World
Russia angered by visit to Norway of largest US aircraft carrier
The USS Gerald R Ford is visiting Oslo ahead of expected military exercises in the Arctic.
Russia has called a visit by the world’s biggest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, to Oslo in Norway an “illogical and harmful” show of force at a time of heightened tensions.
In a show of NATO firepower, the 337-metre (1,106 ft) nuclear-powered ship sailed for the first time into the Oslo Fjord under escort on Wednesday, where it will stay for several days before heading to the Arctic for military exercises, according to Norwegian media.
The highly-publicised visit, which comes amid tensions between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine, was denounced by the Russian embassy in Norway.
NATO member Norway shares a land border with Russia as well as a maritime border in the Barents Sea.
“There are no questions in the [Arctic] north that require a military solution, nor topics where outside intervention is needed,” the Russian embassy in Olso said in a Facebook post.
Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told the French news agency AFP that the demonstration of military might in Norway was baffling and unwelcome.
“Considering that Oslo admits that Russia poses no direct military threat to Norway, such shows of force seem illogical and harmful,” he told AFP in an email.
A vast no-fly airspace and sea ban has been implemented around the USS Gerald R Ford, which can transport up to 90 aircraft and helicopters and is expected to remain moored in the Norwegian capital for several days.
“This is Norway’s security. It is a clear expression of the security guarantees we have through NATO, not least the close cooperation and partnership we have with the United States,” Norway’s Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said in a statement released by the US Navy.
🇺🇸🤝🇳🇴
First U.S. Aircraft Carrier to Visit Norway in 65 Years — U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier #CVN78 arrived in Oslo, Norway, for a scheduled port visit, May 24.https://t.co/84S1D54JkP
— USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) (@Warship_78) May 24, 2023
According to the online daily Barents Observer, the ship is expected to head for the Arctic several days ahead of the May 29 start of the Arctic Challenge Exercise, gathering 150 aircraft and 3,000 military personnel from 14 Western countries.
The war games will be conducted from near the Russian border in the east to the coast of the Norwegian Sea in the west, the newspaper reported.
The Norwegian military said in a statement that the arrival of the Gerald R Ford – the US Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier – would provide Norway with “a unique opportunity” to develop cooperation and work closely with the country’s most important ally.
The Norwegian military and NATO allies have been patrolling around offshore oil and gas platforms since late last year, following mysterious explosions that hit the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea and which were believed to be acts of sabotage, though those responsible have yet to be identified.
Last year, Norway became Europe’s largest gas supplier after a drop in Russian gas flows due to the political and economic fallout from Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Norway said it will support training programmes by the US for Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets.
“The government backs this initiative and is considering how Norway can contribute together with allies and partners,” Defence Minister Gram said.
But Norway has not decided if it will give any of its F-16 jets to Ukraine, the minister separately told public broadcaster NRK.
World
Continued rain postpones skateboarding, delays tennis at Paris Olympics
PARIS (AP) — Rain that fell throughout the opening ceremony continued on Saturday, leading to postponements and delays at the Paris Olympics.
The first event of the skateboarding competition, men’s street skateboarding, was postponed from Saturday until Monday because of the showers. The women’s event is scheduled for Sunday.
Skateboarding is held at the outdoor venue of La Concorde Urban Park in Paris. World Skate, the sport’s governing body, cited adverse weather conditions for the move.
Rain has been one of the big stories early in the Games after constant showers and occasional downpours served as the backdrop for the opening ceremony. As of 10 a.m. CEST (4 a.m. ET), much of the rain had cleared from the area.
The start of play in the scheduled tennis matches on the 10 smaller courts at Roland Garros was delayed because of rain, but action was able to get going in the two main stadiums, which both have retractable roofs. That included the match at Court Philippe Chatrier between No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland – who has won four of the past five French Open titles at the same site being used for the Olympics – and Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.
Sunny skies are expected to return to the area Sunday, but the rain could have a lasting impact on the Paris Games.
The rain could threaten the water quality for swimming in the Seine when the triathlon begins Tuesday. Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizers, addressed the situation at the daily press briefing.
“We are still looking at the forecast for the coming days,” Estanguet said. “They expect that it will rain till 5 p.m. today and then it should be fine.
“The team is very confident that it will be possible to have the (triathlon) swimming part in the Seine.”
