Biden Informs Congress About Airstrike Against Iranian Militias in Syria

Arab World

March 1st, 7:36am

Washington - Ali Barada

US President Joe Biden ordered an airstrike on Iran-backed militias in Syria in his first overt use of military force since taking office. AFP

President Joe Biden demanded Congress to support his first use of military force in Syria last week, stressing that the decision was consistent with the US right to self-defense. The US military launched an airstrike on facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran-backed militias Thursday, the Pentagon said. Some Democrats have criticized the Biden administration for the strike and demanded a briefing after saying that military action without congressional approval is not constitutional. In his letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Patrick Leahy, president pro tempore of the Senate, Biden said non-state militia groups were involved in recent attacks against US and Coalition personnel in Iraq. “I directed this military action to protect and defend our personnel and our partners against these attacks and future such attacks,” he wrote in the letter. The orders came under his constitutional authority to conduct US foreign policy and as commander-in-chief. “The United States took this action pursuant to the United States' inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter," Biden added. Biden said the US strikes were in response to the Feb. 15 "attack in Erbil, Iraq, which wounded one United States service member, wounded four United States contractors, including one critically, and killed one Filipino contractor. " He wrote that the United States always stands ready to take necessary and proportionate action in self-defense, including when, as is the case here, the government of the state where the threat is located is unwilling or unable to prevent the use of its territory by non-state militia groups responsible for such attacks. The US President concluded by saying that he was "providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution." Iran on Saturday condemned the US strike in Syria, and denied responsibility for attacks on US targets. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the strike “illegal and a violation of Syria’s sovereignty.”

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2834076/biden-informs-congress-about-airstrike-against-iranian-militias-syria

Saudi Arabia Sees Drop in Coronavirus Cases for 3rd Consecutive Day

Gulf

March 1st, 7:26am

Jeddah- Asma Al-Ghabri

Citizen receiving coronavirus vaccine in Jazan Vaccination center, Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Coronavirus cases continued to drop in Saudi Arabia for the third consecutive day, recording 322 new cases on Sunday, compared to 338 on Saturday. Health Ministry spokesman, Mohammed al-Abdulaali confirmed that the fluctuation of the infections curve is being monitored and observed continuously, indicating that the commitment to health measures is a baseline for protecting society. Abdulaali asserted that individual immunity is an important step and helps in reaching community immunity and overcoming the pandemic. The Health Ministry announced that over 780,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, explaining that Pfizer-BioNtech and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, approved by the Food and Drug Authority, are both safe and do not reduce or weaken immunity. Abdulaali explained, during a press conference, that it is necessary to receive both doses from the same vaccine, indicating the studies and research are inconclusive on the possibility of receiving different kinds of vaccines. The total number of infections in the Kingdom reached 377,383 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, according to the daily report of the Ministry of Health. The data of the Ministry showed that the number of active cases currently stands at 2,584 cases, of which 481 are critical. The Riyadh region continued to record the highest number of infections with 167 cases, followed by the Eastern region with 66 and the Makkah region with 37 new infections. The Ministry recorded 294 new recoveries, bringing the total to 368,305 cases, with a total recovery rate of 97.59 percent. It also announced six more deaths from complications caused by COVID-19, bringing the total virus-related fatalities to 6,494, compared to 6,488 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities recorded in one week, 43,428 violations of the precautionary measures imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to recent statistics from the Ministry of Interior. Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Talal al-Shalhoub said that the Riyadh region topped the list with 17,789 violations, followed by the Makkah region with 10,388, then the eastern region with 4,819. Najran region maintained first place with the fewest number of violations, recording 155 violations. The ministry called on citizens and residents to abide by the preventive measures and the instructions issued by authorities in this regard, urging them to maintain following precautions and wearing the mask even after receiving the health passport. The Health Ministry continues to open vaccination centers to include all regions of the Kingdom in its efforts to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents and limit the spread of the coronavirus, urging everyone to register via the “Sehatty” application to obtain the vaccine. Furthermore, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance shut down temporarily two mosques in Makkah and Madina after two cases of coronavirus were confirmed among worshippers. The authorities shut 168 mosques temporarily in the past 21 days, with 153 reopening after precautionary measures were completed.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2834066/saudi-arabia-sees-drop-coronavirus-cases-3rd-consecutive-day

UN Seeks Generous Aid at Yemen Donor Conference

Arab World

March 1st, 7:02am

Washington - Ali Barada

Displaced Yemeni kids, Yemen March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Ali Owidha/Files

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Yemen is now in imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades, calling for immediate action to save the lives of millions of its people. His warning came ahead of Monday’s virtual donor conference for Yemen, co-hosted by the UN and the governments of Switzerland and Sweden. “We must end it now and start dealing with its enormous consequences immediately. This is not the moment to step back from Yemen,” the UN chief said, calling on the international community to contribute generously to the UN on aid to Yemen during the high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in the country. More than 100 governments and donors will take part in the meeting. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced he will lead the US delegation to the virtual donor conference and will be joined by US Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator Gloria Steele, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Richard Albright. Guterres is calling for $3.85 billion in relief aid for Yemen this year. Aid funding for Yemen dropped in 2020 amid the coronavirus downturn, resulting in the closure of many humanitarian programs. The UN and NGO partners received $1.9 billion, or around half of what they received the year before and half of what was needed. On Sunday, the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that more than 16 million people in Yemen would go hungry this year, with already some half a million living in famine-like condition in the conflict-wrecked country. It said the risk of large-scale famine “has never been more acute.” This year, nearly half of Yemen’s children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition, including 400,000 who could die without urgent treatment, the UN agency added. “We are at a crossroads with Yemen. We can choose the path to peace or let Yemenis slide into the world’s worst famine for decades. An adequately funded aid operation will prevent the spread of famine and create the conditions for lasting peace. If you’re not feeding the people, you’re feeding the war,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock warned.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2834041/un-seeks-generous-aid-yemen-donor-conference

