jerusalempost--2020-08-16--El Al chief resigns due to 'medical reasons' - report

The chairman of El Al Airlines Eli Defes resigned Sunday due to "medical reasons," according to a Ynet report.Defes took office in the Israeli airline on June 1, 2017.


jerusalempost--2020-08-16--Belarusian army to hold drills near Poland and Lithuania – report

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The Belarusian army plans to hold drills over Aug. 17-20 near the country's nuclear plant and in the Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania, the RIA news agency reported on Sunday, citing the defense ministry.It also said that the Belarusian army will train to strengthen the country's western border as part of the drills.


jerusalempost--2020-08-16--Lithuania does not pose threat to Belarus, defense minister says

`` The Belarus crisis is a political one , and any allegations by the Belarus leadership about foreign countries ' @ @ @ @ @ pose are an attempt to shift blame and justify its own actions , '' Defense @ @ @ @ @ a statement to Reuters .
All international military training in Lithuania is held according to @ @ @ @ @ said .
Lithuania hosted military maneuvers on Aug. 2-14 , which included 1,100 of its @ @ @ @ @ soldiers and 10 US military helicopters arriving from Poland , a Lithuanian army spokesman said @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for this month , he added .
Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said Lukashenko 's @ @ @ @ @ `` is a lie '' and is meant to create an excuse to call for @ @ @ @

NATO member Lithuania said on Sunday it does not pose a military threat to its neighbor Belarus after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko accused NATO of massing on his country's western border.
"The Belarus crisis is a political one, and any allegations by the Belarus leadership about foreign countries' interference or about threats they pose are an attempt to shift blame and justify its own actions," Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis said in a statement to Reuters.
All international military training in Lithuania is held according to a long-term schedule, he said.
Lithuania hosted military maneuvers on Aug. 2-14, which included 1,100 of its own troops and 200 US soldiers and 10 US military helicopters arriving from Poland, a Lithuanian army spokesman said.
No more maneuvers are scheduled for this month, he added.
Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said Lukashenko's statement about a military buildup "is a lie" and is meant to create an excuse to call for help from Russia.
The Russian interference would "completely ruin country’s independence. Lamentable," he tweeted.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Vietnam reports 14 more COVID-19 infections

Nearly 500 cases are linked to the central city of Danang , where a new outbreak was detected late in @ @ @ @ @ months without domestic transmission nationwide .

Vietnam's health ministry reported 14 more coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 976, with 24 fatalities.
Nearly 500 cases are linked to the central city of Danang, where a new outbreak was detected late in July after more than three months without domestic transmission nationwide.
The ministry said 107,642 people were being quarantined, about a quarter in hospitals and centralized isolation centers and the rest at home.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Thermometer in Death Valley shows highest temperature in over 100 years

`` If verified , this will be the hottest temperature officially verified since July of 1913 , '' NWS Las @ @ @ @ @ automated observation system , said of the reading on Sunday afternoon , emphasizing that it @ @ @ @ @ need to undergo a formal review before the record is confirmed because of its significance @ @ @ @ @ Twitter feed , linking to an NWS statement https : //bit.ly/343lox7 .
The National Weather @ @ @ @ @ close to the Furnace Creek visitors ' center near the border with Nevada hit the @ @ @ @ @ local time .
Death Valley 's all-time record high , according to the World Meteorological @ @ @ @ @ 56.7°C ) taken on July 10 , 1913 at Greenland Ranch .
That reading still @ @ @ @ @ recorded on the planet 's surface , according to the WMO .

A thermometer at Death Valley's Furnace Creek in the Southern California desert has soared to 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 Celsius), the highest global temperature in more than a century, the U.S. National Weather Service said.
"If verified, this will be the hottest temperature officially verified since July of 1913," NWS Las Vegas, which owns the automated observation system, said of the reading on Sunday afternoon, emphasizing that it was preliminary.
It will need to undergo a formal review before the record is confirmed because of its significance, it said on its Twitter feed, linking to an NWS statement https://bit.ly/343lox7.
The National Weather Service's automated weather station close to the Furnace Creek visitors' center near the border with Nevada hit the extreme high at 3:41 pm local time.
Death Valley's all-time record high, according to the World Meteorological Organization, is 134°F (56.7°C) taken on July 10, 1913 at Greenland Ranch. That reading still stands as the hottest ever recorded on the planet's surface, according to the WMO.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Fires reported in Mishmar HaNegev, Kissufim in southern Israel

Three fires were reported in Kissufim and Mishmar HaNegev in southern Israel on Monday. It is still unclear if it was caused by an incendiary balloon.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Two US helicopters attack Syrian army checkpoint in northeast Syria

The incident happened shortly after a U.S. patrol was prevented from passing by an army checkpoint in the area , @ @ @ @

Two U.S. helicopters on Monday attacked a Syrian army checkpoint in northeastern Syria near the Kurdish-held city of Qamishli, killing one soldier and injuring two others, state media said.
The incident happened shortly after a U.S. patrol was prevented from passing by an army checkpoint in the area, state media said.
Northeastern Syria is mainly under the control of U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces who are spearheaded by Kurdish fighters, but Syrian army forces are deployed in certain locations under agreements with the Kurds.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Coronavirus in Israel: 1,044 new cases, death toll rises to 690

The death toll rose to 690 overnight , after four people passed away due to the virus .
398 people @ @ @ @ @ 113 are on ventilators .

The death toll rose to 690 overnight, after four people passed away due to the virus. 398 people are in serious condition and 113 are on ventilators.
Some 1,044 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in Israel on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the outbreak to 93,691, according to a Monday morning update by the Health Ministry.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Egyptian envoy arrives in Gaza in attempt to avert escalation with Israel

An Egyptian envoy arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday to attempt to prevent an escalation between Israel and terrorist groups in Gaza after a week of incendiary and explosive balloon launches, nightly riots along the border fence and retaliatory IDF strikes, according to Palestinian reports.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Blast hits Turkish-Russian joint patrol in Syria's Idlib - RIA

A Turkish military vehicle was hit by a blast on Monday during a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in Syria's Idlib region, the RIA news agency cited Russia's defense ministry as saying.No Russian soldiers were hurt in the incident, it said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Belarus leader says there will be no new election 'until you kill me'

His apparent concession came after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country .
Amid increasing demands to quit after the biggest protest against him yet , Lukashenko faced heckling from workers at a factory he visited in Minsk on Monday morning with people chanting `` Step Down '' as he tried to answer their questions .
He told workers on Monday there would be no new presidential election , something the opposition wants , until he was killed .
The official Belta news agency quoted him as saying he would be willing to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution , but that he was not prepared to do so under pressure from protesters .
Work was already underway on possible changes to the constitution that could redistribute power , Belta reported him as saying .
Speaking in a video address from Lithuania , opposition politician Tsikhanouskaya urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides from Lukashenko 's government , saying their past behavior would be forgiven if they did so now .
`` I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the most of the momentum generated by a week of protests .
She called for the creation of a legal mechanism to ensure that a new fair presidential election could be held .
Her video was released as Interfax reported that employees from the state broadcaster BT has gone on strike , after several of their presenters and staff publicly resigned last week in solidarity with the protesters .
The broadcaster was showing re-runs of old programs on Monday morning before issuing a fresh news bulletin .
Videos circulating on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aired footage of an empty studio with white sofas , and music playing .
Reuters could not independently confirm that and the broadcaster could not immediately be reached for comment .
Thousands of protesters marched in Minsk on Monday morning to the state-run Minsk Automobile Plant ( MAZ ) to where Lukashenko flew by helicopter to speak to striking workers .
Lukashenko played down the impact of the strikes , saying `` those who want to work , let them work .
They do not want to work , well , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments released by Belta .
The media outlet Tut.By reported that workers at Belaruskali , one of the world 's largest potash producers , had also threatened to stop production .
The state-owned firm , which is a key source of dollar revenue for Belarus , told Reuters on Monday its plant was still working .

