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international relations and national security

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Who are the Taliban and how did they take control of Afghanistan so swiftly? | CNN

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Just last week, US intelligence analysts had predicted it would likely take several more weeks before Afghanistan's civilian government in Kabul fell to Taliban fighters. In reality, it only took a few short days.

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Tokyo Olympics: Sky Brown wins Olympics skateboarding bronze medal

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Sky Brown has won bronze in the women's park skateboarding final at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as becoming GB's youngest Olympian EVER!

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Australia to pay reparations to ‘Stolen Generations’

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Australia to pay reparations to ‘Stolen Generations’

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The announcement comes three months after families began legal action over the policy of forced assimilation that continued into the 1970s.

Australia has agreed to pay reparations to the Stolen Generations - the people taken as children from their homes and forced to live with white families [File: Trevor Collens/AFP]

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a reparations fund for some members of the "Stolen Generations" - the Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their homes as children - three months after a group of Indigenous people began legal action for compensation.

Morrison told Parliament on Thursday that 378.6 million Australian dollars ($279.97m) would be allocated to redress the human damage of the policy, including one-off payments of 75,000 Australian dollars ($55,462.50) for its victims.

Keep reading

"This is a long called-for step, recognising the bond between healing, dignity and the health and wellbeing of members of the Stolen Generations, their families and their communities," the prime minister told Parliament.

"To say formally, not just that we're deeply sorry for what happened, but that we will take responsibility for it."

Thousands of young children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin were taken from their homes and put in foster care with white families under an official assimilation policy that Australia continued to pursue into the 1970s. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology for what had happened in 2008 describing it as a "great stain on the nation's soul".

The Healing Foundation, a campaign group for the Stolen Generation said the reparations were a "major step" towards addressing the harm caused to Indigenous Australians by government policies and were long overdue.

"Redress is fundamentally about acknowledging the past wrongs inflicted upon the Stolen Generations, and the lifelong experience of trauma and grief that is still carried as a burden today," the foundation's CEO Fiona Cornforth said in a statement.

The reparation fund is part of a one-billion Australian dollar ($739.2m) federal government initiative that aims to address the serious disadvantages faced by the country's 700,000 Indigenous people who rank near the bottom of nearly every economic and social indicator in comparison with other Australians.

The funds will cover those who were under 18 and taken from their families while living in the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory, as well as the Jervis Bay territory in New South Wales. Other Australian states have already set up redress schemes.

In April, 800 survivors in the Northern Territory launched a class-action suit against the federal government in the New South Wales Supreme Court seeking reparations, covering a period ranging from 1910 to the 1970s.

Pat Turner, CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, whose mother was one of the Stolen Generations, broke down as she welcomed the announcement on redress.

"Our people have waited a long time for compensation," she told local media. "It is important recognition, but I also know that there are many survivors who have died waiting for this recognition. My Mum being one of them."

The life expectancy of Indigenous Australians is eight years less than for non-Indigenous people and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is more likely to be arrested and overrepresented in prison, according to official statistics.

Last year, thousands of Australians took to the streets to demand an investigation into the deaths of Indigenous people in custody. Roughly one Aboriginal Australian has died in custody or at the hands of the police every month since a landmark Royal Commission was conducted on the issue in 1991.

Morrison's announcement on reparations came as the government released its latest "Closing the Gap" report, which charts commitments to improve Indigenous people's wellbeing. Lidia Thorpe, a senator for the Greens and a descendant of the Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung peoples, noted the latest report showed Indigenous children were 11 times more likely than other Australian youngsters to be in out of home care.

"The Stolen Generation never stopped," she wrote on Twitter. "The processes of child removal just evolved."

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies

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Australia to pay reparations to 'Stolen Generations'

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Announcement comes three months after families began legal action over policy of forced assimilation.

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Norwegian women's beach handball team fined for not playing in bikinis

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Norwegian women's beach handball team fined for not playing in bikinis

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Author Gayle Lemmon weighs in on what's next for women in Afghanistan

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Concerns over the future and freedom for women in the country are top of mind as the Taliban takes over Afghanistan.

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In a preliminary study released Wednesday, scientists said the heat wave that swept across Western North America in late June, killing hundreds of people, would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change. But researchers are still struggling to explain such a spike in temperatures.

There was never any question that the temperatures that hit cities including Seattle, Portland and Vancouver in late June were extreme. But preliminary research published by a team of scientists Wednesday showed just how remarkable they were, with the scientists describing the heat wave as "a 1 in 1000 year event in today's climate."

The temperatures recorded - as high as 49.7°C in the Canadian province of British Columbia and 46.1°C in Portland - exceeded seasonal norms to such an extent that the researchers had a hard time finding a historical comparison point.

"We estimated the probability of such an extreme event on the scale of a millennium, but it could very well be more," Robert Vautard, director of the Paul-Simon Laplace Institute of climate science and a co-author of the study, told FRANCE 24.
'Virtually impossible' without climate change
The international team of researchers ran the late June temperatures through some twenty climate models in an effort to understand the unprecedented spike. They found that the heat wave would have been "virtually impossible without human-caused climate change".

"That means we can't see any other explanation, but there remains a minute chance that such an extreme event could have happened randomly without climate change," said Vautard.

The scientists' models, however, "couldn't explain how the temperature could climb so high," Dim Coumou, a climatologist at VU Amsterdam and co-author of the study, told FRANCE 24.

The temperatures recorded exceeded previous records by five to six degrees Celsius - "much more than the two to three degrees that we would have expected under current climate conditions," said Vautard.

Indeed, the "heat dome" that caused the soaring temperatures - a convergence of pressure conditions in the atmosphere - wasn't vastly different from the one that drove the European heat wave of 2019. And while that heat wave set records, they were not nearly as stark as those set last week, which fueled major forest fires in British Columbia and left hundreds dead.

"It's clear that the dome alone isn't enough to explain what just happened, and now we must seek to understand which other factors played a role," said Coumou, who specialises in the impact of climate change on heat waves.
'Really bad luck', or a step into uncharted territory?
For now, the scientists have two main theories. The first is what the study calls "really bad luck" - in other words, that all the possible factors that cause temperatures to rise converged at the same time and place.

For one, the heat dome formed in a region which has lately seen little rain.

"The ground was very dry, meaning that there was very little water evaporating, which normally allows the air to cool a bit when the temperatures start to rise," explained Coumou. Add to this the hot winds that came down from the surrounding mountains, which made the air even more suffocating.

But the scientists are also weighing another, potentially more worrying, scenario. The heat wave that struck the Pacific Northwest could signal "that we might have crossed a threshold in the effect that climate change has on extreme weather events", said Vautard.

In that case, the deadly heat would mark a sort of step into uncharted territory, where "climate change produces heat waves more intense than we thought", said Coumou. He stressed the urgent need for further research, in order to determine whether aspects of current climate models need revising.

