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News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 03 Issue 60 Dec. 01, 2021
Tournaments suspended in China over Peng Shuai allegations by WTA
Courtesy: UPI
Courtesy: Yahoo TL Bureau, St. Petersburg The Women’s Tennis Association declared Wednesday that it will not hold competitions in China in light of the nation’s treatment of star Peng Shuai’s rape claims. The suspension applies to competitions held in Hong Kong, also. Peng, a previous world’s No. 1 duplicates player, charged previous Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of rape via online media stage Weibo on Nov. 2. Allies communicated worry that she wasn’t seen freely after she made the allegation, yet China sorted out for her to participate in a video call with International Olympic Committee head Thomas Bach on Nov. 21. WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon blamed Beijing for controlling Peng’s claims and neglecting to completely examine the supposed rape. “Shockingly, the initiative in China has not resolved this intense issue in any dependable
manner,” he said. “While we presently know where Peng is, I have genuine questions that she is free, protected and not expose to restriction, pressure and terrorizing. “The WTA has been sure about what is required here, and we rehash our require a full and straightforward examination - without control - - into Peng Shuai’s rape allegation.” Simon said that stifling the voices of ladies and overlooking claims of rape would cause an “tremendous misfortune” for the WTA. “I’m not sure how I can request that our competitors contend there when Peng Shuai isn’t permitted to impart unreservedly and has apparently been compelled to go against her charge of rape,” he said. “Given the present status of undertakings, I am additionally incredibly worried about the dangers that our players in general and staff could confront if we somehow happened to hold occasions in China in 2022.”
Allowing Belarus border nations to detain asylum seekers for upto 16 weeks: EU proposed TL Bureau, Brussels The European Union on Wednesday proposed permitting three nations lining Belarus to broaden handling times for individuals looking for refuge. Under the proposition, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland would be allowed to broaden the enrollment time frame for refuge applications to about a month, up from the current time of three to 10 days, while likewise permitting individuals to be held in exceptional haven handling habitats for as long as 16 weeks rather than four. “Today, to ensure our boundaries and to secure individuals, we are giving adaptability and backing to Member States to deal with this crisis circumstance,
without thinking twice about common freedoms,” said Ylva Johansson, chief for Home Affairs. The cycle would apply to the three countries for just 6th months whenever allowed endorsement by all EU part states.The actions come as Poland and the European Union have blamed Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko for attracting weak individuals from the Middle East to Belarus and afterward transporting them to the EU line, prompting the demise of a youthful Syrian last month. Margaritis Schinas, EU VP for Promoting our European Way of Life, considered the strategy a “mixture assault coordinated at our Union.” “By and large, the EU clarified that endeavors to subvert our Union will just set our fortitude with each
other,” she said. Freedoms bunches on Wednesday reprimanded the crisis measures with Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s Europe chief, saying the coalition was permitting the three nations “to toss out the rulebook because of the presence of a couple thousand individuals at its boundary. Erin McKay of Oxfam approached EU pioneers to shun making the interaction more hard for haven searchers. “Halting, confining and condemning individuals attempting to observe security in Europe oversteps worldwide and European haven law,” McKay said. “Supporting the detainment of travelers at EU borders puts governmental issues over individuals’ lives.”
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esperate Lebanon needs to observe new wellsprings of financing to continue to give medical services to a damaged populace battling with deficiencies of meds, soaring hospitalization costs and a departure of specialists and attendants, Health Minister Firas Abiad said in a meeting with UPI. Abiad, who reported recently a progressive lifting of appropriations on prescriptions, including some for constant ailments, said late Monday the country’s exceptional monetary emergency has left the medical care framework in “an unstable circumstance.” Just $25 million is passed on to purchase drugs and $10 million to buy clinical supplies and clinical natural substance. “We can’t buy all what we need... It all relies upon the financing that the public authority has. Plainly Lebanon needs to track down wellsprings of financing,” Abiad said. After much postponement and a bombed endeavor in July 2020, Lebanon has as of late continued exchanges with the International Monetary Fund on a recuperation plan that would empower it to address the financial emergency and prepare for global help. Lebanon has been confronting a profound, intensified emergency since October 2019 that brought about taking off neediness and joblessness, with the Lebanese pound losing in excess of 90% of its worth and a large portion of its areas falling in a steady progression. With decreasing unfamiliar money stores and deficiency of U.S. dollars, the public authority is running out of assets and can’t keep endowments. “This is the reason we are having the discussions with the IMF and other monetary bodies. We want those discussions to have the option to begin getting a few assets so we can apportion them,” Abiad said, adding that financing is at the center of all issues confronting Lebanon. “By the day’s end, assuming you don’t have the monetary assets, your entire life is being impacted. This is what’s going on with our framework,” he said. “To tackle these issues is to have the
Lebanon’s health system is deteriorating option to get finance, with the goal that we can keep offering types of assistance.” Appropriation cuts have incredibly affected a devastated populace. Drug specialists in Beirut say individuals can at this point don’t bear to purchase their prescriptions and are compelled to pick the most affordable and skip others endorsed by their primary care physicians. Abiad, nonetheless, noticed that his service is “sans making meds,” gave by the World Health Organization and unfamiliar nations, accessible at essential medical care communities. “Individuals began to go now for those focuses, so they can get their meds for nothing,” he said. “We are not left all alone. There are heaps of nations supporting us and sending us drugs. In any case, toward the day’s end, our job should rely upon what we do and not what different nations will offer.” By supporting the country’s clinical industry, the wellbeing priest trusts a great deal of meds would be delivered locally and be accessible at lower costs. “Everything relies truly upon our disposition and how to tackle this issue. In emergency times, there are consistently openings, however you need to accept these open doors. It is safe to say that we will do that? I trust so,” he said. With hospitalization costs additionally soaring, more individuals are looking for clinical consideration at the public emergency clinics since “individuals can’t stand to go to the private medical clinics” any longer. A new report directed at the public authority run Rafik Hariri University Hospital showed an increment of 30% to 40% in patients going to its trauma center, a sign of a huge shift from private to public emergency
clinics. As indicated by comments by a WHO official in Lebanon in September, neglected bills by the public authority to both private and general wellbeing areas is undermining the manageability of wellbeing administrations and expanding wellbeing monetary difficulty on weak populaces. The United Nations organization noticed that the Lebanese Health Ministry should cover medical services for at minimum 70% of the populace (contrasted with 48% preceding the current emergency) as joblessness and destitution are rising. WHO additionally assessed that around 15% to 17% of 20 000 enrolled medical caretakers have left the country in the course of recent months, while more than 1,000 have been laid off. In addition, around 40% of clinical specialists, chiefly subject matter experts, have for all time emigrated or are chipping away at low maintenance premise outside the country. “Deficiencies in the medical care benefits because of the way that specialists and attendants are leaving is another test,” Abiad said. “That truly left our medical
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care framework in a dubious circumstance.” Drawing in them back will not be simple this time. “A ton of our clinical staff, when they leave and set up a good foundation for themselves outside, it won’t be simple for them to return, particularly that the justifications for why they left are still near,” the wellbeing priest said. “Without fixing the economy, without fixing the country, the justifications for why those individuals have left remain.” Another arising wellbeing concern is the quantity of COVID-19 cases that began to rise once more, with just 40% of the populace completely immunized. “The arrangement is to support up our inoculation, by opening up our focuses and eliminating all impediments, so that all age gatherings can come and get immunized,” Abiad said. The emphasis will be on the main areas, including training, “to permit our schools to stay open.” Lebanon actually has “an enormous number of immunizations” that were gotten by a World Bank credit the year before.Yet, to keep away from last year’s sensational expansion in Covid cases following Christmas and New Year merriments, Abiad said the wellbeing service was attempting to expand the limit of the emergency clinics “to ensure that we don’t have a redundancy of what happened a year ago.”Lebanon has enlisted 668,605 Covid cases and 8,716 passings since the episode of the pandemic.
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3 Mexico Registers 296 More COVID-19 Deaths and 3,307 New Cases TL Bureau, Mexico City Mexico’s health ministry on Tuesday reported 296 more deaths from COVID-19 in the country and 3,307 additional cases, bringing the overall death toll since the pandemic began to 294,246 and the number of infections to 3,887,873, Reuters reported.
Brazil registers 305 new COVID-19 deaths TL Bureau, Rio De Janeiro
Brazil registered 305 new COVID-19 deaths and 9,710 additional confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to data released on Tuesday by the Health Ministry. In tota l, Brazil has now reported 614,681 deaths due to COVID-19, the world’s second highest death toll behind only the United States, Reuters reported.
Algeria records 187 new cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Algiers
Algeria today reported 187 new infections of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and seven deaths over the past 24 hours. In a statement, the Algerian Ministry of Health said that the total corona cases in the country amounted to 210531 while the death tally hit 6071.
