The Life News Singapore. Dec 16, 2021

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Vol. 03 Issue 61 Dec. 16, 2021

5 children died as they falls from bouncy castle in last day of school in Australia

TL Bureau, Hobart

Five schoolchildren passed on in Australia on Thursday when specialists say a bob palace they were playing in during a festival was gotten by a whirlwind and the youngsters dropped out of it.

The episode happened at a school in Devonport in Australia’s island territory of Tasmania.

Authorities said nine kids were in the palace when a solid whirlwind got it. Some of them tumbled from the inflatable palace around 30 feet to the ground.

Police said four of the youngsters, two young men and two young ladies, passed on at the scene. A fifth youngster passed on later at

the emergency clinic.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said a portion of different kids were harmed.

The youngsters in the palace were accounted for to be around 10 or 11 years of age.

“On a day when these kids were intended to commend the last day of grade school,” Hine said, as per The New York Times. “Rather we as a whole are grieving their misfortune.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the occasions were terrible.

In 2019, two youngsters were killed in a comparable mishap in China when a fun palace was additionally cleared out of sight.

Photo Courtesy: Local DVM

Japan joins diplomatic boycott France of Beijing Winter Olympics restricted

TL Bureau, Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday that he will join the U.S.- drove strategic blacklist of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, adding that he won’t go to the Opening Ceremony.

Kishida, who’s been head of the state for somewhat more than a month, didn’t say whether other Japanese authorities and ambassadors will participate in him fighting the Games over China’s common liberties record and different issues.

The United States, Britain, Canada and Australia have all said they will not send an authority assignment to the Beijing Winter Olympics, as is standard practice for the quadrennial occasion. The essential explanation, they said, is worry over China’s common

Photo Courtesy: Insidethegames liberties rehearses, especially those including the minority Muslim Uyghur populace.

“Right now, I have no designs to join in,” Kishida said in Japanese Parliament on Thursday, as per Japan Today.

The National Stadium is found in Beijing, China, on August 7. The arena will be utilized for the end function at the Winter Olympics in February.

Document Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI “It is critical to make a judgment without anyone else at a suitable time later exhaustively considering different issues regarding the public interest.” While Japan is a solid partner of the United States, it additionally has profound monetary binds with China as its biggest exchanging accomplice.

Japan likewise relies upon China as an assembling center point and is a top client for vehicles and different items. Another Chinese neighbor, South Korea, has said it won’t join the political blacklist. President Moon Jae-in said for the current week that going to the Games would keep a “positive” relationship with China. Competitors are not piece of the strategic blacklists and will take an interest in the Beijing Games, which are planned to run from Feb. 4-20.

travel to and from Britain TL Bureau, Paris The French government on Thursday declared new travel limitations on travelers from Britain over worries about rising cases including the Omicron Covid variation.

Authorities said that starting Saturday, just the individuals who have an “fundamental motivation to travel” will be allowed to make a trip from Britain to France.

“We will set up significantly more radical testing measures on the boundary with the U.K.,” representative Gabriel Attal said, as per The Local.

“Our procedure is to postpone

however much we can the improvement of Omicron in our nation and exploit to push ahead with the sponsor drive.”

Head out limitations apply to both immunized and unvaccinated British residents. France likewise forced new testing and quarantine rules, requiring a negative COVID-19 test inside 24 hours.

Voyagers who are permitted to enter France likewise should detach for two days.

Under the guidelines, sightseers are totally banished from entering France. French and EU nationals are excluded. Around 71% of the French populace has been immunized, as per Johns Hopkins University.

OCLC 1101190095

2 Scientists at an archeological site in Germany might have found the most punctual proof of hominins, or early people, changing their environmental factors, they said Wednesday.

In particular, they distinguished an unmistakable impression of Neanderthal exercises close to an enormous waterway in the area encompassing the Neumark-Nord site, a dive area in the Geisel Valley in SaxonyAnhalt, dating around 125,000 years prior, they said, in an article distributed Wednesday

by Science Advances.

In view of their discoveries, exercises that incorporate hunting, creature handling, apparatus creation and fire use might clarify why the area’s timberlands were cleared during this period contrasted and vegetation encompassing other close by lakes, as per the scientists.

The disclosure “adds a significant angle to early human, including Neandertal, conduct [as] it shows that people were at that point a locally apparent variable in forming vegetation 125,000 years prior,” lead scientist Wil Roebroeks told UPI in an email.

“We may hope to track down different instances of this particularly since Neandertals and their peers were gifted in fire innovation,” said Roebroeks, a teacher of Paleolithic

Earliest evidence for prehistoric humans that transforms the surroundings prehistoric studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

The discoveries might confound researchers’ comprehension of the Last Interglacial period, which started around 130,000 years prior and finished around 115,000 years prior, as the toward the end where the scene was immaculate by people, as indicated by the analysts.

The Last Interglacial time frame is viewed as the rearward where natural and environment conditions most reflected those of the current day.

Researchers are as yet attempting to affirm how, when and how much Pleistocene tracker finders affected their general surroundings, they said.

It is accepted these effects are logical little, in any case, given the low populace densities in these networks, the specialists said.

To decide if NeumarkNord might add to the continuous discussion throughout how far back in time the natural impact of people can be

noticed, Roebroeks and his partners examined paleoenvironmental information, including dust counts, and archeological information at the site.

Neumark-Nord was deserted by hominins, or early people, when portions of the northern European plain were covered by ice sheets however re-occupied toward the start of the Last Interglacial period, prior investigations propose.

The analysts contrasted the information and two other close by areas that are additionally situated in the eastern locale of the Harz Mountains in Germany,

editorial

they said.

While dust sythesis and levels at these different destinations show a shut, forested climate, dust information at Neumark-Nord recommend more open vegetation, an example conflicting with the remainder of the area, the scientists said.

Joined with charcoal information and past proof of the presence of Neanderthals nearby, the discoveries propose that early hominin tracker finders made an enduring imprint on the district’s current circumstance, they said.

“With the quarry shut and the locales annihilated, our multidisciplinary group is as yet concentrating on material from the unearthings, like the colossal measure of stays of butchered creatures,” Roebroeks said.

“The time span of 125,000 years prior is regularly used to give reference data about the condition of normal vegetation without a trace of human effect,” he said.

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3 Mexico Confirmed COVID-19 Death Toll Nearly At 297,000 TL Bureau, Mexico City

December 15, 2021, SPA -Mexico’s health ministry on Tuesday reported 262 more fatalities from COVID-19, bringing the country’s official death toll since the pandemic began to 296,983, Reuters reported.

The health ministry has previously said the real number is likely significantly higher

OK Ministry of Health Reports 65 New COVID-19 Cases, 82 Recoveries in Saudi Arabia TL Bureau, Riyadh The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the registration of 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 82 recoveries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past 24 hours.

The ministry added that the number of critical cases reached 33.

The ministry’s statistics showed that the total number of infections in the country reached 550,369, while the recovery tally reached 539,636.

The MoH reported one new death, bringing the fatalities tally in the Kingdom to 8,856.

The Ministry of Health advised everyone to contact 937-Service Center for consultations and inquiries around the clock, obtaining reliable health information and services, as well as knowing the latest development of COVID-19.

Kuwait Records 30 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Kuwait

Kuwait recorded 30 new cases with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and 20 recoveries in the past 24 hours.

The spokesman for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad indicated that the total number of infections reached 413,790, while the recovery tally reached 410,950, and the total deaths stood at 2,466.

world

County elections on 23 January 2022 TL Bureau, Helsinki

The first county elections will be held in Finland on Sunday 23 January 2022. A county council for each of the 21 wellbeing services counties will be elected in the elections. The term of the county councils will begin on 1 March 2022 and end on 31 May 2025.

The advance voting period is from 12 to 18 January 2022 in Finland and from 12 to 15 January 2022abroad. The voting period is, however, shorter than this at many of the advance polling stations abroad.

Voters may only vote for a candidate standing for election in their wellbeing services county.

The residents of Helsinki will not vote in the county elections, because Helsinki does not form a wellbeing services county or belong to any of the counties. The City of Helsinki continues to be responsible for organising health, social and rescue services in Helsinki.

Until now, municipalities have been responsible for organising health, social and rescue services, but in future, this responsibility will be assumed by the wellbeing services counties. The wellbeing services counties are autonomous, and the highest decision-making power in each county will be exercised by a county council.

Candidate applications must be submitted by 16.00 on 14 December Candidate applications must be submitted to the county election boards by 16.00 on 14 December.

The county election boards will review the applications and confirm the nomination of candidates on 23 December. Information on the candidates and their candidate numbers will be published on the Electionsfinland.fi website in the evening of 23 December.

Development of COVID-19 epidemic is taken into account in election arrangements The county elections will be held in January 2022 with the arrangements required by the epidemiological situation. The Ministry of Justice and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) will take the development of the epidemic into account in the practical election arrangements. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, voting is a low-risk activity.

The Ministry of Justice and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have drawn up guidelines for election authorities on the safe conduct of elections during COVID-19. If local health authorities issue more detailed instructions, they must be observed.

The Electionsfinland.fi website contains instructions for voters

TEN-E: Council and Parliament reach provisional agreement on new rules for cross-border energy projects TL Bureau, Brussels The Council presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on the revision of the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation. The new rules for TEN-E will support the EU’s climate objectives and the green deal. The agreement found in trilogue negotiations is pending endorsement by member states.

