SRI LANKA BRACES FOR COLOMBO PORT CITY NOD MAJOR IMPACT TO CONFIRMS CHINA IS LANKA’S ENVIRONMENT MAY ‘BIG BROTHER’, NOT INDIA 28 - 30, 2021 VOL: 4- ISSUE 249 FINDING FAME IN . LIFE UNDER OCCUPATION OBSCURITY 30 GLOCAL PAGE 03 REALITY CHECK PAGE 05 COMMENTARY PAGE 07 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 09 Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/130/News/2021 Biden move to investigate COVID origins opens new rift in US-China relations BEIJING/WASHINGTON - Joe Biden’s decision to expand the US investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, with one intelligence agency leaning towards the theory that it escaped from a Wuhan laboratory, has opened a new divide in his adminis- tration’s already tense relationship with China. Biden said on Thursday (27) that he would publish the results of the 90-day inquiry, which has made a priority for the intelligence agencies. The move represents a dramatic turnaround from the ad- ministration’s policy until now of leaving the investigation to the World Health Organization (WHO). The US on Thursday called on the WHO to carry out a second phase of its investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, with independent experts given full access to original data and samples in China. “It is critical that China provides independent experts full access to complete, original data and samples relevant to un- derstanding the source of the virus and the early stages of the pan- demic,” said the US mission to the UN in Geneva. Beijing has reacted angrily, portraying Biden’s announcement as part of a broader geopolitical struggle. The Chinese government questioned Washington’s motives and railed against the “notorious track record” of US intelligence in the lead-up to the 2003 war in Iraq. However, as Biden acknowledged, the US intelligence com- munity is split over the likely origins of the pandemic. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) issued a statement on Thursday, admitting the disagreement, and the continuing lack of certainty over the facts. “The US intelligence community does not know exactly where, when, or how the COVID-19 virus was trans- mitted initially but has coalesced around two likely scenarios: either - J. Sujeewakumar/ENCL it emerged naturally from human contact with infected animals or it was a laboratory accident,” the statement said. Sri Lanka Navy personnel in hazmat suits the vessel, anchored just outside Colombo was declared off limits. Bulldozers scooped -The Guardian remove debris washed ashore from the harbour, heightening fears that it could break up tonnes of the polythene pellets that came -Read more on Page 6 Singapore-registered container ship MV up spilling its 278 tonnes of bunker oil. Navy from at least eight containers that fell off the X-Press Pearl, which has been burning for the personnel were sent on Friday to clean millions ship on Tuesday (25). Officials said the vessel ninth consecutive day in the sea off Sri Lanka's of plastic granules mixed with burned oil and was known to carry at least 28 containers of Colombo Harbour. Tonnes of charred plastic other residue that covered Negombo beach, the pellets that are used as a raw material in the Tycoon Jimmy Lai, 7 others pellets washed ashore near Colombo on Friday 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the capital. packaging industry. The fire broke out on May (28) as an international salvage effort dragged The plastic-covered beach, normally a draw 20 as the ship waited to enter the Colombo port handed new jail terms over into a ninth day. Thick black smoke rose from for tourists and known as a fishing centre, -Read more on page 3 Hong Kong protests HONG KONG - Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was among eight democracy activists handed new prison sentences on Friday (28) for attending protests on the 70th anniversary of the UN rights council orders inquiry founding of communist China that were followed by a sweeping crackdown. Lai, who is already behind bars for taking part in earlier protests, must now serve a total of 20 months after pleading guilty to organ- izing and participating in an unlawful assembly on October 1, 2019. into Israel after Gaza strife Seven other leading activists, including 25-year-old youth cam- paigner Figo Chan, as well as former lawmakers Lee Cheuk-yan and GENEVA — Spurred by the latest fight- protraction of conflict, including system- firing rockets at Israeli civilian areas and Leung Kwok-hung, were also given new jail sentences. ing in Gaza, the United Nations’ top hu- atic discrimination and repression based for locating military assets in civilian ar- The new sentences are the latest in a relentless and successful man rights body voted Thursday (27) to on national, ethnic, racial or religious eas in Gaza. campaign by China to smother dissent and dismantle Hong Kong's appoint a commission of inquiry with identity.” But Israel’s intense