COVID-19 UPDATE TL Bureau, New Delhi
123.25 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive Recovery Rate currently at 98.35%; Highest since March 2020 10,116 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,40,18,299 6,990 new cases in the last 24 hours; lowest in 551 days India’s Active caseload stands at 1,00,543; lowest in 546 days Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.29%; Lowest since March 2020 Daily positivity rate (0.69%) less than 2% for last 57 days Weekly Positivity Rate (0.84%) less than 1% for last 16 days 64.13 cr Total Tests conducted so far
world
ZF digitalizes rescue forces with ZF Rescue Connect
TL.Bureau, Friedrichshafen
n First manufacturer-independent connectivity solution for Seconds can be crucial in saving widespread use by rescue forces lives during the rescue operation after an accident. The better and faster the emergency management n Networks all persons involved in the operation together with and rescue forces are informed important data from rescue vehicles and equipment about the accident victims and the status of all rescue vehicles n Connectivity solution developed by ZF as part of its Data Venture and equipment involved, the more Accelerator effectively they can help. The new digital solution ZF Rescue Connect networks rescue forces independent solutions can also be transmitters and receivers connect time and facilitates informed with each other during their beneficial for organizations with the people, vehicles and equipment decision-making according to the operations and provides them with security tasks as well as for state to the cloud via mobile network current situation. Established technologies for new all important status information and federal authorities. ZF Rescue communications. Connect supports emergency Rescue workers involved in the markets of the deployed vehicles and services and decision-makers operation carry their personal Based on years of experience with equipment in real time. “With ZF Rescue Connect, we are alike in dealing with everyday ‘ZF CrewTAG’ with them so that digital telematics solutions for offering the first comprehensive, tasks as well as major incidents, they are visible on a digital map buses and commercial vehicles, reducing total cost of ownership during the entire operation. The ZF has developed the ZF Rescue manufacturer-independent connectivity solution for rescue and accelerating and focusing accident victims each receive a ‘ZF Connect connectivity solution for a LifeTAG’ from the first arriving market in which no comprehensive, forces in Europe,” explains Florian response. Manufacturer-independent cloud rescuers until they are safely cared manufacturer-independent and Freund, responsible for the ZF solution for. The emergency vehicles and affordable connectivity solution Rescue Connect development. The solution is based a European important equipment are equipped has been available to date. The “Delivering a scalable digital solution based on our pan-European cloud platform, which the with corresponding On-Board solution was developed in the ZF ‘Internet of Things’ cloud makes technology group ZF operates Units. ZF offers the transmitters Data Venture Accelerator, which is the ZF digital service so valuable together with other well-known and receivers either as original a worldwide hub for digital business and affordable for widespread use,” industry partners, such as MP-BOS equipment for vehicles and rescue within ZF’s Corporate Research says Dr. Gahl Berkooz, Head of GmbH and Eurocommand GmbH, equipment or as a manufacturer- and Development department. It the ZF Digital Venture Accelerator for the rescue organizations. Here, independent retrofit solution. was set up to support and accelerate all data about accident victims, Solutions from other suppliers can product developments whose ideas and Data Monetization. The digital solution is specially the rescue forces deployed, the also be integrated into the cloud and concepts have successfully designed for manufacturers of rescue vehicles and the rescue via standardized communication proven their added value and emergency vehicles, rescue equipment converge can be interfaces. The central ‘dashboard’ technological feasibility - from equipment and mission-specific accessed by the operations center clearly summarizes the information initial realizations to mature digital software. Manufacturer- via a ‘dashboard’. Small electronic for the incident command in real products and services.
Government establishes testing requirement for travellers Ministry arriving from countries at high risk of new strain of coronavirus of Health TL Bureau, Tallinn has named the following eight day after their arrival. If the results Reports countries in southern Africa as of both tests are negative, they no 32 New By government decree, all travellers risk countries in regard to the longer have to isolate. arriving in Estonia from countries Omicron strain of coronavirus: Until notification of a negative where there is a heightened risk Botswana; e-Swatini; Lesotho; test result is obtained, both COVID-19 of becoming infected with the Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; vaccinated and unvaccinated new strain of coronavirus known the Republic of South Africa; and people must remain in their homes Cases, 28 as Omicron will have to undergo Zimbabwe. For epidemiological or accommodation. Recoveries in testing from 1 December. Prime reasons, the Estonian Health Board Anyone who is unwilling to test for Minister Kaja Kallas explained that has added Egypt and Turkey to the coronavirus upon arriving from a Saudi Arabia initially this requirement will remain list of risk countries. Testing will risk country must self-isolate for in force for a period of two weeks, until 15 December (inclusive). Prime Minister Kaja Kallas: “The government’s aim in imposing the requirement is to restrict the spread of Omicron until we have gained more detailed scientific information about the strain,” the head of government said. “In that regard we are awaiting data on just how infectious Omicron is and how serious its impact is in comparison with the Delta strain. Vaccination is more important than ever. Now is the time for those who are as yet unvaccinated to get themselves inoculated, and anyone waiting for a booster shot is recommended to get it as soon as possible. Our greater aim is to keep society as open as we can going forward by preventing the spread of the virus.” The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
become mandatory for all travellers coming from these countries from tomorrow, regardless of whether they arrive in Estonia by air, land or sea. Arrivals from Omicron risk countries must get tested or self-isolate Those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the last 12 months or who have contracted and recovered from the illness in the last six months do not need to self-isolate if they take a PCR test immediately upon arriving in the country and the test returns a negative result. Those who are unvaccinated or who have not contracted and recovered from COVID-19 can shorten the 10-day isolation period by getting tested. To do this, they must take an initial PCR test immediately upon arriving in Estonia and a repeat test no sooner than on the sixth
a period of 10 days. Tests can be taken at Tallinn Airport as well as at all other coronavirus testing sites, a list of which can be found online at https://koroonatestimine.ee/ testimispunktid/. Testing is free of charge for residents of Estonia. The testing requirement applies to all travellers irrespective of their mode of arrival in Estonia. The testing and isolation requirement does not extend to those passing through Estonia as a transit country. The new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 was detected in Botswana on 11 November and in the Republic of South Africa on 14 November. The strain, which has since been named Omicron, has more mutations in total than the Delta variant in regions associated with the spread of and repeated infection with the virus.
TL Bureau, Riyadh
The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the registration of 32 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 28 recoveries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past 24 hours. The ministry added that the number of critical cases reached 40. The ministry’s statistics showed that the total number of infections in the country reached 549,752, while the recovery tally reached 538,913. The MoH reported two new deaths, bringing fatalities tally in the Kingdom to 8,836. The Ministry of Health advised everyone to contact the toll free (937) for consultations and inquiries around the clock, and to obtain health information and services.
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world
Prime Minister announces reappointment of Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism
TL bureau, Ottawa
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the reappointment of the Honourable Irwin Cotler as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. This reappointment is for a term of up to one year. Mr. Cotler was first appointed as Special Envoy on November 23, 2020, after a long career dedicated to fighting racism, antisemitism, and hate, including as Minister of
Justice and Attorney General of Canada, a Parliamentarian, a recognized scholar, and an international human rights lawyer. As Special Envoy, Mr. Cotler plays a critical role in advancing our work on combatting antisemitism at home and abroad and preserving Holocaust remembrance. This includes his leadership of the Government of Canada’s delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). In the first year of his role, Mr. Cotler moved forward on a number
of priorities, including coconvening the National Summit on Antisemitism and supporting the Canadian delegation to the Malmö International Forum and Canada’s Pledges on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. In this continued role, he will contribute his vast experience to the strengthening and promotion of Holocaust education, remembrance, and research, at home and abroad. He will also keep advocating and supporting outreach efforts with Canadians, civil society, Parliamentarians,
and academia to advance the adoption and implementation of the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism in Canada and internationally. The Government of Canada created the position of Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism last year, as part of its commitment to reinforce national and international efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and the stories of survivors while combatting antisemitism, hatred, and racism. This work is part of the government’s
commitment to promote and defend democracy, pluralism, inclusion, and human rights. Antisemitism is still a lived experience for Jewish communities in Canada and around the world, and its new and resurgent forms require constant vigilance and action. The Government of Canada remains unwavering in its commitment to challenge antisemitism, hatred, and racism wherever and whenever they occur. By learning from our past, we can build a more just and inclusive future for everyone.
Finland elected Chair of the The United States and Egypt Sign New Memorandum Organization for Security and of Understanding on Cultural Property Protection Co-operation in Europe for 2025 TL bureau, Washington, D.C.
TL Bureau, Helsinki
On 30 November 2021, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) elected Finland to chair the organisation in 2025. The year 2025 will mark the 50 anniversary the Helsinki Final Act adopted at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. The upcoming OSCE Chairmanship is a concrete recognition of Finland’s work for and commitment to the promotion of peace and stability in Europe. During its Chairmanship, Finland wants to strengthen the OSCE’s
activities as a European security organisation and to promote dialogue and cooperation in the spirit of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe organised in Helsinki. Finland chaired the OSCE previously in 2008. The current OSCE Chairmanship is held by Sweden, which will pass the baton to Poland at the turn of the year. In the OSCE, the 57 participating States take decisions by consensus. The foreign ministers of the participating States of the OSCE will convene for an annual meeting of the Ministerial Council in Stockholm on 1–3 December.
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Transatlantic Quad Foreign Ministers
TL Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, and UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss, representatives of the Transatlantic Quad, in Riga, Latvia. Secretary Blinken and the Quad foreign ministers discussed the threats to Europe,
including Russia’s concerning moves towards Ukraine. The Secretary and foreign ministers also discussed their concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and the effort to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as talks continue in Vienna. The Secretary noted that he looked forward to continuing discussions to address global challenges at the second G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in Liverpool.
