
NEOM’s ‘THE LINE:’ An environmentally friendly, car-free city in Saudi Arabia
Text sizeSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday announced the in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, an environmentally friendly city that “will reimagine and revitalize the future of urban living.”According to NEOM’s official website, THE LINE is described as a “never-before-seen approach to urbanization.” It is a 170-kilometer (kilometer) belt of re-imagined urban development with multiple, hyper-connected communities, with natural and walkable spaces. “We need to transform the concept of a conventional city into that of a futuristic one,” the Crown Prince said while announcing the...…Text sizeSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday announced the in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, an environmentally friendly city that “will reimagine and revitalize the future of urban living.”According to NEOM’s official website, THE LINE is described as a “never-before-seen approach to urbanization.” It is a 170-kilometer (kilometer) belt of re-imagined urban development with multiple, hyper-connected communities, with natural and walkable spaces. “We need to transform the concept of a conventional city into that of a futuristic one,” the Crown Prince said while announcing the...WW…

Saudi NEOM JV looking to finance $5 bln hydrogen project, say sources
Text sizeA joint venture comprising Air Products, ACWA Power and NEOM has hired financial firm Lazard to advise it on a planned $5 billion hydrogen project inthe NEOM high-tech business zone in Saudi Arabia, sources said. Lazard, which advised Saudi oil giant Aramco on its initial public offering in 2019, has recently approached banks to sound out their appetite for the project, said two sources familiar with the matter. Read more: Lazard, the world’s largest hydrogen producer New York-listed Air Products, Saudi energy developer ACWA Power and NEOM did not immediately respond to requests...…Text sizeA joint venture comprising Air Products, ACWA Power and NEOM has hired financial firm Lazard to advise it on a planned $5 billion hydrogen project inthe NEOM high-tech business zone in Saudi Arabia, sources said. Lazard, which advised Saudi oil giant Aramco on its initial public offering in 2019, has recently approached banks to sound out their appetite for the project, said two sources familiar with the matter. Read more: Lazard, the world’s largest hydrogen producer New York-listed Air Products, Saudi energy developer ACWA Power and NEOM did not immediately respond to requests...WW…

Pope urges US to shun violence, protect democracy after mob attack on Capitol
Text sizePope Francis urged Americans on Sunday to shun violence, seek reconciliation and “protect democratic values” following the mob attack on the US Capitol building by supporters of President Trump that left five people dead.“I repeat that violence is self-destructive, always. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost,” the pope said in his Sunday address. It was the second time in as many days that the pope, who visited the United States in 2015 when Barrack Obama was president, spoke out on the violence in the Washington, DC. following the storming of the Capitol on...…Text sizePope Francis urged Americans on Sunday to shun violence, seek reconciliation and “protect democratic values” following the mob attack on the US Capitol building by supporters of President Trump that left five people dead.“I repeat that violence is self-destructive, always. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost,” the pope said in his Sunday address. It was the second time in as many days that the pope, who visited the United States in 2015 when Barrack Obama was president, spoke out on the violence in the Washington, DC. following the storming of the Capitol on...WW…
UN envoy Martin Griffiths plans trip to Yemen and Saudi Arabia after Aden attack
Text sizeUN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths will visit Yemen and Saudi Arabia in the next few days to meet with the Yemeni president and senior Saudi officials following anlast week, the United Nations said on Tuesday.. Attacks on the southern port city of Aden on December 30 killed at least 22 people as officials in a government backed by Riyadh arrived there. On Sunday, , officials said, the first commercial flight to arrive since the deadly missile attack last week on the facility that killed at least 25 people and wounded 110 others.Read more:Last Update: Tuesday, 05 January...…Text sizeUN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths will visit Yemen and Saudi Arabia in the next few days to meet with the Yemeni president and senior Saudi officials following anlast week, the United Nations said on Tuesday.. Attacks on the southern port city of Aden on December 30 killed at least 22 people as officials in a government backed by Riyadh arrived there. On Sunday, , officials said, the first commercial flight to arrive since the deadly missile attack last week on the facility that killed at least 25 people and wounded 110 others.Read more:Last Update: Tuesday, 05 January...WW…

