6 Established 1961 Wednesday, December 9, 2020 International Biden picks as the first Black Pentagon chief Austin led US troops into Baghdad in 2003

WASHINGTON: President-elect has chosen lower ranks, and few have achieved high command Lloyd Austin, who led US troops into Baghdad in 2003 positions. The issue became more clear over the past News in brief and rose to head the US Central Command, as the first year when African-American servicemen and women African-American secretary of defense, US media expressed support for the national Black Lives Matter reported Monday. A veteran of conflicts in Iraq and movement against police racism and abuse. 40 jihadists killed in Sinai Afghanistan, the retired four-star army general, 67, beat Former defense secretary said he held CAIRO: The Egyptian army said yesterday it had out the favorite for the job, former under-secretary of numerous listening sessions to make white soldiers killed 40 suspected jihadist militants since defense Michele Flournoy, amid pressure on Biden to understand what their Black colleagues felt. Austin faces September in air and ground operations in the nominate more minorities for positions in his cabinet. several challenges: first is the rule that the position Sinai region, site of an Islamist insurgency. In a CNN, and cited unnamed should only be filled by civilians. “He shouldn’t be con- video statement posted on Facebook, the army sources familiar with the decision, after Biden said earli- sidered for the same reason that Sec. Mattis shouldn’t said its air force had “managed to eliminate 25 er Monday that he had made his choice and would have been,” said Congressman Justin Amash in a tweet. takfiri elements” ... in the strategic northeastern announce it on Friday. “The law prohibits recently retired members of the region”. Another 15 suspected Islamist militants Austin would require Senate confirmation to take up Armed Forces from serving in this civilian capacity. had been killed “in special operations” since the post. He would also require a special waiver from Biden would be the second president in a row to violate : In this file photo, Commander of US Central September, it said. Egyptian security officials use the Senate due to federal law that requires military offi- this norm.” Command Gen Lloyd Austin III conducts a media briefing the term “takfiri” to refer to extremist Islamist cers to wait seven years after retirement before serving Second are Austin’s ties to the defense industry. on Operation Inherent Resolve at . — AFP militants. The army also said seven of its own as the Pentagon chief. The rule is rooted in the view that After retiring in 2016, he joined the board of directors of personnel had been either wounded or killed, only a civilian should serve as defense secretary. The Raytheon Technologies, one of the Pentagon’s largest without specifying how many suffered injuries or waiver has happened twice-most recently for General commanding the Combined Joint Task Force 180, the contractors, with multi-billion dollar arms supply con- died. The operations also “resulted in the arrest of in 2017, President ’s first principle US-led operation seeking to stabilize the tracts up for review. He also was involved with a con- 12 other” suspected extremist fighters, the state- defense secretary. But members of the Senate agreed security situation in the country. In 2010, he was made sultant, WestExec Advisors, already the source of sever- ment said without providing dates or places. In begrudgingly, and several said at the time that they commanding general of US forces in Iraq, and two al senior members of the Biden administration, including addition, the army said it had destroyed 437 wouldn’t want to do it again. years later became the commander of the Central secretary of state pick Antony Blinken and Avril Haines, weapons caches, defused 159 improvised explo- Command, in charge of all Pentagon operations in the nominee for director of national intelligence. sive devices, and confiscated dozens of other Middle East commander Middle East and Afghanistan. That put him in charge of Flournoy was one of the firm’s founders. Women in types of weapons. — AFP Austin spent four decades in the army, graduating the fight against the Islamic State as it captured large the defense and national security community expressed from West Point Military Academy and following a swathes of Iraq and . During that period, he disappointment that Flournoy, who had stellar qualifica- career with a wide range of assignments, from leading reportedly earned the trust of Biden, who was vice tions for the job and would have been the first-ever to running logistics groups and overseeing president at the time. female defense secretary, was bypassed. “Nothing but recruiting, to senior Pentagon jobs. In March 2003, he respect for Lloyd Austin, but picking another 4 star so Lightning strike hospitalizes 13 was the assistant division commander of the 3rd Few in command jobs recently retired that he needs a congressional waiver BRISBANE: Thirteen primary school students and Infantry Division when it marched from Kuwait into Austin would take responsibility for the 1.2 million sends a terrible message,” said Rosa Brooks, a two teachers were taken to hospital after lightning Baghdad in the US invasion of Iraq. active service members, of whom about 16 percent are Georgetown University law professor formerly with the struck a school sportsfield on Australia’s east coast From late 2003 to 2005, he was in Afghanistan Black. But Black people serve disproportionately in the Department of Defense.