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Italy marks 75th national day with low-key celebrations

Addressing the nation on TV, President Sergio Mattarella stressed the need for Italy and the European Union to be united during difficult times…reports Asian Lite News.

People across Italy marked the country’s 75th national day with scaled-back celebrations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the government scrapping the traditional military parades and public speeches.

But Rome’s streets on Wednesday were still filled with people venturing out amid the newly eased coronavirus restrictions, Xinhua news agency reported.

On June 2, 1946, a national referendum created the first Italian Republic, which removed the monarchy that had officially ruled the country since it was unified in 1861.

One of the most recognisable traditions of the day remained unchanged for this year’s celebration: a formation of nine fighter jets trailing green, white, and red smoke — the colours of the Italian flag — soared over the Altar of the Fatherland, the over-sized monument standing over Rome’s main square, Piazza Venezia.

But other traditions including a military parade along the city’s Via dei Fori Imperiali and speeches by political and military leaders were scrapped for the second consecutive year.

Addressing the nation on TV, President Sergio Mattarella stressed the need for Italy and the European Union to be united during difficult times.

“The conception of a common good, more important than any idea since, has led us to be a dedicated part of the European Union, which is an essential element of its own national identity,” he said.

“This terrible experience of the pandemic … has made evident the profound interdependence of the destiny of our people and has shown that the only effective forms of coordination have proved able to defeat it.”

Earlier in the day, Mattarella laid a wreath at the Altar of the Fatherland at Italy’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The scaled-back celebrations marking the anniversary did not reduce the number of people on the streets of the capital.

“This is a holiday about the new Italy after World War II and this time it also has the feeling about a new Italy after the worst of the pandemic,” said Leo Esposito, a municipal government worker enjoying ice cream with his wife and two young children.

“We are all hoping things will continue getting better for us.”

Annalisa Bettin, a university student out in Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood with two classmates, agreed.

“We all spend most of the last year or more inside social distancing,” Bettin said.

“We need to get out and to take a step back toward normal. The situation is improving. Using the June 2 holiday as an excuse to get outside and do some things and relax a little makes good sense to me.”

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-Top News COVID-19 Europe

Germany to lift vax prioritisation scheme

Last week, the BioNTech-Pfizer Covid jab received the first authorisation in the European Union (EU) for adolescents…reports Asian Lite News.

Germany will lift its vaccination prioritisation scheme on June 7, making all citizens older than 12 years eligible to receive a Covid-19 jab, Minister of Health Jens Spahn announced.

The vaccination campaign in Germany “gained enormous speed” and the prioritisation would be lifted in order to “keep the momentum”, Spahn was quoted as saying at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday.

So far, appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations in Germany were assigned in prioritisation groups, which were primarily based on citizens’ age, previous illnesses and occupation.

Last week, the BioNTech-Pfizer Covid jab received the first authorisation in the European Union (EU) for adolescents and the German government decided that children over the age of 12 years could sign up for vaccination.

Starting next week, company doctors will be more involved in Germany’s vaccination campaign and provided with around 700,000 doses of BioNTech/Pfizer in the first week alone, according to Spahn.



More than 15.6 million people in Germany have been fully vaccinated till date, bringing the country’s vaccination rate to 18.8 per cent, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Almost 36.5 million Germans have already received at least one dose of a vaccine.

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Holidays in doubt as Portugal taken off green list

The decision to move Portugal – including Madeira and the Azores –  to the amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta variant, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

Britons’ hopes of a summer holiday abroad is hanging in the balance as no new countries have been added to the UK’s green travel list and Portugal has moved to amber.

The first update to the government’s traffic light list for international travel has taken place on Thursday with Portugal moved to the amber list in a bid to safeguard people against virus variants and protect vaccine rollout.

Meanwhile, seven countries – including Sri Lanka and Egypt – have also been added to the travel red list. All changes to the lists will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday 8 June.

The decision to move Portugal – including Madeira and the Azores –  to the amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta variant.

The government said situation in Portugal has required swift action to protect the gains made with the vaccine rollout. It said there has been an almost doubling in the COVID-19 test positivity rate in Portugal since the first review for traffic light allocations, far exceeding the ONS estimated national positivity rate in the UK.

More significantly, according to data published on GISAID, 68 cases of the Delta variant of concern have been identified in Portugal, including cases of the Delta variant with an additional, potentially detrimental, mutation, the government said.

“The public has always known travel will be different this year and we must continue to take a cautious approach to reopening international travel in a way that protects public health and the vaccine rollout,” said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

“While we are making great progress in the UK with the vaccine rollout, we continue to say that the public should not travel to destinations outside the green list,” he added.

Public Health England is investigating the Delta variant and mutation, to better understand whether it could be more transmissible and less effectively tackled by vaccines.

The full list of additional countries added to the ‘red list’ includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago.

While the number of ‘green list’ destinations remains low, the government is urging the public not to travel to amber classified destinations to play their role in protecting public health. This is due to the prevalence of variants of concern and general rates of coronavirus being greater in amber destinations, meaning the risk to public health is also greater.

People returning to the UK require proof of a negative test, taken within 3 days before the service on which they will arrive in England departs. Those returning from amber countries must also book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests for when they return to the UK; only the day 2 test is required for those returning from green countries.

Airport

UK on Tuesday reported zero daily coronavirus-related deaths for the first time since March last year.

Earlier, a scientist advising the government said the progress of Britain’s vaccination program does not mean that the fight against coronavirus is over.

Professor Adam Finn from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the government on vaccine priority, said the country remains vulnerable as large numbers of people remain unvaccinated.

“The idea that somehow the job is done is wrong — we’ve still got a lot of people out there who have neither had this virus infection nor yet been immunized and that’s why we’re in a vulnerable position right now,” he told the BBC.

Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Tuesday that the easing of restrictions will be delayed in much of Scotland, which will remain in Level Two restrictions amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus variant first detected in India.

Experts have warned that coronavirus may continue to evolve for years to come, and eventually it is likely current vaccines will fail to protect against transmission, infection, or even against disease caused by newer variants.

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Defence Europe USA

Russian Parliament votes to exit Open Skies Treaty

Russia has presented concrete proposals aimed at preserving the treaty, but the US has not responded, according to Karasin…reports Asian Lite News

The Russian Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, passed a bill on Wednesday to withdraw from the arms-control Treaty on Open Skies.

The decision was made in response to the US pullout from the pact in November 2020, head of the chamber’s International Affairs Committee Grigory Karasin said in a statement.

He criticised the US move for significantly undermining the balance of interests and hurting the treaty’s key role in building confidence and transparency.

Russia has presented concrete proposals aimed at preserving the treaty, but the US has not responded, according to Karasin.

“Considering that our partners were not ready for reciprocal steps, and proceeding from the need to ensure national security interests, Russia has decided to withdraw from the treaty,” he said.

The Russian State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, greenlighted the bill on the withdrawal last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to soon sign the bill into law.

The multilateral Treaty on Open Skies, which came into effect in 2002, allows its states-parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the others’ territories to collect data on military forces and activities.

After Washington announced its withdrawal last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in January that the country had started domestic legal procedures for the official pullout from the treaty.

Last week, the US government said that it has decided not to rejoin the Open Skies Treaty.

“The US regrets that the Treaty on Open Skies has been undermined by Russia’s violations. In concluding its review of the treaty, the US therefore does not intend to seek to rejoin it, given Russia’s failure to take any actions to return to compliance,” a State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Further, Russia’s behaviour, including its recent actions with respect to Ukraine, is not that of a partner committed to confidence-building,” the statement added.

The multilateral Treaty on Open Skies, which became effective in 2002, allows its 34 state-parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the others’ entire territories to collect data on military forces and activities.

After the US withdrawal on November 22, 2020, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced this January that the country had started domestic legal procedures for the official pullout from the Treaty.

Last week, the Russian State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, unanimously approved a bill on the country’s withdrawal from the treaty.

The US and Russia have blamed each other for non-compliance with the treaty.

The treaty is aimed at building confidence and familiarity among state parties through their participation in the overflights.

By 2019, over 1,500 Open Skies flights have been conducted since the deal entered into force, according to media report

ALSO READ: Russia vows response to EU hostility yet ready for dialogue

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Macron calls for end to ‘foreign intervention’ in Libya

Earlier, Macron also threatened that the country would withdraw troops from Mali if political turmoil there leads to greater Islamist radicalisation…reports Asian Lite News.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke in favour of the withdrawal of foreign forces, including Russian and Turkish, from the territory of Libya.

“As Libyans themselves demand, we must stop any foreign intervention, and this goes through the withdrawal of all forces of foreign mercenaries from the territory of Libya – Russian, Turkish, their Syrian mercenaries, and others,” Macron said after a meeting with Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.

“We are working on this with you and with all our partners. And this pullout [of foreign troops] should go along with the creation of a unified army,” he said.

He also announced France’s readiness to support Libya politically.

“It is necessary to guarantee the success of the national elections scheduled for the end of the year,” Macron said.

Earlier, Macron also threatened that the country would withdraw troops from Mali if political turmoil there leads to greater Islamist radicalisation.

It follows a second coup in nine months in the West African nation, the BBC reported.

Macron warned of the risk of Mali “moving towards” greater Islamist influence.

France has 5,100 troops in the Sahel region which has been a front line in the war against Islamist militancy.

French troops have been supporting forces in Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad to battle militants in the Sahel region since 2013.

Macron told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper that he had told regional leaders that France would not support countries where there was no democratic legitimacy or transition, and that France had no intention of keeping its troops in Africa forever.

For decades France has provided military support to back leaders of its former colonies in Africa, often sending troops or despatching air strikes to counter armed rebels.

The French President has for some time been muttering about reducing, or withdrawing, the more than 5,000 French troops in the vast and troubled Sahel.

He is frustrated about a lack of commitment from most other European countries to fight the multiple militant Islamist groups in the region. They are considered a threat to Europe, both in terms of possible jihadist attacks on the continent and illegal migration.

But Macron faces another dilemma related to recent political events in two countries where French troops are active, Mali and Chad. Mali has had two military takeovers in the past nine months. Chad has had one.

Macron has been demanding an end to military rule in both. In Mali, he has threatened to withdraw French troops if the political chaos and uncertainty leads to an increase in radical Islam. But he is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Although French forces and their allies have failed to defeat the jihadists, who are becoming increasingly active in the Sahel and neighbouring regions, the fear is that, if France leaves, Islamist militancy will become even more rampant. (ANI/Sputnik/IANS)
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Putin’s visit to Pakistan on the cards

Both Pakistan and Russia have been working to materialise Putin’s visit….reports Asian Lite News

After Pakistan and Russia signed a fresh agreement to lay a gas pipeline, prospects of Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting Islamabad for the very first time were on the cards.

The project, previously named The North-South Gas Pipeline, has now been renamed as Pakistan Steam Gas Pipeline, in which a gas pipeline will be laid from Pakistan’s Karachi city to Kasur.

It is a flagship project between the two countries, which intends to remove the memories of rivalry of the Cold War and bring both countries on the road to bilateral ties.

Both Pakistan and Russia have been working to materialise Putin’s visit.

In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Islamabad after a gap of at least nine years.

As per official details, Lavrov came with a message that Moscow was willing to extend all possible help to Islamabad and create pathways for bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has already extended a formal invitation to President Putin.

Experts have said that with the signing of the Pakistan Steam Pipeline agreement, the visit of President Putin has become even more significant and important.

Pakistan is anxious to have President Putin inaugurate the groundbreaking of the gas pipeline project, which is expected to be held later this year or in early 2022.

Pakistan and Russia are also seeking more avenues of cooperation.

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As per sources, Russia is keen on selling arms to Pakistan, something it avoided in the past because of opposition by India.

It is pertinent to mention that both countries have been holding regular joint military exercises since 2016.

Russia and Pakistan are also in close contact in the peace process and ongoing regional security issues including Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Steam Gas Pipeline is a stepping-stone in normalisation of relations between the two countries, which has been strained for years due to Cold War rivalry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

The project was originally signed in 2015. However, it could not be initiated due to possible sanctions by the US on Russian companies.

Initially, Russia was to built 100 per cent of the pipeline under the “build, operate and transfer” model.

However, with the new and amended agreement, Pakistan will have at least 74 per cent stakes.

The total cost of the project is around $2.25 billion. It will be beneficial in meeting the gas shortage in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Analysts say that the project not only has economic significance but also holds great strategic importance for Pakistan.

ALSO READ: Biden vows to press Putin on human rights at Geneva meet

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-Top News Europe

3 Italian regions are now Covid ‘white zones’

Under “white zone” rules there is no curfew and no restrictions on the opening hours of bars and restaurants…reports Asian Lite News.

Three of Italy’s 20 regions and autonomous provinces were moved to the low-restriction “white zones” following an ordinance issued by Health Minister Roberto Speranza based on epidemiological data showing that the pandemic is slowing down.

The three “white” regions are Friuli Venezia Giulia, the island of Sardinia, and Molise, Xinhua news agency reported.

The rest of the country is designated as a moderate-risk “yellow zone”.

Under “white zone” rules there is no curfew and no restrictions on the opening hours of bars and restaurants.

People can eat and drink indoors as well as outdoors.

In the “yellow zones”, people can eat and drink outdoor settings only and there is an 11 p.m. curfew.

In all zones, people are still required to wear face masks both indoors and outdoors, and to observe safe physical distancing.

In a bid to contain the second wave of the pandemic, the Italian government last year divided the country into four colour-coded zones – “white” (almost zero risk), “yellow” (low risk), “orange” (medium risk) and “red” (high risk) – with varying restrictions according to the level of transmission of the virus.

The Health Minister reviews the incidence rate for coronavirus and other epidemiological data on a weekly basis and decides restriction rules based on those numbers.

The decision to move three regions into the “white zone” on Monday came after the weekly monitoring report for May 17-23 showed that “the pressure on hospitals is decreasing and is below the critical threshold in all regions/autonomous provinces”.

However, the report also warned that “the pandemic must be managed with caution” due to the “now prevalent circulation in Italy of the variant first identified in the UK and the presence of other strains that can partially evade immune responses”.

Till date, a total of 34,470,841 people have received at least one Covid vaccine dose, while 11,871,163 others were been fully inoculated, according to the Ministry of Health.

Italy has so far reported 4,217,821 coronavirus cases and 126,128 deaths.

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-Top News Europe USA

European nations seek explanation from US on spying row

Merkel
French President Emmanuel Macron calls for clarity and urges transparency and resolution of the matter, reports Asian Lite News

European countries have demanded an explanation from the US and Denmark as soon as possible on reports that the American intelligence agency had used Danish infrastructure to spy on top politicians, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On Sunday, Denmark’s national broadcaster DR News said in a report that Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) has given the US National Security Agency (NSA) open internet access to spy on senior politicians of European countries including Germany, Sweden, Norway, and France.

In response to the report, Danish Minister of Defence Trine Bramsen had said that the government will not “enter into speculation about any intelligence matters from the press or others… Systematic wiretapping of close allies is unacceptable”

But French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for “clarity” and urged “complete transparency and resolution of the matter by our Danish and American partners”.

This “is unacceptable between allies, even less between allies and European partners”, he added.

Meanwhile, Merkel said she “could only agree” with Macron’s comments, adding she was “reassured” by Bramsen’s condemnation of any such spying.

Besides Merkel, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the candidate for chancellor Peer Steinbrueck were among those the NSA had spied on, the DR News report said.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Wikipedia)

“It is grotesque that friendly intelligence services are indeed intercepting and spying on top representatives of other countries,” Steinbrueck told German broadcaster ARD on Monday.

“Politically I consider it a scandal.”

In Paris, French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune told France Info radio that the DR report needed to be checked and that, if confirmed, it would be a “serious” matter.

“These potential facts, they are serious. They must be checked,” he said, adding there could be “some diplomatic protests”.

Jens Holm, a member of the Swedish Parliament, called on investigation into “who exactly was monitored, when and how”.

“This is extremely outrageous,” Holms told local media, adding that the situation elicits memories of the Cold War.

