CESNUR and FOB release “The New Gnomes of Zurich”
Sep 3 2020
CESNUR and FOB release “The New Gnomes of Zurich”

The European Federation on Freedom of Belief, chaired by Mr. Alessandro Amicarelli, reported the following:

On July 9, 2020, the Swiss anti-cult associations JW Opfer Hilfe (Aid to the Victims of Jehovah’s Witnesses) and Fachstelle infoSekta (Center for Information on Cults) issued a press release, announcing that a 2019 decision of the District Court of Zurich had become final, which acquitted Dr. Regina Ruth Spiess, a former employee of infoSekta and current representative of JW Opfer Hilfe, from criminal charges of defamation brought by the Swiss Jehovah’s Witnesses, (JW Opfer Hilfe and Fachstelle infoSekta 2020).

On July 17, 2020—the two events are not related but, as we will see, they came to interact with each other—the USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) published a document on the anti-cult ideology (USCIRF 2020). The USCIRF is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. government, whose members are appointed by the President and designated by the congressional leaders of both political parties, Democrat and Republican. The document focuses on anti-cultism in Russia, but goes beyond it, to identify the anti-cult ideology in general as one of the most serious threats to religious freedom internationally. Parenthetically, we would emphasize that the German word “Sekte” should not be translated into English as “sect” (a neutral word, without derogatory implications in the English language) but as “cult.” Similarly, “anti-sekten” should be translated as “anti-cult,” and vice versa.

On July 23, 2020, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, answered during her periodic briefing the USCIRF Report, which was highly critical of Russia and, in particular, of the Russian’s decision to ban the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an “extremist organization.” She confused two different documents—the annual yearly report of the USCIRF and the USCIRF document on anti-cultism of July 17—but she intended in fact to answer the latter.

Zakharova stated that, “Regarding the Jehovah’s Witnesses—perhaps the United States is simply unaware of this, so I would like to enlighten our partners about a court decision recently enforced in Switzerland, one originally issued in July 2019. The court recognized some of the methods used by the local group of Jehovah’s Witnesses as violating fundamental human rights. Don’t you know this? I am referring to the practice where persons who choose to leave the sect or who fail to follow its instructions, are boycotted by their families and friends, children are boycotted, and psychological and social pressure is put on dissidents using various manipulative methods to influence consciousness, punishments, as well as unpunished cases of sexual violence. The sect’s members are actually denied the right to freedom of opinion and conscience, and this is what warranted the attention of Swiss justice” (Zakharova 2020).

There are two problems with Zakharova’s statement… (continued)

 Download the full Jehovah Witnesses’ White Paper “The New Gnomes of Zurich”

The Jehovah Witnesses’ White Paper “The New Gnomes of Zurich” can also be downloaded from the CESNUR website.

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Alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader a ‘grave concern’, says chemical weapons watchdog
Sep 3 2020
Alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader a ‘grave concern’, says chemical weapons watchdog

Mr. Navalny, a prominent anti-corruption activist, remains in a coma two weeks after falling violently ill during a flight from the town of Tomsk, in Siberia, to Moscow. He was later airlifted to Berlin for treatment, after Russian authorities allowed him to be moved. 

The German government reported on Wednesday that toxicology tests conducted by a special military laboratory revealed he had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. 

 “Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, any poisoning of an individual through the use of a nerve agent is considered a use of chemical weapons. Such an allegation is a matter of grave concern,” said OPCW chief Fernando Arias in a statement responding to the announcement. 

“States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention deem the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances as reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community.” 

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric was also asked about the German report during his regular press briefing on Wednesday, replying, “we’ve said and previously mentioned that, if warranted, the issue should be investigated by relevant authorities.”  

Novichok is the name of a group of seven toxic chemical agents developed by the former Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. 

Two years ago, former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were victims of a chemical agent attack in Salisbury, England.  

The United Kingdom alleged that novichok was used in that incident. An OPCW investigating team later confirmed the UK’s findings, though the organization did not specifically name the substance used. 

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European bishops demand Belarus allow return of Catholic leader
Sep 3 2020
European bishops demand Belarus allow return of Catholic leader

VATICAN CITY, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Roman Catholic bishops urged Belarus’s leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday to let its most senior cleric come back into the country.

Minsk’s archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, who has angered Lukashenko by defending the rights of anti-government protesters, was stopped at the border on Monday as he was returning home from a ceremony in neighbouring Poland.

Lukashenko, who is facing the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule, told reporters the prelate had been barred because he had “dragged Catholic believers” into politics. “We do not care who he is,” Lukashenko said.

In a statement, the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE), called on Thursday for Kondrusiewicz’s “immediate return home” and a commitment to dialogue to resolve the crisis in Belarus.

A day earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter that Kondrusiewicz should be allowed to return home “so he can tend to his flock during the ongoing protests”.

Kondrusiewicz, 74, is the most senior Catholic prelate in Belarus and is a citizen of the former Soviet republic.

Last week, the archbishop issued a statement criticising riot police for blocking people from seeking refuge in a church in Minsk. On Aug. 19, he prayed outside a pre-trial detention centre where anti-government protesters were being held.

Lukashenko has been trying to strengthen his grip on power after weeks of mass protests and strikes following a disputed election. On Thursday he promoted hardline loyalists to top posts in his security apparatus. He blames the unrest on foreign aggression.

In a message read out during a service in Minsk cathedral on Thursday, Kondrusiewicz said he was praying “for the solution of the socio-political crisis in our country … and my speedy return to my homeland”.

Pope Francis has called for respect for justice and a rejection of violence in Belarus.

The Switzerland-based CCEE represents the Catholic Church in 45 European countries. (Additional reporting by Matthias Williams in Kyiv; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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Team Europe: Germany and European Union jointly support African Union’s response to COVID-19
Sep 3 2020
Team Europe: Germany and European Union jointly support African Union’s response to COVID-19

Team Europe: Germany and European Union jointly support African Union’s response to COVID-19 – EU Politics Today – EIN News

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Egypt: Remarks by the High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell at the press conference with Foreign Minister Shoukry
Sep 3 2020
Egypt: Remarks by the High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell at the press conference with Foreign Minister Shoukry

Check against delivery!

Dear Minister [of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry], dear friends, thank you very much for your warm hospitality and for the very important meeting that I had the honour and pleasure to have with his Excellency the President of Egypt [Abdel Fattah al-Sisi]. Thank you also for the good meeting we have just had.

I am delighted to be here in Cairo. It is my first visit as High Representative. Coming to Egypt to meet you and with President Sisi and other Ministers and interlocutors was a priority for me. I could not do it before, due to the constraints imposed by the coronavirus. But the coronavirus has only succeeded in delaying my visit. Here we are, trying to enhance our partnership.

This is a good opportunity to bolster this partnership, because we want to strengthen our relations. And we want to do so because we share many interests. We want to consult with you on many pressing regional issues, in the areas of energy, environment, migration, trade and security. We also want to work together in areas that are important for the well-being of the Egyptian people – water management, socio-economic development, education, and health.

In this regard, we spoke about the emergency package of support we prepared to face the consequences of COVID-19, which is hitting you, us and everybody much stronger than expected.

We also discussed how to best handle difficult issues, like human rights. Among friends, we should and we can talk about everything.

Maybe the most important aspects of this visit are the regional issues, because our neighbourhood – the Mediterranean – is in trouble.

We raised the situation in Libya – which I visited earlier this week, and where Egypt is playing a decisive role and I want to thank you for this role in pushing for and keeping the ceasefire in Libya.

On the Middle East Peace Process – and above all the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which has prevented the annexation in the Jordan Valley this summer.

I think that we have to continue working on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, where the current developments are very worrying, and on the need for de-escalation and dialogue.

And finally, although it is a little bit far away from the European Union countries and much closer to Egypt, we are very much concerned and we shared comments and considerations about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, where we welcome Egypt’s continued engagement in the negotiations with Ethiopia and Sudan, and we hope that you will continue having this important role in order to use this vital resource for Egypt in an organised way.

Dear Minister [Shoukry], I am very much looking forward to continuing our discussions over lunch and also during your next visit to Brussels.

 

Q&A

Q. On the developments in Libya, at the political arena and in the field. Could you explain your vision on how the Libyan crisis will be resolved in the future in light of the consultations that took place this morning? 

First, I want to praise the important role played by Egypt on the ceasefire. Without the Cairo Declaration this would not have happened. And without the important political pressure that you put, explaining clearly which were the red lines that you were not going to accept to be overpassed, maybe the ceasefire would not have come. This is very good news, because the first thing to stop a war is to stop fighting.

Now, for the time being, it is happening and we want it to last. And it will last according also to the pressure that Egypt and other Arab states will be able to put on both sides, but mainly on one side.

I think that there is a window of opportunity in order for the Libyan people to reach agreements among them – because the solution can only belong to the Libyan people – in order to decide how to organise their future.

We share the same will for every mercenary to leave Libya, to stop the foreign interference in the country, to stop the flow of arms and to give an opportunity to peace.

I think that on that, Egypt has a role that cannot be played by anyone else. Egypt alone will not be sufficient, that is why the European Union is also ready to contribute.

I have been visiting Tripoli and Tobruk the past days. I had a long meeting with [President of the House of Representatives of Libya, Aguila] Saleh and I think that this window of opportunity cannot be lost and I am sure that Egypt and the European Union will work together to keep it.

Q. How concerned are you about the regional interference in Libya? The United Nations yesterday said that the arms embargo is ineffective. There are foreign fighters coming in from Turkey, Wagner mercenaries and 338 cargo flights as documented by the United Nations. On human rights, you talked with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Soukry as friends; can you tell us more about the human rights issues that you tackled together?

About the arms embargo, it is a reality that the arms embargo is not being fully respected. We can say that it is not respected by anyone.

We, the European Union, tried to do what we can do in order to enhance this arms embargo, using our capacity. We launched Operation IRINI, which is a navy mission that has also a certain capacity of controlling what is happening in that area. The United Nations mandate to control the arms embargo only talks about controlling it by sea and air, which is what we are doing. We have had some success, sending to the United Nations technical bodies information about 500 hailings, which concerns both sides of the conflict. Now it is up to the [United Nations] Security Council to decide what to do with this information.

From our side, we try to control the arms embargo as much as we can, but we are perfectly aware that the flow of arms continues reaching Libya and, as far as this continues, it is going to be quite difficult to stop the fighting.

Of course we have been talking about human rights policy. You know that it is an horizontal policy, it is the line of our external relations, not only with Egypt, but with everybody. I perfectly understand that it is a very sensitive issue, but I think that we have to talk about it, putting on the table our worries and also sharing information. Because sometimes there are some considerations that are not exactly according to reality. I think that we have to continue doing so, every time that there is something that worries us, or every time that in Geneva they decide on a statement that puts things in a way that we disagree. We have to talk about it. That is what we have been doing today.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-194450

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International Criminal Court: Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on US sanctions
Sep 3 2020
International Criminal Court: Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on US sanctions

The International Criminal Court (ICC) plays an essential role in delivering justice to the victims of some of world’s most horrific crimes. Its independence and impartiality are crucial characteristics of the Court’s work, which are fundamental for the legitimacy of its judgements.

The sanctions announced by the United States administration on 2 September against two Court staff members, including its Prosecutor, are unacceptable and unprecedented measures that attempt to obstruct the Court’s investigations and judicial proceedings.

The ICC must be able to work independently and impartially, free from outside interference. The United States should reconsider its position and reverse the measures it has taken. Impunity must never be an option.

The European Union is unwavering in its support for the universality of the Rome Statute and for the ICC. We will resolutely defend it from any attempts aimed at obstructing the course of justice and undermining the international system of criminal justice.

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The first online edition of EU PVSEC will start on Monday
Sep 3 2020
The first online edition of EU PVSEC will start on Monday
• Opening addresses from research and industry
• A moderated panel discussion on the Green Deal and the EU Recovery Package
• A diverse variety of parallel events
The 37th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition will start on Monday with the Opening Session, streamed live and free of charge via the EU PVSEC YouTube channel. The scientists will kick off with presentations on perovskite photovoltaics, intermediate band solar cells and high-performance organic photovoltaics. Afterwards, Professor of Physics Henry J. Snaith from the University of Oxford will be awarded with the Becquerel Prize for his ground-breaking work on solar cells based on organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites.

Recover with solar energy

Prof. Nicola Pearsall will address the conference speakers at the Opening Session which includes a presentation by Elias de Keyser, Next Kraftwerke, titled “Virtual Power Plants for the transition to 100% renewable”. He will explain how a visionary business idea became one of the largest virtual power plants in Europe. Following his presentation, a panel of CEO’s, Chairs and Directors from SolarPower Europe, Meyer Burger, AEM S.A. and the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics will discuss the role of PV in the Green Deal and the EU Recovery Package.

This topic will be deepened at the parallel event of SolarPower Europe on Wednesday. Here, representatives from the European Commission, the German Presidency, the SolarPower Europe member BayWa r.e. and the European Climate Foundation will explore the key actions that Member States can take to fully harness the potential of a solar powered recovery and to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a European opportunity.

Design aspects and characterization methods

Further parallel sessions cover “New Trends in PV Applications”, “Building Integrated Photovoltaics”, design aspects of PV systems deployed in landscapes, the built environment and agricultural areas and the “Performance of New Photovoltaic System Concepts and Designs”.

“We have succeeded to create a programme with high-ranking speakers from research and industry who discuss the latest developments with the global PV community. It is a great honour for us to host the event”, Dr. Robert Kenny, EU PVSEC Technical Programme Chair, says. On top of the unique live features of the online-event, all presentations will be available for streaming on demand to registered participants for one full month after the conference.

Benefit from our group discounts!

The registration is still online. Groups can benefit from up to 20% discounts.

Background EU PVSEC

The EU PVSEC is the largest international Conference for Photovoltaic research, technologies and applications and at the same time a PV Industry Exhibition, where specialized PV Industry presents technologies, innovations and new concepts in the upstream PV sector. It gathers the global PV community to present and discuss the latest developments in Photovoltaics, to network and to conduct business.

It is the world-renowned science-to-science and science-to-industry platform uniquely focused on the global PV Solar sector.

The conference scientific programme is coordinated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

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Clean up continues in Lebanon, new donor conference on the cards - Vatican News
Sep 3 2020
Clean up continues in Lebanon, new donor conference on the cards – Vatican News

By Nathan Morley

Even though Emmanuel Macron has promised to host another donor’s conference to support Lebanon, he has made any bailout conditional on a government that implements reforms by the end of October.

He wants to know the true extent of Lebanese debt, the state of the banks and a review of the entire economy.

The central bank is now a key focus of French scrutiny.

On top of that, the French president wants an end to corruption and a new era of transparency in the country, which is wracked by debt, unemployment and economic stagnation.

Macron’s presence in Beirut this week was viewed by some as a sign that a financial package they had been pleading for was on the cards.

During his visit, Macron toured Beirut’s port to follow up on the work at the site after huge explosions last month destroyed thousands of buildings, leaving 300,000 people without a roof over their head.

Current estimates of damage from the port explosion in early have risen to over 3billion USD. In a new report, the World Bank stated that transport and housing are among the sectors worst affected.

Meanwhile, contamination from hazardous chemicals and water pollution, are among the most urgent challenges faced by the Lebanese authorities and UN teams tackling the huge task of clearing up Beirut.

The UNDP estimate that the cost of cleaning up the environmental degradation resulting from the explosion will be over $100 million.

Listen to the report by Nathan Morley

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Potato Starch Market to Touch USD 672.68 Million by 2027; Rising Demand for Organic Processed Foods & Beverages Worldwide to Brighten Market Prospects, Says Fortune Business Insights™
Sep 3 2020
Potato Starch Market to Touch USD 672.68 Million by 2027; Rising Demand for Organic Processed Foods & Beverages Worldwide to Brighten Market Prospects, Says Fortune Business Insights™

Potato Starch Market to Touch USD 672.68 Million by 2027; Rising Demand for Organic Processed Foods & Beverages Worldwide to Brighten Market Prospects, Says Fortune Business Insights™ – Organic Food News Today – EIN News

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Cardinal Parolin to ESOF2020: Faith helps science promote human development - Vatican News
Sep 3 2020
Cardinal Parolin to ESOF2020: Faith helps science promote human development – Vatican News

By Devin Watkins

“Science and faith can come to see one another as sisters carrying out a fundamental service for the whole of society.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, made that remark on Wednesday in his speech at the opening of Euroscience Open Forum 2020. The biennial event, which is being held in the Italian city of Trieste, unites Europe’s leading scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers to debate the direction of scientific research.

In his address, Cardinal Parolin expressed the Church’s dedication to advancing the dignity and development of the human person in dialogue with the sciences. He said the interchange between the two is fundamental for confronting the “urgent questions that threaten the peaceful coexistence of humanity.”

Humanity, he added, risks “remaining adrift, without a goal in sight,” if it neglects the “profundity of reality offered by science” and the “deep human yearning for something greater.”

Cardinal Parolin went on to explore humanity’s relationship with the environment, technology, and itself.

Environment and survival

The Cardinal spoke first about our relationship with the environment. He lamented humanity’s impact on the planet which has led to the extinction of numerous species, as well as the unequal distribution of scientific advancements which better human life. Everyone, he stressed, must assume responsibility for our common home in order to survive.

Science alone, said Cardinal Parolin, cannot resolve the ecological problem facing humanity. Rather, the Church seeks to help humanity recognize the contribution that faith can make by integrating scientific approaches into an overarching vision known as integral ecology. “Faith wants to be responsible for the care of our common home, listening to science and contributing, through its own ways of knowing, to the development of integral responses to this complex problem.”

Integral ecology, said the Cardinal, is best expressed with a phrase from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: “Everything is related; everything is linked together; everything is connected.”

The dialogue between faith and science seeks to “to discover the common root of phenomena that, viewed separately, cannot truly be understood.”

In this way, said Cardinal Parolin, integral ecology requires scientific research to combine both the “rational understanding of reality” and the “desires and longings of the human heart”.

“The Church is close to all those who want to acknowledge the complexity of reality by seeking solutions that do not sever human and social problems from the ecological question.”

Technology and ethics

Cardinal Parolin then addressed the topic of humanity’s relationship with technology.

He said many technologies are advancing at such breakneck speed as to leave little time for deeper ethical considerations. “The question that we must face together is this: ‘Given everything that we are technically able to do, what is it ethically right to do?’”

The way knowledge is communicated, said the Cardinal, is also undergoing unprecedented changes, due to digitalization and globalization.

He said the Church is concerned about the effects these trends have on young people, who are fed a constant media diet that “modifies the brain structure of the digital native.”

“Science and faith must be allied in caring for the younger generations, ensuring that they receive an education that can enable them to live full and authentic human lives amidst the challenges posed by new digital languages that can modify human thought processing, as well as culture.”

Cardinal Parolin made reference to the spread of disinformation which occurred at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Any professional who speaks about this pandemic should spend a lot of time thinking about how words and data matter, and then act accordingly,” he urged.

Interpersonal relationships

Cardinal Parolin concluded his speech with a reflection on humanity’s relationship with itself.

“How can the human family acquire the collective and individual wisdom to accept this responsibility and exercise the technological and scientific power presently at our disposal?” he asked Europe’s scientific leaders.

In this time of crisis, he said, the Church can help humanity deal with the elements of life that cause the current sense of “great anxiety.”

“The loss of hope and of interest in the immediate and more distant future stems from a loss of our sense of what it is to be human,” said the Cardinal. “Only if we become aware that we have lost this perspective will we be able to come up with an answer.”

Rebuilding community, he added, is the key to finding the answer, because interpersonal relationships keep the individual from becoming isolated and lonely.

Progress vs development

Another part of the answer lies in making the distinction between progress and development.

Progress, said Cardinal Parolin, “indicates a gradual advance or change resulting in greater growth in capacity and potential.”

Not all forms of progress are good, he pointed out.

However, integral human development “ focuses on broader processes that expand the choices of individuals and improve their prospects for well-being, thus enabling individuals and groups to achieve their potential as quickly as possible.”

Keeping humanity’s focus on development, said the Cardinal, looks beyond technological advancements and places the human person “at the heart of our reflection and as the goal of what can qualify as progress.”

Sustainable peace

Finally, Cardinal Parolin urged scientists and policy makers to never tire in seeking the betterment of humanity.

“The quest for integral human development extends beyond the limited scope of economic, social, technological and scientific progress – important as these are. It requires an authentic and untiring search for that which is truly constructive of the common good of humanity, which is an indispensable source and a continued companion of a real, lasting and sustainable peace among peoples and for future generations.”

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Buddhist Times News – Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link
Sep 3 2020
Buddhist Times News – Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link

Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link

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Flags of Nepal and IndiaBy  —  Shyamal Sinha

The railway connected Raxaul in British India with Amlekhganj in the Kingdom of Nepal. This 39-kilometre-long (24 mi) line allowed people from different areas of the country to reach Amlekhganj, and helped move heavy vehicles to Bhimphedi. It was then possible to reach Kathmandu from Bhimphedi on foot. The railway possessed seven steam locomotives, 12 coaches and 82 wagons. It operated steam-powered Garratt locomotives manufactured by Beyer, Peacock and Company of the United Kingdom.

India has sought permission from Nepal to conduct a detailed study of the Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link without any delays.
A proposal sent by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to the Nepal government has promised to follow health and safety protocols amid COVID-19 while carrying out the study. Konkan Railway Corporation, a union government company headquartered in Navi Mumbai will conduct a detailed study of the project.
“The Indian team is ready to come to Nepal whenever we ask them to come. They even have sent us the details of machinery and other logistics they will be bringing along with them as they come for the study. We have asked them to send the names of the people along with their designation again,” Balram Mishra, the Director-General of Department of Railways, said.
“Situation now is not favourable as before as there is a risk of COVID-19 infection. Despite the grim situation, the Indian side is ready to conduct the study. They will send us the details within a week in the format we have asked for,” Mishra added.
The details received will be sent to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation, after which it will be forwarded to Home Ministry and then to COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC), which will give the final decision about their arrival.
“We are following the COVID-19 guidelines and have to follow the procedure,” Mishra said.
A rail line is operational on the Indian side, reaching up to the dry port of Raxaul and India has planned to link it up to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It will run from the side of the proposed second international airport at Nijgadh after getting through Bara’s Jitpur.
The total length of the rail line is expected to be 136 kilometres, out of which 42 kilometres will pass through a tunnel. It is expected to cost about three trillion Nepali rupees.
“After conducting the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the final cost will be known. It can increase or decrease by some per cent. It will take us at least a year to complete the study,” Mishra said.
Nepal and India had signed a deal to conduct a feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Raxaul rail link during the 4th BIMSTEC Summit held at Kathmandu in 2018. The investment modality of the project is yet to be finalised.

BIMSTEC member states provide greater opportunity to advance regional cooperation, the summit underlined the importance of multidimensional connectivity for economic integration and shared prosperity.

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Greater EU Civil Protection capacity needed in light of lessons from COVID-19 | News | European Parliament
Sep 3 2020
Greater EU Civil Protection capacity needed in light of lessons from COVID-19 | News | European Parliament

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) has supported member states to save lives in the midst of earthquakes, hurricanes and floods. It has helped fighting forest fires and evacuating EU nationals – including more than 75.000 EU citizens during the current COVID-19 crisis – by coordinating and assisting in civil protection efforts. Medical equipment such as ventilators, personal protective equipment, vaccines and therapeutics and laboratory supplies have also been procured through rescEU to support national health services during the pandemic.

However, MEPs believe that while the EU Civil Protection Mechanismwas used successfully during the COVID-19 crisis, it also exposed limitations in the current crisis management set-up. When many member states are hit by the same emergency simultaneously they cannot rely on own assets and voluntary support. RescEU must therefore be strengthened to enable the EU to help quickly to fill these critical gaps so no one is left alone to deal with such emergencies.

To take these concerns into consideration, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee today with 72 votes to 6 and 1 abstention, updated its position adopted on 5 March 2020.

Preparing for large-scale emergencies

The committee repeated its call from 5 March that a significantly larger amount should be allocated to preparedness, including for the purchase of necessary new rescEU equipment, materials and resources to be better able to assist member states when national capacities are overstretched. This would make it possible to respond swiftly and effectively to large-scale emergencies or to low probability events with a high impact including medical emergencies such as the COVID-19.

To be more transparent about the use of EU funding, MEPs also believe that it is necessary to specify how money is allocated across the three pillars of the mechanism “prevention, preparedness and response”.

Quote

After the vote the rapporteur, Nikos ANDROULAKIS (SD, Greece) said: “There is a need for more EU solidarity. With our proposals we better protect and assist European citizens, no matter in which member state they reside as we increase the co-financing rate to 100%, improve prevention actions and give the Commission the possibility to acquire, rent or lease the necessary capacities. Parliament is ready to start the negotiations. We want the Mechanism ready to address not only a possible second wave of the pandemic or forest fires but any other natural or man-made disaster in the future.”

Next steps

The full House will vote during the14-17 September session after which Parliament is ready to start negotiations with member states to allow for entry into force of the revamped mechanism by January 2021.

Background

The Civil Protection Mechanism was set-up in 2013 to help member states deal with increasingly frequent natural disasters. Until 2019, it was only based on a voluntary system. In 2017 alone, the Mechanism was used 18 times for forest fire emergencies in Europe. Portugal, Italy, Montenegro, France, and Albania all received assistance via the Mechanism to respond to forest fires.

Since 2019, when rescEU was created, the EU can now also directly assist member states hit by disasters when national capacities are overstretched.

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Mideast, European funds grab Dubai bonds, while Asia shies away
Sep 3 2020
Mideast, European funds grab Dubai bonds, while Asia shies away

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Dubai’s $2 billion dual-tranche bond sale on Wednesday was backed mostly by funds in the Middle East, Europe and the United Kingdom, a document showed, while the emirate’s lack of a rating may have contributed to Asian investors shying away.

It was Dubai’s first foray into the public debt markets since 2014, as the Middle Eastern tourism and commerce hub seeks to bolster finances hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The debt sale comprised a $1 billion tranche of 10-year sukuk, or Islamic bonds, at 2.763% and a $1 billion tranche of 30-year conventional bonds at 4%. Fund managers said on Wednesday the Dubai deal was priced attractively for the emirate.

The bonds were trading up following the issuance, said Doug Bitcon, head of credit strategies at Rasmala Investment Bank.

“At current levels, the longer end of the unrated Dubai curve looks attractive relative to the Baa2/BBB rated Sharjah curve. This is evident in the yield on the new 30-year Dubai government issue which is trading just below 4% versus around 3.5% for the 30-year Sharjah government bond,” Bitcon said.

Fund managers took a majority of the sukuk, buying 52%, while banks and private banks (PBs) took 44%, according to a document from one of the banks leading the deal seen by Reuters.

Investors from the Middle East were the biggest buyers of the sukuk, which attracted $6.6 billion in orders, taking 48%. UK and other European investors got just over a quarter, Asian buyers bought 16% and offshore U.S. investors took 10%.

Abdul Kadir Hussain, head of fixed income asset management at Arqaam Capital, said fund managers taking more than half the sukuk was encouraging for the overall sukuk market.

Fund managers dominated the conventional tranche too, taking 78%, while banks and private banks got 17%.

Half of the investors in the 30-year bonds, which received $3.4 billion in demand, were from the UK and Europe. Offshore U.S. investors took 21%, Middle Eastern buyers bought 16% and Asian investors accounted for 13% of the bond distribution.

“The lack of a rating may have been a factor in lower Asian participation,” Hussain said. (Reporting by Yousef Saba; Editing by Mark Potter)

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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President Nyusi meets Mozambique’s Bishop of Pemba. - Vatican News
Sep 3 2020
President Nyusi meets Mozambique’s Bishop of Pemba. – Vatican News

Paul Samasumo – Vatican City & Hermínio José – Maputo

The Catholic Bishop of the northern province’s Cabo Delgado city of Pemba, Luiz Fernando Lisboa has spoken about his meeting with the Mozambican head of state, Filipe Nyusi. Bishop Lisboa said the President of the Republic praised the role of the Catholic Church and other social actors in responding to the humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of Internally Displaced Persons in the Province. The humanitarian situation is the result of terrorist attacks that started in October 2017.

A satisfactory encounter

Bishop Lisboa said that he, in turn, told the President what the Catholic Church has been doing in concrete terms since the terrorist attacks in the region began. Apart from the physical humanitarian work, the Church in the Diocese of Pemba also engages in Psycho-social care, Bishop Lisboa said.

Mozambican media reported first on the meeting after President Nyusi made public the face to face encounter on his Facebook page

The meeting, held at the Bishop’s Pemba residence, lasted about an hour, according to local media. Both Bishop Lisboa and President Nyusi seemed to have come away satisfied with the discussion.

“Our Bishop”

The reversal in tone was not lost on observers. Barely two weeks ago pro-government media took turns in condemning Bishop Lisboa for speaking out about the problems in Cabo Delgado. Pro-government media, in Mozambique, accused the Bishop of Pemba of inciting hatred against the Government and even said e was colluding with the terrorists. Bishop Lisboa has frequently criticised Government saying they could do more to protect the people from the terrorists and that government could be more transparent in its efforts to dislodge the insurgents.

After Monday’s cordial meeting between the President and Bishop, Nyusi spoke of Bishop Lisboa in endearing terms and referred to him as “our Bishop.” Nyusi told reporters, in Pemba, that dialogue was always preferable irrespective of differing viewpoints.

The unrest in Cabo Delgado

Since 2017, the northern province of Mozambique has been rocked by deadly attacks perpetrated by armed groups who claim affiliation to the Islamic State. Their operations are increasingly becoming sophisticated and a source of anxiety also for Mozambique’s neighbours, especially Tanzania. The Cabo Delgado attacks have resulted in many deaths, conscription of young people and the displacement of thousands of ordinary villagers as a climate of fear reigns in the region.

Even before the discovery of rich gas reserves and the terrorist attacks, Cabo Delgado was already festering with discontent due to high levels of poverty and marginalisation by the central Government.

A humanitarian crisis getting out of hand

According to reliefweb, about 211 485 people are now estimated to be Internally Displaced in Cabo Delgado. The majority of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) are children, followed by women. Food, shelter, and non-food items are the most-needed assistance for IDPs. While there are settlements and accommodation centres, the majority of IDPs are being hosted by families and relatives.

In August, the strategic port town of Mocimboa da Praia fell into the hands of insurgents. The military is still trying to re-take the city.

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1,000 ‘shovel-ready’ projects identified in support of EU’s green recovery
Sep 3 2020
1,000 ‘shovel-ready’ projects identified in support of EU’s green recovery

Business consultancy EY has identified 1,000 green projects it says will help Europe recover stronger and more resilient from the economic slump caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The projects require €200 billion of public and private investment to get off the ground, the consultancy said in a report published on Thursday (3 September).

This is a fraction of the €750 billion coronavirus recovery fund agreed by EU leaders in July to help relaunch the European economy after the coronavirus outbreak.

Approximately one-third of the projects are developed by start-ups and SMEs, and will support the creation of 2 million new jobs, EY said, adding those will create immediate social, environmental and economic value.

“This is however only the tip of the iceberg and we believe the value of the entire EU pipeline of green projects could be as high as €1 trillion, with the potential to return the more than 12 million full-time workers lost to COVID-19 into green and productive activity,” said Steve Varley, EY global vice-chair for sustainability.

For EU leaders, this is “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to rethink and refocus the bloc’s post-pandemic economy, Varley said.

Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, a non-profit group, said that “EY’s work demonstrates that small, midsize and large project developers from Portugal to Poland have green shovel-ready projects ‘ready to go’ that can restore and transform livelihoods and communities in a resilient recovery”.

“There can therefore be no excuse for member states not spending recovery and resilience funds on win-win green investment opportunities,” she said in a statement.

Examples of “shovel-ready” projects identified by EY include HYBRIT – a joint venture between steel company SSAB, mining firm LKAB and utility Vattenfall – to replace coking coal with fossil fuel-free hydrogen in steel production in Sweden which would need €1.5-2 billion, Varley said.

Another project is by Korean chemicals company LG Chem to develop a gigafactory to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles in Krakow, Poland. A third scheme relates to the French government’s plan to renovate Paris buildings to make them more energy efficient, Varley said.

Georg Zachmann, a senior fellow at the Brussels-based economic think-tank Bruegel, applauded the report as “a useful bottom-up contribution to the debate” on Europe’s green recovery.

However, those projects will require “more than cheap interest rates” to get off the ground, he cautioned, saying a wider policy menu is needed to unlock investments.

In a speech on Tuesday (1 September), EU climate chief Frans Timmermans doubled down on the EU’s green objectives, saying “it makes even more sense now” to invest in climate-friendly technologies because they will help reboot the economy after the coronavirus outbreak.

With the long-term EU budget and recovery plan that was agreed by EU leaders in July, Europe will have €1.8 trillion to spend on rebooting the economy in the coming seven years, Timmermans reminded, saying 30% of that sum will be dedicated to climate action.

Spending that money on future green industries “is a moral imperative and a matter of economic good sense,” said the Commission vice-president, who cited offshore wind, energy efficiency and building renovation as examples.

“Offshore wind is taking off like a rocket right now,” Timmermans pointed out, saying wind turbines can be combined with electrolysers to produce hydrogen and store surplus electricity production when the wind blows in times of low demand.

The European Commission is now waiting for EU member states to prepare national recovery plans that will be submitted to Brussels for scrutiny and approval by all EU countries, Timmermans said.

And that will require coordination, the official cautioned, saying there is “a risk that the recovery plans are contradictory” and pull in opposite directions. “We need to tell them exactly which plans go in the direction of a sustainable recovery and which ones don’t,” Timmermans said.

Timmermans defends higher EU goals on climate change

If the European Green Deal made economic sense before the COVID-19 crisis, “it makes even more sense now” because it will help reboot the economy, said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission vice-president in charge of climate action.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

Juan Sanchez Gil 0 Comments
Canada, US, EU and Britain discussing sanctions against Belarus
Sep 3 2020
Canada, US, EU and Britain discussing sanctions against Belarus

Canada, the United States, the European Union and Britain are discussing possible sanctions against Belarus over its crackdown against protests following a disputed election, a Canadian source directly familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (2 September).

If sanctions were imposed, they would come “in the not too distant future”, said the source, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

Protests erupted after a 9 August election that the opposition says was rigged to prolong President Alexander Lukashenko’s 26-year rule. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and has shown no sign of backing down.

UN human rights investigators say they have received reports of hundreds of cases of torture, beatings and mistreatment of anti-government protesters by police.

“There have been a number of things that have happened since the election that are reprehensible,” said the Canadian source.

“We’ve made it clear the situation cannot stand and that’s precisely the reason we are looking, with other partners, at some sort of sanctions we could put in place.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that Washington and European partners were reviewing imposing targeted punitive measures against anyone involved in human rights abuses in Belarus.

The EU made a half-decision on sanctions meant to mainly target those accused of being responsible for the fraudulent elections and the violent crackdown on peaceful protests.

The EU is looking at sanctioning 10 to 15 Belarusian figures, a US State Department official said on Wednesday.

“My understanding is that the EU … is thinking of about 10 to 15 names,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent during a virtual appearance at the German Marshall Fund think tank. Kent also said the United States was not, “at this point,” suspending sanctions waivers that he said had allowed Belarus to purchase North American crude oil earlier this year.

In the meantime, EU members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announced their own sanctions in the form of entry bans against Lukashenko and 29 other high-ranking officials.

Lithuania and Estonia have asked fellow EU nations to blacklist Lukashenko , diplomatic sources said.

Any sanctions need unanimity from all members of the EU, which usually does not target top political figures with a view to keeping communications channels open.

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EEAS Vacancy Notice: Contract Agent FGIII – Communication and Information Systems Assistant – EEAS Headquarters – job n° 347905
Sep 1 2020
EEAS Vacancy Notice: Contract Agent FGIII – Communication and Information Systems Assistant – EEAS Headquarters – job n° 347905

We are:

The European External Action Service (EEAS), which supports the work of the High Representative in defining and implementing an effective and coherent EU foreign policy. The EEAS supports his tasks of conducting the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and chairing the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports the High Representative in his capacity as Vice President of the Commission with regard to his responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field including the coordination of other aspects of the EU’s external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.

The Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) is the permanent structure supporting the Civilian Operations Commander. The Civilian Operations Commander is the overall commander at the strategic level of currently 11 civilian CSDP crisis management missions and provides strategic guidance and direction to the Heads of Mission. The Civilian Operations Commander reports directly to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and through him to the Council of the EU. Under the political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee and the overall authority of the High Representative, the Civilian Operations Commander ensures the effective planning and conduct of civilian CSDP crisis management operations, as well as the proper implementation of all mission-related tasks.

The Missions Operational Support Division (CPCC.4) is responsible for CIS, IT applications as well as logistics and procurement at Headquarters level. The Division manages the delivery of equipment to the 11 civilian CSDP Missions, ensuring that all the financial and legal rules are adherent to in the procurement and usage of such equipment. In this function, CPCC.4 also liaises with the civilian CSDP Warehouse located in Southern Sweden and managed by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). Furthermore, CPCC.4 assists the civilian Missions in defining and managing their budgets with the relevant stakeholders (EU Member States and Foreign Policy Instruments). CPCC.4 is the contact point of the CPCC for the RELEX Working Group of the Council.

We propose

The position of Communication and Information Systems Assistant in the Missions Operational Support Divison (CPCC.4) – contract agent FGIII as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).

We look for

The person to be recruited will work under the supervision of the Head of the Missions Operational Support Division within the CPCC.4. We are seeking a highly motivated colleague who is expected to perform the following tasks:

  • To support in the planning and implementation of technical aspect of CIS projects for central services for CSDP Missions in cooperation and coordination with other members of the team.
  • To configure and implement Mission Support Platform IT infrastructure in cooperation with other IT colleagues.
  • To implement all technical aspects of Mission Support Platform IT projects.
  • To perform tasks in coordination with consultants, external experts, and outsourced services in support of the development and maintenance of the Mission Support Platform IT Infrastructure.
  • To assist in the planning, support, repairs and installation of Mission Support Platform IT equipment in several locations including for desktop, laptop, printers and servers.
  • To advise the Head of Division and the Team Leader in IT and InfoSec on matters related to the information systems used within CSDP missions and the central IT infrastructure in Brussels.
  • To produce precise reports for the hierarchy concerning CIS issues and recommend improvements for future developments.
  • To participate in fact-finding missions and technical assessment missions.

Other specific requirements:

  • Assist in the overall implementation of IT Projects.
  • First and second level end-user support in Office 365 and Windows 10 environment.
  • Technical administration of the existing Azure data center and the future SharePoint online infrastructure.
  • Maintenance of end-user hardware and software.
  • Ethernet infrastructure, routers and switches configuration, cabling and maintenance.
  • Technical experience in designing and implementing IT centralized services based on public and private cloud solutions and virtualisation techniques, including installation and maintenance of server environments.
  • To undertake any other related tasks as requested by the Head of Division.

Legal basis

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). 1

The successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function group III); renewable contract for a maximum duration of 6 years (with a valid CAST exam).

Eligibility criteria

Candidates for this contract agent III post should:

  • (i) have passed a valid EPSO CAST in a valid FG for this post

or

  • (ii) be registered in the EPSO Permanent CAST in a valid FG for this post https://epso.europa.eu/apply/job-offers_en?keyword=&contract=37&grade=Al…
  • have a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma or a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education and appropriate professional experience of three year;
  • have the capacity to work in languages of CFSP and external relations necessary for the performance of their duties. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an asset.
  • Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen.

Selection criteria

  • After having fulfilled the above requirement, at least 3 years of relevant and proven full-time professional experience in Information and Communication Technology support and implementation
  • Have experience on providing first and second level user support in Office 365 and Windows 10 environment (Training and/or certification in Microsoft technologies is a strong asset)
  • Have a good knowledge on Cloud Services (Azure, AWS, …) and virtualization (VMware), if possible attested by relevant certification and/or training
  • Good knowledge of client administration in Windows environments and demonstration of technical skills and hands-on experience in troubleshooting of related information systems issues.
  • Have a good experience in drafting technical procedures for the use and management of computer systems and networks.
  • Have a good knowledge in project management and ITIL standards (certifications are an asset).
  • Have a good knowledge of different products, services, technologies and commercial actors related to the IT sector and their possible applications in European public administrations.

Specific conditions of employment

The signature of the contract will be subject to prior favourable opinion of the Medical Service.

The successful candidate might be required to undergo security vetting if she or he does not hold already a Personal Security Clearance to an appropriate level, in accordance with relevant security provisions.

Equal opportunities

The External Action Service applies an equal opportunities policy.

Application and selection procedure 2

Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number) via email to

cpcc.administration@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending applications: 25/09/2020 at 18.00 (CET).

Candidates shall draft their CV following the European CV form which can be found at the following internet address: https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv.

Late applications will not be accepted.

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter, and will produce a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be informed about the outcome of the pre-selection phase.

The candidates who have been preselected will be invited for an interview by a selection panel. The panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment. The Authority may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

Place of employment: EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available: as of 01/10/2020

CONTACT: Mohamed Tabit, Deputy Head of Division CPCC.4 Tel: +32 2584 3181 Email: Mohamed.Tabit@eeas.europa.eu

1 Staff Regulations of Officials (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). For reference, see https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CE…

2 Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as implemented by ADMIN(2019)8 Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The privacy statement is available on the Europa website: (http://eeas.europa.eu/data_protection/rights/index_en.htm) and on the EEAS Intranet: (https://intranet.eeas.europa.eu/page/eeas-work/data-protection/privacy-s…).

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WHO says Europe can live with COVID-19 with local lockdowns: Live
Sep 1 2020
WHO says Europe can live with COVID-19 with local lockdowns: Live

  • Europe can live with COVID-19 without a vaccine by managing outbreaks with localised lockdowns, the World Health Organization’s director for the region said, adding he did not expect a return to full national-level restrictions.

  • Hong Kong has started mass testing for coronavirus in an initiative that has been undermined by suspicions of China and concerns about privacy.
  • Nearly 25.5 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University, and 850,535 people have died. Some 16.8 million people have recovered.

Here are the latest updates:

Tuesday, September 1

12:30 GMT – Guatemala’s international airport to resume flights on September 18

Guatemala’s Aurora international airport will reopen to commercial flights on September 18, the government has announced, as the Central American country relaxes its coronavirus lockdown.

Guatemala registered more than 74,000 coronavirus infections and 2,760 deaths during the pandemic. The airport has been shut since mid-March.

12:10 GMT – Mexican president gains popularity during pandemic – poll

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s approval ratings have risen during the coronavirus pandemic, with a majority of surveyed voters applauding his campaign to crack down on political corruption, an opinion poll showed.

Lopez Obrador now holds a 65 percent approval rate, according to a nationwide survey of 1,000 voters in face-to-face interviews conducted by pollster Parametria from August 26 to 30.

The rate rose from 54 percent in March, just as the coronavirus crisis took hold in Latin America’s second-largest economy. Lopez Obrador will give a state of the nation address on Tuesday, as Mexico stands in fourth-place globally for most lives lost to the pandemic.

Frontline Mexico: The Fight Against COVID-19 | Featured Documentary

11:50 GMT – Coronavirus cases to peak this month in Indonesia, says president

Indonesia’s coronavirus outbreak will likely peak this month, President Joko Widodo has said, adding he was “very confident” about access to a safe and effective vaccine by the end of this year.

The upbeat assessment came as Indonesia – which has one of the world’s lowest per-capita testing rates – saw record new cases on three successive days last week, when 11 percent of its total 177,571 infections were recorded.

Its 7,505 COVID-19 deaths are the most in Southeast Asia.

Coronavirus: What did they get wrong? | Start Here

11:20 GMT – 900,000 in Finland download virus tracing app

Finnish health authorities have said that some 900,000 people have downloaded a coronavirus tracing app a day after it was launched.

The Koronavilkku app is aimed at finding out whether a person has been exposed to the coronavirus, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare said, adding that the free-of-charge application was created to help break infection chains.

App users send a randomly generated code via Bluetooth to others when in close contact.

10:50 GMT – Germany sees economy recovering faster than expected in 2020

Germany expects the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to be less severe than originally feared this year, but it sees a weaker rebound for Europe‘s largest economy next year due to sluggish foreign demand.

Presenting the government’s updated forecasts, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the economy was doing better than expected and was recovering quickly from the coronavirus shock thanks to a strong response from the state.

10:30 GMT – Spain PM concerned at Madrid spike in virus infections

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his government is concerned about a spike in coronavirus infections in the capital Madrid.

Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries when the coronavirus struck Europe this year before a strict lockdown helped reduce the outbreak’s spread.

But infections have surged since the lockdown measures were fully removed at the end of June, especially in Madrid, with the rise in infections often linked to the return of nightlife and social gatherings.

Exclusive: Inside hospital battling coronavirus in Spain

10:15 GMT – South African state firms request bailouts over COVID-19

South African state companies have requested billions of rand in funding from the government to help them weather the impact of the coronavirus crisis, a finance ministry presentation to parliament showed.

Loss-making state companies have long been an Achilles heel for Africa’s most industrialised economy, requiring bailouts that have placed its public finances under huge strain at a time of weak economic growth and helped push its sovereign credit rating to “junk” status.

10:05 GMT – Poland bans direct flights from Spain, Israel due to coronavirus fears

Poland is banning from Wednesday direct flights from 44 countries including Spain, Israel and Romania in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the Central European country, the government has said.

The United States, Malta, Montenegro, Mexico, Brasil, Argentina and India are also on the list of countries, but local media reported that Russia and China had been removed from it.

The move follows measures to reintroduce restrictions on public life in the worst affected parts of the country, as the government tries to tackle the spread of the virus without resorting to a complete lockdown.
Poles

09:50 GMT – Philippines raises limits on attendance at religious services

Philippine authorities have raised the limit on attendance at religious services in the capital to 10 percent of a  venue’s capacity, up from just 10 people since June.

The new rules allow Catholic churches and other places of worship to be filled up to 10 percent of their capacity in the Metro Manila region, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

09:25 GMT – Children in Wuhan return to school

Children have returned to school in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic that underwent months of lockdown but which has not seen new cases of local transmission for weeks.

State media reported 1.4 million children in the city reported to 2,842 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools as part of a nationwide return to classes.

China: Truth In A Pandemic | 101 East

09:10 GMT – Malaysia to bar long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia, Philippines

Malaysia has said it will bar entry of long-term immigration pass holders from India, Indonesia and the Philippines from September 7, in a bid to curtail imported coronavirus cases amid a spate of new clusters in the country.

Health authorities in Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy have recorded over 9,300 cases as of Tuesday, and 128 deaths, with new cases found in clusters detected in at least four states.

08:50 GMT – French children head back to school

Millions of French children have started going back to school despite a recent rise in virus infections, in a nationwide experiment aimed at bridging inequalities and reviving the economy.

“The virus is still there, and you have to protect yourself,” President Emmanuel Macron said in an Instagram video aimed at France’s more than 12 million schoolchildren on their first day back.

08:30 GMT – Philippines confirms 3,483 more coronavirus cases, 39 deaths

The Philippines’ health ministry has reported 3,483 additional novel coronavirus infections and 39 more deaths.

In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed infections had reached 224,264, more than half of which were reported in the past 30 days, while deaths had increased to 3,597.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday kept partial restrictions in and around the capital for another month until end-September to stem the continuous rise in infections.

08:15 GMT – Indonesia reports 2,775 new coronavirus cases, 88 deaths

Indonesia has reported 2,775 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total tally to 177,571, data from the country’s COVID-19 taskforce showed.

The Southeast Asian country also added 88 new deaths on Tuesday, taking the total number to 7,505, the highest coronavirus death toll in Southeast Asia. 

08:00 GMT – Russia’s coronavirus case tally passes one million mark

The total number of coronavirus cases in Russia have passed the one million mark after 4,729 new infections were reported.

That brought the country’s total tally to 1,000,048. Russia’s coronavirus crisis centre said 123 new deaths had been confirmed in the last 24 hours. 

07:30 GMT – India’s case surge eases slightly as millions take exams

India’s tally of coronavirus infections have surged to nearly 3.7 million, as millions of masked students sat for college admission exams after the government refused to defer them.

India, the world’s third most affected country by the pandemic after the United States and Brazil, reported 69,921 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, the lowest in six days.

07:15 GMT Ghana to reopen international airport after five months

Ghana will reopen its international airport but with new regulations in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the president has announced.

Kotoka International Airport, located outside the capital Accra, was closed in March along with other border points in a bid to contain the virus in the west African country.

“I am glad to announce that Kotoka International Airport will reopen and resume operations from Tuesday, September 1, 2020,” President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a nationwide broadcast. He said land borders would remain closed.

06:55 GMT – Chinese students begin full return to school

Chinese students began a full return to regular classes following two weeks without new cases of local transmission in the country.

Reports said students had their temperatures checked on arrival but rules on social distancing and mask wearing varied depending on the region.

What is China’s post-coronavirus strategy? I Inside Story

06:40 GMT – Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 1,218

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany have increased by 1,218 to 243,599, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed. 

The reported death toll rose by 4 to 9,302, the tally showed. 

06:05 GMT – Hungary reopens borders to some eastern neighbours

Hungary has decided to let tourists from its three East European neighbours, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia enter the country with a fresh negative coronavirus test, just as a lockdown on its borders took effect.

Last week Hungary said it would close its borders to foreigners from Tuesday to curb a rise in coronavirus cases. Returning Hungarian citizens can leave a 14-day quarantine only if they provide two negative COVID tests.

Hi, this is Elizabeth Melimopoulos in Doha taking over the live updates from my colleague Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

05:20 GMT – Sanofi says arthritis drug failure as COVID-19 treatment

French drugmaker Sanofi says its rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara does not work as a treatment for coronavirus. 

With Kevzara’s failure to meet the main goals of a US study testing it among the most critically-ill COVID-19 patients, Sanofi and Regeneron do not anticipate any further clinical studies for the drug in relation to the disease, Sanofi added.

“Although this trial did not yield the results we hoped for, we are proud of the work that was achieved by the team to further our understanding of the potential use of Kevzara for the treatment of COVID-19,” said Sanofi’s Global Head of Research and Development John Reed.

Big Pharma and the cost of developing COVID-19 drugs and vaccines | Counting the Cost

04:20 GMT – Students return to school after months of home learning

Children in Europe and parts of Asia are returning to school this week after months away from their classrooms.

China’s state-run media showed pictures of primary and middle school children returning to class – with physical distancing and other measures in force – in Shanghai.

Students in France and Belgium are also due to resume classes on Tuesday after the summer break, with pupils in England and Wales returning later in the week after six months away.

Regulations differ in each country, but most children over the age of 12, as well as all staff are required to wear face masks. Physical distancing and regular handwashing have also been made part of the new routine. 

03:40 GMT – More than 10,000 tested in first two hours of Hong Kong’s universal testing

The South China Morning Post is reporting that more than 10,000 people were tested for coronavirus in the first two hours after the territory’s controversial mass testing programme began.

Testing centres opened at 8am local time (00:00 GMT), and small queues formed outside some, the newspaper said. Hong Kong chief executive was among a number of government officials and health experts who took the test.

Hong Kong

People queuing outside a testing centre in Hong Kong on Tuesday as a mass testing campaign began [Kin Cheung/AP Photo]

03:15 GMT – Researchers find COVID-19 has disrupted cancer care in US, Australia

Researchers from the University of Sydney and Duke University in the US studying the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatments say the pandemic has fuelled a shift towards online consultations, forced the suspension of research and clinical trials and required doctors to assess the risks of administering standard treatments given patients’ vulnerability to COVID-19.

“In light of physical distancing restrictions due to COVID-19, standard cancer procedures are being altered or delayed, including surveillance imaging; non-emergency surgical procedures; and clinical trials,” said Professor Alex Broom, health sociologist and the lead Sydney researcher.

“The suspension of clinical trials is especially detrimental for patients with rare cancers. For them, enrolling in a clinical trial for a promising new therapy may be the best option.”

However, the team noted that as a result of the pandemic there was also increased identification of non-essential drugs and better identification of treatments which did not offer significant improvements to quality or quantity of life. The findings were published in Clinical Cancer Research.

02:50 GMT – Cases, deaths ease in Victoria

The Australian state of Victoria has been releasing its latest coronavirus numbers and the picture seems more encouraging.

The number of deaths – 5 – was the lowest in two weeks, while the number of new cases – 70 – was the lowest in more than eight weeks. All the deaths were linked to homes for the elderly. 

With active cases in rural Victoria lower than in the state capital Melbourne, state premier Dan Andrews plans to unveil two separate roadmaps out of lockdown, local media reported. The details will be released on Sunday.

02:00 GMT – Coronavirus fuels ‘Kannywood’ boom in Nigeria

‘Kannywood’, the film industry named after the city of Kano in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria, is booming even with coronavirus.

The industry has 502 production firms and employs 30,000 people, and Northflix, its fledgling streaming platform has seen subscribers double and revenue triple since lockdowns were imposed in March.

“Coronavirus has been a blessing to us business-wise, despite the disruptions caused to the global economy,” CEO and co-founder Jamil Abdussalam told AFP. Northflix switched to a flat rate subscription model charging the equivalent of $4 a month as the pandemic deepened and Nigerians looked online for entertainment. 

‘Kannywood’ films cover themes of love, revenge and betrayal but follow strict Islamic rules.

00:15 GMT – Hong Kong begins mass testing programme 

Hong Kong begins mass testing for coronavirus this morning, with the assistance of 60 experts from China.

This is the first time Chinese health officials have provided direct help to Hong Kong in the pandemic, and the move has fuelled concerns about privacy among members of the pro-democracy movement following China’s imposition of national security legislation at the end of June. Activists have urged the territory’s 7.5 million people to boycott the initiative.

Still, the government said that, as of 6pm (10:00 GMT) on Monday just over 500,000 had registered for the programme via its online booking system, and 97 of the 141 community testing centres were fully booked for September 1.

The programme aims to “identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, and to cut the transmission chain on the community,” the government said in a statement. 

23:30 GMT –  Coronavirus disrupts healthcare in 90 percent of countries

A World Health Organization survey of 105 countries shows that 90 percent have experienced disruption to their health services as a result of the coronavirus, with low- and middle-income countries the most affected.

Up to 70 percent of service interruptions have been for essential services including routine immunisation, diagnosis and treatment for non-communicable diseases, family planning and contraception, treatment for mental health disorders and cancer diagnosis and treatment, the United Nations health agency said.

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

Read all the updates from yesterday (August 31) here.

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