Coronavirus: UK to toughen COVID-19 border controls: Minister
Text sizeBritain will shortly publish plans for new border restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19, Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove said on Tuesday. “We’ll be coming forward very shortly with new proposals on how exactly we will make sure that our borders are safe,” Gove told Sky News. “But the message is very, very clear for UK citizens that they should not be traveling.” British finance minister Rishi Sunak will later on Tuesday set out plans to offer more help to businesses struggling under the renewed COVID-19 restrictions, a top cabinet minister said on Tuesday.“The...…Text sizeBritain will shortly publish plans for new border restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19, Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove said on Tuesday. “We’ll be coming forward very shortly with new proposals on how exactly we will make sure that our borders are safe,” Gove told Sky News. “But the message is very, very clear for UK citizens that they should not be traveling.” British finance minister Rishi Sunak will later on Tuesday set out plans to offer more help to businesses struggling under the renewed COVID-19 restrictions, a top cabinet minister said on Tuesday.“The...WW…

Egypt says it will open its airspace with Qatar pending fulfillment of demands
Text sizeEgypt will open its airspace with Qatar, Al Arabiya sources report, adding that implementation will be contingent on the fulfillment of Egyptian requirements.No further details about list of demands have been provided yet. This comes a day after Kuwait’s foreign minister had announced that Saudi Arabia would be starting from Jan. 4, three years after diplomatic and trade ties were severed.Qatar’s Emir is heading to for the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, Qatari News Agency reported on Tuesday morning.The summit is expected to see the signing of a deal between the GCC...…Text sizeEgypt will open its airspace with Qatar, Al Arabiya sources report, adding that implementation will be contingent on the fulfillment of Egyptian requirements.No further details about list of demands have been provided yet. This comes a day after Kuwait’s foreign minister had announced that Saudi Arabia would be starting from Jan. 4, three years after diplomatic and trade ties were severed.Qatar’s Emir is heading to for the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, Qatari News Agency reported on Tuesday morning.The summit is expected to see the signing of a deal between the GCC...WW…

Coronavirus: France to broaden vaccinations as new COVID-19 variant is found
Text sizeFrance is broadening its COVID-19 vaccination rollout to firemen and aid workers aged over 50, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday. “We are going to amplify, accelerate and simplify our vaccination strategy,” Veran told RTL radio.France has seen about a dozen cases of the more contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday.Veran also told RTL radio that the high level of coronavirus infections in France made easing current COVID-19 related restrictions unlikely.Martin Hirsch, director general of...…Text sizeFrance is broadening its COVID-19 vaccination rollout to firemen and aid workers aged over 50, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday. “We are going to amplify, accelerate and simplify our vaccination strategy,” Veran told RTL radio.France has seen about a dozen cases of the more contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Tuesday.Veran also told RTL radio that the high level of coronavirus infections in France made easing current COVID-19 related restrictions unlikely.Martin Hirsch, director general of...WW…

Iran parliament discusses bill to ‘eliminate Israel by March 2041’
Text sizeMembers of Iran’s parliament presented a bill that would force successive Iranian governments to eliminate Israel within 20 years and to work toward removing American forces from the region, Iranian news agency ISNA reported.ISNA revealed that the bill includes 16 articles under the name “Iran reciprocates” and was presented as a measure to respond to the assassination of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani last year. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s top general alongside a senior Iraqi militia leader in a US drone strike in Iraq....…Text sizeMembers of Iran’s parliament presented a bill that would force successive Iranian governments to eliminate Israel within 20 years and to work toward removing American forces from the region, Iranian news agency ISNA reported.ISNA revealed that the bill includes 16 articles under the name “Iran reciprocates” and was presented as a measure to respond to the assassination of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani last year. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s top general alongside a senior Iraqi militia leader in a US drone strike in Iraq....WW…

US aircraft carrier to stay in Arabian Gulf due to Iran threats: Pentagon
Text sizeThe US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will remain in the Gulf due to , the Pentagon said Sunday, following reports the ship was returning home in what some read as a sign of de-escalation. The Nimitz has been patrolling , but American media said this week that the acting US defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, had ordered the vessel to return home.The New York Times, quoting US officials, said this move was part of a “de-escalatory” signal to Tehran to avoid a conflict in President Donald Trump's last days in office.However, Miller issued a statement to the contrary late...…Text sizeThe US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will remain in the Gulf due to , the Pentagon said Sunday, following reports the ship was returning home in what some read as a sign of de-escalation. The Nimitz has been patrolling , but American media said this week that the acting US defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, had ordered the vessel to return home.The New York Times, quoting US officials, said this move was part of a “de-escalatory” signal to Tehran to avoid a conflict in President Donald Trump's last days in office.However, Miller issued a statement to the contrary late...WW…

Most OPEC+ producers support Saudi stand opposing output increase
Text sizeMost OPEC+ oil-producing countries oppose plans to increase output from February as winter lockdowns to contain the coronavirus choke demand, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Monday.For more coronavirus news, .OPEC+, which groups OPEC and other producers including Russia, began meeting at around 1500 GMT on Monday.On Sunday, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo warned OPEC+ experts of downside risks facing the oil market.On Monday, Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said OPEC+ should be vigilant and cautious despite a generally optimistic market environment as...…Text sizeMost OPEC+ oil-producing countries oppose plans to increase output from February as winter lockdowns to contain the coronavirus choke demand, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Monday.For more coronavirus news, .OPEC+, which groups OPEC and other producers including Russia, began meeting at around 1500 GMT on Monday.On Sunday, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo warned OPEC+ experts of downside risks facing the oil market.On Monday, Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said OPEC+ should be vigilant and cautious despite a generally optimistic market environment as...WW…

Hundreds protest in Turkey’s Istanbul against new university rector
Text sizeHundreds of people demonstrated in Istanbul on Monday against what they claim is the politically motivated appointment of a rector at a top Turkish university by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.An AFP reporter estimated the number at more than 1,000, with dozens of police officers watching the rally without intervening. Anger erupted after a January 1 presidential decree in which Erdogan appointed Melih Bulu – a candidate in the 2015 general election for the president’s ruling party – as the rector of Bogazici University..The protesters outside the public university’s campus...…Text sizeHundreds of people demonstrated in Istanbul on Monday against what they claim is the politically motivated appointment of a rector at a top Turkish university by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.An AFP reporter estimated the number at more than 1,000, with dozens of police officers watching the rally without intervening. Anger erupted after a January 1 presidential decree in which Erdogan appointed Melih Bulu – a candidate in the 2015 general election for the president’s ruling party – as the rector of Bogazici University..The protesters outside the public university’s campus...WW…

Kuwait makes new oil discoveries, says oil minister
Text sizeKuwait has discovered two new oilfields, oil minister Mohammad al-Fares announced on Monday, according to state news agency KUNA.One of the discoveries is in Houma oilfield in northwestern Kuwait, with production capacity of 1,452 barrels per day (bpd) of light oil. Read more:The second is in the Al-Qashaniya field in the north of the country, where light oil was discovered with a commercial quantity of 1,819 bpd and 2.78 million cubic feet of associated gas per day, KUNA reported.The minister added that conventional oil was also discovered in the north of the big Burgan oilfield,...…Text sizeKuwait has discovered two new oilfields, oil minister Mohammad al-Fares announced on Monday, according to state news agency KUNA.One of the discoveries is in Houma oilfield in northwestern Kuwait, with production capacity of 1,452 barrels per day (bpd) of light oil. Read more:The second is in the Al-Qashaniya field in the north of the country, where light oil was discovered with a commercial quantity of 1,819 bpd and 2.78 million cubic feet of associated gas per day, KUNA reported.The minister added that conventional oil was also discovered in the north of the big Burgan oilfield,...WW…

Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons: EU Spokesperson
Text sizeIran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons, said Lead Spokesperson for the External Affairs of the European Union Peter Stano in an interview on Monday with Al Arabiya.“Iran’s decision to increase uranium enrichment has dire consequences. Iran must honor its nuclear pledges,” Stano added. Iran said it had started enriching uranium to 20 percent purity at its Fordow facility, going well beyond the 2015 nuclear deal threshold. The move is the latest of several recent breaches of the agreement that started violating in 2019 in retaliation for Washington’s withdrawal from...…Text sizeIran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons, said Lead Spokesperson for the External Affairs of the European Union Peter Stano in an interview on Monday with Al Arabiya.“Iran’s decision to increase uranium enrichment has dire consequences. Iran must honor its nuclear pledges,” Stano added. Iran said it had started enriching uranium to 20 percent purity at its Fordow facility, going well beyond the 2015 nuclear deal threshold. The move is the latest of several recent breaches of the agreement that started violating in 2019 in retaliation for Washington’s withdrawal from...WW…

Iran says it has resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment at Fordow site: Mehr
Text sizeIran has resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow nuclear facility, the government spokesman told the semi-official Mehr news agency on Monday, a level of purity that is not allowed under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers. The move is the latest of several recent Iranian breaches of the deal, which it started violating in 2019 in retaliation for Washington’s withdrawal from the agreement and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran.“A few minutes ago, the process of producing 20 percent enriched uranium has started in Fordow enrichment...…Text sizeIran has resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow nuclear facility, the government spokesman told the semi-official Mehr news agency on Monday, a level of purity that is not allowed under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers. The move is the latest of several recent Iranian breaches of the deal, which it started violating in 2019 in retaliation for Washington’s withdrawal from the agreement and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran.“A few minutes ago, the process of producing 20 percent enriched uranium has started in Fordow enrichment...WW…

Coronavirus: Russia considers vaccination certificates for travels abroad
Text sizeRussian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to consider issuing certificates to those who had been inoculated with domestic vaccines against COVID-19 for overseas travels, a document published by the Kremlin showed on Monday.The document also said the government has been tasked with making the certificates internationally recognizable. Russia, which has the world’s fourth highest number of COVID-19 cases, is putting high hopes on several domestically produced vaccines. It started wide-scale vaccination against the disease last month. so far and more than 1.5 million...…Text sizeRussian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to consider issuing certificates to those who had been inoculated with domestic vaccines against COVID-19 for overseas travels, a document published by the Kremlin showed on Monday.The document also said the government has been tasked with making the certificates internationally recognizable. Russia, which has the world’s fourth highest number of COVID-19 cases, is putting high hopes on several domestically produced vaccines. It started wide-scale vaccination against the disease last month. so far and more than 1.5 million...WW…

US COVID-19 vaccine causes side effects for some people with facial fillers, says FDA
Text sizeModerna’s COVID-19 vaccine could cause side effects for some people with cosmetic facial fillers, the US Federal Food and Drug Administration warned, according to a local media report. A “small number” of vaccine trial participants reported facial swelling as a side effect, plastic surgeon Dr. Amir Karam said.“So what they’ve seen in the 30,000 member has done, is they found about three of those patients has reaction to the filler. The reaction was localized to where the filler was put in, so in a couple of cases it was the lip and the cheek,” Karam was quoted as saying by NBC7...…Text sizeModerna’s COVID-19 vaccine could cause side effects for some people with cosmetic facial fillers, the US Federal Food and Drug Administration warned, according to a local media report. A “small number” of vaccine trial participants reported facial swelling as a side effect, plastic surgeon Dr. Amir Karam said.“So what they’ve seen in the 30,000 member has done, is they found about three of those patients has reaction to the filler. The reaction was localized to where the filler was put in, so in a couple of cases it was the lip and the cheek,” Karam was quoted as saying by NBC7...WW…
Afghan gov’t, Taliban to resume talks as clashes undermine efforts to end war
Text sizeAfghan government representatives and Taliban officials are due to resume their power-sharing talks, officials said on Monday, although battlefield clashes and targeted killings risk undermining efforts to end the war.The talks began in Qatar in September months after the Taliban reached an agreement with the United States allowing it to pull its troops out of Afghanistan and end its longest war in exchange for Taliban security guarantees. The two Afghan sides got bogged down on procedures for weeks but in December they reached an agreement on the process, clearing the way for them...…Text sizeAfghan government representatives and Taliban officials are due to resume their power-sharing talks, officials said on Monday, although battlefield clashes and targeted killings risk undermining efforts to end the war.The talks began in Qatar in September months after the Taliban reached an agreement with the United States allowing it to pull its troops out of Afghanistan and end its longest war in exchange for Taliban security guarantees. The two Afghan sides got bogged down on procedures for weeks but in December they reached an agreement on the process, clearing the way for them...WW…
Coronavirus: Greece reimposes COVID-19 curbs after Christmas easing
Text sizeGreece will tighten coronavirus curbs for a week from Sunday, closing hair salons, bookstores and some other shops that had been allowed to reopen in the run-up to Christmas, the government said on Saturday.Most shops remained closed during December in Greece but the seasonal easing of restrictions provided a little relief for some hard-hit retail businesses. For more coronavirus news, The new, tighter rules will come into force on Jan. 3, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said in a televised statement. A night-time curfew will start at 9 p.m., an hour earlier than before.Petsas...…Text sizeGreece will tighten coronavirus curbs for a week from Sunday, closing hair salons, bookstores and some other shops that had been allowed to reopen in the run-up to Christmas, the government said on Saturday.Most shops remained closed during December in Greece but the seasonal easing of restrictions provided a little relief for some hard-hit retail businesses. For more coronavirus news, The new, tighter rules will come into force on Jan. 3, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said in a televised statement. A night-time curfew will start at 9 p.m., an hour earlier than before.Petsas...WW…