The triathlon begins with the men’s event Tuesday, swimming from 8 a.m. CEST (2 a.m. ET) at the Alexander III bridge next to Grand Palais.
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AP Sports Writers Graham Dunbar and Steve Whyno and AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this story.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
World
Australian surfer saved by off-duty police officer after shark ripped off leg, doctors hope to reattach it
Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing off New South Wales in Australia when he was attacked by a shark, New South Wales police said.
“Clinging to life, he was able to catch a wave back to the beach,” a fundraising site set up for McKenzie said. “A retired police officer used his dog’s lead as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding before the victim could be airlifted to hospital.”
Amazingly, McKenzie’s leg washed up on the beach after the attack and doctors are hoping to be able to reattach it.
McKenzie has undergone surgery and remains in critical but stable condition, according to ABC News Australia and the fundraising site.
MASSIVE BULL SHARK WEIGHING NEARLY 500 POUNDS CAUGHT AT ALABAMA FISHING TOURNAMENT
Luke Short, who makes McKenzie’s surfboards, told ABC they had all hoped “we heard it wrong.”
“It’s amazing that he’s survived,” he added.
His surf team RAGE called McKenzie the “toughest person we know.”
“Sending love to @kai_mckenzie the youngest RAGE boy on the team and the toughest person that we know,” the team wrote on Instagram this week. “Yesterday he was attacked by a shark and has lost his leg while surfing in Port Macquarie. He has been through a lot breaking his back last year, he never once complained always just got on with doing what he loved as soon as possible. He is an inspiring person. The whole rage gang loves you man and we will see you soon.”
SHARK BITE REPORTED AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORT IS FIRST REPORTED SHARK BI OF YEAR ON ISLAND
Kirran Mowbray of NSW Ambulance called McKenzie “courageous” during a 7News Sydney on-air broadcast. “He turned around, caught a wave into shore.”
She added that the off-duty officer “used the lead off a dog as a tourniquet to wrap around the young man’s leg and essentially saved his life.”
Kevin Young, vice president of Bite Club, a shark attack survivors club, told the broadcast: “And I know he lost a leg and they packed it with ice and they’re going down to try to reattach it. That just blows my brain that that might be possible.”
Mid North Coast Police Chief Insp. Stuart Campbell said they would be working to try to find out what type of shark bit McKenzie.
Port Macquarie Hastings Lifeguards later reported the beach had reopened after the attack.
World
Italy's Via Appia enters the Unesco World Heritage List
With sixty recognised sites, Italy is the country with the highest number of UNESCO heritage sites.
Italy is at the top of the Unesco World Heritage list. The World Heritage Committee, meeting in New Delhi at its 46th session, has decided to add the ‘Via Appia Regina Viarum’ on the World Heritage List- becoming the 60th Italian site to be recognised.
The list also includes the Ensemble Schwerin residence in Germany, the Niah National Park in Malaysia, the archaeological area of Al-Faw in Saudi Arabia, Constantin Brâncuși’s sculptural ensemble in Târgu Jiu and the Frontiers of the Roman Empire in Dacia, both in Romania.
Candidature of the Via Appia promoted by the Ministry of Culture
The candidature was promoted for the first time directly by the Ministry of Culture, which coordinated all the stages of the process and prepared the necessary documentation for the application.
The history of the Via Appia
About 650 kilometres long, the ancient Via Appia goes through central and southern Italy. It was the first of Rome ‘s great roads built using innovative techniques; true masterpieces of civil engineering that complemented the natural roads and are the most enduring monuments of Roman civilisation.
The route was inaugurated in 312 B.C. by the censor Appius Claudius Blind to connect Rome to Capua. It was later extended to Benevento, Venosa, Taranto and Brindisi.
Conceived for military needs, the Via Appia immediately became the road of great commercial communications and primary cultural transmissions. Over time, it became the model for all subsequent Roman public roads.
“UNESCO has grasped the exceptional universal value of an extraordinary engineering work that over the centuries has been essential for trade, social and cultural exchanges with the Mediterranean and the East,” said Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.
“This recognition adds to the extraordinary success achieved less than a year ago by Italian opera,” commented Undersecretary for Culture with responsibility for UNESCO, Gianmarco Mazzi.
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