Joe Biden has carried out his first military action as president, with airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed fighters in Syria, in what the Pentagon said was retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US service member and other coalition troops.

The overnight strikes killed 22 people after hitting three trucks loaded with munitions near the border town of Abu Kamal, a war monitor said on Friday. Border posts used by Iranian militia groups were also destroyed, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It said all of the dead were from Iraq’s state-sponsored Hashd al-Shaabi, an umbrella force that includes many small militias with ties to Iran.

US military increasingly using drone missile with flying blades in Syria

The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, John Kirby, said the location of the strikes was used by Kataeb Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, two Iraqi pro-Iran groups operating under the Hashd umbrella. “This proportionate military response was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with coalition partners,” Kirby said. “The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in eastern Syria and Iraq.”

The Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers spoke in a telephone call on Friday after the strikes, and underlined “the need of the west to adhere to UN security council resolutions regarding Syria”, a statement on the Iranian government website Dolat.ir said.

A little-known Shia group, believed to be a front for more prominent Iran-backed factions hostile to the US, claimed responsibility for the 15 February attack on an airbase in Erbil, in Kurdish Iraq. It was the most deadly attack in almost a year on US-led coalition forces deployed to Iraq to fight Isis, killing a Filipino contractor and wounding nine US coalition and military staff and at least five Iraqi civilians.

Tensions between the US and its Iraqi and Kurdish allies on one side, and Iran-aligned militias on the other, soared during the Trump administration, with its stance of “maximum pressure” on the Islamic republic.

Tehran has made clear it intends further retribution for the 2020 drone strike that killed the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and the powerful Iraqi Shia militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, almost causing a proxy war.

The Erbil attack was widely interpreted as the first serious test of Biden’s Iranian policy as the president seeks to revive the nuclear deal, scrapped by Donald Trump in 2018, between Tehran and world powers.

Another salvo struck a base hosting US forces north of Baghdad days later, injuring at least one contractor, and on Monday rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone, which houses the US embassy and other diplomatic missions.

Biden’s decision to strike only in Syria and not in Iraq, at least for now, gives Iraq’s government, stuck in the middle of tensions between its two biggest allies, breathing room as it carries out its own investigation into the Erbil attack.

Since Iraq declared victory against Isis in late 2017, the coalition has been reduced to fewer than 3,500 troops, 2,500 of them Americans, who no longer take part in combat operations. Most are concentrated at the military complex at Erbil airport.

The Biden administration has in its first weeks emphasised its foreign policy priority is the challenges posed by China, even as threats in the Middle East persist.

Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School, criticised the US attack as a violation of international law. “The United Nations charter makes absolutely clear that the use of military force on the territory of a foreign sovereign state is lawful only in response to an armed attack on the defending state for which the target state is responsible,” she said. “None of those elements is met in the Syria strike.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Ten corporals received their letters of confirmation from Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy during a ceremony at Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Headquarters on February 24.

Confirmed are Officers Cleon Michael, Ryan Haywood, Dijon James, Leon Michael, Royston Isaac, Kamara Phillip, Antonio Browne, Andrea Battice, Vivian Caesar and Ronrick Huggins.

Their confirmation takes effect from October 1, 2018. The confirmation is an indication of their ability to perform satisfactorily at that rank. Executive Command members of The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force congratulated the officers and shared words of advice before the letters were presented to the corporals.

Commissioner Brandy thanked the corporals for supporting the Police Force’s efforts to tackle crime. He said there has been a marked decrease in crime over the past two years. The Commissioner said he believes that they played a role in that achievement while acting as corporals. He told them they are eligible to become a candidate for promotions to the rank of sergeant.

“You should always try to perform at the standard of the rank just above where you are,” said Brady. “There are 10 to12 vacancies that exist at the rank of sergeant that you can now set your eyes on.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Andre Mitchell, wished them the very best. He reminded them that they were not only responsible for the quality of their own work, but also that of their subordinate officers.