Several dead after car bomb explodes in northern Syria vegetable market: Reports
Text sizeA car bomb near a vegetable market in northeastern Syria killed five people on Saturday in the Turkish-held border town of Ras al-Ain, a war monitor said.A woman and a child were among those killed, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. At least three of the victims killed were civilians, but the identity of the other two was not immediately clear. Four others were wounded, it said.Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies in October 2019 seized a 120-kilometer (75-mile) stretch of land inside the Syrian border from Kurdish forces, running from Ras al-Ain to Tal...…Text sizeA car bomb near a vegetable market in northeastern Syria killed five people on Saturday in the Turkish-held border town of Ras al-Ain, a war monitor said.A woman and a child were among those killed, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. At least three of the victims killed were civilians, but the identity of the other two was not immediately clear. Four others were wounded, it said.Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies in October 2019 seized a 120-kilometer (75-mile) stretch of land inside the Syrian border from Kurdish forces, running from Ras al-Ain to Tal...WW…

Coronavirus: Vatican to begin COVID-19 vaccinations second half of January
Text sizeThe Vatican announced Saturday its COVID-19 vaccination campaign will begin “in the next few days” with health workers and the elderly to receive vaccines from the second half of January.No mention was made in the short press release about Pope Francis and when the 84-year-old pontiff will receive a vaccine. “It is foreseeable that the vaccines could arrive in the State in the second week of January, in a sufficient quantity to cover the needs of the Holy See and the Vatican City State,” it said.The Vatican has purchased a low temperature refrigerator for storing the vaccine, with...…Text sizeThe Vatican announced Saturday its COVID-19 vaccination campaign will begin “in the next few days” with health workers and the elderly to receive vaccines from the second half of January.No mention was made in the short press release about Pope Francis and when the 84-year-old pontiff will receive a vaccine. “It is foreseeable that the vaccines could arrive in the State in the second week of January, in a sufficient quantity to cover the needs of the Holy See and the Vatican City State,” it said.The Vatican has purchased a low temperature refrigerator for storing the vaccine, with...WW…

Houthis beat pregnant Yemeni mother to death in front of children in Ibb: Activists
Text sizeHouthi militants have reportedly beat a pregnant mother to death in Ibb in front of her four children while attempting a house raid to arrest her husband, according to activists.Local Yemeni media said the attack took place on Thursday when Houthi militants arriving in an armored vehicle stormed the house of the woman identified Ahlam al-Ashari in the al-Odain district in the Ibb province of Yemen. The 29-year-old mother was severely beaten in various parts of her body and sustained several deep wounds to her head and face, which led to her death immediately after she was...…Text sizeHouthi militants have reportedly beat a pregnant mother to death in Ibb in front of her four children while attempting a house raid to arrest her husband, according to activists.Local Yemeni media said the attack took place on Thursday when Houthi militants arriving in an armored vehicle stormed the house of the woman identified Ahlam al-Ashari in the al-Odain district in the Ibb province of Yemen. The 29-year-old mother was severely beaten in various parts of her body and sustained several deep wounds to her head and face, which led to her death immediately after she was...WW…

