World

Canberra, May 1 (IANS) Fuel mismanagement and failures in operational oversight and regulatory supervision have been found following a crash of a small aircraft in Western Australia in 2023, a government report said.

The crash significantly damaged the aircraft and raised renewed concerns about safety culture and regulatory vigilance in general aviation, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Wednesday in its investigation report.

The Broome Aviation-operated Cessna 310R was en route from Broome to Turkey Creek, a distance of 846 km, with a planned fuel stop in Derby in Western Australia, on June 20, 2023, the report said.

The investigation revealed the pilot miscalculated fuel requirements after failing to factor in forecast winds and not fully utilising the auxiliary tanks. The pilot also did not monitor fuel levels properly during the flight, leading to fuel exhaustion in the main tanks, it said.

The twin-engine aircraft was forced to land on a highway near Derby Airport, colliding with a tree. The pilot, who was not wearing the available upper torso restraint, suffered head injuries, while the passenger escaped with minor injuries, it added.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the accident was preventable and highlighted systemic failings, Xinhua news agency reported.

He noted the preventable nature of fuel mismanagement, a regular contributing factor in aviation accidents.

"Pilots are responsible for ensuring there is sufficient fuel prior to flight, and that they are familiar with their aircraft's fuel system," he said.

"In this case, the ATSB found the pilot's lack of understanding of the fuel system was not detected by the operator due to a lack of consolidation training, and limited to no operational oversight."

In the eight months prior to this accident, the operator transitioned its pilots to the Cessna 310, which has a relatively complex fuel system, with limited supervision, guidance and support.

Mitchell said it was best practice for operators to provide its pilots the opportunity for skill consolidation during and following the initial training on a new aircraft type.

"The investigation also found that current and former Broome Aviation pilots reported experiencing pressure not to report aircraft defects on maintenance releases, and pilots experienced or observed pressure from management to fly aircraft they considered unsafe," he added.

"A reporting culture -- where employees are comfortable to report all safety concerns and maintenance issues -- is a safe culture."

--IANS

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Tehran, May 1 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that the fourth round of the Omani-mediated indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US will be held in Rome on Saturday, media reported.

Araghchi made the remarks on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday while responding to questions about the ongoing talks with the US on Tehran's nuclear programme and Washington's sanctions.

He noted that Oman, as the talks' host, had decided to hold the fourth round in Rome due to technical and logistical reasons, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said that the location Oman selected to host the negotiations was of no particular importance to Iran.

"Of importance to us are the contents of the negotiations and the mediator," he added.

Araghchi told media on Wednesday that, as confirmed by Oman, the new round of discussions is scheduled to be held in the Italian capital, continuing a format aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and facilitating the lifting of US-led sanctions.

The Rome meeting will be preceded by a separate round of consultations between Iran and the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord -- the UK, France, and Germany -- on Friday.

Araghchi acknowledged that the influence of the E3 has waned due to their alignment with Washington's pressure policies, but emphasised Tehran's willingness to keep the European parties engaged.

Commenting on the US hostile measures, such as the imposition of fresh sanctions against Iran despite the ongoing negotiations, he noted that such actions would definitely convey a negative message.

Araghchi noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) currently played no role in the negotiations, but "will play an important role in the future if an agreement is reached".

He said, although no time frame had been decided for the talks' conclusion, Iran naturally was not interested in "attritional negotiations and is not after wasting time".

The first and third rounds of the indirect talks between Iran and the US, headed by the Iranian Foreign Minister and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, were held in the Omani capital Muscat on April 12 and 26, and the second one in Rome on April 19.

--IANS

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Damascus/Jerusalem, May 1 (IANS) The death toll from ongoing sectarian clashes in the southern suburbs of Damascus climbed to 39, including 16 security personnel, after ceasefire efforts collapsed and intense fighting resumed in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, officials and monitoring groups said.

According to the Syrian interior authorities on Wednesday, armed groups launched coordinated attacks overnight on security checkpoints and patrols in agricultural zones surrounding the town, targeting both civilian and security vehicles.

Eleven officers from the General Security Directorate were killed in the initial assault, and another five fell during a renewed attack on Wednesday morning, bringing the total number of fallen security personnel to 16, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry confirmed that ceasefire attempts involving local elders and government representatives were violated when the armed groups reneged on their commitments and resumed attacks.