Report: King Abdullah Held Talks with Gantz but Refused to Meet Netanyahu

Arab World

March 1st, 6:50am

Ramallah - Kifah Zboun

King Abdullah II on a visit to Al-Ghamr in November 2019, after the agreement to lease the area to Israel was terminated. File photo

Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz met secretly with King Abdullah II in Jordan on Friday, Ynet has learned. Gantz told Blue & White members in a zoom call that he hoped relations with the neighboring country would improve and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was an unwelcomed figure in the kingdom. "The ties with Jordan are a huge asset and could be a thousand times better," Gantz said, claiming that he has an ongoing relationship with the king and senior Jordanian officials. "Unfortunately, Netanyahu is unwelcome in Jordan," he added. “I believe that it’s possible to do one or two civilian projects each year with Jordan, and within 10 years up to 20 or 30 projects” to improve relations with the neighboring country, Gantz said. Jordan is an ally to the US and Israel, and a supporter to the two-state solution and the resumption of peace talks. King Abdullah reportedly refused to take phone calls from Netanyahu last year as he seethed over the annexation push, according to The Times of Israel. The King said in 2019 that relations between Israel and Jordan were “at an all-time low,” after a series of incidents that prompted Amman to recall its ambassador to Israel. That year, Jordan terminated special arrangements that allowed Israeli farmers to easily access plots of land inside Jordan, and the two countries did not hold a joint ceremony marking the quarter-century anniversary of their peace agreement. Israel’s arrest of two Jordanian citizens for suspected terrorism also caused a minor diplomatic spat. Jordan and Israel have been at peace since 1994 and have full diplomatic relations.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2834021/report-king-abdullah-held-talks-gantz-refused-meet-netanyahu

Prince Harry Tells Oprah he Worried History Would Repeat Itself

Varieties

March 1st, 6:39am

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave Canada House in London, Britain January 7, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Prince Harry, who shocked Britain last year when he and his wife Meghan stepped back from royal duties, told US interviewer Oprah Winfrey that he had worried about history repeating itself, according to excerpts released on Sunday. The CBS broadcast network released two brief clips from Winfrey's interview of the couple, which is scheduled to air on March 7. It is the first TV interview the couple, formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have given since making their homes in California last year. "My biggest concern was history repeating itself," Harry said, apparently referring to his mother Princess Diana, who was hounded by the British press and died at age 36 in a car crash in Paris after her divorce from Prince Charles. Harry, 36, was seated next to Meghan, 39, and holding her hand. The couple announced this month that they are expecting their second child. "I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting her talking to you with my wife by my side," Harry said. "Because I can't imagine what it must have been like for her (Diana), going through this process by herself all those years ago. "It's been unbelievably tough for the two of us, but at least we had each other," Harry added. In the clips, Winfrey said that no subject was off limits and at one point tells the couple "you have said some pretty shocking things here," including that their situation had been "almost unsurvivable." Before they moved to California, the couple had complained about the British tabloids' treatment of Meghan, whose father is white and mother is African-American, some of which they said amounted to bullying or racism. Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace announced that the couple would not be returning to their lives as working members of the royal family. Last week, Harry said in a rare one-on-one interview that he left royal life because the British press was "destroying" his mental health. Harry gave an intimate insight into his young family's new life in Los Angeles during an open-top bus tour of the city with "The Late Late Show" host James Corden. "We all know what the British press can be like, and it was destroying my mental health," said Harry. "I was, like, this is toxic. So I did what any husband and what any father would do. I need to get my family out of here."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2834001/prince-harry-tells-oprah-he-worried-history-would-repeat-itself

Facebook to Pay $650mn Settlement over US Privacy Dispute

Technology

March 1st, 6:28am

Asharq Al-Awsat

A Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone. Reuters file photo

A US federal judge has given final approval to Facebook's $650 million payment to settle a privacy dispute between the social media giant and 1.6 million users in the state of Illinois. "We are pleased to have reached a settlement so we can move past this matter, which is in the best interest of our community and our shareholders," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to AFP. The decision was issued on Friday, according to documents seen by AFP on Sunday. Chicago attorney Jay Edelson sued Facebook in 2015, alleging it illegally collected biometric data to identify faces in violation of a 2008 Illinois privacy law. At the end of January 2020, Facebook agreed to pay $550 million after it failed to get the lawsuit -- filed as a class action in 2018 -- dismissed. But in July 2020, the judge in the case, James Donato, ruled that the amount was insufficient. During the trial, it emerged that Facebook was violating Illinois law by storing biometric data -- digital scans of people's faces, in support of its face-tagging feature -- without users' consent. In 2019, Facebook proposed that the facial recognition feature be optional only. According to Donato, the regulation is "a landmark result" and represents a "major win for consumers in the hotly contested area of digital privacy." "It is one the largest settlements ever for a privacy violation," he commented, noting that plaintiffs will receive at least $345 each in compensation.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833966/facebook-pay-650mn-settlement-over-us-privacy-dispute

