IOC delays decision on banning Russia from Rio Olympics (updated)
Russia’s participation in the Rio Olympics remained in jeopardy on Tuesday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would ‘explore legal options’ for banning the country from the Games.At an emergency IOC Executive Board meeting in Switzerland, a day after an independent report detailed a systematic, state-run doping programme in Russia, members fell short of an immediate ban but announced a series of other measures.A five-man disciplinary commission was set up to start proceedings against Russian officials mentioned in the report, which described extensive doping and cover-ups at the Sochi Winter Olympics hosted by Russia in 2014.The IOC also said it would not organise or give patronage to any sports event in Russia, including the planned 2019 European Games, and that no member of the Russian Sports Ministry implicated in the report would be accredited for Rio.With regard to the participation of Russian athletes in Brazil, the IOC said it would “carefully evaluate” the report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.“It will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice.”A ban would be humiliating for Russia, which since Soviet times has prided itself on its sporting prowess. President Vladimir Putin has said the affair could split the Olympic movement.The last such schism was in the 1980s, when the United States and Soviet Union each boycotted Olympics hosted by the rival superpower.COURT RULINGThe IOC said it would have to take into consideration a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday, as well as the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Charter.CAS is due to rule on the dispute between Russia, 68 of its athletes and the governing body of world athletics, after the country was banned from sending a track and field team to Rio.The McLaren report said positive doping tests at Sochi were covered up and “dirty” urine samples swapped with “clean” ones with methods developed by the domestic intelligence service, while deputy sports minister Yuri Nagornykh decided which athletes would be protected.The IOC has ordered the immediate re-testing of all Russian athletes who took part, as well as a full enquiry. It also instructed all international Olympic Winter Sports Federations to halt preparations for major events in Russia.Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told the R-Sport news agency he had suspended his anti-doping adviser Natalia Zhelanova as well as Irina Rodionova, deputy head of Russia’s state-funded Sports Preparation Centre, and two other officials.Mutko, mentioned 21 times in the report, said his own suspension was not being discussed and that no allegations had been made against him. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mutko had not been named in the WADA report as being directly involved in the cover-ups.Some international sporting federations have already opposed a blanket ban on Russia. But the head of volleyball’s governing body said Russian teams should not be punished “simply because of problems in some other sports”. The International Gymnastics Federation said it was also opposed to a blanket ban.
SCOREBOARD The Jamaica Scorpions hold the advantage at the end of an interesting and quite unusual first day against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional Four-day match at Sabina Park yesterday. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force reached 134 for seven in the 38 overs possible for the day, but it was the long stoppage caused by a damp and dangerous pitch that was the main talking point. The visitors, after being sent into bat, faced a torrid time from local pacers Oshane Thomas and Reynard Leveridge who got a few balls to kick alarmingly. Kyle Hope was unlucky to get one from Thomas that stopped and jumped from a good length and offered a regulation catch to gully. That brought in Darren Bravo, and virtually from the first ball he faced, he was seen complaining about the nature of the pitch. After scoring six, he got one that bounced disconcertingly from Leveridge, and was hit on the upper body. The umpires, you could sense, were getting concerned. The next over from Thomas saw Jeremy Solozano get one that nearly decapitated him, again from a length. Solozano then slapped the next ball straight to point to be out for 11 while Bravo continued to protest. With Jason Mohammed coming out to bat with the mannerisms of a man going to the gallows, umpires Chris Taylor and Deighton Butler decided that enough was enough. After just five overs, the umpires decided that they would have to give the pitch time to dry out. The score was then 23 for two after just under 30 minutes play, following a 10 a.m. start. Play resumed at 2.45 p.m., and though the pitch then started playing pretty well, the Red Force batsmen did not stick around. Bravo was the first to go after the resumption, offering no shot to Rovman Powell for 17 and was out leg before wicket. Denesh Ramdin was spectacularly bowled by the impressive Powell for six, driving at a full