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Arab News UAE News

Speaker of Egyptian parliament hails UAE’s humanitarian role

Dr. Abdel Aal made this statement while receiving Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace…reports Asian Lite News

Dr. Ali Abdel Aal, Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, has commended the UAE’s international humanitarian and development role, as well as the outstanding role of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace in disseminating the values of peace.

Dr. Abdel Aal made this statement on Thursday while receiving Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, who praised the support provided by Egypt, under the leadership of the President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, for the efforts to promote peace.

The council now has members from over 75 countries and offices in all continents, he added while explaining its work, which includes cooperating with many international organisations in promoting tolerance and peace.

Under the framework of combatting the coronavirus pandemic, Al Jarwan said that the council formed an international committee to provide aid to various countries, and has cooperated with several international organisations in implementing strategic projects.

Peace and tolerance have become necessary around the world, he stressed, noting that the council aims to promote these noble values.

At the end of the meeting, Al Jarwan presented several publications about the council, which include its organisational structure and its work during the coronavirus crisis.

Al Jarwan was also received by Counselor Abdel Wahab Abdel Razeq, Speaker of the Egyptian Senate, who welcomed him and expressed his happiness at this visit, which reflects the deep relations between the two countries and their peoples.

The President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace expressed his desire to cooperate with the Egyptian Senate in promoting tolerance and peace in the region and the rest of the world.

Also read:Egyptians cast votes in second phase parliamentary elections

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Asia News Politics

Jordanians shake up parliament

Despite a dangerous spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, 1.38 million Jordanians went to the polls, producing a 29.9 percent turnout…reports Asian Lite News

Jordanians went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new house of representatives and ended up bringing in 100 new members to the 130-strong 19th parliament since Jordan was established. Arab News reports

Despite a dangerous spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, 1.38 million Jordanians went to the polls, producing a 29.9 percent turnout. This was a big drop from the 2016 elections where the turnout rate was 36.8 percent.

The elections proved fatal to a variety of political and ideological groups. Left-wing and progressive lists, as well as all nationalists, lost in the elections. Eight of the 15 candidates from the Islamic Action Front lost seats. Of all the other 41 candidates belonging to parties, non were able to muster a single seat.

According to Amer Bani Amer, head of the Rased Al-Hayyat Center, which monitored the elections, only 30 members out of 130 won reelection. He said that it is difficult to ascertain if the low turnout in the elections and the absence of political parties means that Jordan has retracted in its pursuit of democratic reform.

Also read:Jordan reopens 3 land border crossings

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-Top News USA

Biden chooses Ron Klain as chief of staff

US President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.

The White House chief of staff , who manages the president’s daily schedule and is often described as his gatekeeper is a political appointee who does not require confirmation by the Senate….reports Asian Lite News

US President-elect Joe Biden has picked veteran political operative Ron Klain to be White House chief of staff.BBC reports

Mr Klain has served as a top aide to Mr Biden since the 1980s in the Senate and later when he was vice-president.

The ultimate Washington insider, Mr Klain was also a senior White House aide to Barack Obama and chief of staff to Vice-President Al Gore.

He was played by actor Kevin Spacey in the movie Recount, about the presidential election of 2000.

The White House chief of staff – who manages the president’s daily schedule and is often described as his gatekeeper – is a political appointee who does not require confirmation by the Senate.

Bureaucrats dumped by President Donald Trump were America’s hot hires on the first Monday after President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris belted out their victory speeches. reports Nikhila Natarajan

Two such notables will lead Biden’s 10-member coronavirus task force – the first big item on the transition team’s checklist.

Topping the fired-by-Trump list is Indian American Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former US Surgeon General chucked out within four months of the Trump takeover in 2017.

Another notable is Dr. Rick Bright, a vaccine expert who filed a whistleblower complaint after being sidelined for his pushback against Trump’s unfounded claims around hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug.

The task force co-chairs are Murthy, former Food Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. David Kessler and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, a Yale University professor.

Other than Murthy and Bright, Biden’s task force features many outspoken Trump critics who have been wringing their hands for months over America’s ongoing public health catastrophe: Dr. Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon and author; Dr. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist; Luciana Borio, a biodefence specialist; Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist at the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Celine Gounder; Dr. Julie Morita, a paediatric specialist; Loyce Pace, a global health maven; Dr. Robert Rodriguez, an emergency medicine specialist and Dr. Eric Goosby, an infectious disease expert with expertise in AIDS/HIV.