Office of the Spokesperson
Today, the United States and Egypt signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue the protection of Egypt’s cultural property for an additional five years. The MOU was signed in Cairo by U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of
Egypt Jonathan R. Cohen, and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt Mostafa Waziri. The new MOU supersedes an agreement signed in 2016 and expands protections to include additional categories of cultural objects from Egypt. The United States is a committed partner in preserving, restoring, and protecting Egypt’s cultural heritage. The MOU will
facilitate continued direct cooperation between law enforcement and efforts to identify, interdict, and return trafficked cultural heritage from Egypt. This agreement strengthens protections for Egypt’s rich cultural heritage and reinforces our shared commitment to disrupt the trafficking of Egypt’s archaeological artifacts and cultural objects.
to stand alongside Romania as NATO Allies, working together to overcome the threats and challenges of today and tomorrow, in both the Black Sea region and beyond. We thank Romania for its steadfast commitment to defending peace and freedom around the world, including in Afghanistan. We look forward to building on Secretary of Defense Austin’s visit to Bucharest in October, Foreign Minister Aurescu’s visit
to Washington, D.C. in November, and our recent successful Strategic Dialogue. President Iohannis’s announcement at COP26 that Romania will be one of the first to deploy a small modular reactor based on U.S. technology is a great example of the promise and potential for even greater collaboration between our two nations. I wish the people of Romania a happy national day and peace and prosperity in the year ahead.
Romania National Day TL bureau, Washington, D.C.
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the Romanian people as you celebrate Great Union Day, the anniversary of the unification of your country. Romania and the United States enjoy a longstanding partnership built on shared values, common interests, and strong people-topeople connections. We are proud
United States Hosts December 2-8 Lead-Up Events in Advance of Summit for Democracy
TL Bureau, Washington D.C.
Office of the Spokesperson President Biden pledged to host a Summit for Democracy to reinforce our commitment to placing democracy and human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. It reflects President Biden’s deeply held belief that to tackle the world’s
most pressing challenges, democracies must come together, learn together, stand together, and act together. The December 9-10 virtual Summit will bring together 110 participants, representing diverse democratic governing experiences around the world, as well as civil society and private sector leaders. In advance of the virtual Summit,
the United States — represented by Departments and agencies across the U.S. Government — will join a wide spectrum of advocates, journalists, private sector, and members of civil society from around the world, as well as lawmakers and local government officials, in hosting official side events about democratic renewal.
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Singapore
Top-ups by CPF members NIE NTU CELEBRATES LEADERS IN crosses $4 billion before EDUCATION PROGRAMME GRADUATION the end of 2021 TL Bureau, Singapore City
Number of first-time toppers doubled compared to last year
TL Bureau, Singapore City 1. The amount of top-ups made by CPF members to their CPF accounts has crossed $4 billion for the first time. This surpasses the record $3 billion in top-ups made by 140,000 CPF members under the Retirement Sum Topping-Up Scheme (RSTU)1 last year. As at Nov 20212, more than 220,000 members topped up more than $4 billion to their own or their loved ones’ retirement savings. 2. Of the CPF members who made top-ups, more than half of them (over 127,000), were first timers who had either topped up for themselves or for their loved ones. The number of first timers has already doubled compared to the whole of 2020 and 1 in 2 are above 50 years old. 3. “I started topping up my CPF recently after learning more about the benefits from my friend as well as researching and reading up on my own. I wish I had learned all these earlier as I would have put in more into my CPF savings earlier to enjoy higher monthly payouts
when I retire in two years. Now, wherever possible, I will share my experience with my friends and family. I’m glad that some have taken my advice and started making top-ups to maximise their CPF savings,” explained Mdm Jenny Lim, 63 years old. 4. Group Director from the Retirement Income Group, Mrs Tan Chui Leng said, “We are heartened that more CPF members are taking concrete steps to save more for higher payouts during their retirement. We encourage our younger members to do so early as their retirement savings will more than double in 20 years with the attractive interest rate of up to 5%.” 5. For greater convenience and faster crediting, members can top up electronically via the CPF website or CPF mobile app. Topups need not be in a lump sum and can also be made in small amounts via GIRO throughout the year. We have also implemented eGIRO, which allows members to submit their GIRO application digitally and have it approved almost instantaneously.
NIE NTU Celebrates Leaders in Education Programme Graduation 31 Singapore school leaders will be graduating from the Leaders in Education Programme (LEP) at a ceremony held on 1 December 2021 where Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, is the Guest-of-Honour. The LEP is a programme that enables its graduates to lead schools to higher level of
educational excellence. This programme supports graduates to be better prepared for the challenges and demands of the fast-changing system today. The programme takes place over the span of seven months, and the main parties that contribute to this collaborative effort includes NIE academics, MOE staff and principal mentors. Three of the graduands will also receive a prize or award for exemplifying the highest
level of learning related to curriculum leadership; highest performance in the Creative Action Project (CAP); and best overall performance in LEP from the Education Minister. For more information about the recipients of the awards and prize, please refer to Annex A. The Valedictorian for this year’s cohort is Ms Ho Hil May, who is also the award recipient for the Lee Kuan Yew Leaders in Education Programme Award.
Labour Force in Singapore Advance Release 2021
TL Bureau, Singapore City
While the labour market gradually recovered in 2021, it has not returned to pre-COVID conditions. Key highlights of the LFAR 2021 include: Employment rates for residents aged 15 & over rebounded from 64.5% in June 2020 to 67.2% in June 2021. In particular, the employment rate of seniors aged 65 and above continued to increase at a faster pace. With the progressive increase of retirement and re-employment ages starting from 2022, we want to give senior workers the flexibility to stay employed if they wish to, and we expect to see the employment rate for seniors continue to rise. Real incomes rose – in particular, real income of full-time workers at
the 20th percentile rebounded significantly, and surpassed pre-COVID levels after including Workfare Income Supplement-related payouts. This is the result of strong support from the tripartite partners. While resident unemployment rates improved – standing at 3.4% in October 2021 - they have yet to return to pre-COVID rates. Similarly, long-term unemployment rates remained elevated compared to pre-COVID levels. The Government and tripartite partners will press on with the transformation efforts and take a long-term view to look at how industries and job roles will change. Businesses can invest in reskilling workers through programmes such as the Career Conversion Programmes, and refer to the Jobs Transformation Maps for various sectors to plan ahead for future jobs and skills.
LOCAL MEDIA TALENT AND CONTENT CREATORS PARTNER INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS TO REACH GLOBAL AUDIENCES LOCAL MEDIA TALENT AND CONTENT CREATORS PARTNER INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS TO REACH GLOBAL AUDIENCES
TL Bureau, Singapore City Building on their strong track record of successful made-withSingapore creative projects, Singapore media companies Beach House Pictures and Clover Films are partnering global players to co-create content for a global audience. The partnerships, facilitated under the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s enhanced Capability Partnership Programme (CPP), will see Beach House Pictures creating a series of premium documentaries for international over-the-top (OTT) platforms and broadcasters including CuriosityStream. Meanwhile, Clover Films will be partnering iQIYI on a slate of online films. The partnerships are expected to benefit more than 80 local SMEs and more than 500 media talent through job creation and opportunities for upskilling in the next two years. Netflix, with support from IMDA,
will be organising a Series Writing Workshop in the first quarter of 2022. Up to 20 writers from Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia will participate in the virtual workshop, which aims to help writers sharpen their series writing abilities. The workshop will be conducted by industry experts Christopher Mack, Director of Grow Creative at Netflix, and screenwriter and producer Joe Peracchio. Guest speakers such as writers behind Netflix’s popular series expected to be added to the exciting line-up. These new initiatives were announced by Minister for Communications and Information, Mrs Josephine Teo, the guestof-honour of the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore (SS), held as part of the annual IMDA-hosted Singapore Media Festival (SMF). Minister Teo, in her opening address, also shared that six new Southeast Asia Co-Production films have been selected for IMDA’s
Talent Progression Programme (TPP) Content Development grant. These comprise two collaborations each with Malaysia and Thailand, and one collaboration each with Philippines and Vietnam. The films are helmed by five Singapore producers from Akanga Film Asia, August Pictures, E&W Films, Threesixzero Productions and Zhao Wei Films, and are anticipated for completion between 2022 and 2023. Mr Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive, IMDA, said, “A compelling story can bring magic - move you, give you purpose. Through our initiatives we want to make Singapore the place where media businesses and content creators can come together to co-create magical Asian stories for the world.” Bringing Singapore Online Content Creators Global In recognition of the potential opportunities of the creator economy, IMDA is also looking at how to help local online creators
reach global audiences and capture value from overseas markets. The VidCon Summit Asia held on 25 November celebrated local online creators who have established themselves as Singapore’s most influential creators, where their successes were recognised in their respective niches and creators such as Jian Hao Tan, Dharni, Annette Lee were spotlighted based on data from Tubular across various categories. To better understand the creator economy, IMDA will be studying the new media value chain and ecosystem to identify areas of opportunities for Singapore creators. The study is expected to be completed by June 2022. Additionally, IMDA will partner YouTube and also explore collaboration with Creative Service Providers such as Titan and KOBE, to provide training and mentorship to build the capabilities of our top local online creators in areas such as content marketing, audience engagement and data
analytics to generate targeted opportunities for monetisation. Through this programme, which will be launched in 2022, IMDA will also be intensifying its efforts to nurture a growing local pool of skilled manpower to support the growth of the media industry, including the new media sector, through collaborations with the industry. Bringing Asan Storytelling to the World with SMF 2021 SMF, hosted by IMDA, returns in a hybrid format from 25 November to 5 December, offering a refreshed line-up of events that reimagines Asian storytelling and takes it to the global stage. SMF will include constituent events such as the highly soughtafter Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), ScreenSingapore (SS), and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). This year’s 11-day event also marks the return of VidCon Asia Summit (VidCon) and Singapore Comic Con (SGCC).
