin on Monday and “mark the next step” in opening travel.

This latest move will be seen as a boost to the airline industry and families separated during the pandemic.

Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Haiti and the Dominican Republic remain on the red list.

Pandemic travel rules in the UK have recently been simplified, with the amber list cut, and advice against holidays changed for 32 countries.

Arrivals from 37 more destinations will have their vaccination status certificates recognised, meaning they can avoid more expensive post-arrival testing requirements.

Vaccinated travellers from Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey will be treated the same as returning fully-vaccinated UK residents so long as they have not visited a red-list country in the 10 days before arriving in England.

All arrivals will still complete a passenger locator form.

The UK government sets Covid travel rules for England. Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will announce any changes to their rules in due course.

‘A long two years’

For British expats Matt and Hannah Pirnie, who have lived in South Africa for a decade, the country’s removal from the red list will mean it is easier to see family again.

“It’s been a long pandemic for us. Not seeing family, not being allowed to go back, but more importantly grandparents not being able to come here and see their grandkids. It’s been a long two years,” Matt says.

“First of all when all the aeroplanes stopped initially – that was quite anxiety provoking – and then to be put on the red list for so long has just been quite hard to wrap your head around why,” Hannah adds.

“Taking three children into a prison-like mentality was just a no-go, plus the cost. It’s been quite hard really.”

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Guinea Bissau national team allegedly poisoned and thrashed 5-0 in Morocco

On Wednesday in Casablanca, the Moroccan national football team thrashed its Guinea Bissau counterpart 5 goals to nil in their World Cup Qualifying match. But there is more to the story than the final score.

Almost the entire Guinea Bissau National team that travelled to Morocco to play the World Cup Qualifiers suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after dinner at the restaurant of the hotel they lodged, reported by the Guinea Bissau Football Federation. This was on the eve of the Match.

In all, 25 players and some technical staff were taken to hospital for treatment. Some were treated and discharged instantly, but, six persons with severe symptoms were admitted in the intensive care unit for further observation.

While a section of citizens assert that it might have been an unconscious food poisoning or common allergies, others believed that the Moroccan Football Federation diabolically used the hotel catering services to stock the food of the visiting team so they can beat them.

However, reports from the hospital where the team were treated indicated that the team did not show any sign of illness. Strangely, the players refused to provide samples for medical tests.

Whereas many sports pundits and fans across the globe expressed that the match, which was fixed on Wednesday, 6^th October, 2021, should have been postponed, CAF disagreed.

Dominic Prempeh, DNT News with reporting from Julius Ouya

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ANGOLAN PRESIDENT, UN REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS PEACE IN CAR

 Luanda - Peace and stability in the Central African Republic (CAR) dominated the meeting the Angolan President of the Republic João Lourenço held with the United Nations secretary-general's representatives on Wednesday in Luanda.

Speaking to the press, the representatives of the UN Secretary General for Central Africa (UNOCA), François Lounvény Fall, and of UN Mission for the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Mankeur Ndiaye, praised the commitment of the Angolan statesman to the search for peace in that country.

François Lounvény Fall stated that the meeting served to extol President João Lourenço's efforts for peace in CAR and in the Great Lakes Region.

He said that the local situation and ways to implement the roadmap for peace and lasting national reconciliation in CAR had been evaluated.

Mankeur Ndiaye explained that the roadmap for the ceasefire should involve the cantonment of rebel forces, the collection of weapons and the search for funding, being monitored by the UN and regional representatives.

At the regional and international forums, including at the UN, Angolan president João Lourenço backs the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Central African Republic.

João Lourenço has also encouraged the promotion of dialogue between the different political forces of the CAR to work on achieving peace and stability in that Central African country.

 

ANGOLA FORESEES 2.4 PERCENT ECONOMIC GROWTH

 Luanda – Angolan Executive has predicted a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of approximately 2.4% by 2022, announced Wednesday the minister of Economy and Planning, Mário Caetano João.

Speaking to the press, at the end of a meeting of the Economic Commission of the Cabinet Council, he revealed that there is a prospect of growth in the oil sector of 1.3% and in the non-oil sector of 3.1%.

He also said that there is a forecast of performance of the sectors of agriculture (4.8%), fisheries (more than 100%, due to reforms and financing of the sector).

The minister stated that the trade sector, given the developments in plant and animal production and its outflow and sale, could also contribute to GDP growth.

According to the minister, the revision carried out brings encouraging prospects for growth of 0.2% by the end of this year, returning to a growth path that occurred until 2015, while the first assessment, in April, predicted a scenario of stagnation in GDP.

The macroeconomic assumptions for the fiscal year 2022 will eventually take into account the average price of a barrel below the current USD 67/barrel, but above the USD 39 of this year's OGE.

Mário Caetano João said that this is a conservative price, which takes into account the risks in the global economy due to the pandemic, an encouraging move in some economies.

He pointed out that current projections foresee for the next year a production of around 1. 100 million barrels per day, 18, 000 more than it currently produces.

Indebtedness Limits

The Minister of Finance, Vera Daves, explained that the Executive has revised the limits of internal and external indebtedness, in view of the State's capacity to honour the commitments that it eventually assumes.

She indicated that a certain reorganisation of the annual debt plan was sought, establishing close to 3.25 billion kwanza for domestic debt and 2.42 billion kwanza for external debt.

Previously, it was expected to commit 2.18 billion for the internal debt and 3.99 for the external one, according to the minister, noting that the country is indebted in external markets less than expected.

Investor Fees and Emoluments

The CEO of the Angola Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX), António Henriques da Silva, informed that the State seeks transparency in the collection of fees and emoluments from investors.

AIPEX's CEO reacted to the approval of the regulation on fees and emoluments to be charged with the aim of simplifying the processes of implementation of investment projects, with quality to meet the expectations of investors.

He announced that the projects were categorized according to their amount to be invested and the number of jobs to be created, and their impact in structural terms.

António Henriques referred to the existence of a table, to be published, which fixes, for example, the charge of 40,000 for the presentation of investment proposals, 300,000 for the issuance of an investment registration certificate, among others, as well as transparency to create alternative funds for the functioning of the agency.