For Vautard, the task is all the more pressing now that the North American case has proven that "it's absolutely possible for temperatures to rise as high as 50°C in temperate regions".

"This could happen in France next," Coumou agreed. And the likelihood of such extreme events will only continue to increase if climate change continues on its current path. If the targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement are not met and global temperatures reach 2°C above pre-industrial levels, the study predicts that similar heat waves "would occur roughly every 5 to 10 years".

Barring drastic changes over the next decade, even that scenario could be optimistic, as current levels of greenhouse gas emissions put the planet on track for at least three degrees of warming.

Vautard says global North countries have no time to waste in preparing for extreme heat.

"We're not at all sure that we could stand up to temperatures of 45°C or more in the Paris area," he said.
This article was adapted from the original in French.

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Deadly North American heat wave tests the limits of climate change models

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In a preliminary study released Wednesday, scientists said the heat wave that swept across Western North America in late June, killing hundreds of people, would have been "virtually impossible" without...

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CIARA IS FUMING - Norwegian women’s beach handball team fined for refusing to wear 'bikini' uniform

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A Look At Afghanistan’s 40 Years Of Crisis — From The Soviet War To Taliban Recapture

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Afghans have lived through Soviet and U.S. invasions, civil war, insurgency and a previous period of heavy-handed Taliban rule. Here are some key events and dates from the past four decades.

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Tokyo Olympics: Constellation of drones form globe at opening ceremony

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Do you like free stuff? We already know the answer to that. And, boy, do we have good news for you: Not only will your help protect you from the virus, but it can get you so much free stuff. Companies, organizations and state and local governments are offering incentives to people getting their coronavirus vaccines -- just show your .

These incentives may be especially helpful in urging more people to get both doses of either the or vaccine as the causes a spike in COVID-19 cases. As of this week, 71% of US adults have received at least one vaccine dose, but recent data has shown that some people are skipping the second shot . And though the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pointed out the mild that most people experience after the second vaccine shot, those side effects still don't compare to actually having . If having to get two shots is part of the concern, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is just one dose.

Aside from brands offering incentives, some employers are also offering a perk, whether it's paid time off or a cash bonus. If you aren't sure whether there's a perk, ask your employer -- you might be pleasantly surprised. To take advantage of all these perks on offer, you have to do your part and get vaccinated. Regularly updated, here's everything your vaccine card will get you.

Nationwide perks for getting vaccinated

Krispy Kreme

You can get a free Original Glazed Doughnut at any by showing your vaccination card. As long as you've gotten at least one shot, you can get one free doughnut per day through the end of 2021.

Uber and Lyft

Both Uber and Lyft are offering assistance to help people get to vaccine centers and pharmacies to get their shots. You can also help out with this effort by donating rides to those in need directly through the companies.

Statewide and regional perks and lotteries

Many states are offering vaccine incentives. Here are some of the highlights.

California

Opportunities to participate in the state's biggest vaccine incentive programs, like the $1.5 million lottery or the $50,000 prizes, expired earlier in the summer. But the race to be one of the first 2 million people to get vaccinated between May 27 and July 18 and win a $50 gift card is still open, and select vaccination sites are currently giving away Six Flags tickets for anyone showing up for their shot. Find a participating clinic here.

Colorado

As in California, Colorado's large cash rewards for getting vaccinated against COVID-19 have expired. However, if you're in Colorado and have been waiting to get the vaccine, make an appointment at one of these vaccine sites and you'll get a $100 Walmart gift card, no competition necessary.

The state of Maryland is offering a $100 incentive to state employees who get vaccinated. Employees must be fully vaccinated and show proof to their HR departments. The state is also requiring these people to comply with a booster shot if that becomes necessary.

Michigan

The city of Detroit is offering a $50 gift card to people who offer rides to those going to get their vaccines. Those who want to do this have to set up the appointments for those who need rides through the Good Neighbor program by calling 313-230-0505.

New York City

New Yorkers who get vaccinated for the first time will receive $100 on a prepaid debit card or their choice of another prize if they get a shot at one of the city's vaccination sites. Additionally, organizations can refer people to a vaccination site and sign up to receive $100, and up to $2,000 in referrals.

Ohio

Ohio was a leader for state governments offering its citizens incentives for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Now, state workers in Ohio can receive $100 for getting vaccinated for the first time, while their spouses can earn $25.

The Cincinnati Reds are offering $10 tickets to people with proof of at least one shot.

Washington, DC

Teens ages 12-17 are offered a pretty sweet deal if they get their first shot at a participating DC vaccination site -- a pair of AirPods (while supplies last) or a $51 gift card. In addition to the AirPods, teens can be entered into a drawing to win a $25,000 scholarship or an iPad and headphones. Parents who take their kids to get a shot at one of the three DC public schools are eligible for a $51 gift card themselves. Students aged 18-21 who are seeking a high school diploma at a DC public school can also get a pair of AirPods or a $51 gift card (if supplies are available).

How to find other perks in your area

Plenty of other businesses, including local sports teams, are offering incentives to get vaccinated. The best way to find them is to keep tuned in to your local news. Both TV news and newspapers will inform you of what perks you can find in your area. You can also scout places on Facebook, especially if you live in an area that has its own Facebook community for happenings like this.

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Free beer, doughnuts and $1 million: Incentives to get your COVID-19 vaccine

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Companies and governments are giving away money, doughnuts, scholarships and even AirPods in a continued bid to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

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Thomas Pesquet#   Forestfires extending their smoke over the Mediterranean Sea, a scary sight from the @Space_Station

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Thomas Pesquet#   Forestfires extending their smoke over the Mediterranean Sea, a scary sight from the @Space_Station

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Germany's gymnasts wore full-body suits in women's qualification at the Olympics as they continued their stand against the sexualisation of their sport.

Some of them wore similar outfits at the European Championships earlier this year, with Sarah Voss saying she and her team-mates wanted to make youngsters feel safe in the sport.

Voss joined Pauline Schaefer-Betz, Elisabeth Seitz and Kim Bui in donning the red and white outfits that extended to the ankles on Sunday.

The body suits defy convention, with most gymnasts opting for a leotard and those who cover their legs in international competition doing so for religious reasons.

Gymnasts' outfits take on sexualisation in sport

The German team had worn similar outfits during training last week, with three-time Olympian Seitz saying at the time that it was "about what feels comfortable".

"We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear," she said.

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Germany's gymnasts wear full-body suits in women's qualification at the Olympics as they continue their stand against the sexualisation of their sport.

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The hardline Islamist group retook control of Afghanistan as foreign forces pulled out in 2021.

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Topline

The Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off Friday with an elaborate yet muted opening ceremony, with athletes from the 206 participating countries and teams parading through a largely spectator-free Olympic Stadium as Japan opened the Summer Games through modern and classical performances representing their culture-and 1,800 drones.