Netanyahu Says Iran 'Clearly' behind Blast on Israeli-Owned Ship

Iran

March 1st, 6:19am

Asharq Al-Awsat

The Israeli-owned cargo ship, Helios Ray, sits docked in port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 28, 2021. (AP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran on Monday for a blast aboard an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman last week but sidestepped a question on whether Israel would retaliate. The MV Helios Ray, a vehicle-carrier ship, was hit overnight by a blast above the water line that a USofficial said ripped holes in both sides of its hull. “This was indeed an operation by Iran. That is clear,” Netanyahu told Kan radio. Asked if Israel would retaliate, he repeated previous statements about his determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capacity and added: “We are striking at it (Iran) all over the region.” Kan said the interview was recorded on Sunday night, before Syria accused Israel of carrying out missile strikes around southern Damascus. Israel did not confirm that, but has previously said it was launching frequent military actions against Iranian deployment or arms handovers within Syria.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833946/netanyahu-says-iran-clearly-behind-blast-israeli-owned-ship

Iran Dismisses Idea of Talks with EU, US on Nuclear Deal

Iran

March 1st, 6:12am

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the political situation in Myanmar at the White House in Washington, US, February 10, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Iran on Sunday ruled out holding an informal meeting with the United States and other major powers to discuss ways to salvage the unravelling 2015 nuclear deal, insisting Washington must first lift all its unilateral sanctions. "Considering the recent actions and statements by the United States and three European powers, Iran does not consider this the time to hold an informal meeting with these countries, which was proposed by the EU foreign policy chief," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, according to Iranian media. The United States said it was disappointed but remained ready to "re-engage in meaningful diplomacy" and would consult with the other major powers to seek a way forward. Iranian officials had said Tehran was studying a proposal by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to hold an informal meeting with other parties to the nuclear pact and the United States, which reimposed sanctions on Iran after then-President Donald Trump quit the deal in 2018. The new administration of President Joe Biden has said it is ready to talk to Iran about both nations resuming compliance with the accord, which scrapped broad economic sanctions against Iran in return for curbs intended to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons - something Iran says it does not want. But the parties cannot agree who should make the first move. Iran says the United States must lift sanctions, while Washington says Tehran must return to compliance with the deal, which Iran has been progressively breaching since 2019. A White House spokeswoman said Washington remained keen to achieve a "mutual return to compliance" with the deal. She said it would consult with the major powers that are also parties to the deal - Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia - on the best way forward.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833931/iran-dismisses-idea-talks-eu-us-nuclear-deal

Tensions Flare between Militias in Libyan Capital

Arab World

March 1st, 6:04am

Cairo – Khaled Mahmoud

Libyans commute on a highway in the capital Tripoli, Libya, Feb. 3, 2020. (AFP)

Tensions flared in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, after a member of a militia, which is affiliated with the Government of National Accord (GNA), was killed by rival militants. The victim was a member of Brigade 444 of the GNA deterrence forces. He was killed on Saturday by members of the pro-GNA Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, headed by Ayoub Abu Ras, in the Salaheddine area. Rival militants soon took to the streets of Tripoli in wake of the development. Witnesses said that clashes erupted between them near the Mitiga military base and airport, which is controlled by the Deterrence Forces. The security situation in western Libya was discussed during meeting between GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha and Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Raisedon Zenenga. Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh said he will complete his cabinet lineup within the upcoming two days. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of his aides told Asharq Al-Awsat that the lineup will be submitted to the Presidential Council and parliament “very soon.” Dbeibeh has until March 19 to receive the parliament’s vote of confidence. Separately, five members of the Libyan National Dialogue Forum urged the UN to release a report about alleged political corruption among the panel members. The UN had submitted the report to the Security Council. The forum members called on the organization to publish the report to put an end to rumors that some of them had received political bribes.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833926/tensions-flare-between-militias-libyan-capital

US Condemns Houthi Attacks, Remains Committed to Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Gulf

March 1st, 5:55am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Debris from a drone launched by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia's Abha airport. Asharq Al-Awsat file photo

The US “strongly” condemned the attempted attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militias on population centers in Saudi Arabia. “These attacks threaten not only innocent civilians but also prospects for peace and stability in Yemen,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a press release on Sunday. “The United States strongly condemns the Houthis’ attacks on population centers in Saudi Arabia on Saturday,” he said. Price urged the militias “to end these egregious attacks and engage constructively with UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and US Special Envoy Tim Lenderking with the goal of bringing peace, prosperity, and security to the Yemeni people.” He stressed that Washington remains committed to its longstanding partnership with Saudi Arabia and to helping the Kingdom defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iran-backed groups.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833916/us-condemns-houthi-attacks-remains-committed-partnership-saudi-arabia

Diplomats: Iran Rejects Offer of Direct US Nuclear Talks

Iran

February 28th, 6:02pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

US State Department Spokesman Ned Price speaks to reporters during a news briefing at the State Department in Washington. Reuters