Facing growing protests that have posed the biggest challenge to his 26 years in power, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday he was ready to share power in Belarus, although not under pressure from the streets.
His apparent concession came after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.
Amid increasing demands to quit after the biggest protest against him yet, Lukashenko faced heckling from workers at a factory he visited in Minsk on Monday morning with people chanting "Step Down" as he tried to answer their questions.
Opponents of Lukashenko say he rigged a presidential election on Aug. 9 to secure a sixth term in power. He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80% of the vote.
He told workers on Monday there would be no new presidential election, something the opposition wants, until he was killed.
The official Belta news agency quoted him as saying he would be willing to share power however, and to change the constitution, but that he was not prepared to do so under pressure from protesters.
Work was already underway on possible changes to the constitution that could redistribute power, Belta reported him as saying.
Speaking in a video address from Lithuania, opposition politician Tsikhanouskaya urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides from Lukashenko's government, saying their past behavior would be forgiven if they did so now.
"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period," Tsikhanouskaya said, saying it was essential to make the most of the momentum generated by a week of protests.
She called for the creation of a legal mechanism to ensure that a new fair presidential election could be held.
Her video was released as Interfax reported that employees from the state broadcaster BT has gone on strike, after several of their presenters and staff publicly resigned last week in solidarity with the protesters.
The broadcaster was showing re-runs of old programs on Monday morning before issuing a fresh news bulletin. Videos circulating on social media suggested BT had at one point aired footage of an empty studio with white sofas, and music playing.
Reuters could not independently confirm that and the broadcaster could not immediately be reached for comment.
Thousands of protesters marched in Minsk on Monday morning to the state-run Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) to where Lukashenko flew by helicopter to speak to striking workers.
Lukashenko played down the impact of the strikes, saying "those who want to work, let them work. They do not want to work, well, we will not force them," according to comments released by Belta.
The media outlet Tut.By reported that workers at Belaruskali, one of the world's largest potash producers, had also threatened to stop production. The state-owned firm, which is a key source of dollar revenue for Belarus, told Reuters on Monday its plant was still working.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Hong Kong records 44 new coronavirus cases

While the number of daily cases have come down from triple digits in recent weeks , authorities have cautioned residents @ @ @ @ @ that the situation remained `` severe . ''
Restrictions including a ban on dining at @ @ @ @ @ mandating of masks in all outdoor public areas are set to remain in force for @ @ @ @ @ August 25 , the government said in a statement on Monday .
Out of the @ @ @ @ @ , 31 of them were local transmissions .

Hong Kong reported 44 new coronavirus cases on Monday as the government announced an extension to social distancing measures aimed at controlling further spreading of the virus, which has seen a resurgence in the Asian financial hub since early July.
While the number of daily cases have come down from triple digits in recent weeks, authorities have cautioned residents from becoming complacent, warning that the situation remained "severe."
Restrictions including a ban on dining at restaurants from 6pm and the mandating of masks in all outdoor public areas are set to remain in force for a further seven days until August 25, the government said in a statement on Monday.
Out of the 44 cases recorded on Monday, 31 of them were local transmissions.
Since late January, over 4500 people have been infected in Hong Kong, 69 of whom have died. Monday's figure was down from Sunday's 74 cases.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Philippines records 3,314 new coronavirus cases, 18 deaths

The Philippines has recorded 3,314 new coronavirus cases and 18 additional deaths from the disease, the health ministry said on Monday.The country has so far registered a total of 164,474 infections and the death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 2,681, according to ministry data.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Indonesia reports 1,821 new coronavirus cases, 57 deaths

Indonesia reported 1,821 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing its infection total to 141,370, data from government's COVID-19 task force showed.The Southeast Asian country also added 57 new deaths, taking its fatalities to 6,207, the highest coronavirus death toll in Southeast Asia.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Russia reports nearly 5,000 new coronavirus cases

Russia reported 4,892 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday, pushing its tally so far to 927,745, the fourth largest in the world.Authorities said 55 people had died across the country in the last 24 hours, increasing Russia's official coronavirus death toll to 15,740.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--El Al chairman resigns due to 'medical reasons' - report


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Lebanon needs two-week lockdown after COVID-19 spike

`` We declare today a state of general alert and we need a brave decision to close ( the country @ @ @ @ @ '' Hamad Hassan told Voice of Lebanon radio .

Lebanon should be locked down for two weeks after a spike in COVID-19 infections, the caretaker government's health minister was quoted as saying on Monday.
"We declare today a state of general alert and we need a brave decision to close (the country) for two weeks," Hamad Hassan told Voice of Lebanon radio.
Lebanon registered a record 439 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours on Sunday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--India's coronavirus death toll surpasses 50,000

India's death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 50,000 on Monday, as infection numbers surged and total cases were nearly at 2.65 million.The country reported a daily jump of 57,981 infections, taking the total to nearly 2.65 million, third only behind the United States and Brazil. The death toll jumped by 941, with the total now 50,921.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Police called in after 13 vehicles were set on fire in JLM parking lot

Police officers were called in to a parking lot in Givat HaMatos after receiving reports about the burning vehicles, according to Yisrael Hayom.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Families in rural Guatemala flee after armed group sets homes on fire

GUATEMALA CITY - Forty indigenous families occupying farmland have fled their homes in north Guatemala after an armed group set fire to several residences , a land rights group said on Sunday .
The families belong to the Q'eqchi ' indigenous group and are former workers of the Cubilgüitz coffee farm laid off 15 years ago without full severance , Guatemala 's Committee of Peasant Unity ( CUC ) said .
Since then , they have demanded land as compensation and occupied part of the farm in protest , CUC representative Maria Josefa Macz said .
`` Last night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes , their belongings and residences were looted , similar to the 1980s , '' the CUC said in a statement , referring to some of the bloodiest years of Guatemala 's Civil War when villages often were burned .
It was not clear who was behind the attack .
However , a little over a year ago , another group of people began to occupy the land and intimidate the former workers , the CUC said .
Guatemala 's President Alejandro Giammattei said on Twitter he was concerned about the incident @ @ @ @ @

GUATEMALA CITY - Forty indigenous families occupying farmland have fled their homes in north Guatemala after an armed group set fire to several residences, a land rights group said on Sunday.
The families belong to the Q'eqchi' indigenous group and are former workers of the Cubilgüitz coffee farm laid off 15 years ago without full severance, Guatemala's Committee of Peasant Unity (CUC) said.
Since then, they have demanded land as compensation and occupied part of the farm in protest, CUC representative Maria Josefa Macz said.
"Last night, the 40 families were forced to leave their homes, their belongings and residences were looted, similar to the 1980s," the CUC said in a statement, referring to some of the bloodiest years of Guatemala's Civil War when villages often were burned.
It was not clear who was behind the attack. However, a little over a year ago, another group of people began to occupy the land and intimidate the former workers, the CUC said.
Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei said on Twitter he was concerned about the incident and authorities were investigating.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Japan PM Abe enters hospital for examination - media

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe entered a Tokyo hospital on Monday for an examination , Nippon TV and @ @ @ @

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe entered a Tokyo hospital on Monday for an examination, Nippon TV and Kyodo News reported.
A detailed reason was unknown but Kyodo cited those around the prime minister as saying it was for a regular check-up.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--National Insurance Institute: Two days left to update bank account details

Israel's National Insurance Institute announced that there are only two days left for citizens to update their bank account details so that they can receive the coronavirus grant from the government.The statement also said that 95% of citizens have received their grant already.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--George Floyd's brother to address Democratic National Convention – report

Philonise Floyd will provide brief remarks virtually from his home in Texas and there will be a moment of silence @ @ @ @ @ said , during the first night of the convention where former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee in the November election .

The brother of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody in May sparked waves of anti-racism protests across the country, will address the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, CNN reported.
Philonise Floyd will provide brief remarks virtually from his home in Texas and there will be a moment of silence for George Floyd, CNN said, during the first night of the convention where former Vice President Joe Biden will be formally named the Democratic presidential nominee in the November election.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--6.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Samar, Philippines

An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck Samar, in the eastern Philippines on Tuesday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.The quake had a depth of 30 kilometers, EMSC said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Coronavius: Mexico's death toll surpasses 57,000

Mexico's health ministry reported on Monday 3,571 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 266 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 525,733 cases and 57,023 deaths.The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Trump to pardon a 'very important person' on Tuesday, not Snowden, Flynn

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will posthumously pardon American social reformer and women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony who was fined in 1872 for voting illegally.Speaking at a White House event to mark the 100th anniversary of ratification of the US Constitution’s 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, Trump said: "I will be signing a full and complete pardon of Susan B. Anthony. She was never pardoned."Trump is facing a tough fight for re-election in November and has tried in recent weeks to appeal to women voters, especially those in the suburbs.He said on Saturday he would consider pardoning Edward Snowden, who gave a trove of secret files in 2013 to news organizations that disclosed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the National Security Agency.On Monday, he hinted that he would pardon a "very, very important" person, but added it would not be Snowden or former national security adviser Michael Flynn.Last month, Trump used his presidential power to commute the sentence of longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--US military reviewing reported drone sighting near Air Force One

A reporter tweeted he saw an object that looked like a drone and said the modified Boeing 757 flew `` @ @ @ @ @ , remarkably close to the president 's plane '' as Trump returned to Washington from @ @ @ @ @ Airlift Wing said on Monday it `` is aware of the report .
The matter @ @ @ @ @ The Air Force noted the plane landed safely without incident just before 6 p.m. on @ @

The US Air Force said on Monday it was reviewing a report that a drone flew near President Donald Trump's airplane on Sunday as it descended near Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
A reporter tweeted he saw an object that looked like a drone and said the modified Boeing 757 flew "right over a small object, remarkably close to the president's plane" as Trump returned to Washington from New Jersey.
The 89th Airlift Wing said on Monday it "is aware of the report. The matter is under review."
The Air Force noted the plane landed safely without incident just before 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Any plane the president is flying on is designated as Air Force One.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Coronavirus: Brazil records 19,373 new cases, 684 deaths

Brazil reported 19,373 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 684 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday.Brazil has now registered 3,359,570 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 108,536, according to ministry data, marking the world's worst coronavirus outbreak after the United States.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Blue and White, Likud budget meeting ends without progress