Fireworks go off while Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the ... [+]
Getty Images

Key Facts

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach opened the Olympic Games with a message of unity, describing the ceremony as a "moment of hope" amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic torch, the athlete's first public appearance since she pulled out of the French Open in May after boycotting press conferences at the event over concerns about her mental health.

The U.S. Olympic team was led by baseball player Eddy Alvarez and basketball player Sue Bird, who served as the country's flagbearers during the ceremony's parade of athletes.

The event was not open to spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions, but there were some stakeholders in attendance, including U.S. First Lady Jill Biden.

Music stars including John Legend and Keith Urban performed John Lennon's "Imagine" along with Japanese performers, as part of a broader performance that also included traditional Japanese Kabuki performance and an elaborate drone show.

Big Number

11,656. That's how many athletes are competing in the Tokyo Olympics, according to Tokyo 2020 organizers. Not all of those athletes were present during the opening ceremony, however, with teams like the U.S. gymnastics and women's soccer teams holding their own "opening ceremonies" because they couldn't attend.

Surprising Fact

Wooden Olympic rings were displayed during the opening ceremony, which were made from lumber from trees that international athletes planted the last time Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964.

Key Background

The Tokyo Olympics kicked off after a year-long delay amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has remained a concern during the Games as a growing number of athletes have had to pull out due to positive Covid-19 tests. Stringent health and safety protocols are in place, though public health experts have nevertheless expressed concerns. The opening ceremony has also been a source of controversy beyond the pandemic, as multiple people involved with its creation have resigned amid scandals-most recently director Kentaro Kobayashi, who was dismissed on Thursday after jokes he made about the Holocaust surfaced.

Basketball player Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez lead the U.S. Olympic team during the ... [+]
Sergei Bobylev/TASS

Japanese Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa performs during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic ... [+]
AFP via Getty Images

Further Reading

Naomi Osaka Lights The Olympic Cauldron In Muted Opening Ceremony's Biggest Moment (Forbes)

Czech Athletes Latest To Pull Out Of Tokyo Olympics Due To Covid - Here's The Full List (Forbes)

Here's What To Watch For At The Tokyo Olympics This Weekend (Forbes)

Did Olympic Athletes Need To Be Vaccinated? No - And Now More Are Testing Positive For Covid-19. (Forbes)

At Least 100 U.S. Athletes Unvaccinated As Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Kick Off (Forbes)

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Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony In Photos: Drones Fly, Athletes Celebrate In Muted Kickoff To Summer Games

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Japan celebrated their culture and the unity of the Olympic Games before a largely empty stadium.

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A man cools off at a misting station during the scorching weather of a heat wave in Vancouver, British Columbia [Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters]

Authorities say nearly 500 people have died in Canada's westernmost province across five days, as record-breaking temperatures raise serious concerns for vulnerable groups, including the elderly.

British Columbia's chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said on Wednesday afternoon that the BC Coroners Service received at least 486 reports of deaths between Friday and Wednesday afternoon - a total she said was preliminary and expected to increase.

The fatalities represent a 195 percent increase from the approximately 165 deaths that would normally occur in the province across a five-day period, Lapointe said.

"The last five days in British Columbia have seen an unprecedented number of deaths reported to the BC Coroners Service," she said in a statement.

"While it is too early to say with certainty how many of these deaths are heat related, it is believed likely that the significant increase in deaths reported is attributable to the extreme weather B.C. has experienced and continues to impact many parts of our province."

Temperatures have soared in BC and other Canadian provinces and territories as a so-called "heat dome" - a weather system that traps in hot air - descended on the country's west coast, as well as in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

"It's like a lid or a top, and nothing can get in, weather can't get in to remove that heat, it just builds," Dave Phillips, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, told CTV's Your Morning news programme.

Experts have also said climate change contributed to the record-shattering heat. Lytton, a town in central BC, broke Canadian high-temperature records three times this week, hitting 49.6C (121.28F) on Tuesday.

Metro Vancouver Police said on Tuesday evening that officers had responded to more than 65 sudden deaths since the heat wave began on Friday, while police in Burnaby and Surrey, cities in the greater Vancouver area, also reported dozens of sudden deaths. Police said many of the deaths were elderly people.

"The vast majority of these cases are related to the heat," Vancouver police Sergeant Steve Addison said in a statement. "We've never seen anything like this, and it breaks our hearts. If you have an elderly or vulnerable family member, please give them a call or stop by to check on them."

A heat warning remains in effect for the Greater Vancouver Area, but Environment Canada said on its website that the heat "will become less intense" starting on Wednesday, though temperatures are likely to stay unseasonably warm for the rest of the week.

Environment Canada urged people to stay hydrated and remain indoors, and to check on older family members and neighbours.

The extreme heat is expected to extend to other parts of the country on Thursday, said meteorologist Doug Gillham, with high-temperature records potentially breaking in several cities including Kelowna, BC; Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

"The hot weather will extend all the way to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut," Gillham said in a post on The Weather Network website.

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'Never seen anything like this': 100s dead amid Canada heatwave

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At least 486 sudden deaths recorded in British Columbia since Friday as temperatures soar on Canada's west coast.

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Elite male athletes play in shorts and tank tops, women basically in bikinis | CNN

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Women athletes very participation in sports is a reliable trigger for misogynists the world over, one that elite sports competitions too often blunt with enforced codes for uniforms that hyper-police the presentation of the female body, writes Jill Filipovic.

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Globecartoon - Political Cartoons - Patrick Chappatte

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American athletes protest at theTokyo Olympics 

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American athletes protest at theTokyo Olympics 

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Southern California, like the rest of the United States, is finally seeing a sustained drop in COVID-19 cases as more and more people get their highly effective COVID-19 vaccines.

The hope of public health officials is that, if enough people get vaccinated, the U.S. will reach what's now widely known as "herd immunity:" when enough people are immune to a virus or bacteria that there is no longer uncontrolled spread of that disease.

To help get more shots in more arms more quickly, many companies and health departments are offering incentives for those who choose to get vaccinated. Those incentives range from free food to free getaway trips to discounts on event tickets and groceries.

Here are some of the incentives you can take advantage of if you choose to get a COVID-19 vaccine. This list was updated June 23, 2021.

Companies Offering Vaccine Incentives

CVS
Beginning June 1, eligible customers who get their vaccine through the pharmacy chain can enter the huge #OneStepCloser sweepstakes, "to win one of over a thousand fun and exciting prizes through weekly drawings and grand prizes over a six-week period," a statement from CVS said.

The pharmacy chain is partnering with several other companies to offer those prizes to "all customers ages 18 and up who received a vaccination or certify that they've registered to receive a vaccination from CVS Health."

Those partners and prizes include:

CVS Health: The pharmacy itself is offering 125 different $500 giveaways and five Grand Prize giveaways of $5,000 for family reunions.

Norwegian Cruise Line: The cruise line is offering 100 7-day cruises for two in a balcony stateroom to your choice of destination including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and more.

Procter & Gamble: The corporation is offering a VIP trip to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles for two people. The trip includes Super Bowl game tickets, airfare, a hotel stay and more.

Unilever: The corporation is offering Night Out coupon booklets to use towards free Unilever products, which include Dove, TRESemmé, Suave, Degree, Schmidt's, St. Ives and more. There is also the Grand Prize of a 2022 NCAA Final Four package for two.

Bermuda Tourism Authority: Bermuda is offering Five three-night, four-day trips for two. The trips include airfare, deluxe hotel accommodations, roundtrip transportation and more.

Hinge: The dating app is offering 500 $100 gift cards for dates. One winning couple will get the Grand Prize of a $5,000 gift card for an "ultimate date experience."

iHeartMedia: The media company is offering a VIP package for two to attend the iHeartRadio Music Festival, including first-class airfare, hotel, floor seats, backstage experiences with artists and other surprises.

smarTours: The travel planning company will offer six fully escorted tours, including airfare, for two, to "one of many international destinations." One of the tours is a Grand Prize.

Wyndham Rewards®: The hotel chain's rewards program is offering five two-night weekend getaways with a Platinum membership upgrade. There is also a Grand Prize seven-night getaway that includes an airfare voucher and a Diamond membership upgrade, redeemable at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals around the world.

The CVS sweepstakes ends on July 10.

Krispy Kreme
The donut chain has, since March 22, been offering one free Original Glazed donut a day to anyone who has gotten at least one dose of the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Customers who want to redeem their free donut must show their vaccination card in the shop or drive through at a participating location.

Grocery Stores
Safeway and Albertsons are both offering 10% off the next grocery purchase customers make, after they get their COVID-19 shot at an in-store pharmacy.

Target customers can get $5 off any purchase when they get vaccinated at "nearly all CVS at Target locations," according to a news release from the store chain. Those who get their vaccine in-store will get a coupon to use on any in-store purchase. The store also gave employees "up to four hours of pay" so they could take time off for their vaccine appointments.

Aldi also offered employees up to four hours of pay to get vaccinated, as did Dollar General and Trader Joe's.

Amazon
Early in May, Amazon announced it is hiring 75,000 new workers in the U.S. and Canada, and will give a $100 bonus to new warehouse and transportation hires who show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.

Other Amazon employees can get an $80 bonus for getting vaccinated.

Rideshare Apps
Both Uber and Lyft are offering free rides to vaccination sites until July 4, as part of a White House partnership announced on May 11.

Gene J. Puskar | AP

For Uber, four free rides "up to $25 off each" are available to customers who open the app, tap "Vaccine," and then tap "Get your free ride" between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.

For Lyft, two rides are free up to $15 each, with ride codes available in the app or on the Lyft website beginning May 24.

Vaccine Incentives in California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new incentives program for the state, called "Vax for the Win," on May 27. 30 winners were selected out of all vaccinated Californians for the "$50,000 Fridays" cash prize drawings on June 4 and June 11, totaling $1.5 million in prizes.

The $116.5 million vaccine incentive program is the largest in the U.S., and includes "$100 million in $50 prepaid or grocery cards," to get as many shots in arms as possible before the state reopened on June 15.

Beginning Thursday May 27, the next two million people in California who begin and complete their COVID-19 vaccination will automatically be eligible to win one of those $50 cards, and they can choose whether it is a grocery or prepaid card while supplies last.

Newly-vaccinated Californians will receive a text message with an electronic prepaid card redemption code sent to their mobile phone or email address seven to 10 days after their two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna, or single-dose of Johnson and Johnson.

10 out of all vaccinated Californians won $1.5 million on June 15, for a grand total of $15 million in cash prizes.

Winners must complete their vaccinations to claim their prize, and in the event that a winner is younger than age 18, the cash will be put in a savings account until they reach that age.

Though the cash prizes have been given out, California isn't done with Vax for the Win prize incentives. On June 16, Newsom announced a partnership with Six Flags that would allow 50,000 California residents ages 12 and older to get a free Six Flags ticket when they get their first vaccine doses.

"Getting every eligible Californian vaccinated is how we bring our state roaring back
from this pandemic," Newsom said.

Vaccine Incentives in LA County

LA County Public Health has announced many vaccination-related prize draws, and the most recent sweepstakes runs June 18 to June 24.

Anyone who gets their first vaccine or brings someone who needs their first dose to a County-run vaccination site between those dates is entered to win "a Hollywood Private VIP Experience and Pepe Aguilar Concert Tickets at the STAPLES Center."

In a previous sweepstakes, those who got vaccinated or brought someone to be vaccinated between June 11 and June 17 were entered to win Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers or Los Angeles Clippers season tickets.

From May 28 to June 3, LA County residents 18 and older who fell under those criteria were entered to win LA Kings and LA Galaxy season tickets.

Other previous sweepstakes prizes included Lakers season tickets, Hamilton tickets and Target gift cards.

The Huntington is also partnering with LA County Public Health to offer a series of vaccination clinics from June through July. Those who schedule a free COVID-19 vaccination at the library, art museum and botanical gardens will receive two free same-day Huntington admission passes.

Total Testing Solutions will offer the Pfizer vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Dates for the Pfizer vaccine are:

Wed., June 23, Noon to 3 p.m. for a first dose of Pfizer vaccine

Wed., June 30, Noon to 3 p.m. for a first dose of Pfizer vaccine

Wed., July 14, Noon to 3 p.m. for a second dose of Pfizer vaccine

Wed., July 21, Noon to 3 p.m. for a second dose of Pfizer vaccine

Click here to learn more about the Huntington tickets and clinics.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin

The Hollywood Bowl is hosting free vaccination clinics on Sunday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, July 18 for anyone age 12 and up who wants to get vaccinated. The first 400 individuals who receive their first or second dose at the clinic will get a voucher for a pair of tickets to a 2021 concert at the venue.

"The voucher may be redeemed for the concert tickets that same day at the Box Office on site," a statement from the Hollywood Bowl said, and "a selection of concert dates and performances will be available."

Anyone vaccinated after the first 400 people at the outdoor clinic, as well as anyone who shows proof they have already been vaccinated, will be entered into a random drawing for 100 pairs of tickets to a 2021 concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

Adam Latham

And on Wednesday, June 30, the Original Farmers Market will host its second COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Rite-Aid. First and second doses of Pfizer and single-dose Johnson & Johnson shots will be available.

Anyone vaccinated at the Original Farmers Market will automatically be entered into a drawing for one $500 Original Farmers Market gift certificate, or one of ten $100 Original Farmers Market gift certificates.

Vaccine Incentives in Long Beach

The City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Department has been holding daily prize drawings for those getting their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since May 24 through at least June 12.