Also read:Moon, Biden to hold bilateral talks

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-Top News UAE News USA

UAE FM receives US envoy for Iran

The two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in the region and discussed a number of regional and international issues of common interest, including Iran, Syria and Iraq…reports Asian Lite News

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has received Elliott Abrams, US Special Representative for Iran And Venezuela.

The meeting, which was held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, reviewed strategic relations between the UAE and the US along with ways to further boost cooperation relations between the two friendly countries in various fields.

The two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in the region and discussed a number of regional and international issues of common interest, including Iran, Syria and Iraq, in addition to developments in Venezuela.

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the US official’s visit, stressing the historical and strategic relations the two nations enjoy and their interest in developing them across all areas.

Also read:UAE, Israel Ministers hold talks on defence

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-Top News Asia News USA

Rouhani vows to take ‘any opportunity’ to ease US sanctions

Tehran, May. 27, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the opening session of Iran's new parliament in Tehran, Iran, on May 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz/IANS)

While the outgoing Trump has declared Iran an arch-foe and sought to isolate it globally, president-elect Biden has proposed to offer Iran a “credible path back to diplomacy.”…reports Asian Lite News

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani vowed Wednesday to take “any opportunity” to lift US sanctions against Tehran, following President Donald Trump’s defeat by Democratic election rival Joe Biden. Arab News reports

While the outgoing Trump has declared Iran an arch-foe and sought to isolate it globally, president-elect Biden has proposed to offer Iran a “credible path back to diplomacy.”

“Our aim is to lift the pressure of sanctions from the shoulders of our people,” Rouhani said in televised remarks during a weekly cabinet meeting.
“Wherever this favorable opportunity arises we will act on our responsibilities. No one should miss any opportunity.”

“National security and national interests are not factional and partisan issues,” Rouhani added, after conservatives blasted his reformist and moderate coalition for its “over-excitement” for re-engagement with the Islamic republic’s nemesis.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to impose a “flood of sanctions” on Iran by January 20, 2021, after it recently recently targeted the Islamic Republic’s oil and financial sectors, a media report said.

The administration, in coordination with Israel and several Gulf states, is pushing for the new sanctions, informed Israeli sources told the Virginia-based Axios media outlet on Sunday.

According to the sources, US envoy for Iran Elliott Abrams arrived in Israel on Sunday and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat to discuss the plan.

On Monday, Abrams will meet Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi to brief them on the proposal, the sources told Axios.

After Israel, the envoy is scheduled to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to discuss the sanctions plan.

The development comes several days after Abrams said at a closed briefing that the Trump administration wants to announce a new set of sanctions on Iran every week until January 20, when President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the new American President, another informed source told Axios.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to arrive in Israel on November 18.

Also read:Iranian FM to visit Pakistan on Tuesday

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-Top News Asia News UAE News

UAE, Israel Ministers hold talks on defence

Both sides stressed the importance of promoting economic and tourist sectors in their countries through the development of common services of security and safety for their respective communities….reports Asian Lite News

A virtual meeting was held on Wednesday via zoom between Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and his Israeli counterpart Minister of Public Security, Amir Ohana, in order to step up cooperation between the two countries and activate the Abraham Accord.

In their conversation, Sheikh Saif and Ohana discussed common projects, technological innovation projects and programmes related to combating transnational crimes, as well as other development projects related to civil defence.

Both sides stressed the importance of promoting economic and tourist sectors in their countries through the development of common services of security and safety for their respective communities.

The two parties agreed on forming a joint team to work on the specifics of the projects and programmes in preparation for a future launch.

Also read:UAE, EU convene second session of Structural Dialogue

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-Top News EU News

Covid 19: Greece to impose nationwide curfew

A total of 909 people have lost their lives since the start of the pandemic in Greece…reports Asian Lite News

The Greek government announced on Wednesday a nationwide curfew starting from Friday evening as a new daily record of 43 Covid-19 deaths was reported.

Starting from Nov. 13, the country will go under curfew from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. with only a few exemptions for work, health reasons, and walking pets, Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias announced.

The new restrictive measure comes as the numbers of intubated and fatalities, in particular, were on the rise, despite the start of a second nationwide lockdown last week, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The National Public Health Organization (EODY) reported on Wednesday 2,752 new infections in the past 24 hours, which brought the total confirmed cases to 63,321 since the first one was diagnosed on February 26.

