HANOI (AFP) – A Vietnamese activist has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of propaganda against the state, his lawyer said yesterday.
The communist state has strict curbs on press freedom and moves swiftly to stamp out dissent and arrest critics, especially those who find an audience on social media platforms.
Le Van Dung, who had discussed Vietnam’s socio-economics and politics in live Facebook and YouTube videos, was arrested in June last year on anti-state charges.
“Dung consistently rejected the allegations that his speeches on his clips were illegal,” said his lawyer Ha Huy Son.
The activist, who also discussed Vietnam’s sometimes fractious relationship with neighbouring China, was sentenced to five years imprisonment and five years probation. His lawyer confirmed that he would appeal.
The 51-year-old’s arrest last year – which came after he spent a month on the run – was condemned by international rights organisations. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said he was among around 60 people imprisoned for criticising the government.
“The Vietnamese penal code provision on propaganda seeks to intimidate people with the threat to shut up or be locked up,” said Phil Robertson, HRW’s deputy Asia director, in a statement before the sentencing.
TOKYO (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a virtual address to Japan’s parliament on yesterday, called on the lawmakers to keep up sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine to pressure Moscow into seeking peace.
Zelenskyy praised Japan for becoming the first Asian country to sanction Russia and asked Tokyo to go even further. He said trade with Russia should be banned and that foreign companies should withdraw from the Ukrainian market in order to prevent their investments from flowing into Russia.
Japan has acted tough against Russia since the invasion, in line with other Group of Seven countries, although Tokyo’s moves have triggered retaliation from Moscow. Russia this week announced it would discontinue peace treaty talks with Japan over the disputed Kuril Islands and withdraw from joint economic projects there, citing Tokyo’s sanctions.
Zelenskyy’s speech was broadcast live in a parliamentary hall packed with hundreds of lawmakers, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
During his approximately 10-minute speech, Zelenskyy, appearing in his now trademark olive-colored top, also criticized Russian attacks on Chernobyl, currently entombed after the 1986 explosion, saying Russia turned a nearby nuclear waste storage site into a battlefield.
Imagine, he said, how long it will take to clean up the situation there when the war is over.
Zelenskyy, speaking through an interpreter who translated his Ukrainian into Japanese, also raised an alarm about the possibility of Russia’s use of nuclear and chemical weapons.
Zelenskyy criticised the United Nations Security Council, in which Russia and China are among five permanent members, as dysfunctional and in need of reform.
Zelenskyy’s address came hours before Kishida was to leave for Brussels to join other leaders of the Group of Seven countries on the sidelines of an emergency NATO leaders’ meeting.
Japan has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and provided it with humanitarian assistance and non-lethal military equipment such as bulletproof jackets, binoculars and medical equipment.
Japan, though notorious for its strict refugee and immigration policy, has also pledged to accept Ukrainians fleeing from their country.
Zelenskyy has made online speeches to lawmakers in several other countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Canada and the European Union, often striking a chord with audiences by putting Ukraine’s ordeal into the historical contexts of other nations.
PENGERANG (THE STAR) – Six foreign immigrants had been arrested for illegal entry via uncharted waters near Kampong Punggai.
The Third Malaysian Infantry Division Headquarters said the group of Indonesians were spotted by a patrolling team at around 7am yesterday.
“By around 7.30am, a team from our Quick Reaction Force was put in place and we managed to arrest the four male and two female suspects.
“The suspects, aged 32 to 48 years old, were brought to the Tanjung Sepang tactical headquarters for documentation and further investigations,” the statement said.
A total of MYR2,044 in Malaysian and Indonesian currencies as well as six mobile devices and jewellery were seized during the arrest.
The division added that the suspects also underwent a Covid-19 test and after making sure they tested negative, they were handed over to the Johor Immigration Department.
“We will keep our teams on an active lookout for other undocumented migrants who try to enter the country through uncharted routes,” it added.
MADRID (AFP) – Rafael Nadal said on Tuesday he would be out of action for between four and six weeks with a stress fracture of the rib.