They added that , `` Both sides agreed to continue discussions in the coming days . ''

They added that, "Both sides agreed to continue discussions in the coming days."
The budget meeting held between Likud and Blue and White officials ended without any progress, the political parties announced.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--UAE coast guard engage 8 fishing boats violating territorial waters

The United Arab Emirates' Coast guards tried on Monday to stop eight fishing boats which violated the state's territorial waters northwest of Sir Bu Nu'Ayr island, state news agency WAM reported.The fishing boats did not comply with the coast guard's orders and therefore rules of engagement were applied, WAM said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Pompeo praises Israel for illuminating Tel Aviv with Lebanon flag

The people of Israel recently made a beautiful demonstration of solidarity with the people of Lebanon by illuminating the Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ Hall .
These are two countries that I love .
I hope one day there @ @ @ @ @ peoples .
pic.twitter.com/YjP7p1jpIL

killing over 100 people and injuring nearly 4,000.
The people of Israel recently made a beautiful demonstration of solidarity with the people of Lebanon by illuminating the Lebanese flag on Tel Aviv City Hall. These are two countries that I love. I hope one day there is peace between these two peoples. pic.twitter.com/YjP7p1jpIL


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Hadassah implements regular coronavirus tests, receptionist tests positive

Hadassah Medical Center, upon implementing regular coronavirus testing for all staff members, had a receptionist from Hadassah Ein Kerem test positive last week. Upon verification, it was found thatshe had not been infected at the hospital.Everyone who came into contact with him was sent to quarantine immediately.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--German govt denies Merkel-Lukashenko conversation took place

BERLIN - A spokesman for the German government denied that any phone call had taken place between Chancellor Angela Merkel and Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko since the August 9 election, contradicting what Lukashenko had earlier said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Belarusian leader Lukashenko says Germany's Merkel called him -Interfax

MINSK - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had received a phone call on Sunday from German Chancellor Angela Merkel amid protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule, the Interfax news agency reported on Monday.Lukashenko faces the threat of European Union sanctions after a crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was his rigged re-election victory last week. He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80% of the vote.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Turkey's total coronavirus cases rise to over 250,000 -health ministry

ANKARA - Turkey's total number of coronavirus cases rose to more than 250,000, with 1,233 new cases identified in the past 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Monday, as the death toll from the virus neared 6,000.The data showed 22 people had died in the past 24 hours in Turkey, bringing the death toll to 5,996, while the total number of recoveries rose to 231,971."The majority of new patients can be easily treated. But the spread increases the number of seriously ill patients whose treatment is difficult," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--879,000 Israelis out of work, up to 15% unemployment expected

879,000 Israelis are currently seeking work, and the unemployment rate is expected to be between 10% to 15% by the end of 2020 thanks to the coronavirus lockdown, N12 and Kan reported on Monday evening.Sources in the Finance Ministry confirmed that “the numbers are bad,” and did not attempt to offer conflicting data with that presented by the Center Bureau of Statistics (CBS).Private consumption dropped by 43.4% and state spending increased by 25.2% in the second quarter of 2020, CBS reported on Sunday, indicating that the nation now faces not just the novel coronavirus, but also a deep recession.The increase in state spending is partly due to the Safety Net program and the Check for Every Citizen Plan. Many suspect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu means to approve further benefit plans ahead of the Jewish New Year.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Bill to extend budget deadline passes initial reading

The bill to extend the deadline for the government's decision on a budget passed a first reading on Monday night.The Knesset voted 82 to 38 to extend the deadline. The bill must still pass in the committee and plenum before it goes into effect.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Saudi Jazan civil defense: Houthis fired projectile at border village

CAIRO - Saudi Arabia's Jazan civil defense said on Monday that a military projectile was fired by Yemen's Houthi group at a border village, causing no casualties or injuries, Saudi state TV said on twitter.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--2020-08-17--Coronavirus czar to recommend lockdown for Jewish holidays - report

Coronavirus commissioner Ronnie Gamzu will recommend the cabinet to impose a national lockdown during the upcoming Jewish holidays, Channel 12 reported on Monday.According to the report, Gamzu has come to the conclusion that in order to contain the current outbreak it will be necessary to impose more stringent restrictions than the ones that are currently in place.Among the measures he will suggest are supposed to be further limiting the number of worshipers in synagogues, closing hotels and touristic attractions, restricting movement and imposing to celebrate the holidays only with the nuclear families.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Palestinian Authority will boycott Dubai 'Expo' exhibition

The Palestinian Authority has announced that it will boycott the 'Expo' business exhibition expected to take place in Dubai in 2021, Ynet has reported.According to the report, their boycott is due to the normalization between Israel and the UAE.The Palestinian leadership will convene on Wednesday in Ramallah to discuss the agreement between the two countries. Hamas has announced it will also be attending this meeting.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Coronavirus: Number of serious patients hits 399; death toll up to 692

There were 399 patients in serious condition, the Health Ministry reported Monday evening, including 111 who were intubated.In total, Israel has had 94,277 people sick with coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.The death toll continues to spike each day. As of 7:30 p.m., the death toll hit 692.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Health Ministry considers adding UAE to 'green' travel countries

Israel's Health Ministry is considering adding the United Arab Emirates to its list of "green" countries, referring to countries which Israelis may travel to and, upon return, would not have to enter quarantine for two weeks, Gili Cohen of Kan News reported on Monday evening.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Incendiary balloon reported in southern town of Netivot

Israel Police received a report of an incendiary balloon in the town of Netivot in southern Israel on Monday evening.Sappers arrived at the scene to handle the matter, and no damage or injuries were reported.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Ashkenazi and Oman FM agree to work towards normalization

Israel and Oman are holding a dialogue aiming to have official diplomatic ties, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah agreed to keep in contact, strengthen ties between their countries and to “promote the normalization process in the Middle East.”Bin Abdullah affirmed Oman's support "to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East and the need to resume the peace process negotiations and to fulfill the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital," the ministry said.Ashkenazi said that he appreciates Oman ’s commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.Following the conversation, Ashkenazi wrote on twitter that he and bin Abdullah “discussed recent developments in the region, the normalization agreement with the UAE and the need to strengthen ties between the countries.”Bin Abdullah also spoke to Jibril Rajoub, secretary general of the central committee of the Palestinian Fatah group.On Sunday, Ashkenazi and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan had the first direct phone call between the countries after the UAE unblocked Israeli numbers on Sunday, in a further step towards fully normalized ties.Hend Al-Otaiba, a UAE spokeswoman tweeted that the foreign ministers "inaugurated a phone link between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel following the historic Peace Accord signed by the two countries Friday."Ashkenazi and bin Zayed agreed to meet soon and continue discussions about the details of the normalization agreement.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Australia and France object to release of final Taliban prisoners

Some Western nations including France and Australia have urged Afghanistan not to free all of a final batch of prisoners demanded by Taliban militants, officials said, posing a further possible complication to long-awaited peace talks.The Afghan government, under pressure from the United States as it withdraws its troops from a war which started in 2001, agreed last week to begin releasing the final 400 prisoners demanded by the Taliban as a pre-condition to start peace talks in Qatar.It was not immediately clear whether the Western objections were delaying the talks, which are set to begin in Doha soon after the remaining 320 prisoners are freed. Eighty have already been released.Two Western diplomats in Kabul said the full list of prisoners had not been shared with many nations until last week and that France and Australia were strongly opposed to a few prisoners on the list going free.French and Australian officials confirmed in recent days they were opposed to certain prisoners being released, without specifying how many."France asks the Afghan government not to proceed with the release of several terrorists convicted of killing French citizens in Afghanistan," the French Embassy in Kabul said on Twitter.Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne told media last week the Australian government had been in touch with Washington and the Afghan government asking them not to free one of the prisoners, Hekmatullah, a former Afghan army sergeant who killed three Australian solders.One solution proposed, the sources said, was "house arrest" under which the prisoners would be placed under supervision outside the prison system. Reuters reported last month the idea had been suggested by U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad during an earlier deadlock.Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar said on Sunday the government was working to achieve "consensus" among the international community."The world has protested... Our work will be to create consensus on it with the world," he told journalists.A peace ministry spokeswoman said on Monday that talks would not be delayed and a date would be announced in coming days.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Incendiary balloon lands beside preschool, starts fire

An incendiary balloon landed in front of a Sderot preschool on Monday, reportedly starting a fire in the region.The preschool was empty at the time of the fire and no injuries have been reported, although the place suffered some structural damage.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Border Police arrested security guard involved in Qalandiya shooting

Border Police arrested a civilian security guard who shot and injured a man at Qalandiya crossing as part of the investigation into the incident.The shooting seemingly occurred as a part of an attempted arrest of a suspect.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Lapid to Post: Netanyahu is only PM who leaves DM, FM in dark

Opposition leader Yair Lapid told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that he cannot imagine another world leader keeping his top cabinet colleagues in the dark on anything as substantial as Israel's peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates."It is a farce," he said. "Imagine another country in the world where the prime minister announces that he does not trust his defense minister or foreign minister on key diplomatic issues and says they would leak state secrets. I can't name another country where if that happened, the government would even last five minutes, but apparently, in Israel today, anything is possible.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--Trump defends US Postal Service changes, supports more in-person voting