The week ending June 12, the prizes included a winner's choice of one $50 Fandango, Target or Walmart gift card, or a two-night stay at a local hotel.

Anyone who got "their first dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or their one and only dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine through any City-run vaccination site will automatically be entered to win" a number of prizes.

Appointments were not required to enter the drawing, but could be made by calling the California COVID-19 Hotline at 833-422-4255, or the state's online vaccination portal.

According to a statement from Long Beach, since the incentives began earlier in May, vaccine appointments have doubled. The first prize offered was tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific, followed by the offer of Nintendo Switches, hotel stays, and Apple Airpods.

Keith Birmingham | MediaNews Group | Getty Images

Other Vaccine Incentives

MLB
Dodger Stadium is offering tickets in special vaccinated-only fan sections at a 20% discount from normal ticket prices. Prices start at $34 for any fully-vaccinated adult, any 12- to 15 year-old child who has either been vaccinated or tested negative for COVID-19, or any child age 2 to 11 who has tested negative.

NFL
The NFL is providing 50 free tickets to Super Bowl LVI in February 2022 at SoFi Stadium, to any fans "who share their story on why they got vaccinated or will soon get vaccinated."

The NFL will also offer a 25% discount to vaccinated fans on purchases made at NFLShop.com.

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List: Freebies, Discounts Offered for Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine

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To help get more shots in more arms more quickly, many companies and health departments are offering incentives for those who choose to get vaccinated. Those incentives range from free food to free getaway trips to discounts on event tickets and groceries.

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Pink offers to pay Norway's handball bikini fine 6

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Watch 1,824 Drones Light Up the Sky at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony

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Watch 1,824 Drones Light Up the Sky at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony

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Olympics (@Olympics) July 23, 2021.
Forming the official Tokyo Games symbol before shaping into Earth.

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Firefighters struggling to contain Northern California’s Dixie Fire

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The Dixie Fire has engulfed an area the size of New York City, ripping apart more than a dozen homes and structures and threatening 10,000 more.

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Highlights from the Closing Ceremony | #Tokyo2020 Highlights

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The Tokyo Olympics' Newest stars are 13 year old skateboarders !

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The Tokyo Olympics' Newest stars are 13 year old skateboarders !

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The Tokyo Olympics' Newest Stars Are Two 13-Year-Old Skateboarders

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Momiji Nishiya, 13, took home the first women's street skateboarding Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Rayssa Leal, also 13, who earned silver.

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Summer 2021 Paralymplic Games - August 24th

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Summer 2021 Paralymplic Games - August 24th

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Paralympics - Paralympic Games Tokyo 2021 - France TV

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Hundreds rescued by boat from Greek island as flames reach shore

Two people have died in Greece and eight killed in Turkey amid extreme wildfires, fanned by unpredictable winds and soaring temperatures - described as the worst in southern Europe in decades.

A volunteer firefighter has died after being struck by a falling electricity pole in an area north of Athens affected by the fire, officials said on Friday.

Flames swept through a residential town outside the Greek capital overnight as wildfires burned across the country for a fifth day, while hundreds of people were evacuated by ferry from the island of Evia.

More than 700 firefighters, including reinforcements from Cyprus, France and Israel, have been deployed to fight the blaze north of Athens, assisted by the army and water-bombing aircraft.

In neighbouring Turkey, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated after flames swept through the country's southwestern coastal regions.

Show latest update

Two people killed as wildfires spread across Greece

A 38-year-old volunteer firefighter has died after being struck in the head by a falling electricity pylon in the north of the Greek capital of Athens, officials have confirmed.

A second man, named as Konstantinos Michalos, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was found unconscious in a factory in Krioneri and was later confirmed dead in hospital.

A further 20 people have been injured.

Thousands evacuated after blaze sweeps through Athens suburbs

Thousands of people fled to safety from a wildfire that swept through a residential town outside Athens overnight, amid the worst heatwave in the country for decades.

Emergency crews have been struggling to battle the fire on Mount Parnitha on the outskirts of Athens since late on Thursday.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of more suburbs north of Athens, Evia and areas in the Peloponnese including Mani, Messinia and ancient Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games.

Wildfire engulfs power plant in southwestern Turkey, prompting further evacuations

Wildfire engulfs power plant in southwestern Turkey, prompting further evacuations

More villages evacuated on Evia as island continues to burn

Fires on Evia, Greece's second-biggest island, continued their destructive path overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning.

Hundreds of people, including many elderly residents, were evacuated by sea late on Friday from the town of Limni on the northwestern part of the island.

Coastguard Sotiris Danikas told broadcaster ERT: " We're talking about the apocalypse, I don't know how to describe it."

Over 90 active wildfires endanger villages in Russia's Siberia

As blazes continue in Greece, Russia's Siberia is still battling its own wildfires.

Several villages in the vast region are endangered and authorities have evacuated residents from some areas.

In northeastern Siberia, 93 active forest fires are burning across 1.1 million hectares (2.8 million acres) of Sakha-Yakutia, officials said, making it the worst affected region of Russia.

A fire engulfed dozens of houses in the village of Byas-Kuel, and all village residents were evacuated, according to the local task force dealing with the emergency.

Fires also burned close to the villages of Kytyl-Dyura, Sinsk, Yedyai and several other settlements. High winds exacerbated the danger of flames spreading quickly.

In the village of Sangary, emergency teams were taking urgent steps to protect a threatened fuel supply facility.

In recent years, Russia has recorded high temperatures that many scientists regard as a result of climate change. The hot weather coupled with the neglect of fire safety rules has caused a growing number of fires.

Experts also blame the worsening situation with fires on a 2007 decision to disband a federal aviation network tasked to spot and combat fires and turn its assets to regional authorities. The much-criticized move led to the force's rapid decline.

The forests that cover huge areas of Russia make spotting new fires a challenge.

Russian military attempts to extinguish forest fires

Among the nations to have sent firefighters and aircraft to join the effort to battle the inferno in Greece are France, Ukraine, Cyprus, Croatia, Sweden and Israel. More are expected to arrive today from Romania and Switzerland, while Egypt said it would send two helicopters. Some 36 Czech firefighters with 15 vehicles are expected to arrive early on Monday.

Smoke clouds seen in neighbouring areas

People are sharing footage and images of smoke clouds seen in areas near Evia.

Greek PM visits Athens fire department HQ

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the fire department's headquarters in Athens this morning and expressed his "deep sadness for what has happened".

He said that securing aid for everyone affected by the wildfires would be his "first political priority". He also promised that all burnt areas would be declared reforestation zones.

"With great effort, and I believe with the participation of society, when this nightmarish summer has passed, we will turn all our attention to repairing the damage as fast as possible, and in restoring our natural environment again," Mitsotakis said.

