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13 Jun 2021
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G7 provides 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, will work to give more: Communique

June 13, 2021

Group of Seven countries will provide 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses over the next year and work with the private sector, the G20 and other countries to increase the contribution over months to come, according to an almost finalized draft of the communique.“The commitments since we last met in February 2021 including here in Carbis Bay provide for 1 billion doses over the next year,” said the communique, seen by Reuters.“We will work together with the private sector, the G20 and other countries to increase this contribution over the months to come,” the communique said.“I’m pleased to announce that this weekend leaders have pledged over one billion doses, either directly or through funding to COVAX,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, referring to the international vaccine-sharing facility, as the seven-member bloc ended a three-day summit in southwest England.Two sources said the draft had been largely finalized by diplomats who worked late into Saturday night to agree most of the text, though they said parts of the draft could change over coming hours.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.There were few disagreements over the communique, which is going through final drafting, though Japan pushed for a tougher line on China, a diplomatic source said.The G7 said in the draft that the vaccine donations built on exports from domestic production with at least 700 million doses exported or to be exported this year, of which at least 50 percent have gone to non G7 countries.The group added that it had “a commitment to continue exporting in significant proportions; and the promotion of voluntary licensing and not-for-profit global production, which has so far accounted for 95 percent of the COVAX supply,” the communique said.The COVAX facility, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), aims to secure 2 billion vaccine doses for lower-income countries by the end of 2021.“We reaffirm our support for all pillars of the ACT-A across treatments, tests and strengthening public health systems as well as vaccines,” the communique said.The ACT-Accelerator partnership was designed to accelerate the design, production and distribution of vaccines.“We support discussions regarding the extension of the ACT-A mandate into 2022, noting the planned comprehensive review to optimize its effectiveness and accountability.”IMF chiefThe head of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva warned of a deepening divergence in the pace of economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as some countries struggle to access vaccines.Addressing reporters at the Group of Seven summit in southwestern England, Georgieva said: “We have been warning about dangerously diverging recoveries. Most recent data confirms this trend not only continues, it deepens.”The IMF chief added that while she expected a rise in inflation to be transitory, the world could not take that for granted and she was most worried about inflation in emerging economies.G7 leaders also welcomed a plan for a new $650 billion allocation of the International Monetary Fund’s warchest to help countries cope with the COVID-19 crisis, urging an implementation by the end of August.An almost final version of the G7 communique seen by Reuters said the countries were considering options for how best to channel the funds.Read more:G7 reaches consensus on China dumping, human rights abuses: US officialChina cautions G7: ‘small’ groups don’t rule the worldAmerica is back with Biden, France’s Macron says
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: G7 provides 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, will work to give more: Communique

13 Jun 2021
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Israel’s Knesset set to vote on new government, ending PM Netanyahu’s rule

June 13, 2021

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s record 12-year hold on power was set to end on Sunday when parliament votes on a new government, ushering in an administration that has pledged to heal a nation bitterly divided over his departure.Netanyahu, the most dominant Israeli politician of his generation, had failed to form a government after a March 23 election, the fourth in two years.“I love you, thank you!” Netanyahu wrote in a message, illustrated with a heart emoji, to the Israeli public on Twitter that featured a photo of the 71-year-old leader against the backdrop of an Israeli flag.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The new cabinet, which will be sworn in after a Knesset confidence vote it is expected to win, was cobbled together by the centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid and ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennett.Bennett, a hawkish hi-tech millionaire and an Orthodox Jew, tweeted a photograph of himself at prayer, captioned with a Biblical blessing. He will serve as premier for two years before Lapid, a former TV host, takes over.They will head a government comprising parties from across the political spectrum, including for the first time one that represents Israel’s 21 percent Arab minority. They plan largely to avoid sweeping moves on hot-button international issues such as policy toward the Palestinians, and to focus on domestic reforms.With little to no prospect of progress toward resolving the decades-long conflict with Israel, many Palestinians will be unmoved by the change of administration, saying Bennett will likely pursue the same right-wing agenda as Netanyahu.That looked likely regarding Israel’s top security concern, Iran. A Bennett spokesman said he would vow “vigorous opposition” to any US return to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal but would seek cooperation with the administration of US President Joe Biden.Israel’s designated new leader, Bennett, called renewing international nuclear deal with Iran a mistake.Bye Bye Bibi?On the international stage, with his polished English and booming baritone voice, Netanyahu has become the face of Israel.Serving in his first term as prime minister in the 1990s and since 2009 winning four more terms in succession, he has been a polarizing figure, both abroad and at home.Often referred to by his nickname Bibi, Netanyahu is loved by his supporters and loathed by critics. His ongoing corruption trial - on charges he denies - has only deepened the chasm.His opponents have long reviled what they see as Netanyahu’s divisive rhetoric, underhanded political tactics and subjection of state interests to his own political survival. Some have dubbed him “Crime Minister” and have accused him of mishandling the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout.Celebrations by his opponents to mark the end of the Netanyahu era began late on Saturday outside his official residence in Jerusalem, the site of weekly protests for the past year, where a black banner stretched across a wall read: “Bye Bye, Bibi, Bye bye.” Demonstrators sang, beat drums and danced.But for Netanyahu’s large and loyal voter base, the departure of “King Bibi,” as some call him, may be difficult to accept. His supporters are angered by what they see as Israel turning its back on a leader dedicated to its security and a bulwark against international pressure for any steps that could lead to a Palestinian state, even as he clinched diplomatic deals with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.None of those moves, however, nor the role he played in securing COVID-19 vaccines for Israel’s world-beating inoculation campaign, were enough to grant Netanyahu’s Likud party enough votes to secure him a sixth term in office.Bennett has drawn anger from within the right-wing camp for breaking a campaign pledge by joining forces with Lapid. He has countered that another election - a likely outcome if no government were formed - would have been a disaster for Israel.“This is a sad morning, because of the theft of votes and the fact Israel is getting a government based on one thing - a lie,” Ofir Akunis, an outgoing minister from Netanyahu’s Likud party, told Army Radio.Both Bennett and Lapid have said they want to bridge political divides and unite Israelis under a government that will work hard for all its citizens.Their cabinet faces huge foreign, security and financial challenges: Iran, a fragile ceasefire with Palestinian militants in Gaza, a war crimes probe by the International Criminal Court, and economic recovery following the pandemic.Their patchwork coalition of parties commands only a razor-thin majority in parliament, 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, and will still have to contend with Netanyahu - who is sure to be a combative head of the opposition. And no one is ruling out a Netanyahu comeback.Read more:Israel’s PM Netanyahu alleges election fraud, accuses rival of duplicityExplainer: What will change under Israel’s new government?Anti-Netanyahu protesters claim ‘victory’ on eve of Israel vote
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel’s Knesset set to vote on new government, ending PM Netanyahu’s rule

13 Jun 2021
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Hariri appears set to step down over govt obstruction

June 13, 2021

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is headed to stepping down next week in a dramatic move reflecting his frustration with the continued obstruction by President Michel Aoun and MP Gebran Bassil of his attempts to form a new government to enact reforms and avert total economic collapse, a political source said Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hariri appears set to step down over govt obstruction