6
MALAYSIA & NEARBY
Intel Artificial Intelligence For Universities (AI4U) Programme Empowers Tertiary Students With Future-Ready AI Capabilities TL Bureau, Kuala Lumpur The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), in collaboration with Intel Malaysia and the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), successfully organised a virtual launching of the Intel Artificial Intelligence for Universities (AI4U) Programme today. The event is a continuation of Intel’s pilot Artificial Intelligence for SMEs (AI4S) Programme, launched earlier in January 2021. The AI4U Programme is an initiative that is set out to introduce an ‘AI-based machine vision’ to the university community. Parallel to the Malaysian Government’s aspirations of preparing the country and its youths for the future, the programme supports the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) to advance digital economy, normalise digitalisation for inclusive development, accelerate Research, Development, Commercialisation and Innovation, as well as to capitalise on emerging technologies. As a commitment under the recently tabled Budget 2022 to improve the quality of education, the AI4U
Notice CONTINUATION OF FULL BOUND CLOSURE AND ACTIVATION OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES ALONG JALAN KEPONG GARDEN (SELAYANGBOUND, PEKAN KEPONG-BOUND AND TAMAN KEPONG GARDEN-BOUND) Date: 25 November 2021 - 17 February 2022 Time: 10:00 pm – 6:00 am
Programme is a testament to Intel Malaysia’s continuous commitment in bridging the gap between the needs of the industry and the supply of young local talents. This is expected to benefit young graduates and the underprivileged further through technical and vocational education and training. In his opening remarks, Mr. Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Investment Promotion and Facilitation, MIDA, emphasised the importance of cultivating an ‘AI mindset’ among university graduates, especially those without a background in computer science. Effectively, the programme is expected to shatter the traditional notion that AI is only for ‘techies’. “I am confident that this initiative developed by MIDA, Intel and MPC will serve as a catalyst to the local universities and education centres in proactively creating a new generation of AI-savvy Malaysians who are primed to propel the nation towards achieving Industry 4.0,” he said. Mr. Sivasuriyamoorthy further expressed his hopes that the AI4U
Programme will also inspire other MNCs in Malaysia to emulate Intel’s goodwill in contributing back to the talent ecosystem in Malaysia, not only on the prospects of increasing talent capabilities overall but the enhancing of their own value proposition as well. MIDA has stepped up its efforts in preparing local talents for future jobs, sharpening the country’s competitive edge to become the preferred investment destination. Being the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency, MIDA has been collaborating with academic institutions, policymakers, and industry players to undertake initiatives that will drive the right skilling and continuous technology grading of the local talents. To drive this is Intel, a leader in artificial intelligence solutions, specialising in both software and hardware. The renowned company has a well-documented passion towards connecting its partners together in technology and knowledge exchanges, thus aiding in the development of the
local manufacturing ecosystem in Malaysia. Intel will be supporting the programme by laying the groundwork for these modules to be executed, including training to the lecturers. “The AI4U programme is yet another collaborative initiative between Intel, MIDA and MPC to prepare our future workforce for the AI world, after the launch of the AI for SMEs (A14S) and AI for Youth (AI4Y) programs. It has been inspiring to work together with MIDA and MPC to address the AI gap in Malaysia, and through programs such as AI4U, we hope to bring AI technology and knowledge to all students regardless of their specialisation, as part of our overall goal of equipping a wider segment of the population with AI skills”, Aik Kean (AK) Chong, the Managing Director of Intel Malaysia commented. At the enterprise, sectoral and national levels, the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) has organised programmes aimed at catering to the country’s needs for highly-skilled and well-trained human capital. This is to steer a new workforce
generation towards higher-value and knowledge-based activities, subsequently fulfilling the nation’s aspiration to become an advanced economy. YBhg. Dato’ Abdul Latif Hj. Abu Seman, Director General of MPC, said along with MIDA & Intel, this AI4U program is a follow-up program from the success of our AI Machine Vision for SMEs, also known as AI4S. As the Operational Partner of this AI4U Project, MPC will be managing the entire training process with technical support from Intel. “With the introduction of AI4U program, MPC is confident that the academic community will gain as much knowledge as possible on AI-based machine vision technologies and its applications. MPC is delighted to be a part of this program together with MIDA and Intel Malaysia,” added Dato’ Latif. This launch featured a lineup of 5 public and private universities namely, Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) and Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU).
7
BUSINESS
Judge Carlos Moore of The Cochran Firm – Mississippi Delta Named General Counsel of Brown Foundation CDC
FOPH People aged 65 or over are very Judge Carlos Moore of The Cochran Firm – Mississippi Delta Named General satisfied Counsel of Brown Foundation Community Development Corporation TL Bureau, Memphis the NBA’s 79th President. Judge defense law firms. With regional with Moore is the recipient of many offices throughout the United Judge Carlos Moore has been honors, including being named States, The Firm is a diverse group quality of name General Counsel for the the 2007-08 Outstanding Young of highly esteemed and experienced Brown Foundation Community Lawyer of Mississippi and being men and women, dedicated to healthcare Development Corporation. named as an Outstanding Young bringing quality representation for TL Bureau, Bern
The majority of people in Switzerland aged 65 or over report above-average levels of satisfaction with healthcare. This is the finding of a survey conducted in eleven countries under the aegis of the Commonwealth Fund foundation. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2021, so during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the survey shows, 97% of older adults in Switzerland have a general practitioner (GP), who in most cases helps coordinate their medical care. Get Outlook for iOS
Judge Moore is the Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm – Mississippi Delta located in Grenada, Mississippi. In his role as General Counsel for the Brown Foundation Judge Moore will be advising executive, senior management, and the governing board on various matters. He will also be responsible for managing the organization’s legal matters. ABOUT JUDGE CARLOS MOORE: In 2017, he was appointed as the first African American Municipal Judge Pro Tem for Clarksdale, Mississippi. In 2020, he was named the first African American Municipal Judge Pro Tem for Grenada, Mississippi. A graduate the University of South Alabama and The Florida State University College of Law, Judge Moore also
Judge Carlos Moore completed course work at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi. Judge Moore is very active in several bar associations, including the American Bar Association, National Bar Association (NBA), American Association for Justice, The Mississippi Bar, Magnolia Bar Association, Mississippi Association for Justice, and the Grenada County Bar Association. He has held several positions in the NBA and currently serves as
Man of America in in 1998. He has been the recipient of three NBA Presidential Awards, and he received the Meritorious Service Award from the NBA’s Young Lawyers Division in 2010. Additionally, he was named a “Rising Star” in the Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine from years 2010-2016. Judge Moore’s most noted verdict is a $12 million jury verdict in 2010, just four years to the day after opening his law practice. His greatest accomplishment and title to date is the proud father to Avery Nicole Moore. ABOUT THE COCHRAN FIRM: Founded over 50 years ago, The Cochran Firm is one of the nation’s premier plaintiffs’ litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, civil rights, product liability, and criminal
IFC Supports First Sri Lanka Chapter of Women Corporate Directors to Promote Diversity in Boardroom
TL Bureau, Colombo
In a bid to promote boardroom diversity and establish a network of existing and prospective women directors, the Women Corporate Directors Foundation (WCD)—the largest organization of women corporate board members globally—launched its first local chapter in Sri Lanka yesterday. Supported by IFC, under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work program, this initiative aims to offer a platform for Sri Lankan women board members to share industry expertise while helping the country increase its pipeline of aspiring and qualified female board members. In Sri Lanka, despite higher education, women are significantly underrepresented in the labor force. Only around one in three women of working age are employed. This gap further widens among senior managers, board members, and business owners. The percentage of women among board members of listed entities in Sri Lanka is also
low, compared to South Asian peers such as India (12 percent) and Bangladesh (17 percent). According to IFC’s latest findings, around 9.5 percent of board directors on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) listed companies are women. “Despite the low numbers on women on boards, Sri Lanka has a well-accomplished pool of women directors representing a wide spectrum of industries. In this context, as part of WCD’s growing presence in Asia-Pacific, we are delighted to launch our first-ever local chapter in the country,” said Susan Keating, WCD CEO and Chairman. “As a WCD member, Sri Lankan women directors will have better access to trends and expertise from global economies, helping strengthen their knowledge when advocating for improved corporate governance practices for businesses.” A significant and growing body of research points to the business benefits associated with gender diversity on boards and in senior management, including increased financial
performance and productivity as well as improved environment, social and governance (ESG) practices. In Sri Lanka, IFC’s research highlighted that the top 30 CSE-listed companies with higher gender diversity perform better in terms of financial measures, including return on equity, return on total assets, and price to earnings ratio. “Diversity is not just a moral imperative, it also makes perfect business sense,” said Alfonso Garcia Mora, IFC’s Vice President for Asia and Pacific. “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that companies with better environment, social and governance (ESG) practices and board diversity have been more resilient in recovery.” The launch of the Sri Lanka Women Corporate Directors chapter will be a significant step in raising the profile of women board directors who help create value for businesses in the country. The demonstration effect of this competitive advantage of having aspiring women board members or senior managers
who are ‘board ready’ is critical to build leadership pipelines for boards. “Australia has a steadfast commitment to be at the forefront in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Through this latest initiative under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work program, we hope to continue our push towards enhancing greater equality and diversity in Sri Lanka’s private sector,” said David Holly, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. “I believe that the 16 founding members of the Sri Lanka Chapter of Women’s Corporate Directors (WCD) would play a significant role in taking this agenda forward. My congratulations to them.” The Women Directors Forum of Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) will play a catalytic role in this initiative as the co-chair of the local WCD chapter. In addition, the Sri Lanka chapter will also be supported by KPMG LLP, one of the largest professional services firms and also the oldest Chartered Accountancy firm in the country.
injured people and their families. ABOUT BROWN FOUNDATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: Brown Foundation CDC was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Dee Brown. It was formally organized as a 501(c)(3) organization and community development corporation in the state of Arkansas in 2019. Our purpose is to build stronger communities by fostering economic development, providing affordable housing, and increasing access to education. Our goal is to rid communities of slums and blight and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve by fulfilling our purpose. For more information or to donate, please visit brownfoundationcdc.org.
FSO Consumer prices remained stable in November 2021 TL Bureau, Neuchâtel
The consumer price index (CPI) remained stable in November 2021 compared with the previous month, remaining at 101.6 points (December 2020 = 100). Inflation was +1.5% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Wall Street Closing TL Bureau, New York
U.S. stocks dropped sharply for the second time in three sessions Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 652.22, or 1.9 percent, to 34,483.72. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 88.27, or 1.9 percent, to 4,567. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 245.14, or 1.6 percent, to 15,537.69
8
FEATURE
Predictability, Accessibility New World Migration Report: Global Displacement Rising Despite COVID-19 Limits Keys to Cross-Border TL Bureau, Geneva The International Organization for Migration (IOM) today launched its flagship World Migration Report 2022 which reveals a dramatic increase in internal displacement due to disasters, conflict and violence at a time when global mobility ground to a halt due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. “We are witnessing a paradox not seen before in human history,” said IOM’s Director General António Vitorino. “While billions of people have been effectively grounded by COVID-19, tens of millions of others have been displaced within their own countries.” Watch Video The number of air passengers globally dropped 60 per cent in 2020 to 1.8 billion (down from 4.5 billion in 2019) while at the same time internal displacement due to disaster, conflict and violence rose to 40.5 million (up from 31.5 million in 2019). The report, the eleventh in IOM’s World Migration Report series, draws upon the latest data from around the world to explain key migration trends as well as issues that are emerging on the migration policy horizon. “This report is unlike any other edition of the World Migration Report,” said the IOM report editor Marie McAuliffe. “So much has happened in migration
and mobility over these last two years and in this report we bring together key data, research and analysis to show how long-term trends have been altered by COVID-19 and how migrants worldwide have been affected.” According to the report, the number of international migrants has grown from 84 million globally in 1970 to 281 million in 2020, although when global population growth is factored in, the proportion of international migrants has only inched up from 2.3 per cent to 3.6 per cent of the world’s population. Most people globally (96.4 per cent) reside in the country in which they were born. The number of international migrants for 2020 was lower, by around 2 million, than it otherwise would have been due to COVID-19. The World Migration Report now has an expanded array of report
materials for a digital age. The online interactive platform allows users to explore and interact with key data in a highly visual and engaging way. The 2020 edition won gold in the 2021 International Annual Report Design Awards earlier this year. The online educators’ toolkit has been developed to support teachers around the world as they seek to provide balanced, accurate and interesting learning materials on the fundamentals of migration and migrants for teenagers and young adults. The World Migration Report has become a key source for factcheckers, helping to refute false news on migration in a wide variety of places. The 2022 edition now has a new and simple fact-checkers’ toolkit to help bust key myths on migration. In addition to data analysis, the report covers specific topics for those readers needing more in-depth content. Topics covered include migration and slow-onset climate change; peace and development links to migration; human trafficking in migration pathways; COVID-19 impacts; disinformation about migration; migrants’ contributions in an era of disinformation; and artificial intelligence and migration, which are timely and highly relevant for both specialist and general audiences.
Joint Statement on Dose Donations of COVID-19 Vaccines to African Countries
TL Bureau, Addis Ababa/Geneva
Building on lessons learned from our collective experience with dose donations over the past several months, the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and COVAX wish to draw the attention of the international community to the situation of donations of COVID-19 vaccines to Africa, and other COVAX participating economies, particularly those supported by the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). AVAT and COVAX complement each other’s efforts to support African countries to meet their immunization targets, recognizing the global goal of immunizing 70% of the African population. Dose donations have been an important source of supply while other sources are stepping up, but the quality of donations needs to improve. AVAT and COVAX are focused on accelerating access to and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa. Together we are rapidly expanding supply to the continent, and providing countries with the support to be able to utilize the doses they receive. To date, over 90 million donated doses have been delivered to the continent via COVAX and AVAT and millions more via bilateral arrangements. However, the majority of the donations to-date have been ad hoc, provided with little notice and short shelf lives. This has made it extremely challenging for countries to plan vaccination campaigns and increase absorptive capacity. To achieve higher coverage rates across the continent, and for donations to be a sustainable source of supply that can complement supply from AVAT and COVAX purchase agreements, this trend must change. Countries need predictable and reliable supply. Having to plan at short notice and ensure uptake of doses with short shelf lives exponentially magnifies the logistical burden on health systems that are already stretched. Furthermore, ad hoc supply of this kind utilizes capacity – human resources, infrastructure, cold chain – that could be directed towards long-term successful and sustainable rollout. It also dramatically increases the risks of expiry once doses
with already short shelf-lives arrive in country, which may have long-term repercussions for vaccine confidence. Donations to COVAX, AVAT and African countries must be made in a way that allows countries to effectively mobilize domestic resources in support of rollout and enables long-term planning to increase coverage rates. We call on the international community, particularly donors and manufacturers, to commit to this effort by adhering to the following standards, beginning from 1 January 2022: Quantity and predictability: Donor countries should endeavour to release donated doses in large volumes and in a predictable manner, to reduce transaction costs. We acknowledge and welcome the progress being made in this area, but note that the frequency of exceptions to this approach places increased burden on countries, AVAT and COVAX. Earmarking: These doses should be unearmarked for greatest effectiveness and to support long-term planning. Earmarking makes it far more difficult to allocate supply based on equity, and to account for specific countries’ absorptive capacity. It also increases the risk that short shelf-life donations utilise countries’ cold chain capacity – capacity that is then unavailable when AVAT or COVAX are allocating doses with longer shelf lives under their own purchase agreements. Shelf life: As a default, donated doses should have a minimum of 10 weeks shelf life when they arrive in-country, with limited exceptions only where recipient countries indicate willingness and ability to absorb doses with shorter shelf lives. Early notice: Recipient countries need to be made aware of the availability of donated doses not less than 4 weeks before their tentative arrival in-country. Response times: All stakeholders should seek to provide rapid response on essential information. This includes essential supply information from manufacturers (total volumes available for donation, shelf life, manufacturing site), confirmation of donation offer from donors, and acceptance/refusal of allocations from countries. Last minute information can further complicate processes,
Mobility Rules
TL Bureau, Geneva
Representatives of the International Organization for Migration’s 174 member states are meeting in Geneva this week to consider how to create predictable and accessible crossborder mobility options in the face of more than 111,000 travel-related measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. “While most of these measures are conditions rather than restrictions on entry… the resulting complex patchwork of measures, frequently changing in scope and application, has placed a chilling effect on cross-border mobility, particularly for those unvaccinated,” IOM Director General António Vitorino said Monday at the opening of the High-level segment of IOM’s 112th Council session which is being addressed by 48 heads of state, ministers and deputy ministers. This year’s Council, held as the Organization marks its 70th Anniversary, comes as governments around the world announce strict new rounds of travel restrictions since South Africa revealed last week it is investigating the emergence of a new coronavirus variant dubbed Omicron by the World Health Organization. While acknowledging the responsibility of governments to protect the health of their citizens and to reduce transmission of the virus, DG Vitorino urged IOM’s member states to collaborate to ensure responses are coordinated, do not exacerbate mobility inequities and anticipate future pandemics. “My core concern is that, without international cooperation, we may find ourselves in a deeply uneven landscape with respect to mobility. If we assume, as I think we should, that there will be future health crises, even as variants proliferate, I look forward to your deliberations as to how we can prepare for the next pandemic and ensure that any necessary curtailment of mobility in the future is both safe and predictable,” he said. “But as we remain focused on means to end the grip of the pandemic on our societies and our economies – and recognize the long road ahead, particularly in view of the new variant Omicron – we must acknowledge the deep impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had for people on the move: people stranded in transit, families separated across borders, migrants left unemployed, but unable to afford the return home.” DG Vitorino encouraged an evidence-based approach to border management-related responses like travel restrictions and domestic mobility controls that have emerged since news of the first cases of coronavirus emerged from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, noting the severe impact COVID-19 lockdowns have had on socio-economic development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. “We must generate a better understanding of to what extent, how, and when, travel restrictions contributed to effective management of COVID-19 and develop means to assess the relative value—and risk – of different measures and restrictions over the course of a health crisis,” he said. “This, of course, depends on context and capacity, but emerging evidence suggests that while border closures can be important to slow spread, they have less impact once the virus is circulating within a country.” The international community must ensure cross-border mobility safeguards public health and facilitates predictable travel in a way that gives all travelers, including migrants, reasonable costs, and manageable criteria for entry, he said. “IOM has done a great deal of work in this regard, developing COVID-19 specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for frontline border officials at Points of Entry and assisting national authorities to conduct health-border assessments. But we still see challenges in capacity across the world, and particularly at land borders, and in developing regions of the world,” DG Vitorino said. He noted deep inequities exist for migrants and displaced persons, from access to vaccination, legal identity, documentation and certification, and digital infrastructure support for countries that may be left behind by new conditions of travel.
