Vietnamese journalist Pham Chi Dung marked a grim milestone this week: five years in a prison cell. The journalist, blogger and VOA contributor is now one-third of the way through a 15-year term after being convicted of “propaganda against the state.” He was arrested for promoting media freedom, for cooperating with foreign media to deliver “distorted information,” and for his criticism of the Communist Party’s control of the media. The journalist’s lawyers and supporters are pushing the international community to help free him. For Pham, life in Xuan Loc Prison, in Vietnam’s Dong Nai province, is tough. Prison authorities allow a one-hour visit every month, when visitors can bring in essential food items that have to be screened. And he is allowed an unannounced 10-minute home phone call every month, according to a family member who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. Despite his situation, Pham remains resolute, the family member said. “Maybe because the time spent in prison was quite long, his spirit seemed full of endurance and acceptance of fate as he is going to mark five years in jail, out of 15 years of the difficult and challenging journey that he has to go through,” the family member told VOA. Pham is experiencing health issues that are worsened by prison. He has insomnia, tinnitus and knee pain. The family asked for private medical care but prison authorities denied the request. Because he is classified as a political prisoner, Pham is restricted within the prison. “Pham is not allowed to use common areas or write letters home. Any note he writes to family is screened by the prison authorities before being handed over to family during prison visits,” the relative said. Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City arrested Pham on Nov. 21, 2019, days after he sent a petition to the European Union urging it to postpone a signed but not-yet-ratified EU-Vietnam free trade agreement. The petition recommended the deal be delayed until Vietnam improves its press freedom and human rights records. Grace Bui, an American activist in Thailand who met Pham before his arrest, remembers the journalist as a “nice, placid and calm man.” “He was arrested just because he raised his voice over human rights violations and social issues,” Bui told VOA. Bui was in Geneva lobbying the EU over the trade deal when Pham was detained. At the time, Pham was already under a travel ban so the petition was the only way he could raise his concerns, Bui said. Bui said she believes the case against him is “ridiculous.” “Pham is a person who dares to stand up for press freedom and tell the truth. The government of Vietnam fears such a free press and they arrested him and his group members to shut down people’s voice and any independent outlets,” Bui said. Pham is the founder and president of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam, IJAVN. Established in July 2014, the group of independent bloggers, journalists and authors promotes a free press. Vietnam’s government has said that the organization is “illegal” and that Pham’s role in it was one of the reasons for his arrest. Two other members of the IJAVN — Radio Free Asia contributor Nguyen Tuong Thuy and freelancer Le Huu Minh Tuan — are also serving 11 years each on anti-state charges. All three are accused of creating the IJAVN to “fight and change the current political institutions of Vietnam.” Pham’s work with the association and his writing for foreign outlets including VOA were cited in the indictment. Pham also reported for independent websites including Dan Luan and Dan Lam Bao, covering economics, social stories, human rights violations, and government corruption. He promoted democracy, freedom of the press, political pluralism, the rule of law, and the development of an independent civil society. Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has accused Pham of “dangerous” anti-state actions, including “fabricating, storing, and disseminating information, as well as other materials opposing the Vietnamese government.” State media said that he carried out “anti-regime activities such as producing anti-state articles [and] cooperating with foreign media.” But others see the case as part of Vietnam’s control over media. “There are three main reasons for Pham's arrest,” Annie Nguyen, a member of the IJAVN who is based in the Netherlands, told VOA. “His articles touched many people and many walks of life, including the articles he wrote on VOA Vietnamese; he is the president of a journalist association, a professional association,” she said, and he “wrote a letter to the EU to postpone the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.” Vietnam’s National Assembly ratified the deal on June 8, 2020, following ratification by the European Parliament on Feb. 12, 2020. The deal entered into force in August 2020. Manh Dinh Dang, a lawyer who represented Pham before going into exile in the United States, said the journalist decided not to appeal his prison term “because he wouldn’t believe in any positive change in his verdict.” “The authorities did not allow any visit to Pham during his long investigation period. They only gave me limited time to counsel my client because the authorities claimed this was a national security case,” Manh said. Manh added that the journalist denied the charges and said he did not violate any laws. Vietnam has one of the worst records globally for jailing journalists. The country ranks 174th out of 180th on the World Press Freedom Index, where 1 signifies a good media environment.Best Bets for NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread for Wednesday, November 27fish types 。

