At least 3 dead, 150 rescued as passenger ship catches fire off North Sulawesi
'Three people were killed, and nearly 150 were rescued safely. They were rescued by the joint rescue team and local fishermen's boats,' he told Xinhua.
The search and rescue operation is still underway. Two ships, several rigid inflatable boats, and other vessels have been deployed, Ariyanto said.
The ship, KM Barcelona 5, caught fire while sailing in the waters off Manado, the capital city of the province, at around 1.00pm local time, Dani Repi, head of the quick reaction team of the provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, said.
Approximately 280 people were on board, he said. — Bernama-Xinhua
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Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
My classmate became a fountain of blood, Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor recounts
Atomic bomb survivor Katsuko Kuwamoto shares her testimony with visitors at the Hiroshima Peace Hall. HIROSHIMA : Katsuko Kuwamoto was born in 1939, into a country already Katsuko Kuwamoto was born in 1939, into a country already at war with the world. By the time she entered elementary school in April 1945, her father had already been sent to the battlefield, swallowed by a war that devoured men as quickly as it starved women and children. Families were left with only mothers, children, grandparents and little else. 'We didn't have food. I was always hungry,' she recalled. One month into her first school year, the children were ordered to evacuate from central Hiroshima. Firebombing had already reduced other cities, including Tokyo, to cinders. Katsuko and her older sister were sent to their aunt's farm on the edge of the city. 'There were already four other families packed into the house. One family lived in the barn. Another in the tool shed. Everyone was hungry. Everyone was angry. 'When food went missing, the blame always came to us. We had no parents with us. No one to defend us.' Still, every Saturday, Katsuko and her sister made the long walk home to see their mother in the city. They would stay one night and return to their aunt's on Sunday evening. 'We cried. We begged her to let us stay. We said: 'Even if a bomb drops on us and we die, we want to die here with you.'' But fate, disguised as well-meaning neighbours, intervened. 'Our neighbours told us: 'If a bomb falls, your mother won't be able to escape with two children.' So we went back to the farm. That was the afternoon of Aug 5, 1945.' The next morning, Katsuko got up like it was any other school day. She made her way to class, unaware that a US bomber had already crossed the sky. By then, the city had grown used to the sound of American bombers. When the air raid sirens blared, people took cover. But that day, there were no sirens or warnings. Just the low thrum of a B-29 heavy bomber. That morning, with the adult male population sent to the front, children were mobilised to labour outside, tasked with demolition work, dismantling homes and making firebreaks. As the school bell rang, Katsuko stepped into her classroom. One of her classmates was playing by the window. Above their heads, something shimmered. A metallic glint against the morning sky, tumbling and spinning while the children outside stared. Many children were working outdoors to fill the wartime labour shortage when the bomb dropped, as shown in this survivor's drawing. At 8.15am, the atomic bomb detonated. Ten seconds later, a deafening boom split the city apart. The shockwave shattered the windows of the school, 3.5km from the hypocentre. 'My classmate who was playing by the window was shredded by shards of glass. Her blood sprayed like a fountain. 'The teacher picked her up in his arms and ran around the schoolyard in a panic. His face was pale, distorted with suffering.' The children didn't understand what had happened. They clung onto their teacher's clothes and followed. Katsuko's aunt arrived soon after and took them home. The students working outside that morning weren't as lucky. They were incinerated instantly. All that remained were their shadows, scorched into the ground as memorials to lives cut short. The search for mother That same morning, Katsuko's mother stayed home, 1.3km from ground zero, feeling slightly unwell. She was eating a late breakfast when the bomb fell. In an instant, the blast crushed the house around her. Trapped under splintered beams, she screamed until a neighbour clawed through the debris to rescue her. Worried about their mother, Katsuko's cousin offered to go look for her, armed only with a rucksack and a water bottle. But he was back in under ten minutes. The firestorms and the terrain made it impossible to reach the city. Three days passed before the flames quieted. Katsuko, her sister, and their aunt finally entered the city. When the smoke finally lifted, what lay beneath was nothing short of a hell made of bone and ash. 'We saw dead bodies everywhere. We couldn't even make out where the houses and fields had been. We found nothing but charred corpses,' Katsuko said. Eyewitnesses recalled seeing victims with their skin peeling from their fingertips, trailing like rags. 'Even the ones who were still alive, you couldn't tell if they were men or women. Their faces were swollen one and a half times the normal size. Their clothes had burned off.' After hours of searching, they turned back defeated. Nearly a week after the bomb fell, Katsuko's mother came to them on foot, through the radioactive rain and ruins. 