Since Tuesday 43 patients have died, while 297 were currently intubated.

A total of 909 people have lost their lives since the start of the pandemic in Greece.

The problem is more acute in big urban centres, according to the official figures. Breaking down Wednesday’s new cases, 635 were registered in the region of Attica and 777 in the region of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.

As the world is struggling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, countries including Germany, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are racing to find a vaccine.

According to the website of the World Health Organization, as of Nov. 3, there were 202 Covid-19 candidate vaccines being developed worldwide, and 47 of them were in clinical trials.

Also read:Maguire under arrest in Greece

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-Top News EU News

Covid-19 cases in Italy surpass 1 million

People wearing face masks take a subway in Milan, Italy, Oct. 24, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua/IANS)

The vast majority, or 5,80,833, are currently isolated at home because they are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Another 29,444 patients are hospitalized…reports Asian Lite News

  • A staff member measures a visitor’s temperature at Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, on Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

The Covid-19 cases in Italy exceeded one million on Wednesday, official statistics by the Health Ministry showed.

Some 32,961 new cases were registered on a daily basis, which brought the country’s total to 10,28,424 — comprising active infections, recoveries, and fatalities — since the pandemic officially broke out here in late February, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Of all the new daily cases, some 23,248 were new active infections, and the total figure of actively infected people in the country thus rose to 6,13,358.

The vast majority, or 5,80,833, are currently isolated at home because they are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Another 29,444 patients are hospitalized, and 3,081 are in intensive care — 10 more than Tuesday.

  • People wearing face masks take a subway in Milan, Italy, Oct. 24, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua/IANS)

The Health Ministry’s data also showed that recoveries grew by 9,090 on a daily basis to total 3,72,113, while 623 fresh fatalities pushed the country’s death toll to 42,953.

In order to slow down the second wave of the pandemic, Italy’s government sealed off five more regions that showed a middle risk of contagion, with people’s movements strictly limited and some non-essential business closed starting on Wednesday.

Adding to these were the “red-zone” regions and provinces (five in total, including northern Lombardy), which were considered at high risk and subjected to a soft lockdown since last week.

Also read:Italy rolls out new Covid 19 relief package

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Arab News Asia News Syria

Russia resumes trade mission in Syria

Moscow, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (Sputnik via Xinhua/IANS)

Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1, 2006…reports Asian Lite News

Russia will reopen its trade mission in the Syrian capital of Damascus by the end of this year, according to a decree by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin published Wednesday.

In the decree, Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to approve the organizational structure and recruit staff of the trade office, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1, 2006.

In another decree, Mishustin ordered the closure of Russian trade missions in Ukraine and Lithuania, without giving a reason.

Also read:4 US soldiers killed in Syria

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EU News UAE News

UAE, EU convene second session of Structural Dialogue

The purpose of the second session was to discuss the UAE’s ongoing and firm commitment to tangibly addressing the threats associated with money laundering and terrorist financing…reports Asian Lite News

The second session of the EU-UAE Structural Dialogue was convened virtually on Wednesday. The meeting was co-chaired by Amna Fikri, Director of the Economic and Trade Affairs Department, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Raluca Prună, Head of the Financial Crime Unit, the EU Commission Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union.

Attendees of the session included senior representatives from the Executive Office of the UAE’s National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations Committee; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Economy; the Ministry of Finance; the Federal Customs Authority; the Central Bank; other Emirate- and Federal-level law enforcement bodies; and the UAE Embassy in Brussels.

From the EU side, senior representatives from the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development; the European External Action Service; and the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE were in attendance.

The purpose of the second session was to discuss the UAE’s ongoing and firm commitment to tangibly addressing the threats associated with money laundering and terrorist financing, and to engage in open dialogue on international best practices relating to Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) policies, more generally.

The UAE delegation provided updates pertaining to the role of the Higher Committee overseeing the National Strategy for AML/CFT; broader progress relating to the UAE National Action Plan on AML/CFT; the implementation of the National Economic Register (NER); international cooperation efforts to address issues pertaining to CFT; newly enforced policies in respect to countering trade-based money laundering; and conveyed a number of proposals to implement joint capacity building and information sharing programmes.

Also read:UAE FM holds talks with British minister