The Line in Saudi Arabia: The Future of Our Cities

Biden Shifts on Yemen War, Houthis Raise Larger Questions About Iran Policy

UAE Aims to Become International Human Investment Hub

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Aung San Suu Kyi: From Symbol of Peace to Genocide Denial

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The Line in Saudi Arabia: The Future of Our Cities

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Editorial

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Saudi Arabia is planning to invest between 200$–100$ billion to build a green oasis in the desert—a futuristic city with no cars, no streets, and zero net carbon emissions.

Announced last month by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “the Line” is a 170km belt of hyperconnected communities stretching from the mountains of northwest Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea. But unlike the polluting metropolises of today, this city of 1 million will be powered by “%100 clean energy.” In this week’s cover story, Menna A. Farouk writes the project that has been put forward as a blueprint for how people can co-exist in harmony with the planet.

Last week the Biden administration announced that it was reversing the Trump administration’s decision to name the Yemeni Houthis (formally, Ansar Allah) a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. Some saw the move as an indication of possible American re-entry into the nuclear deal. In his weekly column, Joseph Braude provides a deeper reading of the more complex picture where Biden makes clear that his administration will not unilaterally lift sanctions against Iran, while also offering firm guarantees of Gulf security.

The United Arab Emirates announced that Emirati nationality will now be officially attainable for foreigners, in a major first for the Gulf state. The move is a significant change in direction for a country whose economy relies heavily on expatriates and aims to attract more bright minds to the Emirati community to contribute to the development and prosperity of the country. Hatem Khedr looks at why people in the UAE and beyond see the move as a win-win for all.

Read these articles and more on our website eng.majalla. com. As always, we welcome and value our reader’s feedback and we invite you to take the opportunity to leave your comments on our website.

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Editor-in-Chief

Ghassan Charbel Editorial secretary Mostafa El-Dessouki HH Saudi Research and Marketing (UK) Ltd 10th Floor Building 7 Chiswick Business Park 566 Chiswick High Road London W4 5YG Tel : +44 207 831 8181 Fax: +44 207 831 2310

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A Weekly Political News Magazine

16 The United States Must Move

Forward, Not Back, on Iran

Issue 1839- February- 12/02/2021

30 Putin’s Once-Scorned Vaccine is

Now a Favorite in Pandemic Fight

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A Plan to Beat Back the Far Right

50 Tackling Rheumatoid Arthritis

Awareness in the Middle East

38 Why Beijing Is Bringing Big

Tech to Heel

Abandoned Dogs in Jeddah 44 Given New Leash of Life 3

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America’s New Vision of Astronauts

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A cafe run entirely by a staff of robots opens in Dubai A robot carries a cup of juice at a cafe in Dubai Festival City, United Arab Emirates February 7, 2021 / Reuters Photos 4

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Britain Weather Snow People sledge as they enjoy the snow in Queen’s Park in Glasgow on February 9, 2021. - Cold weather swept across northern Europe bring snow and ice. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP 6

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for their safety a month ago as a mob broke into the building.

WHO’s Wuhan Probe Ends, U.S.-China Bickering Over COVID Continues

After Emotional Start, Democrats to Outline Case at Trump’s Impeachment Trial Democrats began formally making their case on Wednesday that former President Donald Trump should be convicted for inciting the U.S. Capitol siege, a day after a divided Senate concluded his impeachment trial could proceed even though Trump has already left office.

The House of Representatives has charged Trump with inciting an insurrection after he delivered a fiery speech on Jan. 6 exhorting thousands of supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol, where members of Congress were gathered to certify President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. In an assault that

stunned the world, rioters stormed the building in a futile effort to stop Biden’s win, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving five people dead, including a police officer. On Tuesday, the Senate voted largely along party lines that the impeachment trial could move ahead even though Trump’s term ended on Jan. 20. Six out of 50 Republican senators broke with their caucus to side with Democrats. The outcome suggests Democrats face long odds in securing a conviction and barring Trump from ever again seeking public office. A two-thirds majority in the Senate must vote to convict, which means at least 17 Republicans would have to defy Trump’s stillpotent popularity among Republican voters. The trial is unfolding inside the Senate chamber, where senators now serving as jurors were forced to flee

China called on the United States on Wednesday to invite the World Health Organization to investigate origins of the COVID-19 outbreak there, as sparring over the pandemic continued after the WHO wrapped up its field work in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Hours after the WHO team revealed preliminary findings at a Wuhan news conference on Tuesday, Washington said it wants to scrutinize data used by the team, which concluded that the virus causing COVID-19 did not originate in a laboratory in Wuhan, and that bats remain a likely source. “We wish that the U.S. side can, like China, uphold an open and transparent attitude, and be able to invite WHO experts to the U.S. to conduct origin tracing research and inspection,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular daily briefing, repeating a call it has been making recently.

The origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, are highly politicized, with China pushing the idea that the virus has roots outside its borders. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that the Biden administration had not been involved in the “planning and implementation” of the WHO investigation and wants to take an independent review of its findings and underlying data. “The U.S. independently examining the WHO’s data? It’s the WHO who should examine the U.S. data,” said Hu Xijin, editor-inchief of the Global Times, a tabloid run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, on social media platform Weibo.

Yemen’s Houthis Say They Carried Out Drone Attack on Saudi Airport Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said it carried out a drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport on Wednesday which the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi forces in Yemen said caused a fire in a civilian aircraft. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said four Houthi drones were used in an attack that he said struck Abha airport, in southern Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday afternoon. Yemen’s Houthi movement regularly launches drones and missiles into Saudi Arabia, many of which Riyadh says it intercepts. Some have previously hit Abha Inter-

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national Airport which is about 120 km (75 miles) from the border with Yemen. “The attempt to target Abha airport is a war crime and put civilian travellers’ lives in danger,” the coalition statement said, adding that the aircraft was on the ground at the time and that the fire was brought under control. Earlier on Wednesday, the coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed two armed drones launched by the Houthis towards civilians in Saudi Arabia The coalition also said on Sunday and Monday that it had intercepted Houthi drones fired towards Saudi. The Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Houthis.

UAE’s Hope Probe Enters Orbit in First Arab Mars Mission The United Arab Emirates’ first mission to Mars reached the red planet and entered orbit on Tuesday after a seven-month, 494 million-km (307 millionmile) journey, allowing it to start sending data about the Martian atmosphere and climate. The Mars programme is part of the UAE’s efforts to develop its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its reliance on oil. The UAE Space Agency, the fifth globally to reach the planet, even has a plan for a Mars settlement by 2117. “Contact with #HopeProbe has been established again. The Mars Orbit

Insertion is now complete,” said the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, where the ruler of Dubai and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi were present to receive the news.

The attempt had a 50% chance of failing, Dubai’s ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had said. To enter Mars’ orbit, the probe needed to burn around half its 800 kg (1,760 lbs) of onboard fuel to slow down enough not to overshoot, the most dangerous part of the journey.

“Today is the start of a new chapter in Arab history ... of trust in our capability to compete with other nations and people,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted after the probe entered orbit. “The UAE will celebrate its Golden Jubilee with science, culture and inspiration because we aim to build a model of development.”

The Mars programme is part of the UAE’s efforts to develop its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its reliance on oil. The UAE Space Agency, the fifth globally to reach the planet, even has a plan for a Mars settlement by 2117.

steps to end the war in Yemen and Saudi Arabia has endorsed a negotiated settlement, the United States is deeply troubled by continued Houthi attacks,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. “We call on the Houthis to immediately cease attacks impacting civilian areas inside Saudi Arabia and to halt any new military offensives inside Yemen, which only bring more suffering to the Yemeni people.”

Secret Recording of Iran FM Suggests Downing of Ukraine Plane was Intentional

The Canadian government and security agencies are reviewing an audio recording in which a man — identified by sources as Iran’s foreign minister — discusses the possibility that the downing of the

US Warns Yemen’s Houthi Rebels After Terrorism Delisting The Biden administration on Sunday warned Yemen’s Houthi rebels against ongoing attacks against civilians just 48 hours after moving to strike the group from a terrorism blacklist. The State Department called on the Iran-backed rebel group to immediately stop attacks on civilians and new military operations in Yemen. The demand came only two days after the administration notified Congress that it would remove the Houthis from its list of “foreign terrorist organizations,” a designation that comes with severe U.S. sanctions. It also came just three days after President Joe Biden ordered an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led offensive military operations against the rebels. As the president is taking

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Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020 was an intentional act, CBC News reported. “The individual, identified by sources as Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, is heard saying on the recording that there are a ‘thousand possibilities’ to explain the downing of the jet, including a deliberate attack involving two or three ‘infiltrators’ — a scenario he said was ‘not at all unlikely’,” said the report. He is also heard saying the truth will never be revealed by the highest levels of Iran’s government and military. “There are reasons that they will never be revealed,” he says in Farsi. “They won’t tell us, nor anyone else, because if they do it will open some doors into the defense systems of the country that will not be in the interest of the nation to publicly say.” On Jan. 8, 2020, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 in the skies over Tehran with two surface-to-air missiles, killing all 176 people aboard, including 138 people with ties to Canada.

CBC News has listened to the recording of the private conversation, which took place in the months immediately following the destruction of Flight PS752. CBC had three people translate the recording from Farsi to English to capture nuances in the language.

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The Line in Saudi Arabia: The Future of Our Cities The Kingdom is Building a Car-Free Eco-City in 170km Straight Line

by Menna A. Farouk It is a city built around people, easily accessible, entirely powered by renewable energy and heavily reliant on artificial intelligence.

The aim is to have schools, clinics, leisure facilities, and everything its inhabitants need accessible within a five-minute walk.

Open spaces, parks, and sustainable food

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Amid growing populations, rising CO2 emissions and sea levels, urbanists say that the new city unveils the future of urban living design. of development? Why should seven million people die every year because of pollution?

Why should we lose one million people every year due to traffic accidents? And why should we accept wasting years of our lives commuting?” the Crown Prince said in the project announcement video.

The Saudi crown prince added that the project would create 380,000 new jobs, spur economic diversification and contribute SAR 180 billion to gross domestic product GDP by 2030.

The Saudi crown prince added that the project would create 380,000 new jobs, spur economic diversification and contribute SAR 180 billion to gross domestic product GDP by 2030.

production meet seamlessly, creating vistas of beauty and tranquillity.

This kind of community is not a figment of our imagination, but a project announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman last month.

“I present to you The Line, a city of a million residents with a length of 170 km that preserves %95 of nature within NEOM, with zero cars, zero streets and zero carbon emissions,” the Crown Prince said in a video briefing.

Amid growing populations, rising CO2 emissions and sea levels, urbanists say that the new city unveils the future of urban living design.

“Why should we sacrifice nature for the sake

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The Line is located in NEOM, a 500$bn cross-border city development in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. The megacity links the Red Sea coast with the mountains and upper valleys of the north-west of Saudi Arabia.

According to NEOM’s website, more than %40 of the global population will be able to reach NEOM’s breath-taking terrain in less than a four-hour flight, while %13 of the world’s trade already flows through the Red Sea. “The Line will reshape the traditional concept of urban life, overcome challenges of modern cities, and prioritize people.” Mahmoud Gheith, Professor of Urban Planning at Cairo University and head of the Egyptian Association of Urban Planning, told Majalla.

Geith added that there is an urgent need to protect landscapes and integrate nature into communities for sustainability and citizens’ wellbeing.

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BLAZING A TRAIL “The Line is the project of the century. With its natural and financial resources, Saudi Arabia will be a pioneer in the development of 5th-generation cities,” the Cairo University professor said.

Gheith added that the Crown Prince is thinking

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launches ‘The Line’ as part of the multi-billion dollar NEOM megacity project.

centuries ahead. He explained that the rest of the world will be moving towards futuristic cities that merge with nature in harmony and rely on artificial intelligence to improve services and products.

“We will inevitably reach this point, but Saudi Arabia is thinking ahead and blazing a trail for other regional countries to move in this direction too,” he said.

The NEOM project is part of the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, an ambitious program designed to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy away from oil.

The project’s borders will extend across Egypt and Jordan’s borders, making it the first private economic zone to span three countries.

The megacity project will apply the latest

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technologies, including automated cars, passenger drones, robots and hypermodern farming.

2030 SHAPING SAUDI Sameh el-Alayli, a professor of urban planning at Cairo University, said that Saudi Arabia is not only building new futuristic cities, but it is also working to transform traditional communities into innovative and sustainable cities.

In 2020, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs launched an initiative to turn the Kingdom’s five major cities into smart, sustainable communities.

The five cities are Mecca, Riyadh, Medina, Jeddah and Dammam.

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“This is to help achieve high efficiency in city management, raise the quality of life in Saudi cities, improve access to services, attract direct investments, increase the competitive level of Saudi cities and create job opportunities for residents,” the ministry said on its official website.

“The Saudi government is certainly mindful not to create rich ghettos isolated from the rest of the Kingdom. It is integrating all cities, aiming to create sustainability while putting people at the heart of the transformation,” elAlyali told Majalla.

“Saudi Vision 2030 recognizes its citizens as the main resource for its development and progress, in addition to natural and financial resources,” he added.

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Biden Shifts on Yemen War, Houthis Raise Larger Questions About Iran Policy The Administration Has Made Clear it Will Not Unilaterally Lift Sanctions Against Iran

by Joseph Braude With most of its senior foreign policy staff in place, the Biden administration has begun to lay the groundwork for a re-orientation

of Washington’s Iran policy. Removing the Houthis from the terrorism blacklist was, in the view of some, an indication of possible American re-entry into the nuclear deal. A closer read of the administration’s statements

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and decisions, however, suggests a more complex picture.

BIDEN RESCINDS HOUTHI FTO DESIGNATION, TEHRAN OVERREACHES Last Friday, the Biden administration announced that it intends to formally rescind the designation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. As one State Department official explained, “Our action is due entirely to the humanitarian consequences of this last-minute designation from the prior administration, which the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have since made clear would accelerate the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” The announcement followed President Biden’s declaration that the U.S. would halt military support for the Saudiled campaign in Yemen.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Feb. 2021 ,5.

(Getty)

Iranian officials promptly expressed satisfaction.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in Iranian state media that “stopping support ... for the Saudi coalition, if not a political maneuver, could be a step towards correcting past mistakes.” Javad Zarif gave an interview with Hamshahri newspaper on Saturday in which he said, “Time is running out for the Americans, both because of the parliament bill and the election atmosphere that will follow the Iranian New Year.”

Some American analysts, for their part, expressed dismay with the implications of the move. Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies observed on Twitter, “Some Middle East watchers will try to pretend that this Houthi debate is just about Yemen and aid. It’s not. We all know it. It’s a first move in the forthcoming Iran policy shift. It’s a pawn to the center of the board.”

COMPLICATING INDICATORS On the other side of the ledger, the Biden administration has made some moves which complicate this analysis. Where Tehran has been demanding for several years that the U.S. re-enter the JCPOA, drop all current American sanctions, and pay $130 billion in “damages” before it will re-enter com-

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If Iranian officials paid close attention to Biden’s maiden foreign policy speech, they will recall that, alongside Biden’s gesture of reconciliation on Yemen, he also offered firm guarantees of Gulf security, affirming that ‘Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks, UAV strikes, and other threats from Iranian-supplied forces.’ pliance with the 2015 agreement’s limitations on its nuclear activities, Biden has maintained a flat refusal to do so. On February 7, in an interview with CBS, Biden simply said “No” when asked if he planned to lift sanctions in order to get Iran back to the negotiating table.

And indeed, the White House has been swift to reiterate that message. “Overall his position remains exactly what it has been,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a subsequent briefing, “which is that if Iran comes into full compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA, the United States would do the same and then use that as a platform to build a larger and stronger agreement that also addresses other areas of concern.”

If Iranian officials paid close attention to Biden’s maiden foreign policy speech, they will recall that, alongside Biden’s gesture of reconciliation on Yemen, he also offered firm guarantees of Gulf security, affirming that “Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks, UAV strikes, and other threats from Iranian-supplied forces in multiple countries.”

We’re going to continue to support and help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity and its people.” And while many have focused on Biden’s decision to rescind the eleventh-hour sanctions imposed by former Secretary Pompeo’s team on the Houthis, the Treasury Department has since confirmed that that decision does not apply to Houthi leaders who have been otherwise sanctioned.

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The United States Must Move Forward, Not Back, on Iran A Return to the Nuclear Deal Would Be a Strategic Mistake

by Amos Yadlin The new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has proposed for Iran and the United States to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

But this prospect poses considerable risks to regional

and even global security. A better approach, in our view, would be one that aims to reach a modest interim agreement, or “JCPOA minus,” after which talks would focus on achieving a more restrictive nuclear deal than the original, or “JCPOA plus.”

If, however, the Biden administration remains

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determined to revive the previous agreement, it should take additional steps to ensure that Tehran does not acquire nuclear weapons—and to reassure U.S. allies in the region that Washington will not gamble with their security.

NO GOING BACK

US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) expresses his condolences over the death the of the mother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (unseen) before a negotiation session with Iran›s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (R) over Iran›s nuclear program in Lausanne March 2015 ,20, as European Union Political Director Helga Schmid (-4L) looks on. (Getty)

For the United States to simply return to the nuclear agreement would be a major strategic blunder.

The deal was based on assumptions that ultimately proved flawed and overly optimistic. The accord did not tame Iran’s policies, empower moderates in Tehran, pave a path to a good-faith relationship with Iran allowing for further cooperation, or “block all of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon.” Rather, from 2015 onward, Iran increased its support to regional proxies. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remained the ultimate decision-maker as the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) grew more influential. Tehran deceived the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the military dimensions of its nuclear program despite committing to act in good faith, and it continued researching and developing advanced centrifuges that could significantly shorten its breakout time. If a future Iran policy is to avoid producing a similar outcome, it must counter Iran’s malign regional activities and resist the temptation to try to game Iran’s political dynamics.

At the same time, it should allow for a more intrusive inspections regime and more restrictive and longerlasting constraints on Iran’s nuclear program.

The new U.S. administration seeks a return to the original Iran nuclear deal in the hope of achieving two aims: heading off a nuclear crisis and preparing the ground for a follow-on agreement that patches up the 2015 deal’s weaknesses. But that path to the latter goal is unrealistic. The original agreement adequately satisfies Iran’s long-term interests, such that Iran has little further reason to negotiate—let alone bargain away the advantages that the nuclear deal affords it. Recall that Iran did not seek any followon deals after 2015, nor did it conclude that it would be advantageous to withdraw from the agreement, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign. Should the United States prove unable to conclude a new and improved nuclear deal with Iran after returning to the JCPOA, then it will have revived an arms control agreement

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Washington should now coordinate efforts among regional partners to disrupt planned attacks. The normalization of relations among Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates can facilitate cooperation in this endeavour. shortly before the second half of its -15year timeline, during which the nuclear restrictions gradually expire.

Some nonproliferation experts argue that returning to the deal will reserve U.S. leverage to strike follow-on agreements. Tehran might continue negotiating after the deal is reinstated, these proponents suggest, in the hope of further sanctions relief. But Iran’s ultimate decision-maker, Khamenei, is not motivated by a desire to fully integrate his country into the global economy. In fact, Khamenei has encouraged efforts to create a “resistance economy” and urged Iranian industries to make their supply chains as invulnerable as possible to sanctions. His fiercely loyal cadres in the IRGC also benefit from Iran’s sanctioned and poorly integrated economy. Iran’s leaders do, however, seek the billions of dollars that flow into government coffers each month when Tehran is permitted to sell oil on the global market—as it is under the Iran nuclear deal.

TWO STEPS FORWARD The new administration is likelier to achieve its two aims, while safeguarding the strategic interests of its regional partners, with a modified two-stage approach. The first stage would be to reach an interim agreement (JCPOA minus) that is more limited than the original nuclear deal, and the second would be to conclude an agreement that surpasses the original and closes its loopholes (JCPOA plus). The principal components of the first, interim deal would be to deescalate tension, put Iran’s nuclear activity on pause, and withhold enough concessions to give Iran an incentive to enter another round of nuclear talks.

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During the period of the interim deal, the Biden team should take lessons from the experience of the last two administrations regarding Iran’s activities in the surrounding region. Under President Barack Obama, the United States shied away from confronting Tehran on this matter, whether through the nuclear agreement or apart from it. President Donald Trump, on the other hand, took some bold steps against Iran’s mischief in the Middle East and showed that doing so would not lead to war (or even to Iran’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal).

Washington should now coordinate efforts among regional partners to expose and interdict Iranian shipments of materiel to proxies and disrupt planned attacks. The normalization of relations among Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates can facilitate cooperation in this endeavor. At the same time, Washington should make a concerted effort to improve allied Arab militaries (rather than simply selling them the latest and most expensive weapons systems). In addition, the White House should promote cooperation between Israeland the Gulf states on missile defense. Iran has, after all, rapidly improved its precision-guided munitions and already used them to considerable effect. The United States and its allies should develop early-warning systems, conduct joint missile research, and share intelligence comprehensive agreement with Iran on both nuclear on Iranian technology and tactical plans. and regional issues. For this reason, the secondWashington is unlikely to reach and enforce a stage deal—the one that improves upon the 2015 agreement—should focus on reining in Iran’s nuclear program to the greatest extent possible. The United States should seek to extend the original deal’s restrictions by another 30 years, subject to an inspections regime that reserves the right to check Iran’s facilities “anytime, anywhere”; and it should further constrain Iran’s nuclear research.

Returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is highly risky, especially given the approaching “sunsets” on nuclear restrictions, so we have proposed an alternative that can better satisfy the interests of both Washington and its regional allies.

Reaching such an accord would require Iran to forgo the loopholes it painstakingly negotiated leading up to the 2015 nuclear deal. But our proposed path offers the United States more negotiating leverage than the one that requires returning to the original deal before building upon it. Moreover, it offers the United States more leeway to contend with Iran’s irreversible

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A woman holds a poster as she takes part in a rally July 2015 , 22 on Times Square in New York opposing the nuclear deal with Iran.

(Getty)

original agreement, it should make clear to its allies that its participation is conditional on the conclusion of another, farther-reaching agreement within 18 months. To allay possible concerns that the United States will abandon its negotiating position as it races against that clock, Washington and its regional partners should define the general contours of an acceptable final agreement.

If the United States is to secure a truly restrictive follow-on agreement, it will need to maximize its leverage by countering Tehran’s deadly nonnuclear activities, including its expansive support for regional terrorist groups and its murderous domestic repression. Taking a firm stand against these activities is inherently good policy—and can also bolster the U.S. negotiating position by increasing the pressure on Tehran.

violations of the original nuclear deal, such as the research it has pursued on advanced centrifuges and its deception of the IAEA regarding the possible military dimensions of its nuclear program.

A STRATEGY IN PLACE OF HOPE Nevertheless, should Washington insist on returning to the 2015 deal despite the reservations of regional allies, we would counsel our respective governments not to fight tooth and nail against a policy that the United States is determined to implement. Instead, they should establish discreet channels of dialogue with the White House through which they can ensure that their views, concerns, and interests are taken into account.

For its part, if the Biden administration returns to the

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The United States and its allies will have to be prepared for the possibility that they will not reach an acceptable agreement with Iran within 18 months.

In that case, they should be prepared to snap back sanctions to “maximum pressure” and to conclude a parallel agreement between the United States and its Middle Eastern allies, delineating redlines for Iran’s nuclear program and dividing the labor of a last-resort military option. Having a “plan B” handy, rather than banking on the success of nuclear negotiations, would ultimately serve U.S. diplomatic efforts to make a farreaching nuclear deal, because Iran would be forced to understand that it has no good option other than making an agreement.

Returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is highly risky, especially given the approaching “sunsets” on nuclear restrictions, so we have proposed an alternative that can better satisfy the interests of both Washington and its regional allies. But if past is prologue, a determined U.S. administration may be difficult to dissuade from joining a nuclear deal with Iran. In that case, Washington will need a strategy that mitigates the hazards of its chosen course, especially in the event that a more expansive nuclear deal does not materialize. As one of us wrote about Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal, “Hope is not a strategy.”

This article was originally published on ForeignAffairs.com.

UAE Aims to Become International Human Investment Hub The Gulf State is to Offer Citizenship to ‘Talented’ Foreigners in Attempt to Boost Economy

by Hatem Khedr The United Arab Emirates announced on January 30 that the Emirati nationality will

now be officially attainable for select foreigners and professionals, allowing people to establish deeper roots in the country and help progress its development.

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE›s Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said those who can qualify include investors, doctors, inventors, scientists, intellectuals and artists with in-demand skills.

The aim is to attract talent and investment into the country that would «contribute to our development journey».

«We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialized talents & professionals, including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families. The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey,» Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid wrote on his Twitter account.

There will be no application process though.

Nominations can only be made via the courts of the rulers or crown princes of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, as well as via the emirates’ executive councils or the federal cabinet.

The government outlined several eligibility conditions. Investors will need to own a property in the UAE, for example, while doctors and other medical specialists must be focused on a scientific discipline in demand in the UAE. Scientists are required to be actively involved in research and have at least 10 years’ experience, among other requirements. Inventors must have obtained one or more patents for their creations, while intellectuals or artists “should be pioneers in the culture and art fields” and have won international awards to prove it.

The move delighted many foreigners, mainly Arabs, living in UAE for many years and have built a stable life in the Gulf state where their children were born and educated.

«Of course, this is a crucial step to make foreigners feel stable and happy. Foreigners in the UAE are treated well and have an excellent quality of life,» Sayed Ahmad, a teacher, told Majalla.

Low-income workers may not meet the conditions, but will still benefit from this move,

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Low-income workers may not meet the conditions, but will still benefit from this move, he added, noting that the long-awaited step will enhance the UAE›s investment status. he added, noting that the long-awaited step will enhance the UAE›s investment status.

Nader Abu Nada, who has worked at a hotel in the UAE for many years, said the policy is mutually beneficial for both the UAE and foreigners as the Gulf state seeks to boost its position regionally and internationally by offering its citizenship for professionals and outstanding scientists, doctors, artists and all talented.

«I think the UAE will gain the most, as talented and professional individuals will bring more benefits to the country, which will raise its status on multiple fronts,» he told Majalla.

Mahmoud Hendawai said that the decision surprised many people who have been longing for such a move.

«There are strict requirements which I can›t meet, but people are generally pleased about this positive news,» Hendawi, an employee at a UAE governmental body, told Majalla.

«It was a momentous step. Those granted the citizenship will get a pay rise, more allowances, privileges and incentives. Most foreigners have a dignified life in terms of salaries, services and everything,» he argued.

He also explained that Emiratis are enthusiastic and happy about the decision, and believe that foreigners granted citizenship would bring further achievements for the country.

However, he said that while some Emiratis

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fear the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the economy, they nevertheless respect the rulers and officials› decisions.

«Arabs are delighted about the move, which will boost their sense of belonging. Those who don›t directly benefit from the decision affirm that it will still benefit the country, including all workers.

Services in the country are excellent, and people feel comfortable and safe. Living conditions are costly, but people are satisfied. Tolerance widely prevails, and the law is enforced on all people,» he explained.

Sayed Fathi said the law amendments came as a surprise to many foreigners as there are several hurdles they will need to overcome. Still, it is a positive step for residents, particularly those living in the country for 30 years.

Foreign investors don’t consider moving their varied investments abroad due to the stability and comfort in the UAE, Fathi, a legal translator, told Majalla.

«The UAE is an investment hub because of wise political leadership. The country is trying to diversify its economy to face challenges and achieve integration between all sectors. The decision will re-activate the real estate sector that was affected by the 2008-2007 financial crisis,»

UAE officials strive to enhance the legislative and investment environment, and transform the country into an attractive destination for entrepreneurs, investors and capitalists.

he argued.

He said that under the new amendments, foreigners can own properties and thus revive the sector. He also described the decision as «excellent» as it would help the UAE become a leading country in human investment. «Such decisions give rights to many people and encourage investors,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hamad Buamim, President & CEO

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A picture taken on January 2018 ,8 shows the skyline of Dubai with the Burj al-Arab in the foreground and Burj Khalifa (L) in the background. (Getty)

of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said that granting the UAE citizenship to investors and specialists demonstrates confidence in the crucial role they play in enhancing the economy and achieving sustainable development.

Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the decision would serve the national economy since the country is keen to attract talented people, doctors and investors as well as artists.

The step aims to back investors, and provide a safe and stable environment to them, their families and their businesses, he told UAE media.

Mubarak Hamad Al-Ameri, a member of the

UAE officials strive to enhance the legislative and investment environment, and transform the country into an attractive destination for entrepreneurs, investors and capitalists, he added .

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A Plan to Beat Back the Far Right

Domestic Extremism Needs Integrated Security Reforms and Social Inclusion

by Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Daniel Koehler In late August last year, close to 40,000 demonstrators gathered in Berlin to protest Germany’s novel coronavirus lockdown restrictions. A small group,

numbering in the hundreds, broke off from this larger demonstration and approached the Reichstag, the historic building that houses Germany’s parliament.

Carrying the infamous Reichsflagge—the banner of World War I–era imperial Germany and the precur-

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Members of the rightwing Reichsbürger, or Citizens of the Reich, movement demonstrate in front of the Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament, or Bundestag, in below freezing temperatures amidst the ongoing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on February 06, 2021 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty)

sor to the flag of the Nazis—these far-right agitators attempted to storm the building, overpowering law enforcement and scaling the main stairs to the entry hall, where police officers finally stopped them.

Inevitably, Germans saw shadows of this event in the January attack on the U.S. Capitol—in which a group of supporters of President Donald Trump violently attempted to overturn the results of the presidential election. Yes, there were plenty of differences between the two incidents. The U.S. insurrection was much larger and more violent— troublingly, it was also more successful in causing disruption. But there were also many similarities.

In both cases, well-equipped right-wing extremists used the backdrop of raucous demonstrations to sow chaos and mayhem. In both Berlin and Washington, the extremists then methodically breached police cordons and goaded others to follow them. And in both countries, conspiracy theories—notably QAnon, the now infamous movement that imagines Trump to be rescuing the world from a secret cabal of pedophiles—and the vilification of mainstream media and political elites played an extraordinary role in stoking the violence.

Conventional thinking about far-right extremism often frames it as a domestic problem within nationstates. But such groups and movements are transnational, sharing ideas and tactics across borders.

The U.S. government should therefore consider how governments abroad are tackling this growing global menace.

In the wake of the Capitol attack, U.S. officials have focused efforts on criminal prosecutions and reviewing security, intelligence, and law enforcement practices. On his second full day in office, President Joe Biden directed national intelligence officers to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to conduct a review of the threat that violent domestic extremism poses, promising that “fact-based analysis” would shape future policy. The Biden administration is playing catch-up after years of inadequate attention to the problem of domestic militancy. But these early actions suggest that his government’s primary method of combating domestic extremism will be through security measures. Noticeably absent so far are serious efforts to address the roots of extremism through investments in relationships with community organizations, educational initiatives, research into domestic militancy, working with victims, and the training of teachers, mental health professionals, parents, and

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Conventional thinking about far-right extremism often frames it as a domestic problem within nation-states. But such groups and movements are transnational, sharing ideas and tactics across borders. others to recognize early signs of radicalization.

The German government, by contrast, used the attack on the Reichstag to pursue a wide-ranging reform agenda that treats far-right extremism as not simply a security threat but a societal problem. The United States, too, would benefit from an approach that seeks a broad understanding of the rage and violence that exploded so shockingly on the steps of the Capitol.

AN UNACCEPTABLE ATTACK The assault on the Reichstag last summer provoked horror in Germany. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president, called it “an unacceptable attack on the heart of our democracy.” The incident recalled the hugely symbolic burning of the Reichstag in 1933, an event that marked the country’s descent into Nazi rule. Officials turned outrage into action.

In November, the government approved a mammoth 89-point plan to tackle racism and right-wing extremism, allotting the program more than one billion euros, to be spent over three years.

These measures had been in development for some time, following a series of terrorist incidents—including the 2019 neo-Nazi assassination of a high-ranking German politician, the 2019 attack on a synagogue in Halle, and a 2020 attack on a Turkish shisha bar in Hanau—and a number of scandals over the penetration of far-right extremists in the military, security services, and law enforcement. As a result, Germany was primed to respond to the parliament attack with sweeping investment and a campaign to make combating extremism a society-wide obligation rather than

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just the responsibility of law enforcement.

The plan demands that the state clean up its own house first: it requires much more transparency regarding far-right extremism within the police, the military, and other governmental departments, through mandated annual reporting, polls on political attitudes, and a bevy of additional research.

German officials recently acknowledged that the penetration of these extremists into the ranks of the security services poses a significant problem. Germany has long relied on a dedicated military intelligence agency that is tasked specifically with identifying and removing extremists from active duty; new measures to strengthen these investigations will make law enforcement and the military more publicly accountable.

The German Ministry of Defense, for example, now must significantly stiffen punishments for extremist behavior—broadly understood as any act that undermines German democracy or threatens the country’s core values—among active-duty soldiers. The Defense Ministry will also conduct extensive investigations into the prevalence of extremist beliefs among military personnel and will better coordinate with and support the military intelligence agency in its work against extremist radicalization. Federal police, meanwhile, will separately conduct a study

In the United States, efforts to combat white supremacy and domestic extremism have operated in a wholly separate orbit from educational and community-based efforts to build a more inclusive society.

on radicalization within its own ranks.

The German plan contains several other conventional counterterrorist and security-focused reforms. These include, for example, changes in the German domestic intelligence law to allow for the use of spy software on mobile devices and a revamp of the joint counterterrorism center focused on farright militancy, adding new personnel and internal working groups on anti-Semitism and deradicalization. Other measures promise to improve coordination across various security agencies and the judiciary and to boost efforts at the state level to combat extremism.

A CIVIC APPROACH But many of the 89 measures focus not on security threats but on tackling extremism at a societal level.

The plan was developed through extensive consultation with migrant communities and victims of racism. It calls for greater civic education about racism,

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Several hundred thousand white supremacists, q-anon conspiracy theorists, neonazis, and Trump supporters held a march in Washington, DC demanding the overturn of the 2020 election of Joe Biden to the presidency, on Saturday, 14 November 2020.

(Getty)

programs to counter online hate speech and to better protect citizens from extremist recruitment and propaganda. Many of these programs will be run by nongovernmental organizations, part of a longstanding German tradition of funding NGOs to develop and test new ways of combating the far right.

The intent of these initiatives is to foster better collaboration between law enforcement and the nonprofit sector, in the spirit of mutual exchange, learning, and trust building. Specialists from antiracist nongovernmental organizations might, for example, be included in expert commissions, training programs, or advisory boards to support law enforcement operations. Better relations between the police and local organizations will also improve trust between the state and local communities.

anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia and for strategies to encourage the public to value a diverse and equitable society. This includes purging the word “race” from the constitution, a highly symbolic act because the German word Rasse—unlike the English term— directly recalls Nazi-era, anti-Semitic, and scientific racist ideas about biological and genetic differences (Rasse also means “breed,” which is used to refer to animals). But it is also a strategic move, since racists and right-wing extremists have used occurrences of the term “race” within the German constitution to argue that democratic principles of equality and pluralism are unconstitutional. The German plan further demands that government agencies hire employees from more diverse backgrounds to increase cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity to racism within the government and to build a more inclusive government for all.

The government also hopes to better address farright radicalization. To combat the toxic effects of some social media platforms, Germany will fund

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Germany isn’t the only country that has responded to far-right extremism with research, community outreach, and big investment. After a white supremacist murdered 77 people—mostly children— in Oslo and a nearby island in 2011, the Norwegian government spent millions of dollars to create what is now one of the largest and most rigorous global research centers in the world on extremism, housing dozens of scholars from Norway and around the world who conduct research, produce data sets on right-wing terrorism, and train doctoral and postdoctoral scholars to build a foundation of future knowledge in the field. Counter-extremism work in Norway was already firmly housed within the country’s community-based approach to crime prevention—rooted in dialogue between police mentors and at-risk or affected youth and their parents—that has demonstrated success in preventing and countering extremism. The country also pioneered the first exit program for right-wing extremists in the mid-1990s to encourage them to abandon their groups and their radical politics—a program later replicated in Sweden and Germany. After the 2011 attack, Norway updated its national action plan against radicalization and violent extremism with dozens of specific measures reinforcing the notion that extremism is a societal problem that cannot be solved by law enforcement alone.

After the 2019 Christchurch terror attack, the government of New Zealand commissioned a report that urged major changes in counterterrorism

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policy, calling for community-oriented measures toward building a more “cohesive society.” The report’s recommendations do include measures to strengthen the hand of law enforcement, but as in Germany and Norway, New Zealand’s approach to grappling with domestic extremism calls for collaboration at every level of society and across a variety of agencies and insists on strong support for victims and affected communities. Officials in New Zealand understand that extremist threats are not just questions of law and order but require a broader social response.

A SOCIAL DILEMMA In the United States, far-right extremism is a rising threat that could lead to escalating violence. Washington should muster a broad effort to counter it, drawing not only on the knowledge of counterterrorism experts but also on the insights of community groups, victims of extremist violence, educators, researchers, and mental health workers.

An effective response must include a hard look into the ranks of the security services. Active-duty and veteran members of U.S. law enforcement and the military were heavily involved in the assault on the U.S. Capitol. At the time of writing, nearly 20 per-

Germany’s plan demands that the state clean up its own house first: it requires much more transparency regarding far-right extremism within the police, the military, and other governmental departments.

cent of those charged for involvement in the insurrection are military veterans. In the days leading up to the January 20 inauguration, the FBI and the military vetted all 25,000 National Guard members assigned to inaugural security, resulting in the removal of 12 members, two for possible connections to right-wing extremism. There are some indications that the Pentagon will now step up efforts to address the spread of far-right extremism within the military, but there are currently no concrete government plans to address the problem systemically at a broader national level. This inaction stands in sharp contrast to the German approach, where a dedicated military agency has long been tasked with the responsibility of rooting out extremists within the

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Members of the far-right extremist movement Boogaloo Bois, stage a demonstration at Oregons State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, United States on January ,17 2021. (Getty)

The plan was developed through extensive consultation with migrant communities and victims of racism. It calls for greater civic education about racism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia and for strategies to encourage the public to value a diverse and equitable society. federal and local governments and communities.

military and where the new plan launched in November will toughen these obligations across security services and intelligence agencies.

It is hard to understate the differences between the U.S. and the German approach to domestic extremism. Germany relies on extensive investments in local and national data collection and intelligence monitoring, coupled with educational and youthoriented programming, training for teachers and social workers, cooperation with civil society and religious groups, support for victims and survivors, and a wide variety of programming to combat online radicalization. By contrast, the United States is far behind in building trust, networks, and improved communication across agencies and between the

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The German approach—as well as those of New Zealand and Norway—situates counterextremism work within the broader charge of tackling racism and promoting a diverse and inclusive society. In the United States, efforts to combat white supremacy and domestic extremism have operated in a wholly separate orbit from educational and community-based efforts to build a more inclusive society. The Biden administration has pledged to address systemic racism, for example, with several immediate executive orders aimed at improving racial equity and preventing discrimination. But those efforts are detached from discussions about how best to combat farright violent extremism.

The events of January 6 make abundantly clear—if it wasn’t already—that there are already radicalized domestic extremists working to overthrow the government through insurrectionist violence. The country’s law enforcement and security apparatus needs to take this burgeoning threat head-on. But in the long run, unless the United States embraces a whole-of-society approach that can tackle extremist radicalization at its roots, it will continue to live with the repercussions of the violence it saw at the Capitol.

This article was originally published on ForeignAffairs.com.

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Putin’s Once-Scorned Vaccine is Now a Favorite in Pandemic Fight While the West is Struggling with Slow Vaccine Rollout, Russia is Touting its Jab’s High Success Rate, Delivering More Doses to World Countries

by Henry Meyer President Vladimir Putin’s announcement in August that Russia had cleared the world’s first COVID19vaccine for use before it even completed safety trials

sparked skepticism worldwide. Now he may reap diplomatic dividends as Russia basks in arguably its biggest scientific breakthrough since the Soviet era.

Countries are lining up for supplies of Sputnik V after peer-reviewed results published in The Lancet medical journal last week showed the Russian

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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a government meeting via a videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on January ,13 2021. (Getty Images)

vaccine protects against the deadly virus about as well as U.S. and European shots, and far more effectively than Chinese rivals.

At least 19 countries have approved the inoculation for use, including European Union member state Hungary, while key markets such as Brazil and India are close to authorizing it. Now Russia’s setting its sights on the prized EU market as the bloc struggles with its vaccination program amid supply shortages.

In the global battle to defeat a pandemic that’s claimed 2.3 million lives in little more than a year, the race to obtain vaccines has assumed geopolitical significance as governments seek to emerge from the huge social and economic damage caused by lockdowns imposed to limit the spread of the virus.

That’s giving Russia an edge as one of a handful of countries where scientists have produced an effective defense.

Its decision to name Sputnik V after the world’s first satellite whose 1957 launch gave the Soviet Union a stunning triumph against the U.S. to start the space race only underlined the scale of the significance Moscow attached to the achievement. Results from the late-stage trials of 20,000 participants reviewed in The Lancet showed that the vaccine has a %91.6 success rate.

“This is a watershed moment for us,” Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive officer of the state-run Russian Direct Investment Fund, which backed Sputnik V’s development and is in charge of its international roll-out, said in an interview.

While it’s too early to gauge the political gains for Putin, Russia’s already making much of the softpower impact of the vaccine on its image after years of international condemnation over election meddling and targeting of political opponents at home and abroad. State television reports extensively on deliveries to other nations.

Sputnik’s success won’t change hostility toward Putin among Western governments, though it could strengthen Russia’s geopolitical clout in regions such as Latin America, according to Oksana Antonenko, a director at Control Risks consultancy.

“With this vaccine, it’s proven itself capable of producing something new that’s in demand around the world,” she said.

Production constraints are the biggest challenge facing all manufacturers as global demand far outpaces supply. Russia, pledging free shots for its 146 million population, began output last year and the vaccine is currently being manufactured in countries including India, South Korea and Brazil.

Last week, it emerged a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed an

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While it’s too early to gauge the political gains for Putin, Russia’s already making much of the softpower impact of the vaccine on its image after years of international condemnation over election meddling and targeting of political opponents at home and abroad. agreement to produce Sputnik V in Turkey, even as the nation has deals to buy 50 million doses of China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s CoronaVac vaccine and 4.5 million doses of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE shot.

Despite Russia’s success, domestic demand remains lukewarm so far, driven by public suspicion of the authorities. Putin, 68, fueled the skepticism in December when he said he was waiting to get the inoculation until it had been cleared for people his age.

He still hasn’t said whether he’s been vaccinated, but other nations aren’t waiting to find out. The day after announcing he’d contracted COVID19-, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Jan. 25 he’d thanked a “genuinely affectionate” Putin for pledging 24 million doses of Sputnik V in the coming two months. Three days later, Bolivian President Luis Arce personally took delivery of a batch at La Paz airport.

Latin America is proving fertile territory. Argentina, which has struggled to obtain vaccine supplies, started its mass inoculation program after taking delivery of more than half a million Sputnik V doses

by January. It’s been joined by Nicaragua, Paraguay and Venezuela. In Brazil, the region’s biggest market, a decision announced Feb. 3 to scrap the requirement for phase three trials for emergency use may speed up approval.

Guinea became the first African nation to start dispensing Sputnik V in December with Moscowfriendly President Alpha Conde and several ministers taking the vaccine. It expects to get 1.6 million doses this year and is also in talks on acquiring Chinese vaccines, along with AstraZeneca Plc’s shot. Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic

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and Ivory Coast are among other potential customers for Russia.

“We’re not in a position where we can say no to any vaccine. We’ve opted for the Pfizer vaccine, but we’re looking at other vaccines as well,” said Professor Joseph Benie, head of the National Institute of Public Hygiene in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

“There’s an urgency now to start inoculating.”

Unlike the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, Sputnik V can be stored in a fridge rather than a freezer, making it easier to transport and distribute in poorer and hotter countries. At around 20$ for a two-shot vaccination, it’s also cheaper than most Western alternatives.

While more expensive than AstraZeneca, the Russian inoculation has shown higher efficacy than the U.K. vaccine.

For some nations such as Iran, which received the first batch of a promised 2 million doses this week, Russia offers a more palatable political alternative than Western suppliers. But Russia is also making inroads into countries such as the United Arab Emirates, which is traditionally close to the U.S. and has approved Sputnik V for use.

China, whose inoculations are as low as %50 effective in the case of Sinovac Biotech, retains a lead in Asia. Only a handful of countries have opted for Sputnik V, including the Philippines, which is in talks for 25 million doses.

Chinese developers may now team up with Russia.

The RDIF struck a preliminary deal to test a combined regimen of shots from Sputnik V and

Its decision to name Sputnik V after the world’s first satellite whose 1957 launch gave the Soviet Union a stunning triumph against the U.S. to start the space race only underlined the scale of the significance Moscow attached to the achievement.

China’s CanSino Biologics to boost effectiveness against Covid19-, people with knowledge of the matter said last week.

In what could represent the Kremlin’s biggest potential breakthrough, European regulators are starting to examine a request for authorization of Sputnik V after Germany promised to help expedite the process. With top EU officials still smarting over a sluggish vaccine roll-out, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday the Russian shot could be used to protect people in the -27member bloc as long as it was approved by the European Medicines Agency.

Hungary has already granted emergency approval,

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A nurse inoculates a volunteer with Russia’s new coronavirus vaccine during trials at a Moscow clinic on Sept.

2020 ,10. (TNS)

signing a deal for 2 million doses of Sputnik V with the first 40,000 shots delivered Tuesday.

“The vaccine cannot be a political question,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio Jan. 29.

“One can only choose between western and eastern vaccines when you have enough.”

European approval may take several months because of the need to submit detailed data, The Lancet’s Editor-in-Chief Richard Horton told Bloomberg’s QuickTake. “I do think this Russian vaccine will come on tap,” but “not quickly,” he said.

While Russia says it expects the vaccine to be available to 700 million people this year, it’s facing production bottlenecks. “We have to be realistic.

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Given our other commitments, we will not be able to supply to Europe before May, other than Hungary,” said RDIF’s Dmitriev.

Still, the vaccine is paying dividends for Putin. Even as he visited Moscow Friday to confront Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the imprisonment of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell took time to congratulate Russia on developing Sputnik V. “It’s good news for the whole mankind,” Borrell said. “It means that we are going to have more tools to face the pandemic.

This article is originally published in Bloomberg News.

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The Folly of Hoarding Knowledge in the COVID- 19 Age

Wealthy Countries Risk a Moral Failure by Refusing to Broadly Share their Vaccine Technologies

by Tahir Amin By now, it has become clear that the means to end the COVID19- pandemic will reach people in poor countries far later than they will get to people in wealthy ones. Only one of the 29 poorest countries in the world—Guinea in West Africa—has begun vaccinations, and it has so far managed to immunize just 55 people. Half of the planned 2021 supplies of the leading vaccine candidates have already been gobbled up

by a small contingent of wealthy nations, including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Together, these countries account for just 14 percent of the global population. At least a fifth of the world’s people will not get access to COVID19- vaccines until 2022, and many low-income countries will have to wait until 2023 or 2024 for full immunization. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned on January 25 that vaccine

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inequity could cost the global economy 9.2$ trillion.

Ensuring that billions of people get swift access to COVID19vaccines was always going to be difficult, especially as many national governments have hoarded supplies. But the task has been made even harder by another kind of hoarding—of intellectual property and technology. Western governments and pharmaceutical companies could agree to loosen or temporarily suspend intellectual property protections and transfer technology to manufacturers in the developing world. Doing so would speed the production of more affordable and effective vaccines for broad distribution. But wealthy countries and their pharmaceutical giants have been unwilling to take this step, clinging instead to an old, quasicolonial economic order that disadvantages poor countries— and threatens to prolong the pandemic.

TRIPPING UP AGAINST INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Digital generated image of COVID19- vaccine bottles cloned along infinity sign around the Earth. (Getty)

Ten of the 13 leading COVID19- vaccine candidates have been or are being developed by pharmaceutical companies in wealthy countries. These companies have mostly limited the manufacture of the vaccines to partners and suppliers in the West, leaving a number of potential producers in poorer countries in the cold. More broadly sharing intellectual property and technology with producers in the developing world could help significantly increase production of vaccines and reduce vaccine inequity. But only a few Western pharmaceutical companies have agreed to such technology transfers: U.S. giant Johnson & Johnson has licensed its vaccine for production by Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa, while the British-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca and the U.S. company Novavax have entered into agreements with the Serum Institute of India.

There should be many more of these sorts of arrangements, since poor countries have the capacity to ramp up production.

At least 40 other potential manufacturers in 14 developing countries already form a network that makes around 3.5 billion doses per year of various types of vaccines. But last May, Pfizer’s CEO dismissed as “nonsense” and “dangerous” the WHO’s efforts to encourage companies to voluntarily share their technology and intellectual property in the interest of making more broadly available vaccines, treatments, and other necessary products in the fight against COVID19-.

No major pharmaceutical company has yet offered any contribution to the so-called technology access pool that the WHO set up to combat the pandemic.

This unfortunate dynamic compelled India and South Africa— backed by Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, and Pakistan—to cosponsor a proposal in October asking the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive, for the duration of the pandemic, the trade body’s treaty on protecting intellectual property. The proposal won the further support of around 100 mostly low-or middle-income countries.

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Pharmaceutical companies in wealthy countries have mostly limited the manufacture of the vaccines to partners and suppliers in the West, leaving a number of potential producers in poorer countries in the cold.

The WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, also known as TRIPS, requires the organization’s 164 member states to enforce most intellectual property protections for vaccines, trade secrets, diagnostic kits, ventilators, and other medical equipment. Supporters of the proposal argued that waiving these protections would allow manufacturers all over the world to more rapidly meet global demand for vaccines. If wealthy countries consented to the waiver, poor countries would probably not have to wait until 2023 or 2024 to inoculate the majority of their populations. The waiver would also help ensure that the world has a reserve supply of effective doses if some vaccine candidates prove to be ineffective, as is likely.

But the United Kingdom, the United States, and the member states of the European Union—countries that are incidentally hoarding COVID19- vaccine supplies and technology— opposed the request, and major pharmaceutical companies also voiced objections. They claim that the waiver is too broad, that it does not acknowledge the potential lack of technical capacity or raw materials in poor countries, and that the WTO’s current intellectual property regime already provides sufficient flexibility in the case of public health emergencies. This resistance persists despite the fact that the European Union and the United Kingdom are now embroiled in a dispute over a shortfall in supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine. WTO member states was to meet again to discuss the matter ahead of the general meeting of the trade body in March, when the proposal will likely be rejected or severely limited.

The clash between wealthy countries and poor ones over the right to scientific knowledge and technology is not new. In the early 1970s—a time when many new nation-states were emerging from disintegrating European empires—the UN General Assembly resolved to declare a “New International Economic Order,” in which wealthy countries would help formerly colonized ones become more self-reliant through the transfer of technology. Proponents of the scheme imagined such transfers as a form of reparation for decades of imperial plunder. But the wealthy states never accepted or acted upon

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the resolution.

Instead, they did the opposite. Edmund Pratt, then CEO of Pfizer, feared that manufacturers in developing countries would compete with companies like his for these new markets. Along with other business leaders, he encouraged U.S. officials in the 1970s and early 1980s to integrate the defense of intellectual property into U.S trade policy. The Reagan administration then rallied the European and Japanese governments to this cause, helping to place intellectual property at the heart of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. This agreement required member states to enforce intellectual property rights in the multilateral trading system for the first time, even when many developing countries didn’t maintain such requirements. Although this deal protected the investments that wealthy countries and their companies made in scientific, technological, and cultural goods, it also prevented low- and middle-income countries from competing on an even footing in the burgeoning knowledge economy.

The deal became formalized as the TRIPS Agreement in 1995 when wealthy countries pushed it through the WTO over the objections of lower-income countries, which were eventually railroaded into signing. Since then—and at the behest of their private sectors—Japan, the United States, and European countries have also pursued bilateral free trade agreements with many developing countries to further strengthen intellectual property protections.

HOARDING KNOWLEDGE To oppose the proposal before the WTO, wealthy countries draw on the same arguments and claims they used to set up the current international intellectual property regime. In

Pfizer’s CEO dismissed as “nonsense” and “dangerous” the WHO’s efforts to encourage companies to voluntarily share their technology and intellectual property in the interest of making more broadly available vaccines

October, the British government argued that intellectual property protections won’t actually prevent access to vaccines, treatments, or related technologies. But that is demonstrably false: these rules have invariably driven up prices of important medications and put them out of reach of the world’s poorest.

When the HIV/AIDS epidemic was reaching its peak in the 1990s, millions of people died in the developing world in part because the necessary drugs cost an astronomical 10,000$ per person per year. Nearly a decade later—and after weathering lawsuits from 39 pharmaceutical companies—hard-hit South Africa was able to remove some patent barriers. Prices for antiretroviral drugs dropped significantly, and many more people received treatment.

Proponents of the TRIPS Agreement restrictions, including governments, pharmaceutical companies, and even the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal, claim that the existing order is adaptable enough as it is. They point to flexibilities in the WTO rules that allow member states to override patents by issuing what is known as a “compulsory license” in the case of a public health emergency—permitting a manufacturer in the developing world, for instance, to produce a vaccine or treatment patented by a company in

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A health worker receives a dose of Covishield, AstraZeneca-Oxford›s Covid19- coronavirus vaccine made by local partner Serum Institute of India, at Patan Hospital near Kathmandu on January 2021 ,27. (Getty)

the West. But compulsory licenses, while useful, aren’t conducive to situations that demand swift action. The process for securing such a license is laborious: in the case of COVID19- vaccines, for instance, manufacturers would first have to show they attempted to negotiate a voluntary license with the relevant pharmaceutical company, which has proven hard to accomplish in all but a few cases because the patent holders can simply refuse or delay the process. Even when such licenses are granted, they tend to limit the number of countries to which the generic manufacturer in a developing country can supply the product. Generic manufacturers also would have to secure a separate license for each product they sought to make. Developing countries are usually wary of issuing compulsory licenses because they fear that wealthy countries, pressured by their pharmaceutical companies, might levy trade sanctions in retaliation or lodge a case at the WTO Dispute Settlement Body claiming that the developing country has not correctly adhered to the rules of the TRIPS Agreement.

Those defending the current system also contend that low- and middle-income countries do not have the technical capacity to manufacture and distribute vaccines at scale, especially

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ones that depend on sophisticated mRNA (messenger RNA) technology, such as those from Moderna and PfizerBioNTech. But this argument rehearses a tired trope, the likes of which have been disproven in the past. In the 1980s, a Western firm refused to transfer vaccine technology to the Indian company Shantha Biotechnics, claiming that Shantha’s scientists would not be able to understand the required recombinant technology to produce the vaccines. Shantha subsequently went on to develop its own recombinant vaccine for hepatitis B, which became available for 1$ per dose and enabled UNICEF and other organizations to undertake lowcost mass vaccinations. Indeed, the Indian company Gennova has already entered into phase I/II clinical trials with its own mRNA COVID19- vaccine. Alternative manufacturing capability for sophisticated COVID19- vaccines very likely exists in the developing world.

The most familiar argument against the suspension of intellectual property rules is that such a dismissal of patent protections will kill private innovation and hurt future investment in new vaccines and technologies. But this claim, too, is unsound. Taxpayer and nonprofit dollars have significantly financed most of the leading COVID19- vaccines, as well as the development of the basic science underlying the mRNA platform. Pharmaceutical companies stepped up to the plate only after the public and nonprofit sectors had assumed the bulk of the risk. Now, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are poised to rake in 32$ billion in COVID19- vaccine sales in 2021 alone—and much more if mRNA platforms become more prevalent in the future. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna may well be unwilling to enter into any technology transfer agreement precisely because they hope to cash in on mRNA technology. It would be a catastrophic moral failure—and a failure of market policy—to allow private interests to seek profits from publicly funded technology while millions perish.

COMMON GOOD In April 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said that a future COVID19- vaccine would need to reach “every single corner of the world” at an affordable price: “This vaccine will be our universal, common good.”

Nine months later, those promises ring hollow. The governments of wealthy countries need to show leadership by encouraging pharmaceutical companies to work in the interest of the “universal, common good.” Governments could require their pharmaceutical companies to enter into technology transfer agreements with at least three suppliers in the “global South”—or those governments can support the WTO proposal put forward by India and South Africa to suspend intellectual property rights during the pandemic. Failing to do either will only lengthen this pandemic.

This article was originally published on ForeignAffairs.com.

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Why Beijing Is Bringing Big Tech to Heel

China Appreciates Monopolies It Can Control

by Josh Freedman It was supposed to be the world’s largest initial public offering. Ant Group, the Internet finance firm affiliated

with Chinese tech giant Alibaba, planned to list on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges in early November. But just days before the company’s highly anticipated market debut, Chinese regulators

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intervened to block the offering. Then, in December, the Chinese government fined several homegrown technology behemoths—including Alibaba and the Tencent subsidiary China Literature—for violating antimonopoly laws, and top leaders pledged to further strengthen antimonopoly efforts in 2021. In less than six weeks, the unexpected crackdown had decisively upended the conventional wisdom about Beijing’s attitude toward domestic corporate monopolies, which had long held that major Chinese technology companies were “immune” from antitrust rules.

Many observers have interpreted China’s sudden zeal for trustbusting as a belated attempt to join a growing global push to limit the power of Big Tech. Analysts in both China and the West have drawn explicit comparisons between China’s confrontation with Alibaba and recent U.S. and European efforts to rein in Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple, which share a concern about the abusive practices of “platform monopolies.” But China’s antimonopoly actions have very different intellectual foundations than those underway in the West. Beijing’s recent antitrust efforts are motivated less by worries about the tyrannical nature of monopoly power than by the belief that China’s tech giants are insufficiently committed to promoting the goal advanced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of transformative technological innovation— and thus may be undermining the effectiveness of Chinese industrial policy.

The Alibaba Group gets administrative penalty for the violation of China›s anti-monopoly law on 24th December, 2020 in Beijing, China.

(Getty)

ECONOMIC POWER AND PERSONAL FREEDOM Historically, one major inspiration for antimonopoly efforts in the United States is the idea that concentrated economic power endangers individual freedom. Thomas Jefferson argued that monopolies were incompatible with American self-governance and the ideal of the property-owning yeoman farmer and suggested that they be restricted by the U.S. Constitution. Although other framers, most notably Alexander Hamilton, saw centralized economic power as a necessary tool for powering the national economy, the idea that monopolies are detrimental to innovation, entrepreneurship, and democratic debate persisted in the United States—and formed the basis of antitrust legislation in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The introduction to last year’s report by the House Judiciary Committee on digital monopolies alludes to this long tradition of

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China’s policymakers and staterun media outlets have repeatedly described Beijing’s crackdown on Big Tech as ‘strengthening antimonopoly and preventing the disorderly expansion of capital. skepticism by highlighting a quotation attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis: “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.”

The CCP has embraced private entrepreneurs and tried to support small businesses in recent years, but there is little evidence that Chinese officials view monopoly power as inherently tyrannical. Marxist doctrine, which remains key to understanding political power in contemporary China, argues that true freedom requires the abolition of private property and can only be found collectively. Privatization policies in the 1990s still aimed to preserve the largest state-owned enterprises, which account for about a quarter of the total economy today. With the rise of the Internet, massive private tech companies, such as Alibaba and Tencent, were encouraged to grow because they were seen as internationally competitive and easier to monitor than endlessly proliferating small firms.

China’s policymakers and state-run media outlets have repeatedly described Beijing’s crackdown on Big Tech as “strengthening antimonopoly and preventing the disorderly expansion of capital.” The second half of this phrase, “preventing the disorderly expansion of capital,” stands out from other countries’ antimonopoly efforts. It reveals the major source of the CCP’s concerns: the need to assert control over the direction of innovation and to find ways to channel the power of large private enterprises toward the party’s industrial policy goals.

In a recent interview with Economic Daily, Tian Lihui, a professor of finance at Nankai University, described the growth of large private businesses in the economy as a double-edged sword. “If capital expansion is orderly, it brings about economic growth and social progress; if capital expansion is disorderly . . . it will necessarily

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bring about monopolization that hinders economic development.” Zhu Ning, a researcher at Tsinghua University, made a similar point in an article promoted by the state newswire Xinhua, claiming that disorderly capital expansion threatens the economy, consumers, and society at large. Unchecked capital expansion, he explained, will naturally push society off the course of social and technological progress and toward the seductive power of easy profit. As Tang Jianwei, chief researcher of the Bank of Communications Financial Research Center, told the press, the problem is that domestic tech companies are using their capital to boost traffic and their user bases “without paying attention to originality and basic innovation”—the lagging elements of China’s tech strategy.

Chinese state media have held up the phenomenon of online “community group buying” for groceries as the paradigmatic example of disorderly expansion of capital. Alibaba, Tencent, food delivery giant Meituan, and even car-hailing app DiDi have all poured into community group buying, in which local communities can pool their grocery orders to procure supplies directly from wholesalers at rock-bottom prices.

Though bypassing local sellers (often poor migrants from other parts of China) and ordering on digital platforms may be convenient, it threatens to upend migrant employment and disrupt broader food supply chains. A recent editorial in People’s Daily, the main party mouthpiece, chided Chinese tech giants for being concerned with “some cabbages and a few pounds of fruit” when there were great discoveries to be made.

Actions against monopolistic tech firms in the United States that are viewed as essential to preserving democracy are, in the Chinese case, considered part and parcel of effective nondemocratic rule.

“Internet giants with access to big data and advanced computing should have a greater responsibility, greater pursuits, and a greater role in scientific and technological innovation,” it admonished.

The official pushback against online grocery shopping reflects Beijing’s concern that large Chinese tech companies are deploying their accumulated capital to take a larger share of the existing pie, rather than investing in the kind of research that could advance society as a whole. On December 22, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) brought leading tech companies together in a meeting and gave them the same message: stop focusing on short-term profits and do more to help China’s efforts to become a scientific and technological leader. The head of SAMR further pointed out that one of the priorities of his office in 2021 is to “promote the coordination of industrial policy and competition policy.”

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A Meituan food courier put orders into Meituan food delivery lockers set up outside a hospital on January 2021 ,20 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. (Getty Images)

similar to those in liberal democracies, they may ultimately help the CCP to justify its system of authoritarian governance. Another recent article in People’s Daily argues that cracking down on monopolistic companies is “good governance” in the Confucian tradition. The author cites a line from Mencius: “Without a compass and a square, [skilled masters] cannot form squares and circles.”

The implication is that even virtuous rulers cannot rule by virtue alone; they need tools, including laws and regulations, to govern. In this way, Beijing is just upholding its virtuous duty to use the tools at its disposal—in this case, antitrust actions aimed at reining in wayward monopolistic tech firms—to make the state as strong and powerful as possible. Actions against monopolistic tech firms in the United States that are viewed as essential to preserving democracy are, in the Chinese case, considered part and parcel of effective nondemocratic rule.

BIG TECH IN ITS PROPER PLACE

The CCP has always emphasized large-scale investment in technology. And now that China faces slowing economic growth and rising geopolitical tensions with numerous countries around the world, Chinese leaders are more concerned than ever about boosting original innovation to meet the need for technological independence from other countries.

In a speech in late January, Jiang Jinquan, the head of the CCP’s top policy office, appealed to private businesses to be a part of the “whole of country” effort to overcome China’s innovation shortcomings, saying the country would purchase successful results of private-sector R & D. Preventing the disorderly expansion of capital, then, does not mean opposing any accumulation of capital or monopoly power. It just means opposing capital accumulation that occurs outside the CCP’s planned innovation agenda.

Even though China’s antimonopoly actions appear

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China’s recent antitrust moves are best understood less as a sudden ideological shift toward fearing monopolies than as a warning shot across the bow of Big Tech. As top leaders reiterated since the crackdown on Ant Group and others in November, the party does not want to stop the development of platform companies or the growth of globally competitive private brands as long as they are expanding in an “orderly” direction. This could mean that the more obvious first target of Beijing’s antitrust efforts is to change companies’ behavior or implement a few regulatory safeguards against financial or systemic risks, rather than fundamentally breaking up their institutional structure.

Under the CCP, the enemy is not capital but its disorderly expansion. Because the CCP’s monopoly on political power gives it sole authority to define the public good, there is no reason why companies ought to be able to pursue private gains rather than the party’s goals. The recent antimonopoly actions in China are a forceful reminder to any large company that may have forgotten its proper place in the nation’s economic system: to follow the innovation direction of the party, not to use its own power to make money by navigating a different course.

This article was originally published on ForeignAffairs.com.

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Issue 1839- February- 12/02/2021

Aung San Suu Kyi: From Symbol of Peace to Genocide Denial www.majalla.com

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Abandoned Dogs in Jeddah Given New Leash of Life Open Paws Jeddah Have Been Rescuing and Rehoming Dogs in the Saudi City Since 2012

by Motasem Al Felou Mohammad, a -38year-old expat in Saudi Arabia, bought a dog from a pet shop in Jeddah, a coastal city on the Red

sea, three years ago. The dog was big and loud, and his children wanted a smaller dog to play and grow up with.

The father could not find a little puppy to buy for his demanding children.

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One day, he read an article on dog adoption and asked himself a question: “Why buy if I can adopt a rescue dog?”

The answer was Open Paws Jeddah (OPJ), a group that rescues and rehomes dogs in Jeddah founded in 2012.

OPJ Co-founder of Carmel Heydon and Adoption Coordinator Nour Fitiany were kind enough to take some time out of their day for this interview.

CANINE COMPANIONS American singer and songwriter Captain Beefheart, once said: “You can tell by the kindness of a dog how a human should be.”

But what makes dogs so special and lovable?

“They are loyal, forgiving, humble, and they heal physically and mentally faster than humans do. Their lives are simple, and they need very little from us to be happy. We have a lot to learn from dogs”, said Heydon and Fitiany.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

OPJ volunteer, Joannie (left) cleaning wounds of dog rescued from the street with extremely bad injuries. (Supplied)

“OPJ was created by a small group of expats in 2012. It ran on a foster-based system, with as many dogs as could be kept in the homes of the core group and their friends. All medical and daily costs came out of the pockets of those same few. Word was mostly spread through Facebook. All but Carmel have left, but since then many more people of various ages, nationalities, occupations and backgrounds have joined the team,” Heydon and Fitiany explained.

“Since 2014, we have a small private kennel, where we can keep some of the rescued dogs until foster or forever homes are found for them. We now have a website which has made it easier for people to apply to volunteer, foster or adopt and get a better idea about what we do,” they added.

OPJ have successfully taken in and rehomed more than 400 dogs, and have sent more than 40 dogs to be rehomed abroad. Due to their vast network, they have also been able to help countless dog owners who have lost their dogs, reunite with them.

UNWANTED AND ABANDONED Some dogs are left by their owners to fend for themselves on the streets. But what can lead to a dog being abandoned by the people they depend on to care for them?

“You would really need to ask the owners that! If only the dogs we rescue from the streets could talk! Unfortunately, they cannot, all we can do is guess based on the state we

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OPJ have successfully taken in and rehomed more than 400 dogs, and have sent more than 40 dogs to be rehomed abroad. Due to their vast network, they have also been able to help countless dog owners who have lost their dogs, reunite with them. find the poor dogs in.”, said Heydon and Fitiany.

“Most dogs that are rescued are male. Maybe people were tired of their behavior (marking and humping), maybe they ran out because they were looking to mate. Many are found with ticks, skin problems and no or extremely matted hair. It is possible they were kept outside, not given the proper care or diet, and when they started to smell and get sick, their owners got scared and just let them go out or dumped them. Many times, people want to travel and have no thoughts about what to do with the dog, so they see their only choice is to dump them,” they explained.

“About %35 of the dogs in our care are rescued from the street, %65 are surrendered by their previous owners due to quite often trivial reasons such as allergies, neighbors complaining, dog too energetic, no time for the dog, new baby, or they didn’t think it would be this much responsibility.”

STRICT ADOPTION CONDITIONS Open Paws Jeddah have strict conditions and specific qualifications that need to be met by potential adopters.

Some fail, others pass, and it might take the adopter more than one round of household inspection to get approved for adoption.

“We have strict conditions and qualifications because we want to ensure the dog is in the right environment that suits him/her with a person who can provide his/her needs while also avoiding as much as possible that the dog is abandoned for a second time. Many people are not ideal candidates due to their housing, lack of experience in the case of certain dogs, or have unrealistic expectations,” said Heydon and Fitiany.

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“We know that our process can hinder some people from adopting a dog from us, but more often it is just more proof maybe they are not serious or ready to have a dog”, they added.

Heydon and Fitiany say they have learnt valuable lessons over the years.

“With every dog rescued, surrendered and adopted, we are learning more and gaining more and more experience and always trying to improve and become more efficient. We have looked to international organizations for our process, application questions and adoption agreement terms (we have of course added our own touches to suit the local community trends and behaviors). We have also built strong relationships with overseas rescue groups and have sent to them those dogs that we were not able to adopt out locally or those who are more suited to a colder climate like huskies and malamutes,” they explained.

PANDEMIC PUPPIES Covid19- has affected every part of our lives, and that includes dog adoption.

“COVID- 19, especially the lockdown, has increased both foster carers and adopters because people were staying at home and were able to provide more time and companionship. This came in handy when we had to shut down our kennel for a few weeks as we were able to place the dogs in foster homes more easily,” they said.

However, there were concerns around the adoption process and destiny of the adopted dogs after the lockdown.

“Adoptions were difficult because we couldn’t perform home-visits which are an integral part of the adoption

“Sadly, after the lockdown, we had many dogs surrendered because people had bought them from pet shops and online sellers during the lockdown and now no longer had time for them.”

process. Moreover, we had to be sure that the potential adopters were thinking long-term past the lockdown when life went back to normal and not just about their free-time due to the situation. Sadly, after the lockdown, we had many dogs surrendered because people had bought them from pet shops and online sellers during the lockdown and now no longer had time for them,” the two ladies said.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND EXPANSION Saving dogs never comes without a cost. One of the questions that come to mind is how the costs of rescuing and fostering dogs are covered and where OPJ receives its funding from.

Heydon and Fitiany explained that the volunteers donate and pay from their own pockets to support a cause they believe in.

“We are still very much a group of volunteers who rescue and rehome dogs. We have a very good network of volunteers who rescue, foster and/or care for the dogs in our small private kennel and who actively look for good permanent homes for them. We are not yet receiving government funding but hope that will change in the future,” they said.

The group have been rescuing dogs in Jeddah since 2012, but currently have no plans to expand into other cities.

They do however work closely with other shelters and rescue groups across Saudi Arabia.

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Open Paws Jeddah (OPJ) volunteers posing with rescued dogs )Supplied(

Heydon, the Jeddah-based Australian co-founder, told me that she is incredibly proud of everything they have achieved: “I am so proud of what we have achieved and what we continue to achieve. First and foremost, of course, in the many dogs we have helped to a better life and the

Co-founder of OPJ Carmel Heydon with Adoption Coordinator Nour Fitiany )Supplied(

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many volunteers who have found joy and a purpose in giving back to our community. The friendships forged through the desire and passion for helping these dogs goes beyond age, experience, and background. As many of us will tell you - it gets into your blood.”

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ealth

Music to Your Health The Soothing and Motivational Sounds of Music Have Far Reaching Health Benefits

Harvard Health A favorite musical tune can stir up positive memories, boost your mood, and create a soothing, relaxing setting.

But used in specific ways, music also is a valuable tool for supporting your health.

«Whether you need to relax, increase your energy, improve

your thinking, or just get motivated for the day, music can provide extra support when you need it the most,» says Marisabelle Diaz-Falcon, a music therapist with Harvardaffiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Scientists have found that listening to music can stimulate various brain regions that change how you think and move.

«The right kind of music used in the right situation can enhance your emotional state as well as overall health,

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depending on your needs,» says Diaz-Falcon.

Here are some ways to tap into the power of music and how the right tunes can keep your health in a good rhythm.

EXERCISE Dreading a workout or have trouble staying motivated?

Turn up some high-tempo music. Research in the November 2019 Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that upbeat music can make a rigorous workout seem less challenging and more enjoyable.

In the study, people performed high-intensity interval training (HIIT), where they exercised at a high level followed by a brief rest period, and then repeated the cycle for a set amount of time. The group did three -10minute HIIT routines. For each workout, they listened to either fast-paced motivational music, an audio-only podcast, or nothing.

The exercisers in the music group reported enjoying their HIIT workout more than those in the other two groups.

They also did the workouts with greater intensity. The researchers speculated that high-tempo music alters the body›s natural biological rhythms -- you increase your pace and heart rate to match the music›s rhythm. In this way, music offers an extra physical boost when you feel unmotivated or fatigued.

Other research has shown that listening to high-tempo music reduces one›s perceived exertion, so it seems like exercise takes less effort.

FIND THAT TUNE There are many ways to access your favorite music and then download it to your computer or smartphone for listening. Examples include • Apple Music (www.music.apple.com) • iHeartRadio (www.iheart.com) • Pandora (www.pandora.com) • SoundCloud (www.soundcloud.com) • Spotify (www.spotify.com) • YouTube (www.youtube.com).

STRESS Next time you are nervous about a medical procedure, turn on some tunes. An analysis of 72 trials involving almost 7,000 patients published in the Oct. 2015 ,24, issue of The Lancetfound that patients who listened to music before, during, and after surgery reported less postoperative pain and less need for pain medication. Earlier studies had found that listening to music before and during an in-office procedure like a biopsy or dental work lowered people›s

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Music produces a calming effect by stimulating the brain,s pleasure region, prompting the release of chemicals like feelgood dopamine, pain-relieving endorphins, and moodsoothing serotonin. anxiety levels.

Music produces a calming effect by stimulating the brain›s pleasure region, prompting the release of chemicals like feel-good dopamine, pain-relieving endorphins, and moodsoothing serotonin. The right choice of music also appears to be necessary. People respond best to familiar music, according to Diaz-Falcon. «Melodies that are predictable can promote feelings of control and calm,» she says. «Many familiar songs also have an emotional component because they are associated with a positive memory.»

SLEEP Music has long served as a sleep aid, but waking up to a pleasant tone instead of a jarring alarm can reduce morning grogginess and improve alertness, suggests a study published online Jan. 2020 ,28, by PLoS One. Set your smartphone alarm to play soft, harmonic sounds or a soothing tune.

CONCENTRATION Many studies have shown that college students who listen to ambient sounds while studying have less anxiety, greater concentration, and better test scores. (Ambient sounds include nature sounds, soothing instrumental music like acoustic guitars, piano, and electronic tones.)

According to Diaz-Falcon, these sounds work because they offer a steady rhythm with no sudden and disrupting tempo changes. «This provides a calming environment and blocks distractions that can interfere with your thought process,» she says. «Ambient music is also believed to activate areas in your brain responsible for analytical thinking and creativity, as well as increasing the brain›s ability to absorb and retain information.» Try listening to ambient sounds the next time you face a complex task.

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Tackling Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness in the Middle East Specialists from 14 Arab Countries Launch Initiative to Educate and Prevent Delayed Diagnoses

by Amany M. Salem Most people experience of bone and muscle pain at a point during their adult life. The first idea that may come to their minds would certainly be a visit to an orthopedic (a bone doctor). But what if they are directed to the wrong doctor? It would mean more months or years of misdiagnosis and mistreatment, along with the accompanying frustration, pain and expenses.

Could some kinds of bone and muscle pain require treatment by other specialists?

«Our initiative aims to deliver information about rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in Arabic, English, and French to the Arab public and beyond,» Dr Lina El-Kibbi, Saudi-based Consultant Rheumatologist and Assistant Professor of Rheumatology in King Faisal University, told Majalla.

«16 rheumatologists representing 14 Arab countries are participating in the special interest group to address questions and enquiries about rheumatic diseases on our websites and social media,» says

Yes. There is a subspecialty of internal medicine that also deals with your musculoskeletal system: rheumatology.

This confusion moved a group of Arab rheumatologists to launch an initiative that would help spread awareness, inform the public about their specialization, and answer the most-asked questions.

The Arab Adult Arthritis Awareness Group (AAAA) launched under the umbrella Arab League of Association for Rheumatology (ArLAR) to raise awareness of rheumatic diseases and improve the health of patients affected by the disease.

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Dr Kibbi explained that it was essential to initiate a National Rheumatologist Day in the Arab region to educate the public on what a rheumatologist is and when to seek help. changes can help patients.

«Speakers are rheumatologists who are members of the AAAA group. We also tend to invite guest speakers from life coaches and clinical dietitians to fitness instructors, Yoga specialists, and Tai chi specialists,» she adds.

The webinars are streamed live on their social media platforms and through a zoom link that patients receive after they register for free.

Photos of rheumatologists participating from 14 Arab countries. (Supplied)

Dr Kibbi who co-founded the group with Dr Hussein Halabi, Director of Academic and Training Affairs in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah. These Arab countries involved are KSA, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Morocco, Oman, and Syria.

On October 28, 2020, the AAAA launched a campaign called ‘Be yourself’. They have delivered several webinars, and have planned similar events on February 15 and throughout the Spring.

«Each webinar has a unique theme which compliments the main theme of ‘Be Yourself’; they are all aimed at patients and the public,» Dr Kibbi said.

Along with dispelling misconceptions about rheumatic diseases, the webinars focus on the patient’s quality of life. They address the importance of taking medication and highlight the close relationship between sports and alleviating pain. Other lectures discuss the link between food and rheumatic diseases, and how simple lifestyle

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The group made two announcements this month.

The first was to declare February a month to unify awareness campaigns about rheumatic diseases in the Arab region. The second involved establishing the February 1 as an official National Rheumatologist Day in the participating Arab countries.

Dr Kibbi explained that it was essential to initiate a National Rheumatologist Day in the Arab region to educate the public on what a rheumatologist is and when to seek help. «Rheumatologists are highly skilled doctors trained to diagnose, manage and treat adult arthritis and rheumatic diseases,» she added.

In an attempt to solve the common problem of delayed diagnosis, Dr Kibbi encouraged people to visit a rheumatology clinic «when experiencing any joint pains that don’t correlate with past trauma.»

Dr Kibbi affirmed that early diagnosis and timely and correct treatment would spare the patients further complications.

In addition to publications, videos, and research released by the group on COVID 19 and rheumatic diseases, Dr Kibbi says the AAAA will launch a mobile app on March 8, 2021, marking the initiative’s first anniversary. The app will offer more services for patients in the Arab world.

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echnology

America’s New Vision of Astronauts

Once, American Astronauts Were White Men with Buzz Cuts. Now They’re Billionaires and a Few Lucky Normal People

by Marina Koren The mission had gone smoothly from start to finish. “Thanks for flying SpaceX,” an engineer

said as the spaceship splashed back down to Earth, prompting laughs in the mission-control room. SpaceX’s passengers, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, were experienced spacefarers,

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trained and employed by NASA, but they were the first people the private company had launched into orbit. The line was heavy with relief—we did it; we brought these astronauts home—and hope, the feeling of a long-distant goal coming into view. This could be the first of many flights, not just for astronauts, but for regular folks too.

Less than a year later, SpaceX is already planning to jump into that next era of spaceflight.

Elon Musk announced last week that the company will send four non-astronauts into orbit around Earth for a few days, perhaps as soon as the end of this year. The mission, the first all-civilian trip of its kind, will be led by Jared Isaacman, a founder and the CEO of Shift4 Payments, a payment-processing company.

Isaacman has chartered a SpaceX rocket and a Crew Dragon capsule for himself and three other passengers, and will serve as mission commander. He is a -37year-old tech billionaire and a licensed pilot who knows how to fly fighter jets, but he has never been to space.

Neither have the other passengers.

People watch as the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from 39A at launch pad NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April in Titusville, 2019 ,11 Florida (Getty)

One passenger, whom Isaacman has already picked, is a health-care worker who works with children with cancer, and she’s a cancer survivor herself. Another will be randomly selected this month in a raffle meant to raise millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The final passenger will be chosen in an online competition organized by Isaacman’s company.

When they step onto SpaceX’s craft, they will become a crew unlike any other in history. The question of who can be an astronaut has never been more open-ended. Half a century ago, the people who decided who went to space worked at NASA and other space agencies. Now they’re people rich enough to see the beauty of Earth against the darkness of space for themselves, and rich enough to decide who should come with them.

So unprecedented is this situation that when

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The financial prerequisites for spaceflight threaten to again narrow the population of people who get to go to space—the three passengers who paid 55$ million for their SpaceXrides are all white men. a reporter asked Musk at a recent press conference about how SpaceX plans to handle liability insurance for this kind of adventure, Musk wasn’t sure. “I think this may be [an] ‘at their own risk’ type of thing,” he said. “I don’t know.”

Astronauts have always been selected to represent a certain vision of America. In the beginning, they all worked for NASA. They had flown combat missions in wars. They were white men with buzz cuts. In the early 1960s, a Black Air Force pilot was in the running to become a NASA astronaut, but his training was marred by racism, and the agency didn’t select him, never providing an explanation why.

Around the same time, John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, said in a congressional hearing about gender discrimination in NASA’s astronaut program: “The men go off and fight the wars and fly the airplanes and come back and help design and build and test them. The fact that women are not in this field is a fact of our social order.” Twenty-four people have flown to the moon, and all were white men.

Over the years, this vision of astronauts has shifted. The first Black American and the first American woman flew on the space shuttle in 1983. Space-shuttle assignments eventually moved beyond historic firsts and toward diverse crews. NASA stopped referring to space travel as “manned,” favoring the more inclusive “crewed” or “human.” Last month, NASAannounced which of its astronauts will train specifically for a future moon mission; of

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the 18, half are women.

Private citizens have flown to space before, but they have always gone on government-owned spacecraft, and with trained astronauts at their side. They were simply rich enough to afford it, paying about 20$ million for the voyage.