"Any assault on public security forces is an assault on national stability," the Interior authorities said, vowing a firm response.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 22 people have been killed in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya alone, including six local Druze fighters and 16 members of pro-government and security forces.

The confrontations have involved light and medium weapons, and the situation on the ground remains volatile.

The Observatory noted low-flying Israeli reconnaissance aircraft were spotted over Sahnaya during the clashes, though no strikes were reported.

The recent violence stems from the leak of an audio recording attributed to a member of the Druze community containing comments deemed offensive to Islam.

The recording triggered widespread outrage and incitement on social media, setting off deadly clashes earlier this week in Jaramana, where 17 people were killed.

In total, at least 39 people have been killed in the latest wave of violence across Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, including both government forces and local armed factions.

Local officials are continuing efforts to prevent further escalation, but as of Wednesday noon, fighting was ongoing, and fears persist that the unrest may drag on if not contained quickly.

Meanwhile, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir ordered the army to prepare for possible strikes on Syrian government targets if violence against Druze communities continues, the military said.

The military said in a statement that the instruction followed a situational assessment.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli air force struck what, according to the military, were "operatives on the outskirts of Damascus who had attacked Druze civilians".

The military said it was "monitoring developments in the region," and its troops are "deployed and prepared for defence and developments in the area of Syria".

--IANS

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Tehran, May 1 (IANS) Iran has executed a "high-ranking spy" of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, the media reported.

The executed, identified as Mohsen Langarneshin, was convicted of providing field and technical support for Mossad's operations in Iran, including the assassination of Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, a member of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in Tehran in May 2022, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary report said on Wednesday.

Langarneshin, who was hanged on Wednesday morning, provided Mossad with extensive "logistical, technical and operational support" for two years, starting in 2020, the judiciary said via its official news agency, Mizan.

It added that he was executed following the completion of the legal and judicial processes, Xinhua news agency reported.

One of the key accusations against Langarneshin was his involvement in the May 2022 killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) colonel, Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, who was shot dead by two motorcyclists on his way home in Tehran.

It listed some of the convict's "criminal actions" as providing logistical, technical and operational support for an attack on an industrial centre affiliated to the Iranian Defence Ministry in the central province of Isfahan, purchasing communications tools for Mossad agents, buying vehicles and equipping them with operational instruments, transferring money from Israeli officers to operational agents inside Iran, and renting safe houses in some Iranian provinces.

Mizan reported that Langarneshin bought a motorcycle to track Khodaei's movements, relayed the information to Mossad and was present during the killing.

Additionally, he was accused of supporting an attack on an industrial site in Isfahan, affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics.

According to the report, Langarneshin had confessed to all the "crimes" he had been charged with.

Iran cited "extensive intelligence and technical evidence" linking Langarneshin to these operations, and said he "fully confessed" to his involvement.

Caught in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, Iran has executed numerous individuals over their alleged links to Mossad, particularly those accused of sabotage and assassination efforts aimed at undermining its nuclear programme.

In December 2023, three men and a woman were executed for their alleged links to Mossad.

Langarneshin's execution comes amid renewed US-Iran nuclear talks, which Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of attempting to derail.

A fourth round of Oman-mediated negotiations between Washington and Tehran is scheduled for Saturday in Rome, according to Tehran.

--IANS

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Cairo, May 1 (IANS) Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit has called for heightened international and regional efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas.

In a meeting in Cairo with UN Secretary-General's envoy to Sudan Ramtane Lamamra on Wednesday, he stressed the pan-Arab body's "firm stance backing the Sudanese people and legitimate aspirations to security, peace, and sustainable development".

He stressed the importance of preserving Sudan's unity, both in terms of people and territory, safeguarding national institutions, preventing foreign interference, and launching an inclusive political process that represents all Sudanese factions.

For his part, Lamamra reviewed a UN action plan for the coming period and the challenges that impeded the diplomatic efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.

He emphasised the need for coordination between the AL and the UN to enhance the effectiveness of global initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis.

The two sides also discussed the latest political and field developments in Sudan, and efforts to achieve peace and end war, the AL said in a statement.

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The International Organisation for Migration estimates that the conflict has displaced more than 15 million people, both within Sudan and abroad.

Aboul Gheit emphasised the importance of supporting any initiative to find a solution for the Sudanese state, while speaking during a meeting in Cairo with a delegation of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces — known as Taqaddum — led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Hamdok presented a plan for achieving a ceasefire and political process through an inclusive Sudanese dialogue to protect Sudan, save lives, and maintain progress.

