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Selasa, 24 November 2020

Biden says US 'ready to lead' again, vows to work with allies - CNA

WILMINGTON, Delaware: President-elect Joe Biden said on Tuesday (Nov 24) the United States will be "ready to lead" again on the global stage, turning the page on President Donald Trump's unilateralist policies as he pledged to work together with America's allies.

Introducing his new foreign policy and national security team, the Democratic former vice president signalled he intends after taking office on Jan 20 to steer the United States away from the "America First" nationalism pursued by Trump.

The Republican incumbent has unsettled many US allies, in Europe and elsewhere, with an antagonistic approach toward the NATO alliance and trade relations, abandonment of international agreements and warm relationships with authoritarian leaders.

Biden said his team, which includes trusted aide Antony Blinken as his nominee for US secretary of state, would shed what the president-elect described as "old thinking and unchanged habits" in its approach to foreign relations.

"It's a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready to lead the world, not retreat from it, once again sit at the head of the table, ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies, ready to stand up for our values," Biden said at the event in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

The world is much changed since Democrats were last in the White House four years ago. China is on the rise and emboldened, Russia has sought to further assert its clout, US influence has waned as it has pulled out of various accords, and American moral authority has been dented by turmoil at home.

Biden also has tapped Jake Sullivan as national security adviser, Linda Thomas-Greenfield as US ambassador to the United Nations, Alejandro Mayorkas as secretary of homeland security and John Kerry as envoy on climate-related issues. They appeared with Biden and underscored his message.

US foreign policy under a Biden administration is likely to take more of a multilateral and diplomatic approach aimed at repairing Washington's relationships with key US allies and pursue new paths on issues such as climate change.

Biden said he has been struck in calls with roughly 20 world leaders "by how much they're looking forward to the United States reasserting its historic role as a global leader".

His promise to embrace alliances, including in the Asia-Pacific region, follows a deterioration in bilateral ties between the United States and China, the world's top two economies, that has triggered comparisons to the Cold War.

READ: Biden certified as winner of Pennsylvania presidential vote

This final year of Trump's administration was marked by frequent China-bashing as the two powers sparred over China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, deteriorating freedoms in Hong Kong and territorial issues in the South China Sea.

While China is unlikely to find a soft alternative to Trump with Biden, diplomats and analysts expect a more measured tone and intensified efforts to strengthen alliances to counter Beijing.

In his remarks, Biden said that working with allies would help keep America safe without engaging in "needless military conflicts." He did not reference the country's longest war - the Afghanistan conflict - as Trump moves to reduce US forces.

TRANSITION MOVES FORWARD

Biden has moved swiftly to assemble his team and make Cabinet choices after defeating Trump in the Nov 3 election. Trump has waged a flailing legal battle to try to overturn the results, falsely claiming the election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud.

Biden urged the Senate to give his nominees who require confirmation by the chamber "a prompt hearing" and expressed hope he could work with Republicans "in good faith to move forward for the country."

"Let's begin that work ... to heal and unite America as well as the world," Biden added.

Some Republican senators, however, indicated they may be prepared to stand in the way of his Cabinet appointments. Marco Rubio, a Foreign Relations Committee member, wrote on Twitter that Biden's Cabinet picks "will be polite & orderly caretakers of America's decline."

READ: Biden win over Trump in Nevada made official by court

Trump has said he will never concede the election but after weeks of limbo his administration on Monday finally gave the green light for the formal transfer of power to begin. That process had been held up despite Biden emerging as the clear winner and world leaders recognizing him as the next president.

In another sign that Trump had all but accepted his election loss, the White House gave the go-ahead for Biden to start receiving the president's daily intelligence briefing.

Critics have said Trump's refusal to accept the results undercut the incoming administration's ability to combat the intensifying pandemic that has killed about 259,000 Americans and left millions more without jobs.

Pennsylvania became the latest pivotal state on Tuesday to certify that Biden had won. The Nevada Supreme Court on Tuesday also confirmed Biden had won the state, sending the results to Nevada's Democratic governor for final certification.