“The agreement reached today makes sure that in the future, no new fossil fuel projects will receive funding from the Connecting Europe Facility. Today’s deal makes sure we will invest in a green and climate-neutral future that guarantees efficiency, competitiveness and security of supply, while leaving no one behind.”

Jernej Vrtovec, Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure The Council’s and Parliament’s negotiators agreed among other things to: end support for new natural gas and oil projects and introduce mandatory sustainability criteria for all projects

simplify and accelerate permitting and authorisation procedures, notably by creating a unique point of contact per project for permitting and authorisation allow during a transitional period until 31 December 2029, for dedicated hydrogen assets converted from natural gas to be used to transport or store a pre-defined blend of hydrogen with natural gas or biomethane. Eligibility for EU financial assistance for such projects will end on 31 December 2027 allow for projects no longer on the list of projects of common interest, but for which an application file has been accepted for examination by the competent authority, to maintain their rights and obligations in terms of faster permitting.

The revised Regulation will continue to ensure that new projects respond to market integration, competitiveness and security of supply objectives. It will continue to support projects that connect regions currently isolated from European energy markets, that strengthen existing cross-border interconnections and that promote cooperation with countries outside of the EU.

on maintaining health security at the polling stations during COVID-19. Voters must wear a face mask, use hand sanitiser and maintain sufficient physical distance from others at the polling station. Election officials will ensure safety at the polling stations and advise voters on how to follow the instructions.

Voters can contact the central municipal election board of their municipality to ask about the special arrangements. Notices of right to vote are sent during December The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will send a notice of right to vote (polling card) to all eligible voters. The notice is accompanied by a list of the advance polling stations near the voter’s place of residence and information about the duties of the wellbeing services counties.

The notices will be sent out on 30 December 2021 at the latest. The notice is sent in electronic format to those eligible voters who have activated the Suomi.fiMessages service and given their consent for all official messages to be sent to them electronically.

It is easy to find out your polling station and wellbeing services county A list of all advance polling stations is available on the Electionsfinland. fi website of the Ministry of Justice.

On election day, 23 January 2022, voters may only vote at the polling station mentioned in the notice of right to vote sent to them. During the advance voting period, voters may vote at any advance polling station.

Voters can obtain information on the addresses and opening hours of polling stations by calling the Elections helpline. Calls to the helpline are free of charge, and service is provided in Finnish (0800 9 4770) and in Swedish (0800 9 4771). Voters can also send election-related questions on WhatsApp (050 438 8730).

The voting register for the 2022 county elections was compiled based on the information contained in the Population Information System on 3 December 2021.

The voter’s place of residence determines the wellbeing services county in which the voter is entitled to vote and their election day polling station. Each wellbeing services county has its own candidates, and voters can only vote for the candidates standing for election in their wellbeing services county.

If an eligible voter moves after 3 December, the wellbeing services county and the election day polling station are determined based on their previous place of residence.

The total number of eligible voters is approximately 3,933,000.

11 countries removed from the UK’s red list

TL Bureau, London

Pre-departure tests and PCR testing measures on or before day 2 remain in place, with a review of all travel measures in the new year Change comes as the government calls on all adults to come forward and Get Boosted Now As the Health Secretary set out earlier today, Ministers have agreed to remove all 11 remaining countries from the UK’s red list from 4am tomorrow (15 December), following review of the latest risk assessment from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Passengers returning from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will not have to stay in a managed quarantine hotel on arrival in England from this date.

As Omicron cases rise in the UK and in countries around the world, the travel red list is less effective in slowing the incursion

of the variant from abroad and these temporary measures are no longer proportionate. The red list has served its purpose in delaying the spread of Omicron into the UK to buy time for the government to learn more about this variant and prepare for its potential impact.

All vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK must continue to take a pre-departure test (PCR or lateral flow) 2 days before they depart for the UK and must take a PCR test on or before day 2 and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. Unvaccinated passengers must also take a predeparture test, PCR test on day 2 and 8, and self-isolate for 10 days. Test to release remains an option to shorten their selfisolation period.

These testing measures are vital in helping to prevent any additional cases of Omicron from entering the UK, stopping travellers from passing it on to others if they are infected, and in helping government to monitor the risk posed by overseas travel.

4

world

Norway participates in a project which will make it easier for military forces to cross borders in Europe

TL Bureau, Oslo

The security situation in Europe has underlined the need for improvements in military mobility, and work to this end is taken forward in NATO, our European allies and in the Nordic context. One of the weaknesses with the current system has been the procedures

for cross border permission for military forces, which have been subject to large national variations.

Success with military mobility requires close cooperation and military mobility has top priority in the cooperation between NATO and the EU, says the Norwegian Minister of Defence, Odd Roger Enoksen.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai TL Bureau, Washington D.C. Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. The Secretary expressed his deep regret to the Foreign Minister that he would not be able to visit Bangkok this week. He explained that, in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and

safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the Secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C. out of an abundance of caution. The Secretary extended an invitation for the Foreign Minister to visit Washington, D.C. at the earliest opportunity and noted that he looked forward to traveling to Thailand as soon as possible.

They affirmed that they would use the upcoming engagements to further deepen the U.S.-Thai alliance.

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund’s Annual Report 2020/21

Annual report monitoring the CSSF Fund TL Bureau, London The Cabinet Office has today published the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund’s (CSSF) Annual Report for the Financial Year (FY) 2020/21.

The CSSF is a unique crossgovernment fund that tackles conflicts and challenges to UK interests arising from instability overseas. Operating in 87 countries and territories, the Fund had a budget of £1.26bn in FY 2020/21.

The CSSF faced difficult delivery challenges during 2020/21 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

However, its ability to provide innovative and integrated solutions to complex global issues allowed it to make a valuable contribution to the UK’s international COVID-19 response. For instance the Fund was able to quickly realign existing programmes to enable a vaccination programme that reached 80% of the total population in the UK’s Overseas Territories.

The speed and scale of the CSSF’s response highlighted the value the Fund brings as an agile and flexible cross-government fund.

The Government’s Integrated

How can Finland achieve the 2030 artificial intelligence vision? − Interim report of the Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme compiles proposals for concrete aims and measures

TL Bureau, Helsinki

The objective of the Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme is that Finnish industry’s assets in 2030 are sustainability, capacity for renewal, technological leadership and solutions that enable increasing the carbon handprint.

The interim report compiles the concrete objectives and proposed measures for achieving the artificial intelligence vision for 2030.

Business and industry will be shaped by the fourth industrial revolution, i.e. the digitalisation of production and services, as well as the transition towards sustainable activities that take the limits of the planet into account.

The Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme launched in 2020 aims to make Finland a pioneer in the dual transition, that is the digital and green transition, by 2030.

“Our aim is that, in international comparison, Finnish SMEs will lead the development of digitalisation.

The green and digital transitions are the most important drivers of sustainable development and economic competitiveness.

The Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme focuses on the digitalisation of companies in the manufacturing industry and the renewal of value creation,” says Minister of Economic

Affairs Mika Lintilä. “The key assets of Finnish industry include sustainability, capacity for renewal and technological leadership.

Finland’s ability to remain a leading country in technology and artificial intelligence exists, but it requires concrete and farreaching measures today,” says Jussi Herlin, chair of the Artificial Intelligence 4.0 programme. During autumn 2021, the programme’s thematic sub-groups have, together with stakeholders, specified the objectives and defined the key results as well as the measures and indicators required by them. This interim report compiles the results of the work of the sub-groups and four proposals for achieving the vision of Finland as a winner in the dual transition in 2030.

Finland must invest in the development and introduction of leading technologies Remaining a leading country in artificial intelligence will require increasing investments in new competencies and key technologies, including those related to the data economy, data-based value creation, highperformance computing and the integration of network technology and artificial intelligence. In addition to increasing skills, Finland must be able to attract more top international talent.

Nature intelligence and digital

technology are key to triple victory of sustainable development Nature intelligence means that companies use their products and solutions to create economic, social and environmental benefits for society. Investing simultaneously in nature intelligence and digital technology will take Finland towards the triple victory in sustainable development. The triple victory relate to the economic, ecological and social benefits, which in practice translate into business growth, higher employment and wellbeing, and climate and environmental benefits.

Small and medium-sized industrial companies are at the heart of Finland’s national economy. The sustainable development of our economy depends to a significant degree on how SMEs can boost their productivity, improve their competitiveness and reduce their environmental footprint with the help of new technologies, for example.

Barriers to digital development in SMEs include limited resources, hectic everyday operations and lack of competence. These barriers must be addressed by both the public sector and the business community.

4. Finland is actively involved in creating the EU’s artificial intelligence, data and industrial strategies.

Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published in March 2021, identifies a number of emerging National Security challenges. These include the growth of state-based threats, instability and strategic competition, and climate change.

While the Fund already works on many of these issues, moving forward there will be continued alignment to ensure its work is delivering on the objectives of the Integrated Review as closely as possible.

In 2020/21 the Fund centred activity around four key areas: conflict and stability; state threats;

transnational threats; and women, peace and security. The Annual Report details the work being undertaken worldwide under these headings; from community reconciliation work in Somalia; combating disinformation in Ukraine; to tackling the narcotics trade in the British Virgin Islands and helping Syrian women’s rights organisations to survive.