“This is not good news and I did not expect this,” tweeted Nadal, who will miss the start of the claycourt season.
The 35-year-old Spaniard will be ruled out of the Monte Carlo and Barcelona tournaments although he could potentially return for the Madrid Masters on May 1-8.
His main focus will be on being fit for the French Open which begins on May 22. Nadal has won the title at Roland Garros 13 times.
The injury occurred on Saturday during the semi-final of the Indian Wells Masters.
Nadal went on to lose to American Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final on Sunday, ending his perfect 20-0 run to start 2022 which had included winning the Australian Open title.
AP – Ahead of the 94th Academy Awards this week, Associated Press Film Writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle share their predictions for a ceremony with much still up in the air.
BEST PICTURE
The Nominees: Belfast; CODA; Don’t Look Up; Drive My Car; Dune; King Richard; Licorice Pizza; Nightmare Alley; The Power of the Dog; West Side Story.
BAHR: At this point it really feels like the award will go to The Power of the Dog. It is paradoxically both a safe choice and a game changer in that it would be a first best picture win for Netflix after years of trying. Jane Campion’s last major shot at picture (and director) was with The Piano, but in 1994 that basically stood no chance against Schindler’s List. This time, it’s her film that has the leg up on the Spielberg. And yet there is a possibility that CODA could Little Miss Sunshine/Green Book its way in there as the feel-good alternative – which was what Belfast was supposed to be. (Since this article was first published, the chances for CODA improved after winning the top honour at the Producers Guild last weekend.)
COYLE: I’m calling the CODA upset. The smart money is on Campion’s film. But the win for CODA at the Screen Actors Guild – where The Power of the Dog failed to get nominated for best ensemble – suggests strong passion for the film, and maybe a crowd-pleasing advantage on the academy’s preferential ballot. Either film, though, will symbolise the ascent of streaming in Hollywood. It would hand a streaming service – Netflix or Apple – Hollywood’s most prestigious honour for the first time. Maybe that’s a big deal, maybe it’s belated confirmation of what everyone has known for some time.
BEST ACTRESS
The Nominees:Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye; Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter; Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers; Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos; Kristen Stewart, Spencer.
This combination of photos show promotional art for the films nominated for an Oscar for best picture: ‘Belfast’, ‘CODA’, ‘Don’t Look Up’, ‘Drive My Car’, ‘Dune’, ‘King Richard’, ‘Licorice Pizza’, ‘Nightmare Alley’, ‘The Power of the Dog’, and ‘West Side Story’. PHOTOS: APABOVE & BELOW: Oscar nominees for the best actor category: Javier Bardem in ‘Being the Ricardos’, Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Power of the Dog’, Andrew Garfield in ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’, Will Smith in ‘King Richard’, and Denzel Washington in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’; and Oscar nominees for best actress: Jessica Chastain in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’, Olivia Colman in ‘The Lost Daughter’, Penélope Cruz in ‘Parallel Mothers’, Nicole Kidman in ‘Being the Ricardos’, and Kristen Stewart in ‘Spencer’
COYLE: This has been the cruellest of categories, laying waste to most expectations and some very sensational performances. Lady Gaga, Caitríona Balfe, Jennifer Hudson and my favourite performance of the year – Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World) – are just some of the masses among the snubbed. Yet, surprisingly, a very Oscar bait-y performance from a movie released early in the season – Jessica Chastain as the televangelist Tammy Faye – has moved to favourite status after winning the SAG Awards. That may partly be because Chastain, a three-time nominee but never a winner, is one of Hollywood’s best actors and the time has come to honour her, for a film she steered into existence. I think she’ll win, but Olivia Colman – typically brilliant in The Lost Daughter – could sneak in for her second Academy Award.
BAHR: Chastain should have already won several Oscars at this point, and not even necessarily for the ones she got nominations for (The Help and Zero Dark Thirty). However improbable for a movie that has some big issues, including the way it turns a blind eye to Tammy Faye’s complicities in the scam, the tide has shifted in her favour and she’ll probably get her win. Still, I still think there’s a small possibility that it will go to Kristen Stewart, who has been on a rollercoaster path after starting the season at the top.