Iran rejected a European Union offer to arrange direct nuclear talks with the US, senior diplomats told The Wall Street Journal. Two senior Western diplomats said Iran has ruled out attending a meeting in Europe for now, saying it wanted a guarantee first that the US would lift some sanctions after the meeting. Washington had said it would attend the talks, which the EU had hoped to host in the coming days, said the report. However, the Biden administration had refused to provide sanctions relief before face-to-face negotiations with Iran had taken place. Diplomats told The Wall Street Journal that Iran’s rejection didn’t kill off all hopes of direct negotiations in coming months and that Tehran’s move might be an attempt to gain leverage in future talks. The US patience with Iran on returning to discussions over the 2015 nuclear deal is “not unlimited,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday. “Our patience is not unlimited, but we do believe, and the president has been clear on this ... that the most effective way to ensure Iran could never acquire a nuclear weapon was through diplomacy,” Price said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833241/diplomats-iran-rejects-offer-direct-us-nuclear-talks

At Least 18 Killed in Myanmar on Bloodiest Day of Protests

World

February 28th, 5:52pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Protesters shout slogans behind the blockages they set up during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. AP Photo

Myanmar police killed at least 18 protesters after firing on them around the country on Sunday in the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations against a military coup, the UN human rights office said. "Police and military forces have confronted peaceful demonstrations, using lethal force and less-than-lethal force that – according to credible information received by the UN Human Rights Office – has left at least 18 people dead and over 30 wounded," it said. Myanmar has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on Feb. 1, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide. The coup, which brought a halt to tentative steps towards democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule, has drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets and the condemnation of Western countries. Junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing said last week authorities were using minimal force to deal with the protests. Nevertheless, at least 21 protesters have now died in the turmoil. The army said a policeman had been killed. "We are heartbroken to see the loss of so many lives in Myanmar. People should not face violence for expressing dissent against the military coup. Targeting of civilians is abhorrent," the US embassy said. The Canadian Embassy said it was appalled. Indonesia, which has taken a diplomatic lead within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the crisis, expressed deep concern.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833231/least-18-killed-myanmar-bloodiest-day-protests

UAE: Attacks by Houthis Demonstrate Attempts to Undermine Regional Security

Gulf

February 28th, 5:41pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

The UAE condemned attempted Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. WAM

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned and denounced the Iran-backed Houthi militia's systematic attempts to target civilians in Saudi Arabia. In a statement Sunday, the UAE Foreign Ministry said such ongoing attacks demonstrate the regional risk posed by the Houthi coup and represent "new evidence of the militias' attempts to undermine security and stability in the region." The ministry renewed its full solidarity with the Kingdom and reiterated its stance against all threats to Saudi Arabia’s security, stability, and the safety of its citizens and residents. The statement emphasized that "the security of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are indivisible, and that any threat facing the Kingdom is considered by the Emirates a threat to its security and stability."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833226/uae-attacks-houthis-demonstrate-attempts-undermine-regional-security

Fauci Urges Americans to Get Any of the 3 COVID-19 Vaccines Available

World

February 28th, 5:31pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Dr. Anthony Fauci. Patrick Semansky/Pool via REUTERS

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease official, said on Sunday he would take the newly approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, as he encouraged Americans to accept any of the three approved shots. "All three of them are really quite good, and people should take the one that's most available to them. If you go to a place and you have J&J, and that's the one that's available now, I would take it," Fauci said on NBC's "Meet the Press." The US government authorized Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, making it the third to be available in the country following ones from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Both of those vaccines require two doses and need to be shipped frozen. The J&J vaccine can be shipped and stored at normal refrigerator temperatures. The J&J vaccine is expected to get final approval for widespread use on Sunday, and shipments are expected to begin Sunday or Monday. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines showed higher efficacy rates in trials that used two doses versus J&J's single-shot vaccine. However, Fauci and other experts say direct comparison is difficult because the trials had different goals and J&J's was conducted while more contagious new variants of the virus were circulating. Fauci said studies are now underway to determine their effectiveness and safety for children under 18, who are less likely to get sick from the virus. Elementary-school students could get doses toward the end of the year or the beginning of next year, while high-school students could get it in the fall, Fauci said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833216/fauci-urges-americans-get-any-3-covid-19-vaccines-available

1st Russian Warship Enters Sudanese Port

Arab World

February 28th, 3:40pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Russian warships taking part in drills. AP file photo

A Russian warship, the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, entered the Sudanese port where Russia plans to set up a naval base, Russia's Interfax news agency reported on Sunday, citing a statement from the Russian fleet. It was the first Russian warship to enter Port Sudan, the statement said, according to Interfax. Russian President Vladimir Putin in November approved the creation of a Russian naval facility in Sudan capable of mooring nuclear-powered surface vessels.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833161/1st-russian-warship-enters-sudanese-port

Israel to Vaccinate Palestinian Laborers

Arab World

February 28th, 3:32pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2020 file photo, a Palestinian paramedic wearing a full protective suit, takes a nasal swab to test for COVID-19 from a man, at a mosque in Gaza City. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)