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Hundreds rescued by boat as flames reach shore of Greek island - follow live

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Latest updates as wildfires rage for fifth day

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a collage of typical climate and weather-related events: floods, heatwaves, drought, hurricanes, wildfires and loss of glacial ice.

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The youngest medal winners... it could be you!

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The youngest medal winners... it could be you!

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Dubai is making its own fake rain to beat 122F heat

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The enhanced rain is created using drone technology that unleashes electrical charges into clouds in order for them to clump together and form precipitation

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By Euronews Green with AFP

The Corfo Lagoon in Patagonia, southern Argentina, has turned pink after waste from fishing companies was dumped in its waters.

A lagoon in Argentina has turned pink and environmentalists say dumped chemical waste is to blame. The colour comes from sodium sulfite, an antibacterial product used in fish factories.

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The lagoon, near the town of Trewlew and 1,400km south of Buenos Aires, receives runoff from an industrial park and has turned the colour of fuchsia before.

In recent weeks, residents living near the lagoon blocked roads used by trucks carrying processed fish waste to treatment plants on the outskirts of their city.

With the area off-limits due to the protest, authorities granted authorisation for factories to dump their waste into the Corfo lagoon.

Who is to blame?

Residents have long complained of foul smells and other environmental issues around the lagoon and the nearby river.

"The lagoon turned pink last week and remained the abnormal colour on Sunday," says Pablo Lada, an environmental activist who blames the government for the lake being polluted. "Those who should be in control are the ones who authorize the poisoning of people."

Head of Environmental Control for Chubut province, Juan Micheloud, said last week, "The reddish colour does not cause damage and will disappear in a few days."

However, Sebastian de la Vallina, Planning Secretary for the city of Trelew disagreed: "It is not possible to minimise something so serious."

What's the solution?

Environmental engineer and virologist Federico Restrepo told AFP that this kind of fish waste should be treated before being dumped.

Dozens of foreign fishing companies operate in the area, mainly processing prawns and hake. These plants generate thousands of jobs for Chubut province, home to some 600,000 people.

"Fish processing generates work... it's true. But these are multi-million-dollar companies that don't want to pay freight to take the waste to a treatment plant that already exists in Puerto Madryn, 35 miles away, or build a plant closer," says Pablo Lada.
Watch the video above to see the pink lagoon.

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Watch: Lagoon turns shocking pink and fish farming may be to blame

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The Corfo Lagoon in Patagonia, southern Argentina, has turned pink after waste from fishing companies was dumped in its waters.

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La description est sans doute l'un des exercices les plus courants dans le monde scolaire, mais aussi l'une des activités les plus courantes quand on s'exprime dans une langue.

Dans cet article, vous trouverez donc tout le vocabulaire nécessaire pour décrire une image en anglais (peinture, dessin, photographie...).

Ce lexique vous sera d'une aide inestimable, que ce soit pour vos études ou tout simplement pour discuter avec vos amis.

Comment utiliser ce dossier

Vous pouvez suivre cet article dans un ordre logique : tout d'abord pour dire de quel type d'image il s'agit, puis pour décrire ce que vous y voyez et enfin pour formuler une opinion à son sujet.

Pratique pour préparer une conversation avec un ami anglophone ou faire un exercice demandé en cours !

Décrire une image: de quoi s'agit-il ?

Dans cette partie, vous trouverez le vocabulaire qui vous permettra de cataloguer l'image en question.

Mots utiles

Advertisement / ad : publicité: panneau publicitairedessin humoristique: bande dessinée
Chart / graph : graphique( computer generated imagery) : image numérique
Digital painting : peinture numérique
Digital photograph : photo numérique: gravure: cadre : dessin
Icon : icône
Illumination : enluminure
Map : carte
Miniature : miniature
Oil painting : peinture à l'huile
Page : page
Painting : peinture
Photocopy : photocopie
Photograph / photo : photographie
Picture : image
Pie chart : diagramme
Polaroid : polaroid
Portrait : portrait
Poster : poster
Print : estampe
Screenshot : capture d'écran
Selfie : autoportrait photographique
Self-portrait : autoportrait
Snapshot : cliché (photographique)
Still : image figée (par exemple d'un film)
Still life : nature morte
Thumbnail : miniature (d'une plus grande image, sur Internet)
Watercolor : aquarelle

Expressions

This document is... : ce document est, il s'agit de...
It shows... : il montre...
It consists of... : il consiste en...
It comes from... : il vient de...
It dates back from... : il date de
It was published in... : il a été publié dans...
This picture was painted by... : ce tableau a été peint par...
This photograph was taken by... : cette photographie a été prise par...
We can see... : on peut voir...
We can distinguish... : on peut distinguer...

Parler des couleurs et de l'éclairage

Pour décrire les nuances de couleurs d'une image, je vous invite à consulter mon article sur les couleurs en anglais.

Light / dark : clair / sombre
Bright / pale : vif / pâle
Blurry / crisp: flou / net

Black and white: noir et blanc
Chiaroscuro : clair-obscur (oui, c'est un mot italien !): coloré
Color photograph : photographie en couleurs: granuleux Sepia : sépia
Washed-out : délavé (couleurs)

Vous repérer dans l'espace

Voici tout le vocabulaire qui vous permettra de dire où se trouve chaque élément de l'image.

Repères spatiaux

Les prépositions suivantes vous permettront de vous repérer dans une image.

In the foreground : au premier plan
In the background : à l'arrière-plan

Cadrage

Ci-dessous, vous trouverez les différents plans utilisés au cinéma et en photographie, du plus large au plus serré. Notez que les appellations en anglais et en français peuvent différer et que certains termes en anglais peuvent avoir plusieurs sens. Pas si simple !

Vue d'une scène

Extreme long shot : plan général (par exemple d'une ville entière)
Wide shot / long shot : plan d'ensemble (par exemple d'un bâtiment entier)
Full shot : plan large, montre les personnages de la tête au pied
Medium shot : plan rapproché de plusieurs personnages, assis ou dont on ne voit qu'une partie du corps

Sur un seul personnage

Full shot : plan complet, de la tête au pied
American shot : plan américain (cadre le personnage au niveau des cuisses)
Medium shot : plan moyen ou plan taille (au niveau de la taille)
Medium close-up : plan poitrine
Close-up : gros plan (sur le visage)
Extreme close-up / Italian shot : très gros plan (sur les yeux)

Ce sujet étant assez complexe, mieux vaut ne pas trop nous attarder dessus. Vous trouverez plus de détails sur les plans cinématographiques dans cet article.

Décrire une image en donnant votre opinion

À présent que vous avez fourni quelques informations sur l'image, peut-être avez-vous envie d'exprimer une opinion à son sujet. Pour y arriver, suivez le guide.

Donner un avis

Voici quelques expressions pour construire un argumentaire.

