jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Gantz and Shin Bet head meet for first time at Kirya

Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman met for the first time since Gantz took office as defense minister at the Kirya Military Headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Iran says 10,000 of its health workers infected with coronavirus

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Around 10,000 Iranian health workers have been infected with the new coronavirus, the semi-official ILNA news agency quoted the deputy health minister as saying on Thursday."Around 10,000 health workers have been infected with the deadly disease in Iran and some of them have died," Qassem Janbabai said, according to ILNA.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Russian, Turkish foreign ministers back Libya ceasefire in call

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu backed an immediate ceasefire in Libya during a phone call on Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.The two diplomats also supported the resumption of the United Nations political process in the North African country, the statement said.They spoke a day after the Libyan National Army of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar said it had pulled back from some Tripoli frontlines, calling into question its ability to sustain a year-long offensive aimed at seizing the capital.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Kindergarten teacher tests positive for COVID-19, 50 kids in quarantine

A staff member at the Beit Chana hostel in Rehovot was also confirmed as having been infected with the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ and 3 staff members were sent into quarantine until June 3 .
All residents of @ @ @ @ @ on Friday by the Health Ministry .

A staff member at the Beit Chana hostel in Rehovot was also confirmed as having been infected with the coronavirus on Thursday. 27 residents and 3 staff members were sent into quarantine until June 3. All residents of the hostel will be tested on Friday by the Health Ministry.
Some 50 children were sent into isolation after a staff member at a kindergarten in north Tel Aviv was confirmed as having been infected with the coronavirus on Thursday, according to Channel 12.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Egyptian Minister congratulates Minister Steinitz on retaining position

Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek al-Molla congratulated Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz on Thursday for retaining his ministerial position.Al-Molla congratulated Steinitz in the name of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum based in Cairo, "I am sure that we will continue with the important cooperation between Egypt and Israel created during your tenure. We've been following the news, and I'm glad to hear the good news, you deserve the job."Al-Molla and Steinitz have concluded that they will reconvene the regional Gas Forum again soon to finalize the agreement and become an international organization, which they have been promoting for the past year and a half.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--EasyJet to restart flights in June with passengers and crew in masks

British low-cost airline easyJet said a small number of flights would restart on June 15 and that passengers and cabin crew would all be required to wear masks when travelling.EasyJet's planes have been grounded since late March when the novel coronavirus spread across Europe, but the airline said it would restart domestic flights in Britain and France from 15 June, before adding other destinations later.Flights would restart with new safety measures including the wearing of masks and enhanced cleaning of aircraft.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--China says US's Pompeo 'blackmailing' Hong Kong government

China said on Thursday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is "blackmailing" the Hong Kong government with the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and that Washington's recent actions amount to blatant interference on China's internal affairs.Pompeo said on Wednesday the recent treatment of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong makes it harder to assess whether the territory remains highly autonomous from China, a requirement for special treatments the city gets under American law.A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry's office of the commissioner to Hong Kong said in a statement Pompeo's actions cannot scare the Chinese people and that Beijing will safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Five people injured in building fire in Beersheba

Fire fighting teams responded to a fire that broke out at a kiosk in Beersheba , the fire department said @ @ @ @ @ arriving at the scene , they realized that the fire spread four floors to the @ @ @ @ @ the kiosk .
Amid fire extinguishing operations , the fire fighting teams also conducted rescue @ @ @ @ @ 16 people were rescued , and turned to Magen David Adom personnel for medical attention @ @ @ @ @ be lightly injured .

Fire fighting teams responded to a fire that broke out at a kiosk in Beersheba, the fire department said in a statement. Upon arriving at the scene, they realized that the fire spread four floors to the residential building on top of the kiosk.
Amid fire extinguishing operations, the fire fighting teams also conducted rescue operations. A total of 16 people were rescued, and turned to Magen David Adom personnel for medical attention. Five were reported to be lightly injured.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Khashoggi family forgives those who killed their father

“ In this blessed night of the blessed month ( of Ramadan ) we remember God ’ s saying : @ @ @ @ @ makes reconciliation , his reward is due from Allah ”

The family of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said on Friday that they have forgiven those who murdered their father, his son Salah wrote in a tweet.
"In this blessed night of the blessed month (of Ramadan) we remember God's saying: If a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah."
"Therefore, we the sons of the Martyr Jamal Khashoggi announce that we pardon those who killed our father, seeking reward God almighty" he added.
Khashoggi was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.
The murder caused a global uproar, tarnishing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's image. Some Western governments, as well as the CIA, said they believed he had ordered the killing.
Saudi officials say he had no role, though in September 2019 MbS indicated some personal accountability, saying "it happened under my watch."
Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death and three to jail over the murder of Khashoggi last December. The suspects were put on trial in secretive proceedings in the capital Riyadh.
The trials were condemned by the United Nations and rights groups. U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, accused Saudi Arabia of making a "mockery" of justice by allowing the masterminds of the 2018 killing to go free.
However, Salah Khashoggi said of the December verdict that "it has been fair to us and that justice has been achieved."


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Brazil suffers record 1,188 daily coronavirus deaths

Brazil registered a record of 1,188 daily coronavirus deaths on Thursday, with more than 20,000 total fatalities from the coronavirus outbreak, the Health Ministry said.Brazil now has 310,087 confirmed cases, the ministry said, just a few thousand fewer than world No. 2 hot spot Russia, which trails the United States.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Trump says he may support another coronavirus stimulus bill

`` I think we will .
I think we 're going to be helping people out ...
There could be @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump told reporters at a Ford factory .

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he may support another fiscal stimulus bill to help prop up the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, though he did not provide any details on what he would like to see in such legislation.
"I think we will. I think we're going to be helping people out ... There could be one more nice shot," Trump told reporters at a Ford factory.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--FDA says 27 coronavirus antibody tests no longer comply with its rules

Under the FDA 's current rules , a vendor must notify the agency it is selling a test , label @ @ @ @ @ a request for emergency use authorization within 10 business days from when the test was @ @ @ @ @ .

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it has removed 27 makers of coronavirus antibody tests from its list of vendors who have notified the agency that they were selling a test and plan to apply for emergency use authorization.
Under the FDA's current rules, a vendor must notify the agency it is selling a test, label it as unapproved and submit a request for emergency use authorization within 10 business days from when the test was validated by a certified lab.
The antibody tests removed include those from vendors who voluntarily withdrew and those for which there is not a pending request for the emergency use authorization, the agency said.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Clashes erupt between settlers and Palestinians in Yitzhar

The IDF was called to the area of Yitzhar near Nablus as clashes erupted between settlers and Palestinians from the neighboring village of Hawara , Ynet reported Thursday evening .
Stones have reportedly been thrown by both sides , with no casualties being reported as of yet .
According to N12 , several dozens of hilltop youths from the settlement of Yitzhar attacked Palestinians on the freeway leading to Hawara .
Border Police Forces were called to the area .
Police was reportedly warned about the mob moving toward the road , yet it did not respond to the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident comes the day after a shooting attack against an Israeli vehicle was attempted in the area .
No casualties were reported and the suspect fled the scene .
With an large extremist population , the area of Yitzhar is a hotbed for inter-communal violence and clashes with security forces .
In late April , the IDF demolished two illegally-constructed structures at the outpost of Kumi Ori near the settlement .
A month prior , a firebomb was hurled toward a Border Police vehicle near the outpost , with Kumi Ori being declared @ @ @ @ @

The IDF was called to the area of Yitzhar near Nablus as clashes erupted between settlers and Palestinians from the neighboring village of Hawara, Ynet reported Thursday evening.
Stones have reportedly been thrown by both sides, with no casualties being reported as of yet.
According to N12, several dozens of hilltop youths from the settlement of Yitzhar attacked Palestinians on the freeway leading to Hawara. Border Police Forces were called to the area.
Police was reportedly warned about the mob moving toward the road, yet it did not respond to the incident before the clashes broke out.
The incident comes the day after a shooting attack against an Israeli vehicle was attempted in the area. No casualties were reported and the suspect fled the scene.
With an large extremist population, the area of Yitzhar is a hotbed for inter-communal violence and clashes with security forces.
In late April, the IDF demolished two illegally-constructed structures at the outpost of Kumi Ori near the settlement.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Netanyahu cuts Bennett’s security detail to three months

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided on Thursday to cut short the amount of time former defense minister Naftali Bennett will @ @ @ @ @ given to former ministers of the office to just three months .
According to Yamina @ @ @ @ @ person who served as the nation 's defense minister and was exposed to a variety @ @ @ @ @ security detail for five years .
He called the decision `` very odd '' and @ @ @ @ @ He added that “ it is not wise to mix national security with politics.
” @ @ @ @ @ not have security detail guarding him by summer ’ s end .