'She looked okay at first, but her face was pale. So pale it was blue. I've never seen such colour on a person's face before. She tried to talk but just vomited blood.' Residents of Hiroshima called the bomb 'Pikadon' — 'pika' for the flash, 'don' for the boom. No one yet understood the bomb's true radioactive nature. 'She was dying. But then our father came home from the war, and they had the same blood type. There was a rumour that blood transfusion might help. So he gave his blood to her, every day.' Months later, in early winter, Katsuko and her sister were playing outside when they saw a figure on a bicycle. It was their father. On the back, their mother was alive, smiling. 'They told us every day that she would die the next day, but she lived. The rumour that blood transfusion helped was true.' But in the years that followed, her mother's body began to fail. She developed breast cancer, then lung cancer, and eventually tumours in her brain, to which she later succumbed. The long war The war officially ended on Aug 15, 1945, but the aftermath lasted decades. Food shortages continued, forcing families to sell their prized kimonos for rice. School resumed outdoors as there were no buildings. When it rained, classes were cancelled. Around 80,000 people were incinerated in an instant by the bomb. Estimates say nearly 200,000 had died later from its lingering effects. Even after witnessing the destruction of her city and the loss of friends, neighbours, and family, Katsuko, like so many survivors, chose not to hold hatred toward the Americans. 'None of my family members were seriously injured by the bomb itself, but we never received any compensation from the US. 'I didn't feel any resentment. Later on, I went to a missionary school. My teachers were American. They were kind people and good teachers. There's no use in hating them.' At 86, Katsuko believes the key to a long life isn't holding on to anger, but rising early, walking her dog and continuing to speak. What drives her is the hope that through awareness and testimony, others might finally understand the human toll of war. 'We've had more visitors from the US lately. It seems the belief that the bomb was a necessary evil is fading, even in the US. 'We should never have war again. There's nothing more stupid than war.'
Free Malaysia Today
17 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
With strength and resolve, female firefighters work up a STORM
Saredah Salleh (left) and Nik Izzahtiey Nik Soh are two of 10 female members of STORM. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : Rescue operations in Malaysia have generally been a male-dominated domain. But things are changing, with women having also joined the elite Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) under the fire and rescue department. Known for handling high-risk missions, STORM comprises highly skilled firefighters who are on standby to be deployed for large-scale rescue operations. The presence of women has now brought a new dimension, especially during missions that involve other women and children. Senior fire officer Saredah Salleh, 42, made history by being named the best trainee of her batch last year – outperforming 32 younger male colleagues and two females – proving that neither age nor gender is a barrier to joining one of the department's most elite units. 'STORM is often involved in major operations locally and abroad. I wanted to gain new experiences. The tests during training were extremely tough, including carrying loads of up to 70kg while walking,' she shared. The mother of two, who has 14 years' experience in firefighting, said STORM's female members do not receive any special treatment, and are required to undergo the same rigorous and demanding fitness tests as their male counterparts. 'All members must pass the individual proficiency test set by the department to determine physical and mental capabilities. All candidates, regardless of gender, are assessed according to the same standards,' she noted. 'Strong spirit of teamwork' Fully aware of the heavy responsibilities that come with the role, Saredah said she has to maintain peak physical fitness and stamina beyond the requirements of a regular firefighter. 'After work, I go jogging at night to keep my stamina up because we can be deployed to disaster sites at any moment. In STORM, there's no room for complacency,' said Saredah, who was involved in the 2022 Batang Kali landslide rescue operation. Saredah with her certificate for having being the best trainee out of her batch last year. (Bernama pic) Meanwhile, fire officer Nik Izzahtiey Nik Soh is one of the youngest women in STORM. But despite only being 24, her involvement in several major operations – including a building collapse in Penang and a landslide in Cameron Highlands – is clear proof that her abilities should not be underestimated. Izzahtiey, who joined the unit in 2023, said her male counterparts have never belittled the capabilities of female colleagues. Instead, they work together, support one another, and uphold a strong spirit of teamwork. According to Ismail Abdul Ghani from the fire and rescue department, out of 655 STORM personnel, 10 are women. 'Being selected for STORM is no easy feat. Many apply but not all make the cut. These 10 are the 'heroines' of STORM,' he said. He noted that the unit not only offers new experiences in firefighting but also opens the door to participating in large-scale operations abroad. 'Joining STORM presents some of the best career opportunities in the department, including international missions,' he said. 'But it does come with intense training and high expectations.'
