UNITED STATES: More Executive Orders
This week, President Biden has continued his efforts to repair the nation, and undo some of his predecessor’s actions.
On Jan. 25, Biden signed two executive orders; one revoked President Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and another placed a ban on travel from certain countries.
“…This is reinstating a position that previous commanders and – as well as the Secretaries have supported. And what I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform, and essentially restoring the situation as it existed before, with transgender personnel, if qualified in every other way, can serve their government in the United States military,” Biden said before signing the revocation order.
In the other order, Biden wrote: “In my Executive Order of January 21, 2021, entitled ‘Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel,’ I directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services, including through the Director of CDC, and in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation (including through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration) and the Secretary of Homeland Security (including through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration), to further examine certain current public health precautions for international travel and take additional appropriate regulatory action, to the extent feasible and consistent with CDC guidelines and applicable law.
“While that review continues, and given the determination of CDC, working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, described above, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of noncitizens of the United States (“noncitizens”) who were physically present within the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), the Republic of Ireland, the Federative Republic of Brazil, and the Republic of South Africa during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.”
In other news, Biden also signed Executive Orders for HUD to address racially discriminating housing policies, and for the Justice Department to end contracts with private prisons. Also, several Biden Cabinet nominees were approved. Anthony Blinken (Secretary of State) Janet Yellen (Secretary of the Treasury).
EUROPE: 13 Arrested in Money Scheme
Italian and Spanish authorities have seized nearly 50 properties and provisionally arrested 13 persons as the result of a Eurojust-coordinated operation against money laundering, tax evasion and corruption in Italy’s northwestern province of Cuneo and Malaga province in Spain. Eurojust supported the setting up of a joint investigation team (JIT) which led to a series of actions in both countries as of December last year.
During these actions three luxury cars as well as cash, jewelry, valuable watches and works of art were seized, with an estimated value of over EUR 1.5 million. The value of the seized properties in Italy is estimated to be at least EUR 5 million. The value of the seized properties in Spain is still pending official assessment.
The properties belong to an Italian suspect, who had moved to Spain in the late 1980s and has been convicted in both countries for various crimes, including fencing, the issuing of fake invoices, corruption, tax evasion and money laundering. For his criminal purposes, he had set up around 40 companies in Spain over the years, often with help from Italian acquaintances, who acted as managers merely on paper.
Cooperation via Eurojust and the JIT enabled good reconstruction of the full criminal record and all of the main suspect’s illegal activities, both in Italy and Spain. A new investigation into this suspect and his family in Italy that started two years ago and was led by the Guardia di Finanza revealed large-scale money laundering of millions of euros worth of profits from illegal activities in Spain. Between 2006 and 2016, approximately EUR 12 million euro had been transferred from Spanish bank accounts in his name and that of his daughter to Switzerland and back to Spain, in order to dissimulate criminal proceedings.
In Cuneo province, a luxurious real estate property and 52 plots of land have been seized, with an estimated value of EUR 5 million while in Malaga province, the properties seized totaled 47. Furthermore, over 100 bank accounts have been frozen by the Spanish judicial authorities. Eurojust organized coordination meetings to ensure seamless coordination between the Italian and Spanish authorities and a coordination center was set up in March last year to support and prepare the actions.
The operations on the ground were led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) of Asti and the Guardia di Finanza. In Spain, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Court no. 6 of the Audiencia Nacional, the Spanish Judicial Police and the Policia Nacional executed the seizures and took charge of the arrests.
AFRICA: WHO Warns Against Vaccine Hoarding
In Africa is in danger of being left behind in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines as countries in other regions strike bilateral deals, thus driving up prices, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Jan. 21.
Although vaccines have been administered in 50 wealthier nations, Guinea is the sole low-income country on the continent to receive doses, with only 25 people being inoculated so far. Meanwhile, Seychelles is the only African country to start a national vaccination campaign.
“We first, not me first, is the only way to end the pandemic. Vaccine hoarding will only prolong the ordeal and delay Africa’s recovery. It is deeply unjust that the most vulnerable Africans are forced to wait for vaccines while lower-risk groups in rich countries are made safe”, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“Health workers and vulnerable people in Africa need urgent access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.”
An international coalition known as the COVAX Facility was established to ensure all countries will have equal access to any vaccines against the new coronavirus disease. It is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and WHO.
The COVAX Facility has secured two billion doses of vaccine from five producers, with options for over one billion more. Delivery is set to begin soon, according to Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director, Country Programs at GAVI.
“This massive international undertaking has been made possible thanks to donations, work towards dose-sharing deals and deals with manufacturers that have brought us to almost two billion doses secured. We look forward to rollout in the coming weeks,” he said.
COVAX has committed to vaccinating at least 20 per cent of the population in Africa by the end of this year. Priority will be given to health workers and other vulnerable groups, such as older persons and those with pre-existing health conditions. An initial 30 million vaccine doses are expected to begin arriving in countries by March. Overall, a maximum of 600 million doses will be disbursed, based on two doses per person.
MIDDLE EAST: Suicide Bombing Condemned
Perpetrators behind twin deadly suicide bombings at a busy market in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Jan. 21 must be prosecuted, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement strongly condemning the attacks.
At least 32 people died, and more than 100 were injured, in the blasts, which were carried out that morning by two suicide bombers who detonated their vests at the market in Tayaran Square in the capital, Baghdad.
The last time that the Iraqi capital was hit in a deadly suicide attack, was two years ago, when 35 people were killed, in the same square. No group has yet claimed the attack.
The incident comes just a few days after the Iraqi Government announced that it was postponing the general election from June 6 until Oct. 10, to give authorities more time to register voters and new political parties, according to news reports.
Early elections have been a key demand of anti-government protesters who staged months of mass demonstrations beginning in October 2019.
The UN chief has expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims, and to the Government and people of Iraq, his spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General appeals to the people of Iraq to reject any attempts to spread fear and violence aimed at undermining peace, stability and unity. He calls on the Government to ensure that those behind these horrific crimes are swiftly identified and brought to justice,” it said.