“We must enforce the policies of the force,” said Mitchell. He went on to speak about some of the challenges related to work ethic that could affect their productivity and encouraged them to rise to the occasion in their conduct and performance.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Adolph Adams, said the Force needs strong supervisors, adding that it started with them. “The promotion means you are seen as someone who can help to take the organisation forward…you have to first be disciplined before you can discipline others,” said Adams.

The newly confirmed corporals were encouraged to do their best and raise the bar higher by the Force Chaplin, Ericsson Cumberbatch, who said, “regardless of where you find yourself, remember to perform.”

“What is success?” asked the Personnel Officer, Clifford Govia. He said the officers should give the question some thought, “We know you have the talent, but you have to continue sharpening your skills,” said Officer Govia. “Make up your mind to do your part well.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – “Culture is who we are, it’s a part of our identity and we need to be able to transfer this knowledge to the next generation,” Ms. Marlene Phillip, Research and Documentation Specialist and focal point for the Intangible Cultural Heritage, told attendees at the UNESCO Awareness Campaign for Policy Makers and Capacity Building Project For Intangible Cultural Heritage opening ceremony, held at the Shadwell Great House on February 24.

St. Kitts and Nevis signed on to the UNESCO/ICH Convention five years ago, to receive assistance to preserve the local traditions and the living expressions of our culture. St. Kitts and Nevis was the first Eastern Caribbean Island to receive funding from UNESCO/ICH to aid in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage treasures, according to Ms. Phillip.

“Over the past five years, we have gone from signing the Convention to understanding what Intangible Cultural Heritage and the convention mean, received access to US $99,000, for a two-year project on safeguarding ICH,” said Ms. Phillip.

She noted that as a society we have been doing quite well in preserving the intangible aspects of our culture.

“At culture, we recognize that we have been safeguarding our culture for years…as a Caribbean people, we have been keeping our traditions alive through oral history, through performance, through the art forms, through the food we eat. All these things are our Intangible Cultural Heritage,” she said.

She said that assistance from UNESCO’s ICH project has provided well-needed support in the documentation of the intangible aspects of our culture, using voice recorders, as well as digital and video cameras.

Documentation becomes important because many of the individuals who know our traditions make up the older part of the population and may pass away before being able to transmit such relevant information.

“It is critical to meet these individuals that are keeping the culture alive, to document it…if we don’t recognize this sometimes we miss the opportunity to meet, talk to them and learn about our history and culture before they pass away,” she said. The information collected from the interviews with the elderly about our traditions will help in cultural preservation and transmission “to help the young to be aware of our culture by leaving something behind through the use of a website.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — United States Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Her Excellency Linda Taglialatela, said that her government will continue to support St. Kitts and Nevis and the region in their fight against the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The latest support was the donation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of an ambulance to the Ministry of Health, and a passenger bus to St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society (SKNRCS) that were handed over during a brief yet significant ceremony on Wednesday, February 24, at the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital.

“We are committed to helping those in the Eastern Caribbean,” said Ambassador Taglialatela during her virtual presentation to officially hand over an ambulance and a passenger bus to St. Kitts and Nevis. “Throughout the pandemic, the United States has worked with organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICF) to provide much-needed pandemic response assistance to St. Kitts and Nevis and the region. In this fight, the United States remains your committed partner. I am proud that our partnership stands as strong as ever. Strengthening collaboration with one another, together we will continue to meet this moment of challenge to our healthcare systems.”

Ambassador Taglialatela noted that the donation will aid St. Kitts and Nevis in bolstering its health system.

“We know that this donation will help you to continue your model management of COVID-19 for the benefit of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” she said. “We are in this together, and together we will rise to overcome the challenges presented by this pandemic. The ambulance will be donated to JNF to support patient transport throughout St. Kitts and Nevis and the bus will be used by the National Red Cross Society to transport volunteers and staff to support raising community awareness about virus protection.”