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2020-11-24 21:39:44Z
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Russia's two-shot Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to cost less than US$20 per person - CNA

MOSCOW: Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will cost less than US$20 per person on international markets and Moscow aims to produce more than a billion doses at home and abroad next year, its backers and developers said on Tuesday (Nov 24).

The Sputnik vaccine is administered in two shots, each of which will cost less than US$10 each, according to the official Sputnik V Twitter account. For Russian citizens, vaccination will be free of charge.

The pricing announcement comes as Russia looks to scale up distribution and production. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund, said Moscow and its foreign partners had capacity to make more than a billion doses starting from next year, enough to vaccinate over 500 million people.

READ: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine deliveries could start 'before Christmas'

READ: Moderna to charge US$25 to US$37 for COVID-19 vaccine

The international market price for Sputnik V unveiled on Tuesday is cheaper than some other Western rivals such as a vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, which costs €15.50 (US$18) per shot, but more expensive that a vaccine produced by AstraZeneca which will be sold in Europe for around €2.50 (US$3) per shot.

Dmitriev told Reuters that Moscow had deliberately tried to get the price down to make it available to as many people around the world as possible.

READ: AstraZeneca and Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine shows 'an average efficacy of 70%' in trials

RDIF said in a statement: "Sputnik V will be two or more times cheaper than mRNA vaccines with similar efficacy levels."

It said it was basing its assessment on mRNA vaccines where pricing had already been announced and interim phase three clinical trials were underway.

READ: Russia applies for WHO emergency use tag for its COVID-19 vaccine

RDIF and the Gamaleya National Center said earlier on Tuesday that new clinical trial data based on 39 confirmed cases and 18,794 patients who got both shots had shown that Sputnik V was 91.4 per cent effective on day 28 and over 95 per cent effective on day 42.

Moscow has been criticised by some scientists in the West who have accused it of cutting corners in an effort to try to rush out the vaccine.

Russia has denied that, alleging a Western dirty tricks campaign to put people off its vaccine in what it believes has become a battle for legitimacy and market share.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

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2020-11-24 11:28:06Z
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Hong Kong to shut premises, order more to go for Covid-19 testing - The Straits Times

HONG KONG - In a move to contain the pandemic that “has taken a rather sudden downturn”, the government is again forcing the closure of some businesses deemed risky, amid new orders for people linked to a ballooning dance cluster to take mandatory Covid-19 tests.

From Thursday (Nov 26) to Dec 2, bars, pubs, nightclubs, bathhouses and party rooms must be shut.

All banquets will have no more than 10 tables although each table can still have up to four patrons, which is what is now allowed in eateries.

Health authorities said group gatherings in hotels and guest houses will be restricted. For instance, the number of guests in a room has to be capped and there must be proper segregation of quarantine and non-quarantine rooms.

Appealing to the public to reduce dining out and avoid gatherings, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said the “situation is dire” with the source of infections unknown for many cases in recent days, and a third of the new patients asymptomatic.

This is the third time bars and pubs have been forced to shutter since the pandemic began. The first time was in April and later in July to September.

The updated measures are on top of existing restrictions such as no more than four in a public gathering or a table in an eatery. Masks are to be worn and restaurants are to cap operating capacity at 50 per cent.

Hours earlier, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the cluster outbreak is worrying and the government would move to close indoor premises.

“Most of them involve activities where you would take your mask off and there is also (a) crowd gathering, and in the crowd gathering activities, there will be some personal contact, and these activities are for leisure only.

“We think that in view of the situation, these premises will have to be closed,” Mrs Lam said.

The tightening of measures comes as the current dance studio cluster expands to 187 patients – what worried officials say is the largest outbreak since the pandemic swept the city.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded 80 new confirmed cases, of which 69 were local and 54 linked to the dance cluster. This brings the total tally to more than 5,780, including 108 deaths.

The government on Tuesday issued a notice to say that seven more venues across the city in Mei Foo, Aberdeen, Sha Tin and Tsim Sha Tsui were added to an initial list of 14 dance studios at the heart of the latest outbreak.

Visitors to the seven studios were given until Thursday (Nov 26) to get tested, while those who visited the 14 dance clubs were given till the end of Tuesday to submit samples for testing.