Russia supports OPEC+ 500,000 bpd oil output hike from Feb, says Novak
Text sizeRussia expects to support an increase in oil production by the group, known as OPEC+, of another 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from February at next month’s summit of the leading global oil producers, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said. Oil prices are trading above $50 per barrel, after coming under pressure this week from concerns new fast-spreading variants of the coronavirus will lead to reduced fuel demand.Read more: In comments, cleared for publication on Friday, Novak also said that Moscow views an oil price between $45 and $55 per barrel as the optimum level...…Text sizeRussia expects to support an increase in oil production by the group, known as OPEC+, of another 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from February at next month’s summit of the leading global oil producers, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said. Oil prices are trading above $50 per barrel, after coming under pressure this week from concerns new fast-spreading variants of the coronavirus will lead to reduced fuel demand.Read more: In comments, cleared for publication on Friday, Novak also said that Moscow views an oil price between $45 and $55 per barrel as the optimum level...WW…

Christmas decorations go on sale in Saudi Arabia for first time
Text sizeChristmas trees and glittery ornaments are for sale at a gift shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a once unthinkable sight.In recent years, festive sales have gradually been introduced into the capital Riyadh, a sign of loosening social restrictions after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to steer the country towards an “open, moderate Islam.” “I didn’t ever imagine I’d see this” in Saudi Arabia, a Riyadh resident told AFP at the shop selling trees, Santa Claus outfits as well as tinsel, baubles and other ornaments.“I am surprised,” said the resident.Until barely three years ago,...…Text sizeChristmas trees and glittery ornaments are for sale at a gift shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a once unthinkable sight.In recent years, festive sales have gradually been introduced into the capital Riyadh, a sign of loosening social restrictions after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to steer the country towards an “open, moderate Islam.” “I didn’t ever imagine I’d see this” in Saudi Arabia, a Riyadh resident told AFP at the shop selling trees, Santa Claus outfits as well as tinsel, baubles and other ornaments.“I am surprised,” said the resident.Until barely three years ago,...WW…

Hundreds of children stood trial for ‘insulting’ Erdoğan over six years: report
Text sizeFigures have shown 903 minors – including 264 children aged between 12 and 14 – stood trial for “insulting” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over a six-year period.The Justice Ministry statistics revealed that a total of 128,872 probes were launched over six years for , and prosecutors have evaluated 36,066 complaints and launched criminal cases for 11,371 of them, in just 2019 alone. According to Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code, “insulting” the president can result in a prison sentence of between one and four years. If the act is committed overtly, a one-sixth increase...…Text sizeFigures have shown 903 minors – including 264 children aged between 12 and 14 – stood trial for “insulting” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over a six-year period.The Justice Ministry statistics revealed that a total of 128,872 probes were launched over six years for , and prosecutors have evaluated 36,066 complaints and launched criminal cases for 11,371 of them, in just 2019 alone. According to Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code, “insulting” the president can result in a prison sentence of between one and four years. If the act is committed overtly, a one-sixth increase...WW…
Coronavirus: EU regulator gives conditional approval to COVID-19 vaccine
Text sizeThe European Medicines Agency says an expert committee has recommended conditional approval for a coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer to be used across the European Union, weeks after the shot was first granted permission under emergency provisions in Britain and the United States.The decision Monday comes after a closed-door discussion during which EMA scientists responsible for assessing the vaccine presented their analysis to other experts and scrutinized data from companies. The approval needs to be rubber-stamped by the European Commission and the...…Text sizeThe European Medicines Agency says an expert committee has recommended conditional approval for a coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer to be used across the European Union, weeks after the shot was first granted permission under emergency provisions in Britain and the United States.The decision Monday comes after a closed-door discussion during which EMA scientists responsible for assessing the vaccine presented their analysis to other experts and scrutinized data from companies. The approval needs to be rubber-stamped by the European Commission and the...WW…