US President Donald Trump on Monday defended his administration's efforts to implement changes at the US Postal Service ahead of November's election, despite an outcry from Democrats and other critics, and said he would support efforts to expand in-person voting.In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he would support more voting booths, early voting and other efforts but reiterated his attacks against mail-in voting.Trump said he wants the postal agency to "run efficiently.""It's not a 'Trump thing'," he added, saying that recent administrative changes were not an effort to "tamper" with ballot efforts ahead of the general elections.Trump spoke hours before Democrats in the US House of Representatives were due to hold a conference call to discuss plans by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to recall lawmakers for vote later this week. The House is expected to consider legislation to protect the Postal Service from what Pelosi on Sunday called Trump's "campaign to sabotage the election by manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters."Several Democratic state attorneys general are also considering potential legal action to stop Postal Service changes that could affect the election outcome.Democrats have accused Trump, who is trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in opinion polls, of trying to hamstring the cash-strapped Postal Service to suppress mail-in voting. Trump has repeatedly and without evidence said that a surge in mail-in voting would lead to fraud.


jerusalempost--2020-08-17--EU urges "thorough and transparent" probe into Belarus detentions

The European Union on Monday called for a "thorough and transparent investigation" into reports of abuse and mistreatment of thousands of protesters detained in Belarus following a contested presidential vote."These peaceful demonstrations had clear demands: the release of all unlawfully detained people, the prosecution of those responsible for police brutality, and holding of new presidential elections," the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement."The sheer numbers clearly show that the Belarusian population wants change, and wants it now. The EU stands by them.""With more and more shocking reports of inhumane conditions and treatment in places of detention, the European Union expects a thorough and transparent investigation into all alleged abuses, in order to hold those responsible to account."


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--WHO calls for end to 'vaccine nationalism'

`` ( Acting ) strategically and globally is actually in each country 's national interest - no one is safe @ @ @ @ @ '' he told a virtual briefing calling for an end to `` vaccine nationalism .
@ @ @ @ @ sent a letter to all WHO members asking them to join the multilateral COVAX vaccine @ @ @ @ @ million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 772,647 @ @ @ @ @ a Reuters tally .

Countries putting their own interests ahead of others in trying to ensure supplies of a possible coronavirus vaccine are making the pandemic worse, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday.
"(Acting) strategically and globally is actually in each country's national interest - no one is safe until everyone is safe," he told a virtual briefing calling for an end to "vaccine nationalism."
He said he had sent a letter to all WHO members asking them to join the multilateral COVAX vaccine effort.
More than 21.9 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 772,647 have died, according to a Reuters tally.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Event halls will open on September 1 - Culture Ministry

Israel's Culture and Sport Ministry announced on Tuesday that event halls will open on September 1 according to the coronavirus guidelines.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--FM Gabi Ashkenazi: Israel-UAE deal 'historic and significant'

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said on Tuesday that the recent deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates "a very historic and significant agreement for the State of Israel that would not have been possible without building a broad infrastructure of formal relations."Ashkenazi added that he "hopes that there will be more countries that will join this agreement." The foreign minister further said that he instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare for further steps in the implementation of the agreement.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Coronavirus: Israel surpasses 400 in serious condition

There are 410 people in serious condition, according to the Health Ministry - among them 113 who are intubated.Some 1,660 tested positive on Monday.The death toll is still rising. As of Tuesday morning, there are 698 people dead.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Russia reports 4,748 new coronavirus cases

Russia reported 4,748 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, pushing its nationwide tally to 932,493, the fourth largest in the world.The country's coronavirus crisis response center said 132 people had died of the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the official coronavirus death toll to 15,872.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Fireworks fired at Border Police in Jerusalem, suspect shot

The suspect was later located at the Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem where he was receiving treatment for injuries .

The suspect was later located at the Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem where he was receiving treatment for injuries.
Fireworks were fired by a suspect in his 20's at Border Police in east Jerusalem on Tuesday morning. The police responded by firing at the suspect who escaped the scene in a vehicle.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Rockets strike Kabul near main diplomatic district - officials, witnesses

`` Several rockets were fired from two vehicles , '' Ministry of Interior spokesman Tariq Arian said .
Blasts shook @ @ @ @ @ sources told Reuters was quickly placed under lockdown as workers in embassies took cover in @ @ @ @ @ not immediately clear whether there were any casualties or who was behind the attack , @ @ @ @ @ 's independence day and as the United States is withdrawing troops while trying to usher @ @ @ @ @ 19 years of war .

Multiple rockets struck Afghanistan's capital on Tuesday, including near the main diplomatic district, officials said.
"Several rockets were fired from two vehicles," Ministry of Interior spokesman Tariq Arian said.
Blasts shook the diplomatic area, which sources told Reuters was quickly placed under lockdown as workers in embassies took cover in safe rooms.
It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties or who was behind the attack, which took place on Afghanistan's independence day and as the United States is withdrawing troops while trying to usher peace talks to end almost 19 years of war.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--UAE's Gargash: Ties with Israel brings change that will help Arab world

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United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash wrote on his official Twitter account Tuesday that "ties with Israel brings change that will help the Arab world overcome the Nakba and civil wars."Israel and the UAE agreed to a full normalization of relations last week, marking the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years.The Nakba refers to the Palestinian exodus in 1948 after Israel's War of Independence."Treaty is one of many peace initiatives and will bring 'a positive strategic transformation for the Arabs,'" Gargash wrote.
الخطوة الإماراتية الجرئية حرّكت مياهاً ساكنة آسنة، فتغيير المشهد ضروري لتجاوز مصطلحات مؤلمة في ماضي عالمنا العربي كالنكبة والنكسة والحروب الأهلية. ومن هنا، فإنّ المعاهدة تأتي في سياق العديد من المبادرات للسلام و ستحمل في ثناياها تحوّلاً استراتيجياً إيجابياً للعرب. — د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) August 18, 2020


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Benny Gantz released from hospital after back surgery

Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz was released from the Sheba Medical Center on Tuesday, a week after undergoing surgery on his back.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Mother, brothers of Old City stabbing attack terrorist arrested - report

Israeli security forces arrested the mother and two brothers of Ashraf Hassan Atallah Halasa, the terrorist who stabbed a Border Police officer at the Lion's Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem on Monday, according to Palestinian reports.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Mexico reports more than 5,500 new confirmed coronavirus cases

Mexico's health ministry reported on Tuesday 5,506 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 751 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 531,239 cases and 57,774 deaths.The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Mali's President Keita resigns after military mutiny

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said on Tuesday he was resigning and dissolving parliament, hours after mutinying soldiers detained him and top officials from his government."I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power," he said in a brief address broadcast on state television.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits Southern Sumatra in Indonesia

An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck southern Sumatra in Indonesia on Wednesday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.The quake was at a depth of 40 km (25 miles), EMSC said, revised from an earlier depth of 15 km.No tsunami is expected from the quake, it said.Indonesia sits on the Pacific's seismically active "Ring of Fire" and often suffers deadly earthquakes and tsunamis.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--West Africa bloc closes borders with Mali after president detained

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said on Tuesday it had decided to close its member states' borders with Mali after mutinying soldiers detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.ECOWAS said in a statement it was also suspending all financial flows between its 15 members and Mali and suspending Mali from its decision-making bodies.It called on the ECOWAS commission to impose sanctions on the "putschists and their partners and collaborators."


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Pompeo says US welcomes UN tribunal verdict on Hariri assassination case

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said the United States welcomed the conviction by a UN-backed court of a Hezbollah member of conspiring to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing.In a statement, Pompeo also slammed Hezbollah's 'exploitation' of the financial system of Lebanon, which is reeling from the aftermath of the huge Aug. 4 explosion, and said the degradation of Lebanese institutions jeopardized the country's financial well-being and potential recovery.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Brazil coronavirus cases top 3.4 million, death toll nears 110,000

Brazil reported 47,784 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 1,352 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Tuesday.Brazil has now registered 3,407,354 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 109,888, according to ministry data, marking the world's worst coronavirus outbreak after the United States.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--264 IDF service members diagnosed with coronavirus

As of Tuesday , 264 IDF service members and civilian workers have been diagnosed with coronavirus , all of whom @ @ @ @ @ according to the IDF Spokesperson 's Unit .
Additionally , 3,909 serviceman are currently in @ @ @

As of Tuesday, 264 IDF service members and civilian workers have been diagnosed with coronavirus, all of whom are in light condition, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Pompeo likely to visit UN on Thursday in pursuit of sanctions on Iran

