jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Erdogan blames 'racist trend' in France for Champions League incident

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the racist incident during the Champions League soccer game between Paris St @ @ @ @ @ a fresh expression of racist trends in France .
`` This approach is unforgivable .
@ @ @ @ @ .
( ... ) France has become a country where racist rhetoric , actions are @ @ @ @ @ a news conference in Ankara .
On Tuesday , Istanbul Basaksehir 's players , closely @ @ @ @ @ St Germain , walked off the pitch during a Champions League soccer game on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ a Romanian match official of racism .

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the racist incident during the Champions League soccer game between Paris St Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir was a fresh expression of racist trends in France.
"This approach is unforgivable. Our determined stance will continue. (...) France has become a country where racist rhetoric, actions are intensified," Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara.
On Tuesday, Istanbul Basaksehir's players, closely followed by their opponents Paris St Germain, walked off the pitch during a Champions League soccer game on Tuesday after the Turkish club accused a Romanian match official of racism.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Former Discount Bank chair Yossi Bachar dies of cancer at 65

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Former Discount Bank chairman Yossi Bachar died of cancer on Wednesday at age 65. Bacher served as the Chairman of the board at Discount Bank from the years 2010-2019.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Case 4000: Prosecution withheld 6 documents from Netanyahu's defense team

The prosecution in the trial against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted on Wednesday morning that it did not transfer six documents relating to Case 4000 (the Walla-Bezeq bribery scandal) to the defense, stating that the omission was the result of human error and was made in good faith.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--UAE says Sinopharm vaccine has 86% efficacy against COVID-19

An experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group ( Sinopharm ) has 86 % efficacy , the health ministry of the United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday , citing an interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials .
While the positive data comes soon after last month 's upbeat results from Western rivals , such as Pfizer Inc , Moderna , AstraZeneca Plc and from Russia , neither the UAE nor Sinopharm have released detailed data from the pivotal study .
In July , the Gulf Arab state started Phase III clinical trials of the vaccine , developed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit of Sinopharm ’ s China National Biotec Group ( CNBG ) .
In September , it authorised emergency use of the vaccine for certain groups , the first such international clearance for a vaccine developed in China .
The analysis also shows `` 99 % seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibody and 100 % effectiveness in preventing moderate and severe cases of the disease '' , the ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency .
`` The analysis shows no serious safety concerns , '' it said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , without elaborating , and that 31,000 volunteers across 125 nationalities participated in the UAE trial .
It did not say what , if any , side effects it identified , how many participants have become ill or how many volunteers were given the vaccine or a placebo .
CNBG could not be immediately reached for comment .
The vaccine , which uses an inactivated virus unable to replicate human cells to trigger immune responses , requires two doses , past trial data has showed .
The UAE trial is a partnership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company Group 42 ( G42 ) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health .
Sinopharm and G42 have also expanded the trial to Egypt , Jordan and Bahrain .
Abu Dhabi , the UAE 's capital , this week said it was seeking volunteers to take part in clinical trials of Russia 's COVID-19 vaccine , known as Sputnik V. The UAE , with a population of around 9 million , has recorded 178,837 infections and 596 deaths from the disease .
The vaccine is among the three most advanced candidates from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to vaccinate around one million people in the country under its emergency use programme .

An experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) has 86% efficacy, the health ministry of the United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday, citing an interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials.
While the positive data comes soon after last month's upbeat results from Western rivals, such as Pfizer Inc, Moderna , AstraZeneca Plc and from Russia, neither the UAE nor Sinopharm have released detailed data from the pivotal study.
In July, the Gulf Arab state started Phase III clinical trials of the vaccine, developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharm’s China National Biotec Group (CNBG).
In September, it authorised emergency use of the vaccine for certain groups, the first such international clearance for a vaccine developed in China.
The analysis also shows "99% seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibody and 100% effectiveness in preventing moderate and severe cases of the disease", the ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency.
"The analysis shows no serious safety concerns," it said.
It also said it had officially registered the vaccine, without elaborating, and that 31,000 volunteers across 125 nationalities participated in the UAE trial.
It did not say what, if any, side effects it identified, how many participants have become ill or how many volunteers were given the vaccine or a placebo.
CNBG could not be immediately reached for comment.
The vaccine, which uses an inactivated virus unable to replicate human cells to trigger immune responses, requires two doses, past trial data has showed.
The UAE trial is a partnership between CNBG, Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company Group 42 (G42) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.
Sinopharm and G42 have also expanded the trial to Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.
Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, this week said it was seeking volunteers to take part in clinical trials of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, known as Sputnik V.
The UAE, with a population of around 9 million, has recorded 178,837 infections and 596 deaths from the disease.
The vaccine is among the three most advanced candidates from China in terms of development and has been used to vaccinate around one million people in the country under its emergency use programme.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Coronavirus in Israel: 1,719 new cases diagnosed on Tuesday

Israel 's Health Ministry reported 1,719 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday , bringing the total number of active patients in @ @ @ @ @ out of 69,778 tests which were administered - a 2.5 % positivity rate .
Some @ @ @ @ @ condition , 113 of whom are intubated .
So far , 2,932 people have died @ @ @ @ @ .

Israel's Health Ministry reported 1,719 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total number of active patients in the country to 14,905, out of 69,778 tests which were administered - a 2.5% positivity rate.
Some 310 patients are in serious condition, 113 of whom are intubated. So far, 2,932 people have died of the virus in Israel.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Tranportation, aviation restrictions extended until January 7

The Coronavirus Committee on Tuesday night approved via teleconference call the Health Ministry 's recommendation to extend the transportation regulations @ @ @ @ @ , until January 7 , as well as to extend the validity of aviation regulations @ @ @ @ @ .

The Coronavirus Committee on Tuesday night approved via teleconference call the Health Ministry's recommendation to extend the transportation regulations by an additional 28 days, until January 7, as well as to extend the validity of aviation regulations by 28 days without changes.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 67.73 million, death toll at 1,548,905

ore than 67.73 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,548,905 have died @ @ @ @ @ tally .
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the @ @ @ @ @ China in December 2019 .

ore than 67.73 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,548,905 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Biden picks Katherine Tai for US trade representative - report

Tai , 45 , who won the backing of congressional Democrats , labor and business circles in recent weeks , played a key role in negotiating stronger labor provisions with the Trump administration in the new US-Mexico-Canada ( USMCA ) trade deal .
If confirmed as Biden 's `` trade czar , '' Tai will play a pivotal role in helping to rebuild ties with key allies , re-energize manufacturing at home and punish Beijing for anti-competitive trade practices .
She would be the first woman of color to hold the job .
Her name surfaced as the leading contender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as reported by Reuters .
Biden is expected to formally announce Tai as his top trade negotiator later this week , said one of the sources .
A spokesman for the Biden transition declined to comment on the news , which was first reported by Politico .
A Yale and Harvard-educated Chinese American who speaks Mandarin and taught university English for two years in Guangzhou , Tai headed China trade enforcement at the US Trade Representative 's office ( USTR ) from 2011 to 2014 .
In that role , Tai was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China before the World Trade Organization , experience that will guide her as she works to hammer out the next phase of a trade agreement with Beijing .
In August , Tai called for a different approach to China from the 2-1/2-year tariff war waged by current trade czar Robert Lighthizer , arguing that the United States needed a better offense than tariffs , which , she said , were largely defensive in nature .
News of her selection was welcomed by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate .
Senator Ron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance Committee , called Tai `` an inspired choice '' and urged the Republican-controlled Senate to process her nomination as quickly as possible .
`` Ms. Tai has the experience she needs to succeed as USTR , and her record of getting wins for American workers demonstrates she knows how to champion the values that matter to US families , '' he said in a statement .
David Skillman , a senior associate at the Arnold & Porter law firm who worked closely with Tai when he was chief counsel to the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she would do well leading USTR as it faced coming challenges .

President-elect Joe Biden has selected Katherine Tai, the chief trade lawyer for the House Ways and Means Committee, to serve as US trade representative, four sources familiar with the decision said on Wednesday.
Tai, 45, who won the backing of congressional Democrats, labor and business circles in recent weeks, played a key role in negotiating stronger labor provisions with the Trump administration in the new US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal.
If confirmed as Biden's "trade czar," Tai will play a pivotal role in helping to rebuild ties with key allies, re-energize manufacturing at home and punish Beijing for anti-competitive trade practices.
She would be the first woman of color to hold the job.
Her name surfaced as the leading contender for the job earlier this month, as reported by Reuters.
Biden is expected to formally announce Tai as his top trade negotiator later this week, said one of the sources. A spokesman for the Biden transition declined to comment on the news, which was first reported by Politico.
A Yale and Harvard-educated Chinese American who speaks Mandarin and taught university English for two years in Guangzhou, Tai headed China trade enforcement at the US Trade Representative's office (USTR) from 2011 to 2014.
In that role, Tai was the main attorney litigating trade violation cases against China before the World Trade Organization, experience that will guide her as she works to hammer out the next phase of a trade agreement with Beijing.
In August, Tai called for a different approach to China from the 2-1/2-year tariff war waged by current trade czar Robert Lighthizer, arguing that the United States needed a better offense than tariffs, which, she said, were largely defensive in nature.
News of her selection was welcomed by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Senator Ron Wyden, top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, called Tai "an inspired choice" and urged the Republican-controlled Senate to process her nomination as quickly as possible.
"Ms. Tai has the experience she needs to succeed as USTR, and her record of getting wins for American workers demonstrates she knows how to champion the values that matter to US families," he said in a statement.
David Skillman, a senior associate at the Arnold & Porter law firm who worked closely with Tai when he was chief counsel to the head of the House trade subcommittee, said she would do well leading USTR as it faced coming challenges.
"Katherine has terrific policy chops and great political skills, but more importantly, she’s just unflappable. The next USTR has a very tough road ahead of her, and Katherine has the ability to bring people together to make progress," he said.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--UK regulator: Don't take Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine with anaphylaxis risk

`` Any person with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine , medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ dose should not be given to anyone who has experienced anaphylaxis following administration of the @ @ @ @ @ , '' said June Raine , chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory @ @ @ @ @ Earlier it had warned that people with a `` significant allergic reaction '' to those @ @ @ @ @ shot , without specifying anaphylaxis .