BEST ACTOR
The Nominees: Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos; Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog; Andrew Garfield, tick, tick … Boom!; Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth; Will Smith, King Richard.
BAHR: It’s always a bit of a snooze when categories are locked for months, but it would be a major surprise if Will Smith didn’t get his first Oscar win for King Richard. After a period of giving some possibly TMI interviews, Smith stepped back from the spotlight, let the race play out and still emerged triumphant. Not only did he give a terrific performance in the film, but his SAG speech, in which he was funny, humble and gracious to his co-star Aunjanue Ellis and subjects Venus and Serena Williams, was also a helpful reminder of the power of his star charisma. This is such a safe, respectable batch, though. It may have been fun to add some Simon Rex (for Red Rocket) chaos to the mix.
COYLE: Smith will over-share his way to the Oscar, a deserved win for one of the movies’ most insanely charming stars. Smith might have already won best actor (for Ali) if not for Denzel’s titanic performance that year in Training Day. This time, it’s Smith’s turn. If I could add someone here, it’d be Adam Driver in Annette. If he can’t have best actor, then he should surely take the award for most devastating and fiercely committed singing performance opposite a puppet baby. Wait, I’m being told that isn’t an Oscar category.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The Nominees: Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter; Ariana DeBose, West Side Story; Judi Dench, Belfast; Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog; Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard.
COYLE: Thanks to her show-stopping, breakthrough performance in West Side Story DeBose has had this category locked down all season, and it’s hard not to be moved by the historical symmetry. Sixty years ago, Rita Moreno won for the same role, Anita, in 1961’s West Side Story, making her the first Latina to win an Oscar. We’ll have to see if DeBose is as brief as Moreno was accepting her award. (Her total speech: “I can’t believe it! Good Lord! I leave you with that.”) Still, it was a crime to neglect Kathryn Hunter’s multiplying witches in Macbeth. What’s foul isn’t always fair.
BAHR: I was prepared for Kirsten Dunst to finally get her moment up on that podium but Kiki’s shrimp will have to wait. At least she broke the seal and got a nomination. And DeBose should definitely be ready with a killer speech. Do you think she’ll take Moreno as her date? Maybe she’ll don the black and gold dress Moreno wore in 1962 and famously repeated in 2018.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The Nominees:Ciarán Hinds, Belfast; Troy Kotsur, CODA; Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog; JK Simmons, Being the Ricardos; Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog.
BAHR: Among mostly first-time nominees (save for JK Simmons, who previously won for Whiplash), CODA’s Troy Kotsur went from breakthrough to frontrunner over the past couple months, winning at SAG, BAFTAs and Critics Choice and he’s likely to continue that streak come Oscar on Sunday. The support for Kotsur and CODA has only become more enthusiastic recently and it would be a history-making win. The 53-year-old is the first deaf man to have ever been nominated for an acting prize. I’d also liked to have seen Colman Domingo get some more widespread praise for Zola, or Mike Faist for West Side Story.
COYLE: It’s a very likeable group of performers but Kotsur has this one in the bag. I think it will be one of the night’s best moments, not just because of the historic nature of Kotsur’s win, but because it’s just reward for an actor who has long toiled and thrived on Los Angeles stages. Hinds was, though, fabulous in Belfast and the unnominated Richard Jenkins in The Humans was also about as good as it gets.
BEST DIRECTOR
The Nominees:Kenneth Branagh, Belfast; Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car; Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza; Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog; Steven Spielberg, West Side Story.
COYLE: Campion has long been the frontrunner. For the trailblazing filmmaker, who nearly three decades ago became only the second woman nominated in this category, it’s a coronation long in coming. Campion, the first woman ever to be twice nominated for best director, will win, and her cinematographer, Ari Wegner, will become the first woman to win that award – a triumph that should have happened long ago for women behind the camera.
BAHR: Yes, but will she thank Sam Elliott?
DOCUMENTARY
The Nominees:Ascension; Attica; Flee; Summer of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised); Writing With Fire.