State health officials published a list of retailers in Los Angeles County that sold raw milk that has since been recalled after a retail sample of the product tested positive for bird flu virus. No one has reported illnesses from the lot of raw milk produced by Fresno-based dairy Raw Farm, the California Department of Public Health said. The dairy issued a voluntary recall of the lot — which was produced on Nov. 9 and has an expiration date of Nov. 27 — after Santa Clara health officials detected bird flu virus in a sample of raw milk purchased from a retail store. Officials with the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System then tested and verified the results. Retailers that sold the impacted quart and half gallon sized fluid raw milk in L.A. County include: Officials may confirm more retailers as the investigation continues. The County of Santa Clara Public Health Laboratory has been testing raw milk from retail stores as a “second line of consumer protection,” the state health department said. Mark McAfee, the owner of Raw Farm, said every lot that has been tested by the company and the California Department of Food and Agriculture showed negative results for bird flu virus. Raw Farm alerted retailers to remove products from the impacted lot from their shelves and said consumers can return the product at stores for a replacement or refund. The state Department of Public Health said it is warning consumers from drinking any potentially contaminated raw milk from the affected lot because of the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows and poultry as well as some cases that have infected people . “This is a very contentious time,” for raw milk, McAfee said. “I just know that there’s a grandly elevated political environment with RFK Jr. now wanting more raw milk for people in America,” he said. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year

The ice sheet at TRIA Rink was slightly more crowded than in recent weeks on Thursday morning as the Minnesota Wild held their pregame skate in preparation for the Oilers first visit of the season. The two extra bodies on the ice represented some good news for a team that has made winning, despite significant injuries, its competing storylines this season. ADVERTISEMENT Specifically, veteran defenseman Jonas Brodin and top-line forward Mats Zuccarello were in full uniform, skating with their teammates for the first time in a long time. And while neither was expected back in the lineup just yet, having numbers 25 and 36 on the rink was a notably positive sight. “Really good just in the sense that they were able to skate, so we’ll do some extra work after practice and then probably skate again tomorrow and then we’ll see,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “I don’t have a timeline on them yet other than they’ve progressed well to get in the team setting. So, now we’ll see what they do. They’ll need some contact and some extra work and see how they respond.” Brodin has missed nine games this season, including the previous seven in a row, while dealing with an upper body injury. Zuccarello last played in a home win over Montreal on Nov. 14, when he was hit below the belt by a teammate’s shot and suffered a lower body injury that required surgery. Having both players back on the ice was a meaningful step for their teammates, as the Wild have persevered and gotten to the top of the Western Conference standings despite those losses, and the ongoing absence of center Joel Eriksson Ek. Brodin especially is a key player on the team’s blue line. ADVERTISEMENT “It’s exciting for everyone. He’s an important part of our team and such a factor every time he’s on the ice,” defenseman Declan Chisholm said. “He’s missed for sure and we’re excited to get him back soon.” Hynes added that during a player’s recovery from an injury, after they have begun working out and skating on their own, that first time stepping back onto the practice rink with teammates in full uniform can be a notable psychological boost. “It’s important because usually you go through that stage of the off-ice treatments and then recovery, weight room, skate on your own, and they’ve been skating together for a couple days,” the coach said. “But to get in the team setting where you’re with other guys on the ice, you’re back with the team, there’s a lot more going on, and you’re reading and reacting in certain situations, it’s a good step to get back in the team setting.” Eriksson Ek has not yet begun skating on his own as he recovers from a lower body injury suffered in overtime of a win versus Vancouver last week. ADVERTISEMENT Hockey fans in the holiday spirit of helping those in need will have two opportunities to contribute to toy drives organized by the Wild in advance of Christmas. Prior to the Saturday, Dec. 14 game versus Philadelphia and the Friday, Dec. 20 game versus Utah, fans coming to Xcel Energy Center may bring new, unwrapped toys, games and cash which will be collected at the arena’s entrances. Personnel from the Salvation Army will distribute the donated items to needy families in the Twin Cities. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .