“Turn the corner? Things are getting worse. He continues to lie to us about the circumstances,” the former Vice President added…Reports Asian Lite News
Joe Biden.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said that US President Donald Trump continues to “lie about the circumstances” of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
“The other night, Trump said in one of his rallies, ‘we’ve turned the corner’,” The Hill news website reported on Sunday citing Biden as saying at a rally in North Carolina.
“Turn the corner? Things are getting worse. He continues to lie to us about the circumstances,” the former Vice President added.
Biden’s statement came a day after the President at an event in Janesville, Wisconsin, said: “We are rounding the corner. The vaccines are unbelievable. Except for a little politics. We have unbelievable vaccines coming out real soon. And the therapeutics are unbelievable.”
Washington, Oct. 2, 2020 (Xinhua) — File photo taken on Sept. 3, 2020 shows U.S. President Donald Trump participating in a campaign rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the United States. Trump said early Friday morning that he and his wife, Melania, have tested positive for COVID-19, after a close aide had contracted the virus. (Xinhua/Liu Jie/IANS)
Making a similar remark at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida, last month, Trump had said “we’re rounding the turn”, adding that”under my leadership, prosperity will surge”.
The US is currently the worst-hit country by the global health crisis, accounting for the highest number of cases and deaths.
As of Monday morning, the total number of cases in the country stood at 8,152,093 and the fatalities increased to 219,669, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi (R), Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, and Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman of Lulu Group signing the agreement.
ADQ to invest US$ 1 billion in Lulu Group for Expanding in Egypt. Under the terms of the agreement, ADQ and LIHL will work to collectively develop up to 30 hypermarkets and 100 express minimarket stores as well as state-of-the-art logistics hubs, distribution and fulfilment centres to strengthen the retailer’s ecommerce business across Egypt … reports Asian Lite News
Abu Dhabi based Lulu Group is consolidating its premier position in the Middle East retail market. Investment giant ADQ has entered into a non-binding agreement with Lulu International Holdings (LIHL) paving the way for an investment supporting LIHL’s expansion of operations in Egypt of up to USD 1 billion.
This is over and above the US$ 1 billion ADQ had earlier this year invested in Lulu Group.
The agreement was signed by Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, and Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman of Lulu Group, the leading hypermarket & supermarket chain in the Middle East. ADQ is one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy.
Under the terms of the agreement, ADQ and LIHL will work to collectively develop up to 30 hypermarkets and 100 express minimarket stores as well as state-of-the-art logistics hubs, distribution and fulfilment centres to strengthen the retailer’s ecommerce business across Egypt. It is estimated that this expansion will create up to 12,000 jobs, fostering economic and social growth throughout the country.
Lulu Group is one of the largest retail organizations operating 194 hypermarkets and shopping malls across GCC, Egypt and Far East with more than 55,000 employees serving approx. 1.6 million shoppers a day. It also has sourcing operations and food processing units in different parts of the world, including US, UK, Spain, Africa, China and others Far Eastern countries.
“Our agreement with Lulu International Holdings reflects our wider commitment to investing in Egypt, following the announcement of our joint investment platform with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt agreed late last year,” said Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of ADQ. “The phased roll-out of multiple retail stores would provide significant socio-economic benefits to local communities across the country, as well as bolster the quality and range of products available to Egyptian consumers. We are pleased to be able to give further support to the co-operation that already exists between the UAE and Egypt.”
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, ADQ was established in 2018 as a public joint stock company (PJSC). It holds a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy, including utilities, tourism and hospitality, aviation, transportation, logistics, industrial, real estate, media, healthcare, food and agriculture, and financial services.
“Egypt is a very important growth market for us, and we see great potential for our future business there,” said Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman of Lulu. “Our agreement with ADQ will better position us to continue our rapid expansion of our operations across Egypt. I take this opportunity to thank the leadership of Abu Dhabi and ADQ for their support to expand Lulu’s operations in Egypt which will immensely benefit the country and its citizens.”
In November 2019, the launch of a joint strategic investment platform worth $ 20 billion, to be funded equally by ADQ and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, was announced. The platform aims to establish joint strategic investment projects, as well as specialized funds and investment tools in several key sectors such as food and agriculture, healthcare, mobility and logistics, and utilities.
The demonstration took place on Sunday at the capital city’s Old Town Square, ended up in clashes between protesters and police…Reports Asian Lite News
More than 100 people were arrested in Prague on suspicion of rioting and attacking officers following a protest against the incumbent Covid-19 restrictions imposed in Czech Republic.
The demonstration, which took place on Sunday at the capital city’s Old Town Square, ended up in clashes between protesters and police after it was officially terminated due to a higher attendance than the permitted limit of 500, reports Xinhua news agency.
Some protesters remained at the square after the demonstration was halted.
They hurled flares, beer bottles, stones and other objects at the police, while some even attempted to break through the security cordon.
The police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the violent protesters.
The Czech News Agency quoted Prague police spokesperson Eva Kropacova as saying that some 20 police officers suffered injuries in brawls with demonstrators.
About 2,000 demonstrators attended the rally.
Most of them did not wear face masks and did not keep the two-metre distance allowed under the current regulation, local media reported.
According to the current regulation, public gatherings of more than six are banned but up to 500 people are allowed to demonstrate if they are divided into separated groups of 20 and wear face masks.
The Czech Republic has witnessed a surge in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks, making it one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe.
The country has so far reported more than 174,000 coronavirus cases and 1,422 deaths.
People who fail to self-isolate “without reasonable justification” could have their names, address and contact details passed on to their local authority and then to the police…Reports Asian Lite News
People who have been asked to self-isolate through the test and trace system of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) could have their contact details shared with the police, it was announced.
In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that police forces will have access “on a case-by-case” basis to information, enabling them to know if an individual has been told to self-isolate, Xinhua news agency reported.
People who fail to self-isolate “without reasonable justification” could have their names, address and contact details passed on to their local authority and then to the police, the DHSC’s said.
“This may lead to enforcement action being taken against you, which could include you being fined,” it added.
Currently, people in England are legally required to self-isolate if they test positive for the novel coronavirus.
Those who fail to do so face fines starting at 1,000 pounds and increasing up to 10,000 pounds for repeat offenders or serious breaches, the DHSC said.
Professor Chris Whitty.
Reacting to the development, a National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson said forces would continue to encourage “voluntary compliance” but would enforce regulations and issue fines where appropriate, the BBC reported.
“Officers will engage with individuals to establish their circumstances, using their discretion wherever it is reasonable to do so.”
Meanwhile, the Health Service Journal, a news service which covers policy and management in the NHS in England, reported that the office of England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, feared the move would put people off from being tested.
A spokesman for the British Medical Association, which represents doctors in the UK, also said the test-and-trace system needed “the full confidence of the public” to be effective.
The UK has so far reported a total of 725,292 coronavirus cases and 43,736 deaths.
“The curve of contagion is worrisome, the numbers are serious, and there is a need to intervene urgently.”said Conte…Reports Asian Lite News
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that his government has approved fresh anti-coronavirus curbs after more than 11,000 new cases were reported in just 24 hours.
“The curve of contagion is worrisome, the numbers are serious, and there is a need to intervene urgently,” Xinhua news agency quoted Conte as saying at a televised press conference on Sunday.
“We just approved new measures that should allow us to face this new wave of infections, which is severely affecting not only Italy but the whole of Europe,” he said.
On Sunday, Italy reported 11,705 new infections, which increased the country’s overall caseload to 126,237, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Health.
The death toll currently stood at 36,543.
“We cannot waste time,” Conte said. “We must act by fielding all the measures necessary to avert a new generalized lockdown… which would end up severely compromising the entire economic fabric.”
He spoke in reference to Italy’s March to May nationwide lockdown, which brought the country’s economy to a halt.
The Prime Minister also detailed the new measures, which include giving city mayors the option of shutting down busy streets and squares after 9 p.m. in a bid to prevent public gatherings; a ban on amateur contact sports; and the suspension of all local fairs, festivals, conferences and congresses.
Pubs, bars, restaurants, pizzerias and ice cream shops can be open for business between the hours of 5 a.m. to midnight, as long as customers are seated.
Rome, Aug. 18, 2020 (Xinhua) — Restaurant staff wait for customers in Rome, Italy, Aug. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting/IANS)
If the customers are standing, then these venues can only serve until 6 p.m., while gaming and betting venues must close at 9 p.m.
“Deliveries are allowed at all times, and takeout is allowed until midnight,” Conte said.
Schools will stay open, with flexible hours for high schools and universities in order to encourage staggered schedules.
“We are aware that we are imposing economic sacrifices to the businesses that will suffer the negative consequences of these closures, and the government is committed to making up for them,” Conte said.
“The EU strongly condemns all such attacks irrespective of their origin.”said Borrell…Reports Asian Lite News
The European Union (EU) welcomed the new ceasefire reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the conflict-ridden Nagorno-Karabakh region, but denounced any violation of the latest humanitarian truce.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Josep Borrell, the bloc welcomed the joint announcement of the ceasefire was made by Armenia and Azerbaijan following the mediation efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron, in coordination with the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, reports Xinhua news agency.
But it “deplores that, unfortunately, violations continue, with reported fighting in and around Nagorno Karabakh”, said the statement.
“This leads to more civilian suffering. It aggravates the conflict between States and respective societies, rendering the healing of wounds even more difficult,” said Borrell,
“The EU strongly condemns all such attacks irrespective of their origin.”
(160405) — NAGORNO-KARABAKH, April 5, 2016 (Xinhua) — Houses damaged in recent conflicts are seen in Azerbaijan’s Gapanli village bordering Nagorno-Karabakh region, on April 5, 2016.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani Defense Ministries both confirmed Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region is currently being prepared. (Xinhua/Tofik Babayev)(dh)
The EU official said he spoke to the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan “to impress upon them that the ceasefire should be unconditional and strictly respected”.
Azerbaijan and Armenia traded accusations of violating the new ceasefire on Sunday, hours after they agreed for the second time to halt fighting in the disputed region.
Following trilateral negotiations between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia that lasted for over two hours in Moscow, the first ceasefire was enforced in the region on October 11.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but mostly governed by the Republic of Artsakh, a de facto independent state with an Armenian ethnic majority.
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, April 2016 and this July.
Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over the region in 1988-94, eventually declaring a ceasefire.
Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been negotiating a new COVID-19 relief package for months…Reports Asian Lite News
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that White House and congressional lawmakers must reach an agreement in 48 hours if they want to pass a new COVID-19 relief package before the presidential election in November.
“The 48 only relates to if we want to get it done before the election, which we do,” Pelosi said in an interview with ABC News.
“We’re saying to them, we have to freeze the design on some of these things. Are we going with it or not and what is the language? I’m optimistic because, again, we’ve been back and forth on all of this,” she said on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Asked about whether Americans are going to get pandemic relief before Nov. 3 Election Day, Pelosi said that depends on the Trump administration. “The fact is that we cannot — the heart of the matter is to stop the spread of the virus,” she said.
Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been negotiating a new COVID-19 relief package for months, with the most recent call on Saturday night resulting in “some encouraging news on testing,” according to Drew Hammill, spokesman and deputy chief of staff for the House speaker.
“There remains an array of additional differences as we go provision by provision that must be addressed in a comprehensive manner in the next 48 hours,” Hammill tweeted Saturday night.
“Decisions must be made by the White House in order to demonstrate that the Administration is serious about reaching a bipartisan agreement that provides for Americans with the greatest needs during the pandemic,” Hammill said.
The Speaker and Secretary Mnuchin spoke at 7:40 p.m. by phone tonight for just over an hour. While there was some encouraging news on testing, there remains work to do to ensure there is a comprehensive testing plan that includes contact tracing and additional measures to…(1/3)
During a virtual conference hosted by the Milken Institute on Wednesday, Mnuchin said that it would be difficult for the White House and Democrats to reach a deal on a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package before the presidential election, as the two sides were still far apart on certain issues.
“I’d say at this point getting something done before the election and executing on that would be difficult, just given where we are,” Mnuchin said.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has recently urged policymakers to provide more fiscal relief to households and businesses hurt by the pandemic, warning a prolonged slowing economic recovery could trigger typical recessionary dynamics.
An agreement on visa exemption for nationals of both countries was also included…Reports Asian Lite News
Bahrain and Israel signed a series of key agreements covering bilateral relations, agriculture, trade, civil aviation, telecommunications and financial services, state Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
Among the historic deals signed in Bahrain’s capital Manama was a Joint Communique on Establishment of Diplomatic, Peaceful and Friendly Relations between the two countries, BNA said on Sunday.
An agreement on visa exemption for nationals of both countries was also included, it added.
Present at the signing ceremony were Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat and its Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz, Xinhua news agency reported.
The US and Israeli delegations arrived in Manama earlier in the day and held meetings with senior Bahraini officials.
The move comes after a US-brokered normalization deal between Bahrain and Israel was signed at the White House on Septemb er 15.
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