According to me : selon moi
I think that... : je pense que...
In my opinion : à mon avis
I like/don't like this picture, because... : j'aime / je n'aime pas cette image, parce que...
What I like/don't like about this picture is... : ce que j'aime / je n'aime pas dans cette image, c'est...
This picture conveys a sense of... : cette image donne une impression de...

Avec quelques adjectifs pour enrichir cet avis.

Fournir une interprétation

Difficile de vous mettre dans la tête de l'auteur d'une image. Vous pouvez donc formuler des suppositions en utilisant les expressions suivantes.

I suppose that... : je suppose que...
I interpret this picture as... : j'interprète cette image comme...
It seems / appears that... : il semble que...
The author means that... : l'auteur veut dire que...
The author tells us about... : l'auteur nous parle de...
The author informs / warns us about... : l'auteur nous informe que / nous met en garde contre...
The author's intention : l'intention de l'auteur

Quelques verbes pour décrire l'objectif de l'auteur.

Et quelques noms communs utiles.

Account : compte-rendu : allégorie
Caricature : caricature
Criticism : critique
Depiction / portrayal / representation : représentation
Lampoon : pamphlet
Metaphor : métaphore
Satire : satire
Symbol : symbole

Vous voilà prêt à décrire une image en anglais!

Maintenant que vous connaissez le vocabulaire nécessaire pour présenter vos images préférées, voici un exercice à la fois simple et puissant pour améliorer votre niveau d'anglais.

Pour votre prochaine conversation avec un anglophone, sélectionnez une image que vous trouvez intéressante et préparez une description à ce sujet. Vous vous entraînerez ainsi à développer l'une des compétences les plus importantes en anglais. Bonne discussion !

Les autres cours et fiches de vocabulaire intermédiaires pour s'améliorer en anglais :
Vous pouvez apprendre et mémoriser du vocabulaire efficacement grâce à l'application Mosalingua. Mosalingua m'a permis d'apprendre plus de 3500 mots en un an, en 15 minutes par jour.

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Décrire une image en anglais : plus de 100 mots et expressions

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La description est sans doute l'un des exercices les plus courants dans le monde scolaire, mais aussi l'une des activités les plus courantes quand on s'exprime dans une langue. Dans cet article, vous trouverez donc tout le vocabulaire nécessaire pour décrire une image en anglais (peinture, dessin, photographie...).

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This is tough to admit now, but any good appreciation is grounded in honesty, so here goes:

I used to be one of those drummers who thought the Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts was overrated.

Proof of my horrendous mistake in such thinking flooded social media Tuesday, as superstar musicians such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Joan Jett, Bruce Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D paid tribute to Watts, who died Tuesday in London of an undisclosed illness. He was 80.

Jett called Watts "the most elegant and dignified drummer in rock and roll." McCartney said he was "a fantastic drummer ... steady as a rock." Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash posted the "countenance of rock n roll is forever changed this day."

That's because Watts was the epitome of a drummer who played for the band and for the song, never drawing attention to himself or his chops.

The world might focus on the Glimmer Twins - singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards - as the glamorous core of the world's most enduring rock band. But anyone who really listens to the Stones could hear that the center of their sound was Richards and Watts, whose loping, steady rhythms always anchored the band's angular guitar parts and boozy grooves. (Small wonder that when the band played gigantic shows with terrible sound systems in the 1960s, Watts says he always insisted on having Richards' guitar amplifier placed where he could hear it.)

Check out the drummer's halting entrance on the Stones' 1969 classic "Honky Tonk Women," where his snare lick almost seems to trip over the opening cowbell before settling into a swaying, sinewy beat. He makes another astounding entrance at the beginning of 1981's "Start Me Up," where the addition of an extra bass drum note makes Richards' guitar feel propulsive and off-kilter for just a moment, before the song's driving beat really kicks in.

Watts' cross-stick work on a snare drum with its snares turned off complements the congas perfectly in the propulsive "Sympathy for the Devil." And I realized how much I loved the trashy-sounding, upside-down cymbals often called China cymbals when he crashed one throughout the band's 1989 single "Rock and a Hard Place."

It was particularly endearing to watch an interview with the self-effacing Watts and legendary studio drummers Jim Keltner and Hal Blaine. When the subject turned to Watts' habit of not hitting the high-hat and snare at the same time when playing a backbeat, producing a skittery, halting groove that almost seems to lurch through a song, the Rolling Stones stickman said he didn't even notice what he was doing until Keltner pointed it out.

"The very nature of playing drums is a nervous twitch, really," Watts told interviewer Matt Lauer in 1993 on NBC's late-night interview show Later. "It's a cross between being an athlete and a totally nervous wreck."

Watts seemed to realize that part of his success came from being in the right place at the right time. Born in London, he took up drums as a teenager, inspired by jazz players such as Gerry Mulligan and Charlie Parker. But his early gigs came in clubs with English musicians playing electric blues and R&B, such as Alexis Korner and his band Blues Incorporated. The members of the Rolling Stones were hanging out in those clubs, too; by 1963, Watts had joined the band, getting a crash course on blues and early rock, courtesy of Richards.

This happened to be a moment where British musicians were defining the shape of rock 'n' roll by marrying the rebellious spirit of baby boomer youth with a blend of blues, R&B and jazz into something new and revolutionary.

The very nature of playing drums is a nervous twitch, really. It's a cross between being an athlete and a totally nervous wreck.

Richards referred to Watts as the band's "hidden hero," and his role in providing indelible grooves for some of rock's most important hits placed him in an influential position. The list of similar players isn't long: the Beatles' Starr, The Who's Keith Moon, Cream's Ginger Baker and Jimi Hendrix's Mitch Mitchell, drummers who were figuring out the genre with their bands, unknowingly setting the rules with choices made by instinct and talent.

To be honest, I didn't grow to appreciate Watts' signature style fully until I had to learn how to copy it myself. I've been a drummer for more than 40 years, and I've played more than my fair share of Rolling Stones tunes with assorted cover bands, fulfilling special requests at weddings or during jam sessions.

Cranking out his classic grooves, I learned how much harder it is sometimes to play a simple part that makes a song live, rather than whip out a more technically proficient lick that mostly just tells the audience how good you are.

Watts' reserved attitude extended to his personal style. Offstage, he wore sharp suits and had a witty, understated manner - a fitting and wonderful contrast to his flashy and flamboyant bandmates. He was married to the same woman, wife Shirley Ann Shepherd, for 57 years, and played with the same band for 58; in 1989, he was inducted with the Stones into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Watts' struggles with addiction in the mid-'80s and a 2004 bout with throat cancer were largely under the radar. His solo projects, mostly jazz albums recorded with a big band or the Charlie Watts Quintet/Tentet, were unassuming affairs.

Fans began to worry about Watts' health this month when the drummer announced he wouldn't play on the group's upcoming U.S. tour while recovering from an unspecified medical procedure. (Drummer Steve Jordan, who played in Richards' band the X-Pensive Winos, was tapped to fill in.)