Israel will administer COVID-19 vaccines to Palestinians who work in Israel or in its settlements in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli liaison office COGAT said on Sunday. The vaccination campaign, which could apply to around 130,000 Palestinians, will begin within days, Reuters quoted COGAT as saying. Shaher Saad, secretary-general of the Palestinian Workers' Union, said thousands of Palestinians who work in the Israeli service and industrial sectors had already been vaccinated privately by their employers inside Israel. He said Palestinian medical teams would be stationed at checkpoints to administer the vaccines, by agreement with Israeli authorities. Israel has given at least one dose of the Pfizer Inc vaccine to more than half of its 9.3 million population, including Palestinians in East Jerusalem. But it has come under international criticism for not doing more to enable vaccination of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinians have received around 32,000 vaccine doses to date, for the 5.2 million people who live in the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli officials have said that, under the Oslo peace accords, the Palestinian health ministry is responsible for vaccinating people in Gaza and those parts of the West Bank where it has limited self-rule.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2833156/israel-vaccinate-palestinian-laborers

England Will Not Make Official Complaint Over Referee's Display Against Wales

Sports

February 28th, 1:07pm

The Guardian Sport

Referee Pascal Gaüzère talks to Owen Farrell during England’s controversial defeat to Wales. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

England have reportedly opted against making an official complaint to World Rugby over the performance of Pascal Gaüzère in Saturday’s 40-24 defeat by Wales. Gauzere awarded Wayne Pivac’s grand slam hopefuls two dubious tries in the opening half-hour of the Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium, the first of which was particularly controversial. The former England captain Martin Johnson described the French official’s decision to allow Josh Adams’ 17th-minute try as “appalling refereeing”, while even the former Wales skipper Sam Warburton admitted Eddie Jones’ team were right to be “livid”. Gaüzère instructed the England captain, Owen Farrell, to address his team over their indiscipline only to quickly restart play, allowing Dan Biggar to hoist a crossfield kick for Adams to score. England wings Jonny May and Anthony Watson had moved infield to hear Farrell speak and there were a number of water-carriers on the pitch when Gaüzère blew his whistle. “They’re huge decisions. We can’t debate it, we are not allowed to debate it. All I will end up with is a fine and that wont help anyone,” Jones said after the game. “They get points maybe they don’t deserve and we have to fight to get back into the game. It makes it difficult and you have to be good enough to overcome it.” “Whenever you get beaten and bettered by a penalty, then discipline is an issue,” the England head coach added. “But there were bigger issues in the game than that, and I will let you discuss them.” There are also question marks over whether Liam Williams’ 30th-minute try was legitimate because of a likely knock-on by Louis Rees-Zammit during the build-up. Victory for Wales secured the triple crown and set up a likely title decider against France in Paris on 20 March.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832936/england-will-not-make-official-complaint-over-referees-display-against-wales

Chadwick Boseman, Netflix up for Honors at Virtual Golden Globes

Entertainment

February 28th, 1:01pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Chadwick Boseman arrives at the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award gala honoring actor Denzel Washington in Los Angeles, California, US, June 6, 2019. REUTERS/Monica Almeida/File Photo

The Golden Globes will be handed out under pandemic conditions on Sunday on a night that could see big wins for streaming service Netflix, honors for late actor Chadwick Boseman, and a smattering of celebrities in pajamas. Netflix Inc goes into Sunday’s virtual celebration of movies and television, hosted from New York and Los Angeles by comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, with a dominant 22 film nominations but still in search of its first best movie win. That could come from period drama “Mank,” about the screenwriter of “Citizen Kane,” which leads with six nods, including for best drama movie, for actors Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried, and for director David Fincher. Yet pundits say a “Mank” victory is far from assured from the small and unpredictable Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) whose members choose the winners, Reuters reported. “It has everything going for it in terms of pedigree and there is a sense that awards shows love stories about the industry. But I feel like ‘Mank’ is not everyone’s favorite,” said Alison Willmore, film critic at entertainment website Vulture.com The biggest competition comes from Searchlight Pictures’ “Nomadland,” a moving documentary-style drama about van dwellers in recession-hit America, and star-laden Netflix 1960s hippie courtroom drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” The #MeToo revenge black comedy “Promising Young Woman” and the unsettling ageing tale “The Father” round out the film drama nominations. The Disney+ TV film of hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” and Amazon Studios’ “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” a satire on the America of former President Donald Trump, are seen as front-runners in the best comedy or musical movie category. For television, the Netflix royal series “The Crown,” whose current season focuses on the late Princess Diana, leads the way with six nods, followed by quirky small-town comedy “Schitt’s Creek” on Pop TV. Boseman, whose death at 43 of an undisclosed battle with cancer stunned fans and the industry, is considered the favorite for a posthumous best actor Golden Globe. Boseman’s last performance, as a brash trumpet player in drama “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” was released after his death. “It’s a big room-filling performance that is set apart from a lot of the other contenders,” said Willmore. Jane Fonda and TV producer Norman Lear will get lifetime achievement awards, while a diverse array of stars, including Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”), Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) and Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”), are up for acting honors. This year, because of the pandemic, they will be waiting at home for their names to be called, rather than walking the red carpet before wining and dining in the Beverly Hilton hotel. Nicholas Hoult, who is nominated for playing Russian Emperor Peter III in TV comedy “The Great,” said he would be watching from home in London, where it will be well past midnight. “I will probably be sitting in bed with the top half of my tuxedo, and pajamas on the bottom,” said Hoult.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832931/chadwick-boseman-netflix-honors-virtual-golden-globes