BAHR: Though Questlove is much-beloved by the Academy and his documentary Summer of Soul, which won at the BAFTAs, would be more than deserving, Flee likely has the advantage here since it was also nominated in the animated feature category. Also, while Attica director Stanley Nelson won the Directors Guild award, that group is narrower than the Academy’s voting body.
COYLE: To quote the Roots, Questlove’s Oscar has “got to be, got to be reality”. Don’t get me wrong, Flee is a singularly exquisite film, and this could indeed be close. But Summer of Soul might be the most universally adored film of the year. Both its uncovering of a lost Black history and its celebration of live performance were so profoundly suited to 2021. I can’t see it not winning.
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
The Nominees:Drive My Car, Japan; Flee, Denmark; The Hand of God, Italy; Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Bhutan; The Worst Person in the World, Norway.
COYLE: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car is a not-crazy best-picture underdog, which makes it a heavyweight in this category. There’s stiff competition here – particularly from Joachim Trier’s supremely lovely The Worst Person in the World. But Hamaguchi’s three-hour masterwork – a profound movie about art and dialogue as a means of human connection – should win.
BAHR: Drive My Car definitely has the advantage. The picture and director nominations probably helped convince a few more voting members to give it a chance, too. It’s hard not to wonder just how far it could have gone had it had the awards campaign budgets of some of its best picture brethren.
ANIMATED FEATURE
The Nominees: Encanto; Flee; Luca; The Mitchells vs the Machines; Raya and the Last Dragon.
BAHR: Encanto is certainly the juggernaut in this category, with the triple threat of Disney, Lin-Manuel Miranda and a massive hit song that we won’t talk about here (no, no, no). And under normal circumstances it’d be the easy frontrunner, but Disney has not had a good few weeks not to mention the fact that the studio has three nominations in the category which could split votes. Plus, there is massive industry goodwill for The Mitchells vs the Machines and it won the Annie award, which is why I think there may be a (good) upset in store.
COYLE: I think The Mitchells vs the Machines pulls it off. Encanto may be the favourite, but it’s a funny kind of juggernaut. The Disney release didn’t make a huge impression in theatres but once it hit streaming, its songs turned it into a sensation. Some voters may feel Encanto is great for the music, while The Mitchells vs the Machines is the better movie overall. I think so, anyway. So come on, academy. Do it for Monchi the pug.
BOSTON (AFP) – In a storied corner of Boston, one of America’s newest families is finding its feet months after fleeing Afghanistan: Israr and Sayeda are starting work, studying English and setting up home to welcome their first-born child.
But like many of the tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated after Kabul’s fall to the Taleban, the young couple – who asked to be identified by first names only – are also taking steps to ensure the rug doesn’t get pulled out from under their new life.
Though he worked as a United States (US) Army interpreter, Israr and his wife are in the US on what is known as humanitarian parole, a “tenuous legal status,” according to resettlement organisations, that offers only two years residence.
After an arduous, months-long journey that took them from Kabul via Qatar, Washington and a military base in Texas, the pair settled early this year in Boston’s Charlestown neighbourhood, where they were taken under the wing of a couple they now call their second “mama and papa.”
“My papa is working on it,” 26-year-old Israr said of his immigration status. “He got me a pro bono lawyer.”
Israr had carefully packed all his documents before heading to Kabul airport as the chaotic evacuation unfolded in late August.
Afghani evacuees Israr, 26, and his wife Sayeda, 23, walk under a US Flag as they head to a dentist appointment in Charlestown, Massachusetts. PHOTOS: AFPABOVE & BELOW: Israr shows photos on his phone of himself working in Afghanistan as a translator with military forces; and evacuee Sayeda, prepares to make a morning smoothie
But after nerve-racking encounters with Taleban at the airport entrances, Sayeda, 23, hid some on her person, hoping they wouldn’t search, or beat a woman.
In the event, she was beaten to the point she couldn’t walk. Israr, also injured, abandoned the bags and carried her.
“I lost my luggage, my important documentation, my money, my clothes, my everything,” he told AFP.
