04/07/2026

SATURDAY | JULY 4, 2026

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Pro-Palestinian protesters convicted of misdemeanor

Countries advised to brace for strong El Nino event

WASHINGTON: Seven protesters who blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in a 2024 pro-Palestinian protest against Israel’s assault on Gaza have been convicted of misdemeanor charges by a San Francisco jury that remained deadlocked on the more serious charge of felony conspiracy. The jury convicted the protesters on six misdemeanor counts, including false imprisonment, obstruction of thoroughfare and unlawful assembly, said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Thursday. One defendant was also convicted of another misdemeanor charge of refusing to disperse, she said. The protesters will be sentenced in August and face up to five years in a county jail. Large-scale protests in the United States in 2024 demanded an end to Israel’s war in Gaza and Washington’s support for its ally. The protests also called for the divestment of funds by universities from companies supporting Israel. The jury could not reach a verdict on the most serious charge of felony conspiracy (an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime coupled with an overt act), which could have led to a sentence of up to 15 years’ jail upon conviction. “At this time, we will evaluate our options and consider next steps,“ said Jenkins. Defence attorneys argued that demonstrators were acting out of what they saw as a moral responsibility to oppose the devastation from Israel’s war in Gaza and Washington’s support for its ally. They also argued that protesters decided to adopt the method of blocking the bridge after other methods, such as writing letters and appealing to congressional representatives, produced no result. Jenkins’ office argued that the protest blocked traffic for four hours and caused a safety risk for those stuck in the traffic jam. Nuha Abusamra, who represented one of the defendants, said the conviction on lower charges marked a victory, according to local media KQED. “Taking a bridge and blocking traffic for a few hours years ago is the bare minimum that we should be doing as American citizens while our tax dollars continue to fund the mass genocide of Palestinians,“ she said. – Reuters

GENEVA: El Nino will quickly develop into a strong event between July and September, fuelling the likelihood of extreme weather, the United Nations (UN) weather and climate agency said yesterday. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said El Nino has already set in and would quickly gain strength, advising countries to brace for impact. El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns. It typically takes place every two to seven years and lasts about nine to 12 months. Conditions oscillate between El Nino and its opposite La Nina, with neutral conditions in between. The WMO monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update points towards “a rapid development into

o Conditions forecast to strengthen rapidly in coming months, increasing likelihood of extreme weather: UN agency

any sign of alleged “separatism”. Beijing has exerted greater institutional control in Tibet since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. International Campaign for Tibet president Tencho Gyatso described Rangzen as “a tireless advocate for Tibet” and said she was “deeply saddened” by his death. The International Campaign for Tibet says there were more than 150 self-immolations by Tibetans between 2009 and 2022. According to its data, 10 self-immolations by Tibetans have occurred while people were in exile. – Reuters year on record and 2024 the all-time highest at about 1.55°C above the 1850 to 1900 pre-industrial average. While El Nino usually peaks between November and February, the resulting spike in temperatures typically comes later down the line. “El Nino conditions are already under way and are forecast to strengthen rapidly into a strong event,” said WMO chief Celeste Saulo. “This will intensify the chances of drought and heavy rainfall, and the risk of heatwaves on land and marine heatwaves in many regions.” WMO said it is stepping up early warning support to help guide preparedness, especially in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and health. “Advanced seasonal forecasts and early warnings are vital to save lives and cushion the impact on our economies and our communities,” said Saulo. The update predicts an overwhelming likelihood of above-average temperatures across most land areas between 60° south and 60° north, covering nearly all populated areas outside the polar regions. And the July to September rainfall outlook is consistent with a strengthening El Nino, with above-normal rainfall forecast in some areas such as portions of the southwestern United States, and below normal forecast across the Indian subcontinent and much of Australia. WMO also said there is no evidence that climate change increases the frequency or intensity of El Nino events. However, the agency believes it could amplify the associated effects because a warmer ocean and atmosphere increase the availability of energy and moisture for extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall. During the northern hemisphere summer, warm waters associated with El Nino can fuel hurricanes in the central and eastern Pacific, while hindering their development in the Atlantic Ocean. – AFP

temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. “Seasonal-average sea-surface temperature anomalies are expected to exceed 2°C in key monitoring regions,” it added. The models show “remarkable agreement, providing high confidence in the outlook. “El Nino is expected to continue strengthening during the Northern Hemisphere autumn, with its influence extending across many regions of the globe. “Meanwhile, the equatorial Atlantic basin is expected to remain generally warmer than average.” The last El Nino contributed to making 2023 the second-hottest

a strong El Nino event between July and September”. The UN agency classifies El Nino events as weak, moderate, strong or very strong, meaning it is set to reach the third-highest level out of four. “El Nino conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are forecast to strengthen rapidly over the coming months, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events in many parts of the world,” WMO said. The Geneva-based agency said forecasts produced by leading global climate centres, using different models, indicate a consistent and significant warming of ocean

RIDING IN STYLE ... A Mexico fan sitting with his dog in an electric toy car outside the Los Angeles Stadium in California during the Fifa World Cup Group G match between Belgium and Iran. – REUTERSPIC

Tibetan commits self-immolation near UN headquarters WASHINGTON: Police in New York City said on Thursday a man has died from severe burns near the United Nations (UN) headquarters, and activists and a media outlet of exiled Tibetans identified him as a Tibetan who set himself on fire in an appeal for independence. A New York City Police Department spokesperson said personnel Police did not name the man nor provide any potential motive for his action. Voice of Tibet, a media outlet of exiled Tibetans, said Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen “self-immolated outside the UN headquarters in New York after a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity”. Rangzen “was enraged by the restrictions the Chinese government had placed on his countrymen”. The United States and the European Union have expressed concern about China’s new ethnic unity law, which went into effect this week and gives Beijing the legal basis to take action against people outside its borders. Tibetans have also previously committed acts of self-immolation in protest against Beijing’s policies in Tibet and nearby regions with large Tibetan populations. China seized control of Tibet in 1950 in what it describes as a “peaceful liberation” from feudalistic serfdom.

International human rights groups and exiles, however, have routinely condemned what they call China’s oppressive rule in Tibetan areas. China rejects such assessments. Ethnic minority issues are sensitive in China, with Tibetans and other minorities put under surveillance for

He was an Uber driver and went to the scene with a Tibetan flag, local news site amNewYork reported. The website quoted fellow Uber driver Lobsang Paljor as saying he knew Rangzen from gatherings in the Tibetan community. Paljor told the news website that

The law creates a “shared” national identity among the country’s 55 ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans and Uyghurs, some of whom chafe under Chinese governance. Tibetans around the world have opposed the law.

responding to an emergency call at 6.30pm (2230 GMT) on Thursday found the man badly burned. He was taken to the Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said, adding that an investigation is ongoing.