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided on Thursday to cut short the amount of time former defense minister Naftali Bennett will have the security detail usually given to former ministers of the office to just three months.
According to Yamina MK Matan Kahana, a person who served as the nation's defense minister and was exposed to a variety of details usually has a security detail for five years.
He called the decision "very odd" and a "risk." He added that “it is not wise to mix national security with politics.”
Unless changed, Bennett will not have security detail guarding him by summer’s end.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--PA tweets video of forces blocking Border Police access to Hebron

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ' Fatah movement posted on Thursday a video of the Palestinian Authority 's ( PA ) @ @ @ @ @ Police 's access to Hebron .
`` Palestinian security preventing the occupation from entering the @ @ @ @ @ the movement wrote in the caption of the video posted on Twitter .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ was `` absolved '' of all security agreements and understandings with Israel and the United @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz including an annexation of parts of the @ @ @ @ @ .
On Thursday , the PA suspended contacts with the CIA , with PLO Secretary @ @ @ @ @ coordination `` stopped as of the end of the president 's speech . ''

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement posted on Thursday a video of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) security forces blocking the Border Police's access to Hebron. "Palestinian security preventing the occupation from entering the city of Hebron," the movement wrote in the caption of the video posted on Twitter. الامن الفلسطيني يمنع الاحتلال من دخول مدينة الخليل pic.twitter.com/yFZh7gWcpJ — حركة فتح (@fatehorg) May 21, 2020
On Tuesday, Abbas declared the PA was "absolved" of all security agreements and understandings with Israel and the United States due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz including an annexation of parts of the West Bank in their agreement.
On Thursday, the PA suspended contacts with the CIA, with PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat saying the coordination "stopped as of the end of the president's speech."


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Chechen Leader Kadyrov hospitalized in Moscow with suspected COVID-19

Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov was hospitalized in Moscow with suspected COVID-19 , Russia 's TASS reported Thursday evening , citing @ @ @ @ @ `` Ramzan Kadyrov has been airlifted to Moscow with suspected coronavirus .
He is currently @ @ @ @ @ the source told TASS .
According to Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe , the @ @ @ @ @

Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov was hospitalized in Moscow with suspected COVID-19, Russia's TASS reported Thursday evening, citing "medical sources."
"Ramzan Kadyrov has been airlifted to Moscow with suspected coronavirus. He is currently under medical observation," the source told TASS. According to Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe, the former general has pneumonia.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Coronavirus: 2,680 infected, 36 on ventilators, 279 dead

Tightfisted testing policies and logistical delays may lead to a second wave of coronavirus infection in Israel sooner than most people expect, senior health officials told The Jerusalem Post.Israelis need to be cautious, Cyrille Cohen, the head of the immunotherapy laboratory at Bar-Ilan University told the Post, as the number of children and educational staff who entered isolation reached into the dozens on Thursday.“It is hard to say if we are seeing the beginning of a second wave” of the novel coronavirus , he said, “but we have to be cautious. The numbers are very low, but the numbers were very low when we started this pandemic.”As of Thursday, at press time, there were 2,680 active cases of coronavirus, including 36 people on ventilators. Some 279 people have died.Cohen warned that if Israel starts to see infection rates spike in “school after school, it will be a second wave. People can behave like everything is okay, but it does not mean that COVID-19 has disappeared. We should not be alarmed, but we should be alert.”Cohen made his comments on the same day that a particularly high number of students and teachers across the country entered isolation after a number of educational faculty and staff were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.In the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) city of Bnei Brak an unidentified number of children and staff were asked to home-quarantine after a teacher’s aide at a special education school was diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. In addition, two preschools were closed in Rishon Lezion after an assistant teacher who worked in them was found sick, putting more than 20 children into home-quarantine.The N12 news site also reported about an additional facility in Ramle.At first, some 50 children from a kindergarten in north Tel Aviv were asked to isolate after a staff member tested positive. However, several hours later, the Health Ministry reported that the staffer received a false positive and the children could resume their normal routines.At the same time, 30 people – 27 residents and three employees – of a rehabilitation facility in Rehovot were isolated after a staff member was found to have the virus.Last week, a teacher at a school in Rehovot who had been in contact with 52 students and many staff members tested positive for the virus. The school was shut down until May 27. On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported that it had done widespread testing at the institution. So far, eight people have tested positive – three teachers, two students and some of their family members.Prof. Sigal Sadetsky, head of Public Health Services, said the Health Ministry was aware when it agreed to open schools fully on Sunday that the country could see an increase in infection, and that her team is “monitoring the state of infection among students and staff.”First through third grade classes opened three weeks ago and preschools and kindergartens on May 10.But former Health Ministry director-general Prof. Gabi Barbash told the Post that Israel “may have acted too hastily in opening the total system.” He said that while “we will know only in a few days – since the incubation period for the novel coronavirus is between five and 14 days – he believes the school system is likely going to have to return to a capsule-based system.“It was essential to open schools,” Hadassah CEO Zeev Rotstein told the Post, explaining that children need a framework, it is the country’s duty to teach them and parents have to go back to work. But he said that if not monitored, schools are ripe for “super-spreaders,” individuals who spread the disease to many people at once.“One teacher in front of a class that comes in contact with other adults and pupils, and if no specific care is being taken it may develop,” Rotstein explained. “The teacher will infect many kids who in turn will, of course, infect their own families, and so on and so forth.”He equated the situation that the Health Ministry has created in schools to a similar one that erupted in senior living facilities during the height of the pandemic. Around one third of all coronavirus deaths in Israel were residents of these facilities, which could have been avoided, he said, but the super-spreaders were not tested before coming in contact with the older people they cared for.“In nursing homes, it was not the tenants, but those coming in and out to treat and nourish them,” he said.There are two ways to stop the spread of coronavirus and the first is screening. He recommended routinely testing teachers and school staff for coronavirus – even as often as once a week. The other, he said, is by maintaining good hygiene and requiring that students stay two meters apart.The country has reduced the number of people tested per day by 40% to 67% from what it was testing only a few weeks ago. On May 18 it tested 4,347 people, 7,602 on the 19th and 6,938 on the 20th and 5,969 on the 21st. At its peak, Israel screened around 13,000 people a day.Moreover, Health Ministry director-general Moshe Bar Siman Tov touted a new serological testing program that was supposed to roll out at the latest this week in an interview with The New York Times. However, it was revealed to the Post earlier this week that those tests have not started.Serological tests show that people have had an immune response to the infection.Ran Sa’ar, CEO of Maccabi Healthcare Services, told the Post that the testing was delayed due to “logistics,” which the Post confirmed with an official close to the Health Ministry.“There are several methodological issues that have not been solved,” the official said. “There are lots of issues they are arguing about.”Cohen explained that without serological testing, Israel has no data on how much of the population is immune.“If we will have more serological testing, we will be able to say, ‘I do see a rise in cases, but on the other hand, I know we have 20% or 30% of the population already immune to the virus so I am less alarmed because we are starting to see some herd immunity.’”Rotstein said the Health Ministry has been “stingy” on screening since the start of the pandemic and that even after the entire country was forced into lockdown and more than one million people were driven to unemployment, the ministry has barely changed its testing methodology. Currently, the ministry will test only those people who have coronavirus symptoms or are already in quarantine, as opposed to running a random, widespread testing program to catch asymptomatic cases.Research shows that around 80% of coronavirus patients have little or no symptoms of the disease and are therefore the most likely to spread it.If the testing situation is not rectified, the impact on the economy could be even more severe than the first time around, Cohen said.Each week the education system remains closed costs the economy around $739 million, the Bank of Israel reported.Neighborhoods in two cities – Rehovot and Ramle – have been designated “red zones” of high infection by the Health Ministry this week. It was first reported that Rosh Ha’ayin was also a red zone, but the ministry later retracted the statement, cautioning that “there have been cases of morbidity diagnosed in the city during the past week and therefore the rules of hygiene, including wearing masks and keeping distance, should be strictly adhered to. Anyone who is not feeling well should consult a doctor at his or her health fund.”In Rehovot, there has been a 3.1% spike in infection in the last three days, the Health Ministry reported Thursday. There has been a 5.9% spike in Ramle and a 3.1% spike in Rishon Lezion. Haifa, too, saw an increase in cases – 1.2%. In contrast, cities that formerly had the highest infection rates – Jerusalem and Bnei Brak – had a 0.2% and 0.1% increase in infection over the last three days.Despite these spikes, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein approved gatherings of up to 50 people in indoor settings on Thursday. Already, 50 people were permitted to gather in open spaces.Cohen said this is the “instant generation” and people want to be done with COVID-19 as quickly as it started. But he said that with pandemics “it can take weeks, months and even years.“I would not be surprised if next year we are still talking about COVID-19, ” he said. “This is not going to disappear.”