The governments of Norway and Sweden are pressing the Danish government and demanding immediate answers about the alleged NSA espionage through Danish cables.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said her government has asked Denmark “for all the information they have”.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg (Wikipedia)

“It’s unacceptable if countries which have close allied cooperation feel the need to spy on one another,” she told public broadcaster NRK.

Norway’s Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen also told broadcaster NRK that the country takes the allegations seriously.

Swedish Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist said on state broadcaster SVT on Sunday that he “asked to be fully informed about matters concerning Swedish citizens, companies and interests.”

“And then we have to see how the answer sounds from a political side in Denmark,” Hultqvist said, adding that he had been “in contact with Denmark’s Defence Minister to ask if Danish platforms have been used to spy on Swedish politicians”.

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-Top News Europe USA

Biden vows to press Putin on human rights at Geneva meet

Putin-Biden

Though US-Russia relations are on rough patch, the White House had confirmed that it was moving ahead with the summit between the two leaders….reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden will press his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to respect human rights when the two leaders meet on June 16 in Geneva, according to reports.

“I’m meeting with President Putin in a couple weeks in Geneva making it clear we will not, we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights,” Biden was quoted as saying during a speech honouring the US holiday Memorial Day.

Though US-Russia relations are on rough patch, the White House had confirmed that it was moving ahead with the summit between the two leaders.

Last week, Microsoft flagged a cyberattack on US government agencies by Nobelium, the group behind last year’s SolarWind hack that originated from Russia. However, Moscow said it had nothing to do with the attack.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had earlier informed that Biden and Putin will discuss “the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the US-Russia relationship.”

Earlier this month, the White House said that President Biden believed that his meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will be a good step forward in the US-Russia relationship to de-escalate tensions and have stable relations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov(Twitter)

“There is not a meeting with the President locked in yet. Obviously, the President, our President invited him to participate in that meeting because he thinks it would be a good step forward in the relationship to de-escalate, to ensure we have a more stable relationship moving forward, but there is no meeting to confirm at this point in time,” she said.

Last month, Biden held a phone call with Putin, where he had voiced his concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraine’s borders, and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions.

He had reaffirmed his goal of building a stable and predictable relationship with Russia consistent with US interests and proposed a summit meeting in a third country in the coming months to discuss the full range of issues between the United States and Russia.

The conversation came in the backdrop of Washington imposing sanctions on 32 Russian entities and individuals for their alleged interference in the 2020 US presidential election and the purported hacking of US software supply chain networks.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued to refute all accusations of its engagement in US elections meddling and cyberattacks. (with inputs from ANI)

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Mubadala invests ₤350m in IVC Evidensia

Mubadala invests ₤350m in IVC Evidensia

Headquartered in Bristol, UK, IVC Evidensia operates a network of more than 1,500 veterinary clinics and hospitals in 12 countries across Europe…reports Asian Lite News

Mubadala Investment Company today announced that it has invested GBP ₤350m in IVC Evidensia, Europe’s largest veterinary care provider.

Headquartered in Bristol, UK, IVC Evidensia operates a network of more than 1,500 veterinary clinics and hospitals in 12 countries across Europe caring for over four million pets. Founded in 2011, the company operates a decentralised model that promotes innovation and clinical freedom within its network, supported by a range of integrated services such as procurement, veterinary advisers and clinical boards.

IVC Evidensia is widely recognised for pioneering new standards both for clinical excellence and staff wellbeing within its sector. IVC was originally acquired by EQT Private Equity in December 2016 and in May 2017 it merged with Evidensia, the Swedish veterinary group. Since then, the company has further strengthened its position as Europe’s leading veterinary services provider through strong organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions.

Justin Sabet-Peyman, Head of Consumer at Mubadala, said, “Our investment in IVC Evidensia aligns well with our focus on investing in market leading consumer businesses in resilient and growing sectors. We are excited to be partnering with EQT, Silver Lake, Nestlé and IVC’s world-class management team to help drive the company’s continued leadership and innovation in pet care.”

Mubadala’s investment in IVC Evidensia joins its growing global portfolio of world-class consumer businesses, including Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, Coupang and Truck Hero. Within the consumer sector, Mubadala focuses on investing in businesses led by strong management teams with leading positions in attractive markets with strong tailwinds.

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