Moving forward the CSSF will focus on how it improves monitoring, evaluating and learning from its ongoing programming, to ensure that we improve the high quality of our work around the world.

544 arrests and €63 million of fake pharmaceuticals and illegal doping substances seized

TL Bureau, The Hague

Europol coordinated operation Shield II, a global effort to target trafficking of counterfeit and misused medicines and doping substances. The operation was led by the French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale/ OCLAESP), the Finnish Customs (Tulli), the Hellenic Police/Financial Police Division (Ελληνική Αστυνομία / Διεύθυνση Οικονομικής Αστυνομίας) and the Italian Carabinieri Corps (NAS Carabinieri). It also involved law enforcement authorities from 26 countries (20 EU Member States and 7 third-party countries), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the World Anti-Doping Agency and the private sector.

The operation took place from 1 April to 15 October 2021.

The illegal consumption of medicines out of the regulated medical supply chain generates demand for the trafficking of illegally obtained genuine medications and of counterfeited pharmaceutical products.

Medicines are abused for different reasons, including for psychotropic or performanceenhancing effects. Users inject non-injectable products such as sublingual pills, patch contents,

and eye-drops, or consume them without a medical prescription.

The abuse represents a significant threat to users’ health. Even greater is that posed by the use of counterfeit medications. Contrived in underground labs with no hygiene or security procedures in place, these products often contain harmful ingredients. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals have further invested efforts into counterfeiting medications that are in the highest demand. To increase their profits, criminal networks have focused on distributing fake “corona-cures” and counterfeiting medical devices and sanitisers, which are then sold online. During Operation Shield II, law enforcement officers targeted criminal groups trafficking doping substances (hormone and metabolic regulators) and various medications such as anti-cancer drugs, erectile dysfunction medicines, pseudoephedrine, painkillers, antioestrogens, antivirals, hypnotics, antihistamines and anxiolytics. Operation Shield II in a nutshell Seizures worth nearly €63 million “Joint law enforcement efforts have successfully curtailed the trafficking of COVID-19-related counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

5

Singapore

MEASURES TO COOL THE PROPERTY MARKET TL Bureau, Singapore City

The Government announced today a package of measures to cool the private residential and HDB resale markets. With effect from 16 December 2021, Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates will be raised, and the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) threshold will be tightened. The Government will also tighten the LTV limit for loans from HDB from 90% to 85%. In addition, the Government will increase public and private housing supply to cater to demand.

The Government has been closely monitoring the property market for several quarters. The private residential and HDB resale markets have been buoyant, despite the economic impact of COVID-19.

Private housing prices have risen by about 9% since 1Q2020.

HDB resale flat prices are also

recovering sharply after a sixyear decline,1 rising about 15% since 1Q 2020. Even though House Price-to-Income ratios remain below their historical averages, there is clear upward momentum. Amid the low interest rate environment, transaction volumes in the private housing market and HDB resale market have also been high despite the COVID-19 situation.

If left unchecked, prices could run ahead of economic fundamentals, and raise the risk of a destabilising correction later on. Borrowers would also be vulnerable to a possible rise in interest rates in the coming years.

The HDB Resale Price Index declined by 9.9% over 5 years between 2014-2018 and remained flat in 2019.

The Government has therefore decided to implement a set of

SINGAPORE AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS ON A DIGITAL ECONOMY AGREEMENT

TL Bureau, Singapore City Singapore and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have concluded negotiations on the KoreaSingapore Digital Partnership Agreement (KSDPA). Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng and ROK’s Minister for Trade Yeo Han-Koo jointly announced this today at the Joint Ministerial Meeting in Singapore.

The KSDPA will be Singapore’s fourth Digital Economy Agreement (DEA)1, and the first with an Asian country.

The agreement will deepen bilateral cooperation in the digital economy between both countries, by establishing forward looking digital trade rules and norms to promote interoperability between digital systems. This will enable more seamless cross-border data flows and build a trusted and secure digital environment for our businesses and consumers.

The KSDPA will prohibit data localisation except for specific purposes such as regulatory access. This allows businesses to transfer data securely as part of their daily business operations and allows businesses to choose where they may wish to store and process their data, according to their business needs. It will also deepen bilateral cooperation in new emerging areas like Personal Information Protection, E-payments, and Source Code protection. ROK and Singapore will also identify cross-border opportunities to facilitate Artificial Intelligence innovation and collaborations.

The DEA will complement Singapore’s efforts to develop multilateral rules to create an enabling environment for

e-commerce as co-convenor of the World Trade Organization Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce.

Dr Tan See Leng said, “I welcome the conclusion of the Korea- Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement. It will strengthen the digital connectivity between Singapore and the Republic of Korea, and add to our already robust economic ties. By aligning standards, enabling trusted data flows and allowing cross border digital transactions to take place more seamlessly, the KSDPA will open up opportunities for our businesses and people in the rapidly growing digital economy.”

Singapore and ROK enjoy strong economic ties. Singapore was ROK’s 8th largest trade partner in 2020, with bilateral trade reaching S$44.6 billion.

As of end-2019, Singapore was ROK’s 9th largest investor in Asia, with about S$8.37 billion worth of investments recorded in ROK. ROK was Singapore’s 6th largest source of investments in Asia, with a cumulative direct investment of S$23.7 billion.

The KSDPA follows the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement with Chile and New Zealand, the SingaporeAustralia DEA, and the UKSingapore DEA. The KSDPA is part of a series of DEAs that Singapore has embarked upon. These agreements are an inter-agency effort led by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Communications and Information, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, to advance collaboration in the digital economy and enhance digital connectivity.

measures to cool the private and public housing markets, to promote continued housing affordability.

The private residential measures are calibrated to dampen broadbased demand, especially from those purchasing property for investment rather than owneroccupation. Measures to tighten financing conditions for both public and private housing will encourage greater financial prudence. The Government will also be ramping up the supply for both private and public housing.

Measures Applicable to All Residential Property Raising Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) Rates The current ABSD rates for Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) purchasing their first residential property will remain at 0% and 5% respectively.

Singapore Customs arrests man and seizes more than 1,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes TL Bureau, Singapore City

Singapore Customs arrested a 39-year-old male Chinese National and seized more than 1,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 8 December 2021.

Case information During the operation conducted in the vicinity of Gambas Crescent, Singapore Customs officers observed a man collecting a consignment of goods from a warehouse and loading it into a Singapore-registered truck.

Officers moved in to conduct a check and found 1,512 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed inside the consignment of six airconditioning units. Investigations established that the consignment was imported from China via Less than Container Load1 (LCL) container. The man was placed under arrest. Officers found another carton and nine packets of dutyunpaid cigarettes during a followup search at the man’s residence.

The operation led to a seizure of the Singapore-registered truck, and 1,513 cartons and nine packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The total duty and Goods and Services Less than Container Load containers have multiple consignments belonging to different consignees packed in the same container. Freight forwarding companies in Singapore would unstuff the containers for the consignments to be delivered or collected by individual consignees. tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $129,280 and $10,370 respectively. Court proceedings against the man are ongoing.

33 F&B Outlets and 31 Individuals Penalised for Breaching Safe Management Measures

Operators and members of the public reminded to observe safe management measures for the year-end period TL Bureau, Singapore City As we approach the year-end period, agencies will be stepping up enforcement at Food and Beverage (F&B) outlets. This will include nightlife establishments which have pivoted to F&B. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, we urge all Singaporeans not to let our guard down but to remain vigilant. We seek everyone’s cooperation to continue to exercise social responsibility and rigorously observe safe management measures (SMMs) so as to keep Singapore safe.

Breaches at F&B Premises Since 1 December 2021, 22 F&B outlets were ordered to close for SMM and Vaccination Differentiated SMMs (VDS) breaches such as failing to ensure that customers adhere to the permitted group size, failing to ensure a safe distance of at least 1 metre between groups of customers, and failing to minimise interaction between staff and customers.

11 other F&B outlets and 31 individuals were issued composition fines for various SMM and VDS breaches. These included allowing music videos to be played within premises, failing to ensure a safe distance of at least 1 metre between seated customers, gathering in groups larger than the permitted size, and mask-related offences. Please refer to Annex A

for details of offences, and Annex B for photos. Strict compliance with SMMs (including VDS) is critical for everyone’s safety, particularly amid the global risk of the Omicron variant. During the year-end festive period, agencies will step up checks on F&B outlets to ensure that VDS and SMMs are strictly adhered to. Firm enforcement action will be taken against operators and individuals who do not comply with SMMs, including the proper wearing of masks. Enforcement action can be as severe as prosecution and the revocation of licences.

Breaches at parks and beaches A total of 40 individuals’ particulars were taken from 1 to 13 December 2021 in parks and beaches managed by the National Parks Board (NParks), for gathering in groups larger than the permitted limit. In one such case, NParks will be taking enforcement actions against a group of 22 individuals who were found playing soccer at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

All campsites and barbecue pits in NParks-managed parks and gardens remain closed. NParks will temporarily close access to some parks, sections of lawns, and facilities – such as lawns, hard courts, shelters and car parks – when these areas get too crowded or where users remain non-compliant with SMMs.

