News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 03 Issue 41 Nov. 01, 2020
Austria and Portugal announced restrictions & UK as following
Man stabbed in a Canadian city of Quebec leave 2 dead and 5 injured TL Bureau, Quebec
In any event two individuals have been cut to death in the Canadian city of Quebec by a man equipped with a blade and wearing middle age dress, police say. Five others were injured. A man in his mid-20s was captured presently before 01:00 nearby time (05:00 GMT), officials said. Police have encouraged occupants to remain inside with entryways bolted as an examination is in progress. The assault occurred in the noteworthy Old Quebec area. First reports of the occurrence close to Parliament Hill came through in the blink of an eye before 22:30 neighborhood time. After his capture close to the Espace 400e business park, the man was taken to emergency clinic. The five injured are additionally being treated in emergency clinic. Journalists at the scene have tweeted photographs of a police base external Quebec’s Parliament Building.
Halloween Blue Moon lasts throughout Sunday TL Bureau, Washington D.C.
France presented measures on Friday and on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared a four-week lockdown for England. On Friday, Austria recorded a record 5,627 diseases, barely shy of the 6,000 level that the administration cases
will extend clinics past limit. Figures were marginally lower on Saturday with 5,349 diseases. On opposite side some different countries like Germany and some others additionally made limitations so as to check this pandemic.
October will have its subsequent full moon - an uncommon Blue Moon - starting Saturday and enduring through Sunday. The moon shows up at its fullest, inverse the sun in earth-based longitude, at 10:49 a.m. EDT on Saturday, as per NASA. It ought to show up full through Sunday night. The principal full moon after the Harvest Moon - which showed up Oct. 1 this year - is additionally called the Hunter’s Moon, as indicated by the Farmer’s Almanac, a moniker that shows up in the Oxford English Dictionary going back to 1710. This full moon will seem more modest Saturday night since it happens closest to when the moon is farthest in its circle from the Earth, at its apogee,
TL Bureau, Ankara
and three kids, who were found following 23 hours inside a fell structure. One of the kids kicked the bucket. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday he would visit the area to see the harm. The heads of both Greece and Turkey, long-lasting foes, said they connected with one another Friday. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he called Erdogan “to give my sympathies for the grievous death toll from the seismic tremor that struck both our nations.” Ergodan likewise gave sympathies to Greece. “That two neighbors show solidarity in troublesome occasions is more important than numerous things throughout everyday life,”
Ergodan tweeted. The Aegean Sea is the site of noteworthy seismic movement because of an organization of submerged structural plates and
TL Bureau, Worldwide
Austria and Portugal have declared new limitations trying to check the spread of Covid. In Austria, the limitations incorporate a check in time from 20:00 to 06:00. Bistros and eateries will be takeaway as it were. Portugal’s estimates spread 70% of the nation. Individuals will be needed to remain at home aside from work, school or basic tasks. Various European nations have authorized new measures as the landmass wrestles with a subsequent wave.
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so NASA considers it a “Miniature Moon” rather than a Supermoon. In cosmic terms, Blue Moons happen with a standard example about once every over two years. After October 2020, the following Blue Moon will occur in August 2023. A full moon will happen on Halloween once like clockwork in the 21st century. The Native American name for the subsequent full moon of pre-winter is the Beaver Moon, likewise called the Frost or Frosty Moon, or the Snow Moon, NASA says. In North America, the deer trench mating season is going all out and snow geese show up at the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and southern Delaware. The Old Farmer’s Almanac says all that needs to be said to plant garlic and uncover yams during the Hunter’s Moon.
blames. The USGS considered the tremor an “intraplate function,” where the Africa plate grinds against the Eurasia structural plate.
Death toll increased to 39 in Turkey earthquake
Turkish authorities said Saturday that the loss of life of a size 7.0 tremor has ascended to at any rate 39 individuals with in excess of 800 harmed in the seaside city of Izmir The U.S. Geographical Survey tremor said the shake struck seaward of the Greek city of Neon Karlovasion, north of the Island of Simos in the eastern Aegean Sea, around 1:50 p.m. Friday. Around 20 structures imploded in Izmir, a city on the western edge of Anatolia with a populace of 3 million individuals. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 243 individuals were hospitalized, with eight in escalated care. Those incorporated a mother
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nglish Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday declared another COVID-19 lockdown to produce results Thursday whenever passed by Parliament. Johnson said the lockdown would shut down bars, bars and eateries aside from takeout and conveyance administration through Dec. 2. Shops for food and other fundamental things and schools will stay open all through the lockdown. The executive said this implies everybody should remain at home with the exception of fundamental exercises, for example, clinical reasons, giving consideration to weak individuals, work, work out, amusement, getting basic things, getting away from mischief and school. Johnson additionally said that “selective help bubbles,” incorporating connections with one other family unit outside the primary family, could proceed. “I’m under no figments how troublesome this will be for organizations, and I’m really upset for that,” Johnson said. Johnson recently opposed lockdown measures, however said it’s “totally essential to act currently to spare lives.” Before his declaration, Johnson’s COVID-19 logical guides checked on models indicating hospitalizations and passings could deteriorate than the top in the primary wave in the spring without activity. England announced 24,405 new Covid cases and 274 passings for Friday. The nation has had more than 1 million cases and 46,000 passings since the beginning of the pandemic, as indicated by The New York Times’ worldwide Covid tracker. Then, Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello has been hospitalized for drying out subsequent to testing positive for COVID-19 a week ago. Pazuello was admitted to the emergency clinic in the capital of Brasilia on Friday for clinical tests and specialists said the priest was dried out, CNN Brazil announced. The Health Ministry rejected that a COVID-19 intricacy caused the hospitalization. Pazuello is the third wellbeing pastor President Jair Bolsonaro has delegated after the initial two conflicted with Bolsonaro over how to deal with the pandemic. Pazuello has upheld the president. Bolsonaro and many Cabinet individuals and chose authorities have tried positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic started. Brazil has detailed over 5.5 million instances of COVID-19 and more than 159,000 passings, which is the second-most noteworthy loss of life around the world, as indicated by the Johns Hopkins University’s worldwide tracker. The United States is the current focal point of he pandemic, with more than 9 million cases and more than 229,000 passings, as per Johns Hopkins information. Germany on Saturday declared another day by day record of 19,059 COVID-19 cases in the midst of a second influx of the infection across Europe. The nation’s past record for new day by day cases was 18,681, as indicated by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s general wellbeing office.
Lockdown again in Britain followed by some other nations.. German Chancellor Angela Merkel cautioned Friday of a long, hard winter as she talked about new limitations to check the spread. The new limitations will happen Monday, including shutting cafés, bars, rec centers and theaters, Merkel said. Germany has revealed 527,916 cases and 10,469 passings since the pandemic started, Johns Hopkins information shows. Ukraine additionally revealed an every day record of 8,752 new cases for Friday, the public security committee stated, up from 8,312 new cases detailed for Thursday. “As I would see it, in view of different elements in our nation, including monetary ones, a total lockdown we ought to evade it however much as could reasonably be expected” Maksym Stepanov said in a Kyiv instructions on Friday, UNIAN revealed. Rather than a closure, the legislature has forced certain limitations on business, as indicated by UNIAN. Ukraine has announced 399,330 cases and 7,399 passings to date, as per the Johns Hopkins information. Different nations across Europe are fixing limitations as COVID-19 cases flood over the mainland. Austria declared Saturday it would force an evening check in time and close everything except remove administration at bistros, bars and cafés as COVID-19 levels approach an impractical level in clinics, as per the legislature. The nation comparatively had a lockdown during the primary rush of contamination in March. “We didn’t mess with this choice yet it is fundamental,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told correspondents at a news meeting declaring the new COVID-19 limitations. The new limitations will produce results from Tuesday through the finish of November and will incorporate a check in time from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Auxiliary schools and colleges will move to far off learning, and inns will near everything except business explorers, Kurz added, yet limitations will miss the mark regarding a complete lockdown as shops, industry, kindergarten and grade schools stay open. Austria has announced more than 104,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,109 passings from the Covid. In France, the administration reestablished a lockdown Friday,
which requested individuals to remain at home aside from fundamental work or clinical reasons. The lockdown was required on the grounds that the nation gambled being “overpowered by a second wave that no uncertainty will be more enthusiastically than the principal,” President Emmanuel Macron said. In the course of recent hours, France has announced 49,215 new COVID-19 cases, contrasted and 47,637 new cases on Thursday and 36,437 new cases on Wednesday. France has detailed over 1.3 million cases and 36,605 passings since the pandemic started, as indicated by the worldwide tracker. Belgium likewise reestablished a lockdown on Friday. The lockdown came after researchers and authorities heading up endeavors to control COVID-19 said that the administration’s now close limitations were coming up short as passings multiplied like clockwork. “Our nation is in a wellbeing crisis,” said Alexander De Croo, Belgium’s leader. “The tension on emergency clinics is gigantic, our consideration suppliers are putting forth brutal attempts. In the previous week, 100,000 of our individual compatriots were contaminated, we don’t perceive any change ... We are moving to a stricter lockdown.” From Monday, the administration
editorial
in Belgium has requested all trivial organizations shut for about a month and a half, including stylists. General stores will be the main organizations permitted to sell fundamental things. Belgium has revealed 412,314 cases and 11,452 passings to date, as indicated by Johns Hopkins information. Prior this week, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Belgium had the most noteworthy number of COVID-19 contaminations for every 100,000 individuals in Europe. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the nation would open its emergency clinics to neighboring nations for as long at it could with serious consideration units under strain in numerous nations, remembering for Belgium. Belgium moved a portion of its first patients to Germany on Thursday. Italy announced a record 26,831 COVID-19 new day by day diseases Thursday, the most elevated day by day complete since the start of the pandemic. All things considered, nonconformists have rioted in the previous week in different urban communities across Italy to fight new lockdown measures, including the end of theaters, rec centers and pools and the end or cafés and bars at 6 p.m. Head administrator Giuseppe Conte said he needs to give the new estimates a little while to produce results prior to concluding whether to arrange a full closure like France. Specialists captured around 20 individuals in Florence, Italy, in the midst of fights against lockdown measures. The limitations started fights in Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin prior this week, including brutality and defacement, and mob police terminating teargas at gatherings of youngsters heaving containers and rocks. Italy has detailed 647,674 COVID-19 cases and 38,321 COVID-19 passings since the beginning of the pandemic, Johns Hopkins information shows. Different nations across Europe, including Scotland, Slovakia, and Greece, have likewise forced new Covid limitations as cases flood. Around the world, COVID-19 has contaminated more than 45 million individuals and slaughtered more than 1 million individuals.
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Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee: the Council adopts a recommendation for more inclusive measures to boost youth employment
TL Bureau, Brussels
Today, the Council adopted by unanimity a Recommendation on ‘A Bridge to Jobs – Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee’. The main aim is to better support youth employment across the EU, in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is bringing back high youth unemployment rates and increasing the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). The new Youth Guarantee reaffirms the commitment of the EU member states to set up national schemes through which young people can receive an offer of employment, education, traineeship or apprenticeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. At the same time, the recommendation extends the age limit for targeted young people from 25 to up to 29 years and provides for better inclusion of persons from vulnerable groups, such as NEETs, young women and people with disabilities.
The Youth Guarantee will be implemented through supportive measures at national, regional and local level, taking into account the following guidelines: mapping - identifying target groups, available services, skills needs and young people at risk of becoming a NEET outreach - targeted information campaigns among young people and reaching out to NEETs preparation - better profiling to match needs and responses, counselling and guidance, and improving digital and other important skills offer - employment incentives, quality and equity, and postplacement support The measures provided in the recommendation will be financed by EU funds, such as the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’), and investments by member states. The Recovery and Resilience Facility and REACT-EU will provide additional Union funding for youth employment measures. The recommendation was adopted by written procedure.
COVID Tests Should Play Bigger Role in International Travel -WHO Expert
TL Bureau, Geneva
COVID tests should be more widely used in international travel than quarantines, Reuters cited the chair of the World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee as saying today, on Friday. Didier Houssin, chair of the independent panel of experts advising WHO on the COVID-19 pandemic, said it was important for the U.N. agency to provide fresh guidance on safe international air travel. “And clearly the use of the tests is
certainly now supposed to have a much larger place compared to quarantine, for example, which would certainly facilitate things considering all the efforts which have been made by airlines and by airports,” Houssin told a news conference. WHO’s top emergency expert Mike Ryan said that travelling was now “relatively safe” and posed a “relatively low” health risk, but that “there is no zero risk”. “Therefore it is trade-off that countries have to make, the risk of a traveller arriving and potentially starting another
S. Korea Bans Poultry Imports from Netherlands After Bird Flu Outbreak
TL Bureau, Seoul
South Korea today banned imports of poultry from the Netherlands after a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was found in the country, Yonhap reported. The Dutch government announced on Thursday that chickens on a farm in the central
province of Gelderland were infected with a highly contagious variant of avian influenza (AI). South Korea’s agriculture ministry said it imposed an import ban on all poultry and poultry products from the country. South Korea also confirmed two infections of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu among wild birds in provincial towns this week.
Japans Sept. Job Availability Lowest in Nearly 7 Yrs Amid Pandemic
TL Bureau, Tokyo
Japan’s job availability fell to its lowest level in almost seven years in September, with many returning to the labor market following a gradual resumption of economic activity that had been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, Kyodo cited government data as showing today, on Friday. The job-to-applicant ratio worsened to 1.03 from 1.04 in August, falling for the ninth month in a row to its lowest level since December 2013, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The ratio means there were 103 job openings for every 100 job seekers.
But the level of deterioration was less severe than a 0.04 point fall in August and a 0.12 point plunge in May, the sharpest monthly drop in over 46 years logged in the wake of the government’s state of emergency declaration over the virus in early April. Separate data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed the jobless rate in September stood at 3.0 percent, unchanged from August, when it increased for the second consecutive month. The results showed the pandemic’s initial heavy blow to the country’s labor market has been gradually easing, although it remained in a
severe condition even after the complete lifting of a state of emergency declaration over the virus in late May. The number of furloughed employees stood at 5.97 million in April but it decreased to 1.97 million in September, falling below the 2 million mark for the first time in seven months. In September, the number of jobless people, before seasonal adjustment, increased 420,000 from a year earlier to 2.10 million, up for the eighth straight month. That of people in work fell 790,000 to 66.89 million, down for the sixth consecutive month. “The (employment) situation remains severe
(amid the pandemic) but the unemployment rate is holding,” a government official said. Of those with jobs, 35.29 million were regular workers, rising 480,000 from a year earlier and up for the fourth month in a row, while 20.79 million were nonregular employees, falling 1.23 million and down for the seventh consecutive month. By industry, the accommodation and restaurant services sector, one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic, saw a larger fall in the number of workers than any other industry, losing 480,000 from the previous year to 4.03 million. In manufacturing, the number fell 390,000 to 10.29 million.
Exceptional law-drafting under normal circumstances
TL Bureau, Helsinki
Law-drafting is a multi-stage process, which requires a wide range of professional competences and cooperation between multiple instances. In the Covid-19 situation, this work has been performed across ministries and in cooperation with agencies and research institution experts as well as practical actors. The coronavirus has brought a new dimension to the haste typical for law-drafting when the objective has
been to secure human lives and health within a tight schedule, preferably proactively. At the same time, the requirements for the legislative drafting are extremely demanding due to the nature of the regulation. The preparers of regulations and other experts have worked. The constitutional issues have been highlighted in the Covid-19related legislation while we are forced to weigh the importance of different fundamental rights and seek for the balance between them. The constitutional justifications for legislative proposals
and the requirement level set for their extent have appropriately increased over the years. Currently, higher-level consideration nearly corresponding to legal research is required from the constitutional discussions concerning legislative proposals. While the proposal has been prepared in ministries within the known constitutional law framework and this framework has been constantly developed in the Constitutional Law Committee, the justifications for the proposal may no longer be sufficient on the basis of the new standpoint.
chain of transmission, against the obvious benefit of allowing travel from a social and an economic point of view,” he said. “You can add testing and different measures into that. We are looking at that right now. We will be coming out very soon with more advice for countries in terms of the risk management process.” Ryan said that a WHO-led international team of scientists had held their first virtual meeting with Chinese counterparts regarding joint investigations into the origin of the novel coronavirus that emerged in China last December.
Convening of ERGI Meeting TL Bureau, Washington D.C.
The Bureau of Energy Resources and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF) co-hosted a convening meeting of the Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI) in a virtual format on October 28 to highlight resources committed to the initiative, as well as to create a dialogue around current and future objectives. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon was joined by representatives of the Founding Partners of ERGI: Australia, Botswana, Canada and Peru; senior representatives from fifteen additional countries also joined, including Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, and Zambia; and the European Commission. The discussion reinforced the importance of resilient, diverse, and soundly-governed critical energy mineral supply chains. ERGI focuses on the minerals and metals that make advanced batteries and renewable energy technologies possible and promotes mining that adheres to labor laws, respects the environment, and benefits host countries and their citizens. The ERGI Toolkit (www.ERGI.tools) has been expanded and is a resource for countries that want to move toward better mining practices, providing excellent case studies of how mining is done well in diverse contexts. Technical assistance to support ERGI has also been expanded and the United States has allocated approximately $10.5 million since October 2019 to advance ERGI’s goals and help countries manage their mining sectors more soundly. This Fall Convening Meeting of ERGI is an example of the growing call for secure supply chains, and underscores the meaningful impact of a diverse coalition of nations to embrace best practices and the promise of ERGI’s continuing efforts.
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SPAIN TAKES DOWN TERRORIST CELL RECRUITING ONLINE FOR THE SO-CALLED ISLAMIC STATE
TL Bureau, London
On 28 October, Europol supported the CGI of the Spanish National Police (Comisaría General de Información de la Policía Nacional) in arresting three suspects linked to a terrorist cell actively recruiting and indoctrinating young people. The individuals, among which feature the alleged leaders of the cell, were arrested as a result of house searches carried out in San Sebastian and Pasaia in northern Spain. They are believed to have created the terrorist structure to carry out jihadist terrorism in support of the so-called Islamic State. 10 000 FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS This terrorist cell was very active online, disseminating a large amount of jihadist propaganda with the purpose of recruiting and indoctrinating young people. The content included a variety of violent visuals displaying minors involved in Islamic State jihadist combats and promoting them as role models. The suspects used social media accounts to disseminate propaganda. They created multiple profiles on social media networks, which counted numerous followers. Two of the accounts created accumulated over 10 000 followers. PHYSICAL TRAINING AND MENTAL CONDITIONING OF MINORS During planned meetings, the
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between EFTA and Ecuador to enter into force on 1 November 2020
TL Bureau, Bern
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement concluded between the states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Ecuador enters into force on 1 November. To that end, on 18 September, the Federal Council adopted the necessary amendments to the ordinances implementing the customs duty concessions set out in the agreement. This modern agreement will help to boost trade relations between the EFTA states and Ecuador.
Lebanon President Meets with US Official TL Bureau, Beirut
The Lebanese President, General Michel Aoun, met in Beirut today with the Ambassador of the United States of America to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea. During the meeting, they discussed the current political developments on the Lebanese and regional arenas as well as issues of common interest.
Nagorno-Karabakh: UK to provide food and medicine to people affected by the conflict
UK announces £1million funding to provide relief to those affected by Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. TL Bureau, London
The alleged leaders of this cell feature among those arrested youngest members received physical training and mental conditioning to carry out jihadist terrorism. The terrorist cell enabled the regular practice of contact sports and provided handbooks on the use and handling of weapons such as knives and firearms. Investigators identified the existence of a hierarchy within the organisation structuring the relationship between its members. The suspects used various measures to conceal from the police the criminal activities taking place online and in physical environments. TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION The arrests of the primary suspects of this terrorist cell was a result of a two–year-long investigation and an exhaustive analysis of information gathered throughout
multiple operations conducted in the Spanish province of Guipuzcoa. Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) supported the investigation by providing long-term analytical and operational support. During the action day, ECTC experts enabled real-time information exchange and analysis. To ensure an effective response to the challenges posed by the terrorist threat, Europol created in 2016 the European Counter Terrorism Centre, an operations centre and hub of expertise that reflects the growing need for the EU to strengthen its response to terror. Designed as a central hub in the EU in the fight against terrorism, the ECTC focuses on operational support to Member States in terrorist investigations.
Thousands of people affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will receive urgent medical supplies, food and safer shelters from a new UK aid package, announced today by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. The conflict escalated on 27 September. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, with growing numbers of civilian casualties and damage to homes and vital infrastructure. Now much-needed medical supplies, including dressing kits and bandages, will be provided for civilians caught up in the crisis through a new £1 million UK aid package, in response to an appeal by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). People injured in the fighting, including children caught in the crossfire, will receive life-saving treatment at health facilities or from emergency responders supported by the ICRC. Many of those affected have limited access to food and other essentials, and UK support will provide blankets, food parcels and basic hygiene items to vulnerable communities near to the fighting. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: Today’s UK aid package will help deliver vital food, medicine and urgent healthcare to those affected by
Prime Minister announces new supports for Indigenous peoples and communities
TL Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario
The health, safety, and wellbeing of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples is a priority during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada will continue to support Indigenous peoples and communities during this time to help contain the spread of the virus and keep people safe. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced over $200 million in new funding to provide support to Indigenous peoples and communities. The funding includes: $120.7 million to help Indigenous early learning and child care facilities safely operate during the pandemic. The investment is expected to support over 35,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation children who access culturally relevant Indigenous early learning and child care programs. This funding will be co-managed through existing
early learning and child care partnerships. It will assist Indigenous communities in addressing their most critical needs, including implementing enhanced cleaning protocols, hiring additional staff, and offering training. $59 million for First Nations to adapt their on reserve community infrastructure. First Nations can use the funds to implement public health and safety measures in community buildings by adding hand washing stations, buying hand sanitizers, personal protective equipment for staff, and cleaning supplies, installing signage and barriers to promote physical distancing, and doing safety checks and upgrades to existing ventilation systems. $25.9 million to provide immediate support to Indigenous post-secondary institutions in 2020-21. The investment will help these institutions address increased costs and financial uncertainty resulting from the
pandemic, including putting in place supports to retain staff, automating services to process student applications and registrations, adapting courses for online learning, and implementing public health and safety measures for in-person services. The Government of Canada continues to take a distinctionsbased approach to address the needs of Indigenous peoples and communities. Today’s investment builds on the work already being done through the Indigenous Community Support Fund, as well as additional funding provided for communities and organizations working with Indigenous peoples living in urban areas and off-reserve. We will continue to work with Indigenous peoples and communities to help them prevent the spread of COVID-19, keep people safe, and address the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We continue to urge both sides to engage with the OSCE Minsk group and seek a peaceful, negotiated, political solution which the people of the region so desperately need. ICRC Regional Director for EURASIA, Martin Schuepp said: The ICRC is most grateful to the UK for its contribution to the ICRC’s response in the region. The highquality funding the ICRC receives from its donors, including the UK, enables the ICRC to deliver neutral, impartial and independent action to those affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. UK support will also help to improve the quality of often overcrowded shelters by installing or improving water tanks and toilets. It will also ensure the shelters are suitably equipped to keep warm as the region’s bitter winter approaches. The UK, along with Canada, has repeatedly called for both sides to work towards a peaceful, political resolution to the conflict through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk process and has expressed its full support for the work of the Minsk Group.
EU urges quick WHO reform, asks for more transparency in pandemics TL Bureau, Brussels The World Health Organization (WHO) should be quickly overhauled, get more powers to handle pandemics and expose its member states’ shortfalls in health emergencies, European Union officials said on Friday. The comments were made at a video conference of EU health ministers that endorsed an EU document on the reform of the U.N. agency which for the first time outlines a series of sweeping changes needed to boost WHO’s powers and resources, as exclusively reported by Reuters in September. “The current pandemic challenges us very acutely ... but it is very important that the (WHO) reform debate is held in parallel,” German Health Minister Jens Spahn told a news conference. He did not say when the reform process should begin, but stressed that as a result of the overhaul the WHO should become faster in its reaction to health crises, while its member states should share more information in emergencies.
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BP KWINANA REFINERY TO New COVID-19 mental health CLOSE AFTER 65 YEARS campaign – How’s your head today? TL Bureau, Perth
The Australian Government is deeply disappointed by BP’s decision to close its Kwinana Refinery in Western Australia after 65 years of operation. The Kwinana Refinery directly employs around 650 staff and is an important contributor to the local economy.Our thoughts are with BP’s workers, their families and local business owners who rely on the refinery for their livelihoods. The Australian Government expects BP to deliver on its commitment to do everything it can to support workers through this challenging period. We will work with BP and the Western Australian Government to ensure workers and the community are supported. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to place immense pressure
on refineries world-wide, with demand for fuel products significantly reduced. As BP has made clear, its decision to close the refinery was based on commercial and international factors, including the age of the refinery and overseas competition. Closure of the refinery will not negatively impact Australian fuel supplies. The Government is providing support to the domestic refining sector through the JobKeeper program to maintain operations and support jobs. Our comprehensive Fuel Security Package, announced in the 202021 Budget, will enhance Australia’s long-term fuel supply. We will ensure Australia maintains a sovereign refining capability to support local industry, meet our nation’s needs during an emergency, and protect motorists from future higher prices.
How’s your head today? is a new national COVID-19 mental health campaign that urges people to prioritise their mental health, raise awareness about how to identify when something is wrong, and encourage people to seek help.
TL Bureau, Canberra The national COVID-19 mental health campaign – How’s your head today? aims to help Australians experiencing mental health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by helping them to: make their mental wellbeing a priority recognise the signs of poor mental health know where they can get help if they aren’t feeling like themselves seek support when they need it.
Updated livestock export standards take effect 1 November 2020
TL Bureau, Canberra
The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) version 3.0 come into effect on 1 November 2020 and will apply to all consignments of livestock that leave Australia on or after that date. ASEL sets the minimum animal health and welfare standards exporters must meet for the export of livestock by
sea and air. ASEL 3.0 represents a substantial improvement on the standards in ASEL 2.3. Key improvements include: Reduced notifiable mortality rates for livestock exported by sea Increases to the time required for some livestock to be prepared at the registered premises prior to export Defined competent stock handler to livestock ratios
20 years of Women, Peace and Security
TL Bureau, Canberra
Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR1325) – Women, Peace and Security. The growing role of women in military and peacekeeping operations around the world is critical to Australia’s national security and to global security. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said the landmark resolution recognised the importance of women’s equal participation in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. “There has been much progress since the Australian Government affirmed its commitment to UNSCR 1325 through the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–2018,” Minister Reynolds said. “Defence contributed to the development of many of the 24 recommendations in the National Action Plan, all of which have been implemented. “The Australian Defence Force Gender Advisor Course is also building Defence’s expertise in the gendered impacts of conflicts and
disasters, with 20 Gender Advisors placed with multinational operations and more with exercises across the Indo-Pacific region since 2014. “These contributions have positioned Defence as a worldleader in Women, Peace and Security. “Recognising that women remain under-represented in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacekeeping, humanitarian responses and post-conflict reconstruction, Defence has made the Women, Peace and Security agenda an enduring priority. “As we look to the future, Defence remains committed to mobilising UNSCR 1325 in the international field. “The Government will also continue to champion the agenda across multinational forums and within bilateral partnerships, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).” The Gender, Peace and Security Mandate 2020–2030 sets out Defence’s long-term strategy for realising ambitious goals for gender equality and human rights’ protection at https://www.defence. gov.au/JCG/JSSD/Gender_Peace_ Security/
on board vessels Increased requirements for reporting on animal welfare from registered premises and on board vessels. The ASEL 3.0 follows a review of version 2.3 by an independent Technical Advisory Committee completed in 2019 and will be regularly reviewed to ensure the standards remain fit for purpose and reflect the latest science. The last time the ASEL was updated was in 2011.