This is to be done as the government continues to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant venues and confirm if they had complied with the testing notice.

Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice can be fined a fixed HK$2,000 ($347). The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order and another failure to do so could mean a fine of HK$25,000 and six months’ jail.

Separately, the chief executive said there are 200 new initiatives proposed this year in her fourth policy address to be delivered on Wednesday.

“Because of the tight financial situation of the government – we’ve had the budget and three rounds of anti-epidemic funds – we’ve already used HK$310 billion ($53.8 billion).

That may be the deficit of the government this year.

“We would like to make sure of reforms, streamlining synergy to implement these new initiatives without using additional monetary resources,” Mrs Lam said.

Some 700 initiatives were proposed the past three years, with 95 per cent completed or in progress, she noted, adding that the remaining 5 per cent will be moved along as Parliament picks up speed.

Singapore's Home Team agencies on 'heightened alert' after terrorist attacks in Europe - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s security agencies have been on heightened alert since early September following terrorist attacks in Europe and in other parts of the world, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (Nov 24).

As part of the "heightened security posture", investigations into 37 people have been initiated by the Internal Security Department (ISD), including some involving the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

"While a handful of these individuals had commented on the same discussion threads on social media, the majority of the cases are not connected to each other," said the ministry in a press release.

There is no indication that any of them were planning attacks or protests in Singapore, it added.

READ: 26-year-old Bangladeshi arrested under ISA following investigations into 'terrorism-related activities'

"Since the republication of caricatures depicting Prophet Muhammad by French magazine Charlie Hebdo on Sep 1, there has been a spate of terrorist attacks in France," noted MHA.

The attacks include the beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown his class two of the cartoons.

Attacks such as those in Saudi Arabia and Austria also signal a threat against French or Western interests, the ministry said. A "palpable anti-France climate" has developed in several countries, with large protests, calls for boycotts and an increase in terrorist rhetoric online.

"In view of the deteriorating security situation, the Home Team has been on heightened security alert since early September and had also stepped up its security measures to pre-empt copycat attacks in Singapore," MHA said.

16 FOREIGNERS REPATRIATED

The 37 Singaporeans and foreigners who were investigated “attracted security attention for suspected radical inclinations, or for making comments which incite violence, or stoked communal unrest", said the ministry.

"In particular, these individuals … supported the beheading of Samuel Paty, and subsequent attacks in France and elsewhere, or incited violence against France or French President Emmanuel Macron in retaliation for the French government's defence of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. A few had made derogatory remarks against Muslims."

Fourteen of them are Singaporeans – 10 men and four women, aged between 19 and 62.

"Most of them had, in response to the recent terror attacks in France, made social media postings which incited violence or stoked communal unrest," said MHA. Investigations into these individuals are ongoing.

Of the 23 foreigners, 16 have been repatriated after ISD completed its investigations. The remaining seven foreigners are still under investigation.

Among them was a Malaysian who intended to travel to Syria or Palestine to join in armed violence. The other 15 are Bangladeshis, most of whom were working in the construction industry, and made social media postings which incited violence or stoked community unrest in response to the terror attacks in France.

One of the 15 Bangladeshis was 26-year-old Ahmed Faysal, who was arrested under the Internal Security Act following investigations into "terrorism-related activities". MHA said Faysal is not linked to the incidents in France.

In pictures: How the elite Special Operations Command train to deal with threats

READ: Maid in Singapore supported Islamic State and Indonesian affiliate, jailed for financing terrorism

The SPF and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have enhanced their security measures and patrols and the ISD has ramped up counter-terrorism investigations.

"These recent developments in Europe and in Singapore remind us that the threat of terrorism is still alive, notwithstanding the military defeat of ISIS and the dismantling of its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq," said MHA. "The Home Team remains vigilant and will not hesitate to take firm action against any individual who advocates violence."

THE CHANGING THREAT OF TERRORISM

Speaking at the 16th Religious Rehabilitation Group Seminar held at Khadijah Mosque on Tuesday, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the "shape and nature" of the terrorism threat has changed since last year.