delivery. Jason Mohammed never suggested permanence and was snapped up at slip off Miller for 17. Odean Smith then came and played a few shots, none better than a spectacular shot over extra cover for six off Miller. He made 18 before he played on to give Powell his third wicket. Imran Khan strangely offered no shot to a straight one from Miller and lost his off stump at 94 for seven. Play will start at 9.30 today as the umpires try to make up for the time lost. K. Hope c K Williams b O Thomas 2 J. Solozano c Fudadin b O Thomas 11 D.M. Bravo lbw b Powell 17 J. Mohammed c Palmer b Miller 17 *+D. Ramdin b Powell 6 Y. Cariah not out 22 O. Smith b Powell 18 I. Khan b Miller 7 K. Pierre not out 17 Extras: (b1, lb10, w1, nb6) 18 Total: (7 wkts, 38 overs) 135 A Phillip, D StClair yet to bat Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-23, 3-57, 4-64, 5-64, 6-85, 7-94 Bowling: Thomas 8-2-21-2 (nb4); Leveridge 6-1-23-0 (nb1, w1); Powell 10-2-30-3 (nb1); Miller 11-1-41-2; K Williams 3-0-9-0 Toss: Scorpions Umpires: C. Taylor, D. Butler Match referee: D. Hayles Reserve umpire: C. Wright
RED FORCE First Innings
On the first day of its six-week extended sitting, the Senate yesterday received two security-related communications from President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for enactment into law.The two acts are part of several bills which the President is expected to submit to the Legislature, and for which she requested members of that body through a proclamation for the delay of their annual agriculture break.In her first Act entitled: The Liberia National Police (LNP) Act of 2015, President Sirleaf in the communication dated August 30, said the bill puts into place the necessary legal framework of the establishment of the LNP as a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to be headed by an Inspector General.A semi-autonomous government agency is a semi-private agency where it operates without total government supervision under its own charter. The government ministry or department is managed by the public administrators. Semi-autonomous government agencies are known to deliver services more promptly because of the operational and business nature while the latter remains purely public service as it is.“The purpose of this new bill is to ensure the state through the LNP acting as an instrument of the state to provide an atmosphere of safety and security, protect lives and property and foster respect for human rights.”She asserted that the bill represents a significant milestone in the process leading to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) transition.“When signed into law, it will fulfill the commitment of government to the United Nations Security Council towards a new police act approved prior to the September 2015 review of the UN Mission mandate in Liberia. In view of the important purpose of this bill, I have asked for its timely enactment into law,” the President said.The President’s second bill to the lawmakers that was read before plenary yesterday was titled: The Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Act of 2015.The Act when passed into law replaces the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN), which was established within the MOJ under Section 22.11, Sub-chapter (a), Chapter 22 of the Executive Laws; Chapter 12 of the Liberia Code of Law Revised; and Section 2.2 of the Alien Nationality Law of Liberia as amended and is now repealed.President Sirleaf maintained that the LIS Act 2015, when passed into law, shall enforce all laws and regulations relating to immigration, citizenship, naturalization and related matters.“As Liberia commits to transition its system with that of its international partners and of its membership with the UN standardized pattern of governance within the security apparatus, MOJ has embarked on reforming the LIS, formerly BIN, in consultation and collaboration with all of the relevant stakeholders and security sector in Liberia.”She emphasized that the LIS Act addresses policy issues that need to be in conformity with international standards; the issue of providing a clear heretical structure, decentralization of LIS, respect for law, disciplined immigration officers, immigration officers or civilian personnel being subjected to civilian authority of a civilian complaint review commission, amongst others, were all cardinal points considered in this act, President Sirleaf noted.