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--US pulls out of Open Skies treaty, Trump's latest treaty withdrawal

WASHINGTON - The United States announced its intention on Thursday to withdraw from the 35-nation Open Skies treaty allowing unarmed surveillance flights over member countries , the Trump administration 's latest move to pull the United States from a major global treaty .
The administration said Russia has repeatedly violated the pact 's terms .
Senior officials said the pullout will formally take place in six months , based on the treaty 's withdrawal terms .
NATO allies - and other countries like Ukraine - have been pressing Washington not to withdraw from the treaty , and Trump 's decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The administration also pulled the United States out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia last year .
The officials , speaking on condition of anonymity to a small group of reporters , said the decision followed a six-month review that found multiple instances of Russian refusal to comply with the treaty .
`` During the course of this review it has become abundantly clear that it is no longer in America 's interests to remain a party to the Open Skies treaty , '' said one of the officials , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways that can contribute to military threats against the United States and allies .
One administration official said extensive discussions were held with US allies leading up to the decision but ultimately Washington decided `` it is no longer in our interest '' to participate in it .
At the same time , the official said US officials had begun talks in recent days with Russian officials about a new round of nuclear arms negotiations to `` begin crafting the next generation of nuclear arms control measures . ''
`` The United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are committed to European security .
And we are committed to a future that puts meaningful constraints on nuclear weapons , '' the official said .
`` It will be incumbent on Russia to be comply with future arrangements .
We go into this with eyes wide open , '' the official said .
The Open Skies treaty , initially proposed by US President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955 , was signed in 1992 and took effect in 2002 .
The idea is to let member nations make surveillance flights over each other 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited a years-long effort by Russia to violate the terms , such as by restricting US overflights of Russia neighbor Georgia and its military enclave in Kaliningrad .
In addition , they said Russia has been using its own overflights of American and European territory to identify critical US infrastructure for potential attack in a time of war .
The 35 state parties to the Open Skies treaty are : Belarus , Belgium , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bulgaria , Canada , Croatia , the Czech Republic , Denmark ( including Greenland ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Italy , Kazakhstan , Latvia , Lithuania , Luxembourg , the Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , the Russian Federation , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , Turkey , Ukraine , the United Kingdom , and the United States .
Trump 's decision to abandon the Open Skies Treaty could indicate that he will allow the New START treaty to lapse .
He has until February to extend it for up to five years .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US and Russian strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems to no more than 1,550 each .
This could trigger a new arms race that China would likely join .

WASHINGTON - The United States announced its intention on Thursday to withdraw from the 35-nation Open Skies treaty allowing unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, the Trump administration's latest move to pull the United States from a major global treaty.
The administration said Russia has repeatedly violated the pact's terms. Senior officials said the pullout will formally take place in six months, based on the treaty's withdrawal terms.
NATO allies - and other countries like Ukraine - have been pressing Washington not to withdraw from the treaty, and Trump's decision could aggravate tensions within the alliance.
The administration also pulled the United States out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia last year.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to a small group of reporters, said the decision followed a six-month review that found multiple instances of Russian refusal to comply with the treaty.
"During the course of this review it has become abundantly clear that it is no longer in America's interests to remain a party to the Open Skies treaty," said one of the officials, saying Russia violates and implements the treaty in ways that can contribute to military threats against the United States and allies.
One administration official said extensive discussions were held with US allies leading up to the decision but ultimately Washington decided "it is no longer in our interest" to participate in it.
At the same time, the official said US officials had begun talks in recent days with Russian officials about a new round of nuclear arms negotiations to "begin crafting the next generation of nuclear arms control measures."
"The United States is committed to arms control. We are committed to European security. And we are committed to a future that puts meaningful constraints on nuclear weapons," the official said.
"It will be incumbent on Russia to be comply with future arrangements. We go into this with eyes wide open," the official said.
The Open Skies treaty, initially proposed by US President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955, was signed in 1992 and took effect in 2002. The idea is to let member nations make surveillance flights over each other's countries to build trust.
The officials cited a years-long effort by Russia to violate the terms, such as by restricting US overflights of Russia neighbor Georgia and its military enclave in Kaliningrad.
In addition, they said Russia has been using its own overflights of American and European territory to identify critical US infrastructure for potential attack in a time of war.
The 35 state parties to the Open Skies treaty are: Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark (including Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Trump's decision to abandon the Open Skies Treaty could indicate that he will allow the New START treaty to lapse. He has until February to extend it for up to five years.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Rare child syndrome linked to COVID-19 now in 13 countries

The number of countries that have reported cases of a rare inflammatory syndrome linked to COVID-19 and impacting children has @ @ @ @ @ week to 13 , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a daily briefing on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ has taken a lead in tracking the so-called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in the @ @ @ @ @ of 25 US states with reported cases of the syndrome , Cuomo said .

The number of countries that have reported cases of a rare inflammatory syndrome linked to COVID-19 and impacting children has nearly doubled in the past week to 13, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a daily briefing on Thursday.
New York, which has taken a lead in tracking the so-called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in the United States, is one of 25 US states with reported cases of the syndrome, Cuomo said.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Netanyahu, Gantz meet to clear the air

Netanyahu, Gantz meet to clear the air

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz met on Thursday to resolve disputes between them that have come up since the formation of their government on Sunday.In a joint statement released after the meeting, both men said the meeting went well and dealt with a variety of issues on the national agenda to help the citizens of israel.The relationship of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz hit a snag in their first week working together due to behavior by Gantz that Netanyahu saw as "a finger in the eye," sources in Likud said on Wednesday night, confirming a report on Channel 13.The sources said Netanyahu was upset with statements Gantz made in an interview with Channel 12 in which he blamed Netanyahu for a clause in the coalition agreement guaranteeing a residence for both of them funded by the state during the entire term. The Likud sources said that in fact, even though Gantz will live at home in Rosh Ha'ayin until he becomes prime minister, his home will be funded by the state during that time, with a staff, cleaning and security.Netanyahu also did not like a statement Gantz made in the interview ruling out bypassing the Supreme Court if it does not let Netanyahu serve as alternate prime minister under Gantz in a year and a half. Ronen Tzur, an adviser to Gantz, told Army Radio on Wednesday that he expected Gantz to become prime minister sooner than November 2021, because of Netanyahu's criminal cases.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Tel Aviv teacher misdiagnosed with coronavirus, Health Ministry says


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Health Ministry approves gatherings of up to 50 people


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Lebanon sees highest single-day jump in coronavirus cases

BEIRUT - Lebanon 's Health Ministry reported 63 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday , the largest single-day increase @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Lebanon has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks after it began @ @ @ @ @ of a gradual re-opening of its crisis-hit economy .
Many of the new cases are @ @ @ @ @ returning home , Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad .
The country of about 6 million @ @ @ @ @ 26 deaths , according to the Health Ministry .
Abdel Samad said that lockdown restrictions @ @ @ @ @ at least June 7 as part of the gradual re-opening of the economy .

BEIRUT - Lebanon's Health Ministry reported 63 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, the largest single-day increase since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Lebanon has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks after it began easing lockdown measures as part of a gradual re-opening of its crisis-hit economy. Many of the new cases are the result of Lebanese expatriates returning home, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad.
The country of about 6 million has recorded 1,024 cases and 26 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen leaves prison early due to coronavirus

WASHINGTON - Michael Cohen , the former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump , was released from prison on @ @ @ @ @ he could be exposed to coronavirus while in prison , according to a source familiar @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON - Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, was released from prison on Thursday due to concerns that he could be exposed to coronavirus while in prison, according to a source familiar with the case.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Odeh warns of intifada, Liberman asks 'why aren’t you in Ramallah?'

Joint List leader Ayman Odeh addressed possible outcomes to Israel annexing a portion of the West Bank on Thursday and @ @ @ @ @ do so , an intifada is only a matter of time , Ynet reported .
@ @ @ @ @ ” he warned , “ it is a natural response to any [ sort of @ @ @ @ @ that polls show half among the Israelis support a two-state solution based on Israel returning @ @ @ @ @ He claimed to “ represent these people , the Palestinians , and Israelis who seek @ @ @ @ @ Avigdor Liberman tweeted in response that the only thing that ’ s insane is that @ @ @ @ @ the Knesset and not sitting in Ramallah .
Under the US President Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ Century '' Israel will be able to annex a portion of the West Bank , @ @ @ @ @ , in exchange for agreeing to the formation of a Palestinian state on roughly 70 @ @ @ @ @ .

Joint List leader Ayman Odeh addressed possible outcomes to Israel annexing a portion of the West Bank on Thursday and warned that, should Israel do so, an intifada is only a matter of time, Ynet reported.
“It will come,” he warned, “it is a natural response to any [sort of] occupation.”
He added that polls show half among the Israelis support a two-state solution based on Israel returning to the pre-1967 borders. He claimed to “represent these people, the Palestinians, and Israelis who seek peace.”
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman tweeted in response that the only thing that’s insane is that Odeh is a member of the Knesset and not sitting in Ramallah.


jerusalempost--2020-05-21--Galilee Medical Center shuts down coronavirus unit

The Galilee Medical Center ( GMC ) announced on Thursday it had closed its coronavirus unit after the last patient @ @ @ @ @ was brought to GMC from a nearby village , recovered and was able to return @ @ @ @ @ the hospital .
In a press release , GMC did discuss one patient who was @ @ @ @ @ man who died while in the hospital .
The man had preexisting conditions , including @ @ @ @ @ according to a GMC press release .
During its operation the unit treated 65 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ GMC did discuss one patient who was not saved , a 90-year-old man who died @ @ @ @ @ The man had preexisting conditions , including a complex lung disease , according to a @ @ @ @

The Galilee Medical Center (GMC) announced on Thursday it had closed its coronavirus unit after the last patient, an 84-year-old woman who was brought to GMC from a nearby village, recovered and was able to return home after 21 days in the hospital.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Mosques in Saudi Arabia, UAE to stay closed for Eid

The Eid , which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan , may fall on Saturday or @ @ @ @ @ .
Saudi Islamic Affairs Minister Abdullatif al-Sheikh gave instructions not to have Eid prayers in @ @ @ @ @ quoted him as saying .
`` Muslims will hold the Eid prayer at home because @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi Press Agency cited Sheikh Abdul Bari al-Thubaiti , the imam , or the @ @ @ @ @ Prophet 's Mosque in Medina , as saying in the Friday sermon .
During Ramadan @ @ @ @ @ held by the imams in the two holy mosques of Mecca and Medina , in @ @ @ @ @ .
In the UAE , the Dubai government 's media office said on Twitter that @ @ @ @ @ and listed a series of Eid customs that should not be observed , including family @ @ @ @ @ money to children .