While the Islamic State has lost much of its physical territory in several countries and had key leaders killed, they are now a covert network, noted Mr Shanmugam.

"Its propaganda on social media continues to radicalise and inspire attacks around the world, including here in Southeast Asia," he said. Counter-terrorism efforts in the region have reduced the number of attacks, but the terrorists are adapting, he added.

Following the killing of Mr Paty, French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right in France to publish caricatures depicting Prophet Muhammad.

READ: France's Macron to Muslims: I hear your anger, but won't accept violence

READ: More arrests as French Catholics pray in shadow of Nice attack

"That speech then got a very strong counter-reaction from Muslims around the world, and some describe the actions of France as Islamophobic," said Mr Shanmugam. "Jihadists have jumped on it, they have called on followers to attack French interests and to attack anyone who insults Islam and the way they define as insulting Islam.

"We all know jihadists don't represent Islam, you have people like that in every religion who will resort to violence. So it's not a problem with any particular religion, but you will always have people like this. It's a question of how do they deal with them."

A DIFFERENT APPROACH

While both Singapore and France are secular and guarantee freedom of religion, Singapore achieves this differently, said Mr Shanmugam.

"France says that they prefer to achieve it by taking a hands-off approach, we are interventionists, we intervene. We take the position that the right to speak freely ... goes with the duty to act responsibly," he said.

"Free speech for us stops at the boundary of giving offence to religion. There is a fence, that fence protects religious sensitivities. The Charlie Hebdo cartoonists, if they were here, they would have been told to stop. If they didn't stop, ISD would visit them and they would be arrested," Mr Shanmugam added.

"We believe that we can build a multi-religious, multi-racial society based on trust. And only by taking a firm stance against hate speech and dealing with all communities equally and fairly. "

Speaking to the media after his speech, Mr Shamugam said the Government maintains secularity in a number of ways. This includes making sure policies are neutral and fair to all, while protecting all religions and guaranteeing freedom of religion.

"We intervene (to) try and support religious harmony. But working with the different religious groups, institutions, supporting them, working with them, trying to bring them all together ... it's work in progress, so far I think it's been a positive experience."

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2020-11-24 08:26:15Z
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Senin, 23 November 2020

Trump finally gives his administration green light to proceed with Biden transition - The Straits Times

WASHINGTON (AFP, REUTERS) - After weeks of defiance, President Donald Trump on Monday (Nov 23) allowed officials to proceed with a transition to President-elect Joe Biden, giving his Democratic rival access to briefings and funding even as he vowed to persist with efforts to fight the election results.

Mr Trump said he no longer opposes government aid for Mr Joe Biden's transition team in his closest statement yet to finally conceding he lost the US election.

Mr Trump's tweet that the General Services Administration (GSA) should "do what needs to be done" came after the agency's head Emily Murphy said she was releasing the long-delayed assistance.

The GSA, an independent federal agency that must sign off on presidential transitions, informed Mr Biden, a Democrat, that he could formally begin the hand-over process.

GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter that Mr Biden would now have access to resources that had been denied to him because of the legal challenges seeking to overturn his win.

Mr Trump's announcement came shortly after Michigan officials certified Mr Biden as the victor in their state, making Mr Trump’s legal efforts to change the election outcome even more unlikely to succeed.

Mr Trump and his advisers said he would continue to pursue legal avenues, but his tweet served as a sign that even the White House understood it was getting close to time to move on.

"Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good ... fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same," Mr Trump said in a tweet.

A Trump adviser painted the move as similar to both candidates getting briefed during the campaign, and said the president’s tweet was not a concession.

...fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020

Mr Trump has spent the last three weeks since the Nov 3 election claiming without any evidence that Biden's convincing victory was the result of fraud.

Ms Murphy, who denies acting under political pressure, has refused until now to release the standard package of aid that her agency manages to Mr Biden's incoming team.

A statement by the Biden transition said meetings would begin with federal officials on Washington’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, along with discussions of national security issues.

Two Trump administration officials told Reuters the Biden agency review teams could begin interacting with Mr Trump agency officials as soon as Tuesday.