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will likely travel to New York on Thursday to seek a return of all UN sanctions on Iran and meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, diplomats and a UN official said.To trigger a return of the sanctions, the United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member UN Security Council about Iran's non-compliance with the nuclear deal, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018.Pompeo will likely meet with Indonesia's UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the Security Council president for August, to submit the complaint, diplomats said. Pompeo is also due to meet with Guterres, a UN official said.In response to what the United States calls its "maximum pressure" campaign - a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal - Tehran has breached several central limits of the 2015 deal, including on its stock of enriched uranium.But diplomats say the sanctions snapback process will be tough and messy as Russia, China and other countries on the Security Council challenge the legality of the U.S. move given that Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called the "worst deal ever" and has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran.The United States had threatened to use the sanctions snapback provision in the nuclear deal after it lost a bid in the Security Council on Friday to extend an arms embargo on Tehran, which is due to expire in October.Once Washington submits its complaint about Iran to the Security Council, the body has 30 days to adopt a resolution to extend sanctions relief for Tehran or else the measures will automatically snapback. Any attempt to extend the sanctions relief would be vetoed by the United States.The US mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Two children lightly injured while running to shelter amid rocket sirens

IDF aircraft carried out airstrikes late Tuesday night against numerous Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.According to the military, one of the targets was a military compound for one of Hamas's special units.The attack was carried out in response to a rocket launched from the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave into Israel earlier Tuesday evening, as well as the launching of explosive and incendiary balloons during the day.The rocket, which was aimed at the city of Ashkelon, was fired after Egypt-mediated talks to halt violence in the South fell through.Sirens were activated in Ashkelon and the community of Zikim around 9 p.m., sending thousands of Israelis to bomb shelters.The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed at least one rocket had been fired. There were no injuries or damage caused by the rocket, which reportedly fell in an open field."The IDF takes all terrorist activity against Israeli territory very seriously and is prepared and willing to act as much as necessary against attempts to harm Israeli citizens," the IDF said."The terrorist organization Hamas bears responsibility for what is happening in and out of the Gaza Strip, and will bear the consequences of terrorist acts against Israeli citizens."Following the rocket fire, the Palestinians involved in the night disturbances along the border fence reportedly canceled the planned demonstrations for the night, expecting retaliatory strikes by the IDF Israel has struck Hamas targets in Gaza for each of the past seven days in response to the continued launching of incendiary and explosive balloons from the blockaded coastal enclave into southern Israel, causing hundreds of fires to ignite in fields and forests.Thirty-nine fires broke out on Tuesday alone.Earlier on Tuesday, Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned that Hamas was “playing with fire” and that he would “make sure that the fire would be turned on them.”On Monday, an Egyptian envoy met with Hamas officials in Gaza to attempt to prevent an escalation. Hamas gave the envoy a list of demands, which included extending the fishing zone to 20 nautical miles, permitting the import of dual-use materials, increasing work permits and a number of industrial and infrastructure projects, as well as an increase of work permits for Gazan workers allowed into Israel to 100,000 and the opening of the Keren Shalom border crossing according to the Lebanese pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar news.The terrorist group warned the Egyptian envoy on Monday “Palestinian patience has run out” and that the groups in Gaza are “ready to escalate and not afraid.”Israel reportedly rejected the demands.Aaron Reich contributed to this report.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Mali President Keita arrested by mutinying soldiers, say security sources

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was detained on Tuesday by mutinying soldiers in the capital Bamako, two security sources told Reuters.Soldiers had earlier in the day mutinied at the Kati military base about 15 km (9 miles) outside of Bamako and rounded up a number of senior civilian and military officials.A spokesman for Keita could not be reached for comment.A mutiny in 2012 at the Kati base led to a military coup that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and hastened the fall of Mali's north to jihadist militants, who continue to operate across the north and center of the West African country.Keita has faced mass protests since June calling for his resignation over alleged corruption and worsening security.Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse issued a brief statement calling for dialog and urging mutinous soldiers to stand down.The United States , France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) all condemned the mutiny.Mali state television broadcaster ORTM also went offline on Tuesday after mutinying soldiers the detained.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Surging fires threaten world's largest wetland in Brazil

Flames are tearing through Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, coming close to the region's main highway and threatening endangered species, as the area records the most fires in 15 years for the month of August so far.Brazil's national space research agency Inpe has registered 3,121 fires in the first 15 days of August, nearly five times higher than the same period a year ago. At the current pace, fires could approach the all-time record for any month since records began in 1998."It is extremely difficult to combat, control and combat again a fire with the dimensions that we have seen here in the Pantanal," said Paulo Barroso, president of the local firefighting committee.Firefighters in the area worked to douse smoldering earth that was charred black as clouds of smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air.Roughly 8,500 square kilometers, or nearly 6% of the Pantanal, has already burned in January to July, according to government data.The Pantanal is 10 times the size of the Everglades wetlands in the U.S. state of Florida. The region is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet with more than 4,700 plant and animal species, including threatened ones like the jaguar, according to advocacy group WWF.Most of the largest sanctuary for the blue Hyacinthine Macaw parrots has gone up in flames this year, Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported.The region has been suffering from below-average rainfall and higher-than-average temperatures in the past 30 days, according to data provider Refinitiv.The blazes in the Pantanal come amid rising concerns about fires in the Amazon, its much larger neighbor to the north. Fires spiked in the first few days of August in the Amazon, but were down by 17% for Aug. 1-15, compared with the same period a year ago.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Saudi Arabia says verdict in Hariri assassination case marks justice

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the verdict in the case of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri's assassination marks a start in achieving justice by "pursuing, arresting and punishing those involved," the state news agency said, quoting the foreign ministry.The foreign ministry said "the Saudi government, by calling for justice and punishing Hezbollah, stresses the need to protect Lebanon, the region and the world from the terrorist practices of this party that is considered a tool of the Iranian regime."


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Coronavirus: Israel surpasses 700 dead from the virus

One month after coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu took his position, and only two weeks before school starts, Israel’s morbidity rate remains worryingly high, according to Health Minister Yuli Edelstein.Speaking Tuesday during a tour of a new mask-making factory in the West Bank, Edelstein said that, after daily testing at senior living facilities and other survey screenings are removed from the number, the percentage of people whose results are positive for novel coronavirus out of those tested every day stands at between 10% and 11%.“That is a very worrisome number,” he said.On Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported that 1,660 people were diagnosed with coronavirus on Monday, plus another 1,064 between midnight and press time on Tuesday.The death toll, total number of patients and the number of patients in serious condition hit milestones on Tuesday, surpassing 700, 95,000 and 400 respectively. The death toll was 705 at press time, the total number of patients since the start of the pandemic 96,093, and the number of serious patients 404 – including 117 who were intubated.Moreover, a new report by researchers at the Hebrew University showed that if the number of moderate and serious patients continues at its current rate, Israel could see 800 total people dead from coronavirus by the end of the month.The research team also reported that the risk of a spike in coronavirus cases has increased. To stop it, they said, “preparations must be made to tighten the current restrictions, that is because another outbreak at the current level of infection will be significantly more severe than the previous wave.”They said that the declining trend in cases that began in late July and marked a stabilization of the second wave changed for the worse last week. They said that the number of patients in moderate and serious condition is similar to what was in June, the beginning of the second wave.“This observation raises fears of another eruption,” they said, stressing that this would not be considered a third wave, but rather the exacerbation of the second wave.The report recommended that the government halt all gathering in closed spaces, similar to the restrictions that helped stabilize the second wave.Earlier in the day, similar sentiments were expressed by Health Ministry deputy director-general Itamar Grotto.“I am sorry to ruin the party,” he said at the Knesset Tuesday morning, “but... we are concerned.”Grotto was responding to a comment by Knesset Coronavirus Committee chairwoman Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton that the ministry is seeing a decline in infection and therefore, cultural activities should be allowed to resume to a great extent.The topic of the committee meeting, however, was the opening of the school year on September 1.Grotto said that “we may see a change for the worse in the coming days, so we do not want to make decisions that will change at the last minute,” meaning that he did not want to commit that schools will open as planned, despite a promise by the Education Ministry.ACCORDING TO the current plan, children would go to school in person and/or learn from home depending on their age. Students in preschool will have a full six-day school week and will operate without restrictions.The first and second grades will learn almost as usual, five days per week and with their normal classroom sizes. Third and fourth graders will also study five days per week, but in groups of not more than 18 students, with each sitting at a separate table.In contrast, fifth- and sixth-grade students will learn partially from school and partially via remote learning. Students will be expected to be in their classrooms twice a week, in capsules of no more than 18 students; the other three days they will be at home.Special education students, at-risk youth and integration children will study as a matter of routine, even when educational institutions are closed. Education teams will be trained to work with special populations under these circumstances.Following the framework, students in preschool through second grade and all special education students will not be required to wear masks. Students in third grade will wear them during recess; only children in fourth grade and above will be required to wear masks all the time.All students will be obligated to bring in a signed health form every day.Grotto said that in addition to all of this, the Health Ministry is working on a protocol for ensuring proper ventilation in classrooms, such as making sure that windows are opened in closed spaces.He noted that there has been an increase in morbidity among fourth and fifth graders, and that the ministry is “afraid to open the upper grades because seventh graders and above are a major source of infection. There is a question about that, especially when we are in a sensitive situation,” Grotto said.At the Knesset meeting, chairman of the National Parents’ Leadership, Merom Schiff, said that parents do not believe the current plans are safe for the country’s children, anyway.“The outline will force hundreds of thousands of children to stay home alone all year while being exposed to uncontrolled dangers on the Internet and on the street,” Schiff said, warning that parents would hold a strike and not allow their children to attend if something didn’t change.“Health is not just about coronavirus, it is also what happens to children mentally,” he said.“This morning, the National Parents’ Leadership sends a clear and sharp message,” the chairman added. “We are no longer silent.”Later, in a briefing for the foreign press, Gamzu said he believes that Israel should reconsider its plan for students in grades seven through 12 who “almost have the same infection rate as grown-ups.”He said that he plans to present a new plan to the coronavirus cabinet on Thursday that would involve allowing younger children to attend schools in capsules and ask older students to learn completely from home or even push off the start of their school year until after the Sukkot holiday.“I will be at the government meeting on Thursday and I will present the pros and cons,” Gamzu said. “The cabinet will have to decide.”