Major bid to bring the Rugby World Cup Down Under TL Bureau, Canberra
The Morrison Government is backing Australia’s efforts to bring the 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under, with an $8.8 million funding injection to support our bid to host the event and provide a major economic and tourism boost. It’s estimated hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup will bring over 200,000 international visitors to Australia, generate an estimated $2.2 billion in economic activity and create 12,000 jobs. Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the Rugby World Cup was the second largest single-sport event in the world, and hosting it would be a major shot in the arm for the Australian tourism industry, paving the way for new infrastructure projects and jobs. “Australia has a proud history of hosting major international sporting events and winning this bid would be another vote of confidence in our ability to host big-ticket events as well as provide a major economic boost for our tourism industry and the broader economy,” Minister Birmingham said.
Emergency WA platform customised for COVID-19 alerts
TL Bureau, Perth
Department of Health has partnered with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to customise the Emergency WA platform (emergency.wa.gov.au) Customisation will allow future COVID-19 public health alerts to be published on the Emergency WA website Additional information channel for COVID-19 warnings and advice, which can be geographically targeted The Department of Health and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) have partnered to customise the Emergency WA website platform for future community COVID-19 alerts and warnings. Managed by DFES, Emergency WA is the State’s official website for community warnings for a range of emergencies - delivering realtime information during bushfires, cyclones, floods and more. Emergency WA’s map-based display provides vital information to help people in impacted areas make informed decisions for their safety. The platform can now be used to provide geographically targeted
information to communities affected by a localised outbreak of COVID-19. It has a high level of existing awareness and community following, which makes it an ideal communications tool to provide public health messaging in the event of a community outbreak. As part of the customisation, a ‘human pandemic’ icon has been created to identify alerts and warnings specific to COVID-19. This partnership and customisation are part of the Department of Health’s State Health Incident Coordination Centre’s preparation and preparedness for future potential outbreaks and community transmission of COVID-19 in Western Australia. The human pandemic listing and filter is now visible on the Emergency WA website. If required, the Department of Health has also investigated the use of and access to the national Emergency Alert telephone warning system, which delivers emergency messages to fixed phone lines and mobile phones in a defined area. This service is used by DFES in situations where there is a direct and imminent threat to lives and properties.
Joint statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia and the Foreign Ministry of the State of Qatar on the Hamad International Airport (Doha) incident TL Bureau, Canberra Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women of the Commonwealth of Australia and His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, held a telephone call on 30 October 2020 to discuss the Hamad International Airport
(Doha) Incident. His Excellency Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his deepest sympathies with the women impacted by the search at the airport and renewed the State of Qatar’s apology to them, stating that the incident is considered a violation of Qatar’s laws and values, and that the officials involved have been referred to the Public Prosecution Office.
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NZ AND OTHER OCEANIA
2 new cases of COVID-19 in managed Resources for Privacy Act isolation; no new community cases 2020 changes available
TL Bureau, Wellington
There are two cases of COVID-19 to report from managed isolation in New Zealand today, and no new community cases. Of the two cases we are reporting today: one case arrived from Amsterdam via Singapore on 23 October one case arrived from the UK via Dubai and Malaysia on 19 October Both cases were detected during routine isolation and testing processes and are now at the Auckland quarantine facility. Our total number of active cases is 77. Our total number of confirmed cases is now 1603.
Three crashes in the Milton area TL Bureau, Wellington
Emergency services responded to the crashes after two distress beacons were activated in the area at around 12.10pm. The crashes were related to the 18th Annual Lake to the Sea Motorcycle Trail Ride and involved motorbikes, with two of the crashes occurring within 150 metres from each other. A motorcyclist died at the scene and two other motorcyclists were transported to Dunedin Hospital via rescue helicopter with serious injuries. The Serious Crash Unit attended and examined the scenes. The death has been referred to the Coroner and enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances of the crashes.
One person killed, two injured in three crashes in Milton area TL Bureau, Wellington
One person has died and two people have been injured in three separate crashes in the Milton area today. Those involved in the crashes were all taking part in the Lake to Sea Trail Ride. Emergency services responded to the crashes after two distress beacons were activated in the area at around 12.10pm. Two people have been transported to hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. Information from the crash sites has been limited due to poor cellphone coverage in the area. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Yesterday our laboratories completed 4,401 tests for COVID-19, bringing the total number of tests completed to date to 1,101,067. Christchurch Returnee Cluster Closed The Christchurch returnee cluster is closed. It’s been more than 28 days since the last case – the length of two infection cycles – and the cluster is now officially closed. This cluster began with the report on 19 September of an individual who developed symptoms and was tested after finishing 14 days in managed isolation and returning two negative tests on day 3 and 12. As a result of an investigation within the managed isolation
facility, the most likely source of infection was thought to be as a result of transfer of the infection via a rubbish bin with a lid shared with their neighbour who had developed the infection between the two tests in the facility. There are seven cases linked to the cluster - six announced as cases in the community (on Sept 19, 20 and 23) and the seventh (Sept 9) detected while still in managed isolation, but subsequently linked to the other six cases. Lessons from this cluster have resulted in changes being made, including informing our ongoing auditing and strengthening of our managed isolation procedures and processes.
TL Bureau, Wellington
Privacy Act changes may affect schools and early learning services. On 1 December the new Privacy Act comes into effect. Schools and early learning providers will need to make change to comply with the new privacy protections for individuals and obligations for organisations. Key changes that may impact schools and early learning services are: a new requirement to report notifiable privacy breaches to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals;
the clarification of privacy principle 4 to require agencies to ensure the way they collect information from children and young people is fair; new powers for the Privacy Commissioner to issue compliance notices for interfering with an individual’s privacy, and binding access directions for failure to give individuals access to their personal information, and; a new provision about how personal information can be disclosed overseas—do so only where there are equivalent privacy protections under law or by contract, or without these, with the consent of the individual concerned.
First survey of Himalayan tahr on Crown pastoral land
Himalayan tahr on Crown pastoral land are being surveyed for the first time as part of efforts to learn more about their population in the iconic South Island high country. TL Bureau, Wellington Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) are surveying 30 Crown pastoral leases within the tahr feral range. The survey was scheduled to take place earlier this year but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LINZ Deputy Chief Executive Crown Property Jerome Sheppard says a plane with high resolution cameras will estimate tahr numbers and mob sizes on the Crown pastoral leases. “This aerial survey will help paint a clearer picture of tahr across the tahr feral range, as previously there have only been estimates of tahr numbers on public conservation land.” Mr Sheppard says the survey, which started last week and will take about one month to complete, will determine if future efforts to manage tahr numbers are required on any of the pastoral leases. “Many of our leaseholders
regularly carry out tahr control to limit their numbers as a condition of their lease, but the survey may reveal some could need to carry out further control.” He says LINZ is working closely with leaseholders and DOC to manage the impacts of tahr on Crown pastoral land. “As tahr know no boundaries, we feel it’s important we work together to monitor and control their numbers, as it’s just a hop, skip and jump over the fence.” DOC tahr programme manager James Holborow says this survey is essential for planning future work to manage tahr populations.
“Tahr are highly mobile and can easily migrate between land boundaries. During control operations, we have regularly found multiple mobs of up to 20 tahr on public conservation land near Crown pastoral leases. We’re working together to ensure we’re all doing our bit to manage high densities of tahr.” Mr Holborow says tahr are social animals and their trampling and browsing can have a significant impact on native tussocks, herb fields and shrubs. The survey results are expected to be released early next year. Background information The tahr feral range covers
about 1.7 million hectares of land between the Haast Pass and Rakaia catchment. LINZ manages 1.2 million hectares of land in the South Island high country, with a large proportion leased to farmers. As part of LINZ’s new pastoral inspection programme, leaseholders are being asked questions about tahr populations on their leases. Leaseholders are required to control tahr numbers as a condition of their lease. The statutory Himalayan Thar Control Plan 1993 sets a limit of 10,000 tahr across private land, public conservation land and Crown pastoral leases in the tahr feral range.
Zealand and the packaging-related assets of Flight Extruded Plastics LP in Adelaide (together, Flight). The Statement of Issues outlines the Commission’s potential competition issues with the acquisition following its initial investigation. A Statement of Issues is not a final decision and
does not mean that the Commission intends to decline or clear the merger. We will also publish a further submission from Pact, received just before the Commission decided to issue the Statement of Issues. The Commission is seeking submissions from Pact and Flight
and other interested parties on the issues raised in the Statement of Issues. The Statement of Issues and Pact’s submission can be found on the case register. Submissions can be sent by email to registrar@comcom. govt.nz with the reference “Pact/ Flight” in the subject line.
Statement of Issues released for Pact/Flight clearance application TL Bureau, Wellington
The Commerce Commission has published a Statement of Issues relating to an application from Pact Group Holdings Limited (Pact) to acquire the assets and business of Flight Plastics Limited in New
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OPEC Basket Price Stood, at $39.53 TL Bureau, Vienna
The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at US$39.53 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $39.22 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations, WAM News Agency reported. The thirteen crudes, from separate OPEC member countries, include a mix of light and heavy crudes.
BUSINESS
Wall Street Closing TL Bureau, New York
U.S. stocks fell Friday, led by big technology shares, as Wall Street concluded a difficult week in which coronavirus cases surged, U.S. fiscal stimulus talks broke down again, and traders prepared for next week’s U.S. presidential election. For the week, the Dow industrials dropped 7.4 percent, the broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 6.5 percent, and the technologyheavy Nasdaq declined more than 6 percent and recorded is worst weekly performance since March. The weekly losses came as the seven-day average of new U.S. coronavirus cases hit a record high this week.
Gold rose over the same worries about the U.S. election and rising Covid-19 cases. Futures climbed 0.6 percent to $1,879.90 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil fell, extending losses and on track for a second monthly decline, on growing concerns that the surge in virus cases in Europe and the United States will hurt fuel consumption. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures lost 38 cents, or 1.1 percent, to a five-month low of $35.79 a barrel. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 157.51, or 0.6 percent, to 26,501.60. Seventeen of the index’s 30 components declined, led by Apple, which plunged 5.6 percent after reporting a 20
percent decline in iPhone sales. Boeing lost 2.6 percent, Nike was 2.3 percent lower, and Salesforce. com retreated 2 percent. IBM led gainers, advancing 2.5 percent. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 40.15, or 1.2 percent, to 3,269.96. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 274 to 10,911.59. Twitter tumbled 21 percent after reporting user growth that fell short of expectations. Facebook plunged 6.3 percent on a surprise decline in North American users, Netflix dropped 5.6 percent, Amazon lost 5.4 percent despite posting strong quarterly results, and Googleparent Alphabet declined 3.8 percent.
CBA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF COLONIAL FIRST STATE
TL Bureau, Parramatta
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) today announced that the Chairman of Colonial First State Investments Limited (CFSIL) and Avanteos Investments Limited (AIL), Ms Anne Ward, will retire from the Board at the end of December 2020, having served eight full years as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman. Today’s announcement allows for an orderly transition and the appointment of a new Chairman in due course. CBA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, David Cohen, said: “Anne’s decision to retire after eight full years comes at a time when the business
and its management team are well placed for future success. “Preparations are well underway for CFS’s establishment as a focused, standalone business with a separate management team and Board under its new ownership arrangements. I
would like to acknowledge Anne’s strong leadership of the Board and thank Anne for her significant contribution to CFS and commitment to improving member outcomes.” Ms Ward said: “It has been a privilege to serve on the Board
ACCC appeals court’s decision on Employsure Google Ads TL Bureau, Canberra
The ACCC has lodged an appeal against the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss its case against Employsure, in which the ACCC alleged that Employsure’s Google Ads misrepresented that Employsure was, or was affiliated with, a government agency. Employsure is a commercial business that offers employment relations advice to businesses, and earns fees from customers signed up to contracts for advice. The Google Ads which appeared in response to search terms used by small businesses, such as ‘fair work ombudsman’, featured headlines including ‘Fair Work Ombudsman Help – Free 24/7 Employer Advice’ and ‘Fair Work Commission Advice – Free Employer
Advice’. On 1 October 2020, the Federal Court found that the Google Ads were not misleading. The trial judge concluded it would be clear to a reasonable business owner that the search results were ads and not affiliated with the government, because they were marked with the word ‘Ad’ and linked to a ‘.com’, not ‘.gov’, URL. The Court also found that the words ‘fair work’ had a broad descriptive meaning and were not limited to government agencies. “We have appealed this decision because we believe the judge made an error in finding that reasonable business consumers, including smaller and less sophisticated business owners, would not have been misled by the Google Ads,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.
“Employsure’s ads appeared when business consumers searched for ‘fair work ombudsman’ and ‘fair work australia helpline’. The ACCC considers that many businesses were likely to have conducted their searches when they were seeking urgent workplace advice from a government agency and, we will argue, many reasonable business consumers, including small businesses and less sophisticated business owners, were unlikely to have noted the small differences within the ads which were relied on by the judge to make his findings.” Employsure is a private company that offers employment relations and workplace health and safety advisory services to business owners. It has no affiliation with any government agency.
of Colonial First State as its independent Chairman for the past eight years. CFS is one of the leading superannuation and investment businesses in Australia and I am proud to have played a part in its many achievements during my tenure. “I look forward to watching as CBA and KKR deliver on their commitment to establish CFS as a focused, standalone business and as CFS continues to deliver improved outcomes for members and investors in the coming years.” Subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, CBA is aiming for the sale of 55% of CFS to KKR to complete in the first half of calendar year 2021.
Small business complaints against telcos unacceptably high: Ombudsman TL Bureau, Canberra
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell says too many small businesses are getting a raw deal from their phone and internet service providers, following a spike in the number of small business customer complaints in Q1. Fresh data from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s (TIO) office reveals a 28% hike in small business complaints against their telecommunications provider in the latest quarter. “The number of small business complaints to the TIO are unacceptably high and telcos need to improve the small business customer experience as a matter of urgency,” Ms Carnell says. “Clearly our telcos have a major problem when more than 5,500 small business customers have made complaints against their providers in the space of a few months. “Phone and internet are essential services to small businesses, particularly during the COVID crisis when so many Australian small businesses are working remotely and struggling to stay afloat. “The highest volume and proportion of small business complaints for the quarter were recorded against ‘multiple services’. These are bundled packages including services such as phone, landlines and internet that are essential to small business operations.
Exports Decline Again in Oct. on Virus Resurgence
TL Bureau, Seoul
South Korea’s outbound shipments dipped 3.6 percent in October from a year earlier, snapping the previous month’s brief rebound, data showed Sunday, due to the resurgence of new coronavirus cases around the globe and fewer working days, Yonhap reported. Outbound shipments came to US$44.9 billion last month, compared to $46.6 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports moved down 5.8 percent to $39 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.9 billion. The latest figure roughly falls in line with market expectations. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country’s October exports were expected to have decreased 3.12 percent
on-year. The country enjoyed a 4.5 percent rise in its outbound shipments in February, the first on-year rebound in 14 months, before it suffered full-fledged economic fallout from the pandemic. Exports fell again in March as the number of COVID-19 cases around the globe escalated and the pace of decline further accelerated, plunging 25.5 percent in April and 23.6 percent in May. Asia’s fourth-largest economy had extended its slump in exports to a sixth month in August, as the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, before rebounding 7.7 percent in September. The pace of recovery may be moderate for the trade-driven economy because new waves of coronavirus infections recently gripped the United States and European nations, it added.
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As COVID-19 spread accelerates, IHR Emergency Committee urges focus on measures that work TL Bureau, Geneva
The Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met on 29 October to review the situation and progress made on the temporary recommendations. They advised that the pandemic still constituted a public health emergency of international concern, and urged a focus on response efforts based on lessons learned and strong science. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accepted the advice of the committee, stating that “WHO will continue to work in partnership across the world to drive science, solutions and solidarity.” The committee expressed appreciation for WHO’s leadership and activities throughout the global response, including its critical role in developing evidencebased guidance, providing countries with technical assistance and critical supplies and equipment, communicating clear information and addressing misinformation, and convening the Solidarity Trials and the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. The committee provided concrete and targeted advice for WHO and countries to focus on in the coming months. It emphasized the importance of evidenceinformed, risk-based and coherent measures in relation to international traffic, surveillance and contract tracing efforts, maintaining essential health services including mental health services, and preparing plans for future COVID-19 vaccines. The committee urged countries to avoid politicization of the pandemic response, seen as a major detriment to global efforts.
FEATURE
Stanford path-planning algorithm enables autonomous multi-drone aerial surveys of Antarctic penguin colonies
TL Bureau, By Taylor Kubota
Stanford University researcher Mac Schwager entered the world of penguin counting through a chance meeting at his sister-in-law’s wedding in June 2016. There, he learned that Annie Schmidt, a biologist at Point Blue Conservation Science, was seeking a better way to image a large penguin colony in Antarctica. Schwager, who is an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics, saw an opportunity to collaborate, given his work on controlling swarms of autonomous flying robots. Colorful virtual lines on overlaying an image of snowy Antarctic coastline Visualization of autonomous drone routes determined by the Stanford Univeristy path planning algorithm over the Adélie penguin colony at Cape Crozier in Antarctica, which covers roughly 2 square kilometers.(Image credit: Kunal Shah) That’s how, three-and-ahalf years later, Schwager’s graduate student, Kunal Shah, found himself at the famous McMurdo Station, ready for the first Antarctic test flight of their new multi-drone imaging system, which coordinates the flight of multiple high-end autonomous drones – but can also work with hobby drones. The project did not have an auspicious start. “My hands were freezing. The drone batteries were too cold to work. The drone remote control was too cold. My phone was too cold and was flashing warnings,” recalled Shah. “I just thought, ‘I’m down here for two-and-a-half months and this is day one.’ ” Undeterred, Shah and his colleagues quickly adapted and their system, which is the subject of a paper published Oct. 28 in Science Robotics, repeatedly produced detailed visual surveys of approximately 300,000 nesting pairs of Adélie penguins over a 2-square-kilometer area at Cape Crozier – roughly equivalent to the size of the country of Monaco – and another smaller colony of about 3,000 nesting pairs at
A new multi-drone imaging system was put to the test in Antarctica. The task? Documenting a colony of roughly 1 million Adélie penguins. Watch the video here.