The move by the GSA means Mr Biden’s team will now have federal funds and an official office to conduct his transition over the next two months.

It also paves the way for Mr Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris to receive regular national security briefings that Mr Trump also gets.

The decision frees up millions of dollars in financing to support the transition, as well as formally allows Mr Biden to coordinate with current government officials.

Ms Murphy, who had faced harsh criticism over her previous refusal to act, said in her letter to Mr Biden obtained by various US news outlets that "contrary to media reports and insinuations, my decision was not made out of fear or favouritism."

The step by her GSA is usually a routine one following a US presidential election, but Mr Trump’s continuing efforts to overturn the results of the vote and refusal to concede have complicated the process.

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2020-11-24 01:17:17Z
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Trump authorises US agency to formally begin Biden transition - CNA

WASHINGTON: After weeks of defiance, President Donald Trump on Monday (Nov 23) allowed officials to proceed with a transition to President-elect Joe Biden, giving his Democratic rival access to briefings and funding even as he vowed to persist with efforts to fight the election results.

Trump, a Republican, has alleged widespread voter fraud in the Nov 3 election without providing evidence. Although he has not acknowledged Biden's victory, his announcement on Monday was the closest he has come to admitting defeat.

The General Services Administration, which is the federal agency that must sign off on presidential transitions, told Biden on Monday that he could formally begin the handover process. GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter that Biden would now have access to resources that had been denied to him because of the legal challenges seeking to overturn his win.

READ: Biden names team to steer US foreign policy, Michigan certifies Biden victory

That announcement came shortly after Michigan officials certified Biden as the victor in their state, making Trump's legal efforts to change the election outcome even more unlikely to succeed.

Trump and his advisers said he would continue to pursue legal avenues, but his tweet served as a sign that even the White House understood it was getting close to time to move on.

A Trump adviser painted the move as similar to both candidates getting briefed during the campaign, and said the president's tweet was not a concession.

A statement by the Biden transition said meetings would begin with federal officials on Washington's response to the coronavirus pandemic, along with discussions of national security issues.

READ: Biden names former state secretary John Kerry as climate envoy

READ: Biden to choose ex-Fed chair Yellen as first woman Treasury secretary, allies say

The move by the GSA means Biden's team will now have federal funds and an official office to conduct his transition until he takes office on Jan 20. It also paves the way for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to receive regular national security briefings that Trump also gets.

Two Trump administration officials told Reuters the Biden agency review teams could begin interacting with Trump agency officials as soon as Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, Biden named the top members of his foreign policy team, tapping trusted aide Antony Blinken to head the State Department and former US senator, secretary of state and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry to serve as his special climate envoy.

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2020-11-24 00:04:09Z
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Biden to get his delayed presidential transition aid: Trump - The Straits Times

WASHINGTON (AFP, REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump said Monday (Nov 23) he no longer opposes government aid for Mr Joe Biden's transition team in his closest statement yet to finally conceding he lost the US election.

Mr Trump's tweet that the General Services Administration (GSA) should "do what needs to be done" came after the agency's head Emily Murphy said she was releasing the long-delayed assistance.

The GSA, an independent agency, informed Mr Biden, a Democrat, that his transition - leading up to a Jan 20 inauguration – could officially begin.

The move by the GSA means Mr Biden’s team will now have federal funds and an official office to conduct his transition over the next two months.

It also paves the way for Mr Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris to receive regular national security briefings that Mr Trump also gets.

Mr Trump has spent the last three weeks since the Nov 3 election claiming without any evidence that Biden's convincing victory was the result of fraud.

Ms Murphy, who denies acting under political pressure, has refused until now to release the standard package of aid that her agency manages to Mr Biden's incoming team.

Mr Biden’s team welcomed the decision, saying in a statement it will provide the incoming administration "with the resources and support necessary to carry out a smooth and peaceful transfer of power."

"Today’s decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track. This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies."

...fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020

The decision frees up millions of dollars in financing to support the transition, as well as formally allows Mr Biden to coordinate with current government officials.

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Selasa, 24 November 2020

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Senin, 23 November 2020