FIFTH SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES

TL Bureau, Singapore City

The Committee of Privileges (the “Committee”) has presented a Fifth Special Report to Parliament today (15 December 2021).

The Committee heard further oral evidence from Mr Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC), on 15 December 2021.

Despite the Committee’s requests from 10 to 14 December 2021, Mr Pritam Singh, Ms Sylvia Lim (MP for Aljunied GRC) and Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (MP for Aljunied GRC) failed to produce certain documents. On 15 December 2021, the Committee issued a summons to each of these witnesses for the documents to be produced at its next meeting on Monday, 20 December 2021.

As with the previous Special Reports, the Committee discussed the contents of the Fifth Special Report with inputs and edits

from members. During the vote, 6 members agreed on the presentation of the Fifth Special Report to Parliament and 1 objected (see Minutes of Proceedings in Annex B of the Fifth Special Report).

The summary of oral evidence given on 15 December 2021 is set out in Annex A of the Fifth Special Report.

The video of the 15 December 2021 oral evidence is available at: https://www.parliament.gov.sg/ parliamentary-business/committeeof-privileges--- complaint-againstms-raeesah-khan The Committee’s proceedings have largely concluded. Nonetheless, it will hear further evidence if it sees fit. It will present its findings and recommendations to Parliament in due course.

The Committee is considering the complaint made on 1 November 2021 by Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, against Ms Raeesah Khan, former MP for Sengkang GRC.

6

MALAYSIA & NEARBY

G7 FOREIGN AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTERS’ MEETINGS WITH GUESTS FROM ASEAN 12 DECEMBER 2021, IN HYBRID FORM

TL Bureau, Kuala Lampur

YB Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, led the Malaysian delegation to the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meetings with Guests from ASEAN, held on Sunday, 12 December 2021 in hybrid form. YB Foreign Minister participated virtually in the ASEAN-G7 meeting as well as thematic sessions on “IndoPacific: Infrastructure, Technology and Shared Security”, and “Vaccines and Global Health Security”. YB Foreign Minister was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as officials from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Cuture responsible for the ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community pillars.

CONTINUATION OF INTERMITTENT CLOSURE BY STAGES AT KM7.6, KUALA LUMPUR - PUTRAJAYA HIGHWAY (MAJU EXPRESSWAY), KUALA LUMPURBOUND & PUTRAJAYA-BOUND. Date: 17 December 2021 – 10 January 2022 Time: 11.00pm – 5.00am

INTERMITTENT U-TURN CLOSURE AT SUNGAI BESI HIGWAY TOWARDS TAMAN SG BESI (KUALA LUMPUR BOUND), SUNGAI BESI HIGHWAY Date: 17 December 2021 10 January 2022 Time: 10.00pm – 5.00am.

A series of Final Detailed Inspections, or Pemeriksaan Cermat Akhir (PCA) have been carried out on Phase One of the MRT Putrajaya Line to ensure that the section of the line will be safe and ready for operations

The ASEAN-G7 meeting was the first engagement between ASEAN and the G7. During the meeting, the Ministers discussed various issues of mutual interest such as, trade and investment, digital technology, cyber security, sustainable infrastructure development, public health and regional security. ASEAN welcomed the G7’s expression of support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

During the ASEAN-G7 meeting, YB Foreign Minister encouraged cooperation on climate change between ASEAN and the G7 to support the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement in accordance with the principles of equity, and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”. He also expressed

Malaysia’s commitment to multilateralism and the importance of initiatives that would further enhance trade liberalisation through a multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In this respect, YB Foreign Minister stated that Malaysia viewed anti-palm oil campaigns and resolutions as damaging to trade relations and contradictory to the principles of free trade. He emphasised that Malaysia maintains 55.3% of its land area under forest cover, which exceeds Malaysia’s commitment at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.

During the thematic session on Indo-Pacific: Technology, Infrastructure & Shared Security, YB Foreign Minister reiterated Malaysia’s position on the situation in Myanmar and expressed appreciation for the support of the G7 members for ASEAN’s efforts with regard to the ASEAN

Leaders’ Five-Point Consensus.

YB Foreign Minister called for cooperation in capacity building to prevent, combat and counter criminal activities at sea. YB FM also reiterated Malaysia’s position on the South China Sea and stressed the importance of maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of trade, commerce and prosperity.

He also called for ASEAN-G7 cooperation on digital economy as the main driver for a resilient and sustainable post-pandemic recovery. In this connection, he highlighted the need to focus on infrastructure and technology, talent, content and cost.

On the thematic session “Vaccines and Global Health Security”, Malaysia welcomed the G7’s commitment to speed up vaccine supply particularly for the poorer countries through COVAX. Malaysia also welcomed further innovation to develop

more effective vaccines against COVID-19 and future health threats as well as ensuring that vaccines are distributed fairly and equitably to all, including through dose sharing, strengthening and opening supply chains, and expanding vaccine manufacturing capacity.

The G7 comprises the United Kingdom (current Chair of G7), Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. The Meeting noted that all G7 members were now ASEAN’s Dialogue or Development Partners, following the acceptance of the UK as Dialogue Partner earlier this year.

In this light, Malaysia welcomed ASEAN enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation with the G7 in areas of common interest including resilient and sustainable post-pandemic recovery as well as promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region.

7

IFC Arranges a Landmark Financing Package to Help Finance a New Terminal at Iraq’s largest Port

TL Bureau, Baghdad

IFC has spearheaded a landmark financing package for a modern shipping terminal in the Umm Qasr Port in Basra, Iraq’s largest port. The new terminal is expected to significantly reduce vessel turnaround times, helping to boost trade, enhance the country’s connectivity to global markets, and drive economic growth.

The $125 million financing package to Basra Multipurpose Terminal (“BMT”), at Basra’s Umm Qasr Port, the country’s only deep-water port, is one of the largest non-energy-related foreign direct investments in Iraq to date.

Umm Qasr serves as the main entry point into Iraq and is vital to sustaining its development and imports, as the country rebuilds itself after years of conflict.

The financing will help BMT

The Indonesian economy continued to recover in 2021 despite moderating due to the COVID-19 Delta variant wave mid-year. The economy is estimated to have expanded 3.7 percent this year and is forecast to accelerate to 5.2 percent in 2022, the World Bank said on Thursday.

IFC and Ministry of Justice Join Hands to Improve Insolvency Laws in Kosovo, Boost Lending

TL Bureau, ​Pristina

The projection assumes that Indonesia will avoid another severe COVID-19 spike, achieve 70 percent vaccine coverage in 2022 in most provinces, and maintain accommodative monetary and fiscal policies. It also assumes that global trade growth and commodity prices will moderate. These issues are discussed in detailed in the World Bank’s latest Indonesia Economic

Prospects report, A Green Horizon, Toward a High Growth and Low Carbon Economy.To sustain economic momentum and prevent the effects of the pandemic from leaving lasting economic and social scars, the authorities will need to focus on a policy response that strengthens investment, accelerates human capital accumulation, and boosts productivity, the report recommends.

In a bid to improve local bankruptcy procedures and boost the efficiency of the debt resolution system in Kosovo, IFC and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kosovo are joining forces to bolster the insolvency framework and practices.

This will help strengthen the avenue for resolving nonperforming loans, increasing returns to creditors and preserving viable businesses.

As part of the joint effort, IFC will advise the government of Kosovo as it updates its insolvency laws and regulations. The new rules will aim to help troubled businesses revitalize and failed businesses wrap up efficiently, releasing valuable capital back into the economy.

The initiative, known as the Debt Resolution Project, is expected to create a safety net for businesses and investors, improving access to credit, especially for small and medium enterprises.

“As a state institution, we play a crucial role in creating a business environment that is able to retain current investments and attract new ones,” said Nita Shala, Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Justice. “We will work with IFC to develop a clear, predictable, stable and fair legal framework, and ensure investor protection through strict law enforcement and a reliable justice system for a more transparent and conducive investment climate.”

The project will be implemented in partnership with the government of Switzerland, represented by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.“At the end of this

the International Capital Market Association Green Bond Principles and is listed on the JSE in the Sustainability Segment, a platform for companies to raise debt for green, social, and sustainable initiatives.

Green buildings help address climate change and resource scarcity in South Africa and support the country’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Although the number of green buildings in South Africa is growing, the market is still nascent. An IFC study estimates that the green building investment needs in South Africa, in both the commercial and residential segments, amount to US$7 billion between 2016 to 2030.

This latest green bond issued

by Nedbank will increase the availability of financing to boost South Africa’s green building market. Scaling up green building

financing, particularly in the residential sector, is critical to supporting the decarbonization of South Africa’s energy sector while contributing to economic recovery and addressing the large housing deficit in the country.

“This deal represents a groundbreaking issuance that aligns with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry innovation and infrastructure. It forms part of Nedbank’s overall sustainability strategy and sets a prime example of how the capital markets in South Africa can be used as a vehicle to unlock blended finance and move green development forward,” said Arvana Singh, Head: Sustainable Finance Solutions at Nedbank CIB. “The collaboration between IFC and Nedbank on this green bond is a win-win that helps address both climate change and housing

demand, while contributing to South Africa’s economic recovery plan.

Leveraging the capital markets is a central pillar of IFC’s strategy to scale up private sector capital to address the climate and housing finance gaps,” said Adamou Labara, IFC’s Country Manager for South Africa.