Cape Royds. Whereas previous human-piloted drone surveys of the Cape Crozier colony took two days, each round of the new survey, completed in collaboration with National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), was completed in about two-and-a-half hours, thanks to a route planning algorithm that coordinated two to four autonomous drones and prioritized efficient coverage of the colony. “Just moving all of that equipment down to a remote site and being able to prepare it, field it and deploy it with nothing other than tents and a small warming hut at your disposal, that’s really phenomenal,” said Schwager, who is senior author of the paper but, to his disappointment, was not able to join the field team. “It really goes to show how practical autonomous robotic systems can be in remote environments.” Speed is essential Aerial surveys of penguin colonies have been conducted before, usually with helicopters or a single drone. The helicopter method produces great image quality but is expensive, fuel-inefficient and risks disturbing the birds. The single drone survey is timeconsuming and – because
the drones must be launched from a safe distance, about five kilometers (three miles) from the colony – difficult to navigate. Another shortcoming of drones is that they must fly to, over and back from the colony with only 12-15 minutes of battery life. The continuous threat of sudden changes in flying conditions further adds to the importance of a fast survey. The use of multiple drones circumvents these challenges, and it was made possible by a unique route planning algorithm developed by the Stanford researchers. Given a survey space, the algorithm partitioned the space, assigned destination points to each drone and figured out how to move the drones through those points in the most efficient way, limiting backtracking and redundant travel. One crucial additional requirement was that each drone exit the space at the same place where it entered, which saves precious flight time. The algorithm also maintained a safe, constant, distance from the ground despite the changes in elevation, and had a tunable image overlap percentage to assure a complete survey. Unlike the back-and-forth action of a robotic vacuum, Schwager described the algorithm’s paths as “organic
and spidery.” “The process was quick. What had been just the algorithm’s squiggles on a screen the day before turned into a massive image of all the penguins in the colonies,” said Shah, who is lead author of the paper. “We could see people walking around the colonies and all the individual birds that were nesting and coming to and from the ocean. It was incredible.” Eyes in the sky The researchers envision other uses for their multidrone system, such as traffic monitoring and tracking wildfires. They’ve already performed tests in some varied settings. They have flown over a large ranch in Marin, California, to assess the vegetation available for livestock grazing. They also took their drones out to Mono Lake near the CaliforniaNevada border to survey the California gull population that lives near Paoha Island in the lake’s center. Like Antarctica, the Mono Lake test had its own challenges – the birds were smaller, the researchers had to boat out to the site before releasing the drones and there was a risk of losing drones in the water (which, fortunately, did not happen). For their part, the penguin biologists remain focused on measuring population size, birth rates and nesting density and will conduct a second round of penguin observation this year. Due to the pandemic, however, the Point Blue Conservation Science team will be on their own this time. Thinking about the big picture – in the figurative sense – the researchers hope their system stands as evidence for the positive potential of autonomous robots and systems. “Humans could never leap into the sky and count 300,000 penguins or track a forest fire,” said Schwager. “I think that teams of autonomous robots can really be powerful in helping us manage our changing world, our changing environment, at a scale that we never could before.” The researchers from Point Blue Conservation Science are also co-authors of the paper. This work was funded by the National Science Foundation.
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life and real estate
Timely COVID-19 Testing of Mombasa Port Truckers Helps Reinvigorate Economies
TL Bureau, Nairobi
Thousands of truck drivers across Kenya have been tested for COVID-19 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) since July, as part of a broader effort to reinvigorate regional economies impacted by COVID-19. Billions of dollars’ worth of goods begin the final leg of their in-land journey to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo aboard transport trucks originating at the sprawling port of Mombasa in southeast Kenya. The drivers were identified early on as a high-risk group for the spread and transmission of COVID-19. This, combined with border closures and other mobility restrictions, brought much of the trade in the region to a grinding halt. IOM sees the integration of COVID-19 testing and other health measures into border management systems as critical to reanimating national and local economies and blunting the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. In July 2020, IOM conducted 2,570 tests at the Malaba and Busia One Stop Border Points with Uganda in an effort to clear a line-up of trucks stretching up to 90 km back from the border. With the
support of the Danish International Development Agency, IOM has, as of 23 October, tested over 14,200 drivers moving freight out of East Africa’s largest port, bound for nations across East and Central Africa and the Horn of Africa. “While the pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to mobility and cross-border trade, we must ensure that there is a continuous flow of economic activities while putting first the
safety of people involved in the process,” said IOM Kenya Chief of Mission Dimanche Sharon. IOM deployed medical staff, lab technicians, data officers and a semi-automated Thermo Fisher testing system to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, enabling the testing of up to 400 samples within a day, significantly reduced the turn-around time for test results to between 24 and 36 hours. This is an important consideration
for drivers under pressure to deliver their goods as quickly as possible while negotiating a myriad of health-related border mobility restrictions enacted since March in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the region. “Previously, I have had to wait up to two weeks for my turn to cross the Kenya-Uganda border,” said a Mombasa-based Kenyan truck driver named Rashid. “My certificate expired in the process, since the validity period is 14 days, and the experience was not pleasant as I had to be tested again spending more money and time at the border. I am hopeful that the testing for COVID-19 in Mombasa will help me obtain the clearance and transport the goods faster.” IOM Kenya has also conducted infection, prevention and control training for COVID-19 benefiting more than 200 frontline workers at various Points of Entry (PoEs) and provided personal protection equipment for 27 POEs, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). “With the support of our international partners, we will continue to fight against COVID-19 alongside the Government of Kenya until it’s fully eradicated,” said IOM’s Sharon.
ROLLIE JORDAN REPRESENTS SALE OF $2.76 MILLION COLORADO ESTATE TL Bureau, Evergreen
Rollie Jordan just sold Fox Ridge Lodge for $2,760,000. Colorado Mountain Living at its finest… Secluded at the top of Fox Ridge at Soda Creek in Evergreen, this 10-plus-acre spectacular custom estate boasts privacy, open space with panoramic mountain views and room for extended family. This 8261 finished sq. ft. “lodge” style home can sleep 10 comfortably on three levels. The massive log portecochere welcomes guests into open two-story great room with floor to ceiling see Fox Ridge Lodge through moss rock and stone fireplace, with 25-ft. lodge pole and pine timber beams, wood plank flooring, 8-ft. Alder doors and custom hammered iron railings. Open kitchen, with center island slab granite breakfast bar that is accentuated by stone hearth over the gas cook top and formal, yet open dining room with wood floors and ceiling, and sliding doors with views of the front water feature. Handsome library with connected private office is complete with fireplace and custom wood built-ins. Main floor offers the expansive master retreat with huge walk in closet, luxurious five-piece bath and two laundry rooms.
IOM Maternal and Child Health Clinic for Internally Displaced Persons Opens in Somalia
TLBureau, TL Bureau
Doolow - A new maternal and child health care clinic for internally displaced expectant and nursing mothers and children has been opened in Doolow, Somalia, by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The new health centre, funded by the Government of Japan, was set up to assist with free health care over 5,800 families living in Kabasa, one of the most impoverished communities of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country. The clinic, coordinated by IOM and implemented by the local partner Human Development Concern, will provide multiple services. This includes antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care, outpatient consultations, emergency services and immunization for childhood diseases, such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis and polio –a disease eradicated in many parts of the world but still a problem in Somalia–. Child nutrition and treating malnutrition services will also be offered. Prior to the opening of the clinic, many expectant mothers in Doolow
had a higher risk of death because of antenatal and postnatal complications, and particularly during childbirths and stillbirths. This was due to a lack of access to maternity services caused in part by security-related restrictions of movement between IDP camps, which left many expectant mothers unable to reach the nearest maternity unit –located four kilometres away–, to which they often had to walk. As a result, many of them had to rely on unskilled traditional birth attendants. Hawa, a mother of five, is one of the women will who benefit from the new clinic: “Today, people in Kabasa are enthusiastic, and a sigh of relief is observed as services are available day and night and mothers will be attended to by skilled midwives.” she said. This health facility will be the first to provide delivery services in the Kabasa IDP site in over 10 years. It replaces an old health post that used to treat only emergency cases. “Now we have five permanent rooms, well ventilated with 24/7 running water and electricity to attend patients, qualified midwives and complete delivery equipment to increase the quality of services received by mothers and their new-borns,” said Fatuma Aden, IOM’s Health Officer in Doolow.
