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EU agrees to stockpile equipment, drugs against chemical, nuclear incidents: Sources

The European Union has agreed to launch a stockpiling operation to boost its defenses against chemical, nuclear and biological incidents amid concerns over the conflict in Ukraine, according to EU documents and people familiar with the matter.
The stockpiling of protective gear and medicines is expected to last weeks, potentially a few months, and is meant to expand reserves available to the EU population and partner countries, including Ukraine.
The supplies will also include decontamination equipment, gloves, masks and other material for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (CBRN), two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
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The European Commission declined to comment.
Concerns about nuclear incidents in Ukraine partly prompted the move, according to the minutes of two meetings of EU health experts in March made public this week.
Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site, the largest in Ukraine, in the early stages of the invasion, which the Kremlin calls a special operation.
“Nuclear sites are operated by highly trained and qualified staff, which is difficult within the current conflict situation, especially when taken over by military forces,” EU officials said with reference to the takeover, the minutes of the March 16 meeting showed.
Russia has repeatedly raised the prospect of using nuclear weapons as it struggles to overcome Ukraine’s military during the month-old war.
Western officials have also voiced fears that Russia may use chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine, with risks of spillover effects beyond the country.
France, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, called in the internal meetings for a bloc-wide plan to distribute potassium iodide tablets, which are used to protect people exposed to nuclear radiation.
French officials in Brussels had no immediate comment.
About 20 EU states already have stockpiles of iodine pills, according to a survey conducted by the EU Commission and shared in the March 16 meeting of health experts.
Many of these national reserves predated the Ukraine crisis.
Lithuania, for instance, has distributed iodine pills since last year as a precautionary measure after the opening of the Astravets nuclear power plant in neighboring Belarus.
It extended the practice last month to ensure full coverage of the eligible population.
Sweden has had reserves of potassium iodide for decades, Jan Johansson, government expert at the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, told Reuters.
These pills are distributed to – or stocked for – people who live close to nuclear plants, and the government has decided to increase the number of eligible people, including those who live up to 100 kilometers from nuclear sites, from next summer.
Johansson said that had nothing to do with the Ukraine war.
“We assess that an accident in Ukraine cannot have any impact on Sweden that would justify taking potassium iodide tablets. The distance is just too far,” he said.

CBRN defense

The sources did not clarify which medicines the EU is planning to stockpile as CBRN defense.
Together with the United States, Russia is the only country known to have the smallpox virus, infectious disease expert Antonino Di Caro told Reuters.
“This does not mean they will use it,” Di Caro said, underlining that using viruses or bacteria as biological weapons also entails huge risks for those who deploy them.
The smallpox virus has been considered eradicated since 1980 after a global vaccination campaign. If it resurfaced, younger people would not be protected against it unless quickly vaccinated.
Di Caro said it was not clear how big the bloc’s stockpile of smallpox vaccines is.
He said the risk of an attack with toxins such as botulinum could be higher as they are easier for attackers to control.
Read more:

Russian forces leaving Chernobyl after radiation exposure

In Hiroshima, Japan PM, US envoy warn Russia over nuclear threat

Russia fueling nuclear arms race: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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