— AFP yesterday. The children, aged between 10 and 12 years old, were playing on the field at their school in Queensland when the bolt struck nearby, a EU citizens in spokesman for the local ambulance service said. The group was treated for numbness in their legs the UK face and “mild tingling”, with one teacher complaining of chest pains, Greg Christensen said. “It is believed lightning came down between two trees two-tier system on the oval where the kids were playing,” he said. The kids “were pretty wound up” after the incident : Most EU citizens settled in the UK will but there were no signs of physical injury, he retain their rights to live and work in the country after added. “It could have turned out very differently... Brexit, but on January 1 a two-tiered system comes into with burns and other injuries, but lucky we had force that may exclude thousands. The right of EU citi- none of that there today.”— AFP zens to move to and settle in Britain without a visa will cease to exist on January 1, when Britain no longer has to abide by the bloc’s rules. EU citizens who have been liv- ing in the UK for less than five years have to apply for Death sentence for ’s Zam LONDON: Pedestrians cross Westminster Bridge yesterday as talks on a trade deal between the EU and the UK enter a criti- pre-settled residency status to allow them to live, study cal stage. — AFP and work as well as claim healthcare and benefits. TEHRAN: Iran’s judiciary yesterday said it had Those who have lived in the country for more than upheld a death sentence for Ruhollah Zam, a for- mer opposition figure who had lived in exile in five years can apply for settled status, which gives recip- zens separately from other EU nationals under a bilateral France and was implicated in anti-government ients the right to stay indefinitely. Romeo Manciu, 39, arrangement dating back nearly a century that allows Post-Brexit protests. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrived from Romania before Brexit and secured pre- continued freedom of movement between Britain and announced the arrest of Zam in October last year, settled status, as did his wife, daughter and father who Ireland. Europeans will be able to keep using EU pet calling him a “counter-revolutionary” who was joined him later. “You just have to prove that you are in borders to divide passports as long as rabies vaccines are up to date. the UK, and this is very simple, for example with a bank “directed by France’s intelligence service”. He was charged with “corruption on earth” - one of the statement,” he said. “I included my father in my bank Business travelers EU, UK citizens most serious offences under Iranian law - and sen- account and got him a credit card and insurance for his Border control for business travelers is one of myriad tenced to death in June. “The supreme court han- car. He can prove that he’s in and that’s enough,” he issues yet to be worked out between the EU and the UK. dled the case more than a month ago,” Iran’s judi- added. BRUSSELS: From January 1 British and EU citizens will In the EU, Britons attending conferences or meetings ciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told Poles (773,840) and Romanians (670,600) have be confronted with the reality of Brexit as the transition likely will be exempt from visas where they do not reporters yesterday. It “upheld the ruling issued by made the highest number of applications for settled sta- period ends and borders done away with decades ago receive payment or provide services. However, for other the Revolutionary Court,” he added, speaking at a tus, followed by Italians (401,800), Portuguese return. From that date, Britons will be treated by the EU UK business travelers, including posted workers and the (306,350) and Spanish (246,600). As of September videoconference. Zam, who reportedly lived in as “third country” nationals, no longer enjoying freedom self-employed, a visa and or a work permit may be 2020, 3.9 million applications have been processed with Paris, ran a channel on the Telegram messaging of movement to work, study or retire across the imposed in line with each individual EU country’s laws. 56 percent granted settled status. Forty two percent application Amadnews.— AFP European Union. Britain in turn will process EU nationals There will also be tax and social security considerations. were granted pre-settled status and two percent of at its borders as it does other non-UK passport holders. Certain services or company ownership in those coun- applications were withdrawn, rejected or found invalid. EU citizens proving residence in Britain, or Britons tries may be off-limits to non-EU citizens or residents or More than a third of the 17,000 individuals rejected already living in a European Union country, will theoreti- those lacking national licences, and customs declarations were from Romania, which has one of the lowest GDPs cally retain their rights under a Withdrawal Agreement may be needed for goods carried in. begins capsule analysis per capita among EU member states. struck in late 2019. Without an EU-UK deal, Britain will likely apply its TOKYO: Scientists in Japan yesterday began ana- current rules for those coming from favored nations, Slip through the cracks lyzing a capsule sent back to Earth by a probe, Tourists meaning a visa needed for work but not for short stays to One of the main arguments made by pro-Brexit cam- hoping to find asteroid material that could offer Tourists will see some immediate changes-apart from attend a conference or training. Those same rules would paigners before Britain’s 2016 referendum was that leav- clues on how the universe was formed. Officials the evolving coronavirus restrictions already crimping require EU citizens with a job offer to prove English-lan- ing the EU would stop the arrival of migrants from poor- from Japan’s space agency said they were jubilant travel-but both sides have agreed that travel will be visa- guage skills and a minimum salary dependent on whether er EU countries. Manciu, who helps his compatriots who about the successful return of the capsule, which free, as long as the other side keeps it that way. But the the position is skilled (26,500 pounds, equivalent to have little or no English, said some Romanians had expe- landed in Australia on Sunday after separating EU will stop British passports being used in its automat- 29,600 