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Changing the narrative on fertility rates: Pursuing reproductive agency over prescriptive targets will empower more to create the families they desire — Julitta Onabanjo
AUGUST 4 — 'Malaysia records fewest births ever, fuelling population decline concerns' 'Only three states in Malaysia produce enough babies to replace their populations' 'Malaysia's labour shortage due to declining birth rates' These media headlines capture common narratives around fertility rates. However, what they often obscure are the harsh realities individuals and couples grapple with when making decisions about their fertility, families, and futures. Why is it that people all over the world, not just in Malaysia, are having fewer children? What are the reasons or conditions that are leading couples to have smaller families? Do people these days even want to have children? The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently commissioned an online survey to shed light on this issue, and the key finding is that people do want children. Most desire two or more, yet 1 in 5 said they do not expect to be able to form the families they desire or have the number of children they aspire to have. Why? Why are fertility aspirations not being met? The top three responses given to the survey were economic and financial hardships, gender inequality, and worries about the future. According to the author, the crisis is not about dropping fertility rates, declining birth rates, or too few babies being born. The crisis is one of too little reproductive agency. Too many do not have the capacity to exercise informed, empowered decision-making over their reproduction. Too many are unable to realise their fertility aspirations. Too many are constricted in their choices. — Bernama pic The issue at hand is therefore not that people don't want to have children, but rather, they feel they can't due to the conditions surrounding them. The crisis is not about dropping fertility rates, declining birth rates, or too few babies being born. The crisis is one of too little reproductive agency. Too many do not have the capacity to exercise informed, empowered decision-making over their reproduction. Too many are unable to realise their fertility aspirations. Too many are constricted in their choices. And choice extends beyond the ability to say yes or no to having children. Real choice is about having access to a full range of conditions that enables one to make a free and informed decision about whether to have children, and if yes, with whom, when, and how many. Barriers to reproductive agency The UNFPA survey, conducted by YouGov on more than 14,000 people across 14 countries, forms the basis of the latest edition of UNFPA's annual flagship State of World Population report, entitled The Real Fertility Crisis — the pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world. UNFPA appreciates that this year's publication was launched in Malaysia by Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad, the Deputy Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, on behalf of the Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, during a World Population Day commemoration event by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN). We could not agree more with the Deputy Minister's acknowledgement that young people want to have families but face real social and economic challenges. We further echo Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri's statement on the need for a supportive ecosystem that addresses obstacles to family formation. Economic constraints In every one of the 14 countries surveyed for the 2025 UNFPA report, people cited economic constraints as the number one barrier to their reproductive agency. And while Malaysia was not part of this survey, the findings have much relevance to the prevailing context here. Almost 2 in 5 said financial limitations had led or were likely to lead them to have fewer children than initially desired. 1 in 4 said unemployment or job insecurity was a factor. 1 in 4 cited housing limitations, whether a lack of space or high costs, as a factor. Eleven years ago, in LPPKN's Malaysian Population and Family Survey 2014, many surveyed said they were unable to fulfil their fertility desires. That survey found that the average number of children desired by married women was 4, but their actual number of children was 2 to 3. Similar to the UNFPA study, the LPPKN survey found that the number one barrier stopping Malaysian couples from having more children was financial constraints. LPPKN's 2024 survey is presently underway, and we eagerly await the results. Gender inequity A second common thread was how gender inequality, specifically the unequal division of care work, deepens the fertility crisis. Across the 14 countries, 1 in 10 said that a lack of sufficient childcare options was a barrier. 