bombardment of democracy movement. Hong Kong was convulsed by months of unusually broad latitude to investigate Although the commission could theo- densely populated areas might also con- huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in 2019 in the most possible war crimes and other abuses retically investigate human rights viola- stitute a war crime, Bachelet said. “De- serious challenge to Beijing's rule since the city's 1997 handover. committed in Israel and the occupied Pal- tions by all parties, the resolution creat- spite Israel’s claims that many of these The clashes with police on China's National Day were some of the estinian territories. Israel denounced the ing it does not mention Hamas or other buildings were hosting armed groups or worst of that period. It was a vivid and embarrassing illustration decision as a one-sided sham. Palestinian militant groups. Critics who being used for military purposes,” she of how huge swathes of Hong Kong's population seethe under Bei- It was the third time in seven years that opposed the resolution said it lacked bal- said, “we have not seen evidence in this jing's rule as the government celebrated 70 years since communist the Human Rights Council in Geneva had ance. regard.” China's founding. While clashes between hard-core protests and decided to name such a panel, but this one Israel swiftly denounced what Prime Israel refused to cooperate with previ- police raged across the city that day, the march attended by the ac- differed in two important respects: Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a ous investigations into events in Gaza and tivists who were jailed on Friday remained largely peaceful. It is “ongoing” meaning the panel can “shameful decision” and criticized it for the occupied Palestine territories, and But it did not have official police permission, a requirement in pursue the inquiry indefinitely. That gives not acting against Hamas, the Palestinian there is little to suggest it will take a dif- Hong Kong. it a degree of permanence akin to inves- militant group that fired rockets into Is- ferent approach now. -AFP tigative bodies documenting atrocities in rael during the 11 days of fighting that was Still, the commission’s open-ended Syria and Myanmar. halted a week ago. mandate and the broad scope of the inves- And the commission is not limited to Addressing the council Thursday, the tigation may add pressure on Israel at a looking just at hostilities in Gaza and the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bache- time when Palestinian rights appear to be Germany recognizes colonial West Bank, but instead has been charged let, did in fact lay blame on Hamas, accus- attracting broader sympathy, including in with examining “all underlying root caus- ing it of “a clear violation of international the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally. crimes in Namibia as genocide es of recurrent tensions, instability and humanitarian law” for indiscriminately -NYT BERLIN - Berlin is recognizing the atrocities committed by Ger- man colonial powers against the Herero and Nama ethnic groups in what is now Namibia as genocide. Trending News Historians say some 65,000 of the 85,000 Herero and at least Quote for Today 10,000 of the 20,000 Nama were killed under the German empire Syria: President Bashar al-Assad is re- traZeneca coronavirus vaccine to make sure Courage is fear holding on a minute in what it then called German South West Africa from 1884 to 1915. elected for a fourth seven-year term, scor- everyone who has had a first jab can get a "As a gesture of recognition for the immeasurable suffering in- longer. ing an expected landslide in a presidential second within the recommended eight- to -George S. Patton flicted on the victims, we want to support Namibia and the descend- election dismissed by the opposition as a twelve-week window. ants of the victims with a substantial program of 1.1 billion euros sham. [1.3 billion dollars] for reconstruction and development," Foreign Covax: The global vaccine-sharing pro- Word for Today Minister Heiko Maas said Friday (28). Japan: Authorities extend a coronavirus gram says it needs $2.0 billion in additional Bovarism [boh-vuh-riz-uhm] -noun state of emergency in Tokyo and other funding by the beginning of June in order Delegations from both countries had earlier agreed on a political - an exaggerated, especially glamor- declaration after almost six years of negotiations, with both govern- areas until just a month before the Olym- to boost coronavirus inoculation programs ments now in agreement but the document yet to be signed. pics, in a move that is likely to fuel con- in lower-income countries. ized, estimate of oneself; conceit Germany's government plans to classify the killings as genocide cerns over whether the Games can be held Colombia: The country marks a full Today in History from today's perspective as part of the agreement.