Taglialatela commended the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for its continued success in ensuring that citizens and residents remain safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I recognize the government’s substantial leadership in keeping the people of St. Kitts and Nevis safe during the pandemic,” said the ambassador. “St. Kitts and Nevis continues to be one of the most successful countries in the Hemisphere in containing the spread of the disease. I know this has come at a great cost to the country’s economy and its people and we acknowledge the social and economic ramifications.”

The ambassador thanked healthcare professionals, civic leaders, manufacturing workers, civil servants, and all others in the Federation “who have worked tirelessly to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said that the ambulance and passenger bus, which was donated in partnership with St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society (SKNRCS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will go a far way in helping not just the SKNRCS, but the local health authorities in continuing to fight against COVID-19 and reducing its impact.

These were the words of Ariel Kestens, Head of the Country Cluster Delegation for the Dutch and English Speaking Caribbean, in Port of Spain, who spoke virtually at the handing over ceremony on February 24.

Kestens said that over the past year, the activities of the organization have been centred around the three priorities, which form part of the operational response framework for COVID-19 of the IFRC and the SKNRCS.

“These priorities include the sustaining of health and wealth, and the erasing of the social and economic impact on society,” he said.

Kestens said that since the start of the pandemic, the SKNRCS has offered support through it all, and has donated Personal Protective Equipment to the Ministry of Health and offered psychosocial support, care packages, and cash assistance to families in need, who have been impacted by the pandemic. He added that the staff continues to help sensitize the population about COVID-19 intervention measures.

“This latest initiative, with the support of the US Embassy and USAID, will assist in achieving the third priority area of strengthening St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society,” said Kestens.

He applauded St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society and the Ministry of Health for their work in keeping the number of active COVID-19 cases in St. Kitts and Nevis at a minimum.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Awareness about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, the need for persons to get vaccinated, and testing measures to ensure medicine is safe before they can be clinically approved for human use were recently discussed by Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph Nathaniel France General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson.

“Vaccination is important,” said Dr. Wilkinson as he referenced the historical outbreak of the Smallpox virus in the 1760s and a subsequent high death rate. He noted the important role played by the cowpox vaccine at the time in reducing the spread and death of the smallpox virus adding that “Genna started to inoculate children with the cowpox vaccine stemming the tide of death.”

“The most commonly used vaccines have been around for decades with millions of people receiving them safely each year, and more than 3 million lives are saved each year from vaccines,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “Vaccines are safe and effective to prevent diseases and save lives, as it not only protects the individual who received the vaccine but those around them. Thus, if diseases are allowed to run rampant more lives will be lost, and society will suffer.

“Imagine a world where we’re fighting COVID-19 in addition to smallpox, polio, mumps, measles, and rubella,” he said, as he recalled the important step taken by the Government in its fight against Coronavirus. “The vaccination rollout was not only an effort to protect us from this deadly virus but to show you the confidence we have in the vaccine efficacy and safety.

“The success of vaccines in eliminating a number of diseases locally and worldwide, some that require over 90 percent population coverage to achieve herd immunity, speaks to the fact the majority of us do the right thing and get vaccinated.”

Dr. Wilkinson urged all residents to act responsibly and get vaccinated to help curb the far-reaching and detrimental effects of the Coronavirus.

Clinically approving vaccines

Vaccines, as with all medicines throughout the world, must go through extensive and rigorous testing to ensure that they are safe before they can be clinically approved for global human use.

“An experimental vaccine is first tested in animals to evaluate its safety and potential to prevent disease,” he said. “If positive results are achieved in a lab, a manufacturer can then apply for clinical trials meaning testing in human beings.”

“Many of the COVID-19 vaccine trials will never make it beyond the stage of animal testing,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “There are now more than 200 vaccine trials being conducted with only 60 at the clinical stage and just a handful have been given emergency use authorization for use in the public.

