jerusalempost--2020-08-12--UN decries violence in protests by authorities in Belarus, 6,000 detained

Bachelet said police were reported to have used excessive force , firing rubber bullets , using water cannons and throwing @ @ @ @ @ suggest that more ( than ) approximately 6,000 people have been detained in the last @ @ @ @ @ , as well as minors , suggesting a trend of massive arrests in clear violation @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said in a statement .

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday condemned the use of violence by Belarusian authorities to peaceful protests after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in Sunday's election.
Bachelet said police were reported to have used excessive force, firing rubber bullets, using water cannons and throwing stun grenades.
"Reports suggest that more (than) approximately 6,000 people have been detained in the last three days, including bystanders, as well as minors, suggesting a trend of massive arrests in clear violation of international human rights standards," she said in a statement.
Even more disturbing are the reports of ill-treatment during and after detention," she said, calling for the release of all those unlawfully detained and for investigations into abuses.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Russia, Saudi Arabia pledge help to Lebanon after Beirut blast

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, pledged help on Wednesday to Lebanon following last week's devastating blast in Beirut port, the Russian foreign ministry said.The two men also agreed during a telephone conversation on the importance of creating "beneficial external conditions" for the Lebanese people to form a new government based on dialog between all ethnic and religious groups.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Israeli tourists could be able to visit Greece without entering quarantine

Israel and Greece came to an agreement on Wednesday that should allow Israeli tourists to enter the country without being forced to enter quarantine, according to Israeli media.In a phone call between Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and his Greek counterpart, both sides agreed to specify certain sites that Israeli tourists will be able to visit, as the EU prevents Greece from accepting tourists from "red countries."The Greek foreign minister will reportedly visit Israel tomorrow and finalize the details regarding the agreement.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Three people die in Scottish train derailment

Dark smoke billowed from a woodland area at the bottom of a narrow valley near Stonehaven , just south of @ @ @ @ @ after the ScotRail train derailed in the morning following heavy rain overnight .
Two air @ @ @ @ @ service vehicles could be seen in a field just above the site of the derailment @ @ @ @ @ difficult to access .
The stricken train could not be seen on television footage .
@ @ @ @ @ with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident , @ @ @ @ @ minister of Scotland 's semi-autonomous government .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was @ @ @ @ @ `` very serious incident '' and his thoughts were with all those affected .
Police @ @ @ @ @ derailing near Stonehaven , 15 km ( 9 miles ) south of Aberdeen , at @ @ @ @ @

A train derailed in eastern Scotland on Wednesday, killing three people, in what Scottish premier Nicola Sturgeon described as an extremely serious incident.
Dark smoke billowed from a woodland area at the bottom of a narrow valley near Stonehaven, just south of the city of Aberdeen, after the ScotRail train derailed in the morning following heavy rain overnight.
Two air ambulances and about 30 emergency service vehicles could be seen in a field just above the site of the derailment, which appeared to be difficult to access. The stricken train could not be seen on television footage.
"My deepest condolences are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident," said Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland's semi-autonomous government.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was saddened to learn of the "very serious incident" and his thoughts were with all those affected.
Police received reports of a train derailing near Stonehaven, 15 km (9 miles) south of Aberdeen, at 0940 a.m. on Wednesday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Countries Israelis can fly and return without quarantine to be announced

The countries in which Israelis will be allowed to fly and return without needing to quarantine will be announced on Thursday at 4 p.m.The decision was made in a joint agreement by the Transport Ministry, Health Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday evening, following which discussions are set to continue until Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Incendiary balloons located and neutralized in southern Israel

Israel Police announced on Wednesday that officials located balloons with a suspicions object attached to them at the entrance of the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel.Police detectives, accompanied by a bomb disposal squad, concluded after a close examination that the attached object was in fact an explosive device and neutralized it on the spot.No injuries or property damage was reported.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Supreme Court shortens Avi Nesher's killer's sentence to three years

The Supreme Court accepted an appeal by Avi Nesher's killer, Itzhak Asefa, on Wednesday and cut a year and half off of his sentence, bringing it down to a total of only three years."We've been seeing a positive trend with Asefa, who's been expressing an understanding of the consequences of his actions, while taking responsibility over his offenses," the judges said.Asefa, a soccer player, was found guilty over the car crash that killed Nesher in 2018 in Tel Aviv.


jerusalempost--2020-08-12--Netanyahu, Lapid blame each other for possibly going to elections

Following the Knesset vote on Wednesday that rejected a bill that would have prevented anyone indicted of serious crimes, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from forming a government, Lapid said that the prime minister's speech was proof that he is preparing for elections and ignoring the people who have been harmed by his failure to handle the health and economic crises.When Netanyahu descended from the plenum to his office Kan News Knesset correspondent Yaara Shapira asked him if Israel will be going to elections."It's what Yair Lapid wants, and we will do everything to ensure that he will not get want he wants" Netanyahu said.In response to a follow-up question about whether he is working on a compromise on the state budget, Netanyahu said "all the time."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Trump: US Post Office, election funds stalling coronavirus relief talks

Democrat demands that a coronavirus relief bill include federal aid for the currently overtaxed post office and funding for the upcoming US election have become major sticking points in negotiations for legislation members of both say needs to be passed soon, President Donald Trump said on Thursday."The items are the post office and the $3.5 billion for mail-in voting," he told Fox Business Network, saying Democrats want to give the post office $25 billion. "If we don't make the deal, that means can't have the money, that means they can't have universal mail-in voting. It's just can't happen."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Likud, Blue and White teams meeting now

Likud, Blue and White teams meeting now

Higher Education Minister Ze'ev Elkin and Knesset speaker Yariv Levin are representing Likud .
Blue and White 's team is @ @ @ @ @ Culture Minister Chili Tropper and the director-general of the Alternate Prime Minister 's Office Hod @ @ @ @ @ to reach an agreement on the state budget and other key issues .

Higher Education Minister Ze'ev Elkin and Knesset speaker Yariv Levin are representing Likud. Blue and White's team is Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn, Culture Minister Chili Tropper and the director-general of the Alternate Prime Minister's Office Hod Betzer.
They will try to reach an agreement on the state budget and other key issues.
Representatives of Likud and Blue and White are meeting on Thursday afternoon in an effort to resolve the coalition crisis.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Belarus starts to release prisoners as EU weighs sanctions

Some of those released in the capital Minsk had bruises and described being tightly packed inside cells and complained of mistreatment , including beatings .
A spokeswoman for the interior ministry declined immediate comment .
People outside the Okrestina detention center , some in tears , waited in the hope of gleaning news of friends and relatives inside .
Police and soldiers with machine guns drove them away when they got too close to the entrance .
The government said that 700 more people had been detained in a fourth night of clashes on Wednesday between police and protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend his 26-year-long rule of the eastern European country .
Lukashenko , alleging a foreign-backed plot to destabilize the country , has dismissed them as criminals and unemployed people .
Sergei , one of the freed detainees , said there had been 28 people in a cell that would normally contain five .
Prisoners took turns to sleep , he said , and were given a single loaf of bread to share out over two days .
`` They did not beat me in the cell , they took me out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sergei , who declined to give his last name .
Reuters could not independently verify his account .
A new round of street protests began on Thursday with people forming human chains on the streets of Minsk .
In a town northeast of Minsk , workers from state-run haulage and earthmoving equipment manufacturer BelAZ walked out of the factory in solidarity with the protesters .
Lukashenko has sought better relations with the West amid strained relations with traditional ally Russia .
The EU partially lifted sanctions , imposed over Lukashenko 's human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will weigh new measures against him and allies on Friday .
A former Soviet collective farm manager , the 65-year-old Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for more than a quarter of a century but faces increasing anger over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic , a sluggish economy and human rights .

Belarusian authorities on Thursday began releasing some of the thousands of people detained in a crackdown by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko that has prompted the European Union to consider imposing sanctions.
Some of those released in the capital Minsk had bruises and described being tightly packed inside cells and complained of mistreatment, including beatings.
A spokeswoman for the interior ministry declined immediate comment.
People outside the Okrestina detention center, some in tears, waited in the hope of gleaning news of friends and relatives inside. Police and soldiers with machine guns drove them away when they got too close to the entrance.
The government said that 700 more people had been detained in a fourth night of clashes on Wednesday between police and protesters.
Demonstrators say Lukashenko swindled the election to extend his 26-year-long rule of the eastern European country. Lukashenko, alleging a foreign-backed plot to destabilize the country, has dismissed them as criminals and unemployed people.
Sergei, one of the freed detainees, said there had been 28 people in a cell that would normally contain five. Prisoners took turns to sleep, he said, and were given a single loaf of bread to share out over two days.
"They did not beat me in the cell, they took me out of the cell and beat me there," said Sergei, who declined to give his last name.
Reuters could not independently verify his account.
A new round of street protests began on Thursday with people forming human chains on the streets of Minsk.
In a town northeast of Minsk, workers from state-run haulage and earthmoving equipment manufacturer BelAZ walked out of the factory in solidarity with the protesters.
Lukashenko has sought better relations with the West amid strained relations with traditional ally Russia.
The EU partially lifted sanctions, imposed over Lukashenko's human rights record, in 2016, but will weigh new measures against him and allies on Friday.
A former Soviet collective farm manager, the 65-year-old Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for more than a quarter of a century but faces increasing anger over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a sluggish economy and human rights.
Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations human rights chief, has condemned the detention of 6,000 people by police, "including bystanders, as well as minors, suggesting a trend of massive arrests in clear violation of international human rights standards."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--IDF clears mines from 12 acres in southern Golan Heights

The IDF announced on Thursday that it finished clearing mines from roughly 50 dunams (12 acres) of land in the Golan Heights, near Kfar Haruv and Afik in the southern part of the region.The reclaimed lands will be handed over to the Golan Regional Council, which intends to repurpose them for agriculture and tourist uses.Earlier this month it was reported that the local council took possession of more than 100 dunams (24 acres) of lands, cleared of mines, in the Emek Habacha area in the northern part of the Golan Heights.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Armed people enter Belarusian offices of Russian internet firm Yandex

Russian internet giant Yandex said on Thursday that armed individuals had entered its offices in the Belarusian capital Minsk.It said it was trying to get more information about the incident.Security forces have clashed with protesters in Minsk and other Belarusian cities in recent days after a contested presidential election victory by Alexander Lukashenko, the incumbent.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Owner of ship behind Mauritius oil spill pledges to face up to liability

Japan's Nagashiki Shipping, owner of the vessel behind a major oil spill off Mauritius, said on Thursday it felt its responsibility acutely and intends to take steps towards assessing compensation.The ship, MV Wakashio, is owned by Nagashiki and chartered by Mitsui OSK Lines.The vessel has leaked about 1,000 tonnes of oil since striking a reef and running aground off the Indian Ocean island's southeast coast on July 25.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Iran's coronavirus death toll passes 19,000 as new cases spike

Iran recorded 174 deaths from coronavirus and 2,625 new cases on Thursday to take its death toll to more than 19,000 and total cases to 336,324, the Health Ministry said."In the past 24 hours 2,625 new cases have been recorded," ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV.Iran is one of the worst-hit countries from the outbreak in the Middle East.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Israelis can visit Greece, despite country's high level of corona

“ The decision expresses the warm relationship between the countries and the common desire to return to normal life in the coronavirus era , ” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi .
According to media reports , the agreement will allow some 600 Israeli tourists to travel to four islands : Athens , Crete , Thessaloniki and Corfu .
Tourists entering Greece will be required to be screened for the virus before their flight and again on landing .
Until receiving the second test result , they will be required to stay in isolation .
The counterparts met at Ashkenazi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that he hopes more European countries will follow suit.According to media reports , the agreement will allow some 600 Israeli tourists to travel to four islands : Athens , Crete , Thessaloniki and Corfu.The counterparts met at Ashkenazi ’ s office in Jerusalem .
During the meeting , the ministers discussed the “ warm and friendly ” relations between the two countries , a release from the Foreign Ministry said , and the importance of opening Greece to Israeli tourism in the coronavirus era .
Earlier in the day , the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideally by August 16 .
Among the directives that are expected to be established at Ben-Gurion Airport : Travelers will have their temperatures taken and be forbidden from entering if it is over 38 degrees Celsius ; passengers who can enter terminals will be demarcated with a badge ; and all airplanes will be disinfected before , during and after flights .
Thursday which countries they will be able to travel to and return from without entering quarantine .
The Health , Transportation , Foreign and Tourism ministries are expected to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to travel to and return from without entering quarantine .
The Health , Transportation , Foreign and Tourism ministries are expected to make a joint statement .
Israelis are expected to find out at 4 p.m. Thursday which countries they will be able to travel to and return from without entering quarantine .
The Health , Transportation , Foreign and Tourism ministries are expected to make a joint statement .
Among the directives that are expected to be established at Ben-Gurion Airport : Travelers will have their temperatures taken and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 38 degrees Celsius ; passengers who can enter terminals will be demarcated with a badge ; and all airplanes will be disinfected before , during and after flights .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had spoken with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier in the summer regarding the opening of borders between the two countries , but the decision was put up as Israel entered its second wave of coronavirus and consequently delayed the original deadline of August 1.Earlier in the day , the coronavirus cabinet convened to discuss opening the skies ideally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
The two spoke on Wednesday ahead of his visit .
Ashkenazi and Dendias also discussed regional developments , the challenges of stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean region.Dendias arrived on Thursday .
The two spoke on Wednesday ahead of his visit .

The coronavirus cabinet on Thursday concluded decided that Israelis will be able to fly to Bulgaria, Croatia and certain locations in Greece, and when they return home, they will not be required to enter isolation. The decision is expected to go into effect on August 16.
The cabinet is still reviewing allowing Israelis to fly to Cyprus and Bulgaria.
On Wednesday, Transportation Ministry director-general Ofer Malka told the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee his ministry has submitted an updated list of countries to the Health Ministry from which to allow Israelis to return without isolation, but it had not been approved or finalized. Most of the countries were green, though some were red with lower levels of morbidity, he said.
Among the countries that were expected to be on the list but were not approved on Thursday: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Jordan, Latvia and Lithuania.
The full terms of the conditions for Israelis flying to those countries have not yet been determined. However, a joint statement by the Health, Transportation, Foreign and Tourism ministries, together with the National Security Council, said that people traveling to Bulgaria will be asked to take a test 72 hours before traveling. So long as it is negative, travelers will not need to be re-screened or isolated. A similar process will occur for those wishing to travel to Croatia, but the screening will need to be 48 hours in advance.
Earlier in the day, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said that he had agreed to allow some Israelis to tour his country, despite Israel’s high rate of coronavirus.
“The decision expresses the warm relationship between the countries and the common desire to return to normal life in the coronavirus era,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.
He said that he hopes more European countries will follow suit. As of now, most European countries still refuse to admit Israelis because of its high rate of infection.
The agreement will allow some 600 Israeli tourists to travel to four locations: Athens, Crete, Thessaloniki and Corfu. Tourists entering Greece will be required to be screened for the virus before their flight and again on landing. Until receiving the second test result, they will be required to stay in isolation.
The foreign ministers met at Ashkenazi’s office in Jerusalem.
During the meeting, they discussed the “warm and friendly” relations between the two countries, a release from the Foreign Ministry said, and the importance of opening Greece to Israeli tourism in the coronavirus era.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had spoken with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier in the summer regarding the opening of borders between the two countries, but the decision was put on hold as Israel entered its second wave of coronavirus, causing the original August 1 deadline to be delayed.
Earlier in the day, the coronavirus cabinet convened to discuss how Ben-Gurion Airport will handle opening the skies.
Among the directives that are expected to be established at the airport: Travelers can only enter the airport with a ticket and the results of a negative coronavirus test in hand, four hours before their flight; they will have their temperature taken and be forbidden from entering if it is over 38 degrees Celsius; passengers who can enter terminals will be demarcated with a badge; and all airplanes will be disinfected before, during and after flights.
At the coronavirus cabinet meeting, which Netanyahu had to leave in anticipation of the historic announcement of a new peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, new coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu discussed options for how to handle the growing coronavirus crisis in the country. He presented three plans, which he said could be rolled out as early as next week if Israel does not see a decrease in coronavirus cases, or soon after schools open and the High Holidays commence if there is a spike.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported that 1,614 people were diagnosed with coronavirus the day before, and another 1,069 between midnight and press time. Some 371 people were in serious condition, including 110 who were intubated. At press time, the death toll was 651.
Plan one would be continuing status quo efforts of cutting off infection chains, targeting red cities, etc.
Plan two would be running a program that would prevent crowding. This could include closing restaurants, hotels, malls and markets and other non-essential workplaces and reducing the number of passengers allowed on public transportation to 40% capacity.
This plan would be maintained until the country has only 400 patients per day and then the economy could fully reopen.
A final option would be putting total lockdown on red zones alongside operating the standard restrictions among the general public. No final decision was made.
“We must prepare for the possibility of a worsening situation,” Gamzu said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Facebook, Twitter step up fight against misinformation on US elections

The move comes as online social networks have been drawing flak for what has been called a lax approach to fake news reports and misinformation campaigns , which many believe affected the outcome of the 2016 presidential election .
Twitter 's move will involve coming up with new policies `` that emphasize accurate information about all available options to vote , including by mail and early voting . ''
`` We 're focused on empowering every eligible person to register and vote through partnerships , tools and new policies , '' Jessica Herrera-Flanigan , Twitter 's vice president for public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an email .
Facebook , meanwhile , launched a Voting Information Center to help users with accurate and easy-to-find information about voting wherever they live .
The company said in a blog it was also speaking with officials about misinformation surrounding election results as an emerging threat .
Twitter said it would roll out measures on new tools , policies and voting resources in the next month .
It is exploring how to expand its `` civic integrity policies '' to address mischaracterizations of mail-in voting and other procedures .
The finer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finalized .
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that voting by mail , which is expected to increase dramatically due to the coronavirus outbreak , is susceptible to large-scale fraud .
The process is not new in the United States — nearly one in four voters cast 2016 presidential ballots that way .
Many experts have said that routine methods and the decentralized nature of US elections make it very hard to interfere with mailed ballots .

Social media platforms stepped up fight against misinformation on the US elections, with Facebook starting a hub to help users with poll-related resources and Twitter expanding rules against misinformation on mail-in ballots and early voting.
The move comes as online social networks have been drawing flak for what has been called a lax approach to fake news reports and misinformation campaigns, which many believe affected the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
Twitter's move will involve coming up with new policies "that emphasize accurate information about all available options to vote, including by mail and early voting."
"We're focused on empowering every eligible person to register and vote through partnerships, tools and new policies," Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, Twitter's vice president for public policy in the Americas, told Reuters in an email.
Facebook, meanwhile, launched a Voting Information Center to help users with accurate and easy-to-find information about voting wherever they live.
The company said in a blog it was also speaking with officials about misinformation surrounding election results as an emerging threat.
Twitter said it would roll out measures on new tools, policies and voting resources in the next month. It is exploring how to expand its "civic integrity policies" to address mischaracterizations of mail-in voting and other procedures.
The finer details of the step are still being finalized.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that voting by mail, which is expected to increase dramatically due to the coronavirus outbreak, is susceptible to large-scale fraud.
The process is not new in the United States — nearly one in four voters cast 2016 presidential ballots that way.
Many experts have said that routine methods and the decentralized nature of US elections make it very hard to interfere with mailed ballots.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Belarus says police detained about 700 protesters overnight

Belarusian police detained about 700 people on a fourth night of protests following President Alexander Lukasheko's contested election victory, the former Soviet republic's interior ministry said on Thursday.Security forces have clashed daily with protesters since Lukashenko claimed a landslide re-election victory in a vote on Sunday that his opponents say was rigged.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Philippines reports 4,002 more coronavirus infections, 23 deaths

The Philippines' health ministry on Thursday reported 4,002 more novel coronavirus infections and 23 additional deaths in the country.In a bulletin, the ministry said the total number of confirmed cases in the Philippines had risen to 147,526, the highest in Southeast Asia, while confirmed deaths had reached 2,426.The Philippines plans to launch clinical trials for a Russian coronavirus vaccine in October after Russia became the first country to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, drawing safety concerns over the frantic pace of its development.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Five border police officers charged with robbing, attacking Palestinians

A total of five border police officers were charged with armed robbery, breach of trust and assault, according to Ynet News.The officers allegedly abused their powers by stealing money from Palestinians who infiltrated into Israeli territory through a hole in the Gaza border fence. The suspects were captured on video doing their alleged misdeeds.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Coronavirus in Israel: Death toll above 640, near 400 seriously ill

Israel is growing closer to having 400 patients in serious condition, the Health Ministry reported on Thursday.There were 1,612 people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in the last day. Among all the sick patients, some 386 are in serious condition, including 114 who are intubated.More people died overnight, bringing the death toll to 643.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Russia: 5,5057 new coronavirus cases and 124 deaths in the past 24 hours

Russia reported 5,057 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, bringing its nationwide tally to 907,758, the fourth largest caseload in the world.Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 124 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing its official death toll to 15,384.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Germany is optimistic they will have a vaccine in coming months

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Thursday he expected there to be a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months and definitely next year, speaking after the public health agency withdrew a report suggesting there would be one in autumn."I'm optimistic that in the next months, and certainly in the next year, there can be a vaccine," Spahn told ZDF television.His forecast appeared to chime with a report that the Robert Koch Institute issued on Wednesday and later withdrew, in which the public health agency said it expected a vaccine by the autumn. The institute later said the document was not up-to-date and had been published in error.Spahn declined to name a specific month in which the vaccine would be ready, saying it was not yet possible to determine how often people would need to be vaccinated or how long-lasting the immunity it conferred would be.He added: "But one thing we can say is that thanks to us all working together - researchers, scientists, the public - we will probably have a vaccine faster than ever before in the history of humanity."German Research Minister Anja Karliczek has previously said any vaccine was unlikely to be widely available before the middle of next year.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing.Spahn repeated his scepticism of that vaccine, dubbed "Sputnik V", saying it had not yet been broad tests like with other vaccines and there was relatively little data about it.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,445 to 219,964, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday, while the reported death toll rose by 4 to 9,211.Spahn also notified ZDF TV that Germany was seeing a lot of new infections among young people.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--China: recent drills near Taiwan were 'necessary' to safeguard sovereignty

China's military recently held drills directed at Taiwan, a People’s Liberation Army spokesman said on Thursday, after a high level visit by the United States to Taiwan.The drills were a 'necessary action' to safeguard sovereignty, Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement.The statement said the drills were held in the southern and northern ends of the Taiwan strait.China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Israel supports Greece, leaves 'door open' for Turkey - policy expert

Israel voiced its support for Greece in their dispute with Turkey over economic zones in the eastern Mediterranean.The Foreign Ministry released a rare declarative statement that “Israel follows closely as tension arises in the Eastern Mediterranean.“Israel expresses its full support and solidarity with Greece in its maritime zones and its right to delimit its EEZ [exclusive economic zone],” the ministry stated.Soon after the statement was released, Israel’s Ambassador to Greece Yossi Amrani met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who later announced he would come to Israel on Wednesday and meet with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.The situation in the eastern Mediterranean will be at the top of the agenda.The message came as Turkey sent naval ships into the eastern Mediterranean this week, saying they are meant to protect a research mission, surveying the continental shelf. The ships are in Greece’s EEZ. Turkey claimed control of the area under the terms of an agreement it signed with Libya in November 2019, dividing large swaths of the eastern Mediterranean Sea between them, creating friction between Ankara and Athens. Last week, Greece and Egypt signed their own agreement, delineating their EEZs in the eastern Mediterranean, to Turkey’s consternation.Greece and Israel have become close allies in recent years, working together on energy projects such as the EastMed pipeline, planned to be the longest in the world, which would go from Israel to the Greek mainland via Cyprus.Turkey and Israel technically maintain diplomatic relations, but they have been strained for most of the past decade since the IHH (Humanitarian Relief Foundation), an organization with ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sent the Mavi Marmara ship to bust the IDF’s naval blockade on Gaza, arming some of the people aboard. IDF naval commandos stopped the ship, killing nine activists. Erdogan is openly hostile towards Israel, supports Hamas, and funds anti-Israel organizations in east Jerusalem.Though Greece lobbied its allies to make public statements of support and despite it being clear that Israel would prefer Greece in this situation, Jerusalem kept mostly silent on the crisis building up in recent months. While Greece is a friend, the government would prefer not to turn the poor relations with Turkey – Israel’s 10th-largest trading partner – into one of enmity.Another reason for the long silence was timing; tensions would rise between Greece and Turkey, but go down within a matter of days.The current crisis, however, seems to not have a quick solution.In addition, the Turkey-Libya EEZ agreement means Ankara claims veto rights to the EastMed pipeline’s construction.Gabriel Mitchell, Director of External Relations and a Policy Fellow at Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies – pointed out that the statement and Amrani-Dendias meeting comes as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sought greater clarification of the situation in the eastern Mediterranean.Mitchell also questioned Amrani’s meeting with Dendias as a “diplomatic gesture, or was there a specific message, either of support or an articulation of Israel’s limitations, that was shared with Greece?”He warned that “the real risk here is that the actors miscalculate one another and there is an accident. Israel definitely doesn’t want that happening.”


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Ukraine sees record daily high 1,592 new coronavirus cases

Ukraine recorded a record daily jump of 1,592 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the national council of security and defense said on Thursday.The number of infections has increased sharply in Ukraine in the past two months as authorities have eased some restrictions, allowing cafes, churches and public transport to reopen.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--West Bank farm vehicle set ablaze, hate slogan sprayed - report

A farm tractor was set on fire and sprayed with graffiti reading, "destruction brings decimination" early Thursday morning in Kfar Urif, a Palestinian village not far from the Yitzhar settlement in the West Bank, according to Ynet News.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Philippines eyes clinical trials for Russian COVID-19 vaccine in October

The Philippines plans to start clinical trials for a Russian coronavirus vaccine in October, with President Rodrigo Duterte expected to be inoculated as early as May 2021, the presidential spokesman said on Thursday.Phase three clinical trials in the Philippines are due to run from October to March 2021, after a panel of vaccine experts completes its review on Russia's phase one and two trials in September, Harry Roque, Duterte's spokesman, told a briefing.Russia on Tuesday became the first country to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, to be named "Sputnik V" in homage to the Soviet Union's launch of the world's first satellite.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Turkey says operations against Kurdish militants in Iraq to continue

Turkey will continue its cross-border operations against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq if Baghdad continues to overlook the militants' presence in the region, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, urging Iraqi authorities to cooperate with Ankara.Turkey has regularly attacked Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)militants, both in its mainly Kurdish southeast and in northern Iraq, where the group is based. In June, Ankara launched a new ground offensive, dubbed Operation Claw Tiger, that saw Turkish troops advance deeper into Iraq.On Tuesday, a Turkish air strike in northern Iraq killed two members of Iraq's border guard and their driver, Iraq's military said, calling the attack a "flagrant aggression."Iraq's foreign ministry then said Baghdad canceled a visit by Turkey's defense minister to the country, and summoned the Turkish ambassador to inform him of "Iraq's confirmed rejection of his country's attacks and violations."In a statement early on Thursday, Turkey's foreign ministry said PKK presence also threatened Iraq and that it was Baghdad's responsibility to take measures against the militants, but that Ankara will defend its borders if the PKK's presence is allowed."Our country is ready to cooperate with Iraq on this issue. However, in the event PKK presence in Iraq is overlooked, our country is determined to take the measures it deems necessary for its border security no matter where it may be," the ministry said. "We call on Iraq to take the necessary steps for this."The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, focused in southeast Turkey.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Male nurse suspected of assaulting 90-year-old woman

A male nurse is suspected of assaulting a 90-year-old woman, Israeli media reported on Thursday morning.The victim was taken to the hospital where she was found to have fractured facial bones. The 29-year-old male nurse from East Jerusalem who works at a local nursing home was arrested by the police.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--IDF withholds fuel shipments to Gaza

IDF withholds fuel shipments to Gaza

Following security consultations on Wednesday, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) will withhold fuel shipments into Gaza, according to a statement by COGAT.The move comes after continued incendiary balloons launches from Gaza into Israel. The IDF stressed that Hamas is responsible for any act of aggression coming from Gaza and will be held accountable.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--The IDF strikes terror targets in Gaza

The IDF strikes terror targets in Gaza

The IDF struck terror targets in Gaza on Thursday night in response to continued incendiary balloon attacks , Kan News @ @ @ @ @ and tanks struck Hamas air defense , underground infrastructure and observation posts.During the day , @ @ @ @ @ the Gaza Envelope as a result of incendiary balloons , and this week there have @ @ @ @ @ caused by balloons .
Additionally , hundreds of balloons with explosives have been launched at @ @ @ @ @ , most of which detonated while still in the air .

The IDF struck terror targets in Gaza on Thursday night in response to continued incendiary balloon attacks, Kan News reports.
IDF fighter jets, helicopters and tanks struck Hamas air defense, underground infrastructure and observation posts.During the day, 25 fires broke out in the Gaza Envelope as a result of incendiary balloons, and this week there have been more than 120 fires caused by balloons. Additionally, hundreds of balloons with explosives have been launched at Israel from Gaza this week, most of which detonated while still in the air.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to reveal president's 'skeletons' in book

`` Trump had cheated in the election , with Russian connivance , as you will discover in these pages , because doing anything — and I mean anything — to 'win ' has always been his business model and way of life , '' Cohen writes in the book 's foreword , which was published online on Thursday .
The 3,700-word foreword does not reveal anything new about Russia 's interference in the 2016 presidential election , and it was not clear if the book would .
Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller last year concluded that Russia waged a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
Mueller did not find evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump 's campaign and Russia , but he did detail extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives .
Cohen worked closely with Trump for years before turning against him , most publicly in testimony to Congress last year prior to Trump 's impeachment .
Cohen said he knows where Trump 's metaphorical `` skeletons '' are buried because he buried them .
`` He readily admits to lying routinely but expects people to believe him now so that he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump , ” Morgenstern said .
Trump has called Cohen `` a rat , '' and a liar , and Cohen said he faced repeated death threats from Trump supporters .
Cohen , 53 , is serving a three-year sentence for tax evasion , false statements and campaign finance violations , the last related to payments to silence women who alleged affairs with Trump before the 2016 presidential election .
Cohen was released to home confinement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison , but then was briefly imprisoned again last month .
A federal judge last month ruled Cohen had been subjected to retaliation for planning to publish his book , and ordered him released again .

Michael Cohen, U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, on Thursday promised to show how Trump cheated in the 2016 election with Russian help in an upcoming book titled "Disloyal, A Memoir."
"Trump had cheated in the election, with Russian connivance, as you will discover in these pages, because doing anything — and I mean anything — to 'win' has always been his business model and way of life," Cohen writes in the book's foreword, which was published online on Thursday.
The 3,700-word foreword does not reveal anything new about Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, and it was not clear if the book would.
Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller last year concluded that Russia waged a major campaign to help Trump to victory in 2016.
Mueller did not find evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia, but he did detail extensive contacts between the campaign and Russian operatives.
Cohen worked closely with Trump for years before turning against him, most publicly in testimony to Congress last year prior to Trump's impeachment.
Cohen said he knows where Trump's metaphorical "skeletons" are buried because he buried them.
White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern responded by attacking Cohen's credibility.
"He readily admits to lying routinely but expects people to believe him now so that he can make money from book sales. It’s unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump,” Morgenstern said.
Trump has called Cohen "a rat," and a liar, and Cohen said he faced repeated death threats from Trump supporters.
Cohen, 53, is serving a three-year sentence for tax evasion, false statements and campaign finance violations, the last related to payments to silence women who alleged affairs with Trump before the 2016 presidential election.
Cohen was released to home confinement in May given the risks of catching COVID-19 in prison, but then was briefly imprisoned again last month.
A federal judge last month ruled Cohen had been subjected to retaliation for planning to publish his book, and ordered him released again.
A lawyer for Cohen declined to comment.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Australia's Victoria reports 372 new coronavirus cases, 14 deaths

The state a day earlier reported 278 cases , its lowest one-day rise in more than three weeks , and @ @ @

Australia's second-most populous state of Victoria on Friday reported 14 deaths from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 372 new daily cases.
The state a day earlier reported 278 cases, its lowest one-day rise in more than three weeks, and eight deaths.
Authorities have been battling to contain a second outbreak of the virus in Victoria, which has seen triple-digit daily new cases for weeks.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Trump says arrest of Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai 'a terrible thing'

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized the arrest of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai this week under China's new national security law."I think it's a terrible thing," Trump told reporters in response to a question about Lai's arrest.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--US rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's complaints about treatment in jail

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan , prosecutors also said it was `` at best @ @ @ @ @ disclose the identities of three alleged victims named in Maxwell 's indictment .
Maxwell , @ @ @ @ @ guilty to helping Epstein recruit and eventually abuse three girls from 1994 to 1997 , @ @ @ @ @ her involvement under oath .

