Not Friends, Negotiators: Biden-Putin summit makes small gains
U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to hold arms control and cyber-security talks, recording small gains and big differences at a first summit they both described as pragmatic rather than friendly. The discussions at the lakeside Villa La Grange in Geneva lasted three hours – less than Biden’s advisers had said they expected – but the U.S. president said they had been intense and detailed, and that “we didn’t need to spend more time talking”.
Putin called Biden a constructive, experienced partner, and said they spoke the same language, but added that there had been no friendship, rather a pragmatic dialogue about their 2 countries’ interests. Biden said he had told Putin “we need some basic rules of the road that we can all abide by”.
The scheduling of separate news conferences meant there was none of the joviality that accompanied a 2018 meeting in Helsinki between Putin and Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, where Putin presented Trump with a soccer ball. There was also no shared meal. In a joint statement issued after the news conferences, the two sides said the meeting showed that they were able to make progress on shared goals even in periods of tension.
Putin, who was first to brief reporters, said the meeting had been constructive, without hostility, and had showed the leaders’ desire to understand each other. He said it was “hard to say” if relations with the United States would improve, but that there was a “glimpse of hope” regarding mutual trust. There were no invitations to Washington or Moscow.
Biden, speaking shortly afterwards, said there was “no substitute for face-to-face dialogue”, and that he had told Putin his agenda was “not against Russia” but “for the American people”. He, too, underlined the businesslike tone, saying: “This is not about trust, this is about self-interest and verification of self-interest.” But he said there was a “genuine prospect” of improving relations. (Reuters)
Bahrain approves ‘REGN-COV2’ for emergency use
Bahrain has approved “REGN-COV2” for emergency use, a new drug by Regeneron in collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche, for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 cases. REGN-COV2 contains a combination of Casirivimab and Imdevimab, which are drugs called “monoclonal antibodies”, that are designed to block viral attachment and entry into human cells to neutralise the virus.
REGN-COV2 also received emergency use approval from the US FDA to treat mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in non-hospitalised adults and adolescents of 12 years of age and older, who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg), and for those who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms or of hospitalisation. REGN-COV2 also received a positive review from the European Medicines Agency after their analysis of the quality, safety, and efficacy aspects of the new combination.
This drug has been added to the list of approved drugs by the Kingdom of Bahrain for treatment of COVID-19 using antibody testing technology. The approval reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to provide the latest COVID-19 medicines and treatments for all, which would prevent severity of active cases, and reduce the risk to enter intensive care.
China to launch high-stakes crewed mission to space
China will send three astronauts into orbit on Thursday in a high-stakes mission, the first of four crewed space flights to complete the country’s space station by the end of next year.
China will launch Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo into orbit aboard the spacecraft Shenzhou-12 at 9:22 a.m. (0122 GMT) on June 17 from Jiuquan in northwestern Gansu province. Nie, 56, a former air force pilot, will be the oldest Chinese astronaut to go to space.
Shenzhou-12, meaning “Divine Vessel”, is the third of 11 missions needed to build China’s space station. Construction began in April with the launch of Tianhe, the first and largest of three modules. The Shenzhou-12 crew are to live on the Tianhe, which means “Harmony of the Heavens”, a cylinder 16.6 m (55 ft) long and 4.2 m (14 ft) in diameter.
The three-month stay for Nie, Liu and Tang will be the longest for any Chinese astronauts, and one focus will be seeing how the men handle their relatively long time in orbit.
“The (mission) is longer this time, and not only do we have to set up the core module – this ‘home’ in space – we’ve to carry out a series of pivotal technical tests,” Nie told reporters in Jiuquan. “This mission is more arduous and the challenges are greater.”
Shenzhou-12 will be Nie’s third space outing, the second for Liu, 54, and the first for Tang, 45. On Liu’s Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008, his first, he almost did not get to perform a space walk to plant the Chinese flag on the exterior of the spacecraft. Liu, with the help of another astronaut, used a crowbar to pry open the hatch after it refused to budge.
“We experienced some dangerous situations and encountered some difficulties on that mission,” Liu said on Wednesday. “The amount of time spent outside the cabin on this mission is much longer, and there will be many rounds of extra-vehicular activity. The mission has thus become extremely complex and tough.”
India slams Twitter for not complying with new IT rules
India’s technology minister said on Tuesday that Twitter had deliberately defied and failed to comply with the country’s new IT rules, which became effective in late May.
The new rules or the so-called Intermediary Guidelines, announced in February, are aimed at regulating content on social media firms such as Facebook, its WhatsApp messenger and Twitter, making them more accountable to legal requests for swift removal of posts and sharing details on the originators of messages.
The rules also require big social media companies to set up grievance redressal mechanisms and appoint new executives to coordinate with law enforcement. India’s technology ministry wrote to Twitter on June 5, warning the company of “unintended consequences” if it did not obey the rules.
Ravi Shankar Prasad did not directly say on Tuesday whether Twitter had lost intermediary protections, but a senior government official told Reuters that Twitter may no longer be eligible to seek liability exemptions as an intermediary or the host of user content in India due to its failure to comply with new IT rules.