“Mr. Pro Tempore, in fulfillment of Liberia’s commitment to maintain a secured and stable country in the absence of UNMIL, and considering the improved governance and heretical structure outlined in the act, the LIS will iterate and transition into international surety standard in performance of its required immigration duties.”She then requested that timely consideration be given to enact into law what she referred to as “this important legislation in order to fulfill our national and international commitment of being capable to maintain the peace and security in the absence of UNMIL.”The two bills were sponsored in the Senate by Senator Geraldine Doe-Sherif, Chair of the Senate Committee on Executive, and co-sponsored by Senator H. Dan Morais, chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.The bills meanwhile were sent to the Committees on Judiciary, and Security.In a related development, the Senate was yesterday plunged into a state of contradiction, when the Chair on Rules & Order, Senator George Tengbeh called the proceeding to order after he observed that the Proclamation by President Sirleaf, which states reason for her request for the Legislators to stay on for the additional six weeks was never read.For almost an hour, the floor became charged as senators with legal minds argued that by virtue of the fact that individual senators received copy each of the proclamation was sufficient to invalidate the need for reading it.In fact, yesterday’s agenda, which was voted on and adopted, did not mention the proclamation, eventhough that body failed to convene Tuesday due to absence of the proclamation. Reason however, prevailed and the proclamation was read.In another development, senators yesterday failed to debate other agenda items outside the President’s two communications after some of them argued that their mandate for the extended sitting was mainly to deliberate on issues emanating from the President in line with her proclamation.It is not clear whether the issue was resolved during the senators’ executive session or not.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A proposed political dialogue is expected to take place between Liberia and the European Union (EU) Delegation accredited near Monrovia. This was disclosed to Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara Friday, March 18, by the head of the EU Delegation to Liberia, Ms. Tiina Intelmann, who seeks the backing of the Ministry in order for this meeting to be a success. Ms. Intelmann, along with other EU Ambassadors from Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and France, had come to pay a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister, when she (Intelmann) made this known to the nation’s First Diplomat. The head of EU Delegation told Minister Kamara that she and other colleagues from EU nations, working together as one unit, had two important things to discuss with her. They included the planned United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) draw-down and the upcoming Presidential and Legislative Election in 2017.On the UNMIL draw-down plan, Ms. Intelmann said the Delegation is working with all the major stakeholders, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which works with local governments in the 15 political subdivisions of Liberia.She also stated that on the upcoming elections, they were interested in political dialogues among and between political parties on one hand and political parties and the government on the other. It is for the elections that the EU Delegation has planned the political dialogue, which they want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to head on the Liberian side.Ms. Intelmann asked Minister Kamara to consider inviting some members of the National Legislature to participate in the discussions during the forum, which might be for a day.She stated that they have decided to include the lawmakers in order for them to know what the EU is thinking as the nation prepares to go to elections in 2017.The EU Delegation head also told the Foreign Minister that the Union has earmarked more than US$300 million for Liberia and this fund will be managed by the Delegation and the Liberian Government. She disclosed that the EU and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) recently signed a US$20 million agreement, which is aimed at the security sector in the wake of the UNMIL drawdown. She further stated that the EU has given the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) US$10 million, which is being managed for the National Elections Commission (NEC).The head of the EU Office in Liberia also told Minister Kamara that the Union and Liberia have entered into contractual agreement in order for the latter to manage the country’s forest sector and also to develop the fishery sector. Ms. Intelmann concluded by telling the Minister that they are glad that she would be a good conduit for them to reach other sectors of the Liberian Government. Responding, Foreign Minister Kamara thanked the EU for its persistent support to Liberia. “I am privileged that I have taken over at the time when our relationship with EU is very strong. From our side, I am sure we are being sensitive to your interests generally and as individual nations,” she stated.Ms. Kamara said she was glad that Liberia has good friends within the EU as the nation was now approaching a critical juncture— the draw-down of UNMIL, which has managed the nation’s security for more than a decade and the upcoming elections, which will be a smooth transition from one elected government to another.On UNMIL drawdown, she hoped that talks can be established among all the major security sector stakeholders, including international partners, in order for them to have a common position while awaiting a UN Security Council Security Mission, which will be sent to Liberia on fact finding by the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, sometime in September 2016.Minister Kamara’s suggestion was buttressed by UK Ambassador, Mr. David Belgrove.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