IOM is supporting 39 other similar health facilities across Somalia. This support is crucial to the health and livelihoods of over 361,165 people. Access to health care across Somalia’s IDP population of 2.6 million is extremely limited due to years of conflict that have destroyed the already fragile health infrastructure of the country. Somalia has the fourth-largest population of IDPs in the world. Almost three decades of conflict, recurrent and more intense climate shocks such as droughts and floods, as well as the worst locust invasion in 25 years, have forced many individuals to flee their towns
and settle in displacement sites in search of safety and better access to basic services. Moreover, the poor sanitation and hygiene conditions of the often overcrowded IDP sites and the impact that COVID-19 is having on livelihood opportunities is putting at risk the well-being of many displaced persons. “IOM is committed to strengthening and promoting better quality and inclusive health systems that benefit migrants and the communities in which they live. Migrants contribute actively to the development of society and ensuring their access to health services not only protects public health and human rights, but
it also prevents long-term health and social costs, and contributes to social and economic development,” said Kerry Kyaa, IOM’s Health Programme Manager. IOM Somalia is supporting the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to bring health care services closer to migrants, displaced families, and communities in hardto-reach areas while improving their living conditions to minimize preventable diseases and death. Since the beginning of the year, IOM has provided 361,165 health consultations and reached 378,482 individuals with health education and promotion activities at IOM supported health clinics and through mobile health teams. Learn more about IOM’s health activities in Somalia funded by the Government of Japan on this video. This new health clinic and others funded by the Government of Japan have been critical in ensuring that IOM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, can bring health services to everyone, everywhere in Somalia. IOM’s health programmes in Somalia are possible thanks to the generous funding from Japan, USAID, Germany, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the Somali Humanitarian Fund, KSRelief and the European Union.
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New WBSC Academy opens first online courses in push to further globalise baseball, softball
TL Bureau, Pully
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today announced that the WBSC Academy, a global development initiative, will officially begin courses on 2 November. The WBSC Academy will help facilitate athletes, coaches, officials and National Federations to conduct efficient self-learning of the various topics related to Baseball, Softball and Baseball5. Courses initially will be open to WBSC registered affiliates, who will have access to all content, learning courses and sessions available on the WBSC Academy platform. WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: “This new online learning platform adds another powerful tool to further develop our sport globally, particularly in new and emerging baseball/softball territories.
“Whilst the pandemic has accelerated our need to create online e-learning tools for our Member Federations, the WBSC Academy is also part of our goal to reduce our carbon footprint across all of our activities. “It is also important that we continue adapting to the new norm and that we find new ways to support our community at a time when COVID-19 continues to restrict peoples’ movements.” The WBSC Academy courses will be instructed by specialists in each particular subject and will serve as a platform for the transfer of knowledge with expert training and sharing of technical advice. It is hoped the WBSC Academy will help to provide the development tools necessary to further expand the sports’ popularity and practice in both traditional as well as new and emerging baseball/softball countries and territories.
The first online courses in November will be open to National Federations personnel and will cover three areas: Baseball5, Coaches and Baseball for the Blind. Dates for webinars on additional subjects, such as baseball and softball courses for technical commissioners, baseball umpiring, softball umpiring and scoring, will be announced at a later stage. As well as other topics such as anti-doping, safeguarding, communications and administration support for National Federations. “I want to thank all the WBSC Commissions and staff involved in developing this useful tool for their continuous efforts to add value for our Member Federations, so together we can continue to evolve and globalise our sport, even under challenging circumstances,” Fraccari concluded.
SPORTS
Ziyech shines as Chelsea enjoy 3-0 win at Burnley TL Bureau, Burnley
Hakim Ziyech shined and Kurt Zouma and Timo Werner were also on target as Chelsea enjoyed an easy 3-0 win at struggling Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, Reuters reported. The win moves the London club up to fourth place in the table and just a point behind leaders Everton and Liverpool before Juergen Klopp’s side play West Ham United later on Saturday. Chelsea, who had a long trip to Krasnodar in Russia in midweek, made five changes from Wednesday’s Champions League starting line-up and made a bright start at Turf Moor. The impressive Ziyech drilled the ball home in the 26th minute from the edge of the box, after a smart passing move from Frank Lampard’s team, to claim his first league goal for the club.
Burnley, who are without a win and have just a single point from their opening six games, struggled to cause any real problems for the Chelsea defense and manager Sean Dyche threw on an extra striker at the break with Jay Rodriguez coming on.While that gave Burnley more of an attacking presence, Chelsea comfortably dealt with early second-half pressure from the Clarets and then extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Zouma thundered in a header from a Mason Mount corner. The outcome was put beyond any doubt when Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood’s pass was intercepted by Reece James and Ziyech did well to feed Werner, the German confidently beating Nick Pope from inside the area. Chelsea substitute Olivier Giroud had an effort ruled out for offside as the visitors looked to add to their tally.
Dancing takes centre stage for kids with sports on pause during early stages of pandemic
TL Bureau, Bruce
With organised sport on hold due to COVID-19, Australians turned to running, riding, and yoga to stay active and socially connected according to Sport Australia’s latest AusPlay survey results that identify sport and physical activity habits across the country. The results, which focus on the early impact of COVID-19 on sport and physical activity participation and includes data from Sport Australia’s other survey tool, the Community Perceptions Monitor, also found children bore the brunt of the sport shutdown. Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said AusPlay was an important way to track how Australians engage with sport and physical activity, while the Community Perceptions Monitor captured public attitudes towards various aspects of sport. “We know COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our ability to be active and participate in organised sport,” Mr Dalton said. “Not only did Australians change how and how often they were physically active, but their reasons for doing so changed as well, with more participants moving for mental health and social reasons.” Mr Dalton said the research also highlights the important role sport can play in bringing communities together and lifting the nation’s energy and spirits. “Almost half (44 per cent) of
Australians said they missed sport being in their life and 57 per cent of adult participants were looking forward to being able to play their chosen sport again,” Mr Dalton said. “Those who found it easier during the sports shutdown to remain active and engaged in physical activity reported feeling a greater sense of wellbeing, optimism and connection, which serves to demonstrate the crucial role that sports can play in the national recovery from the pandemic.”
The lockdown also affected children more than adults. Some 73 per cent of Australian adults continued to be active during lockdown compared with just 17 per cent of children still able to take part in organised physical activities outside of school, according to AusPlay. Dancing, some of which could be done online, was the children’s activity with highest continuation during this time, followed by tennis and football/soccer. It’s a big leap from the previous
year, where pre-COVID, more than three-quarters (76.1 per cent) of Australian children participated in organised outside-of-school sport or physical activity. “With organised sport on hold these figures make sense and that’s why successfully rebooting children’s organised sport is crucial. We need to get kids moving again and meeting the recommended one hour of physical activity a day,” Mr Dalton added. When it came to getting back on the field the most common concerns were health-related, including being around people who may not follow health rules, whether clubs could operate and the impact of the shutdown on fitness and skill levels. Those adults expressed similar sentiment towards their children returning to sport in the Community Perceptions research. By August, roughly one-third of adults (38 per cent) and children (39 per cent) who expected to play at least one organised sport between April and December had returned to all their sports including a very small number who were actually playing more. “Sports are now facing another big challenge – getting participants and volunteers back, but you can help. Join a local team or volunteer your time. We can all play a role to help sport not just survive but thrive again,” said Dalton. Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck said it was a priority of the Australian
Government to continue supporting sport as the nation navigates the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. “The report clearly illustrates the impact the pandemic has had on the nation’s sports participation and physical activity, and there is no doubt sport will play a prominent role in leading our recovery. “This is an unprecedented challenge, but we are getting on with the job of supporting sport. With over 13 million participating in organised sport each year, it is an essential part of Australian life. “The Australian Government, through Sport Australia, is committed to ensuring sport comes through this period in the best position it can. Our sports have been engaged regularly to understand and support their needs as much as possible, and for some it will be a long recovery process. Outside of funding there are a range of services and initiatives available and under development at Sport Australia that will provide invaluable assistance in this process,” said Minister Colbeck. AusPlay provides the sport sector with vital insights into the physical activity behaviours of adults and children and critical evidence to inform strategies to grow participation. AusPlay recently passed the milestone of 100,000 telephone interviews conducted with Australian adults across all states and territories since its launch in October 2015.