1 in 10 also said having a partner who was not involved enough in housework or childcare led them to have fewer children. In the 2014 LPPKN study, 'childcare problems' was the biggest reason why Malaysian women respondents said they left the workforce. More than 34 percent of working women said they needed childcare centres at their workplace. Last year, an Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) policy paper estimated that 3 million women had dropped out of the workforce or reduced their work hours to take care of children and/or older persons. Insufficient childcare facilities are causing women all over the world to cut short their careers while also holding them back from fulfilling their fertility aspirations. Anxiety about the future A third theme in the UNFPA report survey was that 1 in 5 said worries and anxiety about the future had led or would lead them to have fewer children than desired. People, especially young people, who are optimistic about the future are more likely to pursue the lives they want for themselves and their families. However, global conflicts, economic instability, and climate disasters are causing many to fear that their world, and the world their children will inherit, will be less hopeful than the one their parents lived in. Beyond the conditions to enable them to make free and informed reproductive choices, people need to have trust in government and institutions, and hope that the future will be one where their choices are supported. Asking what matters Across modern history, governments have attempted to control fertility by demanding individuals align their reproductive decisions with the needs of the state, and of late they have opted for the 'baby bonus' financial incentives to encourage childbearing. What those incentives resulted in, our report found, is couples bringing forward the timing of births. In the long term, the strategy has not resulted in more births or reverse the downward trend of fertility rates. The desire for children remains high, as data from our report survey shows, and government interventions need to go beyond short-term solutions and one-off incentives. The emphasis and investment need to be directed towards addressing the fundamental misalignment of systems, environments, and policies with the lived realities of individuals. Baby bonuses do little to ensure long-term financial security, job security, income stability, and adequate housing conditions — essential considerations when it comes to family formation. This is why UNFPA calls on governments to expand their focus beyond total fertility rates and fertility targets, and focus efforts instead on designing strategies that provide an enabling environment for fertility aspirations to be achieved. This entails, firstly, asking individuals, especially young people, about their desires and concerns. Leaders and policymakers then need to listen to their voices, understand their concerns, recognise their realities, and let that inform policymaking. We believe that Malaysia would benefit from a survey similar to the one in our 2025 State of World Population report. A survey asking young people — tomorrow's mothers and fathers — about their reproductive aspirations, their attitudes towards family planning, and what barriers are standing in the way of their family formation goals. Because, again, the first step to building trust around reproductive agency is to ask and listen. Only then can we design interventions to target the right issues without being misguided by assumptions. Malaysia, as the Asean chair and recently elected host of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) secretariat, is incredibly well-poised to demonstrate its leadership in enabling reproductive agency for all. Reproductive agency for all On a recent trip to a Jakun Orang Asli village, our team met 17-year-old Riah at a literacy programme on sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence prevention. Riah's story was that she had dropped out of secondary school during the Covid-19 pandemic after she did not have the means to keep up with online lessons. At 14, she found herself pregnant and later married her child's then 16-year-old father. Pregnant with her second child when we met her, the programme was Riah's first time learning about bodily autonomy, consent, gender stereotypes, contraception, common menstrual and reproductive health conditions, where to get help in the case of gender-based violence, and what the law says about all these issues. She was among the most engaged and enthusiastic participants, and told us she was 'very, very happy' to learn about things so relevant to her fertility, family, and future. Riah's story underscores how life-transforming comprehensive sexuality education can be, and the importance of UNFPA's life-course approach. The life-course approach means investing early in age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education and then providing access to sexual and reproductive health and rights at reproductive age. At working age, individuals need to be able to access family planning and family-friendly policies. With this lifetime of reproductive agency, as they age, individuals would have accumulated the health, skills, and resources needed to age healthily and productively in their older years. As Malaysia navigates its demographic transitions and 13th Malaysia Plan goals, reproductive agency must be seen as central to the nation's development. This is because the pursuit of such agency, and not prescriptive fertility targets, is what will unlock both demographic resilience and individual wellbeing. As demonstrated in the 2025 State of World Population report, the pathway to reproductive agency lies in addressing economic and gender barriers, and in creating an enabling and trusting environment so that young people like Riah feel supported to have the families and futures they want. * Dr Julitta Onabanjo is the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative for Malaysia and Country Director for Thailand. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