He expressed gratitude to the Secretary-General for the initiative taken on March 5 calling the various Sudanese parties in the conflict and urging a truce during Ramadan.

The head of the Arab League had already called on the warring parties to reach a ceasefire agreement before the holy month.

--IANS

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Islamabad, April 29 (IANS) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday termed the Pahalgam terror attack as disturbing & tragic and also condoled the victims and their families.

“Loss of human life in the Pahalgam incident is deeply disturbing and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to the victims and their families,” said the incarcerated former Prime Minister during a discussion with the lawyers in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

He alleged that when the “False Flag Palwama Operation” incident happened, Pakistan offered to extend all-out cooperation to India, but India failed to produce any concrete evidence.

“As I predicted in 2019, the same is happening again after the Pahalgam incident. Instead of introspection and investigation, Modi Sarkar is again placing the blame on Pakistan,” he said.

He further added that being a country of 1.5 billion people, India needs to act responsibly instead of messing with a region already known as “nuclear flashpoint.”

“Peace is our priority, but it should not be mistaken for cowardice. Pakistan has got all the capabilities to give a befitting response to any Indian misadventure, as My Government, backed by the whole nation, did in 2019. I have always emphasised the importance of the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, as guaranteed by United Nations resolutions,” he said.

The former Prime Minister further alleged that India, led by RSS ideology, is a “grave threat”, not only to the region but beyond it.

“Indian oppression in Kashmir, intensified after the illegal abrogation of Article 370, has further fueled the Kashmiri people’s desire for freedom,” he alleged.

Talking about the internal factions inside Pakistan, the former Prime Minister said that, sadly, his nation has been divided by an “illegitimate government” imposed through fraudulent Form-47 results.

“And yet, ironically, Narendra Modi’s aggression has united the people of Pakistan in one voice against Indian hostility. While we reject this fake regime, we stand firmly as one Pakistani nation and strongly condemn Modi's war-mongering and his dangerous ambitions that threaten regional peace,” he said.

The former Prime Minister further addressed the polarisation of his nation following deep resentment against the country’s army.

“Needless to say, to win the war against an external enemy, the nation must first be united. It is high time to put a halt to all actions that are further polarising the nation. The state’s excessive focus on political victimisation at this critical time is deepening internal divisions and undermining the nation’s collective ability to confront external threats,” he said.

Imran Khan also targeted Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif for their alleged timid stand against the neighbouring country.

“It is naive to expect any strong stance from self-serving figures like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari. They will never speak out against India because their illegal wealth and business interests lie abroad. They profit from foreign investments, and to protect those financial interests, they remain silent in the face of foreign aggression and baseless allegations against Pakistan. Their fear is simple: that Indian lobbies might freeze their offshore assets if they dare to speak the truth,” said the former Pakistan Prime Minister.

--IANS

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United Nations, April 29 (IANS) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of pursuing justice in the Pahalgam terrorist attack while speaking with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

“The Secretary-General also expressed his deep concern at rising tensions between India and Pakistan and underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences,” he said.

Dujarric said the world cannot afford a confrontation between India and Pakistan, which would be catastrophic for those two countries and for the world as a whole.

“Guterres has been very clear that he wants to see both sides move towards a de-escalation,” he said,

He said that the Secretary-General noted the importance of pursuing justice and accountability for these attacks through lawful means while reiterating his strong condemnation of the terrorist attack.

Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.

Dujarric added that Guterres offered his good offices to support de-escalation efforts.

However, India has rejected offers of third-party involvement in disputes between the two neighbours as their leaders had declared in the 1972 Simla Agreement to treat them as bilateral matters.

Dujarric added, “Secretary General's good officers are always available should both sides agree to it.”

--IANS

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Beirut, April 29 (IANS) Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Tuesday Lebanon's commitment to ending the Israeli occupation of all Lebanese territory and called for intensified diplomatic efforts to halt ongoing violations.

"Lebanon seeks to put an end to all such breaches and fully reclaim its land," he said, according to the official National News Agency.

Salam condemned the recent attack on Beirut's southern suburbs and other Israeli aggressions, describing them as "a breach of the cessation of hostilities arrangements." He stressed the urgency of "activating a monitoring mechanism to stop these violations."

In a meeting with a delegation from the Press Syndicate, the prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to the existing agreement and called on Israel to do the same.