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Netanyahu asks economic experts for more plans to stimulate economy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the Finance Ministry and Bank of Israel officials to present him with plans to increase employment and stimulate the economy on Tuesday after hearing their respective predictions, according to a press release on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office.The discussion included Finance Minister Israel Katz, Governor of the Bank of Israel Amir Yaron, the ministry’s Head of the Budget Department Shaul Meridor, Head of the Israel Tax Authority Eran Yaakov and other high-level officials.The nation is facing steep unemployment with the Finance Ministry predicting that 15% unemployment might be registered at the end of 2020 and a 10.6% decline in GDP for the first half of the year reported by the Central Bureau of Statistics.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Conviction in Hariri case a step towards justice, UK minister says

The conviction of a member of Hezbollah of conspiring to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing is a step towards justice, a British minister said on Tuesday."As @STLebanon (Special Tribunal for Lebanon) delivers its judgement, our thoughts are with those affected by the 2005 attack in Beirut, another painful event in Lebanon's history," James Cleverly, a minister in the foreign office, said on Twitter."Today's verdict is a step towards justice. Those who commit such atrocities must be held to account."


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--US Senate concludes Russia used Manafort, WikiLeaks to boost Trump

Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort, the WikiLeaks website and others to try to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help now-U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign, a Senate intelligence panel report said on Tuesday.WikiLeaks played a key role in Russia's effort to assist Republican Trump against Democrat Hillary Clinton and likely knew it was helping Russian intelligence, said the report, which is likely to be the most definitive public account of the 2016 election controversy.The report found President Vladimir Putin personally directed the Russian efforts to hack computer networks and accounts affiliated with the Democratic Party and leak information damaging to Clinton.The panel, formally called the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also alleged Manafort collaborated with Russians, including oligarch Oleg Deripaska and an alleged Russian intelligence operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, before during and after the election.The panel found Manafort's role and proximity to Trump created opportunities for Russian intelligence, saying his "high-level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services... represented a grave counterintelligence threat."It was not clear what effect, if any, the report might have on the current US presidential campaign in which Trump faces Democrat Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 U.S. election.Opinion polls show former vice president Biden has built an expansive lead in nearly every battleground state that Trump won narrowly in 2016, as the Republican's approval numbers tumble amid the coronavirus pandemic.Russia's alleged election interference, which Moscow denies, sparked a two-year-long US investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign in a report released last year. He pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to impede his investigation but did not say whether this amounted to obstruction of justice.Trump and his supporters have consistently bristled at suggestions foreign interference helped his upset 2016 victory and sought to discredit the intelligence agencies' findings as the politically charged work of a "deep state."Founded by Julian Assange, WikiLeaks published thousands of emails hacked from Clinton's campaign and a top campaign aide in the weeks before the 2016 election, yielding a drum beat of negative coverage about the Democrat."WikiLeaks actively sought, and played, a key role in the Russian campaign and very likely knew it was assisting a Russian intelligence influence effort, the report said, saying the panel found "significant indications that Julian Assange and WikiLeaks have benefited from Russian government support."As Russian military intelligence and WikiLeaks released the hacked documents, the report said Trump's campaign sought advance notice, devised messaging strategies to amplify them "and encouraged further theft of information and ... leaks.""The Trump campaign publicly undermined the attribution of the hack-and-leak campaign to Russia and was indifferent to whether it and WikiLeaks were furthering a Russian election interference effort," the report added.The committee could not establish the extent to which Trump campaign advisor Roger Stone had real inside access to WikiLeaks materials, the report said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Russian major-general dies, three servicemen injured after blast in Syria

A Russian major-general died and three other servicemen were injured after a bomb exploded in the path of a Russian military convoy near Deir al Zor in Syria, the RIA news agency cited the defense ministry as saying on Tuesday.A joint Turkish-Russian patrol in northwest Syria's Idlib region was hit by a blast on Monday, but no troops were injured.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Russian, US defense chiefs discuss measures to build trust

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed strengthening trust measures and transparency in a phone call with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday, Russia's defense ministry said, in an effort to prevent military incidents.The United States earlier on Tuesday informed Russia of its terms for extending a landmark treaty that limits their deployed strategic nuclear weapons. It is due to expire in February.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Lukashenko says Belarus has deployed military on its western borders

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday said Minsk had deployed armed units on its western borders in response to statements by foreign governments about the situation inside the country.In a televised meeting, Lukashenko said the units were on full alert and ready to fulfill their obligations.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Rivlin: If Hamas wants war, it will get a war

During the visit , Rivlin said that `` incendiary kites and balloons are a form of terrorism .
Hamas must @ @ @ @ @ a game .
There will come a moment in which they would have to decide @ @ @ @ @ , they will get war . ''

During the visit, Rivlin said that "incendiary kites and balloons are a form of terrorism. Hamas must understand that this is not a game. There will come a moment in which they would have to decide - if they want war, they will get war."
Following the tensions in the south, President Reuven Rivlin visited the towns surrounding the Gaza Strip, according to Ynet.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Trump says will talk to Russia about Belarus, protests seem peaceful

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would talk to Russia "at the appropriate time" in the wake of protests against Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko that Trump said appeared mostly peaceful.Trump, speaking at an unrelated event at the White House, added there did not seem to be too much democracy in Belarus, which has seen a wave of protests sparked by the former Soviet republic's election 10 days ago that opponents say was stolen."I like seeing democracy," he told reporters. "It doesn't seem like it's too much democracy there in Belarus.""It's certainly a very big march, and it seems to be a peaceful march," he added.Trump gave no other details about when he would hold talks with Moscow, adding that he would also speak to other people.European leaders have also called for talks on Belarus and are set to weigh possible sanctions on Wednesday. On Tuesday, European Council President Charles Michel and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a possible dialogue, and French President Emmanuel Macron and Putin also spoke.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--El Al will extend its temporary suspension of flights until September

El Al announced on Tuesday that it will extend the temporary suspension of company 's flights until September 3 , @ @ @ @ @ duration of its employees ' furlough.The decision comes following government 's new regulations forcing flight @ @ @ @ @ to isolate themselves after arrival .

El Al announced on Tuesday that it will extend the temporary suspension of company's flights until September 3, in addition to extending the duration of its employees' furlough.The decision comes following government's new regulations forcing flight passengers coming into the country to isolate themselves after arrival.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--US sues Teva over alleged kickbacks for multiple sclerosis drug

The US government sued Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Tuesday, accusing the drugmaker of causing the submission of false claims to Medicare as a result of kickbacks it paid for its multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone.In a complaint filed with the US district court in Boston, the US Department of Justice said Teva paid two third-party foundations more than $300 million to cover Medicare co-payment obligations of Copaxone patients.The Justice Department said this generated hundreds of millions of dollars of false claims to Medicare and more revenue for Teva, whose conduct violated the federal False Claims Act.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Incendiary balloons start 18 fires in southern Israel

Frefighters , teams from the Jewish National Fund , Nature and Park Authority and the IDF tried to gain control @ @ @ @ @ across areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip following the launch of incendiary balloons .
Fireman @ @ @ @ @ overview of similar events from the beginning of the summer and said that `` we @ @ @ @ @ experiences . ''

Frefighters, teams from the Jewish National Fund, Nature and Park Authority and the IDF tried to gain control over 18 fires that spread across areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip following the launch of incendiary balloons.
Fireman officer Shmulik Friedman gave an overview of similar events from the beginning of the summer and said that "we have learned from these past experiences."