As part of the partnership with Nedbank, IFC will also provide performance-based incentives to developers financed by the bond to partly offset greening and EDGE certification costs. The incentives are designed to benefit the bank’s end-borrowers, with payment contingent on their ability to meet specific green building eligibility criteria and completion of the EDGE building certification process.

Nedbank will also benefit from IFC’s advisory services, which include EDGE tool training and certification support for the bank

develop a new and efficient container terminal, including two new berths and state-of-theart equipment, and increase its handling capacity—particularly for larger vessels— to alleviate current bottlenecks and improve operational efficiencies.

The financing package comprises a senior loan of $46 million from IFC; mobilization of a $39 million loan from the IFC-run Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program, which is a syndication platform; and a $40 million parallel loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“Over the past several years, JICA has comprehensively supported the Iraqi port sector,” said Shohei Hara, Director General of JICA’s Private Sector Partnership and Finance Department. “Financing this new terminal at Iraq’s main port will help boost trade and imports and

drive economic growth.”

The project is part of the World Bank Group efforts to diversify the Iraqi economy and reduce its dependence on state-run businesses and petrochemicals.

It will also help strengthen vital infrastructure. As the country’s rebuilding efforts continue, demand for containerized goods and raw materials is expected to increase, with the ports sector set to play a key role in boosting trade and integrating Iraq’s market with worldwide supply chains.

“Iraq’s infrastructure needs are immense and growing,” said Abdullah Jefri, IFC’s Country Manager for the Levant region.

“Only through the private sector can Iraq meet these needs, make its economy more competitive, and achieve long-term sustainable growth to increase shared prosperity for all.”

Indonesia’s Economy Grew in 2021 Despite COVID-19, Will Accelerate in 2022, World Bank Report Says

TL Bureau, Jakarta

BUSINESS

program, we expect to have an improved business environment, better legal and regulatory insolvency frameworks, and stronger financial and private sectors,” said Katrin Ochsenbein,Regional Advisor and Head of Domain Economy and Employment, Embassy of Switzerland/Swiss Cooperation Office Kosovo.

While Kosovo has made significant progress towards changing its market economy, the enabling environment that supports the cycle of business growth and renewal is still challenging due to a large regulatory gap. Improvements in bankruptcy and insolvency procedures is critical to jump-starting investments and making capital available for businesses—both small and large— along with capacity building and public awareness campaigns.

“Given that effective insolvency regimes are key features of a modern market economy, our goal is to foster insolvency mechanisms in Kosovo, while promoting outof-court settlements and expedited restructuring procedures,” said Ary Naïm, IFC’s Regional Manager for Central and Southeast Europe.

“This will help spur private sector development in Kosovo, an important source of jobs and innovation, stimulating economic growth across the country.” Kosovo became a member and shareholder of IFC in 2009. IFC’s advisory services in Kosovo aim to improve the investment climate and insolvency practice, support private sector companies, and attract private sector participation in the development of infrastructure projects.

and prospective developers to be financed with the bond proceeds.

Both the performance-based incentives and the advisory services will be funded by the IFC-UK Market Accelerator for Green Construction (MAGC) program, which is sponsored by the United Kingdom, acting through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. MAGC helps scale green construction across emerging markets by incentivizing financial intermediaries to develop and introduce new green building finance products.

By improving energy efficiency through green certified homes, this transaction will also contribute to South Africa’s ambitious nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent by 2025 and to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2050.

Nedbank Issues Green Bond, Anchored by IFC, to Fund Green Residential Developments in South Africa

TL Bureau, ​Johannesburg

To help improve access to certified green homes in South Africa, IFC and Nedbank have announced the issuance of a green residential development bond under Nedbank’s domestic medium-term note program, with IFC as the anchor investor. This is the first green bond by a commercial bank in Africa focused on green residential housing developments.

The green bond will contribute to South Africa’s reduced emissions targets and enable Nedbank to expand its portfolio of green buildings certified under IFC’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) program, which makes it easy to design and certify resource-efficient and zero carbon buildings.

The bond, which raised a total of 1.09 billion rand, aligns with

8

FEATURE

COVID-19 Jab Campaign Rolled Out for Migrants inYemen Anwer, an Ethiopian migrant in Yemen, receives his COVID-19 vaccine at the IOM Migrant Response Point in Aden. Photo: Majed Mohammed/IOM

TL Bureau, Aden The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has begun a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for migrants stranded in Yemen, aiming to inoculate around 7,500 people at its Migrant Response Points in Aden and Ma’rib. IOM continues to advocate for more efforts to protect vulnerable populations by ramping up vaccination efforts for people on the move. “We welcome the Government’s commitment to protecting migrants against COVID-19 and immunizing people on the move is key to combatting the spread of the disease,” said IOM’s Chief of Mission, Christa Rottensteiner.

“There are still not enough doses to protect everyone in Yemen from this disease. More support from the international community to supply the country with enough vaccines will save lives.” COVID-19 has had severe consequences for the health, well-being and income of people in Yemen. As of 12 December, there have been more than 10,000 cases reported but the full impact is difficult to assess due to limited testing and reporting across the country. Since April, the Organization has been supporting efforts by the Ministry of Health to vaccinate at-risk and hard-to-reach populations. They have included health workers, people with chronic illnesses and elderly citizens, vaccinated

at IOM-supported health centres in Aden, Ma’rib and Ta’iz governorates.

One Ethiopian migrant who received the vaccine in Aden, Naima Mohammed, said: “Last year one of my relatives died from COVID-19. Since then, I’ve come to the Migrant Response Point several times to learn measures to avoid contracting the virus, like handwashing and mask wearing. Now that I’m vaccinated, I’m more protected.”

Seven years of conflict in Yemen have

10th Global Conference on Health Promotion charters a path for creating ‘well-being societies’ TL Bureau, Geneva Past epidemics showed us the importance of resilient health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the importance of resilient societies. The 10th Global Conference on Health Promotion on 13-15 December 2021 marked the start of a global movement on the concept of well-being in societies. A focus on wellbeing encourages different sectors to work together to address global challenges and help people take control over their health and lives.

Over 4,500 participants of the Global Conference, who met virtually and in Geneva, Switzerland, agreed on a Geneva Charter for Well-being. The Charter builds on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and the legacy of nine global conferences on health promotion. It highlights the need for global commitments to achieve equitable health and social outcomes now and for future generations, without destroying the health of our planet. This charter will drive policy-makers and world leaders to adopt this approach and commit to concrete action.

“Health does not begin in a hospital or clinic.

It begins in our homes and communities, with the food we eat and the water we drink, the air we breathe, in our schools and our workplaces,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General. “We have to fundamentally change the way that leaders in politics, the private sector, and international institutions think about and value health, and to promote growth

that is based on health and well-being for people and the planet, for countries in all income levels.” The Charter outlines the necessary elements of a ‘well-being society’ and what needs to be done in order to better prevent and respond to the multiple health and ecological crises we face globally.

It identifies key action areas and offers instruments for implementation.

The document encourages five key actions: Design an equitable economy that serves human development within planetary boundaries; Create public policy for the common good; Achieve universal health coverage; Address the digital transformation to counteract harm and disempowerment and to strengthen the benefits; and Value and preserve the planet.

“It is time to look at how the economy can support the societal goal of well-being, as an investment that is the foundation of productive, resilient and inclusive economies,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, WHO Director for Health Promotion. “We cannot – we must not – go back to the same exploitative patterns of production and consumption, the same disregard for the planet that sustains all life, the same cycle of panic and neglect, and the same divisive politics that fueled this pandemic.” To change the global development landscape, both the well-being of people and the planet must become central to defining humanity’s progress.

weakened the health system, which was already in peril before the virus reached the country. The pandemic has had a dire impact on the most marginalized communities who lack access to health care, clean water and sanitation. An estimated 36,000 migrants have been stranded on their journeys due to COVID-19-related mobility restrictions, nearly 3,500 in Ma’rib. Many are sleeping rough or in overcrowded and unsanitary accommodation where the virus can easily

spread.

“Vaccinating against COVID-19 is even more crucial in places like Ma’rib where ongoing conflict continues to weaken health facilities and disrupt the supply chain for medicines,” Rottensteiner said.

For the past three months, IOM has been conducting awareness-raising sessions among migrants to spread accurate information and debunk vaccine misconceptions. Vaccinated migrants will receive immunization documents which will allow them easier access to health facilities.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, IOM has helped prevent the spread of the disease and provide treatment for those infected.

This includes encouraging behaviours to prevent transmission, increasing disease surveillance and testing, and securing critical supplies and personal protective equipment in health facilities.

So far this year, more than 135,000 people have been reached with COVID-19 awareness sessions and over 400,000 people have been screened for COVID-19 at IOM-supported health facilities throughout the country.

IOM’s vaccination campaign for migrants in Yemen is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization with support by contributions from the governments of Germany, Finland and EU Humanitarian Aid.

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola outbreak over

TL Bureau, Brazzaville/Kinshasa

The Ebola outbreak that erupted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu Province in October – the second in 2021 – was today declared over, the national health authorities announced after no new cases were reported at the end of a 42-day countdown, or two incubation periods after the last confirmed case was discharged.

In total, 11 cases (eight confirmed, three probable), including six deaths were reported in the outbreak that was declared on 8 October after a new case was confirmed in Beni health zone in the country’s North Kivu Province. This was the country’s 13th outbreak and occurred in the same area as the 2018 outbreak which lasted two years.

More than 1800 people were vaccinated in a campaign that kicked off just five days after the first case was detected. The outbreak marks the first time the recently-licensed ERVEBO vaccine against Ebola was used in the country. ERVEBO is the same as the compassionate-use vaccine, but as a licensed vaccine, rollout is less cumbersome operationally.

“Stronger disease surveillance, community engagement, targeted vaccination and prompt response are making for more effective Ebola containment in the region,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “During this outbreak, the Democratic Republic of Congo was able to limit widespread infections and save lives. Crucial lessons are being

learned and applied with every outbreak experience.”

Swift response comprising key outbreak control measures such as contact tracing, testing, disease surveillance as well as community collaboration efforts helped contain the outbreak within Beni, where the initial case was detected. In support of the country, WHO deployed experts, supplies, and contributed funds to help contain the outbreak.

However, unpredictable and sometimes volatile security in parts of Beni hampered response in some localities, with health workers and other frontline responders unable to access insecure areas to monitor high-risk contacts or administer vaccines.

The prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation was a core pillar of the response. An expert was deployed to train WHO personnel and partners on preventing inappropriate and abusive behaviour. Every person involved in field work received training and each partner agency signed a code of conduct. Trainers engaged directly with community members where health authorities were working to raise awareness about sexual exploitation and abuse and how to report it safely. Radio spots and pamphlets in local languages also helped spread the message.

With the outbreak now declared over, the health authorities are maintaining surveillance and are ready to respond quickly to any flare-ups. It is not unusual for sporadic cases to occur following a major outbreak.

9 EU institutions agree priorities for 2022 for a resilient and reinvigorated EU TL Bureau, Brussels

On Thursday, European Parliament President David Sassoli, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the Joint Declaration on EU legislative priorities for 2022. The Declaration sets out the institutions’ shared vision for a transformed, more resilient Europe. It demonstrates the institutions’ determination to enable the EU to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic and the dramatic consequences of climate change and other global crises.

“We are committed to delivering a stronger, fairer, more sustainable, more digital and more resilient Europe for our citizens. The European Union should stand proudly for its core values and leave no one behind.”

David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament “Our three Institutions are united in delivering an ambitious political and legislative agenda that aims to enhance Europe’s resilience and promote its recovery, enabling us all to build back better together.

The Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2022 that we sign today builds on what we achieved in the current year and reaffirms our commitment to a fairer, greener and more digital Europe, a Union that looks to the future and responds to citizens’ expectations without leaving anyone behind.”

Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia “Europe must deliver solutions to citizens immediate problems, notably on the pandemic and its fallout on their daily life, as well as to the long term challenges we face together, like climate change. Our joint declaration shows our commitment to working hard together to deliver solutions on all these issues, from health to climate change, from digital transformation to broad economic prosperity.”

life and real estate

Migrants’ Role in Global Labour Force and Development Increasingly Vital

Remittances by overseas migrant workers to their home countries are increasingly critical for families and the wider economy. Photo: Muse Mohammed/IOM TL Bureau, Berlin The number of migrants in the labour force worldwide has tripled in the past decade, and the remittances they send home to lower- and middle-income countries outpaces foreign aid, a new report from the IOM Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) shows.

The Global Migration Indicators (GMI) 2021 report provides snapshots of the latest data available on the Global Migration Data Portal, an access point to migration statistics and information on migration data featuring more than 115 indicators.

The report shows that migrant workers play an increasingly important key role in development in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Money migrants send home from their host countries has exceeded foreign direct investment and overseas development assistance to LMICs since 2018, according to World Bank estimates. In some countries – including El Salvador, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Tonga – these remittances made up more than 25 per cent of total GDP in 2020.

“The availability of timely and reliable data can help us maximize the potential of migration for development,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations.

“Many of the challenges faced daily by people on the move, especially those most vulnerable, like victims of trafficking, and women and

girls are staggering. This reports highlights, among many elements, the invaluable contributions migrants have in our communities and economies, and the need for concrete action to increase legal channels and protection measures to undermine smuggling and trafficking networks.”

The report – launched today following the Portal’s fourth anniversary this week – features information trends and insights on more than a dozen migration topics, including migrant workers, the impacts of COVID-19 on human mobility, and future migration trends.

The report highlights the increasing demand for migrant labour, as exemplified by the many migrants in roles considered ‘essential’ during the pandemic. According to the latest available data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), for example, foreign doctors account for 33 per cent

of the total in the United Kingdom.

The reliance on foreign healthcare workers is similar in other highincome countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

Worldwide, migrant workers number nearly 170 million, according to the latest International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates, more than three times as many as the 53 million foreign workers in 2010. Unlike the total number of all migrants, which has remained relatively steady when compared to the world’s population, foreign-born workers play a growing role in the labour force.

Migrants make up an estimated 5 per cent of the global workforce today, compared to less than 2 per cent in 2010.

“As we celebrate International Migrants Day this week, this report stands as a clear reminder of the role migrants play in the development of their communities

worldwide,” said Frank Laczko, IOM GMDAC Director.

“But while the global economy continues to rely heavily on migrant workers, people continue to face terrible risks when they cannot access legal pathways in their search for better opportunities.”

While migration policies are difficult to measure, the data available show a trend toward limiting such safe, legal migration options. International Migration Policy and Law Analysis (IMPALA) data on OECD countries reveal a tendency toward increasingly restrictive migration policies since at least the 1990s, according to the report. This is echoed by evidence from IOM’s Migration Governance Indicators (MGI).

Eighty-one per cent of countries participating in the MGI assessments have at least one government body dedicated to border control and security, but only 38 per cent have a defined national migration strategy, with an even lower number, 31 per cent, aligning it with their national economic development strategy.

During the past 12 months, the Migration Data Portal received more than 2 million unique page views and more than 1.3 million users. Since launched, the Portal has received financial support from IOM Member States, including the Governments of Germany, Switzerland, and the United States, as well as unearmarked funding granted to IOM and internally allocated through the Migration Allocation Resource Committee (MIRAC).

Dr Ayoade Alakija appointed WHO Special Envoy for the ACT-Accelerator

TL Bureau, Geneva

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, has appointed Dr. Ayoade Alakija as WHO Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).

Dr Alakija joins former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, WHO’s current Special Envoy for ACT-A, in this role.

In her capacity as Special Envoy, Dr Alakija will help lead the collective advocacy for the ACTAccelerator, mobilizing support and resources so it can deliver against its new Strategic Plan and Budget that was launched on 28

October 2021, and ensuring that the response is characterised by accountability, inclusion, and solidarity.

Dr Alakija will also support the leaders of the ACT-Accelerator’s three product pillars (vaccines, tests, treatments) and cross cutting ‘connector’; consult widely on the work of the ACT-Accelerator; advise the Director-General, ACT-Accelerator principals and stakeholders on emerging issues; and represent the ACT-Accelerator in key national and international fora.

Dr Alakija joins the ACTAccelerator at a critical moment in the global COVID-19 response,

where the emergence of new variants of concern and missed global coverage targets leave large swathes of the world’s population unvaccinated, untested and untreated. The need for equitable access to vaccines, testing, treatments and personal protective equipment (PPE) remains vitally important to bringing an end to the acute phase of the pandemic.

The ACT-Accelerator partnership, a coalition of leading public health organizations, is the only global initiative offering an integrated, end-to-end solution to expedite the end of the pandemic through the accelerated development and equitable distribution of vaccines,

tests and treatments.

Dr Alakija is a medical doctor with a Masters degree from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Public Health and Epidemiology. She is a global health leader and activist who has deployed diplomacy to bring together the global north and south together in coordinated responses to the pandemic. In her previous role as Chief Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, she led the Oslo Humanitarian Conference for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, working with governments and multilateral institutions to mobilise responses to some of the most under-recognized humanitarian

crises in the world. While based in Fiji, she worked closely with the WHO and UNICEF to design, coordinate, and implement National Health and Behavioural Surveys across the Pacific region.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been a leading voice calling for the urgent reimagining of how the globe should respond more consciously to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Alakija is also the co-Chair of the African Union’s African Vaccine Delivery Alliance and founder of the Emergency Coordination Centre in Nigeria, building on her work with over 100 nations around the globe.

10

First-ever private team to join

FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series in 2022

TL Bureau, Tokyo Xross Sports Marketing, a subsidiary of Xebio and organizers of 3x3.EXE Premier, will become the first private entity to have a team on the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series, the women’s 3x3 professional circuit. For its third edition in 2022, the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series will welcome teams registered by national federations and private promoters alike. This was a unique opportunity for Xross Sports Marketing, who has been a pioneer in 3x3 since 2014.

“We are delighted to play a leading role in the development of 3x3 in Japan and worldwide,” Xross Sports Marketing president Takaaki Nakamura said.

In 2019, the company started the first 3x3 professional league for women, which played an important role in earning enough points for Japan to secure a spot at the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualification

Tournament, on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“We’re just passionate about accelerating youth development for women with a new lifestyle and perspective through basketball.

We will provide an opportunity for 3x3.EXE Premier players to go from the streets to the world stage via an open try-out selection,” Nakamura added.