Now Watts' death has shaken fans who saw the Rolling Stones as a perpetual, somehow ageless symbol of rock 'n' roll's enduring vitality. And those of us who had to learn how to appreciate an understated master are now left to grapple with the loss of one of pop music's finest players.

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Appreciating Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones' Understated Drum Master

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This is tough to admit now, but any good appreciation is grounded in honesty, so here goes: I used to be one of those drummers who thought the Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts was overrated.

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Josephine Baker: First Black Woman to Get Paris Burial Honor

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The remains of American-born singer and dancer Josephine Baker will soon be reburied in the historic Panthéon building in Paris. Baker, who is a World War II hero in France, will be the first Black woman to get the country’s highest honor.

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A petition circulating on the internet is pushing for American-born French dancer Joséphine Baker to be buried in the Panthéon, an honour reserved for France's national heroes. The move would recognise the courage of a renowned artist who was also a feminist, actively resisted Nazi Germany during World War II, and who fought against racism and antisemitism.

The Osez Joséphine (Dare with Joséphine) petition was started by writer Laurent Kupferman on May 8, which is celebrated as Victory in Europe Day. Already signed by more than 30,000 people including high-profile personalities, the nascent movement is expected to reach a new high on June 3 - Joséphine Baker's birthday.

"Some new signatories will be unveiled and then we will send the petition to the French presidency," said Kupferman. Only the French president can decide to induct someone into the Panthéon.

"Inducting Baker into the Panthéon would be a powerful symbol of national unity, of emancipation and of France's universalism," according to Kupferman.
War messages hidden in her dress
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Joséphine Baker rose to international stardom in the 1930s - especially in France, where she settled in 1925 and soon dominated the country's cabarets with her big smile, sense of humour and wispy clothing.

Baker also became a French citizen and patriot who was dedicated to the country's resistance against the Nazi occupation during World War II. After her 1937 marriage to Jean Lion (born Levy), a Jewish industrial mogul, she profited from her celebrity: she would hide secret messages in her clothes from the customs officials who were too busy asking for autographs. Baker would also crash embassy parties to collect intelligence on the positions of German troops.

She regularly shared her support by writing to her 4,000 wartime "godsons" in letters and donated the proceeds from all of her concerts to the French Army. Even the Chateau des Milandes, where she lived, became a resistance hotspot.
Growing support
Only five women have been inducted to the Panthéon out of the 80 people honoured there. Baker would join the ranks of Simone Veil, Sophie Berthelot and Marie Curie.

But Baker "should not be inducted only because she was a woman or because she was Black", Kupferman said. "She should be inducted because of the acts of courage she performed for the country."
>> At the mausoleum for France's 'Great Men', Simone Veil's burial is the most revolutionary yet
The idea of Baker taking her place among France's greats is not new. On December 16, 2013, writer Régis Debray pushed for it in a Le Monde op-ed piece.

"The proposition had been sent to [then president] François Hollande, but he did nothing," says Brian Bouillon Baker, one of the artist's adopted sons, in an interview with FRANCE 24.

Dubbed "the Frenchest of all Americans", Baker's descendants say public interest and support for her induction has only been growing. "Many officials have been increasingly asking us (Baker's children) to take part in inaugurating schools, streets, squares and dancehalls, all in her honour. International media is asking for interviews. There are even three movies currently being shot, including a biopic and a documentary, both with big budgets. We didn't have all that admiration for her 30 years ago," Bouillon Baker said.

According to Kupferman, this growing public interest is due, in part, to the fact that Baker's activism is still relevant today. "She was a free woman and an activist, a feminist, a resistance fighter, and an activist against racism and antisemitism. In a world turned in on itself, where tribalism and racism are exacerbated, her ideals resonate in people's hearts," the author explained.

The singer was, first and foremost, an outspoken antiracism activist after having to cope with the American segregation system. In 1963 she took part in the March on Washington alongside Martin Luther King. Dressed in her French wartime uniform, medals included, she was the only Black woman to give a speech during what became the height of the Civil Rights Movement.

While in France she became an advocate at LICA, which would later become the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism in 1979.
'The Rainbow Tribe'
Well known in France for her song " J'ai deux amours" ("I have two loves"), the singer actually had many more: during her lifetime she adopted 12 children from different origins and religions, applying her humanitarian ideals to her own family, which she often referred to as "The Rainbow Tribe".

"Our family was not simply a utopia. Our mother wanted us to be different and united. And on that she absolutely succeeded, because to this day, we are just as tied to each other," said Bouillon Baker, who is now 64.

Although all of her children support the idea of her being granted Panthéon honours, they also agree on something else: they refuse to allow her mortal remains to leave the family's burial site in the small Mediterranean principality of Monaco. "Our mother is resting next to our father and one of their sons, also close to [Princess] Grace of Monaco, whom she loved dearly and who helped her when she was ruined at the end of her life. So it is out of the question to move her," her son said firmly.

But this caveat would not be disqualifying: the transfer of one's remains is not mandatory to enter the Panthéon. Instead, the Baker family has suggested a simple cenotaph in her memory.

But what would Joséphine Baker herself have thought of such an honour? According to Bouillon Baker, she would have been torn.

"She would have been really proud of such an honour from France, just like she was really proud of wearing her military awards (including a Knight of the Legion of Honour medal, a Croix de Guerre from World War II, a Resistance Medal and a Commemorative Medal for voluntary services during the war). But she would also be somewhat embarrassed by such an honour: She was not an intellectual nor a political leader, but simply a woman with common sense," he said.

Although many high-profile personalities support the idea of inducting her into the Panthéon, she also has her critics. Baker performed one dance number with a banana belt around her waist, prompting some to denounce her for taking part in a caricature of racist tropes.

"To say she fuels racism is absurd; we must not look at this scene from the past with present-day glasses. It is nothing but a wild Charleston, not a tribal dance," insisted Laurent Kupferman.

Bouillon Baker added: "These accusations are marginal; wherever we talk about her, it is with kindness."

But will French President Emmanuel Macron be charmed enough by Joséphine Baker's legacy to allow her to take her place inside a monument dedicated to France's "greats"?

The president "is aware of Joséphine's history, which he referred to during his speech for the 150th anniversary of the Republic ... at the Panthéon", Bouillon Baker noted.

"Either way, even if she doesn't make it, we have already received so many expressions of sympathy, tributes and recognition for our mother, that this in itself is already a victory."
This story was translated from the original in French.

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Petition seeks to honour French Resistance hero Joséphine Baker at the Panthéon

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A petition circulating on the internet is pushing for American-born French dancer Joséphine Baker to be buried in the Panthéon, an honour reserved for France's national heroes. The move would recognise the courage of a renowned artist who was also a feminist, actively resisted Nazi Germany during World War II, and who fought against racism and antisemitism.