“There are numerous queries arising as to whether Twitter is entitled to safe harbour provision,” Prasad tweeted. “However, the simple fact of the matter is that Twitter has failed to comply with the Intermediary Guidelines that came into effect from the 26th of May.”
Twitter, Prasad added, had chosen the “path of deliberate defiance when it comes to the Intermediary Guidelines.” “An interim Chief Compliance Officer has been retained and details will be shared with the Ministry directly soon,” it said. “Twitter continues to make every effort to comply with the new guidelines.
New Delhi-based digital advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation said it was only up to courts, and not the government, to decide whether companies such as Twitter remained intermediaries for alleged non-compliance such as appointment of executives. (Reuters)
HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s directives to promote frontliners praised
The Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Dr. Mariam Al Hajri expressed her gratitude to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his directives to grant frontline responders in the civil service two exceptional steps or their equivalent.
The leadership of His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the efforts of HRH the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister, have always taken the frontliners in consideration since the beginning, in order to preserve the strength of the health sector strength to face challenges and overcome the pandemic, she said.
Al Hajri praised this great motivation and encouragement for the Bahraini responders, appreciating their dedication to serving Bahrain and ensuring the health and safety of all citizens and residents of the Kingdom.
12-17 year olds urged to take vaccine
Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani, has stressed the importance of taking vaccines at this important stage of dealing with the virus in order to get protected against its complications and new mutations.
He indicated that the Covid Delta variant poses an increasing danger to all age groups, especially children, noting that the vaccination is the best way to protect against it as this will increase the number of antibodies, strengthen children’s immune system and provide them with the necessary protection from the virus.
Dr. Al-Qahtani explained that the remarkable spike in the number of active cases over the past period included active cases of unvaccinated children, calling on parents of citizens and residents to register their children aged between 12 and 17 for the vaccine.
He added that this age group represents a large segment of society, and their vaccination contributes to enhancing their immunity and that of the community, especially in light of the long incubation period of the virus in infected children.
He pointed out that contrary to what some people say, the vaccine is not dangerous to the 12-17 age group, adding that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommended this age group to take the vaccine to reduce complications or deaths as a result of infection with the virus. He called on everyone to continue to adhere to the precautionary measures and instructions issued by the competent authorities to limit the spread of the virus.
Health COVID-19 inspections show 8 restaurant violations
The Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health has reported eight violations as it continued its inspection visits to ensure full application of precautionary measures to address COVID-19. The restaurants were referred to the relevant authorities for legal action.
The department on Tuesday inspected an additional 88 food and beverage establishments in its campaign to ensure public health and safety. Establishments that failed to meet the required standards were warned to address the issues and rise up to the needed responsibility levels and implement anti-COVID measures.
Bahrain to participate in Jordan World Endurance Championship
Representative of HM the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Honorary President of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF), His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said that the participation of the Royal Endurance Team in the Jordan World Endurance Championship, set to be held on June 18 and 19, aims to highlight the advanced level reached by the endurance sport in Bahrain.
HH Shaikh Nasser indicated that the Royal Endurance Team’s participation with junior jockeys in the Jordan World Endurance Championship, including 120-km and 100-km races, is part of the preparations for the upcoming world championships, including the one to be held in The Netherlands.
HH Shaikh Nasser asserted that the endurance sport in Bahrain has made major strides thanks to the unwavering support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, noting that the royal support has contributed significantly to the successful participation of the Royal Endurance Team in various external gatherings in which they attained distinguished results.
HH Shaikh Nasser added that Bahrain’s participation in the Jordan World Endurance Championship reflects the depth of relations between the two kingdoms across various fields, including sport. HH Shaikh wished the 18 Bahraini jockeys participating in the event every success in attaining positive results.
WHO declares Manama “Health City 2021”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Manama a “Health City 2021”, the first capital city in the Middle East to have received such an honour, adding a new international achievement to the kingdom’s rich record of accomplishments. The declaration was made during a virtual ceremony held by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
Health Minister, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh, Capital Governor, Shaikh Hesham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, and a number of Bahraini officials participated in the online ceremony.On the occasion, Health Minister lauded the constant support of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the health sector, and the sound directives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to intensify efforts that achieve the best for the citizens and residents, which, she said, led to naming Manama as the Health City 2021, adding to Bahrain’s achievements in the health and environmental fields, in addition to social and urban development.
Al-Saleh congratulated Capital Governor, Shaikh Hesham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, on the exploit which contributes to achieving most sustainable development goals and consolidating the kingdom’s international status. The minister pointed out that Manama’s advanced health services and programmes have contributed to its adoption as the “Health City 2021”. The Capital Governor dedicated the international achievement to HM King Hamad and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister, noting that the exploit is the fruitful outcome of Bahrain’s investment in health infrastructure and urban development and keenness to improve the quality of life at all levels.
The governor paid tribute to Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, for his close follow-up and directives to consolidate the “health city” concept, contribute to improving the quality of life and focus on distinction in serving the citizens and residents. He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Health Minister, the World Health Organisation, Regional Technical Officer for Community-Based Initiatives and Healthy Settings, Dr. Samar Al-Faqih, and the Health Cities’ Committee at the Capital Governorate, for their contributions to Manama’s achievement.