The Japanese 3x3 women’s national team won the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup and the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Xiong An Stop in 2019 and were the only team to beat the eventual Olympic champions USA in Tokyo. They ranked fifth overall in the final standings. “We’re delighted to see the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series continue to expand after 3x3’s successful debut at the Tokyo Olympics,” FIBA Executive Committee member Carol Callan said. “We believe this will give a chance to more female talents to shine on the world stage, which is

in line with one of FIBA’s three strategic pillars: the development of women in basketball.”

In 2021,19 different teams competed in the second edition of the Women’s Series, which included 7 different events.

Germany won the final, which took place in the scenic Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, an event hosted by the Romanian Basketball Federation President and FIBA Executive Committee member Carmen Tocala: “I could see with my own eyes last summer the vast potential of the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series,” Tocala said. I am delighted that FIBA has approved the possible expansion to private teams at the Women’s Series. I believe this is an important step in the growth of the competition to make it even more exciting and spectacular and an inspiration for a new generation of women who wish to become professional 3x3 players.”

NFL fan growth internationally.

“NFL fandom begins with our clubs,” said Christopher Halpin, NFL Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer.

“This important initiative enables NFL teams to develop meaningful, direct relationships with NFL fans abroad, driving fan growth and avidity globally. We were very pleased with the number, creativity and level of commitment of club proposals across the board in this initial application period and look forward to teams launching their efforts early next year.”

As part of the International HMA

program, clubs will have access to international markets for at least a five-year term, during which a club will have rights to pursue activities in that international market that are consistent with what they can do in their domestic HMA. This includes in-person and digital marketing, corporate sponsorship sales, fan events and activations, youth football activities, merchandise sales and co-marketing relationships with other sports and entertainment properties in the market.

Clubs can begin to activate in their awarded market(s) on

SPORTS

NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 15

TL Bureau, California

AFC CLINCHED: None NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (94) (vs. Indianapolis (7-6), Saturday night, 8:15 PM ET, NFLN) New England clinches playoff berth with: NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + CIN loss + KC loss OR NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + DEN loss + LAC loss OR NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + LAC loss OR NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss OR NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + CIN loss + LAC loss OR NE win + MIA loss or tie + BAL loss + LAC loss + LV loss + CINDEN tie NOTE: There are other complex scenarios for New England that involve multiple ties and strength-of-victory permutations.

TENNESSEE TITANS (9-4) (at Pittsburgh (6-6-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS) Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with: TEN win + IND loss NFC CLINCHED: None ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-3) (at Detroit (1-11-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Arizona clinches playoff berth with: ARI win or tie OR NO loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR NO loss or tie + PHI loss + ATL loss or tie + GB win or tie OR NO loss or tie + SF tie + LAR loss OR MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR MIN loss or tie + SF loss OR SF loss + PHI-WAS tie OR SF tie + LAR loss + PHI-WAS tie DALLAS COWBOYS (9-4) (at N.Y. Giants (4-9), Sunday, 1:00

PM ET, FOX) Dallas clinches NFC East division title with: DAL win + WAS-PHI tie OR DAL win + WAS loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI Dallas clinches playoff berth with: DAL win + NO loss or tie OR DAL win + SF loss OR DAL tie + MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie + ATL loss or tie OR MIN loss + ATL loss + NO loss + PHI-WAS tie OR MIN loss + ATL loss + NO loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-3) (at Baltimore (8-5), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX) Green Bay clinches NFC North division title with: GB win or tie OR MIN loss or tie Green Bay clinches playoff berth with: NO loss or tie + SF loss OR NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR NO loss or tie + LAR loss + SF tie OR SF loss + PHI-WAS tie OR LAR loss + SF tie + PHI-WAS tie LOS ANGELES RAMS (9-4) (vs.

Seattle (5-8), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX) L.A. Rams clinch playoff berth with: LAR win + NO loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR LAR win + NO loss or tie + PHIWAS tie OR LAR win + MIN loss or tie + PHIWAS tie OR LAR tie + MIN loss + NO loss + ATL loss or tie TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-3) (vs. New Orleans (6-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with: TB win or tie Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with: MIN loss or tie + SF loss OR MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR SF loss + PHI-WAS tie

NFL ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL HOME MARKETING AREA TEAMS AND MARKETS

TL Bureau, California

Under the leadership of the International Committee, the NFL announced today that 18 teams have been granted access to 26 International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA) across eight different countries.

This ground-breaking, new initiative grants clubs access to international territories for marketing, fan engagement and commercialization as part of an important, long-term, strategic effort to enable clubs to build their global brands while driving

January 1, 2022.

“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone in our efforts to broaden the NFL’s global reach by building longterm relationships with these international markets that will play a large role in the continued growth and expansion of our sport for years to come,” said Joel Glazer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman and NFL International Committee Chairman. “Much of our league success is rooted in the strong connection that our individual teams have built with their fans,

and this initiative creates many more avenues for engaging and energizing our international fanbase.” Coupled with the League’s commitment to International Games – all 32 clubs will play at least one international game in the next eight seasons – the League will use its best efforts to ensure clubs play their international games in their International HMAs, where possible. Following the launch of this initiative, clubs may submit future proposals for International Committee review annually each spring.

11

tech/auto

Speeding Up the Software Business: ZF Acquires a Stake in Apex.AI

TL Bureau, Friedrichshafen

The intelligence of next generation vehicles is increasingly migrating to a few central high-performance computers. The software running on them should be easy to update and expand with new functions, like a smartphone. And all this with the highest functional safety standards for mobility systems. ZF has strengthened its automotive software business by acquiring a five percent stake in the software company Apex.AI. In addition to the financial support, ZF will also develop software solutions based on the Apex.OS meta-operating system. “Based on the Apex.OS, we can offer our customers an additional ZF Middleware option,” said Nico Hartmann, head of the ZF Global Software Center. “This solution is certified to the highest standards of functional safety for passenger cars and commercial

Apex.OS meta-operating system contributing to ZF’s middleware and high-performance computing Meets highest functional safety standard for vehicles Suitable for all types of vehicles and all levels of automation

vehicles. Thus, we offer our customers an alternative to Autosar Adaptive.” “We are proud that ZF, as one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world, will also offer software solutions based on Apex.OS,” said Jan Becker, CEO and Co-founder of Apex.AI. “We hope that this core software, which is a non-differentiating software for vehicle users, will become a standard in the automotive industry.”

Middleware solutions from ZF Among the ZF solutions for the software-defined vehicle, highperformance computers and software play a central role. In the electric and electronic architectures of the

next generation vehicles, they will control all important functions and connect them with both the vehicle systems and the outside world.ZF Middleware is an open software platform that acts as a ‘mediator’ between a vehicle computer’s operating system and its software applications. Key functions of the middleware are the abstraction of the computer hardware from software applications and the communication between these applications. The actual software functions, such as autonomous driving functions, can then in turn be built on top of this middleware.

Highest functional safety standard

Apex.OS is a meta-operating system derived from the Robot Operation System (ROS), originally developed for robotics applications. Apex.AI has further developed this operating system for the automotive sector and gained ASIL D certification according to ISO 26262 functional safety standard for vehicles. As a result, this core software for high-performance automotive computers, including the associated software development kits, is readily available, thereby offering car manufacturers the option of deploying scarce human resources more in other areas that offer significant differentiation for the end customer. Apex.OS can

be used in all types of vehicles, such as passenger cars, robotaxis, shuttles and commercial vehicles, and independent of their level of automation.

Alternative communication framework to Autosar Adaptive Apex.OS is written in new standards of the C++ programming language, which enables a high reusability of individual building blocks.

This approach is an alternative communication framework to the Adaptive Autosar standards widely used in the automotive industry. ZF can supply its customers with both approaches, depending on which variant the respective vehicle manufacturer prefers.

Lamborghini “The Icon Reborn”:

an icon is born, not made

TL Bureau, Sant’Agata Bolognese

What does it mean to be an icon?

And above all, is there a magic formula for becoming one? The Lamborghini Countach is by definition one of the most iconic models in the company’s history and of the automotive world in general. In a year that saw the reconstruction of the first Countach, the LP 500, by the Polo Storico, and the presentation of its contemporary version, the Countach LPI 800-4, the tribute to Lamborghini’s heritage in which visionary design meets future technology; the celebrations dedicated to its 50th anniversary came to a close with a talk on excellence followed by immersive and experiential activities to help people discover and experience the world of Centro Stile and Polo Storico Lamborghini.

The meeting opened with a presentation by Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Lamborghini and then continued with a discussion featuring some of the company’s most influential figures: Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer, who oversees Polo Storico Lamborghini; Maurizio Reggiani, Chief Technical Officer and member of Polo Storico’s Comitato dei Saggi (Wise Men Committee), and Mitja Borkert, Head of Design. They were

joined by an exceptional special guest, Stephen Bayley, writer, curator, critic, design expert and founder of the Design Museum in London, who opened the discussion by explaining the concept of classic: “It is something definitive and universal, where by definitive we mean a concept that goes beyond the passing of time and universal means that everyone likes it.” Bayley then added: “If we can recognize a city by the buildings that make up its skyline, for example Paris with its Eiffel Tower and the Montmartre Basilica, Florence with its Duomo and bell tower, or London with Big Ben and the towering The Shard across the Thames, then the design of those individual works is so extraordinary and so powerful that it makes those buildings different from all others. Their form can hardly be improved, but some details can be developed, keeping

the basic concept intact. This is what I think about as I look at the two Lamborghini Countachs side by side: the 1971 LP 500 and the new Countach LPI 800-4. Fifty years of history face to face and icons of their time, whose distinctive style and extraordinary performance have earned them their place in the automotive elite.”