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--WikiLeaks likely knew it helped Russian intelligence in 2016 - report

The WikiLeaks website played a key role in Russia's effort to influence the 2016 US presidential election in favor of now US President Donald Trump and likely knew it was assisting Russian intelligence, a Senate intelligence committee report said on Tuesday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Mossad head meets UAE national security adviser in Abu Dhabi - WAM

The head of Israel's foreign intelligence service Mossad met the national security adviser of the United Arab Emirates during a visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE state news agency WAM said on Tuesday.Israel and the United Arab Emirates said on Thursday they would normalize diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship.Joseph (Yossi) Cohen and Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed ways in which to support the new accord."The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in the security field, and shared perspectives on regional developments and issues of common interested, including both countries' efforts to contain COVID-19," WAM added.Following the deal's announcement last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Cohen in a tweet in Arabic for his help in developing Israeli relations with Gulf states, which he said helped in securing the UAE-Israel deal.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Trump says he will posthumously pardon activist Susan B. Anthony

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will posthumously pardon American social reformer and women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony who was fined in 1872 for voting illegally.Speaking at a White House event to mark the 100th anniversary of ratification of the US Constitution’s 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, Trump said: "I will be signing a full and complete pardon of Susan B. Anthony. She was never pardoned."Trump is facing a tough fight for re-election in November and has tried in recent weeks to appeal to women voters, especially those in the suburbs.He said on Saturday he would consider pardoning Edward Snowden, who gave a trove of secret files in 2013 to news organizations that disclosed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the National Security Agency.On Monday, he hinted that he would pardon a "very, very important" person, but added it would not be Snowden or former national security adviser Michael Flynn.Last month, Trump used his presidential power to commute the sentence of longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Postmaster General to testify Friday before US Senate panel

US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will testify Friday before a US Senate Committee, a spokesman for the panel confirmed Tuesday.DeJoy, who had already agreed to testify before the Democratic-led House Oversight and Government Reform committee on Monday, will testify before the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday. Democrats say service changes adopted since DeJoy took over in June have slowed mail deliveries.


jerusalempost--2020-08-18--Hariri tribunal judge: Evidence against three accomplices insufficient

Prosecutors have provided insufficient evidence to prove a key claim in their case against three men accused as accomplices in the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a judge said on Tuesday.The judges are reading their decision at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon against four accused and have not yet pronounced their verdict.While prosecutors had shown that suspects used cell phones to coordinate the attack, they did not sufficiently connect the suspects to a false claim made immediately after the attack by people who must have known Hariri would be killed."The prosecution has therefore not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt (against three suspects') participation in the false claim of responsibility for the attack on Hariri," said Judge Janet Nosworthy.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Health Ministry lifts Yarka travel warning

The Health Ministry lifted on Wednesday the warning against traveling to Yarka following a decrease in coronavirus morbidity rates in the village, according to Israeli media.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 22.22 million, death toll at 780,431

More than 22.22 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 780,431 have died, according to a Reuters tally.Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty to doctoring email in Russia probe

Clinesmith is the first person criminally charged in an investigation by John Durham , a federal prosecutor tapped to probe mistakes the FBI made when it sought a warrant to conduct surveillance on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
He will appear for a virtual hearing at 1 p.m .
ET ( 1700 GMT ) in the U.S. District Court in Washington .
Clinesmith is accused of doctoring a CIA email the FBI used in 2017 when it applied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to renew its application for a secret wiretap to monitor Page .
In an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Page , who is referenced in court documents as `` Individual # 1 , '' had been approved as an `` operational contact '' from 2008 to 2013 .
When Clinesmith was later asked to confirm this information , he doctored a follow-up email from the CIA to make it appear as though Page was not an agency source .
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz uncovered the doctored email and in December released a scathing report documenting 17 `` basic and fundamental '' errors and omissions in FBI surveillance warrant applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to that report as evidence of a wider conspiracy by `` deep state '' government actors to undermine Trump .
There was no indication of a broad conspiracy in the charging documents filed against Clinesmith .

Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday in federal court to falsifying a document as part of the bureau's early-stage probe into whether President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with the Russian government.
Clinesmith is the first person criminally charged in an investigation by John Durham, a federal prosecutor tapped to probe mistakes the FBI made when it sought a warrant to conduct surveillance on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
He will appear for a virtual hearing at 1 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) in the U.S. District Court in Washington.
Clinesmith is accused of doctoring a CIA email the FBI used in 2017 when it applied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to renew its application for a secret wiretap to monitor Page.
In an August 2016 email, the CIA advised that Page, who is referenced in court documents as "Individual #1," had been approved as an "operational contact" from 2008 to 2013.
When Clinesmith was later asked to confirm this information, he doctored a follow-up email from the CIA to make it appear as though Page was not an agency source.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz uncovered the doctored email and in December released a scathing report documenting 17 "basic and fundamental" errors and omissions in FBI surveillance warrant applications.
Trump's Republican allies have repeatedly pointed to that report as evidence of a wider conspiracy by "deep state" government actors to undermine Trump. There was no indication of a broad conspiracy in the charging documents filed against Clinesmith.
Justin Shur, Clinesmith's attorney, previously told Reuters his client regrets his actions.
"It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues as he believed the information he relayed was accurate. But Kevin understands what he did was wrong," Shur said.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Health Ministry failed to report 53 coronavirus deaths

`` Health Minister Yuli Edelstein is taking the matter very seriously .
The minister instructed that a deep investigation be @ @ @ @ @ brought before him within a week , including personal recommendations if needed , '' said @ @ @ @ @ .
The Health Ministry is investigating whether additional deaths were also not reported .

At least 53 residents of senior living centers who died from COVID-19 were not accounted for by the Health Ministry in July and August, a report showed Wednesday. As a result, the death toll spiked to 781 at press time.The reason for the mistake, according to the ministry, was likely a simple computer reporting miscommunication between the ministry and several private senior living centers operating under the Magen Avot v’Imahot project. The ministry believes that the numbers were not inputted from one system to the other.Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said that he takes the matter “very seriously,” and instructed his staff to carry out an in-depth investigation into how this happened. He asked that recommendations should be provided within the coming week and promised the public that the investigation would be transparent and its results shared.At the same time, Health Ministry director-general Hezi Levi ordered that, going forward, all coronavirus mortality reports from all medical institutions be aggregated through a uniform source, including all geriatric centers’ reports, so that they can be reflected in the ministry’s computerized system.“We immediately changed the way this is being managed so that it cannot happen again,” Levi said in an interview with Israeli media.The ministry will look into whether there were any other unreported deaths, and said that no underreporting was found in the mortality data before the month of July.Israel is considered to have a low mortality rate in comparison to much of the world. On Wednesday, it stood at No. 52 for the highest number of deaths out of 215 countries that report such information, according to Worldometer.The ministry reported that eight people died between midnight and press time.Moreover, Israel passed 97,000 total cases since the start of the pandemic, reaching 97,783. Of the country’s 23,918 active cases, some 398 were in serious condition, among them 118 who were intubated.There were 1,644 people diagnosed with coronavirus on Tuesday and another 1,111 between midnight and press time on Wednesday.Coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu said that his goal is to reach around 400 new patients per day. However, according to a report published Tuesday by the Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center, if the infection rate stays the same, it will take more than 90 days to reach that number.The report showed that Israel has gained 63 serious patients in the last two weeks. In terms of the age of Israel’s patients, the report showed that 12% are over the age of 60, compared to 17% in the first wave.ON THURSDAY, the coronavirus cabinet is expected to meet to discuss the commissioner’s new plans for cutting infection, which are likely to include a severe increase in restrictions.In the past, Gamzu has said that he does not want to shut down the economy, but health experts have made clear that if the situation does not improve, it will require restrictions or even closure.Dr. Hagit Sarbagil-Maman, deputy director-general of Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, said that a closure is needed and the start of the school year must be postponed.“The steps taken so far, including by the team led by Prof. Gamzu, have led to stabilization, but they are unsatisfactory,” she said. “At this time, and especially toward the holiday period that will be characterized by reduced economic activity on the one hand and mass gathering on the other, a series of decisions are required to be made – even if they are unpopular.”The cabinet is not expected to vote on a lockdown on Thursday, but it is likely that it will discuss one for the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and maybe even Sukkot holidays, in hopes that this could stop an expected spike in infection at that time and that the economy will lose less funds.Talk is that any lockdown will not be a total lockdown, but likely will involve just shuttering closed spaces where people gather, such as malls and indoor markets. The question of how High Holy Day prayer services will be held under such a situation is still under discussion.On the other hand, the ministry removed its warning about entering the village of Yirka on Wednesday, after a decline in the infection rate. Last week, the ministry had cautioned the public not to enter the area, because the infection rate had risen sharply over two weeks.Magen David Adom and the Home Front Command opened a drive-in testing center in the village, at which some 2,085 residents were examined over four days. Some 75 people were diagnosed with the virus, and epidemiological tracking was conducted. The patients were isolated, as were the people with whom they came into contact.On the first day that people were screened, some 25 people tested positive. During the last day, despite an increase in the number of people tested, only six new patients were found.The ministry showed 257 active patients in the village on Wednesday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Iran coronavirus death toll tops 20,000

Iran coronavirus death toll tops 20,000

`` The death toll has reached 20,125 ... With 2,444 new infections in the past 24 hours , the total @ @ @ @ @ 350,279 , '' said Sima Sadat Lari .

Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus surpassed 20,000 on Wednesday with 153 deaths in the past 24 hours, the health ministry spokeswoman told state TV, as the number of total cases hit 350,279.
"The death toll has reached 20,125 ...With 2,444 new infections in the past 24 hours, the total number of cases has reached 350,279," said Sima Sadat Lari.
Iran is one of the worst-hit countries from the outbreak in the Middle East.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Germany investigates car crash series in Berlin as Islamist attack

`` According to the current knowledge , it was an Islamist-motivated attack , '' the spokesman was quoted as saying @ @ @ @ @ were also indications that the 30-year-old suspect with an Iraqi citizenship had psychological problems .

