Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20210127

A30 world news
Diaranson 27 Januari 2021

Lebanon surpasses record daily virus deaths amid protests

ished, for the second straight demic and restrictions im-
day demanding an end to the posed to combat it.
lockdown and questioning
the government’s manage- The country's currency has
ment of what some called a tumbled, losing over 80%
contrived health crisis. of its value. Banks have im-
posed controls on withdraw-
Protesters pelted govern- als and transfers to protect
ment offices with stones and dwindling foreign reserves.
blocked a main square. The Unemployment and infla-
army was deployed to con- tion have skyrocketed.
tain the rioters, who torched
a vehicle parked in the area, Lebanon’s ruling class has
according to Lebanon’s Na- faced rising popular anger
tional News Agency . since Lebanese took to the
streets in the largest-ever na-
Dozens also gathered in cen- tionwide protests in October
tral Beirut, blocking two ma- 2019. Demonstrators accused
jor thoroughfares in the city's them of mismanaging and
east and north. Protesters robbing the country of its
also burned tires and blocked resources and driving it into
the highway between Beirut poverty. The protests died
and the south. down in part because of the
pandemic but also because
(AP) — Lebanon hit a January to fight the virus' In the eastern Bekaa region, the political class held on to
new daily record for CO- Daily infections have soared spread have been criticized smoke and fire rose above the power and divisions emerged
VID-19 fatalities Tues- in recent weeks and hospi- by many as coming too late, highway linking the area to among the demonstrators.
day, registering 73 deaths tals have struggled with CO- particularly after the govern- the capital as dozens of pro-
as protesters took to the VID-19 patients, reporting ment relaxed previous re- testers burned tires and trash Meanwhile, the cash-
streets for a second day to near full occupancy in ICU strictions to allow for holiday canisters. strapped government wasn't
denounce strict lockdown beds. Nearly 286,000 infec- season spending from visit- prepared to provide assis-
measures put in place to tions have been recorded ing expats. Many saw the re- “The street is exploding tance for struggling busi-
curb an exhausting surge since last February. laxation as the reason for the again,” read the lead into the nesses or the unemployed. A
in infections. worsening of a surge in infec- evening news bulletin on the massive explosion last sum-
To respond to the crisis, the tions already in full swing in private LBC TV station. mer in Beirut Port killed
The health ministry said government imposed a near- December. over 200 people and injured
the number of virus-relat- ly month-long nationwide Lebanon, a country of nearly thousands, causing severe
ed deaths, which in a day lockdown, the strictest since On Tuesday, dozens of pro- 5 million and over 1 million destruction in the city and
climbed above 60 for the first the virus hit Lebanon. testers took to the streets in refugees, is going through worsening economic condi-
time, reached nearly 2,500 in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second an unprecedented economic tions.
the small country. Measures in place since mid- largest city and most impover- crisis that preceded the pan-

Israeli military chief warns of new plans to strike Iran

(AP) — Israel's military nuclear weapon. It welcomed ing ones,” he said. “We are
chief Tuesday warned the Trump administration's taking care of these plans and Tensions around Iran have Iran has also increased its
the Biden administration withdrawal from the agree- will develop them during the steadily increased. During military drills, including fir-
against rejoining the 2015 ment in 2018. coming year. Those who de- Trump’s final days as presi- ing cruise missiles as part of
Iran nuclear deal, even if cide on carrying them out, of dent, Tehran seized a South a naval drill in the Gulf of
it toughens its terms, add- Biden has said he will seek course, are the political lead- Korean oil tanker and begun Oman this month.
ing he's ordered his forces to revive the deal, with some ers. But these plans have to enriching uranium closer to
to step up preparations changes. be on the table." weapons-grade levels, while Iran has missile capability of
for possible offensive ac- the U.S. has sent B-52 bomb- up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250
tion against Iran during In his address to the Insti- Just hours before Kohavi ers, the USS Nimitz aircraft miles), far enough to reach
the coming year. tute for National Security spoke against a deal, Iran carrier and a nuclear subma- Israel and U.S. military bases
Studies, Kohavi said a re- prodded Biden to rejoin the rine into the region. in the region.
The comments by Lt. Gen. turn to the deal, even with atomic accord. “The win-
Aviv Kohavi came as Israel some improvements, "is bad dow of opportunity will not
and Iran both seek to put operationally and it is bad be open for long,” said Iran’s
pressure on President Joe strategically.” He said allow- Cabinet spokesman Ali Ra-
Biden ahead of his expected ing Iran to proceed with a biei.
announcement on his ap- nuclear program would be
proach for dealing with the “an unacceptable threat and Israeli officials, including Ko-
Iranian nuclear program. In will lead to nuclear prolifera- havi, say that Iran is in a much
Iran, leaders said they would tion across the region.” Iran weaker position than in 2015
not wait indefinitely for says its nuclear program is for after years of sanctions by the
Biden to act. peaceful purposes only. Trump administration. They
say that any new deal should
The 2015 deal put curbs on Kohavi said that given the eliminate “sunset” provisions
Iran's nuclear program in ex- threat posed by Iran, Israel's that phase out certain limits
change for the easing of crip- military would be prepared on Iran's nuclear activities,
pling economic sanctions. to attack on its own if needed. address Iran's long-range
Israel strongly opposed the missile program and its mili-
deal, saying it did not include “I instructed the army to pre- tary involvement and support
sufficient safeguards to pre- pare a number of operational for Israel's enemies across the
vent Iran from developing a plans in addition to the exist- region.