They finally made it onto a plane with only his passport, a handful of documents and the clothes on their backs.
Now the couple face an uncertain path to permanent residency.
For the time being, the main avenues are the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) – reserved for those who aided the US government – and asylum. Israr said completing his SIV application is proving complicated, but asylum comes with other challenges.
While he describes “threats” and “blackmail” from the Taleban, a credible fear of persecution is not always easy to prove.
Resettlement of Afghans to the US wound down to a trickle by late February, but as focus turns to the Ukraine war and a new refugee crisis, advocates are urging lawmakers to ensure Afghans can stay for good.
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has said she is working on legislation and Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) said she’s met with sympathetic Republicans too.
LIRS and others are advocating for Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act, which would give Afghans a pathway to permanent US status.
“To us, it’s a no brainer,” said Vignarajah, but she is still braced for “challenges” ahead.
For now, asylum is a “high threshold to meet,” she told AFP.
To establish a credible claim, Vignarajah explained, requires a significant amount of documentation.
“That’s a potential Catch-22,” she said, with many people encouraged to destroy evidence of their links to the US to avoid Taleban retribution.
“That same documentation that might be a death sentence in Afghanistan could be the key to winning an asylum case here in the US.”
Head of the International Institute of New England (IINE) Jeffrey Thielman, which helped settle Israr and Sayeda, already knows of a Boston immigration court denying an Afghan asylum request over persecution concerns deemed “too general.”
Thielman told AFP many may find themselves without a pathway to permanent residency on the same grounds.
“They’ve been vetted, they’ve gone through our cultural orientation program, their kids are now in school, they’re getting jobs – to rip these people out of this country and to give them this uncertainty is very unjust,” he said.
Another hurdle is that the US resettlement infrastructure faces “severe” backlogs of more than 10,000 SIV applications and roughly 600,000 pending asylum cases, said Vignarajah.
The impetus to create a new pathway is amplified by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where aid agencies have said more than half the population faces
hunger.
Israr and Sayeda are relieved and grateful to be safe in the United States with “another chance.”
In the calm of their bright, cosy apartment, Sayeda blends breakfast smoothies before going to work, she at a daycare and Israr at a local Whole Foods.
And yet they are wracked with worry for those left behind.
Israr is helping both his and Sayeda’s relatives in Afghanistan, as jobs disappear and food prices skyrocket, while also preparing for their baby’s arrival and to pay rent once it is no longer covered by the resettlement organisation.
“It’s a lot of responsibilities on my shoulder,” he said.
But he holds out hope, that perhaps “one day my family is coming here.”
CNA/THE NEW YORK TIMES – The pandemic has not been declared over but after living in survival mode for the last two years, some would say we are emerging into a “new normal”. Though that doesn’t mean our minds are at ease.
Many have endured illness, economic upheaval, the climate crisis, grief and racial inequities – and now, supply chain issues and the ripple effects of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Even though we don’t experience seasonal changes here, experts said the arrival of spring can serve as a natural point to take stock of our mental well-being and reconnect with the things that bring us purpose and joy, offering our brains a respite when possible.
“It really is – for a number of reasons – a perfect time for folks to turn their attention to taking an inventory. Where do I find myself? What have I been through?” said a psychology consultant to business leaders and co-author of The Power Of Agency: The 7 Principles To Conquer Obstacles, Make Effective Decisions, And Create A Life On Your Own Terms Paul Napper.
Creating a clear, more focussed mind starts by making decisions about how we spend our time every day. When those choices are in line with our values, interests and passions, this is referred to as personal agency.
“You do always have a choice,” Dr Napper said. “It may not be a great choice,” he added, but examining your options helps you to adapt to your circumstances.
Here are five ways to declutter your mind as we enter a new season.
PRACTISE MINDFULNESS
“Being a human, particularly right now, is stressful,” said a meditation guide in San Francisco with a background in neuroscience Nkechi Njaka. “And when we think of how degenerative stress is and how harmful to the body, we need something that can help mitigate it.”