German authorities are investigating a series of car accidents that left several people injured on a Berlin motorway on Tuesday evening as an Islamist attack, prosecutors' spokesman told Focus magazine on Wednesday.
"According to the current knowledge, it was an Islamist-motivated attack," the spokesman was quoted as saying. He added that there were also indications that the 30-year-old suspect with an Iraqi citizenship had psychological problems.
A spokesman for the Berlin public prosecutors was not immediately available for comment.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Two coronavirus cases reported on flights into Israel in past week

A woman who has been confirmed as infected with the coronavirus from the Tel Aviv area returned from Spain on @ @ @ @ @ with a connection in Spain and is currently in quarantine .
She is feeling well @ @ @ @ @ Flight LH1121 which took off at 6:00 a.m. on Monday from Madrid to Frankfurt and @ @ @ @ @ then traveled on flight LH0694 which took off from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv at 1:00 @ @ @ @ @ p.m. A man in his 50 's who has been confirmed as infected with the @ @ @ @ @ the Laniado Hospital in Netanya and returned on Flight B2747 from Minsk in Belarus on @ @ @ @ @ All passengers on both flight must enter quarantine according to Health Ministry regulations .

A woman who has been confirmed as infected with the coronavirus from the Tel Aviv area returned from Spain on Monday on a Lufthansa connection with a connection in Spain and is currently in quarantine. She is feeling well.
She first traveled on Flight LH1121 which took off at 6:00 a.m. on Monday from Madrid to Frankfurt and landed at 8:40 a.m. She then traveled on flight LH0694 which took off from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv at 1:00 p.m. and landed at 6:00 p.m.
A man in his 50's who has been confirmed as infected with the coronavirus is currently hospitalized at the Laniado Hospital in Netanya and returned on Flight B2747 from Minsk in Belarus on Thursday, August 13.
All passengers on both flight must enter quarantine according to Health Ministry regulations.
Two coronavirus patients flew into Israel in the past week on flights from Germany and Belarus, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--9 new coronavirus cases reported in Gaza Strip

Overall , over 100 cases have been reported since the beginning of the outbreak in Gaza , with 71 recoveries @ @ @ @ @ , a 34-year-old and a 80-year-old Palestinian in Hebron and Nablus died due to the @ @ @ @ @ death toll to 114 among Palestinians in the West Bank .
Over 23,000 cases of @ @ @ @ @ among Palestinians since the beginning of the outbreak , according to the Palestinian Ministry of @ @

Overall, over 100 cases have been reported since the beginning of the outbreak in Gaza, with 71 recoveries.
In the West Bank, a 34-year-old and a 80-year-old Palestinian in Hebron and Nablus died due to the virus, bringing the total death toll to 114 among Palestinians in the West Bank.
Over 23,000 cases of the coronavirus have been reported among Palestinians since the beginning of the outbreak, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Nine new cases of the coronavirus were reported in quarantine centers for recent returnees to the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, bringing the number of active cases to 28, according to Palestinian media.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Ukraine reports record daily high of 1,967 new coronavirus cases

The data given by the national council of security and defense surpassed the previous single-day record of 1,847 , reported @ @ @ @ @ are at 96,403 , with 2,144 deaths .

Ukraine registered 1,967 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday, a new daily record for infections in the country.
The data given by the national council of security and defense surpassed the previous single-day record of 1,847, reported last week.
Total cases are at 96,403, with 2,144 deaths.
Infections have risen sharply in August prompting authorities to reimpose some restrictions.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--First traces of West Nile virus this year reported in Israel

The Environmental Protection Ministry asked the Eilot and Gilboa Regional Councils to monitor the situation and carry out immediate pest control if necessary .
The virus-carrying mosquitoes were found during standard monitoring operations by the Ministry in July .
West Nile Virus is transferred by mosquitoes to humans .
It takes about seven to 14 days for those bitten by infected mosquitoes to develop symptoms , including , fever , headaches , weakness , joint and muscle pain , inflammation of the eyelid , rashes and occasionally nausea and diarrhea .
`` Mosquito pests develop in the summer when temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Such events will increase in frequency in the coming years , as climate change worsens , '' said the ministry in a statement .
`` It is important to avoid sewers and stagnant water accumulation and we call on the authorities to urgently address places where pests are detected , and also call on the public to be vigilant and take all measures to prevent bites and mosquito pests . ''
The Environmental Protection Ministry recommends avoiding allowing standing water , using devices and sprays to repel mosquitoes , wearing clothing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans inside your home and setting up mosquito nets .

The Environmental Protection Ministry asked the Eilot and Gilboa Regional Councils to monitor the situation and carry out immediate pest control if necessary.
The virus-carrying mosquitoes were found during standard monitoring operations by the Ministry in July. West Nile Virus is transferred by mosquitoes to humans. It takes about seven to 14 days for those bitten by infected mosquitoes to develop symptoms, including, fever, headaches, weakness, joint and muscle pain, inflammation of the eyelid, rashes and occasionally nausea and diarrhea.
"Mosquito pests develop in the summer when temperatures are high and there is stagnant water. Such events will increase in frequency in the coming years, as climate change worsens," said the ministry in a statement. "It is important to avoid sewers and stagnant water accumulation and we call on the authorities to urgently address places where pests are detected, and also call on the public to be vigilant and take all measures to prevent bites and mosquito pests."
The Environmental Protection Ministry recommends avoiding allowing standing water, using devices and sprays to repel mosquitoes, wearing clothing that covers most of your skin turning on fans inside your home and setting up mosquito nets.
Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus were recently found in the Arava and Gilboa regions of Israel, according to a statement by the Environmental Protection Ministry on Wednesday.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Coronavirus: 1,644 new cases in the last day


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Sudan Foreign Ministry spokesperson fired for Israel normalization reports

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry denied the statements by its spokesperson concerning establishing relations with Israel on Tuesday , saying it @ @ @ @ @

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry denied the statements by its spokesperson concerning establishing relations with Israel on Tuesday, saying it was "astonished."
Haider Badawi Sadiq, a spokesperson for the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, was fired on Wednesday after stating that Sudan and Israel were discussing normalizing relations, according to Al-Jazeera.


jerusalempost--2020-08-19--Israeli police arrest Al-Aqsa guard, maintenance employee - report

Video reportedly from the scene showed Israel Police escorting the two off of the Temple Mount .

Video reportedly from the scene showed Israel Police escorting the two off of the Temple Mount.
Israel Police arrested Zeenat Abu Sobeih, the head of the female guards at Al-Aqsa, and Imran Al-Ashhab, a maintenance employee at the mosque, on Wednesday, according to Palestinian reports. It is unclear what the reasons for their arrests were.


jerusalempost--2020-08-20--Palestinian shot while carrying firebomb - IDF

A Palestinian was killed while attempting to use an improvised explosive device hidden in a burning tire , the Jerusalem Post 's sister publication Maariv reported early Thursday morning .
According to a later report by the IDF Spokesperson 's Unit , the suspect was carrying incendiary substances , intending to light up Molotov cocktails .
According to early reports , a cell was attempting to detonate an IED concealed in a burning tire .
The incident took place on road 465 near Deir Abu Mashaal in the West Bank .
One member of the cell was reportedly shot by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was critically injured and treated by an IDF medic , who ultimately pronounced him dead .
Two other cell members reportedly fled the scene and are currently being searched for by the forces .
Several similar incidents have reportedly taken place in the area .
`` IDF combatants prevented an attempted terrorist attack a short time ago , '' the IDF Spokesperson 's Unit said early Thursday morning .
`` During IDF activity near the village of Deir Abu Mashaal in the area of the Ephraim Brigade , the soldiers identified a terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placing tires , intending to light them up to harm civilian vehicles driving on a nearby road . ''
According to the IDF , `` such incidents have taken place in the past .
During the incident , the terrorists were shot and a hit was identified . ''

A Palestinian was killed while attempting to use an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a burning tire, The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Maariv reported early Thursday morning.
According to a later report by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the suspect was carrying incendiary substances, intending to light up Molotov cocktails.
According to early reports, a cell was attempting to detonate an IED concealed in a burning tire. The incident took place on Route 465 near Deir Abu Mashaal in the West Bank.
One member of the cell was reportedly shot by the soldiers following a pursuit. He was critically injured at first and treated by an IDF medic, who ultimately pronounced him dead.
Two other cell members reportedly fled the scene and are currently being searched for by the IDF. Several similar incidents have reportedly taken place in the region.
"IDF combatants prevented an attempted terrorist attack a short time ago," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said early Thursday morning.
"During IDF activity near the village of Deir Abu Mashaal in the area of the Ephraim Brigade, the soldiers identified a terrorist cell carrying substances used for firebombs and placing tires, intending to light them up to harm civilian vehicles driving on a nearby road."