To disabuse the minds of people who often depend on government for every aspect of development, residents of Montserrado County Electoral District #14 over the weekend broke ground for the construction of a wooden bridge that will link Abuja and Doe communities to Clara Town and the Freeport communities on Bushrod Island in Monrovia.The bridge project is funded by the district representative hopeful Kerkula Muka-Kamara to the tone of L$1 million.The ground-breaking ceremony held over the weekend brought joy to the thousands of residents in the area who shouted in unison as they danced to the beat of traditional songs raised by the community women. The construction work is expected to be completed within a month starting from yesterday, March 16, one of the contractors confided to the Daily Observer.Elated residents told our reporter how happy they were to welcome the bridge construction, “because for too long we have suffered from the flood water until recently when Mr. Kamara responded to fund the bridge project.”Earlier in his welcome statement, Peter Laye, spokesman of the elder council, expressed appreciation to Mr. Kamara for the project, hoping that he will continue in other directions to achieve his future objective.Mr. Laye recalled how residents have found it difficult to get to other communities to meet daily life challenges to the extent that two residents had broken their legs on the old, dilapidated bridge. He said that the completion of the bridge would relieve them of their nightmare.“This bridge business used to worry me because we walked on rotten sticks to cross over to the next destination to go to work, while our women too used the same path to the market. But today, I am happy to see the new bridge reaching here through Mr. Muka-Kamra, who I want to carry on my back only that I am too old to do so,” exclaimed Mr. Laye. John Ignis, another resident, who could not hide his feelings about the project, added that “Today, Mr. Kamara has come to our rescue’ an initiative we highly welcome.”He explained the difficulties children and pregnant women experienced in the absence of a good bridge to connect the community with other communities on Bushrod Island. “I can remember when my wife was in labor here during the rainy season, it was not easy to cross over to the Clara Town Clinic, but with this latest intervention, we are happy.”Randolph K. Doe, chairman of the Peugeot Garage Community expressed similar gratitude to Mr. Kamara for the initiative.He said for so long, residents of the Abuja Community have cried for a bridge, but today, they are proud of Mr. Kamara for the initiative.In response, Mr. Kamara told the residents of the community, particularly Abuja, to work together for the common good of the area.“We need to work together and share the ideas as to how we can live a better life in our respective communities. The bridge project is just the beginning,” said Mr. Muka-Kamara.He admonished the inhabitants to hold together to share the ideas as to how best they can impact their communities and families so that the unborn will hear it from the pages of history.Mr. Kamara believes that leadership is a privilege given to any individual by the people, because it is about them so when something has to do with them, it needs to be managed well.“So, the process we have entered is a process of collaboration that you need to talk to me and I talk to you, share common ideas as to how we can benefit from each other or benefit from the national government.“We have come to say to residents of the Abuja Community that we are with you and prepared to work with you, but let us work together so that come 2017 or even beyond the next elections, we are still in it together,” he said.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Phivolcs: Cloud seeding in ashfall affected areas needs study Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. More than 1 million Olympic tickets in latest Japan lottery No need to wear face masks in Metro Manila, says scientist ‘People evacuated on their own’ 2 village execs nabbed in Bohol buy-bust LATEST STORIES DSWD Bicol donates P1.5M worth of food packs for Taal eruption evacuees 400 evacuees from Taal eruption take refuge in Mt. Banahaw Lava gushes out of Taal Volcano as villagers flee MOST READ Taal Volcano’s lava fountain weakens, but Phivolcs says it’s not sign of slowing down Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next View comments The All-Star guard averaged 13.1 points and helped lead the Sixers to a 5-2 record.