9
life and real estate
UNWTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY GETS UNDERWAY IN MADRID
TL Bureau, Madrid
In all, more than 1,000 participants, representing 135 countries and including 84 Ministers and ViceMinisters of Tourism will attend the most important meeting of the United Nations specialized agency for tourism. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Guided by UNWTO, global tourism is facing up to the challenges of today while looking to the opportunities of tomorrow. The UNWTO General Assembly shows the sector’s determination to restart, lead recovery and be a central pillar of sustainable development and climate action.” Towards an International Code for the Protection of Tourists The UNWTO General Assembly shows the sector’s determination to restart, lead recovery and be a central pillar of sustainable development and climate action UNWTO opened the General
Assembly with an Induction Session for the International Code for the Protection of Tourists. Launched in response to the drop in consumer confidence caused by the pandemic, the landmark legal code will provide minimum standards and consumer rights for tourists in emergency situations. It was developed in collaboration with 98 Member States and Associate Members as well as 5 non-member States international organizations and leading private sector stakeholders. Once adopted by the UNWTO General Assembly, the Code will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in 2022 with the aim of making it a Resolution. Affiliate Members Meet to Reform and Restart Held within the framework of the General Assembly, UNWTO’s Affiliate Members met today for their 43rd annual Plenary Session. Made up of businesses and destinations, as well as
Vacational Rental Market To Eyewitness Massive Growth By 2020-2027, Business and Future Opportunity TL Bureau, Portland According to a new report, Vacational Rental Market Type, Management and Distribution Channel: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 COVID-19 has drastically impact A large number of the cancellation requests is impacting the financial position of the vacation rental.”— Shankar Bhandalkar Allied Market Research published a new report, titled, “Vacational Rental Market” The report offers an extensive analysis of key growth strategies, drivers, opportunities, key segment, Porter’s Five Forces analysis, and competitive landscape. This study is a helpful source of information for market players, investors, VPs, stakeholders, and new entrants to gain thorough understanding of the industry and determine steps to be taken to gain competitive advantage. The rise in the popularity, better services provided, affordable, and rise in internet users can be the factors that drive the growth of the global vacation rental market. Apart from that, better experience and privacy factors can also contribute to the growth of the global market. However, the service quality and government interference can be the factors that hamper the growth of the global vacation rental market. Contrarily, an increase in disposable income and internet penetration can be an opportunity for the global
market. With the growing rental market, owners are focusing on making their property advanced with the new technology like Bluetooth smart locks, smart fire alarm, burglar alarms, and other devices. Some customer prefer to have a personal interaction with the owner of the vacation homes that make the customer more comfortable and improve the experiences. The vacation rental industry is focusing on advertising through social media platforms. The industry is investing in online apps, SEO services, videography, and photographs to attract the attention of the customers and help properties to stand out. The rental owners are using advanced software to identify online booking by the online portal. It makes work easy and increases efficiency. With this software, the owner can track the booking, services, and can communicate with the guests regarding the stay. Download Report Sample with industry insights @https://www. alliedmarketresearch.com/requestsample/6922 Geographically Analysis - North America (U.S and Canada), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), LAMEA (Middle East, Brazil, and Rest of LAMEA)
Tourism leaders from every global region have arrived in Madrid for the 24th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly. Ministers of Tourism will be joined by representatives of international organizations and from across the private sector for the first truly global tourism meeting to be held since the start of the pandemic, with innovation, education and investments high on the agenda.
representatives from civil society and academic, UNWTO counts on more than 500 Affiliates to transform tourism policy into action. In Madrid, participants were given an overview of UNWTO’s crisis response, with the Destination Tracker developed by in partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented as an
example of effective public-private partnerships. At the same time, delegates approved the proposed Reform of the Legal Framework for UNWTO Affiliate Membership, paving the way for more effective collaboration Executive Council Endorses Key Initiatives Ahead of the official opening of
the General Assembly, UNWTO convened its Executive Council for a 114th session. The Council, which serves as the governing board of UNWTO, met to hear Secretary-General Pololikashvili present his report on the work done since the 113th session, also held in Madrid at the start of the year. The Members of the Executive Council agreed to the iimplementation of the General Programme of Work for 2020-2021 and for 2022-2023. Members also endorsed several key UNWTO initiatives, notably the UNWTO Recommendations on Tourism for Rural Development, the Best Tourism Villages project and the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative. Also meeting in Madrid, the UNWTO Committees on Tourism and Sustainability, on Tourism and Competitiveness and on Tourism Online Education, brought together experts to explore ways to advance the Organization’s Programme of work around key priority areas.
A Modern Kitchen
A modern kitchen backsplash
Sliding backsplash ideas
Modern kitchen island
When searching for a contemporary kitchen design, consider adding mirrored cabinets. They’ll add a touch of glamour and sophistication, and they’ll also make a kitchen look more prominent. The struggle to find more space for kitchenware One way to make more space is by getting some extra storage behind the backsplash. This can be done by adding a few cabinets or shelves attached to the wall but hidden behind a sliding door. Add some personality with unique kitchen cabinets. Old traditional kitchen cabinets look the same so why not try something more modern and fresh. There are lots of unique
cabinet designs out there that will add personality and character to today’s kitchen. Install a multi-functional power bar with sliding outlets. Cooking and baking are fun with this kitchen cabinet idea. Installing a power bar with sliding outlets to access the plugs anywhere on the countertop. No more limitations because of a mounted power outlet in the kitchen. Add a touch of luxury with Quartz countertops. There’s nothing like a quartz countertop that makes a kitchen look luxurious. Nowadays, quartz countertops come in a variety of colors and styles so it’s easy to find the perfect one when remodeling a kitchen.
Baczewski Luxury Shares 2022 Modern Kitchen ideas
TL Bureau, Denver
The article talks about 2022 ideas for modern kitchens. Storage, kitchen islands, unique cabinets, backsplashes, and quartz countertops. The kitchen has gone through many changes in the past few decades. From new technologies to unique designs, it’s never been easier to create a gorgeous and modern kitchen that is perfect for any home.”— Gregory Nikov The kitchen is one of the key elements in designing a home. Modern kitchen designs add more value and beauty to a house. Update a kitchen by adding luxury kitchen cabinets is becoming the new trend. Surprisingly, a few small changes can completely refresh a kitchen. These ideas will help create the perfect look for a new kitchen style, from sleek and sophisticated designs to more traditional styles. There’s no doubt that German and Italian cabinet manufacturers are leaders in the luxury kitchen cabinet market. They combine decades of experience with cutting-edge technology to produce high-end products that are full of character and originality. These 2022 Modern Kitchen ideas will inspire when deciding what new decors to add to a kitchen. Add a touch of glamour with mirrored cabinets.
10
Gold Coast Titans’ exciting entry to HART Sapphire Series
TL Bureau, Gold Coast
Netball Queensland is thrilled to confirm the Gold Coast Titans will join the HART Sapphire Series competition in 2022. The new license is a tremendous coup for the league, in its second license cycle after launching in 2019. The decision is equally exciting for the Titans, with the National Rugby League club expanding its sporting footprint on the Coast. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be welcoming the Titans into the HART Sapphire Series,” Netball Queensland High Performance Director, Demelza Fellowes said. “Our aspiration is for the League to thrive as a premier competition where players, coaches and officials realise their potential and are raised up as local heroes for our Queensland community. “To be stepping into a new phase of expansion for the League after just three years is testament to the foundations laid by our inaugural Clubs; and to be attracting partners of the calibre of the Gold Coast Titans indicates the value that lies in belonging to the HART Sapphire Series and greater netball family. “The Titans’ commitment to netball ensures the next wave of unearthed gems can access a world class high performance
environment on the Gold Coast, this can only mean good things for netball and women’s sport in Queensland. “We’re looking forward to seeing how the influence of the professional NRL club can lead the way and change the game for this next growth phase for the HART Sapphire Series.” Titans CEO Steve Mitchell says the Club is very excited to be able to expand it’s programs into netball and the role this will play in uniting our communities on the Gold Coast. “For us as a Club, it’s about providing talented kids on the Gold Coast a pathway to elite competition that allows them to stay locally on the Coast,” he said. “You’ve seen this in our NRL program with young players like AJ Brimson and Moeaki Fotuaika progressing from our Junior Titans System all the way to State of Origin. “Our NRLW side is stacked with local girls who want to make their community proud and
Rytas Vilnius’ Ivan Buva named MVP of the Month for November
TL Bureau, MIES
Rytas Vilnius did not have a successful maiden campaign in the Basketball Champions League last season, but they are back with a bang this time around, led by their towering man in the middle Ivan Buva. Rytas are up to 2-2 in Group H, they were inches away from being up at 3-1, but they lost the overtime thriller in Istanbul against Besiktas Icrypex 82-79. They then hit them back in Lithuania, winning 82-69, taking the tiebreaker in case of a potential tie at the end of the Regular Season. With Buva in the middle, life seems much easier for coach Giedrius Zibenas. The 30-year-old Croat had 39 points in those two November games against Besiktas, dominating under the rim to earn the MVP of November award in the BCL. “Individual awards mean a lot, but I would’ve rather two wins over Besiktas, because our goal for the season was to advance to the next round and get as far as possible in the BCL,” Buva told us after
hearing the good news. It was, and wasn’t a surprise, all at once. “It’s a nice surprise really. I didn’t expect it, despite playing well against Besiktas. But I’m feeling good this season, I feel like I’ve scored 20 or more in every game, and if I don’t score 20 or more, it’s like I didn’t even show up for the game,” the center laughed. He isn’t far away from the truth, though. Buva is averaging 19.8 points in just 26 minutes per game in the BCL, and he has also been in double digits in every single game in the Lithuanian League, as well, getting 18.0 points and 6.1 rebounds across those ten gamedays in Betsafe LKL. Those 1.8 points per game more in Europe have only one reason behind them. “These fans in Vilnius are amazing,” he explained. “We are playing the BCL in the bigger arena, and the domestic league in the smaller one, and the whole energy of the bigger place is just stronger, you have a feeling you’re at least 20 percent better of a player when the fans are over there.”
represent the region where they grew up. “We are thrilled that we can now the offer that pathway to the thousands of young netballers that play the sport on the Coast. “Our purpose as a Club is to make our communities proud, inspire them through energy and unite them through success. The Titans have added extra excitement announcing that former World Cup and Commonwealth Games winning Silver Fern Temepara Bailey will coach the club’s inaugural side. “With Temepara guiding our netball high-performance program and pathways, we’ve got no doubt that we can achieve that purpose,” Mitchell said. “Temepara is one of the true greats of the sport, but aside from being a quality netballer, she is also a fantastic person who demonstrates our Club values. “As a Club, our focus is always on our communities, and it’s great that we’ve got the support of all of the local associations here on the Gold Coast. “We aspire to eventually add a Titans team to the Suncorp Super Netball competition, meaning our brand would sit across three elite competitions (SSN, NRL and NRLW) and provide pathways for from grassroots to the professional level across these sports.”
SPORTS
NFL ENTERS WEEK 13 AS PLAYOFF PUSH INTENSIFIES
TL Bureau, California
As the calendar turns to December, welcome to rush hour in the National Football League. Overall, 25 teams have at least five wins through 12 weeks, the most at this point of a season in league history. In the AFC, 13 teams have five-or-more wins, the most in a conference through Week 12 since 2002, when 14 AFC teams entered Week 13 in that category. Only six weekends remain to determine 14 playoff teams, and there’s peak volume on the highways in each conference. Out in front, the races for the only first-round bye in both the AFC and NFC are separated by just half a game. BALTIMORE (8-3) and ARIZONA (9-2) enter play with hair-thin leads over NEW ENGLAND (8-4) and GREEN BAY (9-3), respectively. In the middle of the bottleneck, in the race for the final playoff berth, each conference has nine teams within one game of the No. 7 seed. Which teams will separate themselves from the traffic? JANUARY HOPE: Don’t count out a team below .500 at this point in the season. In 15 of the past 17 seasons, at least one club with a sub-.500 record after 11 games has made the playoffs. Two teams did it last season. Since 1990, 24 teams have been below .500 after 11 games and made the playoffs. Three of those clubs -- the 2016 Packers (5-6 after 11 games), the 2009 Jets (5-6) and the 1996 Jaguars (4-7) – advanced
to their conference championship games. At the front of the standings, three division leaders entering this week, ARIZONA, DALLAS and NEW ENGLAND, were not in the playoffs last season. At least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 years. SPEAKING OF DIVISIONS: On this week’s docket, seven of 14 games are between opponents from the same division. Looking ahead, of the remaining 92 games on the regular-season schedule, 49 will have division foes on opposite sidelines (including every game in the final week). This week features the top two teams in the AFC East as the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-4) visit the BUFFALO BILLS (7-4) on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN). In a matchup of two of the league’s top defenses, points and first downs should be at a premium. New England has allowed the NFL’s fewest points per game (15.8) while Buffalo ranks second (16.5). The Bills, meanwhile, have allowed the NFL’s fewest yards per game (275.2) and New England ranks fourth (316.7).In Week 13 or later, Monday’s game marks just the fifth contest in the last 30 years involving a team ranking first in scoring defense against a team ranking first in fewest total yards allowed. In each of those games, a team advanced to at least its conference championship, including two Super Bowl champions: Denver in 2015 and Washington in 1991.
HCF EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH NETBALL AUSTRALIA
TL bureau, Fitzroy
Netball Australia is pleased to announce Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund HCF has recommitted as Official Health Insurance Partner for another year. Heading into the fourth year of the Major Partnership, HCF will continue to support netball at all levels in Australia from community netball programs as well as NetSetGO and the Suncorp Super Netball League – the world’s premier netball competition. The partnership between HCF and Netball Australia launched in 2019, with a common goal to empower Australians of all ages to lead active and healthy lives. HCF’s shared values as a leasing and trusted health partner align with Netball Australia’s commitment to motivate and inspire every netball participant to become the best they can. Today, the partnership supports over one million players across the country - from Net Set Go to the elite. As two established not-forprofit organisations, Netball Australia and HCF share a mutual ethos of putting people’s health first. The United by Uncommon Carebrand platform embodies this shared commitment to go above and beyond for the members and communities we support. Returning in 2022, HCF’s Team Behind the
Teamcampaign also celebrates stories from netball courts across Australia and the local communities who go above and beyond to make the sport happen week in, week out. Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan was delighted to announce the partnership extension. “We have built a strong foundation with HCF over the past three years, and we are pleased to continue this partnership into the future,” Ryan said. “We have closely aligned values that will contribute to the direction our sport is heading in, and a shared vision to empower Australians of all ages to lead active and healthy lives – this includes HCF offering a League-wide insurance policy for all Suncorp Super Netball athletes.” HCF CEO Sheena Jack said she was excited for HCF to continue their partnership with a not-for-profit organisation that shares so many of its own goals for the future. “A big drawcard of this partnership is our shared values, such as looking out for one another, fair play and the fact we’re both trusted by Australians,” Jack said. “Not only does netball have incredible short-term health benefits, but there are long term advantages to playing this popular sport. “HCF and Netball Australia remain united by uncommon care and will continue to empower all Australians to lead healthy, active lives.”
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tech/auto
Promoting data sharing: presidency reaches deal with Parliament on Data Governance Act
TL Bureau,
Today, negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a new law to promote the availability of data and build a trustworthy environment to facilitate its use for research and the creation of innovative new services and products. The Data Governance Act (DGA) will set up robust mechanisms to facilitate the reuse of certain categories of protected publicsector data, increase trust in data intermediation services and foster data altruism across the EU. It is an important component of the European strategy for data, which aims to bolster the data economy, increase wealth and wellbeing, and give Europe a competitive advantage to the benefit of its citizens and businesses. “The Data Governance Act is a major milestone that will boost the data-driven economy in Europe in the years to come. By enabling control and creating trust, it will help unlock the potential of vast amounts of data generated by businesses and individuals. This is indispensable for the development of artificial intelligence applications and critical for the EU’s global competitiveness in this area. Datapowered innovations will help us address a range of societal challenges and drive economic growth, which
is so important for the post-COVID recovery.” Boštjan Koritnik, Slovenian Minister for Public Administration, President of the Council Wider reuse of protected publicsector data The Data Governance Act will create a mechanism to enable the safe reuse of certain categories of public-sector data that are subject to the rights of others. This includes, for example, trade secrets, personal data and data protected by intellectual property rights. Public-sector bodies allowing this type of reuse will need to be properly equipped, in technical terms, to ensure that privacy and confidentiality are fully preserved. In this respect, the DGA will complement the Open Data Directive from 2019, which does not cover such types of data. Exclusive arrangements for the reuse of public-sector data will be possible when justified and necessary for the provision of a service of general interest. The maximum duration for existing contracts will be 2.5 years and for new contracts 12 months. The Commission will set up a European single access point with a searchable electronic register of public-sector data. This register will be available via national single information points. A new business model for data intermediation The DGA creates a framework to foster a new business model – data
intermediation services – that will provide a secure environment in which companies or individuals can share data. For companies, these services can take the form of digital platforms, which will support voluntary datasharing between companies or facilitate the fulfilment of datasharing obligations set by law. By using these services, companies will be able to share their data without fear of its being misused or of losing their competitive advantage. For personal data, such services and their providers will help individuals exercise their rights under the general data protection regulation (GDPR). This will help people have full control over their data and allow them to share it with a company they trust. This can be done, for example, by means of novel personal information management tools, such as personal data spaces or data wallets, which are apps that share such data with others, based on the data holder’s consent. Data intermediation service providers will need to be listed in a register, so that their clients know that they can trust them. The service providers will not be allowed to use shared data for other purposes. They will not be able to benefit from the data – for example, by selling it on. They may, however, charge for the transactions they do carry out. Data altruism for the common good
The DGA also makes it easier for individuals and companies to make data voluntarily available for the common good, such as medical research projects. Entities seeking to collect data for objectives of general interest may request to be listed in a national register of recognised data altruism organisations. Registered organisations will be recognised across the EU. This will create the necessary trust in data altruism, encouraging individuals and companies to donate data to such organisations so that it can used for wider societal good. If an organisation wants to be recognised as a data altruism organisation under the DGA, it will have to comply with a specific rulebook. Easy identification of service providers Voluntary certification in the form of a logo will make it easier to identify compliant providers of data intermediation services and data altruism organisations. European Data Innovation Board A new structure, the European Data Innovation Board, will be created to advise and assist the Commission in enhancing the interoperability of data intermediation services and issuing guidelines on how to facilitate the development of data spaces, among other tasks. International access to and transfer of non-personal data
The DGA creates safeguards for public-sector data, data intermediation services and data altruism organisations against unlawful international transfer of or governmental access to nonpersonal data. For personal data, the EU already has similar safeguards under the GDPR. In particular, the Commission – through secondary legislation – may adopt adequacy decisionsdeclaring that specific non-EU countries provide appropriate safeguards for the use of non-personal data transferred from the EU. These decisions would be similar to adequacy decisions relating to personal data under the GDPR. Such safeguards should be considered to exist when the country in question has equivalent measures in place that ensure a level of protection similar to that provided by EU or member state law. The Commission may also adopt model contractual clauses to support public-sector bodies and re-users in the case of transfers of publicsector data to third countries. Application timeline The new rules will apply 15 months after the entry into force of the regulation. Next steps The provisional agreement reached today is subject to approval by the Council. It will now be submitted to the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) for endorsement.