Salam revealed that Lebanon is actively engaging with influential international actors to apply diplomatic pressure, Xinhua news agency reported. "We are in ongoing communication with the Americans, the French, and other key Arab and European countries to escalate these efforts," he said.

He also highlighted the government's focus on addressing citizens' needs. "We are committed to staying close to the people and addressing their security and livelihood concerns, especially by improving economic and living conditions."

He further noted that the Lebanese government has launched a reconstruction plan, starting with infrastructure. "We've completed damage assessments and are now mobilizing resources," he said. "Negotiations with the World Bank have already secured 325 million US dollars, and we're working to increase that amount."

Salam also emphasised the need to strengthen the Lebanese army amid mounting responsibilities. "We must reinforce army ranks through additional recruitment, particularly with deployments expanding in the south and along the northeastern border," he said, adding that support is also needed for security forces operating in critical facilities, including the port and airport.

--IANS

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Tehran, April 29 (IANS) Governor of the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan Mohammad Ashouri Taziani refuted on Tuesday the hypothesis that an act of sabotage was behind a deadly blast at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran.

He made the remarks while elaborating on the likely causes of the explosion that occurred on Saturday and its subsequent fire, in which at least 70 people were killed and over 1,200 others injured, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Ahsouri Taziani said some foreign media raised the speculation that the incident had probably been the result of an act of sabotage, but preliminary investigations showed that the sabotage hypothesis failed to be of "sufficient strength."

He added that according to a statement by the provincial crisis management headquarters, a failure to properly observe safety and passive defense measures had been among the main causes of the incident.

On Monday, Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni identified "certain negligence" as one of the reasons behind the deadly explosion, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the fire at Shahid Rajaee Port has been completely contained, while the rescue and relief operations were still ongoing, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported citing the provincial governor.

On Monday, Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni identified "certain negligence" as one of the reasons behind the deadly explosion in the provincial capital Bandar Abbas, where this port, the country's largest maritime hub, is located.

He made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV, elaborating on the ongoing investigations to determine the cause of the incident.

Momeni said that during an earlier meeting held in Bandar Abbas to discuss the explosion's cause, several individuals whose negligence had been confirmed were summoned. He noted that a failure to observe safety regulations and passive defence measures properly contributed to the disaster, urging the relevant authorities and investigative committee to accelerate efforts to determine the full cause accurately.

Following the deadly blast, Hossein Sajedinia, head of Iran's National Disaster Management Organisation, told the IRIB on Sunday that some of the containers at the port contained flammable materials, such as pitch, and some others carried chemicals.

Despite the incident, the port's wharfs have resumed operations and cargo handling, according to the official news agency IRNA.

--IANS

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Yangon, April 29 (IANS) The death toll from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,770 as of April 28, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Tuesday.

In addition, 5,106 people were injured and 106 people were reported missing, Xinhua news agency reported.

Myanmar has experienced a total of 157 aftershocks following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28.

The aftershocks ranged from magnitude 2.8 to 7.5, the department said.

More than 200,000 people have been displaced after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, according to the country's National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC).

At the committee's third meeting of the year, held on Friday in Nay Pyi Taw, NDMC Chairman Vice Senior General Soe Win said the earthquake caused widespread destruction across 10 regions and states, including Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, Magway, and Shan.

The earthquake destroyed or damaged over 63,000 homes, 6,700 schools, 5,400 monasteries, 5,300 pagodas, and hundreds of other religious buildings, hospitals, bridges, roads, and dams, he said.

International medical teams, including 337 foreign personnel, have set up temporary hospitals in the worst-affected areas and are providing care alongside local health workers.

Following a request for international assistance by the Myanmar government, 2,095 rescue workers from 26 countries and regions have arrived in Myanmar, bringing over 3,800 tonnes of relief supplies using 147 planes, seven ships, and 23 vehicles, he added.

Authorities are inspecting damaged buildings using a colour-coded system -- blue, orange, and red -- to assess structural damage and guide repairs.

Temporary housing, including bashas and modular shelters, is being built for displaced staff and residents, while plans are underway to reconstruct homes using earthquake-resistant designs based on soil testing and fault-line assessments.

Under 'Operation Brahma', India was the first responder to the earthquake-hit Myanmar and has provided relief supplies of over 750 MT including essential medicines, food grain, ready-to-eat meals, tents, blankets, gensets, rapidly deployable surgical and medical shelters, water sanitation and hygiene services, drinking water, essential clothing, prefabricated office/residential structures, etc.

--IANS

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