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSAndray Blatche has high praise for teammate Kai SottoSPORTSBig differenceSPORTSAlmazan status stays uncertain ahead of Game 4 Poor visibility, nakaapekto sa maraming lugar sa Batangas PLAY LIST 01:05Poor visibility, nakaapekto sa maraming lugar sa Batangas03:028,000 pulis sa Region 4-A, tuloy ang trabaho03:57Phivolcs, nahihirapan sa komunikasyon sa Taal01:04Sold-out: Stores run out of face masks after Taal spews ash01:45Iran police shoot at those protesting plane shootdown01:54MMDA deploys rescue team to Batangas following Taal eruption FILE – In this May 5, 2019, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons reacts during the second half of Game 4 of the team’s second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Toronto Raptors in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)PHILADELPHIA— Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons will miss Friday’s game at Denver because of sprained AC joint in his right shoulder.Simmons will sit out against Denver and will be evaluated again before Sunday’s game against Charlotte. He was hurt Wednesday in Philadelphia’s loss at Utah. Simmons did not play in the second half after bumping into Royce O’Neale’s chest while posting up on a first-quarter play. Simmons finished with two points and two assists in 10 minutes.ADVERTISEMENT
Dear Editor,At mid-day on Monday (December 5, 2016) I noticed with much surprise that all the schools in the Corriverton area where I live were being closed for the day. Upon inquiry I was told that the schools were being closed to allow teachers to attend a Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) meeting.Assuming that what I was told is correct (and I have no reason to doubt it), I am forced, as a very concerned citizen, to question the wisdom and propriety of such a (mal)practice at a time when our schools are performing so badly (as can be gleaned from the national examinations results, especially in Maths and English).I am by no means ‘anti-union’; indeed as a High School Teacher in New Amsterdam, I used to be the Secretary of the Berbice Branch of what was then known as the AMM (Association of Masters and Mistresses), the equivalent of a union for High School teachers, but we used to keep our meetings in the afternoons or week-ends. I am firmly of the view that the students should not suffer, nor the parents inconvenienced in order to facilitate a Union meeting which can just as easily be held in the afternoon after the normal closure of schools or at week-ends or during school holidays (the Christmas break is just around the corner!)I plead with our dear teachers and the GTU to please reconsider their modus operandi with a view to not rob the poor students of valuable classroom work, nor impose inconveniences on the hardworking parents.Sincerely,Nowrang Persaud
As a farmer in Berbice continues to calculate his losses over the death of over 800 chickens, a team from theSome of the dead birds in the penAgriculture Ministry has employed measures to investigate the matter.Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Agriculture Ministry, George Jervis on Wednesday told Guyana Times that personnel from the Ministry will soon visit the farm and assess the situation.“What we will do is visit the farm, go and take blood samples and see what we can do about it,” the PS noted.Jervis further explained that officials of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) are already investigating the report.“The Guyana Livestock Development Authority is on board; it is being looked at,” he told this publication.On Wednesday, this newspaper was told that the farmer again lost more birds and now remains with a mere 70 chickens.Even as the poultry farmer seeks to determine the cause of the mystery illness that continues to kill his birds, the Permanent Secretary from the Agriculture Ministry is denying knowledge the farmer was told of the unavailability of equipment to conduct tests on samples of the dead birds.Jervis told Guyana Times that the allegations are untrue as no official complaint was made to the Ministry. He expressed that he, neither his staff, saw any person lodge any grievances.On Wednesday, the poultry farmer’s plight came to light after this publication reported of a possible poultry illness outbreak in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).The death of the over 800 chickens prompted Regional Chairman David Armogan to request that the Agriculture Ministry investigate the mysterious illness.Previously, reports had surfaced of a similar occurrence where a farmer at Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) claimed that 300 birds had died from a mysterious disease at his Linden farm.The Berbice farmer had explained that his birds started dying on June 19 when he discovered that more than 200 had passed overnight.According to the farmer, the Ministry was supposedly contacted and extension officers were said to have visited the farm and took samples from some of the dead birds.The farmer also stated that his brother went to the Agriculture Ministry to seek assistance for his plight. However, officials were reportedly unavailable. The allegation of the Permanent Secretary saying that the Ministry did not have the equipment to do the requisite testing was strongly denied.