euros or $35,000) or a shortage occupation rienced more difficulty settling in the UK. “There are a from the Hayabusa-2 probe. “I’m genuinely appre- ed e-gates, potentially meaning longer queues at manned (20,480 pounds, 22,800 euros). lot of people who work in the black market and are not ciative of the fact that the capsule came back, after passport booths. Britons must hold passports still valid From January, EU students going to Britain will need renting legally. Some also have criminal convictions,” he a 5.24 billion-kilometer round-trip,” project man- for at least six months and will be limited to EU stays of a visa for courses longer than six months, and will have said. The immigration changes at the end of the Brexit ager Yuichi Tsuda told reporters. Scientists hope it 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. to pay steeper tuition fees-four times as much for transition period on December 31 also include a rejec- will yield up to 0.1 grams of material collected from They will also need to show travel insurance coverage, degrees such as medicine or MBAs in prestigious uni- tion of EU citizens who have been jailed for more than a sufficient funds and a return ticket on request. Europeans the asteroid Ryugu some 300 million kilometers year. EU citizens-as well as those from Iceland, versities. UK universities fear that that hefty burden entering Britain can use a national ID card until October, from Earth-though they won’t know for sure until Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland living in the EU- will force many European students to choose EU insti- after which only passports will be accepted, for stays of they look inside. “I’m really looking forward to see- have until June 30 2021 to apply for settled status. But tutions-some of which are free-instead, blowing a big up to six months. EU passport holders will be able to ing (the samples) with my own eyes,” Tsuda said. there are fears the changes could see the elderly in care hole in their finances. They also say they are already continue using British e-gates under current guidance. But that isn’t expected to happen before at least homes, vulnerable children and other people who are being shunned for research projects led by EU univer- Those with criminal records may be banned and non- next week, with a series of steps required first to difficult to contact or unaware of the deadline slip sities. According to UK parliament research, there were European family members of a European may need a ensure the material is not contaminated. — AFP through the cracks.—AFP 143,000 EU students in British universities in the 2018 visa, depending on nationality. The UK treats Irish citi- to 2019 school year.—AFP Central African town finds Muslim-Christian peace after years of war BAMBARI: In the crowded alleys of Bambari’s ing between Muslim former members of the Seleka, an lence”. At the end of 2018, the CAR ranked in 188th Kidjigira market, customers of all faiths brush togeth- alliance that toppled President Francois Bozize in 2013, place out of 189 in the United Nations’ Human er as steam rises from hanging cooking pots and flies and the largely Christian and animist anti-balaka mili- Development Index, while 71 percent of the popula- swarm around them. At last, people are not afraid. tias, claiming to defend their communities. Sporadic tion lived below the international poverty threshold of Until recently, the marketplace remained a no man’s fighting between militias prevails in many parts of the $1.90 per day. land separating the Muslim and Christian districts of CAR, in spite of a peace accord signed by 14 armed In Bambari as across the country, the streets are Bambari, a town at the epicentre of civil war in the groups and the government in 2019. Militia forces reg- still full of young people who live from hand to mouth. Central African Republic (CAR) from 2013 to 2017. ularly attack civilians, carrying out atrocities that “If you see a young man who throws himself into the Today, three weeks before presidential and parlia- heighten the insecurity. Bambari buildings ruined by rebellion, it’s for lack of a job,” said Ousmane, a trader mentary elections in a tense climate, the town at the decades of abandon by the state and the years of con- in a dusty bazaar in the Muslim quarter where goods heart of one of the world’s poorest countries could be flict are today getting a fresh coat of paint. from the capital have piled up. “The few projects initi- an emblem of reconciliation between communities ated by NGOs have slightly reduced the number of that tore one another apart. International donors and ‘For lack of a job’ job seekers. Some have attended professional classes, humanitarian agencies have concentrated their efforts “We rejoice in the return of peaceful cohabitation, but the unemployment remains,” said Bambari mayor on Bambari since 2017, treating the town as a “pilot but it’s fragile because it also depends on the econo- Abel Matchipata. Apart from the national sugar com- project” for the rest of a divided, landlocked nation. my,” says Jeannot Nguernendji, president of Bambari’s pany and a few local mobile phone branches, “there But despite the millions that have been spent, unem- Peace Committee, in his newly refurbished office. In a are no big companies here,” he added. Bambari can ployment and poverty persist and uncertainties weigh report late last month, the World Bank urged the next be proud of its three kilometers of newly paved road, heavy on the future. Two thirds of the CAR’s territory government to diversify an economy that is heavily but the main users are motorcycle taxis and humani- BAMBARI: Shopkeepers sit outside their shops on Nov 18, is still occupied and controlled by armed groups. reliant on subsistence agriculture to “address the tarian vehicles. Goods trucks owned by traders are a 2020. — AFP Bambari was long split in two and ravaged by fight- fragility trap and escape the vicious circle of vio- rare sight. —AFP