U.S. prosecutors on Thursday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's claim that she is being treated "worse" than other inmates at the Brooklyn jail where she is being held on charges she facilitated late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of underage girls.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan, prosecutors also said it was "at best premature" to require they disclose the identities of three alleged victims named in Maxwell's indictment.
Maxwell, 58, has pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and eventually abuse three girls from 1994 to 1997, and committing perjury by denying her involvement under oath.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--UN Security Council starts Iran arms embargo vote, result Friday

The 15-member council has been operating virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic so states have 24 hours to cast a vote .
The 13-year-old arms embargo is due to expire in October under a 2015 nuclear deal among Iran , Russia , China , Germany , Britain , France and the United States that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief .
In a bid to gain more council support , the United States slashed its draft resolution on Tuesday to just four paragraphs that would simply extend a weapons ban on Tehran `` until the Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's `` essential to the maintenance of international peace and security . ''
But diplomats and analysts said the draft text was still likely to fail .
To be adopted a resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia , China , the United States , Britain or France .
If the United States is unsuccessful it has threatened to try and trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal , even though Washington quit the accord in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear accord further at risk .
It was not immediately clear how Russia , China or any other Security Council members might try to stop the United States from triggering a return of all UN sanctions on Iran , known as snapback , or if - procedurally - there is any way that they can .
Diplomats warn the process would be tough and messy .
They says several countries would argue that Washington legally could not activate a snapback of sanctions and therefore simply would n't reimpose the measures on Iran themselves @

The United Nations Security Council started voting on Thursday on a US bid to extend an arms embargo on Iran, which is opposed by veto-powers Russia and China, and the result will be announced at a meeting on Friday, diplomats said.
The 15-member council has been operating virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic so states have 24 hours to cast a vote.
The 13-year-old arms embargo is due to expire in October under a 2015 nuclear deal among Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief.
In a bid to gain more council support, the United States slashed its draft resolution on Tuesday to just four paragraphs that would simply extend a weapons ban on Tehran "until the Security Council decides otherwise," saying it's "essential to the maintenance of international peace and security."
But diplomats and analysts said the draft text was still likely to fail. To be adopted a resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France.
If the United States is unsuccessful it has threatened to try and trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran using a provision in the nuclear deal, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018. The move could put the already fragile nuclear accord further at risk.
It was not immediately clear how Russia, China or any other Security Council members might try to stop the United States from triggering a return of all UN sanctions on Iran, known as snapback, or if - procedurally - there is any way that they can.
Diplomats warn the process would be tough and messy. They say several countries would argue that Washington legally could not activate a snapback of sanctions and therefore simply wouldn't reimpose the measures on Iran themselves.
Pompeo, on a visit to Austria, said Iran must also provide full and immediate cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear watchdog, whose head he was meeting in Vienna.Some diplomats say the attempt to extend the ban is bound to fail and put an already fragile nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk."It makes no sense to permit the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism to purchase and sell weapons systems," Pompeo told a news conference. "I mean, that's just nuts."Pompeo said he was urging the rest of the world to support the US stance."We are going to do everything that we can within our diplomatic tool set to ensure that arms embargo doesn't expire," he said."The voting will be in the next handful of hours and we are hoping that we will be successful. When we see the results we will make the decision about how to move forward."We have been unambiguous about the fact we no intention of allowing this arms embargo to expire. None whatsoever."Pompeo welcomed the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic ties."It's an important step forward for Middle East stability," Pompeo said. "It's a good moment for the world and its security."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Brazil reports 1261 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours

Brazil reported 60,091 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 1,261 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Thursday.Brazil has registered 3,224,876 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 105,463, according to ministry data. Brazil ranks as the world's worst coronavirus outbreak after the United States.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--France welcomes the normalization of UAE-Israel relations

France welcomes the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday.Israel's decision to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank under the historic agreement is a "positive step", Le Drian said in a statement, adding that the suspension "must become a definitive measure." The accord paved the way for a resumption of talks between Israelis and Palestinians with the aim to establish two states, he said, calling it "the only option" to achieve peace in the region.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--UK imposes 14-day quarantine on arrivals from France, Netherlands, others

`` Data shows we need to remove France , the Netherlands , Monaco , Malta , Turks & Caicos & @ @ @ @ @ # coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN , '' Shapps said on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations , you will need to self-isolate @ @ @ @ @

Britain will impose a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals from France, the Netherlands, Malta and three other countries, transport minister Grant Shapps said on Thursday, citing rising COVID-19 infection rates.
"Data shows we need to remove France, the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks & Caicos & Aruba from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN," Shapps said on Twitter.
"If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Yale illegally discriminates against Asians, whites - US Justice Dept

Yale University illegally discriminates against Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of U.S. civil rights law, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.The findings are the result of a two-year investigation in response to a complaint by Asian American groups concerning Yale's conduct, the department said in a statement.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Fortnite maker sues Apple after removal of game from App Store

The move came after Epic Games enabled a direct payment feature on the Fortnite app , which Apple said violated its in-app payment guidelines .
Epic filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking no money from Apple but instead an injunction that would end many of Apple 's practices around the App Store , which is the only way to distribute native software onto most iPhones .
`` Apple has become what it once railed against : the behemoth seeking to control markets , block competition , and stifle innovation .
Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrenched , and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear , '' Epic said in its lawsuit .
Apple takes a cut of between 15 % and 30 % for most app subscriptions and payments made inside apps , though there are some exceptions for companies that already have a credit card on file for iPhone customers if they also offer an in-app payment that would benefit Apple .
Analysts believe games are the biggest contributor to spending inside the App Store , which is in turn the largest component of Apple 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement , Apple said Epic had been removed because it had rolled out the payment feature with the `` express intent of violating the App Store guidelines '' after having had apps in the store for a decade .
`` The fact that their ( Epic ) business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users , '' Apple said in a statement .
Epic 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached massive popularity among young gamers since its launch in 2017 , and competes with Tencent Holdings ' `` PlayerUnknown 's Battlegrounds . ''
The title 's removal from the App Store means that new players will not be able to download it and that exiting players can not receive updates , but the game will continue to work on devices where it is already installed .

Apple Inc on Thursday removed popular video game "Fortnite" from its App Store for violating the company's in-app payment guidelines, prompting developer Epic Games to file a lawsuit against the iPhone maker seeking to end its in-app payment practices.
The move came after Epic Games enabled a direct payment feature on the Fortnite app, which Apple said violated its in-app payment guidelines. Epic filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking no money from Apple but instead an injunction that would end many of Apple's practices around the App Store, which is the only way to distribute native software onto most iPhones.
"Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation. Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear," Epic said in its lawsuit.
Apple takes a cut of between 15% and 30% for most app subscriptions and payments made inside apps, though there are some exceptions for companies that already have a credit card on file for iPhone customers if they also offer an in-app payment that would benefit Apple. Analysts believe games are the biggest contributor to spending inside the App Store, which is in turn the largest component of Apple's $46.3 billion-per-year services segment.
In a statement, Apple said Epic had been removed because it had rolled out the payment feature with the "express intent of violating the App Store guidelines" after having had apps in the store for a decade.
"The fact that their (Epic) business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users," Apple said in a statement.
Epic's free-to-play battle-royal videogame "Fortnite" has reached massive popularity among young gamers since its launch in 2017, and competes with Tencent Holdings' "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds." The title's removal from the App Store means that new players will not be able to download it and that exiting players cannot receive updates, but the game will continue to work on devices where it is already installed.
Epic Games does not disclose how many iOS users "Fortnite" has. Mobile app data analysis firm SensorTower estimated that the game has been downloaded 2.4 million times in the last 30 days and generated $43.4 million on the App Store. Since its release, SensorTower estimates, the game has reached 133.2 million installs and seen $1.2 billion in spending worldwide on Apple's App Store alone.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Health Ministry tells the public to avoid entering Kfar Yarka

The Health Ministry has called on the public to avoid entering Kfar Yarka because of the high number of Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @

The Health Ministry has called on the public to avoid entering Kfar Yarka because of the high number of Coronavirus patients in the city.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--UAE minister invites Miri Regev to visit the country

A minister from the United Arab Emirates talked to Transportation Minister Miri Rgev on Thursday evening and invited her to visit the country, according to an initial report by Kan News.The invitation followed the historic agreement reached between Israel and the UAE earlier on Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Three Katyusha rockets fell into Iraq’s Balad air base

Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced on Thursday three Katyusha rockets had fallen into Iraq’s Balad air base, 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, which houses U.S. forces but caused no casualties or losses.A number of rocket and mortar attacks have hit bases hosting coalition forces and landed near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in recent months. The United States blames Iran-backed militia groups.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Iran official says UAE is serving Zionist crimes in Israel deal

UAE 's new approach for normalizing ties w/fake , criminal # Israel does n't maintain peace & security , but @ @ @ @ @ .
Abu Dhabi behavior has no justification , turning back on the Palestine cause .
@ @ @ @ @ # UAE will be engulfed in Zionism fire .
pic.twitter.com/NDNy94laa8

The agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates will not secure peace in the region, tweeted a special adviser on international affairs to the speaker of Iran’s parliament, in reaction to a Thursday deal between the two states on normalizing ties."UAE's new approach for normalizing ties w/fake, criminal #Israel doesn't maintain peace & security, but serves ongoing Zionists' crimes," tweeted Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, also a former deputy foreign minister."Abu Dhabi's behavior has no justification, turning back on the Palestine cause. W/ that strategic mistake, #UAE will be engulfed in Zionism fire."
UAE's new approach for normalizing ties w/fake, criminal #Israel doesn't maintain peace & security, but serves ongoing Zionists' crimes. Abu Dhabi behavior has no justification, turning back on the Palestine cause. W/ that strategic mistake, #UAE will be engulfed in Zionism fire. pic.twitter.com/NDNy94laa8 — H.amirabdollahian (@Amirabdolahian) August 13, 2020


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Tel Aviv Municipality lit up with UAE, Israeli flags following deal

Peace in the middle East : the flags of Israel and UAE illuminated at Tel Aviv 's city hall Square @ @

Following the announcement of a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the Tel Aviv Municipality was lit on Thursday evening with the colors of the UAE and Israeli flags.Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son, Yair Netanyahu, published a message on Twitter, referring to Huldai's decision to light up the municipality with the Lebanese flag following the devastating explosion that shook Lebanon a few days ago."If Ron Huldai doesn't light up the municipality building with the UAE flag tonight or tomorrow night, then you can understand just how much the Left cares about peace," Yair wrote.
אם @Ron_Huldai לא מאיר הערב, או מחר בערב, את בניין העירייה בדגל הזה , אז אתם מבינים בדיוק כמה לשמאל אכפת מהשלום. https://t.co/VeU6NB3eat — Yair Netanyahu (@YairNetanyahu) August 13, 2020
Huldai, in turn, did decide to light up the building on Thursday evening with the UAE flag."I congratulate the prime minister for the double accomplishment of reaching peace with the United Arab Emirates and canceling the plan of annexation. Both actions are important for the security of the State of Israel," Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said in a statement.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Kushner: Israel-UAE deal culminates 1.5 years of discussions

White House adviser Jared Kushner said on Thursday that a deal would take time to be implemented, when asked how long Israel had agreed to suspend its West Bank annexation plans as part of a normalization deal with the United Arab Emirates.He added that the deal is one and a half years of talks cemented a deal in principle -- reached last week -- to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and that final details were ironed out on Wednesday.Talks intensified about six weeks ago as the UAE saw an opportunity to forestall an Israeli bid to annex parts of the West Bank by offering a more important win for the country, Kushner addedIsrael and the UAE announced earlier on Thursday that they will normalize diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship, a move that reshapes the order of Middle East politics from the Palestinian issue to Iran.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Dannon welcomes UAE-Israel deal, calls for application of sovereignty

1/ I welcome the important agreement led by the Prime Minister @ netanyahu As Israel 's Ambassador to the United @ @ @ @ @ co-operated with the United Arab Emirates in the fight against the Iranian nuclear program .
@

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon welcomed the UAE-Israel agreement made on Thursday, however responded to the suspension of annexation as part of the agreement, and called for application of sovereignty, saying it is a "step that must take place immediately."He posted to his Twitter account: "I welcome the important agreement led by the Prime Minister @netanyahu. As Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, I visited and co-operated with the United Arab Emirates in the fight against the Iranian program."In an additional Tweet he added that, "at the same time, this diplomatic achievement must not harm the application of #soverignty - a step that must take place immediately."
1/ I welcome the important agreement led by the Prime Minister @netanyahu .As Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, I visited and co-operated with the United Arab Emirates in the fight against the Iranian nuclear program. pic.twitter.com/CobGaVhuRs — Ambassador Danny Danon | דני דנון (@dannydanon) August 13, 2020


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Senior Palestinian, Hanan Ashrawi, calls Israeli-UAE deal "sell-out"

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Palestinians from across the political spectrum on Thursday strongly condemned the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, dubbing it a betrayal of Arabs and Palestinians.Many Palestinians and Arabs took to social media to express outrage over the agreement, with some calling it a “new nakba,” or catastrophe. They also used a variety of pejoratives against the Gulf state and its leaders, including the “United Zionist Emirate” and “dogs” and “traitors.” Others referred to the announcement as a “black Thursday for Arabs and Palestinians.”Palestinian officials said they did not have prior knowledge of the agreement.“Israel has annexed the United Arab Emirates instead of annexing the West Bank,” a senior Palestinian official told The Jerusalem Post. “This is a very dangerous development that requires a response not only from the Palestinians but the whole Arab world.”The agreement was in violation of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which states that the Arab countries would establish normal relations with Israel only “in the context of a comprehensive peace and a full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967,” the officials said.The Palestinian Authority announced on Wednesday night that it has decided to recall its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in protest of the normalization agreement with Israel.The decision was announced by PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki.The Palestinian Authority accused the United Arab Emirates of "betraying Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause."In a statement published in Ramallah after an emergency meeting chaired by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the PA called on the UAE to immediately backtrack on the "despicable" agreement with Israel."The UAE is not entitled to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people," the PA said. "We also won't allow any party to meddle in Palestinian affairs."The PA called for an urgent meeting of the Arab League to express its rejection of the deal."The Palestinian leadership considers this step as a destruction of the Arab Peace Initiative and resolutions of the Arab summits," the statement added.The PA said it rejects establishing a link between the normalization agreement and Israel's plan to annex portions of the West Bank. It also warned the Arab countries against submitting to American pressure by following suit with the UAE move.PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said Israel “got rewarded for not declaring openly what it has been doing to Palestine illegally and persistently since the beginning of the occupation.”The UAE “has come out in the open on its secret dealings/normalization with Israel,” she said. “Please don’t do us a favor. We are nobody’s fig leaf!”Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki said the Israel-UAE agreement constitutes “a breach of the Arab consensus and a betrayal of the Arab countries and Palestine.”He urged the Palestinian leadership to withdraw its ambassador from the UAE in protest. He also called on the Arab League to withdraw its peace initiative with Israel.Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip denounced the agreement, saying it would “encourage Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinians.”The Israel-UAE agreement does not serve the Palestinian cause and encourages Israeli aggression and disregard for the rights of the Palestinian people,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said.Another Hamas official, Fawzi Barhoum, denounced the announcement as a “free reward for Israel in return for its crimes and violations against the Palestinians.”Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terrorist organization, warned that normalization was tantamount to “surrender.”The Israel-UAE deal “won’t change the reality of the conflict,” a PIJ official in the Gaza Strip said.PIJ leader Mohammed al-Hindi said the agreement was “a political, moral and strategic downfall” on the part of the UAE.Another Gaza-based terrorist group, the Popular Resistance Committees, said the agreement announced “between the enemy entity and the UAE reveals the size of the conspiracy against our people and our cause.”“We consider it a treacherous and poisonous stab in the back of the nation and its history,” it said.Relations between the Palestinian Authority and the UAE have been strained over the past few years, particularly over the Gulf state’s endorsement of deposed Fatah official Mohammad Dahlan, an archrival of PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Dahlan serves as a special adviser to the UAE crown prince and has been accused of working to undermine Abbas and the PA.Abbas called an emergency meeting of the Palestinian leadership to discuss repercussions of the Israel-UAE agreement. The PA said it would announce its response to the agreement after the meeting.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Saudi led coalition in Yemen says intercepted drone, ballistic missiles

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi movement in Yemen said on Thursday it intercepted and downed an armed drone and two ballistic missiles launched towards a southern part of Saudi Arabia, in a statement carried by Saudi state news outlets.Cross-border attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces have escalated since late May when a truce prompted by the coronavirus pandemic expired. In late June, missiles reached the Saudi capital Riyadh. The coalition has retaliated with air strikes.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Biden calls UAE deal 'historic step', praises UAE recognition of Israel

Israel and the UAE agreed to full normalization of relations in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years.Israel agreed to suspend its planned extension of sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria to facilitate relations with the UAE and potentially other Arab and Muslim countries.The agreement will include establishing embassies and exchanging ambassadors, investments into the Israeli economy, trade, direct flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, an investment in Israeli efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine – as first reported in The Jerusalem Post last month – and cooperation in matters of energy and water. An important element of the deal for the UAE is the expectation that its citizens would be able to visit the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal “full, formal peace” with “one of the strongest countries in the world.”“Together we can bring a wonderful future. It is an incomparably exciting moment,” Netanyahu said. “I have the great privilege to make the third peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, the UAE.”Netanyahu wished Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed “Salam Aleykum v’Shalom Aleynu – peace unto you and peace unto us.”Trump said in a statement posted to his twitter account: “Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations.”In subsequent remarks in the Oval Office, Trump alluded to “many more countries” in the region normalizing ties with Israel, and “some very exciting things including, ultimately with the Palestinians.”Netanyahu said he has “reason to be very optimistic that today’s announcement w the UAE will be joined by more countries in this expanding circle of peace.”The agreement “ushers in a new era of peace between Israel and the Arab world,” he said.Netanyahu thanked the leaders of the Arab world for supporting the agreement on Friday, writing on his Twitter account, "I thank Egyptian President al-Sisi, and the governments of Oman and Bahrain for their support of the historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.""The agreement expands the circle of peace and benefits the entire region," Netanyahu wrote.
אני מודה לנשיא מצרים א-סיסי, ולממשלות עומאן ובחריין על תמיכתם בהסכם השלום ההיסטורי בין ישראל לאיחוד האמירויות, שמרחיב את מעגל השלום ויטיב עם האזור כולו. — Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 14, 2020
Sources in Washington and Jerusalem said the Trump administration is in talks with other Gulf States to reach normalization agreements with Israel. Bahrain is likely to be next, to the extent that there was a chance they would have announced normalization before the UAE.The US president also mentioned Iran, about which the UAE and other Gulf States share concerns with Israel, saying that he will make a deal with them “within 30 days” if he wins the election. Trump said the Iranians are “dying to make a deal,” but would prefer that it be with the Democratic candidate for president, Joe Biden, “because that would be like a dream” for them. Trump's Special Adviser Jared Kushner clarified that the deal would not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.Netanyahu remarked that the moves towards normalization were kept tightly under wraps because Iran would have liked to sabotage them.Iran has played a major role in the closer ties between Israel and Gulf States since the previous US government and other world powers signed the nuclear deal with Tehran in 2015. The countries began cooperating on national security and that moved to other issues after trust was built between them, to the point that an American source said normalization seemed inevitable.As a reaction, Iran's Foreign Minister declared to the state news agency IRNA that the deal was "dangerous and illegitimate." He said that "this is stabbing the Palestinians in the back and will strengthen the regional unity against the Zionist regime.""The shameful measure of Abu Dhabi to reach an agreement with the fake Zionist regime (Israel) is a dangerous move and the UAE and other states that backed it will be responsible for its consequences," the statement added, according to IRNA.Netanyahu touted a formula of “peace for peace,” based on shared interests, emphasizing economic cooperation, and peace that comes from a position of strength, rather than peace in exchange for concessions.However, bin Zayed presented the matter as though he had exacted concessions from Israel, emphasizing the suspension of sovereignty plans over normalization. He tweeted that “an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories. The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship.”Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah a-Sisi similarly called it “the agreement to stop Israel’s annexation of the Palestinian Territories and taking steps to bring Peace to the Middle East.” He said in a tweet that he “values the efforts... in order to achieve prosperity and stability for our region.”The Trump administration’s “Vision for Peace” would allow Israel to apply its law to 30% of Judea and Samaria, including all settlements and the Jordan Valley.The rest of the West Bank would be designated for an eventual Palestinian state, which would receive recognition and a $50 billion aid package from the US if it meets a list of pre-conditions, including demilitarization and stopping incitement and salaries for terrorists.Netanyahu said that he still plans to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.“I’m not giving up on it. It’s on the table because of me. Trump put sovereignty into his peace plan because I asked for it,” Netanyahu said. “But in the first place I said again and again that we would only implement sovereignty in coordination with the US. Without support from the US, in the best case it would be worthless, and in the worst case, it would hurt ties very much.”Netanyahu emphasized that he “did not and will not remove sovereignty from the agenda... I will never give up on our right to our land.”Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem and Washington pointed to the use of the word “suspend,” which implies that the pause is only temporary. The wording was agreed upon by all three sides.It is unclear for how long annexation would remain suspended, but it is unlikely that anything would happen before the end of this year, the Washington source said.The Trump peace team’s efforts gained steam in July and led to Israel’s decision to skip the original July 1 date that Netanyahu had discussed for sovereignty moves. The administration felt that the opportunity for Israel to normalize ties with the UAE was a “better choice.”“In the long term, this will solidify security,” one American official said. Peace between Israel and the UAE presented an opportunity for “real peace” unlike the cold peace it has with Egypt and Jordan, since Israel and the UAE were never enemies that fought a war against each other.Sovereignty moves would have stopped the momentum towards normalization with Gulf States, another source said.The American source said: “Israel was presented with two opportunities and chose one. They’re aggressively pursuing [normalization] and not complicating it by doing sovereignty.”Trump called the diplomatic breakthrough a “labor of love for a lot of people in the room,” speaking to how it is also an achievement for Special Adviser to the President Jared Kushner, who heads the Middle East peace team, and Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz, who worked behind the scenes in recent months to promote normalization between Israel and the Arab world, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.Friedman said “the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE will make Israel stronger and safer and will likely lead to additional exciting opportunities and incremental prosperity for Israel, its neighbors and the entire region.”A senior Likud source remarked that “the Israeli and international Left always said we can’t bring peace with Arab states without peace with the Palestinians, that there is no other way than withdrawing to ‘67 lines, evacuating settlements, dividing Jerusalem and establishing a Palestinian state. For the first time in history Prime Minister Netanyahu broke the paradigm of ‘land for peace’ and brought ‘peace for peace.’”Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi praised the agreement, saying “the good news of normalization with the UAE is important and an opening to more agreements.”Ashkenazi also praised “avoiding the one-sided annexation plan,” and called for the complete Trump peace plan to be implemented.Yamina leader Naftali Bennett praised the normalization, saying “relations between the countries are no longer held hostage by Palestinian recalcitrance,” but slammed Netanyahu for suspending sovereignty plans.“It’s unfortunate that Netanyahu gave up a once-in-a-century chance to apply sovereignty to the Jordan Valley, Ma’aleh Adumim, Bet El and the rest of Israeli settlements,” he said. “It is tragic that Netanyahu did not seize the moment and didn’t have the courage to apply sovereignty to a centimeter of the Land of Israel, but sovereignty over the parts of our homeland will come from somewhere else.”Joint List MK Mtanes Shihadeh accused the UAE of a “betrayal... no less than a knife in the back of the Palestinian people and the Arab nations.”Shehadeh posited that “Netanyahu and Israel never really meant to annex, but in order for him to abandon the plan, the UAE agreed to make its secret relations open. Nothing will change and anyone who thinks the Palestinians will disappear are mistaken.”Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden said “the UAE’s offer to publicly recognize the State of Israel is a welcome, brave and badly-needed act of statesmanship. Annexation would be a bloody blow to the course of peace, which is why I oppose it now and would oppose it as president.”The Gulf state of Oman said on Friday it supported the United Arab Emirates' decision to normalize ties with Israel, saying it hoped the accord would contribute to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in the Middle East.The statement by a foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency ONA, called the UAE-Israel agreement "historic."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--IDF reports 282 active coronavirus cases

The IDF on Thursday evening announced that 282 soldiers and IDF civilian employees were diagnosed with coronavirus, all of whom are in light condition, except for one who is in moderate condition.Some 3,798 additional soldiers are currently in home isolation.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--US CDC reports 5,176,018 coronavirus cases

The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19 , caused by a new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ ET on Aug. 12 versus its previous report a day earlier .

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday reported 5,176,018 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 56,307 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 1,497 to 165,148.
The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of 4 pm ET on Aug. 12 versus its previous report a day earlier.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--UK PM Boris Johnson: UAE-Israel deal 'hugely good news'

`` The UAE and Israel ’ s decision to normalize relations is hugely good news , '' Johnson said on @ @

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that will lead to a full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two states.
"The UAE and Israel’s decision to normalize relations is hugely good news," Johnson said on Twitter.
"It was my profound hope that annexation did not go ahead in the West Bank and today’s agreement to suspend those plans is a welcome step on the road to a more peaceful Middle East."


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Iran's IRGC news affiliate slams Israel-UAE deal as 'shameful'

Iran 's clerical leaders have yet to react to the deal .

Iran's Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated to the country's elite Revolutionary Guards, said Thursday's deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on normalizing ties was "shameful."
Iran's clerical leaders have yet to react to the deal.
Israel and the UAE reached a deal on Thursday on seeking the full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations, in an agreement that US President Donald Trump helped broker.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--UN chief Guterres welcomes Israel-UAE deal to promote peace

Israel and the United Arab Emirates reached a historic deal on Thursday that will lead to a full normalization of @ @ @ @ @ Middle Eastern nations in an agreement that US President Donald Trump helped broker .