UAE Announces 2,930 New COVID-19 Cases, 1,517 Recoveries

Gulf

February 28th, 12:53pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

A medical worker injects a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to a woman, in Dubai, UAE December 23, 2020. (Government of Dubai Media Office via Reuters)

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 226,139 new COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours. ‏As part of its intensified testing campaign, the Ministry reported 2,930 new virus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 391,524. ‏In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment. ‏According to the Ministry, the infected individuals are from various nationalities, are in a stable condition, and receiving the necessary care. ‏It also announced eight deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 1,221. ‏The Ministry called on all members of the society to cooperate with health authorities, adhere to the instructions and physical distance to ensure the health and safety of all.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832901/uae-announces-2930-new-covid-19-cases-1517-recoveries

Vatican Envoy to Iraq Tests COVID-19 Positive

Arab World

February 28th, 12:44pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraqi municipal workers sweep a street in front of a giant board covered with a painting of Pope Francis and set against the wall of the Sayidat al-Nejat (Our Lady of Deliverance) Catholic church, in the capital Baghdad, on Friday. AFP

The Vatican’s ambassador to Iraq Mitja Leskovar has tested positive for Covid-19, two officials told AFP Sunday, just days before Pope Francis’ historic visit. “Yes, he tested positive, but it will have no impact on the visit,” an Iraqi official involved in the papal plans said. An Italian diplomat also confirmed the infection. As apostolic nuncio to Baghdad, Leskovar had been traveling across the country in recent weeks to prepare for the pope’s ambitious visit. Iraq is experiencing a resurgence of coronavirus infections, which the health ministry has blamed on a new faster-spreading strain that first emerged in the United Kingdom. The country of 40 million is registering around 4,000 new cases per day, near the peak that it had reached in September, with total infections nearing 700,000 and deaths at nearly 13,400. Pope Francis, as well as his Vatican staff and the dozens of international reporters traveling with him, have already been vaccinated. Iraq itself has yet to begin its vaccination campaign.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832896/vatican-envoy-iraq-tests-covid-19-positive

Celebrated Turkish Actor Risks Jail for Erdogan ‘Insult’

World

February 28th, 6:33am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Acclaimed Turkish writer and actor Mujdat Gezen, now aged 77, risks going back to jail on charges of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Mujdat Gezen Art Center handout via AFP)

Mujdat Gezen’s half-century career as an acclaimed Turkish writer and actor has included awards, a stint as a UN goodwill ambassador and a taste of prison after a 1980 putsch. Now aged 77, the wry-witted comedian and poet with an easy smile and a bad back risks returning to jail on charges of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He is in danger of becoming the latest victim in the Turkish leader’s years-long battle with what he dismissively calls “so-called artists.” “I am even banned from appearing in crossword puzzles,” Gezen quipped, AFP reported. Gezen landed in court with fellow comedian Metin Akpinar, 79, over comments the pair made during a television show they starred in on opposition Halk TV in 2018. In the broadcast, Gezen told Erdogan to “know your place.” “Look Recep Tayyip Erdogan, you cannot test our patriotism. Know your place,” Gezen said on air. His parter Akpinar went one step further, saying that “if we don’t become a (democracy)... the leader might end up getting strung up by his legs or poisoned in the cellar.” These are risky comments to make in a country still reeling from a sweeping crackdown Erdogan unleashed after surviving a failed coup in 2016. Their trial is coming with Erdogan rattled by a burst of student protests that hint at Turks’ impatience with his commanding rule as prime minister and president since 2003. Prosecutors want to put the two veteran celebrities behind bars for up to four years and eight months. The verdict is expected on Monday. Thousands of Turks, from a former Miss Turkey to school children, have been prosecuted for insulting Erdogan on social media and television. Bristling at the jokes and comments, Erdogan warned in 2018 that his critics “will pay the price.” “The next day,” Gezen told AFP in an interview by telephone, “police turned up and I was summoned to give a statement to prosecutors.” The knock on the door reminded Gezen of how he ended up being dragged before the courts after spending 20 days in jail when a military junta overthrew Turkey’s civilian government at the height of the Cold War in 1980. Gezen’s book about Nazim Hikmet — perhaps Turkey’s most famous 20th century poet, who happened to be a communist who died in exile in Moscow in 1963 — was taken off the shelves after that coup. “I was chained up while being taken from prison to court with a gang of 50 criminals, including murderers and smugglers,” he recalled. He was freed by the court in 1980, and may yet be acquitted on Monday. Still, Gezen is uncomfortable with the similarities, and with Turkey’s trajectory under Erdogan. “There is a record number of journalists in jail — we have never seen this in the history of the republic. That’s what upsets me,” he said. An author of more than 50 books and founder of his own art center in Istanbul, Gezen says he has “either criticized or parodied politicians to their faces” for decades without going to jail. His popularity and resolve earned him a role in 2007 as a goodwill ambassador for the UNICEF children’s relief fund. But he fears that Turkey’s tradition of outspoken artists — “art is by its nature oppositional,” he remarked — is wilting under Erdogan. “We now have self-censorship. But what is even more painful to me is that (some artists) prefer to be apolitical,” he said. “The president has said how he expects artists to behave. But it cannot be the president of a country who decides these things. It’s the artists who must decide.” To be on the safe side, Gezen’s lawyers now read his books before publication to avoid legal problems. “It is risky in Turkey,” he observed. Many of the opposition media outlets that once flourished have been either closed or taken over by government allies, leaving independent voices with even fewer options. But he remains doggedly optimistic, calling democracy in Turkey something tangible but just out of reach, like the shore for a stranded boat. “And then someone up on the mast will cry: Land ahoy!“

