Charles Smith comments

Ten years later, more than 40,000 people are still unable to return home in and around Fukushima, where areas near the wrecked plant are still off-limits due to radioactive contamination.

https://worldabcnews.com/10-years-on-japan-mourns-victims-of-deadly-tsunami-and-fukishima-disaster/

Queen Elizabeth and her family said on Tuesday that they were saddened to learn of the experiences of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, saying they would address issues around race that were raised by the couple in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

https://worldabcnews.com/queen-says-shes-saddened-by-harry-and-meghans-experiences-following-explosive-interview/

A second former aide has come forward with sexual harassment allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who responded with a statement Saturday saying he never made advances toward her and never intended to be inappropriate.

Charlotte Bennett, a health policy adviser in the Democratic governor’s administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she had ever had sex with older men.

https://worldabcnews.com/2nd-former-aide-accuses-new-york-governor-of-sexual-harassment/

The wave of demonstrations that swept across Russia this weekend were notable for more than just the huge number of people who answered Alexei Navalny’s call to protest his arrest.

Just as striking were those in the crowd who said they had never supported the opposition figure before, but came out to signal their discontent with corruption and other complaints about Vladimir Putin’s government.

https://worldabcnews.com/mass-protests-in-wake-of-navalny-arrest-could-signal-new-political-dynamic-in-russia/

British officials authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Wednesday, green-lighting the world’s first shot against the virus that’s backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic.

https://worldabcnews.com/u-k-approves-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-for-emergency-use/

The disqualification came after the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which held meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, passed a resolution stating that those who support the city’s independence or refuse to acknowledge China’s sovereignty over the city, as well as commit acts that threaten national security or ask external forces to interfere in the city’s affairs should be disqualified, according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency.

https://worldabcnews.com/hong-kong-ousts-4-pro-democracy-legislators-amid-national-security-crackdown/

New Zealand’s Prime Minister addressed the nation after her Labour Party secured a landslide victory in the 2019 election. The Labour Party won the election, which was originally set for September but was delayed by a month due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a majority of 49 percent.

https://worldabcnews.com/jacinda-ardern-calls-for-unity-after-winning-second-term-as-new-zealand-prime-minister-world-news/

The cause of the blast is yet to be confirmed – but it has been linked to a warehouse at the city’s port, close to populated areas, which was storing extremely dangerous explosive material. Lebanense officials are investigating exactly how the disaster happened, with the country’s prime minister vowing that those responsible for an explosion at a “dangerous” warehouse would “pay the price”. Hassan Diab said: “I promise you that this catastrophe will not pass without accountability. Those responsible will pay the price.

https://worldabcnews.com/beirut-explosion-terrifying-impact-of-lebanon-blast-laid-bare-in-chilling-london-map-world-news/

Better watch out - Lightfoot may send out some guidance counselors - that should fix it - yeah that's the ticket - more counselors - that's what the shooters need. This is the kind of thing that happens when you elect a knucklehead for your mayor. How's it going Chicago? Feeling safe yet? How's she working out for you so far?

https://worldabcnews.com/chicago-funeral-home-shooting-was-gang-related-police-say/

This is an interesting reversal for the UK. In 1997, one of the conditions of the hand-over is that England would not grant access for Hong Kong residents by default, as they were afraid at that time that there would be a mass influx from Hong Kong into England. More than 20 years later, they've apparently done an about face.

https://worldabcnews.com/boris-johnson-says-u-k-ready-to-open-door-to-hong-kong-citizens-if-needed/

So China thinks HK already belongs to them...strength to the protesters

https://worldabcnews.com/hong-kong-protests-police-fight-protestors-as-china-warns-it-will-not-tolerate-dissent-world-news/

The disastrous 1.9 trillion yen ($18 billion) operating shortfall at the Saudi-backed Vision Fund, including losses of almost $10 billion at office-sharing firm WeWork and ride- hailing app Uber Technologies Inc alone, left SoftBank with its worst annual loss of 1.4 trillion yen.

https://worldabcnews.com/softbanks-vision-fund-tumbles-to-18-billion-loss-in-valley-of-coronavirus/

ASEAN leaders are expected to issue a joint statement at the end of the three day meeting, which will most likely include a section on the South China Sea.

https://worldabcnews.com/south-china-sea-news-beijing-claims-progress-in-asean-summit-talks-to-achieve-peace-world-news/