Mosques will remain closed for prayers on the Eid Al-Fitr festival, Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials said on Friday, calling on the population to adhere to safety guidelines to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Eid, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, may fall on Saturday or Sunday in the Gulf region.
Saudi Islamic Affairs Minister Abdullatif al-Sheikh gave instructions not to have Eid prayers in mosques, Saudi state TV quoted him as saying.
"Muslims will hold the Eid prayer at home because of the pandemic," the Saudi Press Agency cited Sheikh Abdul Bari al-Thubaiti, the imam, or the prayer leader, of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, as saying in the Friday sermon.
During Ramadan, prayers without worshippers were held by the imams in the two holy mosques of Mecca and Medina, in the west of the kingdom. In the UAE, the Dubai government's media office said on Twitter that mosques will remain closed, and listed a series of Eid customs that should not be observed, including family visits and giving gifts or money to children.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--NATO to discuss future of Open Skies treaty after US announces withdrawal

Senior officials in President Donald Trump 's administration , which says Russia has repeatedly violated the treaty 's terms , @ @ @ @ @ would formally pull out of Open Skies in six months .
The US move deepens @ @ @ @ @ seek to extend the 2010 New START accord , which imposes the last remaining limits @ @ @ @ @ of strategic nuclear arms to no more than 1,550 each .
It expires in February @ @ @ @ @ North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) have pressed Washington not to leave the Open @ @ @ @ @ overflights are aimed at bolstering confidence and providing members forewarning of surprise military attacks .
@ @ @ @ @ raised at a 2018 summit of alliance leaders that `` Russia 's selective implementation '' @ @ @ @ @ their security .
`` In particular , we are concerned that Russia has restricted flights @ @ @ @ @ the official said .
`` Allies continue to consult closely on the future of the @ @ @ @ @ Council will meet today to discuss the issue . ''

NATO envoys will discuss the future of the Open Skies treaty on Friday after the United States announced it would quit the 35-nation pact that allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, an official of the defense alliance said.
Senior officials in President Donald Trump's administration, which says Russia has repeatedly violated the treaty's terms, said on Thursday that Washington would formally pull out of Open Skies in six months.
The US move deepens doubts about whether Washington will seek to extend the 2010 New START accord, which imposes the last remaining limits on US and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms to no more than 1,550 each. It expires in February.
US allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have pressed Washington not to leave the Open Skies pact, whose unarmed overflights are aimed at bolstering confidence and providing members forewarning of surprise military attacks.
The NATO official recalled concern raised at a 2018 summit of alliance leaders that "Russia's selective implementation" of Open Skies was undermining their security.
"In particular, we are concerned that Russia has restricted flights over certain areas," the official said. "Allies continue to consult closely on the future of the treaty and the North Atlantic Council will meet today to discuss the issue."


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Palestinian woman, daughter arrested in connection to soldier's death

The IDF arrested a 45-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter in the village of Yabad near Jenin in connection to @ @ @ @ @ Amit Ben-Yigal , Walla reported Friday .
Palestinian media sources say the two have been @ @ @ @ @ was killed in action during a rail in Yabad when hit in the head with @ @ @ @

The IDF arrested a 45-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter in the village of Yabad near Jenin in connection to the death of St.-Sgt. Amit Ben-Yigal, Walla reported Friday.
Palestinian media sources say the two have been released from custody.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--UN: As COVID-19 spreads, Yemen's health system has 'in effect collapsed'

Referring to aid agencies , Jens Laerke , spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( @ @ @ @ @ briefing : `` We hear from many of them that Yemen is really on the @ @ @ @ @ situation is extremely alarming , they are talking about that the health system has in @ @ @ @ @ They are talking about having to turn people away because they do not have enough @ @ @ @ @ they do not have enough personal protective equipment , '' he said .
Yemen authorities @ @ @ @ @ 30 deaths to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , its latest figures show @ @ @ @ @ is almost certainly much higher , '' Laerke said .
The United Nations estimates that @ @ @ @ @ billion for Yemen to maintain aid programmes through year-end , he added .

Coronavirus is believed to be spreading throughout Yemen, where the health care system "has in effect collapsed", the United Nations said on Friday, appealing for urgent funding.
Referring to aid agencies, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) told a Geneva briefing: "We hear from many of them that Yemen is really on the brink right now. The situation is extremely alarming, they are talking about that the health system has in effect collapsed."
"They are talking about having to turn people away because they do not have enough (medical) oxygen, they do not have enough personal protective equipment," he said.
Yemen authorities have reported 184 cases including 30 deaths to the World Health Organization (WHO), its latest figures show. "The actual incidence is almost certainly much higher," Laerke said.
The United Nations estimates that it will seek $2 billion for Yemen to maintain aid programmes through year-end, he added.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--UK to set out coronavirus quarantine measures for international arrivals

The government is expected to announce that all international arrivals , including returning Britons , will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying to the authorities .
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that those who breached the quarantine would be fined 1,000 pounds with health and border officials carrying out spot checks .
`` I ca n't say just yet how long this quarantine will last for , '' Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told BBC TV .
`` It is something we will be reviewing every three weeks or so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only those arriving from the Irish Republic would be exempt from the quarantine along with those in a number of specific jobs , such as freight drivers .
Transport minister Grant Shapps has also suggested the government would seek to negotiate `` air bridges '' for travelers coming from countries with low virus infection rates .
Lewis said full details of the plan , which aims to try to prevent a second peak of the coronavirus pandemic , would be outlined by the interior minister , Priti Patel , later .
Unlike many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has carried out few tests and checks on visitors , with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak .
That has led to accusations that Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's government had been far too slow to act , but it now also faces criticism over plans to bring in the quarantine .
Airline bosses have said the measures would have severe repercussions , with Michael O'Leary , Ryanair 's chief executive , saying they would be `` unenforceable and unpoliceable '' and would be ignored .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also queried the need to bring in a quarantine now , saying it would damage the economy when it has already taken a massive hit from a lockdown .

The United Kingdom will later on Friday spell out details of its plans for a COVID-19 quarantine for travelers arriving from overseas, a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their industry.
The government is expected to announce that all international arrivals, including returning Britons, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying to the authorities.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that those who breached the quarantine would be fined 1,000 pounds with health and border officials carrying out spot checks.
"I can't say just yet how long this quarantine will last for," Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told BBC TV. "It is something we will be reviewing every three weeks or so."
The government has indicated that only those arriving from the Irish Republic would be exempt from the quarantine along with those in a number of specific jobs, such as freight drivers.
Transport minister Grant Shapps has also suggested the government would seek to negotiate "air bridges" for travelers coming from countries with low virus infection rates.
Lewis said full details of the plan, which aims to try to prevent a second peak of the coronavirus pandemic, would be outlined by the interior minister, Priti Patel, later.
Unlike many other countries across the world, Britain has carried out few tests and checks on visitors, with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak.
That has led to accusations that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government had been far too slow to act, but it now also faces criticism over plans to bring in the quarantine.
Airline bosses have said the measures would have severe repercussions, with Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, saying they would be "unenforceable and unpoliceable" and would be ignored.
Some lawmakers in Johnson's Conservative party have also queried the need to bring in a quarantine now, saying it would damage the economy when it has already taken a massive hit from a lockdown.
"The government needs to rethink this quickly and not go into quarantine," Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, told the Daily Telegraph. "If they got their testing level up, then anyone coming in would be tested and put on the tracking app."


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Palestinian security forces partially withdraw from Abu Dis

The Palestinian Authority 's ( PA ) security forces began a partial withdrawal from the town of Abu Dis east @ @ @ @ @ According to Palestinian sources , there 's been a partial withdrawal .
Not all the @ @ @ @ @ have left .
On Tuesday , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the PA `` absolved @ @ @ @ @ and understandings with Israel and the United States .

The Palestinian Authority's (PA) security forces began a partial withdrawal from the town of Abu Dis east of Jerusalem Friday morning.
According to Palestinian sources, there's been a partial withdrawal. Not all the PA security forces operating there have left.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--US senators seek to sanction China over Hong Kong

The bill , to be introduced by Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Democrat Chris Van Hollen , would also impose @ @ @ @ @ do business with entities found to violate the law guaranteeing Hong Kong 's autonomy .
@ @ @ @ @ Thursday that China is set to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong after @ @ @ @ @ , drawing a warning from President Donald Trump that Washington would react `` very strongly @ @ @ @ @ legislation will impose serious penalties on those working to strip Hong Kong of its autonomy @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .

Republican and Democratic US senators said on Thursday they would introduce legislation to impose sanctions on Chinese officials for violating Hong Kong's independence, after Beijing moved to impose a new security law on the former British colony.
The bill, to be introduced by Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Democrat Chris Van Hollen, would also impose secondary sanctions on banks that do business with entities found to violate the law guaranteeing Hong Kong's autonomy.
A Chinese official said on Thursday that China is set to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong after last year's pro-democracy unrest, drawing a warning from President Donald Trump that Washington would react "very strongly."
"This bipartisan legislation will impose serious penalties on those working to strip Hong Kong of its autonomy," Van Hollen said in a statement.
Members of Congress from both parties have been taking a more aggressive tone on China as President Donald Trump has ramped up a war of words with Beijing over responsibility for the global coronavirus pandemic.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 460 to 177,212

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The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 460 to 177,212, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday.The reported death toll rose by 27 to 8174, the tally showed.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Mexico posts record 2,973 coronavirus cases in single day

Mexican health authorities on Thursday reported 2,973 more coronavirus cases, a daily record for new infections, bringing the country's total tally to 59,567 cases.Mexico also registered another 420 deaths, just slightly lower than its record one-day death toll the prior day. A total of 6,510 coronavirus deaths have been reported in Mexico since the start of the pandemic.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--US Justice Dep. backs lawsuit challenging Illinois coronavirus restrictions

The Trump administration on Friday weighed in on a legal challenge brought against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's coronavirus stay-at-home orders, filing a statement of interest in federal court in support of the lawsuit.The US Justice Department filing raised objections to the Democratic governor's action on Thursday removing the case against him from state court, where it was filed by Republican state Representative Darren Bailey, to a federal court.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Bolsonaro sought to protect family from being "screwed" by police

Bolsonaro told his ministers he was unwilling to see his family or friends get "screwed" due to his inability to change his own law enforcement officials, according to a video released by a Supreme Court justice on Friday.In the recording of an April 22 ministerial meeting, Bolsonaro said it was his prerogative to change law enforcement officials, their bosses or even a minister."I've tried to change our security people in Rio de Janeiro officially, and I wasn't able to. That's over. I won't wait for my family or my friends to get screwed," Bolsonaro said. "End of story. We're not kidding around."The video is a key component of a criminal probe against Bolsonaro into allegations by his former Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who quit last month and alleged the president had tried to change senior members of the federal police.Before becoming president, Bolsonaro represented the state of Rio as a federal lawmaker for nearly 30 years. His son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, also got his start there, and is under investigation for alleged corruption.Supreme Court Justice Celso de Mello ordered the partial release of the video on Friday afternoon, excluding certain sections related to countries with which Brazil has diplomatic ties with, the court said in a statement.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Erekat denies PA is ‘falling apart’, says annexation will mean apartheid

Palestinian diplomat Saeb Erekat spoke with Americans for Peace Now ( APN ) and said that Israeli annexation of the @ @ @ @ @ an apartheid system , Kan reported on Friday night .
Erekat also denied reports the @ @ @ @ @ apart ” and added that the Palestinians are not interested in chaos or the breakdown @ @ @ @ @ .
The Israeli annexation is meant to be a part of the Deal of the @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump and will include 30 % of the West Bank , meaning a Palestinian @ @ @ @ @ the remaining 70 % .

Palestinian diplomat Saeb Erekat spoke with Americans for Peace Now (APN) and said that Israeli annexation of the West Bank will lead to an apartheid system, Kan reported on Friday night.
Erekat also denied reports the Palestinian Authority is “falling apart” and added that the Palestinians are not interested in chaos or the breakdown of the rule of law.
The Israeli annexation is meant to be a part of the Deal of the Century suggested by US President Donald Trump and will include 30% of the West Bank, meaning a Palestinian state will be established on the remaining 70%.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--US adding 33 Chinese companies, institutions to economic black list

The US Commerce Department said on Friday it is adding 33 Chinese companies and other institutions to an economic blacklist @ @ @ @ @ to address US national security concerns involving weapons of mass destruction and other military activities @ @ @ @ @ was sanctioning nine companies and institutions saying they were `` complicit in human rights violations @ @ @ @ @ ’ s campaign of repression , mass arbitrary detention , forced labor and high-technology surveillance @ @ @ @ @ .
The government cited seven commercial entities for enabling China ’ s high-technology surveillance .
@ @ @ @ @ 24 governmental and commercial organizations to the economic list for supporting procurement of items for @ @ @ @ @ .

The US Commerce Department said on Friday it is adding 33 Chinese companies and other institutions to an economic blacklist for human rights violations and to address US national security concerns involving weapons of mass destruction and other military activities.
The department said it was sanctioning nine companies and institutions saying they were "complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China’s campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs" and others.
The government cited seven commercial entities for enabling China’s high-technology surveillance. The Commerce Department also added 24 governmental and commercial organizations to the economic list for supporting procurement of items for use by the Chinese military.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--FBI identifies slain suspect in Texas Navy base shooting

The gunman opened fire at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in an attack that wounded one sailor , a member @ @ @ @ @ , but no one other than the assailant was killed .
The suspect 's name @ @ @ @ @ Reuters in an email from an FBI official .
No further information about the suspect @ @ @ @

The suspect killed at the scene of Thursday’s “terrorism-related” shooting at a US naval air base in Texas has been identified as 20-year-old Adam Aalim Alsahli, a Syrian-born US citizen, federal law enforcement officials said on Friday.In the Thursday morning attack, the gunman opened fire at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, wounding one sailor, a member of the base security force, but the assailant was the only person killed, the FBI said.The suspect’s name and age were confirmed to Reuters in an email from an FBI official, and tweeted by the agency. No further official information about the suspect was immediately released.A US law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said Alsahli was a native of Syria possessing US citizenship.FBI agent Leah Greeves said on Thursday that the incident was being treated as “terrorism related,” but official details about the circumstances of the attack remained scant.The New York Times quoted a base spokeswoman as saying a man in a vehicle approached a gate to the installation and began firing at a guard, who was injured but managed to activate a “final denial barrier” that prevents entry. Base personnel returned fire, and the gunman was “neutralized,” the spokeswoman told the Times.Greeves said on Thursday that authorities were searching for “a potential second related person of interest” who remained at large in the community. A law enforcement official said that as of Friday afternoon, authorities had no updated information to release about the possible second suspect.The Justice Department said separately on Thursday that electronic media found at the scene was being analyzed as part of the investigation.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Trump warns governors: Let places of worship open this weekend

US President Donald Trump on Friday warned state governors to allow churches, synagogues and mosques in the United States to open for worship this weekend or else he will override them.At a short appearance in the White House briefing room, Trump said he was declaring places of worship as providing essential services.He warned governors: "If they don't do it I will override the governors. In America we need more prayer, not less."


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Ireland to review 14-day quarantine for travelers on June 18

The government announced last week that it would now require arrivals to complete a `` passenger locator form , '' which has been voluntary since the quarantine rule was introduced last month .
Britain will introduce similar quarantine measures from June 8 and also announced the details on Friday .
Those measures will not apply to people arriving from Ireland .
Airlines have told both governments that the rules are impossible to implement .
The Irish regulations will apply to all nationalities , including returning Irish residents , and be reviewed on June 18 .
Harris told Reuters this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' how long they will be needed .
Failure to complete the form or to update contact details if they change , or providing false information , could lead to a fine of up to 2,500 euros ( $ 2,700 ) or six months in prison .
Aircraft crew , hauliers and passengers transiting to another jurisdiction will be exempt .
`` These are extraordinary measures but they are necessary in a time of a public health crisis , '' Harris said in a statement .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , with related deaths up 11 to 1,592 .
It was the first time in seven days that the number of new cases had exceeded 100 .
Ireland 's Chief Medical Officer , Tony Holohan , said the cases stemmed from exposures prior to the easing of stay-at-home restrictions a week ago .

The government announced last week that it would now require arrivals to complete a "passenger locator form," which has been voluntary since the quarantine rule was introduced last month.
Britain will introduce similar quarantine measures from June 8 and also announced the details on Friday. Those measures will not apply to people arriving from Ireland.
Airlines have told both governments that the rules are impossible to implement.
The Irish regulations will apply to all nationalities, including returning Irish residents, and be reviewed on June 18. Harris told Reuters this week the government "honestly don't know" how long they will be needed.
Failure to complete the form or to update contact details if they change, or providing false information, could lead to a fine of up to 2,500 euros ($2,700) or six months in prison.
Aircraft crew, hauliers and passengers transiting to another jurisdiction will be exempt.
"These are extraordinary measures but they are necessary in a time of a public health crisis," Harris said in a statement.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ireland rose by 115 to 24,506 on Friday, with related deaths up 11 to 1,592.
It was the first time in seven days that the number of new cases had exceeded 100.
Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan, said the cases stemmed from exposures prior to the easing of stay-at-home restrictions a week ago.
Ireland's new regulations requiring incoming travelers to provide the address at which they will self-isolate for 14 days will initially be in effect from May 28 to June 18, Health Minister Simon Harris said on Friday.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--South America is a new COVID'epicenter', African deaths still low - WHO

`` In a sense South America has become a new epicenter for the disease , '' Dr. Mike Ryan , @ @ @ @ @ , told a news conference , adding Brazil is `` clearly the most affected .
@ @ @ @ @ have approved broad use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 .
He @ @ @ @ @ does not support the unproven drug 's widespread use against the new disease , given @ @ @ @ @ African countries had 50 % rises in cases in the past week , while others @ @ @ @ @ have stable rates , Ryan said .
The low mortality rate may be due to @ @ @ @ @ population being 18 years old or younger , he said , adding he still is @ @ @ @ @ on a continent with `` significant gaps '' in intensive care services , medical oxygen @ @ @

GENEVA - South America has become a new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic with Brazil being the hardest-hit, while cases are rising in some African countries that so far have a relatively low death toll, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.“The COVID-19 pandemic today reached a milestone in Africa, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases. The virus has now spread to every country in the continent since the first case was confirmed in the region 14 weeks ago,” the WHO said in a statement, noting there were 3,100 confirmed deaths on the vast continent.Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, who is from Botswana, said: “For now COVID-19 has made a soft landfall in Africa, and the continent has been spared the high numbers of deaths which have devastated other regions of the world.”Even so, she said, “We must not be lulled into complacency as our health systems are fragile and are less able to cope with a sudden increase in cases.”About half of African countries are experiencing community transmission of the virus, the WHO said.The situation in South America appeared graver. Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergencies expert, speaking earlier at a news conference, said: “In a sense South America has become a new epicenter for the disease.” Brazil is the “most affected,” and authorities there have approved broad use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19, he said. He reiterated that clinical evidence does not support the drug’s widespread use against the disease, given its risks.Nine African countries had 50% rises in cases in the past week, while others have seen a decline or have stable rates, Ryan said.The low mortality rate may be because half the continent’s population is 18 or younger, he said, while saying he remains worried the disease will spread on a continent with “significant gaps” in intensive care services, medical oxygen and ventilation.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Russia accuses US of flouting Open Skies Treaty

Washington said on Thursday it would pull out of the 35-nation treaty within six months , the Trump administration 's latest move to withdraw from a major global accord .
Russia 's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Washington had not cited any facts to back up its accusation .
He described what he said were US violations of the treaty as `` flagrant '' and promised to provide detailed evidence of them to other signatory nations .
`` We will spend more time having dialog with these countries to show ... with slides , with booklets , why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia is violating the Open Skies treaty , why the US itself is violating this treaty , and what way forward Russia is offering , '' Ryabkov said .
The disagreement between the two nuclear powers sours the atmosphere at a time when Washington is considering whether to agree to extend the 2010 New START accord , which imposes the last remaining limits on US and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms .
The New START treaty expires in February .
Ryabkov said Washington 's proposed withdrawal from the Open Skies treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia in August 2019 .
`` The collapse of that agreement , in many ways key to strategic stability , was another phase in the Americans ' dismantling of the international security architecture , '' said Ryabkov .
His colleague , Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko , earlier said Russia intends to fully comply with all its obligations under the Open Skies treaty despite the US move .

Washington said on Thursday it would pull out of the 35-nation treaty within six months, the Trump administration's latest move to withdraw from a major global accord.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Washington had not cited any facts to back up its accusation. He described what he said were US violations of the treaty as "flagrant" and promised to provide detailed evidence of them to other signatory nations.
"We will spend more time having dialog with these countries to show... with slides, with booklets, why the United States is lying in its claim that Russia is violating the Open Skies treaty, why the US itself is violating this treaty, and what way forward Russia is offering," Ryabkov said.
The disagreement between the two nuclear powers sours the atmosphere at a time when Washington is considering whether to agree to extend the 2010 New START accord, which imposes the last remaining limits on US and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms.
The New START treaty expires in February.
Ryabkov said Washington's proposed withdrawal from the Open Skies treaty mirrored the US decision to pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia in August 2019.
"The collapse of that agreement, in many ways key to strategic stability, was another phase in the Americans' dismantling of the international security architecture," said Ryabkov.
His colleague, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, earlier said Russia intends to fully comply with all its obligations under the Open Skies treaty despite the US move.
Russia denied on Friday a US accusation that it had repeatedly violated the Open Skies treaty, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, and said it was Washington that had flouted the terms of the pact.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--UK to impose 14-day quarantine for international arrivals from June 8

Britain will introduce a 14-day quarantine for almost all international travelers from June 8 , interior minister Priti Patel said @ @ @ @ @ breaking the rules facing a 1,000 pound ( $ 1,218 ) fine .
The government @ @ @ @ @ exemptions , including road haulage and freight workers , medical professionals traveling to help with @ @ @ @ @ and those coming from Ireland .
`` Now we are past the peak of this @ @ @ @ @ steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease , '' @ @ @ @ @ 's daily news conference .

Britain will introduce a 14-day quarantine for almost all international travelers from June 8, interior minister Priti Patel said on Friday, with anyone breaking the rules facing a 1,000 pound ($1,218) fine.
The government said there would be some exemptions, including road haulage and freight workers, medical professionals traveling to help with the fight against the coronavirus and those coming from Ireland.
"Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease," Patel said at the government's daily news conference.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Palestinian officer found to be suspect in  attempted terror attack

The suspect from the attempted terror attack on Wednesday has been found to be a Palestinian police officer , Channel @ @ @ @ @ .
The police officer is currently at a police station in Nablus , and Israeli @ @ @ @ @ to demand his extradition for interrogation due to cessation of ties and security coordination , @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday the IDF reported an attempted terror attack near the Arab village of Huwara , @ @ @ @ @ .
Based on evidence found at the scene , a suspect pointed a firearm at @ @ @ @ @ to shoot the vehicle 's occupants .
Upon noticing the threat , the driver of @ @ @ @ @ suspect , leading the suspect to flee the scene .
No injuries were reported at @ @ @ @ @ .

The suspect from the attempted terror attack on Wednesday has been found to be a Palestinian police officer, Channel 12 reported on Friday evening.
The police officer is currently at a police station in Nablus, and Israeli authorities are finding it difficult to demand his extradition for interrogation due to cessation of ties and security coordination, Channel 12 reported.
On Wednesday the IDF reported an attempted terror attack near the Arab village of Huwara, under the Shomron Brigade supervision.
Based on evidence found at the scene, a suspect pointed a firearm at an Israeli vehicle, attempting to shoot the vehicle's occupants. Upon noticing the threat, the driver of the vehicle began pursuing the suspect, leading the suspect to flee the scene.
No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Tankers carrying Iranian fuel approach the Caribbean -data

Iran is supplying about 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela , according to both governments , sources and calculations made by TankerTrackers.com based on the vessels ' draft levels .
The shipments have caused a diplomatic standoff between Iran , Venezuela and the United States as both nations are under U.S. sanctions .
Washington is considering measures in response to the shipments , which the administration believes are being paid with gold , a U.S. official told Reuters last week .
Venezuela 's defense minister said the military will escort the tankers once they reach the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fortune , the first in the flotilla , was approaching the Caribbean Sea on Friday .
It has been navigating with its satellite signal on since it passed the Suez Canal earlier in May .
The four other vessels are following the same route across the Atlantic Ocean , the Eikon data showed .
The OPEC-member country desperately needs fuel to feed up to 1,800 gasoline stations that have been partially closed for weeks due to insufficient supply from state-run PDVSA 's refineries , which until March worked at about 10 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day ( bpd ) .
Venezuela was consuming 170,000 bpd of gasoline before coronavirus-related lockdown measures .
Fuel sales at stations declined to about 40,000 bpd due to rationing , according to independent calculations .
Over a decade of mismanagement and lack of staff combined with U.S. sanctions that since 2019 have limited imports have left the refineries in poor condition .
Shipments of equipment in flights by Iran 's Mahar Air have arrived in Venezuela in recent weeks to start repair work .

Iran is supplying about 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela, according to both governments, sources and calculations made by TankerTrackers.com based on the vessels' draft levels.
The shipments have caused a diplomatic standoff between Iran, Venezuela and the United States as both nations are under U.S. sanctions. Washington is considering measures in response to the shipments, which the administration believes are being paid with gold, a U.S. official told Reuters last week.
Venezuela's defense minister said the military will escort the tankers once they reach the nation's exclusive economic zone.
Iran-flagged tanker Fortune, the first in the flotilla, was approaching the Caribbean Sea on Friday. It has been navigating with its satellite signal on since it passed the Suez Canal earlier in May. The four other vessels are following the same route across the Atlantic Ocean, the Eikon data showed.
The OPEC-member country desperately needs fuel to feed up to 1,800 gasoline stations that have been partially closed for weeks due to insufficient supply from state-run PDVSA's refineries, which until March worked at about 10% of their joint capacity of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd).
Venezuela was consuming 170,000 bpd of gasoline before coronavirus-related lockdown measures. Fuel sales at stations declined to about 40,000 bpd due to rationing, according to independent calculations.
Over a decade of mismanagement and lack of staff combined with U.S. sanctions that since 2019 have limited imports have left the refineries in poor condition. Shipments of equipment in flights by Iran's Mahar Air have arrived in Venezuela in recent weeks to start repair work.
A flotilla of five tankers carrying Iranian fuel for gasoline-starved Venezuela is approaching the Caribbean, with the first vessel expected to reach the South American country's waters on Sunday, according to Refinitiv Eikon tracking data.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Libya's Tripoli government retakes more areas of capital

Fighters for the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) said they had advanced into several districts and overrun a military camp .
The LNA said it had already pulled out of those areas in what it said was a humanitarian gesture for Ramadan .
The GNA has with Turkish help made sudden strides in recent weeks , seizing a string of towns from the LNA , capturing the strategically important Watiya airbase and destroying several of its Russian-made air defence systems .
The LNA , backed by the United Arab Emirates , Russia and Egypt , has promised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday its spokesman Ahmed Mismari said four warplanes had become newly available .
As diplomats warned of the risk of a new round of escalation with the warring sides ' external backers pouring in new weaponry , the focus of the conflict shifted towards Tarhouna , the biggest remaining LNA stronghold in northwest Libya .
The GNA took Asaba , which lies on a major supply route to Tarhouna on Thursday , putting more pressure on LNA forces in the town , which has been subjected to bombardment for weeks .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering to attack Tarhouna and said it had downed a drone there .
The United Nations Libya mission said it was following the mobilisation around Tarhouna with `` great concern '' , warning all parties against any acts of retribution in a statement the United States said it supported .

Fighters for the Government of National Accord (GNA) said they had advanced into several districts and overrun a military camp. The LNA said it had already pulled out of those areas in what it said was a humanitarian gesture for Ramadan.
The GNA has with Turkish help made sudden strides in recent weeks, seizing a string of towns from the LNA, capturing the strategically important Watiya airbase and destroying several of its Russian-made air defence systems.
The LNA, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt, has promised to respond with a massive air campaign and on Thursday its spokesman Ahmed Mismari said four warplanes had become newly available.
As diplomats warned of the risk of a new round of escalation with the warring sides' external backers pouring in new weaponry, the focus of the conflict shifted towards Tarhouna, the biggest remaining LNA stronghold in northwest Libya.
The GNA took Asaba, which lies on a major supply route to Tarhouna on Thursday, putting more pressure on LNA forces in the town, which has been subjected to bombardment for weeks.
An LNA military source said GNA forces were gathering to attack Tarhouna and said it had downed a drone there.
The United Nations Libya mission said it was following the mobilisation around Tarhouna with "great concern", warning all parties against any acts of retribution in a statement the United States said it supported.
Libya's internationally recognised government retook parts of southern Tripoli on Friday from the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, whose 13-month campaign to seize the capital is under ever-greater pressure.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Spain's coronavirus death toll rises by 56 to 28,628 on Friday

Spain 's overnight death toll from the new coronavirus rose by 56 on Friday to a total of 28,628 , @ @ @ @ @ The number of diagnosed cases rose to 234,824 cases from 233,037 on Thursday , the @ @ @ @ @ increase in the death toll and the number of cases is not directly comparable to @ @ @ @ @ various regions reporting their recent data with delays .

Spain's overnight death toll from the new coronavirus rose by 56 on Friday to a total of 28,628, the health ministry said.
The number of diagnosed cases rose to 234,824 cases from 233,037 on Thursday, the ministry added.
The daily increase in the death toll and the number of cases is not directly comparable to the previous day due to various regions reporting their recent data with delays.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Khashoggi family forgive killers, opening way to legal reprieve

The family of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said on Friday they forgave his murderers , paving the way for a reprieve for five defendants sentenced to death for a crime that severely damaged the image of the kingdom 's de facto ruler .
`` If a person forgives and makes reconciliation , his reward is due from Allah , '' Khashoggi 's son Salah tweeted , citing a verse from the Koran on forgiveness .
`` Therefore , we the sons of the martyr Jamal Khashoggi announce that we pardon those who killed our father . ''
In Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and follows Islamic law , forgiveness from a victim 's family in such cases can allow for a formal pardon and a stay of execution .
The murder caused a global uproar and tarnished the image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman .
Some Western governments , as well as the CIA , said they believed he had ordered the killing .
Saudi officials denied he played a role , though in September 2019 the prince indicated some personal accountability , saying `` it happened under my watch . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December said the killing was not premeditated , a ruling which backed assertions by Saudi officials but which contradicted the findings of a U.N.-led inquiry into Khashoggi 's killing .
Khashoggi was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 , 2018 , where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding .
His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building , and his remains have not been found .
Eleven suspects in all were put on trial in secretive proceedings in the capital Riyadh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to death , three were jailed and another three had the charges against them dismissed .
Khashoggi 's son Salah said last December that verdict had been `` fair to us and that justice has been achieved . ''
However , the trial was condemned by the United Nations and rights groups .
Agnes Callamard , the U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions , accused Saudi Arabia of making a `` mockery '' of justice by allowing the masterminds of the 2018 killing to go free .
A Saudi prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence connecting one of those officials , Saud al-Qahtani , to the killing and dismissed charges against Ahmed al-Asiri , a former deputy intelligence chief .
The Saudi prosecutor had previously said that Qahtani , a former high-profile Saudi royal adviser , had discussed Khashoggi ’ s activities before he entered the Saudi consulate with the team which went on to hill him .
The prosecutor said Qahtani had acted in coordination with Asiri .
On Friday , Callamard criticized the potential pardon .
`` The Saudi authorities are playing out what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their well-rehearsed parody of justice in front of an international community far too ready to be deceived , '' she posted on Facebook .
Khashoggi 's fiancee Hatice Cengiz also condemned the pardon , tweeting : `` Nobody has the right to pardon the killers .
We will not pardon the killers nor those who ordered the killing , '' she said in a tweet .

The family of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said on Friday they forgave his murderers, paving the way for a reprieve for five defendants sentenced to death for a crime that severely damaged the image of the kingdom's de facto ruler.
"If a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah," Khashoggi's son Salah tweeted, citing a verse from the Koran on forgiveness. "Therefore, we the sons of the martyr Jamal Khashoggi announce that we pardon those who killed our father."
In Saudi Arabia, which lacks a codified legal system and follows Islamic law, forgiveness from a victim's family in such cases can allow for a formal pardon and a stay of execution.
The murder caused a global uproar and tarnished the image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Some Western governments, as well as the CIA, said they believed he had ordered the killing.
Saudi officials denied he played a role, though in September 2019 the prince indicated some personal accountability, saying "it happened under my watch."
The court which issued the five death sentences in December said the killing was not premeditated, a ruling which backed assertions by Saudi officials but which contradicted the findings of a U.N.-led inquiry into Khashoggi's killing.
Khashoggi was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.
Eleven suspects in all were put on trial in secretive proceedings in the capital Riyadh. In addition to the five sentenced to death, three were jailed and another three had the charges against them dismissed.
Khashoggi's son Salah said last December that verdict had been "fair to us and that justice has been achieved."
However, the trial was condemned by the United Nations and rights groups. Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, accused Saudi Arabia of making a "mockery" of justice by allowing the masterminds of the 2018 killing to go free.
A Saudi prosecutor at the time said there was no evidence connecting one of those officials, Saud al-Qahtani, to the killing and dismissed charges against Ahmed al-Asiri, a former deputy intelligence chief.
The Saudi prosecutor had previously said that Qahtani, a former high-profile Saudi royal adviser, had discussed Khashoggi’s activities before he entered the Saudi consulate with the team which went on to hill him. The prosecutor said Qahtani had acted in coordination with Asiri.
On Friday, Callamard criticized the potential pardon.
"The Saudi authorities are playing out what they hope will be the final act in their well-rehearsed parody of justice in front of an international community far too ready to be deceived," she posted on Facebook.
Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz also condemned the pardon, tweeting: "Nobody has the right to pardon the killers. We will not pardon the killers nor those who ordered the killing," she said in a tweet.
Salah Khashoggi and his three siblings still live in Saudi Arabia. News reports have said the family received money and real estate from the Saudi ruling family as compensation for Khashoggi's killing. The family has denied this claim.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Canada 'concerned' about the situation in Hong Kong, calls for dialog

`` We are concerned with the situation in Hong Kong .
We have 300,000 Canadians who live in Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ the reasons why we want to ensure that the one country , two systems approach @ @ @ @ @ '' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his daily news conference .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ of tensions and genuine dialog between Hong Kong citizens and Beijing , and we continue @ @ @ @ @ and we will keep monitoring the situation closely . ''

"We are concerned with the situation in Hong Kong. We have 300,000 Canadians who live in Hong Kong and that's one of the reasons why we want to ensure that the one country, two systems approach continues for Hong Kong," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his daily news conference.
"We have long called for a de-escalation of tensions and genuine dialog between Hong Kong citizens and Beijing, and we continue to call for that, and we will keep monitoring the situation closely."
Canada is concerned about China's proposal to impose national security laws on Hong Kong and called for real dialog in order to de-escalate tensions, the prime minister said on Friday.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Biden says US should lead world in condemning China over Hong Kong actions

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also rebuked this week 's move by China 's Communist Party-controlled parliament , calling it arbitrary and disastrous .
On Thursday , Republican President Donald Trump warned that Washington would react `` very strongly '' against any attempt by Beijing to gain more control over the former British colony .
On CNBC , Biden said , `` We should be calling the rest of the world to condemn their actions , criticizing Trump for a `` silence '' on human rights issues the former vice president said was `` devastating for people around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is encourage thugs and dictators , which , in fact , I think the president has some kind of affinity for , '' Biden said .
China has quickly become a focus in the U.S. presidential race , with both Trump and Biden spending millions of dollars on ad campaigns before Nov. 3 's election targeting each other 's record in dealing with the country .
Trump 's campaign , which has seized on Americans ' growing animosity toward China over the coronavirus outbreak to underpin his re-election pitch , contends Biden will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president is .
But Biden argues Trump is helping China by undermining U.S. relations with allies and reducing the United States ' role and influence in international institutions .
China 's action could spark fresh protests in Hong Kong , which enjoys many freedoms not allowed on the mainland , after often-violent demonstrations last year plunged the city into its deepest turmoil since its return to Beijing 's rule in 1997 .
Pro-democracy demonstrators have for years opposed the idea of national security laws , arguing they could erode the city 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` one country , two systems '' formula in place for two decades .

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also rebuked this week's move by China's Communist Party-controlled parliament, calling it arbitrary and disastrous. On Thursday, Republican President Donald Trump warned that Washington would react "very strongly" against any attempt by Beijing to gain more control over the former British colony.
On CNBC, Biden said, "We should be calling the rest of the world to condemn their actions, criticizing Trump for a "silence" on human rights issues the former vice president said was "devastating for people around the world."
"All it does is encourage thugs and dictators, which, in fact, I think the president has some kind of affinity for," Biden said.
China has quickly become a focus in the U.S. presidential race, with both Trump and Biden spending millions of dollars on ad campaigns before Nov. 3's election targeting each other's record in dealing with the country.
Trump's campaign, which has seized on Americans' growing animosity toward China over the coronavirus outbreak to underpin his re-election pitch, contends Biden will not be as tough on Beijing as the president is.
But Biden argues Trump is helping China by undermining U.S. relations with allies and reducing the United States' role and influence in international institutions.
China's action could spark fresh protests in Hong Kong, which enjoys many freedoms not allowed on the mainland, after often-violent demonstrations last year plunged the city into its deepest turmoil since its return to Beijing's rule in 1997.
Pro-democracy demonstrators have for years opposed the idea of national security laws, arguing they could erode the city's high degree of autonomy, guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" formula in place for two decades.
The United States must lead the world in condemning China if it imposes new national security rules on Hong Kong, likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said on Friday after Beijing unveiled a law that could undermine the territory's autonomy.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--US sanctions two top Nicaraguan officials -Treasury Department website

The United States has issued fresh sanctions on Nicaragua targeting two top officials , including army chief Julio Cesar Aviles @ @ @ @ @ on the U.S. Department of Treasury 's website on Friday .
The sanctions also target @ @ @ @ @ 's finance and public credit minister , according to the U.S. Treasury notice .

The United States has issued fresh sanctions on Nicaragua targeting two top officials, including army chief Julio Cesar Aviles, according a notice posted on the U.S. Department of Treasury's website on Friday.
The sanctions also target Ivan Adolfo Acosta, Nicaragua's finance and public credit minister, according to the U.S. Treasury notice.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Putin urges more testing as Russia's coronavirus death toll climbs

Russia 's overall case tally , the world 's second highest after the United States , rose by 8,894 to 326,448 , while Friday 's tally of 150 new deaths pushed the toll to 3,249 .
Moscow 's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said he expects the toll to prove much higher in May than in April .
It is still much lower than many European countries with fewer cases , something that has sparked debate , but which Russia defends .
Speaking at a televised government meeting by video link , Putin said there had been a gradual decrease in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent days and that the situation `` as a whole is stabilising '' .
`` At the same time it is very important this decline happens against the backdrop of a constant and significant rise in the number of tests , '' he said .
Russia 's national virus data shows a steady decline in the number of reported cases , but the Kremlin 's critics and Russian media outlets have questioned the veracity of some of the figures .
A poll of 509 doctors on an app called the `` Doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news website on Thursday found that more than a third of those surveyed had been ordered to attribute pneumonia deaths caused by COVID-19 to other causes .
The health ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report .
The survey found almost 40 % of medical professionals said they had inadequate supplies of personal protective equipment , while 23.4 % said their hospitals were not ready to admit patients with suspected coronavirus infections .
Moscow began mass testing residents for virus antibodies this week .
Of 40,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traces of infection in their blood , according to a report by Open Media , a news outlet funded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky .

Russia's overall case tally, the world's second highest after the United States, rose by 8,894 to 326,448, while Friday's tally of 150 new deaths pushed the toll to 3,249.
Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said he expects the toll to prove much higher in May than in April. It is still much lower than many European countries with fewer cases, something that has sparked debate, but which Russia defends.
Speaking at a televised government meeting by video link, Putin said there had been a gradual decrease in the number of new infections reported daily in recent days and that the situation "as a whole is stabilising".
"At the same time it is very important this decline happens against the backdrop of a constant and significant rise in the number of tests," he said.
Russia's national virus data shows a steady decline in the number of reported cases, but the Kremlin's critics and Russian media outlets have questioned the veracity of some of the figures.
A poll of 509 doctors on an app called the "Doctor's Handbook" cited by the Meduza news website on Thursday found that more than a third of those surveyed had been ordered to attribute pneumonia deaths caused by COVID-19 to other causes.
The health ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report.
The survey found almost 40% of medical professionals said they had inadequate supplies of personal protective equipment, while 23.4% said their hospitals were not ready to admit patients with suspected coronavirus infections.
Moscow began mass testing residents for virus antibodies this week. Of 40,000 asymptomatic people tested, 14% showed traces of infection in their blood, according to a report by Open Media, a news outlet funded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
President Vladimir Putin told officials on Friday to ramp up testing for the new coronavirus, but said Russia's outbreak was stabilizing even as the death toll rose by a record one-day amount.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--UK coronavirus death toll rises 351 to 36,393

A total of 254,195 people had tested positive for the coronavirus as of 0800 GMT on May 22 .

A total of 254,195 people had tested positive for the coronavirus as of 0800 GMT on May 22.
The United Kingdom's death toll from confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose by 351 to 36,393 as of 1600 GMT on May 21, the health ministry said.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--US condemns China's "disastrous proposal" to control Hong Kong -Pompeo

`` The United States condemns the ... proposal to unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong , @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal , @ @ @ @ @ , and respect Hong Kong ’ s high degree of autonomy , democratic institutions , @ @ @ @ @ are key to preserving its special status under U.S .
law . ''

"The United States condemns the... proposal to unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong," Pompeo said in a statement. "The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal, abide by its international obligations, and respect Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and civil liberties, which are key to preserving its special status under U.S. law."
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday rebuked China for its proposed national security legislation on Hong Kong, calling it arbitrary and disastrous and saying it could impact U.S. treatment of and relationship with the territory.


jerusalempost--2020-05-22--Spain eases Madrid lockdown, letting outdoor dining resume

The restrictions in the capital will now be the same as in most of the Spanish mainland , which started @ @ @ @ @ month .
Both Madrid and Barcelona , Spain 's second city , had been kept @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks were so severe .
The state-owned TV channel TVE said Barcelona 's restrictions would @ @ @ @ @ there were opened for walking this week , but public swimming and sunbathing remain banned @ @ @ @ @ the capital will be allowed to reopen on pavements and terraces from Monday , churches @ @ @ @ @ people will be free to travel within the province .
The lockdown is due to @ @ @ @ @ in other regions .
The sparsely populated Canary Islands of La Graciosa , El Hierro @ @ @ @ @ well as Formentera in the Balearics , were freed from most restrictions on Monday .

MADRID - Spain will reopen its borders to tourists in July and its top soccer division will kick off again in June, the Prime Minister said on Saturday, as one of the world’s strictest lockdowns starts to ease.Pedro Sanchez’s dual announcements coincided with calls for his resignation over the lockdown’s impact on jobs and the economy from the far-right Vox party, which called a protest through cities across Spain that drew thousands of horn-blaring cars and motorbikes.“From July, foreign tourism will resume in safe conditions. We will guarantee tourists will not take any risks and will not bring us any risks,” Sanchez told a televised news conference, without giving further details.Foreign visitors contribute around an eighth of Spain’s economic output and the government curbs – taken to contain one of Europe’s severest coronavirus outbreaks – have shuttered everything from hotels, bars and restaurants to beaches and leisure parks just as its tourism season gets under way.Close to a million jobs were lost just in March, when the lockdown began, and the Bank of Spain has forecast the economy will contract by up to 12% this year.Sanchez also said that another national money-spinner, top flight soccer division, La Liga, would resume on June 8.Saturday’s protesters called on him and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias – head of left-wing Podemos, the junior partner in Socialist Sanchez’s coalition – to resign over their handling of the crisis and, in particular, the economic fallout.“It is time to make a big noise against the government of unemployment and misery that has abandoned our self-employed and workers,” Vox said.The government says the lockdown has allowed it to get the pandemic under control.Restrictions on movement are being gradually eased, though residents of Madrid and Barcelona, both national epicenters of the virus, have remained in lockdown.Both cities will loosen their curbs from Monday, allowing outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people.Spain has documented more than 28,600 deaths from COVID-19 and more than 230,000 cases, and Sanchez said there would be a 10-day period of national mourning for victims starting on Tuesday.