Marketing said: “Saudi Arabia has historically been one of the strongest markets for us. So, to be able to establish a magnificent presence in Riyadh, with the help of our partners at SAMACO Automotive, is a remarkable milestone that we have been looking forward to. Saudi Arabia will only grow in importance as a hub for international trade and as a vibrant, prosperous society. And as it grows, we too will continue to thrive.” Sheikh Mohammed Raffa, CEO of SAMACO Automotive, commented: “Bugatti’s creations are without equal. I am thrilled to welcome the brand to the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and our capital city, Riyadh, which is already home to many of Bugatti’s passionate enthusiasts and customers. I have no doubt that this is the beginning of a long and prosperous partnership between us, and we have many exciting plans to instill the magic of Bugatti across the region which will see the brand’s presence grow significantly.” Bugatti hosted its very first drive event in Saudi Arabia, as customers explored the dynamism of the Chiron Pur Sport on the coastal roads of Jeddah and the rolling horizons around the city of Riyadh. Bugatti also chose Saudi Arabia as the Middle Eastern location to debut the Chiron Sport ‘Les Legendes du Ciel’ – an exclusive edition paying homage to legendary French pilots central to Bugatti’s history and enduring legend. In the coming days, Bugatti Riyadh will invite luminaries of the Kingdom to experience the Chiron Pur Sport and the Chiron Super Sport as part of an exclusive
event, where clients will have the opportunity to experience the spectrum of performance of the Chiron3 family. As the most agile Chiron, the Pur Sport is built to conquer corners, and to do so with the utmost composure. A tuned chassis combined with dynamic torque vectoring perfectly complement the 1,500PS 8.0-liter W16 engine – always the beating heart and most visceral aspect of the hyper sports car.The Chiron Super Sport can cover ground like no other automobile. With a top speed of 440 km/h it is the fastest Bugatti production vehicle, thanks in large part to the completely revised 8.0-liter W16 engine, which produces 1,600 PS. This state-ofthe-art marvel of engineering is housed within the hyper sports car’s “longtail” bodywork – extended by approximately 25cm for optimal airflow – creating a combination that knows no equal when it comes to automotive longitudinal performance.
BUGATTI RIYADH BECOMES MARQUE’S NEWEST MIDDLE EASTERN SHOWROOM
TL Bureau, Molsheim
New Bugatti Riyadh showroom in Saudi Arabia opened in partnership with SAMACO Automotive ahead of regional drives in Riyadh. Bugatti Riyadh Becomes Marque’s Newest Middle Eastern Showroom Ever since the introduction of the trailblazing Veyron in 2005, customers in Saudi Arabia have been drawn to Bugatti – seduced by its performance, luxury and exclusivity. The Kingdom has grown – as Bugatti has evolved – into one of the largest markets for the world’s most exclusive hyper sports cars. Today, in partnership with SAMACO Automotive, the magic of Bugatti ownership in Saudi Arabia is more accessible than ever with the launch of Bugatti Riyadh, one of the largest Bugatti showrooms in the world. The flagship site is nestled within one of Riyadh’s most sought-after districts, perfectly placed, and meticulously designed, to house some of the most advanced hyper
sports cars ever created. During a special launch event hosted November 16th, two of Bugatti’s latest creations, Chiron Pur Sport1 and Chiron Super Sport2, were the guests of honor. As with any of Bugatti’s global partners, the new Riyadh showroom provides visitors with the special brand experience that customers and guests enjoy at Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, France. The contemporary presentation is dominated by cutting-edge design and fine materials, with distinctive lines and clear surfaces reminiscent of Bugatti hyper sports cars. Hendrik Malinowski, Bugatti’s Managing Director for Sales and
12 Mexico Reports 53 More COVID-19 Deaths, bringing toll to 293,950 TL bureau, Mexico City
Mexico’s health ministry on Monday reported 53 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the overall death toll in the country since the pandemic began to 293,950, Reuters reported. The health ministry has previously said the real toll is likely higher.
Egypt Records 911 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Cairo Egypt recorded 911 new cases afflicted with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 65 deaths in the past 24 hours. In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Health indicated that the total number of confirmed cases amounted to 357,629, including 296,897 recoveries and 20,412 deaths.
EAER President Parmelin welcomes Kazakh president to Switzerland TL Bureau, Bern
In the evening of Monday, 29 November, President Guy Parmelin welcomed Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Geneva. At their meeting, two agreements fostering trade between Switzerland and Kazakhstan were signed. Official talks centred on economic relations, cooperation between the two countries in international organisations and global issues.
India Records 6,990 New Cases of COVID-19 TL.Bureau, New Delhi India has recorded 6,990 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), 190 deaths in the last 24 hours. Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has stated that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 34,587,822, while the total death tally reached 468,980.
world
County elections: Ministry of Justice holds interactive election information clinics
TL Bureau, Helsinki
Election information clinics directed at different target groups play an important role in the Ministry of Justice’s preparations for the first county elections. The Ministry holds election clinics for central municipal election boards, county election boards and journalists alike. Information about the elections is also provided at ‘Multilingual county elections 2022’ events. The main language of the events is Finnish, but participants may also present questions in English
and Swedish. At the interactive election information clinics, election specialists from the Ministry of Justice provide municipalities with topical information about county election arrangements and answer any questions asked. These events also provide municipalities with an opportunity to share their ideas on the practical election arrangements with each other. In addition to the clinics, the Ministry of Justice is providing the municipalities with a possibility to attend eOppiva online training. In connection with the 2021
Delegation from Kosovo visits Finland
TL Bureau, Helsinki
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation will host a delegation from Kosovo on 1 to 3 December 2021 in Helsinki, Finland. The delegation consists of political decision-makers. During their three-day stay in Helsinki, the delegation has meetings with Finnish and international experts. They will also meet with the Speaker of the Finnish
Parliament Anu Vehviläinen, Minister for European Affiars and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainenand Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist. The delegation’s visit is part of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and CMI’s initiative to provide support to Miroslav Lajčák’s work as the EU’s Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues.
municipal elections, the Ministry of Justice held election information clinics for journalists for the first time, and this practice is continued in connection with the 2022 county elections. Furthermore, this is the first time that the Ministry of Justice holds election information clinics for county election boards and people working with multiculturalism and immigration, such as CSO employees and authorities, as well as for active members of multicultural organisations and multilingual communities, local councillors and county election
NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers meetings: arrivals, doorsteps and opening remarks - DAY 2
TL Bureau, Riga Today (1 December 2021) NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers are in Riga for meetings of the North Atlantic Council, Foreign Ministers’ Session. The meetings will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.
U.S. Delegation Meeting with Taliban Representatives
TL BureauWashington, D.C.
Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: On November 29 and 30, Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West led a senior interagency delegation including representatives from the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, USAID, and the intelligence community in discussions on enduring national interests with senior Taliban representatives and technocratic professionals in Doha, Qatar. The U.S. delegation emphasized the importance of the Taliban fulfilling its public commitment not to allow anyone to pose a threat to any country from the soil of Afghanistan, safe passage for U.S. citizens and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment, the protection of the rights of all of Afghanistan’s citizens, including its women, girls, and minorities, and the safe release of hostage Mark Frerichs. The two teams also discussed
the international community’s on-going and urgent response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and the U.S. delegation pledged to continue to support UN and humanitarian actors’ efforts to scale up to meet life-saving needs this coming winter. The United States remains committed to ensuring that U.S. sanctions do not limit the ability of Afghan civilians to receive humanitarian support from the U.S. government and international community while denying assets to sanctioned entities and individuals. The Department of the Treasury has issued general licenses to support the continued flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and other activities that support basic human needs. Special Representative West welcomed the Taliban’s follow-through on safe passage commitments and recognized improvements in providing all humanitarian workers safe and unimpeded access to communities
candidates. The election information clinics related to the county elections are held as virtual events, which was found to be a good practice in connection with the municipal elections of spring 2021. Remote arrangements have enabled closer contacts with many cooperation partners, and the clinics have been exceptionally popular. Instructions and information about the county elections is also available on the Electionsfinland. fiwebsite. Election information clinics will be held until the county elections in January.
in need.The Taliban reiterated their pledge to not allow the territory of Afghanistan to be used by anyone to threaten any country. U.S. officials expressed concern regarding the continuing presence of al-Qa’ida and ISIS in Afghanistan. The U.S. delegation noted recent statements from Taliban leaders expressing support for women and girls’ access to education at all levels and urged implementation of that commitment countrywide. The Taliban expressed openness to engaging with the international community on full access to education and welcomed efforts to verify and monitor progress to enroll women and girls in school at all levels. The Taliban asked for support in the education sector. American officials expressed deep concern regarding allegations of human rights abuses and urged the Taliban to protect the rights of all Afghans, uphold and enforce its policy of general amnesty, and take additional steps to form an inclusive and representative government.
Jordan Condemns Israeli Minister’s Provocative Remarks TL Bureau, Amman
The Jordanian government condemned as provocative and unjustified the statements by Israel’s religious affairs minister on Al-Aqsa Mosque. According to Petra, Official Spokesperson of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Haitham Abu Alfoul said that such statements are condemned and rejected, adding that they constitute a serious violation of the legal and historical status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He warned of the consequences of such statements that would inflame the conflict and feed extremism.