Two American politicians flew on the shuttle in the 1980s, but they had something else going for them: Both men sat on the congressional committees in charge of NASA’s budget.

Last week, it was announced that three people had paid 55$ million each for SpaceX to fly them to the International Space Station for an eight-day visit, accompanied by a former astronaut. Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s space company, reportedly plans to charge 200,000$ to 300,000$ for trips to the edge of space, where passengers can experience a few minutes of weightlessness. Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s company, will charge 250,000$ for flights on its fleet of rocket-powered planes.

(Virgin Galactic has already flown a few of its employees high into the atmosphere and into weightlessness, and while they didn’t reach orbit, the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates space launches, considers them commercial astronauts.)

Isaacman won’t say how much he’s paying to charter his historic mission, but you can

Elon Musk announced last week that the company will send four non-astronauts into orbit around Earth for a few days, perhaps as soon as the end of this year.

certainly bet it’s a lot. The billionaire has introduced another factor into the criteria for being an astronaut—luck. There are still some basic restrictions, such as passing a medical screening and meeting height requirements for the cramped Dragon capsule. (“If you can go on a roller-coaster ride, like an intense roller-coaster ride, you should be fine for flying on Dragon,” Musk said.) Isaacman’s company plans to run a commercial during this weekend’s Super Bowl to advertise the mission, a PR move NASA has never tried. In the case of one of Isaacman’s passengers, the decision makers will be “a panel of independent judges” choosing who did the best job in an online competition involving something called the “Shift4Shop eCommerce platform.”

The financial prerequisites for spaceflight

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen in this time exposure from Cocoa Beach, Florida as it launches the company›s third Starlink mission on January 2020 ,6 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

(Getty)

assistance to gently dock to the station.

SpaceX has so far flown six professional astronauts, and more are scheduled to launch this spring. By the time Isaacson and his crew launch, the SpaceX astronaut program will be quite flight-tested and astronaut-approved. It will even be—and this is a remarkable thing to say about space travel—a little customizable.

More than once on the recent call with reporters, Musk deferred to Isaacman on questions about mission specifics such as the duration of the journey. “The mission parameters are up to Jared,” Musk said, before addressing the soonto-be mission commander: “If you decide later you want to do a different mission, you totally can.”

The rest of the press conference was similarly casual, even lighthearted. When Isaacman said that he would prepare the crew for Dragon’s cramped quarters by making them spend time together in a mountainside tent, Musk joked that “everyone’s got to eat a giant bean burrito.” One reporter asked whether SpaceX would bend some space-travel rules and allow passengers to bring champagne. This mood should not give anyone a false impression about human spaceflight. SpaceX might be ready to launch people into space on a regular basis, but that doesn’t mean the work is routine. It’s still dangerous. threaten to again narrow the population of people who get to go to space—the three passengers who paid 55$ million for their SpaceXrides are all white men—but Isaacman said that he’s aware the composition of his crew will send a message about who space is for.

“This absolutely will be diverse,” Isaacman said of his mission’s crew.

Isaacman and the other passengers will receive formal training from SpaceX, including emergency simulations. The Dragon capsule operates with more autonomy than perhaps any other crewed spacecraft in history; when Hurley and Behnken launched from Cape Canaverallast year, SpaceX flight software piloted them to the ISS. The astronauts took over manual control and maneuvered the capsule for a bit, to see how it handled, but the Dragon didn’t need their

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SpaceX knows this; over the years, employees have received briefings about the aftermath of the two space-shuttle disasters, which together killed 14 astronauts, and the launchpad fire during the Apollo program that killed three. “We hold the lives of people in our hands,” Benji Reed, the senior director for human-spaceflight programs at SpaceX, told me last year. “We take it very, very seriously.” The big reveal of Isaacman’s mission coincided with the 17th anniversary of the Columbia disaster. In the past, astronauts have matched the risk of spaceflight with a sense of mission, as representatives of nations. Any personal excitement about leaving the planet was buoyed by a feeling of duty.

When Isaacman and the rest of his crew strap in, they will be taking similar risks, but for new reasons.

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A Gun of Roses: Making Theatre Out of Poetry

Egyptian Poet Ahmed Haddad’s Short Play is a First in His 15 Year Career

by Amira El-Noshokaty Prominent Egyptian poet Ahmed Haddad performed his latest work entitled ‘A Gun of Roses’ this week.

Haddad took a step away from his usual operetta style poetry evenings, choosing instead to embrace a short play format, a first in his 15-year career.

“This is a different performance. It’s not a poetry musical, but more of a Reader’s Theatre and a step towards creating a theatrical play. Here we only used three long poems along with some songs, “Ahmed Haddad explained.

The short one-act play revolves a married couple

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about to get a divorce in a few hours. The performance breaks with societal stereotypes by presenting them as good friends who are sat on the couch to reflect upon the pivotal transition in their lives.

Accompanying Haddad on stage was prominent actress and singer Dalia El-Gendy. El-Gendy is one of the talented performers at the El-Warsha theatre troupe and one of the leading singers in Haddad’s Retro Band. With her powerful, enchanting voice and Haddad’s remarkable talent, the performance was a relaxed experience that sailed softly within the realm of love and marriage. The play was bursting with emotions displayed softly and sensitively.

“I need someone to aim at me with a gun of roses,” he told her as he subtly revealed the lack of passion and joy in their lives.

Wit, jealousy and common interests are all intricately discussed throughout their dialogue. There is no finger-pointing, though. They are both responsible for the decision and are contemplating it.

The dialogue is as eloquent as Haddad’s poetry. As the conversation between the couple drifts along the long memory lane, songs are carefully interwoven to complement and subtly shift the dialogue.

Actress and singer Dalia El-Ghenidy, and Egyptian Poet Ahmed Haddad during their latest performance: A Gun .of Roses )Photo by Ahmed Nassar(

The dialogue is as eloquent as Haddad’s poetry. As the conversation between the couple drifts along the long memory lane, songs are carefully interwoven to complement and subtly shift the dialogue. operetta form.

Haddad’s style has attracted many young people to his performance and reintroduced the concept of poetry evenings to the younger generations.

In addition to his performances in Egypt, Haddad has performed his poetry at the Egyptian Cultural Center in Paris 2010, and United Kingdom 20122013. In 2014 his Book of poetry Beshweish (Softly) was awarded best book of vernacular poetry by the General Egyptian Book Organization. In 2017, Ahmed Haddad created his band, named Retro, singing black and white movie songs and all-time classics in addition to his own lyrics.

‘Hot Karakibak, Ala Karakibi w Eba Habibi’ (Put all your belongings with mine and be my love), ‘Azizi Fulan’ (Dear Anonymous), ‘Sabah El-Kheir Ya Ezzat; (Good Morning Ezzat) and many more Since 2004, Ahmed Haddad’s name has been afof Haddad’s famous poems and songs were per- filiated with popular independent Egyptian music bands such as Fayrouz Karawya’s, Eskenderella, formed. and Wust El-Balad, as well as with mainstream artBorn in 1984, this talented young poet published his ists such Yehia Ghanam, Ali El-Haggar, Ahmed Elfirst vernacular book of poetry at 15. ‘El-Ward Elli Haggar and many more.

Beyetlaa’ (The flowers that bloom) was the first of six published poetry compilation books. His latest book ‘Mazag Seiadi’ (My Mood) was published in 2018.

Haddad’s studies at the High Cinema Institute in Cairo had a considerable influence on his poetry performance’s scriptwriting and direction.

It gave Haddad’s poetry performances a theatrical sense, where poetry is recited in a modern way and interwoven with songs that he wrote, creating a ‘musical’ script that leans very much towards the

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The Egyptian poet recently worked with renowned musician Mounir El-Weseimy on the opera ‘Tarh Al Bahr’ (What the sea brought), the first Egyptian opera to be played at the National Opera House of the Sultanate of Oman.

Haddad also wrote and directed several independent movies, in which his poetry and lyrics are quite vivid and outstanding.

Haddad’s new book of poetry ‘Al tawqiet Al Mahaly lemadinet Al-Bahga’ (The local time for the city of joy) will be published in the summer.

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Aung San Suu Kyi: From Symbol of Peace to Genocide Denial Majalla - London painted by Mekdad Aung San Suu Kyi is a Myanmar politician and 1991 Nobel laureate for Peace, who was severely criticised for her initial silence, then support of the government’s crackdown against the Muslim Rohingya minority in Myanmar. She held the office of the State Chancellor of Myanmar (which is equivalent to a prime minister) since 2016 till February 2021, when the military took over power and arrested her over claims of fraudulent results of the general elections.

Aung San Suu Kyi was born on June 19, 1945 in Burma. Her father Aung San was a politician and opposition leader who was assassinated by his rivals. Her mother was a diplomat who held several roles in the Burmese government after independence from the United Kingdom. Aung San Suu Kyi pursued her early studies in Burma, then in India.

Later, she attended Oxford University, where she met the British scholar Michael Aris, to whom she got married. She proceeded with her post-graduate studies and her family life.

In 1988, leaving her family abroad, she returned home and participated in the opposition movement against the military rule, and co-founded The National League for Democracy (NLD). In 1989, the military government of newly founded Union of Myanmar put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest in Yangon.

In 1991, while still under house confinement, she was awarded Nobel Price for Peace, which her sons accepted in her behalf. However, she stated that her resort to non-violence was a political tactic, as she said later, “I do not hold to non-violence for moral

reasons, but for political and practical reasons.”

She was set free in July 1995, then arrested again in early 2000s. Her continued detention was met with protests and calls for release while the international community labelled it illegal in 2009. In 2010, in solidarity with her, after a new law was passed to ban any candidate whose spouse or children are foreigners from running for office, the NLD didn’t participate in the general elections against the military which won easily without major opposition. After that, she was released promising to keep her opposition to the junta.

Restrictions on her political life were loosened, as she was able to travel outside Yangon and met with politicians of her country and other high-profile figures. In 2012, the government approved her election bid and she easily won.

Since then, Suu Kyi has kept a high international profile, while she advocated more political freedoms in Myanmar. Though some progress was achieved, her efforts stopped short of changing the constitutional rule that bans her from becoming President.

In 2016, the NLD secured a parliament majority that allow it to form the government. Hence, she decided to rule from a back seat, selecting her confidant to be president. Few weeks later, she was assigned a new post, the State Chancellor, that was introduced by a legislation bill and signed into by the president.

Since appointed as State Chancellor, her tenure is mostly marred by the treatment of Muslim Rohingya minority of Rakhine state.

Her government refused to recognise the Rohingya people as an official ethnic group in Myanmar, so Rohingya cannot apply for citizenship and few laws exist to protect their rights. Suu Kyi even once asked

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the US ambassador not to use the term “Rohingya” as her government doesn’t acknowledge this Muslim population, who has lived in Myanmar for generations, among its 135 official ethnic minorities.

In 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh due to military crackdown sparked by deadly attacks on police stations in Rakhine state.

The crackdown resulted in civilian casualties, arbitrary beatings and detentions of ethnic Rakhines, forced seizures of property, and blockage of food aid and medical relief.

In 2017, she refused the Arakan Liberation Party’s several proposals to hold a national political dialogue, which was a mandatory step of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

She was called upon by former international supporters and other public figures such as the Dalai Lama and Malala Yousefzai to intervene and end the plight of the Rohingya, but she did nothing to stop the rape, murder and possible genocide. Moreover, she defended the army actions and refused to acknowledge accounts of atrocities at the International Court of Justice in Hague, which was a turning point for her world reputation that some Human-rights advocates launched a petition to revoke her Nobel Prize, and accused her of “legitimising genocide.”

As the world watched the horrific expulsion and mass murder of the Rohingya people, Aung San Suu Kyi defended the army that kept her under house arrest for about 15 years, describing generals in her cabinet as “rather sweet”. Three years on, she sits under house arrest once again.

Currently, most international reactions to the military coup which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi came in her favor, as western countries call for the reinstatement of her government.