Mindfulness meditation, a practice that helps you remember to return to the present when you become distracted, has been shown to reduce the stress of daily life.
When people notice that their mind is racing or they start to become anxious, they are typically thinking about something in the past or in the future.
To refocus on the here and now, you can start by noticing the sensations in the body, Njaka said. “Can we feel the ground below us? The heat of the sun?” It is normal for the mind to wander. If this happens, gently return your awareness to your breathing and come back to the present.
If you are compassionate with yourself and approach the practice with curiosity, openness and forgiveness, you will be more likely to try it again, she added.
Take advantage of the transitional moments of the day to practise mindfulness – when you wake up, right before or after a meal, or when you change your physical location, for example – so that you can start to form a routine.
TRY THE BULLET JOURNAL METHOD
Studies have found that jotting down thoughts in a journal can improve well-being.
One method that has gained popularity in recent years is a practice created by the digital designer Ryder Carroll and outlined in his best-selling book, The Bullet Journal Method: Track The Past, Order The Present, Design The Future.
The Bullet Journal is an organisational system but also an exercise in mindfulness – one that requires you to continually re-evaluate how you are investing your time and energy and then decide whether those things are worth it.
Otherwise, Carroll said, “you can be very productive working on the wrong things”.
Carroll, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, initially started journalling to help him stay focussed and succeed in his career, but then he began exploring how he felt about the tasks he was accomplishing. “Did it give me energy? Did it take it away?” he asked himself.
Through journalling, he discovered a pattern: The experiences that gave him a sense of purpose or pride all involved helping others and performing acts of service.
“If you don’t know what you want, you will never be satisfied with anything you have,” he added.
REDUCE INFORMATION OVERLOAD
We have all been inundated by a relentless news cycle, a fire hose of information coming at us in the form of breaking news notifications, social media posts and email newsletters (among other sources) that can leave us feeling anxious, angry or even helpless.
“Now is the time to completely overhaul your news consumption,” said a computer science professor at Georgetown University and the author of Digital Minimalism: Choosing A Focused Life In A Noisy World Cal Newport.
Choose just one or two reliable sources and read them at a specific time each day, he advised. For example, you can listen to a news roundup podcast while commuting to work or read a newspaper at breakfast, Dr Newport said.
Dr Newport, who is 39 and has managed to avoid social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and TikTok for his entire adult life, also recommends taking a 30-day break from the technologies in your life that are optional.
In his book, he described what happened when 1,600 people gave it a try. Those who lasted the full 30 days were “cheerily gung-ho and positively aggressive about trying to fill in the time”, he said.
So instead of reflexively watching TikTok or scrolling through Instagram during your free time, think about what you would be doing if you weren’t on either of those platforms: Reading a novel? Taking a restorative walk in nature? Relaxing and listening to music? Set aside time for those activities.
DECLUTTER YOUR PHYSICAL SPACE
During the pandemic, and especially during lockdown, many people finally began to clear the junk out of their homes, a phenomenon The Washington Post referred to as the “great decluttering”. If you haven’t tackled your pile of clutter, now might be a good time to do it.
“Messy spaces tend to prevent clear cognitive thinking,” said a professor at the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico Catherine Roster, who has researched how cluttered homes affect people.
“It has a distorting effect that can bleed into other aspects of a person’s life – not only their emotions but their productivity.”
Hiring a professional organiser to help sort through the mess is not within everyone’s budget, so Dr Roster suggested relying on a buddy – ideally someone who is also decluttering their home. Together, the two of you can serve as a sounding board for each other to make decisions about what to keep and stay on schedule.
Listening to music while you sort and organise can also help motivate you, she added.
RECONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
“What I’m seeing with my patients is that many seem to be emotionally cluttered,” said a clinical psychologist in Fairfield County, Conneticut Barbara Greenberg.
Information overload coupled with either social isolation or not getting your needs met socially or emotionally “is a really bad brew”, she added.
If there are people you care about whom you have lost touch with during the pandemic, don’t be shy about getting back in touch, she urged.
“We need the support and levity of people who make us feel good,” Dr Greenberg said.
If it has been a while, it might feel awkward at first to re-establish contact. But just be honest, Dr Greenberg advised.
For example, you might say: “We lost touch during the pandemic but now things are calming down and I would really love to see you. Not seeing you has been one of the things I’ve missed”.
It might even inspire a “chain of positivity” where the person you contacted feels inspired to do the same with others. “Truly, everybody wants to get that call,” she said.
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AP) – The foreign ministers of Iran and Syria, two allies of Russia, will discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and other developments during a meeting in Damascus, Syria’s Foreign Minister said.
Faisal Mekdad spoke to reporters at Damascus airport shortly after his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, arrived for talks with top Syrian officials.
Iran is a strong ally of President Bashar Assad and has sent thousands of Iran-backed fighters from around the region to bolster Syrian government forces against opponents in the 11-year Syrian conflict.
Russia has also supported Assad militarily, turning the tide of the war in his favour. The Syria war has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
“We will discuss the developments after Russia’s military operation in Ukraine,” Mekdad said.
“We will discuss what is behind that and we will discuss our mutual stances toward these developments.”
During his visit, Amir-Abdollahian is also likely to discuss the latest developments in Iran’s negotiations to restore Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, Assad’s visit to the United Arab Emirates last week, which marked his first to an Arab country since the Syria war broke out, and meetings of the constitutional committee in Geneva between the Syrian government and opposition.
CAIRO (AP) — The Egyptian pound (EGP) slipped further against the dollar yesterday, after Egypt’s Central Bank raised its main interest rate and devalued the local currency by 14 per cent.
The moves by the Central Bank of Egypt were meant to combat inflationary waves triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine, which hiked oil prices to record highs.
Banks were selling the United States (US) currency at more than EGP18.5 while buying it at over EGP18.45. That’s up from an average of EGP15.6 for USD1 before the central bank’s decision on Monday.
The central bank increased the key interest rate by 100 basis points to reach 9.75 per cent.
The overnight deposit and lending rate were also raised by 100 basis points each to reach 9.25 per cent and 10.25 per cent respectively, the bank said.
The bank citied the war in Ukraine that has shaken the global economy and threatened food supplies and livelihoods of people across the world.
Economists have said the moves were likely signs that the government is working to secure another financing package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The rising cost of basic goods has deepened the hardships facing middle class and poor Egyptians. They have suffered from price hikes since the government embarked on an ambitious reform programme in 2016 to overhaul the country’s battered economy.
The reforms were agreed on with the IMF for a USD12 billion bailout. Such economic reforms included tough austerity measures such as slashing fuel subsidies and increases in prices of everything from subway fares to utility costs.
That has taken a heavy toll on most of the country’s over 103 million population; 29.7 per cent of them live in poverty, according to official figures.
Since the war in Ukraine, residents across the country have reported rises in the price of bread, fresh vegetables and fruits and other commodities amid fears of global economic crisis.
Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, and most of its imports come from Russia
and Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly said they were working on reconstructing the 2022-2023 budget to be prepared for “the most pessimistic scenarios”.
Authorities also established mobile markets in public squares across the country that offer food and other commodities at discounted prices.
A local man’s appeal against conviction and sentence was set aside by the High Court and his 18 months’ jail sentence took effect from yesterday.
Pengiran Masri Pengiran Haji Othman was an administrator at an institute who was found guilty after a trial in the Magistrate’s Court on five charges for outraging the modesty of three men and insulting the modesty of a woman.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail but was afforded a stay of execution pending appeal.
Defence counsel Rozaiman Abdul Rahman who represented Pengiran Masri at trial and in the appeal, contested the Magistrate’s findings leading to convictions.
DPP Nor Hafizah Ahmad on responding to the application said that the convictions were “safe” and that the sentence handed was “proper”.
Judicial Commissioner Haji Abdullah Soefri bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin found that the Magistrate had not “erred” in the process up until making her decision in convicting Pengiran Masri on the five charges while deciding that the sentence handed was in no way “excessive“.