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tech/auto
Automobili Lamborghini and Yohji Yamamoto celebrate the grand opening of the Lamborghini Lounge Tokyo and the Ad Personam Studio
TL Bureau , Sant’Agata Bolognese/Tokyo
Automobili Lamborghini opens THE LOUNGE TOKYO in the exclusive residential area of Roppongi, and the second venue of its kind after New York in the United States. Featuring a permanent Ad Personam studio where clients ordering cars can fully personalize every aspect of their new Lamborghini’s exterior and interior color and trim, THE LOUNGE TOKYO provides not only a gateway into the world of Lamborghini for owners and VIPs, but provides a meeting and venue space for events and exhibitions. The inaugural exhibition sees a collaboration between Lamborghini and the eponymous brand of the world-renowned fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto: the lounge offers the perfect setting to present an Aventador S “dressed” by Yohji Yamamoto, alongside a co-branded capsule collection comprised of three unique pieces: mod coat, bomber jacket and hoodie sweatshirt. When Mitja Borkert, Head of Design for Automobili Lamborghini, met Yohji Yamamoto at Paris Fashion Week in January 2020, he was impressed by the style resulting from the contrasting red and black in the collection presented, as well as by the outstanding craftsmanship embodied in each item of clothing. The correlation in brand values between Lamborghini and Yohji Yamamoto was clear and the collaboration was born. Taking inspiration from the Paris collection, the Lamborghini Centro Stile imagined the iconic Aventador S as a canvas to paint. The distinctive Gandini line characterizing each Lamborghini is still clearly visible in the Aventador, but dressed with selected patterns from the clothing collection: the same designs enhance the Aventador S’s interior. Mitja Borkert comments: “It has been exciting to have the chance to work with Yohji Yamamoto, the world-renowned fashion icon, who innately understood our significant Lamborghini design DNA. Our collaboration inspired this outstanding artwork and design for the Aventador S, which was unveiled today, and celebrates Italian craftsmanship connecting with Japanese culture.” Yohji Yamamoto says: “With their inimitable design,
Lamborghini super sports cars are more instantly recognizable than any other car manufacturer - just one glance is enough. I am delighted to see the realization of this collaboration, highlighting the uniqueness, the timelessness, and the abundant passion, which are characteristic of both our brands.” THE LOUNGE TOKYO’s ground floor provides the first entrée into Lamborghini lifestyle, as well as being the venue for personalized handovers to owners of their new Lamborghini. The second and third floors offer exceptional event and meeting locations for both business and private occasions: assuring a unique experience for all attending and embodying the unique style and design characteristics of
the legendary Lamborghini brand, the venue will also open to the public for special activities such as exhibitions or art shows. Katia Bassi, Chief Marketing & Communication Officer of Automobili Lamborghini says: “We created this lounge because we are designers of experience, and we want guests to enjoy the real Italian Lamborghini feeling in this space: a little of Sant’Agata Bolognese soul in the heart of Tokyo. It reflects our attitude to innovating, while maintaining our brand DNA and our Italian cultural identity; the Lounge’s core concept of informal luxury expresses the Lamborghini worldview while welcoming guests to this intimate and exclusive environment that evokes the
Lamborghini brand at every turn. Lamborghini always strives to break new ground, both within the automotive sector in terms of design, technology and performance, but within the greater realm around us. We are proud to present two important projects at the same time: together with the Lounge’s opening, a second project comes alive today, and we are honored to present Lamborghini’s collaboration with Yohji Yamamoto.” Giovanni Perosino, Chief Commercial Officer of Automobili Lamborghini concludes: “More than half of the cars delivered globally by Lamborghini have one or more details customized via our Ad Personam program, either through visiting our
headquarters’ studio or accessing the customization opportunities through our dealer network. Our Japanese clients embrace the almost limitless opportunities presented by Ad Personam: I was excited to see over 200 Lamborghinis, customized through the program, join us last year for our Lamborghini Day in Osaka. It is our pleasure to announce the opening of the Ad Personam Studio right here at the LAMBORGHINI LOUNGE TOKYO, facilitating our Japanese owners in personalizing their vehicles without going overseas. It is our honor to have so many customers and fans in Japan, and our privilege to open the doors to the world of Lamborghini through this Lamborghini Lounge.”
12 U.S. Reports 38,764 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 774 Deaths TL Bureau, Washington D.C.
The United States of America reported today 38,764 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 774 death cases. According to statistics issued by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of confirmed cases in United States reached 7,168,077 and 205,372 deaths.
Health Ministry: 418 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Detected, in Saudi Arabia TL Bureau, Riyadh
The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 418 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 334,605 cases, including 10,683 active cases undergoing treatment. Of these, there are 993 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable. It added that 29 new deaths have been reported; putting the tally of fatalities, at 4,768. Meanwhile, as many as 612 cases have recovered, raising recoveries’ toll to 319,154. On the other hand, 47,320 new laboratory tests were conducted, in the last 24 hours, across the Kingdom.
world
12 arrested for smuggling migrants in small boats across the English Channel
10 rubber boats and 158 life jackets among the seizures TL Bureau, Europe
A major operation involving law enforcement authorities from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, supported by Europol and Eurojust, led to the dismantling of a large network of criminals smuggling migrants in lifethreatening conditions through the English Channel. The action spanned over two days, 28 and 29 September. Law enforcement officers from the Belgian Federal Police (Federale Politie, Police Fédérale), British Immigration Enforcement, the Dutch Royal Marechaussée (Koninklijke Marechaussee) and the French Border Police (OCRIEST/BMR62, Police Aux Frontières) within the French National Police (Police Nationale) worked together and 12 suspects were arrested (seven in France, two in the Netherlands and three in the UK). The overall seizures during the two action days included 12 vehicles, 10 rubber boats and engines, 158 life jackets, a caravan, a boat trailer, jewellery, about €48 000 in cash, documents and mobile devices. This investigation targeted a developing trend of migrant smuggling involving small boats across the English Channel, a criminal activity which has escalated exponentially in recent months with increased interceptions in France and the UK. Overloaded boats and rough weather
This organised crime group consists mainly of Iranian nationals living in France, the Netherlands and the UK. The network was smuggling migrants with small boats from the north coasts of France to the UK. The suspects had connections in different countries to organise their criminal activity. Members of the criminal group purchased inflatable boats and engines from Germany and the Netherlands and transported them to the departure points. There, they taught the migrants how to operate the boats while charging an average of €3 000 per person for the crossings.
The various elements gathered during the investigations confirmed that this criminal organisation would have facilitated the illegal sea crossing of a large number of migrants. This transportation in overloaded boats, and often in very difficult weather conditions on one of the busiest commercial shipping lanes in the world, endangered both the lives of the migrants and the law enforcement officers involved in rescue operations at sea. Europol supported the operation by facilitating the information exchange, organising operational meetings and providing analytical
support with two intelligence analysts dedicated to this high-priority case. On the action day, Europol set-up a virtual command post to facilitate the operational coordination and exchange of information between law enforcement officers on the ground in real time. To support national authorities in this high priority investigation, Eurojust set up in June 2020 a Joint Investigation Team with Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Europol. Eurojust further facilitated the successful cooperation of the judicial authorities of the countries involved.
Main messages from the Tripartite Statement by the Prime Minister Social Summit, 14 October 2020 on the death of the Emir of Kuwait
TL Bureau, Brussels
The topic of the Tripartite Social Summit was “Implementing together an inclusive economic and social recovery in Europe”. The discussions were structured around the following questions: How can the Resilience and Recovery Facility best support economic growth, job creation and social resilience necessary for a socially fair recovery? How can the EU’s recovery funds best contribute to achieving the new EU 2030 climate target? How can the recovery accelerate a fair digital transition and foster opportunities for workers and SMEs? What role for social dialogue in ensuring the success of NextGenerationEU? The President of the European Council Charles Michel stated: “The historic deal 27 member states reached in July will increase Europe’s capacity to overcome the pandemic’s fallout. Social partners are playing a central role in articulating an effective response to the crisis
and they will continue to do so in the implementation of the Recovery plan. This Tripartite Social Summit is a necessary opportunity to act together. The Recovery Plan is essentially a transformation plan and workers and companies are at the forefront of this massive transformation. We are joining forces to promote a green, digital and fair recovery that boosts growth and creates jobs for all Europeans.” The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “We want to recover from this crisis together. We need everyone on board and dialogue between governments and social partners is key to our success. This will make sure that NextGenerationEU will help member states kick-start their economies, support businesses, especially SMEs, and create jobs all over Europe. Investing in the green and digital transition will help us revitalise our economy and bring benefits to every company and every worker across our Union.”
From the side of the rotating presidency, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, underlined: “The European Union is facing the biggest economic and social challenge since the founding Treaties. During our Council Presidency, we will continue to use all the means at our disposal to combat the pandemic and its consequences. The European Recovery Fund is an important instrument in these endeavours. It sets an example for investment in sectors with significant potential for the future, such as climate change and the digital transformation, which are already changing our working lives. It is precisely during times of crisis such as this that it is vital for the social partners to get involved and play a part in shaping change. They are crucial to the process of building a social Europe and ensuring social cohesion. To overcome the crisis, we need a fair and social Europe that is economically strong and fit for the future. We can only achieve this by working together.”
TL Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the death of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait: “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my deepest condolences to the Ruling Family, the Government of the State of Kuwait, and the people of Kuwait. “His Highness Sheikh Sabah dedicated his life to the service of his country. He was recognized worldwide
as a great humanitarian leader. Under his leadership, Kuwait has led humanitarian relief efforts and international development work in countries around the world, providing assistance to victims of conflict and those in need. His Highness will be remembered for his commitment to fostering dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as to promoting collaboration between nations to address global challenges. “Canada and Kuwait enjoy a long-standing friendship, which continued under His Highness’ leadership, as demonstrated by our cooperation on regional security and the expansion of our economic ties.
Switzerland completes emergency aid operation on Lesbos
TL Bureau, Bern
Switzerland responded immediately with emergency aid following a fire which devastated the refugee transit camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. Over several weeks, Swiss Humanitarian Aid focused on access to safe drinking water,
medical support in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and disaster risk reduction. It also dispatched five tonnes of relief supplies to the facility. Switzerland is ending its emergency aid activities on Wednesday 30 September, having restored access to clean drinking water for 10,000 people.
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