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832281/celebrated-turkish-actor-risks-jail-erdogan-%E2%80%98insult%E2%80%99

IMF Urges Tunisia to Cut Wage Bill, Energy Subsidies

Business

February 28th, 6:17am

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: A vendor sells lemons at a market in downtown Tunis, Tunisia November 20, 2019. Picture taken November 20, 2019. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

The International Monetary Fund urged Tunisia on Friday to cut its wage bill and limit energy subsidies to reduce a fiscal deficit. The IMF said in statement that monetary policy should focus on inflation by steering short term interest rates, while preserving exchange rate flexibility. Tunisia’s 2021 budget forecasts borrowing needs $7.2 billion including about $5 billion in foreign loans. With the coronavirus pandemic and protests since last month over social inequality, it is a time of unprecedented economic hardship in the North Africa country that ran a fiscal deficit of 11.5% of GDP in 2020. It puts debt repayments due this year at 16 billion dinars, up from 11 billion dinars in 2020, Reuters reported. The IMF said the service salary bill is about 17.6% of GDP, among the highest in the world.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832241/imf-urges-tunisia-cut-wage-bill-energy-subsidies

Inflation Is Uncontainable But Not Inevitable

Opinion

February 28th, 6:11am

Tyler Cowen

Tyler Cowen -

Otherwise intelligent people can be surprisingly wrong about economics. The latest example is the claim that current inflationary pressures are somehow being “captured” or “locked up” in asset prices, and that those pressures may someday inflate the prices for goods and services. On one hand, you can see why this view might seem plausible. The US Federal Reserve engaged in an unprecedented monetary expansion in 2008 and 2009, increasing the total of bank reserves held at the Fed by trillions. More recently, on a year-to-year basis the broader measure of money supply, which also reflects private credit creation, increased by about 26%. Meanwhile, the major stock price indices rose to new heights during a disastrous pandemic, bond prices have remained high, and the total value of cryptocurrency topped $1 trillion, if only temporarily. The hypothesis is that a lot of this new money got funneled into asset price markets, rather than being spent on goods and services. Measured rates of price inflation for consumer goods have remained stubbornly below 2%. This view is misguided. First, dollars are not “trapped” in one sector of an economy, unable to be spent in other areas. If for instance equity prices are very high relative to food, people will sell equities and buy more food, or otherwise adjust and bring the prices back to proper levels. The experience of hyperinflation in Weimar Germany and Venezuela shows that it is not possible to keep price increases “bottled up” in particular sectors. They spread through the entire economy very quickly. What about the theory that equities are a bubble, and that prevents people from cashing out? But equity prices, while strong, have been stable rather than exhilarating in recent times. Plenty of investors seem content to treat their equity holdings as normal investments rather than as vehicles for wild speculation. More important, recent price-earnings ratios are only modestly above their historic values. That may be a reason to be cautious, but it is hardly a sign of suppressed inflation. Bond prices are high, but real interest rates have been falling for centuries. And the European Central Bank tends to pursue tighter monetary policy than does the Fed. Europe often has very low interest rates, including sometimes negative nominal rates. To see why the huge increase in bank reserves did not result in inflation, consider that there has been a considerable decrease in US excess bank reserves over the last five years. No one claims that this has been accompanied by a massive deflation, whether in securities markets or elsewhere. Once that point is conceded, it’s possible to see why higher levels of reserves are not necessarily inflationary. The most coherent form of the inflationary hypothesis would that all the new money is going into crypto. But that doesn’t explain why just about all other prices in the economy seem — how to put it? — pretty normal. It is certainly possible that current crypto prices represent a bubble, but if so the Fed would not be the main culprit, given crypto’s rags-to-riches story. It’s entirely conceivable, of course — even likely — that retail price inflation will increase in the near future, with the arrival of vaccinations, an economic rebound and the release of pent-up savings. But it is unlikely to be shockingly high, and the reason won’t be that financial-market funds are suddenly flowing into the consumer sector. Whenever someone tells me that much higher rates of price inflation are imminent, I ask a simple yet obnoxious question: “Have you shorted the long bond?” High price inflation, of course, would be very bad for the value of long-term debt securities. Although some investors have shorted Treasury bonds, those who fear these large inflationary pressures typically have not. It’s almost as if financial markets need something to be afraid of, and inflation is a convenient candidate. If investors really want something to worry about, they might want to look into the security of the US banking system. Bloomberg

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832226/tyler-cowen/inflation-uncontainable-not-inevitable

Why We Need a Vaccine Against Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy

Opinion

February 28th, 6:01am

Tim Culpan

Tim Culpan -

As governments around the world rush to administer Covid-19 vaccines to their citizens, Taiwan had an order for 5 million doses upended at the last minute. The troubled deal highlights the vagaries of surviving in a global community that largely excludes the democratically governed region at the behest of an increasingly assertive China. Contracts to buy from Germany’s BioNTech SE and cover some of Taiwan’s 23 million people had been drafted and press releases were ready for publication when “external forces” stepped in last December, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung told a local radio station last week. At the time, Taiwan was ready to announce it had secured those doses plus 10 million from AstraZeneca Plc and 5 million others through the international Covax program aimed at providing equal access to vaccines worldwide — two doses are required per person. Coupled with an expected supply of locally-developed vaccines, Taiwan estimates it would have 65% of the population covered. “Through this whole process I was extremely anxious about external intervention,” Chen told HitFm host Clara Chou. “We worried about political pressure.” He was right to be concerned: the delivery has been put on hold. Chen noted that the roadblock resembled the time Taiwan was abruptly denied access as an observer to the World Health Organization’s annual meeting in November after Beijing stepped in. “We intend to supply Taiwan with our vaccine,” BioNTech said in a statement. “Discussions are ongoing.” The BioNTech vaccine has a China partner: Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Last March, Fosun secured the rights to develop and distribute the vaccine across Greater China — an area that includes the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Fosun didn’t respond to requests for comment from Bloomberg News. Taiwan is remaining as diplomatic as it can. It still needs those doses. Chen said in the radio interview that “some commercial considerations or some political implications” could have been at play. “Since then, we’ve been especially careful.” It says a lot about the state of the world during this pandemic, which has seen an escalation in China’s assertive isolation of Taiwan and broader use of vaccine diplomacy, that a health minister’s chief concern includes worrying that Beijing may kill a deal to supply crucial medical supplies. The incident reflects the increasing pressure China is placing on companies and governments, part of the hard-nosed wolf-warrior approach to diplomacy that’s seen ambassadors increase their presence on social media to aggressively push Beijing’s line. This month, Guyana reneged on a deal to establish a Taiwan representative office, within a day of announcing it, after China warned the Caribbean country to “take concrete actions to correct the error.” Beijing blacklisted a range of Australian products late last year including coal, copper, wine and lobster in retaliation for Canberra’s call for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus and passage of laws aimed at reducing alleged meddling in Australian politics. The country has also sought to discredit vaccines developed in the West. Taiwan issued an early warning about the new virus as it surfaced over a year ago and took quick containment measures that won credit internationally at a time China was stepping up a campaign designed to cast doubt on its origins. The goodwill extended to a number of nations supporting Taipei’s bid to attend the November meeting of the WHO’s decision-making body, which was blocked by Beijing. Among the reasons for Taipei to be excluded from the WHO and other United Nations organizations is the assertion that China’s membership also covers Taiwan, a region that Beijing claims as its own. According to this reasoning, any required information, assistance, or coordination should be fed through China to the Taiwanese people. Conversely, any information that Taipei has should, in theory, be directed through Beijing to the international bodies that it increasingly dominates. China’s tactics have fueled international distrust over the past year. The New York Times reported that officials stood in the way of a recent WHO mission’s attempts to collate crucial data that could help determine the source and spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Associated Press documented a global disinformation campaign to float the idea that the virus was instead a US bioweapon. It may be no surprise that Beijing used its political muscle — it has veto power in the UN — to halt Taiwan gaining a foothold at the WHO. Taipei has suffered short shrift from other agencies in obtaining information or dialogue to help cope with the pandemic. But that doesn’t make it right. The case of the vaccine deal shows the absurdity of extending geopolitical power plays into every realm of life. The new Biden administration is showing early signs that it won’t accept Beijing’s diplomatic bullying. Taiwan has been a model global citizen through the pandemic. This should be the last straw for the world to insist it gets a seat at the table. Bloomberg

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832216/tim-culpan/why-we-need-vaccine-against-wolf-warrior-diplomacy

Attackers Strike Gas Pipeline in Eastern Syria, Causing Fire

Arab World

February 28th, 5:54am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Fire and plumes of smoke are seen from an explosion on the Arab Gas Pipeline between the towns of Ad Dumayr and Adra, northwest of the capital of Damascus, Syria in this handout released by SANA on August 24, 2020. FILE: Reuters

Attackers struck a gas pipeline in eastern Syria on Saturday, leaving it ablaze but causing no casualties, state news agency SANA reported, the latest incidence of sabotage against Syria’s oil and gas infrastructure. As in the past, no one claimed responsibility for the attack. Syria’s nearly 10-year conflict, which has killed about half a million people, has also badly affected oil and gas fields, many of which are outside government control. SANA said the attack occurred in the area known as Abu Khashab in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor that borders Iraq. Sleeper cells of the ISIS group are known to be active in the area and have targeted government forces and US-backed Kurdish fighters in eastern Syria. Earlier Saturday, Syria’s oil ministry said gas leakage in a well in central Syria was quickly put under control. It did not say whether the leakage was the result of an act of sabotage or an accident, The Associated Press reported. In a more common occurrence in chaotic Syria, a mine exploded Saturday in the central province of Hama, killing five and wounding 13 people who had been driving to collect truffles, SANA said. It said the anti-tank mine was left behind by militants who once controlled the area near the town of Salamiyeh

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2832211/attackers-strike-gas-pipeline-eastern-syria-causing-fire