“This speaks to the rigorous safety hurdles that have to be crossed before a vaccine can make its way into your arm.

“These trials typically involve several thousand healthy participants on a voluntary basis whose safety is ensured by national regulatory authorities and may last many years.”

Dr. Wilkinson explained that the trials are governed by strict regulations and take place across four major clinical phases once reliable, safe data are received from animal studies.

“In phase one, the vaccine is given to a small number of volunteers usually between 20-50 to assess its safety, side effects; composition mode of administration confirms if it generates an immune response and determines the right dosage,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “If successful, it proceeds to phase two. In phase two, the vaccine is usually given to hundreds of volunteers who are closely monitored for any side effects and to further assess its ability to generate any new response.

“Participants in this phase have the same characteristics such as age and sex as the people for whom the vaccine is intended. In this phase, some volunteers receive the vaccine and others do not, which allows comparisons to be made and conclusions are drawn about the vaccine.

“Phase three is similar to phase two, but expanded to involve thousands of volunteers with a continued assessment of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

“When the results of phase three clinical trials are available, a number of steps are required including reviews by various regulatory boards before the vaccine can be introduced into a national immunization programme,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “Following the introduction of a vaccine, close monitoring continues to detect any unexpected adverse side effects and further assess its effectiveness in the general population.”

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Asked by Corden how he sees his life after lockdown, he said on the episode that aired on Thursday: “My life is always going to be about public service and Meghan signed up to that.”

On the decision to walk away from the royal family, he said it “was never walking away, it was stepping back rather than stepping down”.

He added that it was a “really difficult environment” and criticised the press.

“We all know what the British press can be like and it was destroying my mental health. This is toxic. So I did what any husband and father would do – I need to get my family out of here.

“I will never walk away, I will always be contributing. My life is public service.”

Harry addressed the controversy over The Crown’s portrayal of his family’s history and defended the Netflix regal drama, saying it does not “pretend to be news”.

He said both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh can use Zoom and have seen Archie “running around” in California.

The duke also spoke about his early relationship with his wife.

He said dating for him or any member of the royal family is “flipped upside down”, telling Corden that early dates take place at home and only when they are a couple do they venture out in public.

“We got to spend an enormous amount of time just the two of us,” he said of his early relationship with Meghan. “There were no distractions, and that was great, it was an amazing thing. We went from zero to 60 in the first two months.”

Asked what a “regular night in” for the couple is like, Harry said they may make Archie’s tea, give him a bath and read him a book before he and Meghan spend time together.

He said they may watch game show Jeopardy! or something on Netflix.

Asked what he thinks about The Crown, Harry replied: “They don’t pretend to be news, it’s fictional but it’s loosely based on the truth.

“Of course it’s not strictly accurate, but, loosely, it gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle, what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else, what can come from that.

“I am way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife or myself.”

He said The Crown is “obviously fiction” whereas he has a “real issue” with some of the stories written about him.

Harry joked that he would want Homeland star Damian Lewis to play him.

The segment opened with Corden telling the duke to pay the fare before jumping on the bus. Harry quipped: “You know us royals – we don’t carry cash.”

Corden served him afternoon tea while pointing out celebrity homes, including what he claimed were those of Friends star David Schwimmer and Die Hard actor Bruce Willis.

During a visit to the house that featured in 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Harry rapped the famous theme song, which was originally performed by Will Smith.

Corden tried to convince him to buy the sprawling mansion before the Duke went inside to use the bathroom.

The pair then video-called Meghan, who, in response to Corden’s suggestion they buy the house, joked: “I think we’ve done enough moving.”

She then asked “Haz” how his tour of Los Angeles was going, and he said Corden was “the worst tour guide in LA”.

Harry and a reluctant Corden also tackled an assault course, with the TV host complaining about getting dirty.

Harry and Meghan will appear in a US primetime TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, which is set to be broadcast on March 7.

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