“There are works of art that always remain relevant, and the design of the Countach is one of them.” This is how Mitja Borkert described the styling of this automotive icon. “Its distinctive feature,” he added, “is dictated by a single longitudinal line, visually connecting its front and rear. It’s a perfect inspiration, since even if you change the rest, it’s an element of visual continuity between past and present. It’s the sum of the design elements in Lamborghini’s DNA, the tradition of the styling language from the

company’s origins to the present day.”

Federico Foschini remarked: “The reconstruction of the first Countach took 25,000 hours of work and study and involved every company department. We wanted to recreate the LP 500 prototype presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the same one that after years of road tests was destroyed in the crash tests necessary to obtain homologation.

Few people saw it in person, but everyone fell in love with it from the photographs. The attention and success we achieved when we presented this reconstruction was a clear and further sign that this car is now a legend. What was even more striking was the fact that it attracted different generations without distinction, though they are usually quite distant in terms of their tastes and definition of beauty.” For Maurizio Reggiani,

who remembers the huge impact the Countach LP 500 had on him and his professional growth, the new Countach LPI 800-4 has all the necessary characteristics to become part of the collective imagination.

“The technical formula of the LP 500, with its V12 engine in a longitudinal position at the rear and the gearbox positioned in front behind the cockpit, led to a new way of imagining super sports cars in terms of both design and performance. The vertically opening doors, which debuted on the LP 500, and the mechanical layout remained unchanged, confirming the original choice.

The Countach LPI 800-4 adds modern technology, including composite materials, improved aerodynamic features, and a 12-cylinder hybrid engine equipped with a supercapacitor and fourwheel drive.

12 U.S. Records 201,786 New Cases, 1,350 Deaths of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Washington D.C. The United States of America recorded 201,786 new infections, along with1,350 deaths of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the total number of the virus infections reached 50,052,008, while the total number of deaths jumped to 796,010.

Jordan Records 4,341 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Amman

Jordan recorded 4,341 new infections with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 1,024,032.

In a press statement issued today, the Jordanian Ministry of Health indicated that the total number of recovery cases rose to 946,912 after recording 4,665 additional cases, adding that the death tally rose to 12,078, following reporting 30 related cases.

Palestine Records 386 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Ramallah Palestine recorded, in the past 24 hours, 386 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), two deaths, and 360 recoveries, in all Palestinian governorates.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health indicated that the recovery rate reached 98.1%, while the percentage of active infections was 0.9%, and the death rate was 1% of the total infections.

world

$10-a-day child care for families in the Northwest Territories TL Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario

Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and all parents should have the ability to build both a family and career. Yet, too many families across Canada lack access to affordable, inclusive, and high-quality child care. The COVID-19 pandemic has also made it clear that without access to child care, too many parents – especially women – cannot fully participate in the workforce.

That is why the Government of Canada has laid out a plan to provide Canadian families with, on average, $10‑a‑day child care spaces for children under six years old. This plan to build a Canada‑wide, community‑based early learning and child care system will make life more affordable for families, create new jobs, get parents back into the workforce, and grow the middle class, while giving every child an opportunity to participate in early learning and child care programming that supports optimal child development. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of the Northwest Territories, Caroline Cochrane, today announced an agreement that will support an average of $10‑a‑day child care in the territory, significantly reducing the price of child care for families.

Through today’s agreement and previous agreements, the governments of Canada and the

Northwest Territories will work together to improve access to quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care programs and services. This includes creating 300 new licensed early learning and child care spaces by the end of March 2026. All of these spaces will be provided exclusively by not-for-profit providers, including community and non-profit organizations as well as family day home providers.

With federal funding of over $51 million over the next five years, the Northwest Territories will also see a 50 per cent reduction in average parent fees for children under the age of six in licensed child care by the end of 2022. This agreement will fund the essential service that licensed early learning and child care programs provide, while attracting, retaining, and growing a strong and skilled workforce of early childhood educators.

Investments provided through this agreement will fund a retention incentive, and the development and implementation of a wage grid. The agreement will also support the development of an early learning and child care system that is inclusive of children from vulnerable or equity-seeking families, including children with disabilities and children needing enhanced or individual supports.

It will support families’ equitable access to high-quality, affordable early learning and child care.

Ministry of Health Reports 88 New COVID-19 Cases, 76 Recoveries in Saudi Arabia

TL Bureau, Riyadh

The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the registration of 88 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 76 recoveries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past 24 hours.

The ministry added that the number of critical cases reached 34.

The ministry’s statistics showed that the total number of infections in the country reached 550,457,

while the recovery tally reached 539,712.

The MoH reported one new death, bringing the fatalities tally in the Kingdom to 8,857.

The Ministry of Health advised everyone to contact 937-Service Center for consultations and inquiries around the clock, obtaining reliable health information and services, as well as knowing the latest development of COVID-19.

Kallas: we need to show more support for the Eastern Partnership countries through our actions TL Bureau, Brussels Yesterday, the Eastern Partnership summit was held in Brussels, where the heads of state and government of the European Union discussed the future of the programme and, together with the heads of state of the Eastern Partnership countries, agreed on common goals and actions. “We deem it important for the Eastern Partnership to be strategic, ambitious, and forward-

looking. It is in the interests of all of us to have peace, stability, and prosperity in the European Union and in our neighbourhood. We can contribute to this by cooperating efficiently with our neighbours and supporting their progress,” said Prime Minister Kallas after the summit. “Over the coming years, we need to show more support for the Eastern Partnership countries through our actions. We can support our partners in the east in recovering

from the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to enhancing their defence capabilities, developing their civil society, and implementing reforms,” added Kallas. The Eastern Partnership summit brought together the heads of state and government of the European Union and Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of EU institutions, in Brussels yesterday. This was the sixth Eastern Partnership summit.

The agreement also includes a clear commitment to continue to work collaboratively with Indigenous governments and stakeholders in the Northwest Territories to support Indigenous children in the territory having access to culturally appropriate, quality, and affordable early learning and child care.

Since 2015, the federal government has been helping make life more affordable for families. This includes programs like the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), which is increased annually to help families keep up with the costs of living and raising their children. The CCB puts more money into the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families with children and has helped lift 435,000 children out of poverty. The time for a Canadawide early learning and child care system is now. The Government of Canada will continue to work with territories, provinces, and Indigenous partners across the country to make life easier and more affordable for families, grow the middle class, create jobs, help parents return to the workforce, and give children across the country a better start in life.

Quotes “All families should have access to affordable child care. That is why we’re making $10‑a‑day child care a reality across the country. Today’s agreement with the Northwest Territories

is an important step forward to delivering on our Canada-wide early learning and child care system, which will create jobs, grow the middle class, and give our kids the best start in life.”

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada “One of the best investments governments can make to influence a child’s life is to provide families with the option to access high-quality early learning opportunities in their community.

This investment in early learning and child care in the Northwest Territories means families will have access to more affordable child care – and in some instances, access to child care spaces for the first time. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the federal government as we as transform the Northwest Territories early learning and child care system together to ensure the needs of northern families and children are met.” The Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories “Affordable, high-quality child care is both an economic and a social policy. It gives our children the best possible start in life and allows both mothers and fathers to work, which increases our workforce and grows the economy.

Fee reductions in the coming year and the eventual average of $10 a day will deliver thousands of dollars of savings to families with young children in the Northwest Territories.

Over 10,500 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Finland last week

TL Bureau, Helsinki

More than 10,500 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Finland between 6 and 12 December.

The incidence of new infections continued to increase over the last 14-day period, standing at 360 per 100,000 inhabitants at the end of last week. About 145,000 tests are carried out weekly. On 15 December 2021, the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Finland was 34. In addition, preliminary screening tests indicate that cases of the Omicron variant are clearly increasing. The need for hospital and intensive care remains considerably high throughout the country.

The incidence of new COVID-19 cases over the last two-week period (29 November–12 December) was 360 per 100,000 inhabitants in Finland. Between 15 and 28 November, the incidence of new cases was 279 per 100,000 inhabitants. Currently, the estimated effective basic reproduction number is 1.0–1.1, with a 90 per cent probability. The estimate has

remained the same for several weeks now.

At the end of last week (12 December 2021), the total number of patients in specialised healthcare was 171, of whom 119 were in inpatient care and 52 in intensive care. Last week, a total of 137 new COVID-19 inpatients were admitted to specialised healthcare.

A total of 36 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care last week. Over the past four weeks, the weekly number of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care has varied between 32 and 39.

On 15 December 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register stood at 1,446.

In the past two weeks (1– 15 December), a total of 98 new deaths were reported, and 78 per cent of these (76 deaths) were reported among people over 70 years of age.

By 15 December, 87.4 per cent of people in Finland who are 12 years of age or over had received at least one vaccine dose, 82.9 per cent at least two vaccine doses and 11.5 per cent three vaccine doses.