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes "any initiative that can promote peace and security in the Middle East region," a UN spokesman said on Thursday after Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced a deal on bilateral ties.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates reached a historic deal on Thursday that will lead to a full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations in an agreement that US President Donald Trump helped broker.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Bennett: Netanyahu failed, applying sovereignty will come from elsewhere

Former defense minister and leader of Yamina Naftali Bennett commented on the Israel-UAE agreement signed on Thursday, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for missing the opportunity to apply sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, which he called the "opportunity of a century.""I congratulate Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed for the leadership he has displayed. Israel has a lot to offer to the region and it's a good thing that the relations between the countries are not held hostage by the Palestinian insubordination."However, it's unfortunate that Netanyahu missed the opportunity of a century to apply Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Rift Valley, Ma'ale Adumim, Beit El and the rest of the Israeli settlements."It's tragic that Netanyahu didn't seize the moment, and didn't find courage to apply sovereignty on even a centimeter of the Land of Israel. But applying sovereignty on the lands of our homeland will come from elsewhere," Bennett said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Pompeo says Israel-UAE agreement is enormous step forward

An agreement on normalizing relations reached between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday is an "enormous" step forward on the "right path," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters with him on a trip to central European countries."This is an enormous, historic step forward," Pompeo said shortly before taking off from Slovenia for Austria's capital Vienna, adding that it was a historic opportunity for the Middle East to be stable and peaceful. "Peace is the right path forward."The agreement, which US President Donald Trump helped broker, will lead to the full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations. It was sealed in a phone call between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.Pompeo is on a week-long tour through central Europe. He has scheduled meetings with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Friday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--UAE-Israel deal done to save two-state solution from annexation

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday said an agreement with Israel to normalize relations was done to deal with the threat that further annexation of Palestinian territories posed to the two-state solution.The UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, urged the Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table, and added that there is no hope of a UAE embassy in Jerusalem unless a final agreement is hashed out.


jerusalempost--2020-08-13--Egypt's Sisi welcomes UAE-Israel deal and halt to annexation


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--UAE-Israel deal is 'theater' fabricated by US, says Iran's Zarif

BEIRUT , Aug 14 - Iran 's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif on Friday denounced an accord between the United @ @ @ @ @ normalize ties as `` theater '' fabricated by the United States .
`` They ( @ @ @ @ @ fabricating the theater like the one that happened yesterday unfortunately , that they can determine @ @ @ @ @ '' Zarif said in televised remarks during a visit to Lebanon .

BEIRUT - Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif on Friday denounced an accord between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize ties as "theater" fabricated by the United States.
"They (US) think that by fabricating the theater like the one that happened yesterday unfortunately, that they can determine the fate of Palestine," Zarif said in televised remarks during a visit to Lebanon.
"The current US administration has proven that it is not capable of understanding the political realities in our region."


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--EU welcomes Israel-UAE relations deal as good for regional stability

The EU's executive on Friday welcome the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic ties, saying it would benefit both countries and help promote stability in the Middle East."It is important for both (countries) and for regional stability," a European Commission spokeswoman told a news briefing."Both countries are our partners and of course ... we are committed to a two-state solution and we are of course ready to work on a resumption of the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians."Under the accord, which US President Donald Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. It also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the conflict-riven Middle East.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--Iran official: No Iranian ships or cargoes have been seized

No Iranian ships or gasoline cargoes have been seized, an unnamed official told Iran's state news agency on Friday, following reports that four Iranian fuel cargoes had been transferred to other ships for transport to US waters."Iran, as it has repeatedly stated, will not tolerate any such hostile actions ... and has not allowed any country to take such measures," the unnamed official told IRNA.Four tankers carrying Iranian fuel cargoes covered by a US warrant for seizure are sailing to the United States after talks between US authorities and the ship owners, a US government source and a shipping source said on Thursday.A US judge issued a warrant to seize Iranian gasoline cargoes on four tankers in July after US prosecutors filed a lawsuit. The warrant for seizure only covered the cargoes, not the vessels.The owners of the four vessels agreed to have the fuel transferred to other vessels so it could be shipped to the United States, a US government source said on Thursday. The warrant only covered the cargoes, not the vessels.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--Plane carrying four passengers crashes in dense forest in eastern Congo

A plane carrying four passengers crashed late on Thursday in dense forest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said.The plane, thought to be one of two small cargo planes owned by Agefreco, went down during a flight from Kalima in Maniema province to Bukavu in South Kivu province, said Theo Kasi, governor of South Kivu."The investigation will determine the cause of the accident. I share the pain with the grieving families and offer my deepest condolences," Kasi said on Twitter.The wreckage has not been located, but the suspected crash zone is a vast dense forest, said Desiree Kyakwima, a spokesperson for South Kivu administration."The airport services who informed the governor of the crash told him that, while trying to locate the wreckage of the plane, there is no chance of finding any survivors," Kyakwima said.Air accidents are relatively common in Congo because of lax safety standards and poor maintenance. All Congolese commercial carriers are banned from operating in the European Union.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--Belarusian opposition asks supporters to back vote recount

Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Friday asked supporters to sign an online form demanding a recount of last Sunday's presidential election in which she believes she was swindled out of victory.In a video posted on YouTube, Tsikhanouskaya, who is in neighboring Lithuania, also asked supporters to back an official investigation into allegations that the election was falsified.She called for an end to violence, that has surged in the wake of veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko's contested re-election and asked all city mayors to organize peaceful gatherings this weekend.She spoke after the Belarusian leadership began releasing thousands of detained protesters after issuing a rare public apology in an effort to quell nationwide street protests that pose the biggest challenge to Lukashenko's 26-year rule.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--In Beirut, Iran's Zarif says up to Lebanon to decide future government

The Lebanese should be the only party who should decide their future government, Iran's Foreign Minster Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday in Beirut.Speaking after a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, he said Iran and private Iranian companies are ready to help Lebanon with reconstruction after the catastrophic explosion at the port of Beirut last week, and with the rehabilitation of the electricity sector.The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, which had the support of the Iranian-aligned Hezbollah, resigned in the wake of the explosion.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--UK buys potential COVID-19 vaccines from J&J and Novavax

The UK government has sealed two more deals to secure COVID-19 vaccines, buying shots in development from US drugmakers Johnson & Johnson and Novavax Inc, the chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce Katie Bingham told Sky News on Friday.In a separate statement, Novavax said the UK would buy 60 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, for a phase 3 clinical trial in the country.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--Afghan government releases 80 of final 400 Taliban prisoners

The Afghan government has begun releasing the last Taliban prisoners from a final batch of 400 who the militants want freed before they agree to start peace negotiations, a security agency spokesman said on Friday.The government agreed on Sunday to release the 400 "hard-core" prisoners after consulting a grand assembly of elders and other community leaders, known as a Loya Jirga."The government ... yesterday released 80 Taliban convicts out of the 400 that the Consultative Loya Jirga sanctioned for release to speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire," said Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council.He did not say when the remaining 320 would be set free.Disagreement over the release of the prisoners, who include some of those accused in connection with some of Afghanistan's bloodiest attacks, has delayed negotiations for months as the United States withdraws troops under a deal signed with the Taliban in February.President Ashraf Ghani on Monday issued a decree to release the final batch of prisoners.The Taliban did not immediately respond to request for comment. They have previously said they would sit down for peace talks with the US-backed government in Qatar within a week of the release of the last of the prisoners.The Taliban have always refused to talk to the government, dismissing it as a US "puppet."But they agreed to power-sharing talks under the deal struck with the United States, on the withdrawal of its troops in exchange for Taliban security guarantees.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--Vietnam health ministry to buy Russian COVID-19 vaccine

Vietnam's health ministry has registered to buy a Russian COVID-19 vaccine, state television reported on Friday, as the Southeast Asian country fights a new outbreak of the coronavirus following months of no local cases.Russia said on Wednesday the first batch of the world's first COVID-19 vaccine would be rolled out within two weeks, rejecting as "groundless" the safety concerns aired by some experts over Moscow's rapid approval of the drug."In the meantime, Vietnam will still continue developing the country's own COVID-19 vaccine," state broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) said, citing Vietnam's Ministry of Health.The ministry did not say how many doses of the Russian vaccine it had ordered, or when it expected to receive them. Vietnam's own home-grown vaccine will be available by the end of 2021, the ministry said last month.Vietnam was lauded for suppressing an earlier contagion through aggressive testing, contact-tracing and quarantining, but it is now racing to control infections in multiple locations linked to the popular holiday city of Danang, where a new outbreak was detected on July 25.Vietnam has reported a total of 911 infections, with 21 deaths. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has warned that the risk of wider spread of the virus is "very high," and said that the next several days would be "critical" in fighting the outbreak.The head of Vietnam's coronavirus taskforce, Vu Duc Dam, said on Friday that Vietnam now had no choice but to "live safely with the virus.""We are implementing the anti-virus measures of a poor country, so everyone has to stay alert and know how to protect themselves from the virus," Dam said, according to state media.


jerusalempost--2020-08-14--French govt decree: Paris is 'red' high-risk COVID zone again

The French government has declared Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone area around Marseille on the Mediterranean coast as "red" zones with a high coronavirus infection risk, according to a government decree published on Friday.The decree gives local authorities the power to limit the circulation of people and vehicles, to restrict the access to public transport and air travel, to limit the access to public buildings and to close some establishments where there is a high risk of infection.The measure follows a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections over the past two weeks.