– some 7000 patients seen thus far for 2017Regional Health Officer (RHO) for Region Seven, Dr Edward Segala has given updates on the Region’s health service delivery thus far for 2017. One of the highlights for 2017 is the fact that just about 7000 patients were seen byRegion 7 Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Edward Segalaspecialised doctors at the Bartica Regional hospital for the first six months of the year.The RHO attributed this to the fact that the Bartica Regional Hospital has received its full complement of medical specialists. Dr Segala outlined that eight medical specialists were now at the Hospital. These include a General Surgeon, Anaesthesiologist, Cardiologist, Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Paediatrician, Haematologist and specialists in internal medicine and trauma and orthopaedics“I think we have been able to reduce significantly the number of cases that would have to go to Georgetown and get medical attention. Figures for the first six months of this year – approximately close to 7000 patients were seen by medical specialists. You can imagine if all of those would have to go to Georgetown to be seen,” Dr Segala explained.Head of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), Dr Zulfikar Bux confirmed that there has been a reduction in referrals from Bartica to the tertiary facility since specialists have been operating in the Region.Since 2015, the Public Health Ministry has been working to decentralise health services in all regions and has advocated for bridging the gap in the delivery of health care between the hinterland and coastal regions.The goal was to have regional hospitals in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine equipped with the requisite specialists which will ultimately decrease the number of referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital.That hospital as determined by senior health practitioners is overburdened with referrals of emergency cases from all 10 administrative regions. Additionally, hinterland regions would often refer maternity and snake-bite cases on a large scale.The RHO noted that there were 24 medical specialist doctors throughout the Region. More specifically, specialists are strategically spread throughout the Region. “For the first time we have two doctors at Middle Mazaruni, that is Issano so they cover a big area; also in Upper Mazaruni, we have doctors covering from Imbaimadai we have two; Jawalla – we have one, Kako – soon one doctor to go there, Kamarang – two, Waramadong – one, Parima – one,” the RHO noted.Dr Segala added that having medical specialists in the Region meant that it would have reduced medevacs. “That same money that we are spending on evacuating those patients it will help to improve and better health services in the Region.”Meanwhile, the RHO underscored that the shortage of nurses in the Region remained an issue, which needed to be urgently addressed. He believes that a full complement of nurses employed, especially at regional and district hospitals, would balance the work already being done in the Region by medical specialists. (DPI)
Letting Mexican trucks travel throughout the U.S. would be a financial boon to Mexican carriers who have to now transfer their loads at the border. The government also argues that U.S. consumers will benefit because it will be less expensive to ship Mexican goods to the U.S if Mexican carriers are given access to the entire country.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! The Teamsters Union on Wednesday asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stop the program, which the administration said would go into effect on Sept. 6. The plan would let as many as 100 registered Mexican truck carriers drive their cargo anywhere in the country for the next year as part of a “demonstration project.” The court gave no indication Thursday afternoon when it would rule. The union, along with the Sierra Club and the nonprofit Public Citizen, argues that the administration plan would endanger public highways because safety issues have not been resolved. But in its filing Thursday, government lawyers said the trucks enrolled in the program meet U.S. trucking regulations and the program is a necessary part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA requires all roads in the United States, Mexico and Canada to be opened to carriers from all three countries. Canadian trucking firms have full access to U.S. roads while Mexican trucks can travel only about 20 miles inside the country at certain border crossings like in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. COURTS: Teamsters filed appeal to stop new program allowing registered carriers. By Paul Elias THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO – The Bush administration urged a federal appeals court Thursday to let Mexican cargo trucks cross the border and freely travel anywhere in the country, arguing that to do otherwise could strain diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico. 