The UK's medicine regulator said anyone with a history of anaphylaxis to a medicine or food should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, giving fuller guidance on an earlier allergy warning about the shot.
"Any person with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. A second dose should not be given to anyone who has experienced anaphylaxis following administration of the first dose of this vaccine," said June Raine, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Earlier it had warned that people with a "significant allergic reaction" to those things should not take the shot, without specifying anaphylaxis.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Senate defeats effort to block Trump-backed reaper drone sale to UAE

The vote was 50-46 on a procedural motion that stopped the effort to pass a resolution disapproving of the sale @

WASHINGTON – The US Senate on Wednesday rejected two resolutions aimed to block the Trump administration’s F-35 sale to the United Arab Emirates The votes were 50-46 and 49-47 on a procedural motion that stopped the effort to pass a resolution disapproving of the sale.Three US senators introduced different resolutions aimed at halting the sale of advanced arms to the United Arab Emirates, saying that the administration did not follow procedures in the sales process.The administration of President Donald Trump formally notified Congress last month of its intention to sell the F-35 stealth jet in a deal worth over $23 billion, as well as other state-of-the-art systems.US senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) announced that they are introducing four separate Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, “rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to provide the United Arab Emirates with a precedent-setting aircraft and myriad other weapons systems.”An administration official told The Jerusalem Post that the president’s senior adviser, Jared Kushner and special representative for international negotiations Avi Berkowitz spoke to several senators ahead of the vote, asking them to oppose the resolution.Menendez said during his speech on the Senate floor that “there are far too many outstanding questions and very serious questions about long-term US national security interests.”“Beyond obliterating the Congressional review process, the administration also seems to have rushed through the inter-agency review of a sale of this magnitude,” he continued. “Whereas a sale of this scope would normally merit months and months of detailed deliberations between the departments of Defense and State, this sale was announced with more missing than a few dotted I’s and crossed T’s.”“Do we really think we can sell this just to the UAE and not have those other countries come knocking on our door and start a very sophisticated arms race in the tinderbox of the world?” Menendez asked.Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador in Washington, addressed the arms sales on Tuesday and said that the opposition to the deal was politically motivated.“We are buying weapons with our own money to defend ourselves from a common threat,” the ambassador continued. “We are co-deploying with [the US] everywhere you go. We just made peace with Israel. And so, on substance and policy, there’s really very little argument against it,” Otaiba said.On Monday, Israel’s ambassador in Washington, Ron Dermer, said in an interview with MSNBC that Jerusalem believes that Abu Dhabi is an ally in confronting Iran and does not think that the proposed arms sales to the Arab state will violate the US commitment to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge.“What keeps me up at night is actually not the proposed F-35 sale to the Emirates,” said Dermer. “What keeps me up at night is the idea that somebody would return to the nuclear deal with Iran.”Reuters contributed to this report.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Coronavirus: Brazil reports 53,453 new cases, 836 deaths

Brazil reported 53,453 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily rate since mid-August, and 836 deaths from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.The South American country has now registered 6,728,452 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 178,995, according to ministry data, in the world's third worst outbreak outside the United States and India.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stops explosive-laden boats south of Red Sea

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Wednesday it intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden boats south of the Red Sea, Saudi state TV reported.The coalition added the boats were launched by Iran-aligned Houthis from Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, state TV said.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Iran blacklists US envoy in Yemen, reciprocating US move

Tehran 's move , which allows the seizure of assets within Iran of sanctioned individuals , is symbolic and unlikely @ @ @ @ @ the US ambassador .
`` Highlighting his key role in Yemen 's humanitarian crisis , @ @ @ @ @ name on its sanctions list , '' the ministry said in a statement on its @ @ @ @ @ the US Treasury blacklisted Hasan Irlu , Iran ’ s ambassador to the Houthis , @ @ @ @ @ of Iranian efforts to project its power in Yemen , Syria and elsewhere .
Yemen @ @ @ @ @ since 2014 , when the Iran-aligned Houthis group seized Sanaa , the capital , and @ @ @ @ @ 's north .

Iran has blacklisted the US ambassador in Yemen, the Iranian foreign ministry said on Wednesday, a day after Washington imposed terrorism-related sanctions on Tehran's envoy to the Yemeni Houthis.
Tehran's move, which allows the seizure of assets within Iran of sanctioned individuals, is symbolic and unlikely to have any impact on the US ambassador.
"Highlighting his key role in Yemen's humanitarian crisis, Iran puts Christopher Henzel's name on its sanctions list," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
On Tuesday, the US Treasury blacklisted Hasan Irlu, Iran’s ambassador to the Houthis, describing him as a pillar of Iranian efforts to project its power in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.
Yemen has been locked in conflict since 2014, when the Iran-aligned Houthis group seized Sanaa, the capital, and then much of the country's north.
Iran's regional foe Saudi Arabia is leading a Sunni Arab coalition fighting the Houthis in the impoverished state on the tip of the Arabian peninsula. The conflict is widely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Netanyahu, Edelstein to hold press conference on vaccines at 08:15 p.m.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein will hold a press conference on Wednesday evening in regard to the arrival of coronavirus vaccines and their distribution to the Israeli public.The press conference will be held in the Health Ministry offices in Jerusalem at 08:15 p.m.The first doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccines arrived in Israel earlier on Wednesday.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Police seize weapons in vehicle's trunk following car chase on road 90

Israel Police seized on Wednesday eight semi-automatic weapons and 15 handguns in the trunk of a vehicle that was recklessly driving on Route 90, N12 reported.During routine activity in the Jordan Rift Valley, police officers noticed a suspicious vehicle driving recklessly on road 90 and ordered it to stop. The drivers ignored the officers and continued driving recklessly while ramming a police barricade.A car chase ensued and police eventually apprehended two Palestinians in the vehicle and found a large amount of weapons in their trunk.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--UK reports 16,578 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday

Tuesday ’ s data had shown 12,282 new coronavirus infections and 616 deaths .

The United Kingdom recorded 16,578 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and 533 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus, according to official data.
Tuesday’s data had shown 12,282 new coronavirus infections and 616 deaths.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Penalizing Turkey over S-400s would be counter-productive - Erdogan

The United States penalizing Turkey for its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems would be "so counter-productive" and would harm Turkish-U.S. ties, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday.Kalin said Turkey believed it can have a good, positive agenda with the administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden. He was speaking via video conference in a German Marshall Fund of the United States event.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--ICC prosecutor drops preliminary probe into alleged UK war crimes in Iraq

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Wednesday said she was dropping a preliminary probe into alleged war crimes by British troops in Iraq.The probe never rose to the level of a full investigation and Fatou Bensouda's office concluded that British authorities had examined the allegations.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Edelstein: Isolation to be shortened to 10 days after 2 negative tests

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announced on Wednesday night that anyone who tests negative twice for the novel coronavirus will have their isolation period shortened to 10 days.He added that the Health Ministry will announce when this will go into effect in the coming days. "This is a blessing to the market and the citizens," he concluded.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Health Canada approves Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine

Health Canada on Wednesday approved the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, clearing the way for shots to be delivered and administered across the country.The nation's first coronavirus vaccine green light comes under a new interim order system that allows for accelerated approval very similar to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorizations.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Gov't to approve ban on staying at another's home after 5:30 p.m.

The government is planning on approving on Thursday a bill which bans people from staying at another person's home after 5:30 p.m. amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to N12.In addition, the report states that stores will also be required to close from 5:30 p.m. throughout Hanukkah, which begins Thursday.This comes after the government has recently flip-flopped on the subject of whether Israel should begin a night curfew.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--30-year-old indicted for allegedly sexually violating disabled brother

A 30-year-old resident of southern Israel was indicted on Wednesday for allegedly sexually violating his mentally impaired brother and sister-in-law, Israel Hayom reported.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Egyptian delegation of intelligence personnel meet with Hamas leadership

An Egyptian delegation of intelligence personnel visited the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Ynet reported.The delegation is expected to meet with Hamas leadership in order to try and promote an agreement between Hamas and Israel.


jerusalempost--2020-12-09--Cyber and National Digital Matters Minister Dudi Amsalem enters quarantine

Cyber and National Digital Matters Minister Dudi Amsalem entered quarantine on Wednesday after being exposed to a confirmed patient.According to a Facebook post by Amsalem, one of his advisors was diagnosed as a confirmed patient, which required him to self-isolate until December 12."I'm feeling well and have no symptoms. I would like to thank everyone who has asked for my well-being and to send my best wishes to the Israeli nation," Amsalem wrote.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Russia to take part in navy drills with NATO for first time in 10 years

The AMAN-2021 anti-piracy drills are set to be held in waters near Karachi in February 2021 and will involve British @ @ @ @ @ Chinese , Japanese and other forces , the Russian defense ministry said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ a frigate , a patrol ship , a tugboat , a sea-based helicopter and some @ @ @ @ @ on its website .
Russian and NATO navy vessels last took part in drills together @ @ @ @ @ exercises in 2011 off the coast of Spain , it was quoted by the TASS @ @ @ @ @ Ties between Russia and the West are languishing at post-Cold War lows , strained by @ @ @ @ @ annexation of Ukraine 's Crimea to allegations of hacking US elections and Syria .

The AMAN-2021 anti-piracy drills are set to be held in waters near Karachi in February 2021 and will involve British, US, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese and other forces, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.
Russia plans to send a frigate, a patrol ship, a tugboat, a sea-based helicopter and some other units, it said on its website.
Russian and NATO navy vessels last took part in drills together at the NATO-led Bold Monarch exercises in 2011 off the coast of Spain, it was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying.
Ties between Russia and the West are languishing at post-Cold War lows, strained by everything from Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea to allegations of hacking US elections and Syria.
MOSCOW - The Russian navy said on Thursday it would take part in drills involving more than 30 countries off the coast of Pakistan, the first time in a decade that its vessels have taken part in exercises alongside NATO ships.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Facebook says some users facing issues with Messenger, Instagram

Facebook Inc said on Thursday some users were facing issues while sending messages on Messenger, Instagram and its office collaboration service Workplace."We're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible," a company spokesperson said.Outage tracking website Downdetector.com showed that there are more than 1,800 incidents of people reporting issues with Messenger and 350 reports on Instagram.On Wednesday, the US Federal Trade Commission and nearly every U.S. state filed lawsuits against Facebook, saying it used a "buy or bury" strategy to snap up rivals and keep smaller competitors at bay.The FTC had said in a statement that it would seek an injunction that "could, among other things: require divestitures of assets, including Instagram and WhatsApp."


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Netanyahu directs more budgets for Israeli aid to Honduras, Guatemala

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that additional budgets be allocated for the Israeli aid for Honduras and Guatemala in the wake of the damage done to the countries by recent hurricanes, his office announced Thursday.A joint Home Front Command and Foreign Ministry delegation travelled to the Republic of Honduras last week to help the country following the devastation left behind by hurricanes Eta and Iota. The delegation has been on the ground for three days assisting cities suffering from hurricane damage and providing guidance to local leadership.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Saudi registers Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for import, use

Health authorities in Saudi Arabia have registered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for import and use in the country, state news agency SPA said on Thursday.Saudi Arabia's Food and Drug Agency registered the vaccine. Procedures necessary for its import and use will begin, the statement said.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Hundreds of thousands more Pfizer coronavirus vaccines land in Israel

Another plane with hundreds of thousands of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday, Ynet News reported.This comes after the first batch of Pfizer vaccines landed in Israel on Wednesday morning.Israel has announced it will begin vaccinating on December 27.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Coronavirus cabinet: Nursing homes can do their own testing

The coronavirus cabinet approved a new system on Thursday that allows nursing homes to perform their own sample coronavirus testing.The cabinet also decided to move nursing home residents up to be among the first vaccinated against the virus.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Netanyahu reconsidering Gilad Erdan's ambassador nomination - report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with UN and US ambassador Gilad Erdan on Thursday because he is reportedly reconsidering Erdan's nomination to ambassador following the US elections, Israeli media reported Thursday afternoon.Netanyahu is reportedly considering Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz for one of the roles.The Prime Minister's Office said that the report is not true and that there are no planned changes.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Ten arrested as hundreds of ultra-Orthodox protest

Ten people were arrested for disturbing the peace and throwing stones as hundreds of ultra-Orthodox people protested in Jerusalem Wednesday night, according to Israel Police.A Jerusalem Municipality worker also reported that rocks were thrown at the municipality vehicle he was operating and that he was attacked, said the police who are investigating the incident. The worker reported that he was not injured and the vehicle was not damaged.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Coronavirus in Israel: 1,828 new cases, 2.6% of tests positive

There were 1,828 new coronavirus cases in Israel in the past day , the Health Ministry announced Thursday morning.Of the @ @ @ @ @ 2.6 % returned a positive result .
Some 318 of current patients are in serious @ @ @ @ @ .
The death toll is 2,934 .

Only days after the coronavirus cabinet announced that Israel would be under night curfew during Hanukkah, the government decided instead Thursday to place no new restrictions on the country during the holiday.“Today, we made three decisions,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday. “The first decision was short-term about Hanukkah. The second decision was about tightened restraint and the third was about a full lockdown.“Indeed, because legal problems arose regarding the night curfew during Hanukkah , we said that we would go to the next two stages,” he continued. “I hope that we will not reach them but this is the reason. It is not that we made a U-turn.”But for the public, a U-turn is exactly the way it appears: On Monday, the cabinet voted in favor of the curfew. On Tuesday, the ministers were informed that there could be legal challenges to such a move. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry recommended that commercial establishments close by 5.30 p.m. and that people who gather in each others’ homes or at synagogues after that time will be subject to a fine.On Thursday, the government decided on the following scenario: Over Hanukkah, Israel will maintain its current level of restrictions. If at any point Israel exceeds 2,500 new coronavirus cases a day or reaches a reproduction rate (R) of 1.32, a period of “tightened restraint” will be applied.This tightening will last three weeks. If at the end of that period, the reproduction rate falls to one or lower, the current restrictions will be reimposed. If the R rate has risen or remains at its current level, the country will head into a lockdown.During the period of tightened restraint, shops, malls and marketplaces would be closed. Gatherings would be limited to 10 people in closed spaces and 20 in open spaces. The education system would stay open in green and yellow cities, but would close in orange and red ones.Public transportation will also be limited to 50% occupancy.The number of new cases a day is increasing by around 40% a week. It is expected that the country will reach 2,500 daily cases in a week to three weeks.The vote was reportedly supported by all the ministers except Science and Technology Minister Yizhar Shay, who opposed it and Economy Minister Amir Peretz and Agriculture Minister Alon Schuster who abstained.“We will give up the matter of additional restrictions for the coming week,” Health Minister Edelstein said at the cabinet meeting, after he returned from a private meeting with Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz. Instead, he said, “we will run a hasbara campaign to encourage people not to host each other on Hanukkah.”Edelstein’s announcement came against the backdrop of another day of growing infection.At the start of the meeting, National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat said that, “We are on the rise in terms of the data. We have crossed the breaking point of the second wave.”The Health Ministry reported that 1,849 people were diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday, plus another 807 between midnight and press time on Thursday, with 575 people being treated in hospital, including 321 in serious condition.“There is a real problem,” Health Ministry director-general Chezy Levy said shortly after the meeting during a press briefing. “The infection rate is 1.24, which is high. In the targets, we wanted to be below 1.28, and now the R is on the rise.”He said that the morbidity cuts across sectors. There are 32 red cities and 35 orange cities.The Health Ministry had come to the cabinet with the message that there is a real fear of another dangerous jump in morbidity during Hanukkah due to the large number of gatherings and candle lighting events expected in the evening.As stated, ministry professionals were pushing for banning people from gathering after 5.30 p.m. and shuttering all stores but those that sell essential items.“We are trying to cause minimal harm to the economy and society, and to prevent the spread of the disease,” Edelstein said at the start of the meeting. “There is no argument that there is a steady increase.”A senior adviser to the cabinet told The Jerusalem Post that the ministers wanted to open up commerce. The night curfew was intended to appear as if it would offset the opening of malls across the country, although nearly all health professionals had stressed since September that night curfews were ineffective.He said that not only is it unlikely that restrictions will voluntarily be maintained over Hanukkah and that infection will steady, but that it is also unlikely that the ministers will adhere to the threshold they set – to send Israel back to lockdown.“The government has never kept its promises to take unpopular actions once we hit some level and they are not going to start now,” he said.The cabinet is known to be swayed by pressure from interest groups and populism and these decisions appear to fit the trend.In practice, the Health Ministry’s proposal came off the table because too many ministers opposed it, such as Finance Minister Israel Katz.“The proposals mean severe damage to tens of thousands of business owners who have just returned to activity and to hundreds of thousands of employed people who will return to the cycle of unemployment,” Katz stressed at the meeting.And even before the meeting, Shay had expressed opposition in a Thursday morning interview with Army Radio. He said the original intention was to make these rules for orange and red cities and not cities across the country.“It does not make sense to close people in green localities,” he stressed. “Logic needs to be found.”He said with four months until the mass of people are vaccinated, it does not make sense to close the economy now.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--North Korea wasted chance to improve relations under Trump, US envoy says

Pyongyang squandered an opportunity to fundamentally reinvent its relationship with the United States during Donald Trump's presidency, Washington's top North Korea envoy said on Thursday, adding he will urge his successors to continue engagement.Speaking to a think tank in Seoul during a visit to meet with South Korean security officials, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun admitted he was disappointed denuclearisation negotiations had stalled and that more progress was not made during his time leading those efforts."Regrettably, much opportunity has been squandered by our North Korean counterparts over the past two years, who too often have devoted themselves to the search for obstacles to negotiations instead of seizing opportunities for engagement," he said, according to his prepared remarks.Still, he defended Trump's decision to focus on top-level diplomacy with leader Kim Jong Un, and to eschew small steps in favor of seeking a major agreement under which North Korea would surrender its nuclear weapons and the two sides would normalize relations."This vision was a bold one, and it made the many advocates of incrementalism uncomfortable," Biegun said.After trading insults and nuclear threats that had pushed their countries to the brink of war, Trump and Kim met for the first time in Singapore in 2018, where they signed a general declaration calling for denuclearisation and new relations between the two old adversaries.After working-level talks Biegun helped lead, the two leaders held their second meeting in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi in 2019 but failed to reach a deal.Subsequent talks failed to make progress and Pyongyang has rebuffed Biegun's calls for more engagement, saying the U.S. does not appear serious about dropping its hostile policies.Biegun called for North Korea to resume talks in the coming months.With Democratic president-elect Joe Biden due to replace Trump in January, Biegun said he had a message for the incoming team: "The war is over; the time for conflict has ended, and the time for peace has arrived."


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Egypt receives first batch of Sinopharm coronavirus vaccines

The shipment arrived at Cairo airport from the United Arab Emirates , which has been carrying out phase III clinical trials of the vaccine .
The UAE health ministry said this week that the Sinopharm vaccine had 86 % efficacy , citing an interim analysis of the late-stage clinical trials .
The vaccine has already been used on about 1 million people in China in an emergency program .
In Egypt the vaccine , taken in two doses 21 days apart , will be free of charge and the government will prioritize vaccinating medical staff and people with chronic diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear how many doses of the vaccine Egypt had ordered , but the health minister said there would be more shipments in the days to come .
Egypt , with a population of more than 100 million , is a large market for vaccines .
In September , Russia announced a deal to supply Egypt with 25 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine .
Egypt 's government has confirmed relatively low numbers of coronavirus infections , partly due to limited public testing , but has been warning of a second wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .
( Graphic : https : //tmsnrt.rs/34pvUyi ) As of Wednesday , the health ministry had announced 119,702 coronavirus cases and 6,832 deaths .

Egypt received its first shipment of vaccines developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) late on Thursday and will get more deliveries soon, health officials said.
The shipment arrived at Cairo airport from the United Arab Emirates, which has been carrying out phase III clinical trials of the vaccine.
The UAE health ministry said this week that the Sinopharm vaccine had 86% efficacy, citing an interim analysis of the late-stage clinical trials.
The vaccine has already been used on about 1 million people in China in an emergency program.
In Egypt the vaccine, taken in two doses 21 days apart, will be free of charge and the government will prioritize vaccinating medical staff and people with chronic diseases, health officials said.
It was unclear how many doses of the vaccine Egypt had ordered, but the health minister said there would be more shipments in the days to come.
Egypt, with a population of more than 100 million, is a large market for vaccines. In September, Russia announced a deal to supply Egypt with 25 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.
Egypt's government has confirmed relatively low numbers of coronavirus infections, partly due to limited public testing, but has been warning of a second wave of the pandemic as daily infections have risen in recent weeks. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/34pvUyi)
As of Wednesday, the health ministry had announced 119,702 coronavirus cases and 6,832 deaths.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Bernard Madoff victims receiving more money, 12 years after his arrest

The U.S. Department of Justice said that on Thursday it began paying out approximately $ 488 million to help individuals , schools , charities , pension plans and other recoup their losses .
On Wednesday , Irving Picard , the trustee liquidating the former Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC , said he will seek court approval next month distribute an additional $ 190.8 million to more than 800 former Madoff customers .
Following the payouts , the government will have sent close to $ 3.2 billion to nearly 37,000 victims from a $ 4.05 billion fund set up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 14.1 billion to Madoff customers he has estimated lost $ 17.5 billion .
The government fund is managed by former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Richard Breeden , and comes mainly from settlements with Madoff 's former bank JPMorgan Chase & Co and the estate of former Madoff investor Jeffry Picower .
Unlike Picard , Breeden is compensating victims who suffered indirect losses from Madoff , such as by investing in hedge funds that sent their money to him .
Madoff , 82 , was arrested on Dec. 11 , 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He later pleaded guilty to 11 criminal counts and was sentenced in June 2009 to 150 years in prison by Circuit Judge Denny Chin , who was a trial judge at the time .

Overseers of two programs to compensate victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme have announced $679 million of new payouts, ahead of Friday's 12th anniversary of the now-imprisoned swindler's arrest.
The U.S. Department of Justice said that on Thursday it began paying out approximately $488 million to help individuals, schools, charities, pension plans and other recoup their losses.
On Wednesday, Irving Picard, the trustee liquidating the former Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, said he will seek court approval next month distribute an additional $190.8 million to more than 800 former Madoff customers.
Following the payouts, the government will have sent close to $3.2 billion to nearly 37,000 victims from a $4.05 billion fund set up in 2013, while Picard will have sent $14.1 billion to Madoff customers he has estimated lost $17.5 billion.
The government fund is managed by former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Richard Breeden, and comes mainly from settlements with Madoff's former bank JPMorgan Chase & Co and the estate of former Madoff investor Jeffry Picower.
Unlike Picard, Breeden is compensating victims who suffered indirect losses from Madoff, such as by investing in hedge funds that sent their money to him.
Madoff, 82, was arrested on Dec. 11, 2008 after admitting his fraud to his sons. He later pleaded guilty to 11 criminal counts and was sentenced in June 2009 to 150 years in prison by Circuit Judge Denny Chin, who was a trial judge at the time.
On June 4, Chin rejected Madoff's request to be released early from prison because he was dying of kidney failure, saying the perpetrator of "one of the egregious financial crimes of our time" did not deserve compassionate release.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--FDA expert committee approves Pfizer coronavirus vaccine

The FDA's expert committee approved Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine on Thursday through a vote in the US Food and Drug Administration. After a lengthy 8 hour discussion, 77% of committee members supported the vaccine.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Brazil coronavirus new cases jump by 53,347, death toll nudges 180,000

Brazil reported 53,347 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 770 deaths from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.The South American country has now registered 6,781,799 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 179,756, according to ministry data, in the world's third worst outbreak outside the United States and India.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Website targeting election officials draws attention of US intelligence

WASHINGTON - The harassment campaign against U.S. election officials following President Donald Trump 's defeat took an ominous turn on Thursday after a website surfaced that accused them of `` treason '' and included photographs and home addresses , drawing the attention of U.S. intelligence agencies .
The site , along with several associated social media accounts , included photographs of Republican and Democratic officials , with rifle crosshairs superimposed on them .
The FBI said on Thursday that it was aware of the issue .
U.S. intelligence agencies are also looking into the website and its origins , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officials targeted said the messaging amounted to a call for violence against those who worked to oversee the Nov. 3 election , which Trump lost to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden .
They urged Trump to denounce it .
`` If anyone needs to be reminded that public calls for violence beget violence , this is the clarion call .
If blood is spilled , it is on the hands of the president , his campaign , his lawyers , and the silent Republicans standing in the president 's shadow , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krebs , who oversaw cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security until he was fired by Trump after the election .
Georgia 's deputy secretary of state , Jordan Fuchs , likewise pointed the finger at the president .
`` Trump and U.S. senators have refused to condemn these death threats , '' she told Reuters .
`` In fact , he continues to support those who are actively calling for elections officials to be shot . ''
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Fuchs said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement .
Trump has for weeks been alleging contrary to evidence that his 306-232 Electoral College defeat was the result of widespread fraud .
State and federal officials have said there is no evidence of any large scale fraud in the 2020 election or other recent U.S. elections .
Republican , Democratic and nonpartisan election authorities nationwide have faced intimidation , harassment and outright threats since the vote .
Despite losing by more than 7 million votes , Trump has refused to concede and has challenged the outcome with lawsuits in multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those efforts .
Supporters of Trump in recent weeks have staked out election offices in Georgia , mounted armed protests in Arizona and left intimidating telephone messages for election officials across the country , in a campaign of harassment and menacing unlike any other in modern US history .
Experts who track right-wing extremists said they did not know who was behind the online effort , which includes several websites and associated social media accounts .
But they described it as a serious threat .
`` This is absolutely terrifying , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project Against Hate and Extremism .
`` This is among the most threatening websites I 've seen . ''
Internet records hide the identity of whoever set up the site .
Cybersecurity experts helping with election security said one of the pages was hosted in Russia , and some records include accounts registered through Yandex , a Russian email platform .
Those links do not necessarily mean that the Russian government is behind the effort , the experts said .
Requests for comment to email addresses associated with the website were not answered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated accounts on Facebook and Twitter had been taken down , but remained active on Parler and Gab , two social media networks favored by right-wing activists .
The site also targeted several employees of Dominion Voting Systems , a voting-machine vendor that has been subject to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories of vote manipulation .
A Dominion spokeswoman said those false claims have resulted in dangerous threats to the company and its workers .

WASHINGTON - The harassment campaign against U.S. election officials following President Donald Trump's defeat took an ominous turn on Thursday after a website surfaced that accused them of "treason" and included photographs and home addresses, drawing the attention of U.S. intelligence agencies.
The site, along with several associated social media accounts, included photographs of Republican and Democratic officials, with rifle crosshairs superimposed on them.
The FBI said on Thursday that it was aware of the issue. U.S. intelligence agencies are also looking into the website and its origins, a source said on Thursday.
Several of the officials targeted said the messaging amounted to a call for violence against those who worked to oversee the Nov. 3 election, which Trump lost to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. They urged Trump to denounce it.
"If anyone needs to be reminded that public calls for violence beget violence, this is the clarion call. If blood is spilled, it is on the hands of the president, his campaign, his lawyers, and the silent Republicans standing in the president's shadow," said Jim Walden, a lawyer for Christopher Krebs, who oversaw cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security until he was fired by Trump after the election.
Georgia's deputy secretary of state, Jordan Fuchs, likewise pointed the finger at the president.
"Trump and U.S. senators have refused to condemn these death threats," she told Reuters. "In fact, he continues to support those who are actively calling for elections officials to be shot."
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fuchs said Georgia officials had reported the site to law enforcement.
Trump has for weeks been alleging contrary to evidence that his 306-232 Electoral College defeat was the result of widespread fraud.
State and federal officials have said there is no evidence of any large scale fraud in the 2020 election or other recent U.S. elections.
Republican, Democratic and nonpartisan election authorities nationwide have faced intimidation, harassment and outright threats since the vote. Despite losing by more than 7 million votes, Trump has refused to concede and has challenged the outcome with lawsuits in multiple states. Courts so far have rejected those efforts.
Supporters of Trump in recent weeks have staked out election offices in Georgia, mounted armed protests in Arizona and left intimidating telephone messages for election officials across the country, in a campaign of harassment and menacing unlike any other in modern US history.
Experts who track right-wing extremists said they did not know who was behind the online effort, which includes several websites and associated social media accounts. But they described it as a serious threat.
"This is absolutely terrifying," said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. "This is among the most threatening websites I've seen."
Internet records hide the identity of whoever set up the site. Cybersecurity experts helping with election security said one of the pages was hosted in Russia, and some records include accounts registered through Yandex, a Russian email platform. Those links do not necessarily mean that the Russian government is behind the effort, the experts said.
Requests for comment to email addresses associated with the website were not answered.
As of early Thursday afternoon, associated accounts on Facebook and Twitter had been taken down, but remained active on Parler and Gab, two social media networks favored by right-wing activists.
The site also targeted several employees of Dominion Voting Systems, a voting-machine vendor that has been subject to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories of vote manipulation.
A Dominion spokeswoman said those false claims have resulted in dangerous threats to the company and its workers.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Illinois man found guilty in 2017 bombing of Somali mosque in Minnesota

After a five-week trial , a jury found Michael Hari , 49 , guilty on Wednesday of five federal charges related to the pipe bombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington , Minnesota , while worshipers were in the building for morning prayers , they said .
`` This act of violence , driven by hatred and ignorance , shook our community , ” US Attorney Erica MacDonald said in a statement .
The verdicts , she said , `` represent a condemnation of that hatred and uphold our fundamental right to live and worship free from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US District Judge Donovan Frank has yet to schedule a sentencing date , but Hari faces a mandatory minimum 35 years in prison , prosecutors said .
Hari and two accomplices , all from Clarence , Illinois , about 35 miles ( 56 km ) north of Champaign-Urbana , were arrested by FBI agents in March 2018 .
All three were indicted the following June , but the other two , Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris , pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing in January 2019 .
Prosecutors described Hari as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terrorist militia group called `` The White Rabbits '' and drove a rented pickup truck more than 500 miles ( 805 km ) on Aug. 4 and 5 , 2017 to bomb the Islamic center .
After using a sledgehammer to break the window of the Imam ’ s office at 5 a.m. on Aug. 5 , they threw a plastic container filled with a gasoline-diesel mixture into the building , followed by a 20-pound ( 9 kg ) black powder pipe bomb with a lit fuse , prosecutors said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they said .
The explosion damaged the Imam 's office and the resulting fire caused extensive fire and smoke damage , they added .

After a five-week trial, a jury found Michael Hari, 49, guilty on Wednesday of five federal charges related to the pipe bombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, while worshipers were in the building for morning prayers, they said.
"This act of violence, driven by hatred and ignorance, shook our community,” US Attorney Erica MacDonald said in a statement.
The verdicts, she said, "represent a condemnation of that hatred and uphold our fundamental right to live and worship free from the threat of violence and discrimination."
US District Judge Donovan Frank has yet to schedule a sentencing date, but Hari faces a mandatory minimum 35 years in prison, prosecutors said.
Hari and two accomplices, all from Clarence, Illinois, about 35 miles (56 km) north of Champaign-Urbana, were arrested by FBI agents in March 2018.
All three were indicted the following June, but the other two, Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris, pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing in January 2019.
Prosecutors described Hari as the ringleader who recruited the others into a terrorist militia group called "The White Rabbits" and drove a rented pickup truck more than 500 miles (805 km) on Aug. 4 and 5, 2017 to bomb the Islamic center.
After using a sledgehammer to break the window of the Imam’s office at 5 a.m. on Aug. 5, they threw a plastic container filled with a gasoline-diesel mixture into the building, followed by a 20-pound (9 kg) black powder pipe bomb with a lit fuse, prosecutors said.
The three men then drove back to Illinois, they said. The explosion damaged the Imam's office and the resulting fire caused extensive fire and smoke damage, they added.
An Illinois man has been convicted of the 2017 bombing of a mosque outside of Minneapolis that shook the community of Somali immigrants it serves but caused no injuries, federal prosecutors said.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--UK PM Johnson says no deal Brexit now 'a strong possibility'

The European Union and Britain are at loggerheads over fishing rights , economic fair play and dispute settlement despite months of talks on a new trade deal to keep an estimated trillion dollars of commerce free of tariffs or quotas from 2021 .
`` We need to be very , very clear there 's now a strong possibility , strong possibility that we will have a solution that 's much more like an Australian relationship with the EU , than a Canadian relationship with the EU , '' Johnson said .
`` It does n't mean it 's a bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's largest trading bloc with 27 countries and 450 million consumers , does not have a free trade accord with Australia .
Under such a scenario Britain , the world 's sixth biggest economy , would see trade barriers spike with the EU , its main economic partner , in just three weeks time as it completes its transition out of the bloc following Brexit .
Johnson and the EU 's chief executive , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , failed to overcome persistent divisions over a dinner in Brussels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiators extra time to seal an agreement and said they would decide the next steps by the end of the week , the bloc set out on Thursday its contingency plans for the split in trading ties from midnight on Dec. 31 .

The European Union and Britain are at loggerheads over fishing rights, economic fair play and dispute settlement despite months of talks on a new trade deal to keep an estimated trillion dollars of commerce free of tariffs or quotas from 2021.
"We need to be very, very clear there's now a strong possibility, strong possibility that we will have a solution that's much more like an Australian relationship with the EU, than a Canadian relationship with the EU," Johnson said.
"It doesn't mean it's a bad thing."
The EU, the world's largest trading bloc with 27 countries and 450 million consumers, does not have a free trade accord with Australia.
Under such a scenario Britain, the world's sixth biggest economy, would see trade barriers spike with the EU, its main economic partner, in just three weeks time as it completes its transition out of the bloc following Brexit.
Johnson and the EU's chief executive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, failed to overcome persistent divisions over a dinner in Brussels on Wednesday.
While they gave their negotiators extra time to seal an agreement and said they would decide the next steps by the end of the week, the bloc set out on Thursday its contingency plans for the split in trading ties from midnight on Dec. 31.
LONDON/BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday there was "a strong possibility" Britain and the EU would fail to safeguard free trade past the end of the year, a prospect that has weighed on the pound as markets see increasing risk of economic rupture.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--US COVID deaths smash daily record amid pleas to trim back Christmas

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - The daily US death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 3,000 for the first time , prompting pleas for Americans to scale back Christmas plans even with vaccines on the cusp of winning regulatory approval .
COVID-19 deaths reached 3,253 on Wednesday , pushing up the US total since the start of the pandemic to 289,740 .
A record 106,219 people were hospitalized with the highly infectious respiratory disease .
Healthcare professionals and support staff , exhausted by demands of the pandemic , have been watching patients die alone as millions of Americans refuse to follow medical advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain the spread .
Nursing home residents and staff have also felt the burden .
`` This is a pandemic that no one has ever experienced in our lifetimes , '' Stephen Hanse , president of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted Living , told Reuters on Thursday .
The one-day death toll exceeded the number of lives lost from the attacks of Sept. 11 , 2001 , underscoring the human toll and the call for Americans to redouble efforts .
`` No Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas party in this country right now , '' Dr. Michael Osterholm , a member of US President-elect Joe Biden 's COVID-19 advisory board , told CNN on Thursday .
`` It wo n't end after that but that is the period right now where we could have a surge upon a surge upon a surge , '' Osterholm said .
In the meantime , intensive care units at hundreds of hospitals across the country were at or near capacity , data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ having no ICU beds on Wednesday , according to state health figures analyzed by Reuters .
Besides the human cost , the pandemic has forced millions out of work as state and local officials impose restrictions on social and economic life to contain the outbreak .
Congress , meanwhile , has struggled to end a months-long stalemate over economic assistance .
Disagreements remain over business liability protections demanded by Republicans and aid to state and local governments sought by Democrats before a final deal is reached on pandemic assistance .

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - The daily US death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 3,000 for the first time, prompting pleas for Americans to scale back Christmas plans even with vaccines on the cusp of winning regulatory approval.
COVID-19 deaths reached 3,253 on Wednesday, pushing up the US total since the start of the pandemic to 289,740. A record 106,219 people were hospitalized with the highly infectious respiratory disease.
Healthcare professionals and support staff, exhausted by demands of the pandemic, have been watching patients die alone as millions of Americans refuse to follow medical advice to wear masks and avoid crowds to contain the spread.
Nursing home residents and staff have also felt the burden.
"This is a pandemic that no one has ever experienced in our lifetimes," Stephen Hanse, president of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted Living, told Reuters on Thursday.
The one-day death toll exceeded the number of lives lost from the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, underscoring the human toll and the call for Americans to redouble efforts.
"No Christmas parties. There is not a safe Christmas party in this country right now," Dr. Michael Osterholm, a member of US President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board, told CNN on Thursday.
"It won't end after that but that is the period right now where we could have a surge upon a surge upon a surge," Osterholm said.
In the meantime, intensive care units at hundreds of hospitals across the country were at or near capacity, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed.
Ten mostly rural counties in California reported having no ICU beds on Wednesday, according to state health figures analyzed by Reuters.
Besides the human cost, the pandemic has forced millions out of work as state and local officials impose restrictions on social and economic life to contain the outbreak.
Congress, meanwhile, has struggled to end a months-long stalemate over economic assistance.
Disagreements remain over business liability protections demanded by Republicans and aid to state and local governments sought by Democrats before a final deal is reached on pandemic assistance.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Comedian Ellen Degeneres says she tested positive for COVID-19

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US Comedian Ellen Degeneres announced on Thursday via Twitter that she has tested positive for COVID-19."Fortunately, I am feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in close contact with me has been notified, and I am following all proper CDC guidelines. I'll see you all again after the holidays. Please stay healthy and safe," Ellen wrote.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--UN experts call for release of Saudi women's rights activist

GENEVA - Saudi women 's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul appeared before a special terrorism court in Riyadh on Thursday , her family said , on charges UN human rights experts called `` spurious '' and they called for her immediate release .
Hathloul has been held since 2018 after being arrested along with at least a dozen other women 's rights activists .
Saudi officials have said the arrests were made on suspicion of harming Saudi interests and offering support to hostile elements abroad .
`` We are extremely alarmed to hear that Ms Al-Hathloul , who has been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spurious charges , is now being tried by a Specialized Terrorism Court , '' said Elizabeth Broderick , chair of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls , in a statement .
Hathloul was being tried `` for exercising her fundamental rights to freedom of expression , peaceful assembly and association , '' she added .
`` We call once again on Saudi Arabia to immediately release Ms. Al-Hathloul , a woman human rights defender who has greatly contributed to advancing women 's rights in a country where gender discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabric of society , '' she said .
Hathloul , now 31 , had testified before the same UN watchdog panel in 2018 .
After reviewing the kingdom 's record , the panel called on it to end discriminatory practices against women including its pervasive system of male guardianship and to give them full access to justice .
Independent UN investigators on torture , human rights defenders , protecting human rights while countering terrorism , and freedom of assembly also co-signed Thursday 's statement .
Rights groups say some of the women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement for months and subjected to abuse including electric shocks , flogging and sexual assault .

GENEVA - Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul appeared before a special terrorism court in Riyadh on Thursday, her family said, on charges UN human rights experts called "spurious" and they called for her immediate release.
Hathloul has been held since 2018 after being arrested along with at least a dozen other women's rights activists.
Saudi officials have said the arrests were made on suspicion of harming Saudi interests and offering support to hostile elements abroad.
"We are extremely alarmed to hear that Ms Al-Hathloul, who has been in detention for more than two years on spurious charges, is now being tried by a Specialized Terrorism Court," said Elizabeth Broderick, chair of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls, in a statement.
Hathloul was being tried "for exercising her fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association," she added.
"We call once again on Saudi Arabia to immediately release Ms. Al-Hathloul, a woman human rights defender who has greatly contributed to advancing women's rights in a country where gender discrimination and stereotyping are deeply entrenched in the fabric of society," she said.
Hathloul, now 31, had testified before the same UN watchdog panel in 2018. After reviewing the kingdom's record, the panel called on it to end discriminatory practices against women including its pervasive system of male guardianship and to give them full access to justice.
Independent UN investigators on torture, human rights defenders, protecting human rights while countering terrorism, and freedom of assembly also co-signed Thursday's statement.
Rights groups say some of the women, including Hathloul, were held in solitary confinement for months and subjected to abuse including electric shocks, flogging and sexual assault.
Saudi officials have denied torture allegations.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Kfar Manda declared restricted zone for an additional two days

The Ministerial Committee for Declaring Restrictive Zones extended the period in which Kfar Manda is considered a restricted zone under coronavirus regulations for an additional two days.The decision, made on Thursday, comes following a recommendation by the Health Ministry.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Two Russian diplomats expelled from the Netherlands over alleged spying

AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands on Thursday ordered two Russian diplomats be expelled over allegations of spying , Dutch news agency @ @ @ @ @ intelligence agency AIVD said in a statement it had uncovered a spying operation by diplomats @ @ @ @ @ in The Hague .

AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands on Thursday ordered two Russian diplomats be expelled over allegations of spying, Dutch news agency ANP reported.
The Dutch intelligence agency AIVD said in a statement it had uncovered a spying operation by diplomats working at the Russian embassy in The Hague.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Car bomb kills at least four in Turkish-controlled north Syria

ANKARA - At least four people were killed in a Turkish-controlled region of northern Syria on Thursday when a car @ @ @ @ @ in the border town of Ras Al Ain , according to a Turkish official and @ @ @ @ @ governor 's office in the Turkish town of Sanliurfa identified the dead as two Turkish @ @ @ @ @ of local Syrian security forces .
It blamed the blast on the Syrian Kurdish YPG @ @ @ @ @ a terrorist group .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , a UK-based war monitor @ @ @ @ @ toll at 12 , including seven Syrian fighters , two Turkish security personel , two @ @ @ @ @ .
Turkey , which is allied with some Syrian rebel groups opposed to Syrian President @ @ @ @ @ of the town last year in an offensive to push back YPG fighters from the @ @

ANKARA - At least four people were killed in a Turkish-controlled region of northern Syria on Thursday when a car bomb detonated at a checkpoint in the border town of Ras Al Ain, according to a Turkish official and a war monitor.
The governor's office in the Turkish town of Sanliurfa identified the dead as two Turkish police gendarmes and two members of local Syrian security forces. It blamed the blast on the Syrian Kurdish YPG, which Ankara views as a terrorist group.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, put the total death toll at 12, including seven Syrian fighters, two Turkish security personel, two civilians and one unidentified victim.
Turkey, which is allied with some Syrian rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, seized control of the town last year in an offensive to push back YPG fighters from the border.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Libya's LNA says it has released Turkish ship

BENGHAZI, Libya - The eastern-based Libyan National Army said on Thursday it had released a Turkish ship it seized near the port city of Derna on Monday, an incident that triggered condemnation from Ankara which backs the opposing side in Libya's civil war.


jerusalempost--2020-12-10--Magnitude 6.7 quake strikes off Taiwan's northeastern coast

The quake was centered off Taiwan 's northeastern coast with a depth of 77 kilometers ( 48 miles ) , @ @ @ @ @ Buildings shook briefly in the capital Taipei but there were no immediate reports of injuries @ @ @ @

The quake was centered off Taiwan's northeastern coast with a depth of 77 kilometers (48 miles), the weather bureau said. Buildings shook briefly in the capital Taipei but there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.
TAIPEI - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 shook northern parts of Taiwan late on Thursday, according to the island's Central Weather Bureau.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Two children killed in car accident near Jerusalem

Two children , a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old were killed on Friday afternoon , following a car accident just outside of Jerusalem , a Magen David Adom ( MDA ) spokesperson said .
Two other individuals , a 14-year-old passenger and a 25-year-old who was driving the car were critically injured and were evacuated to the Hadassah Hospital .
Both suffered multi-system injuries .
`` In a car crash near Sha'ar Hagai interchange MDA paramedics were forced to pronounce the deaths of a 5-year-old child and a 7-year-old child on the scene , '' MDA announced .
MDA paramedic Ilan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the scene , we saw a private vehicle that had crashed into a truck .
Four individuals were laying outside of the vehicle , including a 5 and 7 year-old children who were unconscious , showed no signs of a pulse and were not breathing , while suffering from multi-system injuries .
After checking their vital signs we were forced to pronounce their deaths on the scene .
A 14-year-old teenager and the driver , a 25-year-old were suffering from serious multi-system injuries and were rushed to the hospital in critical condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Some 21 children up to the age of 14 have lost their lives in car accidents during 2020 , with 149 children being critically injured , according to data published by the National Road Safety Authority .

Yedidya Yungreis, 5, and his older brother, Elishav Yungreis, 7, from Beit El were killed on Friday afternoon in a car accident just outside of Jerusalem, a Magen David Adom (MDA) spokesperson said.
On Saturday evening, Hadassah announced that Yair, the 10-year-old who was critically injured is in stable condition and fully conscious. The 25-year-old uncle is intubated and sedated, following an orthopedic surgery. Two other family members, 10-year-old Yair Yungreis and his 25-year-old uncle who was driving the car were critically injured and were evacuated to the Hadassah Hospital. Both suffered multi-system injuries.On Saturday evening, Hadassah announced that Yair, the 10-year-old who was critically injured is in stable condition and fully conscious. The 25-year-old uncle is intubated and sedated, following an orthopedic surgery.
Initial findings indicate that the accident took place after the private vehicle crashed for unknown reasons into a truck that was standing by the side of the road leading to Jerusalem, near Sha'ar Hagai interchange.
"In a car crash near Sha'ar Hagai interchange MDA paramedics were forced to pronounce the deaths of a 5-year-old child and a 7-year-old child on the scene," MDA announced.
Head of the Beit El Local Council consoled the Yungreis family and promised to provide any help the mourning family might require. "The Beit El family joins the Yungreis family in mourning the painful tragedy of losing their two young children Yedidya and Elishav. We will do everything in our power together with Beit El's great community to provide the parents, Yaakov and Rachel, as well as the grandparents, all of the support they may need during these challenging times." MDA paramedic Ilan Gur Ari added that "when arriving to the scene, we saw a private vehicle that had crashed into a truck. Four individuals were laying outside of the vehicle, including a 5 and 7 year-old children who were unconscious, showed no signs of a pulse and were not breathing, while suffering from multi-system injuries. After checking their vital signs we were forced to pronounce their deaths on the scene. A 14-year-old teenager and the driver, a 25-year-old were suffering from serious multi-system injuries and were rushed to the hospital in critical condition after receiving primary care on the scene."Head of the Beit El Local Council consoled the Yungreis family and promised to provide any help the mourning family might require. "The Beit El family joins the Yungreis family in mourning the painful tragedy of losing their two young children Yedidya and Elishav. We will do everything in our power together with Beit El's great community to provide the parents, Yaakov and Rachel, as well as the grandparents, all of the support they may need during these challenging times."
Following the tragic accident, Chairman of the Knesset Subcommittee on Road Safety, MK Boaz Toporovsky noted that this deadly reality will not change without a comprehensive, well-budgeted, plan.
"Two Knesset emergency meetings were held in the past month on the death of children in car crashes and the involvement of heavy vehicles in these kinds of accidents. The tragic accident that happened a few hours ago has proven to us that the Israeli government and the Transportation Ministry have to promote a comprehensive plan with great financial resources in order to actually change this reality and save people's lives on the roads," Toporovsky said, according to Maariv.
Toporovsky added that "the amount of car accidents caused by vehicles stopping on the road's margins, requires a new approach for using and defining margins. The committee headed by me will continue to offer and criticize short-term solutions as well as a long-term vision that will aim to prevent the next accident."
According to data published by the National Road Safety Authority, some 21 children up to the age of 14 have lost their lives in car accidents during 2020, with 149 children being critically injured.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--US to approve of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in coming days - report

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday it was working rapidly to issue an emergency use authorization for Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine, setting the stage for the first Americans to be immunized as soon as Monday or Tuesday.
The FDA's decision making follows one of the last steps of its regulatory process: a panel of outside advisers on Thursday evening endorsed emergency use of the vaccine to help stem a pandemic that has killed more than 285,000 US residents.
US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, which oversees the FDA, told ABC News that regulatory authorization should come within days and the federal government would work with the company to get the vaccine shipped out.
Pfizer has asked that the two-dose vaccine, developed with German partner BioNTech, be approved for use in people aged 16 to 85.
The companies last month said that a two-dose regimen of the vaccine was 95% effective in preventing illness from COVID-19, and detailed data released in the FDA's documents showed the vaccine began showing some protection even before volunteers received a second dose.
The vaccine is already approved in Britain, and people there began receiving the shots on Tuesday. Bahrain and Canada have also authorized the vaccine, and Canada expects to start inoculations next week.
The FDA has notified the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed so that they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution, it said in a statement.
Healthcare workers, first responders and nursing home residents are expected to receive the first doses, but a wider rollout faces significant logistical challenges.
Another 2,902 US deaths were reported on Thursday, a day after a record 3,253 people died, a pace projected to continue for the next two to three months until the vaccine can be widely distributed.
For months, US President Donald Trump had pressured the FDA in tweets and press conferences to move more quickly, accusing staff and Pfizer of dragging their feet.
Shortly after the FDA's statement, the outgoing president criticized the agency for what he said was its slow handling of the vaccines and criticized FDA Commissioner Steven Hahn.
Trump said his "pushing" the agency had speed up new vaccine approval, but that the FDA was "still a big, old, slow turtle. Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn @SteveFDA. Stop playing games and start saving lives!!!"
Pfizer shares rose 1% before the opening bell, while BioNTech US shares were flat.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Russia says 6 officers hurt in Caucasus attack, bomber blew himself up

Six Russian law enforcement officers were hurt in a bomb attack in the North Caucasus region on Friday as they tried to arrest a man who blew himself up, the TASS news agency cited the National Counter-Terrorism Committee as saying.At least two people were wounded on Friday in an explosion caused by a suspected suicide bomber outside a local Federal Security Service building in Russia's North Caucasus.Interfax news agency quoted an unspecified source as saying the attack was in the Karachay-Cherkessia area of the volatile, mainly-Muslim region and that two people were hurt.State television channel Vesti said at least six people were injured and that the attack was in the village of Uchkeken, but provided no sources for the information.There was no immediate comment from authorities.Russia has been hit by bomb attacks carried out by Islamist rebels from the North Caucasus in the past, although Moscow has largely crushed their insurgency.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Erdoğan says US sanctions disrespect ally Turkey - report

President Tayyip Erdoğan said that US sanctions over Turkey's purchase of Russian defense systems was disrespectful to an important ally in NATO, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Friday.After sources told Reuters that Washington was poised to impose sanctions on Turkey, Anadolu cited Erdoğan as saying that Turkey will be patient and see what trend emerges after the new US administration takes office next month.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--First-ever woman appointed to IDF Commissioner of Soldiers’ Complaints

Brigadier-General (res.) Rachel Tevet-Wiesel was appointed the Commissioner of Soldiers’ Complaints, the IDF announced Friday. She is the first woman who will fill the role of military Ombudsman.Tevet-Wiesel currently serves as the head of the National Road Safety Authority and previously served as the gender affairs advisor to the IDF Chief of Staff.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Coronavirus in Israel: 1,865 new cases on Thursday

There were 1,865 new coronavirus cases in Israel on Thursday the Health Ministry announced Friday morning.The Health Ministry also announced they conducted 70,960 tests - around 2.7% of tests returned a positive result. Some 320 of current patients are in serious condition, with 108 intubated. The death toll is 2,962.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Mexico reports 11,897 new coronavirus cases, 671 more deaths

Mexico's health ministry on Thursday reported 11,897 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 671 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,217,126 cases and 112,326 deaths.The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.


jerusalempost--2020-12-12--FDA approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use - NYT

WASHINGTON - The US Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer Inc 's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ , citing two people with knowledge of the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity @

Israelis could begin getting vaccinated as early as this week, after the US Food and Drug Administration said it authorized the use of Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, marking a turning point in the United States’ and Israel’s war against the pandemic, where it has killed almost 300,000 people.“I am pleased that Pfizer’s vaccine has undergone a critical phase with FDA approval ,” said Health Minister Yuli Edelstein on Friday, just after the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted in support of the agency granting Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), which paved the way for the vaccine’s approval. “This is a huge message for Israeli citizens as well.”He said that he instructed his ministry’s staff to review the approval and submit their recommendations in the coming days so that vaccinations could start before the end of the month.The Health Ministry, the health funds and Magen David Adom, along with representatives of Israel’s senior living centers and likely the Home Front Command, are all preparing for mass vaccination of the Israeli population.Inoculation was expected to begin in two weeks on December 27, but the Health Ministry said it is considering moving it up as early as this week.Cyrille Cohen, who sits on the Advisory Committee for Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccines through the Health Ministry, told The Jerusalem Post that “the FDA awarding an EUA is definitely a step in the right direction as far as the approval in Israel is concerned.” But he cautioned that Israel’s Health Ministry is the only one that can grant an approval of the same type for the vaccine to be used in the country.Last week, Health Ministry director-general Chezy Levy said that the ministry was working to “reduce bureaucracy, but we will not compromise on the safety of the vaccine.”Dr. Boaz Lev, the ombudsman for medical professions at the Health Ministry, revealed that the first to be inoculated would be medical personnel, senior citizens and those with pre-existing medical conditions that put them at risk for a serious case of COVID-19.However, he said during a Thursday briefing that the ministry is considering opening the vaccination at the beginning to more groups to encourage more people to agree to receive the shots.More than 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Israel last week and more are expected to come before the end of December. Israel ordered a total of eight million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough to vaccinate four million Israelis.“It is very important to vaccinate against coronavirus,” Coronavirus commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash said over the weekend during visits to Arab towns and neighborhoods. “This is our chance to get out of this pandemic. Everyone: Go out to get vaccinated.”Ash noted that he had reviewed the data published about the vaccine’s efficacy and safety, as was published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. “The data is very good,” he said. “The vaccine is effective.”He also noted that after tracking side-effects for four months, no serious incidents had arisen.“I am personally positively considering getting vaccinated against COVID-19,” Cohen told the Post.Ran Balicer, chairman of the COVID-19 national experts team, also said he would get vaccinated.“My fear of the disease is greater than that of the vaccine,” he said Saturday night in an interview with Channel 12.And FDA head Stephen Hahn said he was ready for a vaccination as soon as it is available.Hahn, speaking during a press conference, defended the fastest-ever vaccine process, saying the agency did not sacrifice safety in return for speed. He also described as inaccurate press reports that said President Donald Trump’s administration had threatened to fire him if the FDA did not approve the authorization by a certain date.The FDA granted an EUA for the vaccine, developed with German partner BioNTech, which was shown to be 95% effective in preventing the disease in a late-stage trial.The FDA said the vaccine can be given to people aged 16 and older.“The first vaccine will be administered in less than 24 hours,” US President Donald Trump said in a video posted on Twitter. “I am proud to say we have made sure this vaccine will be free for all Americans.”The US government has said it will begin distributing the vaccine around the country immediately after FDA authorization and that the first inoculations would happen early next week.Millions of Americans could begin getting vaccinated this month, especially if a second vaccine from Moderna Inc. is quickly approved.The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was first approved in Britain earlier this month, and UK residents began receiving the shots on Tuesday. Canada also authorized the vaccine and expects to start inoculations this week. Mexico and Bahrain have also approved the vaccine.The EUA comes at a time when infections, hospitalizations and deaths are soaring to record levels in the United States, which has so far failed in its coordinated effort to slow the spread of the virus.The one-day COVID-19 death total topped 3,000 this past week, while hospital intensive care units across the country are nearing capacity, threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems.“The EUA was anticipated and it is one step in a sequence of steps that will bring this pandemic to an end,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.“I’m not going to feel that there is an EUA tomorrow when I’m taking care of COVID-19 patients,” he said. “A lot of people will be infected, a lot will be hospitalized and a lot will die before the vaccine is able to have a meaningful impact on spread.”At the same time, infection is rising in Israel.There were 1,818 people diagnosed with coronavirus on Friday, the Health Ministry reported Saturday evening, with 2.4% of those screened testing positive. Some 331 people were in serious condition, including 123 who were intubated. The death toll stood at 2,979.Others with vaccines in advanced development include Moderna, which could win emergency US authorization as soon as this week; AstraZeneca Plc. with Oxford University; and Johnson & Johnson.Israel has contracts with both Moderna and AstraZeneca.SPEAKING LAST week during a visit by Edelstein and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. unit Teva Israel-SLE – which signed an exclusive agreement with the state to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations in Israel and is preparing to store millions of vaccine doses in special cooling conditions – a representative of the company said that four million Pfizer and three million Moderna vaccine doses were expected to arrive at the center by January 1.BioNTech began developing the vaccine in January, using a technology called synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) that had yet to produce an approved product. The technology uses a chemical messenger to instruct cells to make proteins that mimic part of the new coronavirus, which the immune system learns to recognize as an invader. BioNTech struck a development deal with Pfizer in March.The vaccine comes with complex distribution challenges as it must be shipped and stored at -70°C, requiring specialized ultra-cold freezers or supplies of dry ice.Moderna’s vaccine employs the same technology but does not need to be stored at sub-Arctic temperatures.The health funds are establishing hundreds of vaccination complexes and plan to contact those eligible for vaccination via text message, similar to how they reached out to people this year for their flu vaccine.Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccine require two doses each to maximize efficacy. There is a 21-day window between the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine; it is still unclear how the health funds will ensure that people come back for their second dose.The prime minister is expected to visit a Maccabi health fund drive-in vaccination complex in Tel Aviv today and to speak more about the process.


jerusalempost--2020-12-12--Mexico's senior Catholic leader backs civil unions for gay couples

Mexico is the second-biggest Catholic country after Brazil with around 80 % of its nearly 130 million people affiliated with the church .
It has historically been conservative-leaning on social issues .
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar , archbishop of Mexico City , said in an interview that he backs the pope 's comments from a documentary that premiered in October and used previously unseen footage from an interview he gave to Mexican broadcaster Televisa .
The comments marked the first time a sitting pope had advocated any legal protections for gay couples .
`` I completely agree , '' said Aguiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who spoke ahead of Saturday 's feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe , one of the Mexican Church 's most important annual celebrations .
In the documentary , entitled `` Francesco , '' the pope says , `` Homosexual people have the right to be in a family , they are children of god , '' and `` what we have to have is a civil union law , that way they are legally covered . ''
The pope 's comments did not signal any change in church doctrine on homosexuality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vatican emphasized after the remarks made headlines across the globe .
But Francis ' more open and inclusive tone has marked a sharp contrast with his more conservative predecessor , Pope Benedict XVI .
`` All of us are children of god , all are members of the family , and if we 're fighting so that families are united , regardless of their conduct , they do n't stop being our children .
And that 's what Pope Francis said , everyone has the right to family , '' said Aguiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against both abortion rights and same-sex marriage , argued that parents should never reject their openly gay children .
`` Because if , as it happens unfortunately , a son in a family declares himself openly homosexual , then they do n't want to have anything to do with him .
And that ca n't be , it just ca n't be , '' he said , echoing Francis ' sentiments .
`` If they decide as a matter of free choice to be with another person , to be in a union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Like the Argentine pontiff , the 70-year-old Aguiar touts landmark church reforms in the 1960s that pushed the church closer to the faithful and also embraced a social teaching aimed at alleviating human misery , while focusing less on what Aguiar called the `` clerical mentality '' that prioritizes the institution .
`` The key point was to move away from a church that defended itself from the world , '' he said .
Aguiar added that much work remains to address poverty and inequality in Mexico and the surrounding region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world that 's most unequal , '' he said , `` and many of us here are Catholic !
`` What kind of witness is that ? ''

Mexico is the second-biggest Catholic country after Brazil with around 80% of its nearly 130 million people affiliated with the church. It has historically been conservative-leaning on social issues.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar, archbishop of Mexico City, said in an interview that he backs the pope's comments from a documentary that premiered in October and used previously unseen footage from an interview he gave to Mexican broadcaster Televisa. The comments marked the first time a sitting pope had advocated any legal protections for gay couples.
"I completely agree," said Aguiar, a long-time ally of Pope Francis, who spoke ahead of Saturday's feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, one of the Mexican Church's most important annual celebrations.
In the documentary, entitled "Francesco," the pope says, "Homosexual people have the right to be in a family, they are children of god," and "what we have to have is a civil union law, that way they are legally covered."
The pope's comments did not signal any change in church doctrine on homosexuality or support for same-sex marriage, which the Vatican emphasized after the remarks made headlines across the globe.
But Francis' more open and inclusive tone has marked a sharp contrast with his more conservative predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
"All of us are children of god, all are members of the family, and if we're fighting so that families are united, regardless of their conduct, they don't stop being our children. And that's what Pope Francis said, everyone has the right to family," said Aguiar.
The cardinal, who has lobbied against both abortion rights and same-sex marriage, argued that parents should never reject their openly gay children.
"Because if, as it happens unfortunately, a son in a family declares himself openly homosexual, then they don't want to have anything to do with him. And that can't be, it just can't be," he said, echoing Francis' sentiments.
"If they decide as a matter of free choice to be with another person, to be in a union, that's freedom," he said.
Like the Argentine pontiff, the 70-year-old Aguiar touts landmark church reforms in the 1960s that pushed the church closer to the faithful and also embraced a social teaching aimed at alleviating human misery, while focusing less on what Aguiar called the "clerical mentality" that prioritizes the institution.
"The key point was to move away from a church that defended itself from the world," he said.
Aguiar added that much work remains to address poverty and inequality in Mexico and the surrounding region.
"Latin America is the part of the world that's most unequal," he said, "and many of us here are Catholic!
"What kind of witness is that?"
The Mexican Catholic Church's highest-ranking bishop agrees with recent comments by Pope Francis in support of legal protections offered by civil unions for gay couples, the prelate told Reuters, stressing that no family member should ever be rejected.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Trump administration moves forward on weapons sale to Morocco

President Donald Trump 's administration moved forward with $ 1 billion in sales of drones and precision-guided weapons to Morocco @ @ @ @ @ notice to Congress about the potential deals , according to sources familiar with the notification @

President Donald Trump's administration moved forward with $1 billion in sales of drones and precision-guided weapons to Morocco on Friday, sending a notice to Congress about the potential deals, according to sources familiar with the notification.
Products in the sales include four MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by privately-held General Atomics, and Hellfire, Paveway and JDAM precision-guided munitions made by Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing, the sources said.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--US gov't orders 100 million more doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine

The government has ordered a total of 200 million doses till date , the company said .

The government has ordered a total of 200 million doses till date, the company said.
Moderna Inc. said on Friday the US government has exercised its option to purchase an additional 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.


jerusalempost--2020-12-11--Man shot dead in Kafr Kassem, two others injured in shooting

A man was shot dead in Kafr Kassem, an Arab-majority city in central Israel on Friday night, Israel Police reported. Two others were lightly to moderately injured by the shooter, who fled the scene.The three were evacuated by private ambulance to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where the death of one of them was determined.The identity of the shooter has not yet been determined and police have opened an investigation into the incident.