Day: September 13, 2024

Oslo: Norway plans to review and update its maritime regulations to stay aligned with the rapid development of the industry, the government said on Friday.

The initiative seeks to improve maritime safety and environmental protection by forming a public legislative committee to review and update the Ship Labor Act and the Ship Safety Act. These laws regulate working conditions on ships and vessel safety. The government aims to ensure its regulations stay current and responsive to both industry demands and the well-being of seafarers.

“The maritime sector has seen significant advancements, particularly in digitalization and the green transition. New technologies, fuels, and autonomous systems bring new challenges, making it necessary to update our maritime regulations,” Fisheries and Ocean Policy Minister Marianne Sivertsen Naess said. “Additionally, we need a regulatory framework that will stand the test of time, and we are starting that process now.”

The Ship Labor Act, partially aligned with Norway’s Work
ing Environment Act in 2013, and the Ship Safety Act, introduced in 2007, have not seen significant updates since their inception. While the Working Environment Act has undergone several amendments, maritime regulations now require a similar comprehensive review, said the ministry.

Naess said the time is right for a comprehensive evaluation and revision of Norway’s maritime laws, adding that this is a crucial issue for seafarers and the government has been listening closely to the concerns raised by various maritime organizations. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Tokyo: A total of 72 children died from abuse in Japan in the 2022 fiscal year, with over 40 percent of the victims being infants under one year old, government data showed.

The figure from April 2022 to March 2023 logged an increase of two cases from the previous fiscal year, a report by the Children and Families Agency showed.

Among the total, 16 were linked to murder-suicides, while children under three made up nearly 70 percent of the total fatalities in the remaining 56 child abuse cases.

Some 25 victims were babies under one year old, according to the report.

Of the 56 abuse-related deaths excluding murder-suicides, neglect, or child-rearing abandonment, accounted for 42.9 percent, followed by physical abuse at 30.4 percent.

Biological mothers were found to be the main abusers in 23 cases, while biological fathers were responsible in six cases. There were seven cases in which both parents were held accountable.

The agency’s expert committee recommended establishing a seamless support system from p
regnancy through postnatal care, calling for increased awareness of the nationwide child consultation hotline which directly connects to the nearest child consultation center. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

MANILA: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday said it has approved a loan of 320 million U.S. dollars to support the rehabilitation of roads in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, enhancing safe and all-weather connectivity in rural areas.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Roads Development Project will upgrade around 900 kilometers of rural roads in the province, which are susceptible to floods and in poor condition.

The project covers key routes that link remote communities to education, health care, and markets and includes measures to incorporate climate-resilient design, road safety enhancement, and sustainable maintenance practices.

According to the ADB, annual rainfall and temperature patterns have significantly increased in parts of the province, and the lack of resilient infrastructure escalated the impact of disasters on people and livelihoods.

The ADB added that flooding events since 2010 have substantially damaged the road network, hampering connectivity and escalating transportati
on costs.

The project promises to offer technical and financial support to assist the government in preparing long-term targeted interventions that will enhance the climate resilience and sustainability of the province’s road network. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Phnom penh: Cambodia recorded 793 deaths from road accidents in the first half of 2024, up from 756 in the same period last year, National Police said in a report on Friday.

The accidents also injured 2,116 others during the period this year, up from 2,072 over the same period last year.

Speeding accounted for 40 percent of the accidents, and neglecting to give way and not driving on the right side of the road represented 33 percent, National Police Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Chev Hak said.

He said that overtaking driving, alcoholic driving, drowsy driving, vehicle problems and weather factors accounted for the remaining 27 percent.

A total of 1,534 road accidents were recorded in the first half of this year, down from 1,548 cases in the same period last year.

Road accidents are the leading cause of deaths and injuries, costing the Southeast Asian nation about 466 million U.S. dollars a year. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Mexico city: At least 11 people were killed on Thursday in a conflict between criminal groups in the western Mexican state of Nayarit, said local authorities.

Their bodies were found in an area known as “Las Antenas,” where authorities were removing the bodies and collecting evidence for investigations, said the ministry of security and citizen protection of the state.

Local police and other law enforcement agencies have intensified security operations in the area.

Media reports said the confrontation could involve members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel.

In recent weeks, several armed clashes took place in the mountainous area of Huajicori, displacing families to other municipalities of the state and leading to the closure of some businesses and schools. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Baku: Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place in Baku from September 13 to 15, showcasing high-speed action on the city’s iconic street circuit.

This marks the eighth time Azerbaijan’s capital has hosted the event.

As the fourth race of the 24-race season, this year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be one of the most thrilling spectacles.

Significant revisions to the Formula 1 calendar for 2024, aimed at streamlining logistics, include moving the Japanese Grand Prix to April and shifting the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to September. These changes are part of a broader strategy to improve race management efficiency and reduce the operational burden on teams.

Ten teams and 20 drivers will compete on Baku’s high-speed city circuit, which is renowned as one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in Formula 1. Spanning six kilometers, with top speeds reaching up to 370 km/h on its long straight sections, the race will be crucial in the championship battle as teams strive to secure vital points in the latt
er part of the season.

This year’s event has generated unprecedented excitement, with tickets selling out well in advance. In response to the high demand, organizers increased the number of grandstands from eight to ten, boosting total capacity by 35% compared to last year. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency