Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith has sent a message of sympathy to the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. over the loss and damages caused by Tropical Storm Agaton in Leyte, the Philippines early this month.

The message, dated Apr 21, 2022, read, “I have learned about flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Agaton in Leyte province of the Republic of Philippines which have brought loss to life and property of the Filipinos in the area.

On behalf of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and on my own behalf, I would like to express deep sympathy through you to the government and people of the Philippines especially to the families of the victims of this natural disaster.

I believe that with the attention from the government, the Filipinos will soon overcome difficulties and bring normalcy to the disaster-hit area.

Source: Lao News Agency

British lawmakers on Thursday ordered a parliamentary investigation into Prime Minister Boris Johnson for allegedly lying about whether he broke coronavirus restrictions by attending illegal gatherings during the pandemic.

The move, approved by cries of “aye” and without a formal vote in the House of Commons, means Parliament’s Committee of Privileges will investigate whether Johnson knowingly misled Parliament — historically a resigning offense if proven.

The probe piles more pressure on a Conservative prime minister whose grip on power has been shaken by claims he flouted the pandemic rules he imposed on the country, then repeatedly failed to own up to it.

The move was instigated by the opposition Labour Party and passed after the government abandoned efforts to get Conservative lawmakers to block it. Johnson’s Conservatives have a substantial majority in Parliament, but many lawmakers were uneasy with the prime minister’s behavior.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the move sought to uphold “the simple principle that honesty, integrity and telling the truth matter in our politics.”

“It is a British principle … guiding members from every political party in this House,” Starmer said. “But it is a principle under attack.”

Johnson was not present for the decision on a scandal that has rocked his leadership of the country and the Conservative Party. He was more than 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) away in India, insisting he wanted to “get on with the job” of leading the country.

Johnson was fined 50 pounds ($66) by police last week for attending his own birthday party in his office in June 2020, when people in Britain were barred from meeting up with friends and family, or even visiting dying relatives. Johnson is the first British prime minister ever found to have broken the law while in office.

He has apologized, but denied he knowingly broke the rules. Johnson’s shifting defense — initially saying there were no illegal gatherings, then claiming it “did not occur to me” that the birthday event was a party — has drawn derision and outrage from opponents, who have called for him to quit.

“The truth is simple and it’s this – he lied to avoid getting caught, and once he got caught, he lied again,” Scottish National Party lawmaker Ian Blackford said in the House of Commons.

Usually lawmakers are forbidden from accusing one another of lying, but Blackford was not reprimanded by the Speaker.

A growing number of Conservatives are uncomfortable about defending a leader who broke rules he imposed on the country. A few have called openly for Johnson to go, and the number is growing. Others are waiting to see whether public anger translates into Conservative losses at local elections on May 5.

“It is utterly depressing to be asked to defend the indefensible,” said Conservative legislator William Wragg. “Each time part of us withers.”

Lawmaker Steve Baker, until now a prominent supporter, said that Johnson “should be long gone” for violating the “letter and spirit” of the rules.”

“I’ll certainly vote for this motion,” he said. “But really, the prime minister should just know the gig’s up.”

The Committee of Privileges probe will not start until twin police and civil-service investigations into “partygate” have concluded.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray is investigating 16 events, including “bring your own booze” office parties and “wine time Fridays” in Johnson’s 10 Downing St. office and other government buildings. Police are probing a dozen of the events and so far have handed out at least 50 fines, including ones to Johnson, his wife Carrie and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak. Johnson could still face more police fines.

Johnson and his allies argue that it would be reckless for the country to change leaders now amid the war in Ukraine and a cost-of-living squeeze sparked by soaring prices for energy and food.

As he flew to India for a two-day visit focused on boosting economic ties, Johnson again denied knowingly misleading Parliament and insisted he would lead the Conservatives into the next national election, due by 2024.

“I have absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide,” Johnson told Sky News during his visit to the western Indian state of Gujarat. “I want to get on with the job that I was elected to do.”

Source: Voice of America

On April 20, U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Peter M. Haymond joined Vice Minister of Health Sanong Thongsana to officially launch the Continuous Professional Development Training Facility for Health Professionals at the Centre for Medical Rehabilitation (CMR).

The ceremony also marked the official handover of rehabilitation equipment to the CMR and Ministry of Health (MOH).

“Our health and disability assistance is a central part of the U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Partnership. The United States looks forward to continuing our support to the CMR as it works to become a centre of excellence, reaching international standards,” said Ambassador Haymond. “We are proud to provide this new equipment to assist the CMR in helping many people with walking difficulties, regardless of cause, to walk again.”

Rehabilitation is a key strategy for strengthening the health system. When quality rehabilitation is available at all levels of the health system, particularly at the primary health care level, it supports the Lao population as a whole and enables all to participate in society and contribute to the economic development of the country.

The CMR Training Facility, supported by USAID Okard, is a key factor in Laos for building the capacity of health professionals to deliver rehabilitation services. More than 150 doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists throughout Laos will develop their skills and become qualified to provide essential rehabilitation services primarily at the district hospitals through their studies at the training facility.

USAID Okard provided CMR with a ceiling hoist for gait training, allowing people with a prosthetic leg, difficulties after an accident such as a bone fracture, and those who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury, to progressively improve their balance and regain their ability to walk.

USAID Okard has contributed approximately 255 million LAK to establish and equip the training facility and for the CMR to recruit and train core trainers, and contributed an additional 342 million LAK to install the ceiling hoist and tracking system.

USAID Okard, funded by USAID and implemented by World Education, Inc., improves access to quality healthcare and economic opportunities for persons with disabilities, and supports design and implementation of disabilities inclusive policies.

Source: Lao News Agency

China’s national anthem, “March of the Volunteers,” seemingly offered clear instructions to Shanghai residents frustrated with the government’s oppressive COVID-containment lockdown: “Rise up, people who don’t want to be slaves.”

But when the inhabitants of the Chinese Communist Party’s birthplace began posting that stirring first line on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, censors blocked it, along with another commanding line: “Arise! Arise! Arise!”

The national anthem is among the most potent identifiers of a country’s tradition, history and beliefs. In its early years, China’s anthem, the theme song of the popular 1935 film “Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm,” urged resistance to the invading Japanese.

But despite the composition’s patriotic origins, China’s censors have squelched the first line and its other passionate parts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Censors tackled the national anthem soon after COVID-19 was first identified in humans in December 2019 in Wuhan. The official silencing of Dr. Li Wenliang, who issued warnings about the contagious new virus that killed him, sparked anger among netizens who posted the same lyrics on Douban, China’s version of Reddit, according to the Language Log website.

Then, Chinese authorities blocked the anthem’s first line because it contained “radical current politics or ideology,” according to Twitter posts.

‘Magic City’ lockdown

Authorities locked down Shanghai on March 28, isolating 25 million people in China’s economic center.

The anthem’s first line began trending on social media last weekend until censors leapt onto Weibo, killing posts and related search results.

Since the initial round of lockdown easing last week, authorities have allowed 12 million people to go outdoors, according to The Associated Press, even as food shortages continue to plague Mo Du, or “Magic City,” as Shanghai is known.

“Most internet censorship in China is outsourced directly to the social media companies who then face steep fines or punishment if they don’t censor enough content,” said Angeli Datt, senior research analyst for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House.

“It’s not surprising in this heightened environment that companies are so overzealous in censoring perceived ‘harmful’ content that they’ve blocked access to the first line of China’s national anthem. This is what happens when the CCP creates vague, undefined political red lines and an immense fear of punishment for crossing these red lines.”

Weibo did not say why the content disappeared.

Many citizens responded by playing the national anthem from their balconies and windows.

Observers and journalists quickly took to Twitter to comment.

“Patriotism in China is a tricky balance,” tweeted Bloomberg tech columnist Tim Culpan.

“So when will the whole national anthem be censored?” asked Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University.

“To be honest, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner,” said Xifan Yang, a China correspondent for Die Zeit.

“Lyrics of China’s national anthem are the new sensitive words on China’s social media,” Chu Yang, a European freelance journalist, tweeted. “Ironic on so many levels.”

“Revolutions always eat their creators,” posted American economist Chris Balding.

American critic and author Bill Kristol posted, “I don’t know nearly enough to judge if this is merely very unlikely or wildly unlikely, but it does seem to me the odds that China could be approaching a regime crisis aren’t zero.”

In keeping with the “slave” theme of the anthem’s first line, Shanghai rapper Fang Lue, known as Astro, took to Weibo to release a video for his song “New Slave,” whose lyrics criticize the government for abusing power and neglecting lives: “When freedom and will of thought are imprisoned by power/ When the green passage is blocked and becomes a forbidden road/ When one wearing a uniform only cares about his career/ When life and the dignity of life are regarded as manure.”

“I wrote this song because I saw the passing of my life and my powerlessness, and I feel a deep sadness,” Astro posted on his YouTube channel.

“I come from the love I have for it all. … I hope everyone can speak rationally.”

After his song went viral, the rapper deleted it from his channel.

“As netizens in Shanghai and other parts of China push back and express themselves about the country’s COVID-19 policies, authorities will be fearful of any expression that could build into organized dissent to the party,” said Datt. “The Chinese Communist Party aim is the survival of the party.”

Source: Voice of America