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A30 world news
Diaranson 18 november 2020

Putin touts Russian virus vaccines at BRICS summit

(AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin Russia came under a wave of international criticism The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which bank-
told BRICS leaders Tuesday that coronavirus for giving Sputnik V regulatory approval in August, rolled the development of Sputnik V, has agree-
vaccines developed in Russia “work effective- since the shots have yet to complete advanced stud- ments with India and Brazil to conduct trials of the
ly and safely” and urged the group of emerg- ies among tens of thousands of people necessary jab, and with pharmaceutical companies in India
ing economy nations to “join forces” for the to establish the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. and China to produce it, Putin said.
mass production of the shots. However, two months later, Russian authorities
approved another jab after early stage studies. “I think this is very important,” the Russian presi-
Putin’s remarks come after early results of large dent added.
studies of several experimental COVID-19 vac- Addressing the leaders of Brazil, India, China and Other BRICS leaders also spoke about cooperation
cines, including a Russian one, were announced. South Africa at an online summit Tuesday, Putin on the vaccine front. Indian Prime Minister Na-
The BRICS grouping is made up of Brazil, Russia, stressed that “coordinating collective BRICS mea- rendra Modi said that India's vaccine production
India, China and South Africa. sures” to tackle the pandemic is the alliance's prior- capacities will be important "for the interests of
ity. He also said Russia was ready to cooperate with humanity," and Chinese President Xi Jinping said
Moderna Inc. said Monday its vaccine appears to its BRICS partners “in the manufacturing and use” Beijing “will actively consider" providing its vac-
be 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data of the Russian-made vaccines. cine to BRICS countries "if there is need.”
from an ongoing study. Last week, Pfizer Inc. said
its own vaccine looked 90% effective. “There are Russian vaccines — they work effec- In a declaration issued at the summit, the BRICS
Two days after the Pfizer announcement, devel- tively and safely," Putin said. “It is very important nations said they recognized “the role of extensive
opers of the Russian-made vaccine Sputnik V said to join forces for the mass production of these immunization against COVID-19 in preventing,
early data from a large trial suggested the shots were products for wide circulation." containing and stopping transmission in order to
92% effective. However, the conclusion was based The president noted that two different vaccines bring the pandemic to an end” and vowed they
on a much lower number of infections recorded have been approved in Russia, and a third one was would “work to ensure” that when a vaccine be-
during the trial — 20 compared to 94 in Pfizer's “in the works.” comes available, “it is disseminated in a fair, equi-
case and 95 in the study of Moderna's vaccine. table and affordable basis.”

Thai protesters, police clash as MPs mull charter change

(AP) — Pro-democracy during a brawl between the called a halt and sent follow- vor a pro-military party. The A protest leader, Parit “Pen-
protesters in Thailand pro-democracy protesters ers home. It was the worst protesters also say the consti- guin” Chiwarak, announced
battled police who sought and stone-throwing royalists violence during months of tution, written and enacted at about 8 p.m. that the
to keep them from enter- who oppose constitutional actions by the protesters, under military rule, is un- demonstrators had captured
ing the grounds of Parlia- change. though police had previous- democratic. enough ground to declare
ment on Tuesday to press ly employed water cannons they had achieved their goal
for constitutional chang- Police used tear gas and water at least twice. The protest Reform of the monarchy is of surrounding Parliament.
es as lawmakers debated cannons laced with irritating movement has been stag- a key demand of the protest Some lawmakers had already
whether to back proposed chemicals against the stu- ing increasingly determined movement, which believes left the scene by boat from a
amendments. dent-led demonstrators, who mass rallies of thousands of the royal institution is too pier behind Parliament.
tried to push their way past people around the country. powerful and lacks account- Parit announced another ral-
About 40 people were in- barbed-wire barriers to enter ability. The unprecedented ly on Wednesday afternoon at
jured, including five who the grounds of the legislature Lawmakers are scheduled to demand has touched a raw the busy Rajprasong intersec-
were shot, according to on the outskirts of Bangkok. vote on seven proposed con- nerve in Thailand, where tion in the heart of Bangkok’s
emergency services. It was stitutional amendments dur- reverence for the royal in- main shopping district.
unclear who fired the shots The chaotic street confronta- ing a two-day joint session stitution is inculcated from
and whether they were live tions began at mid-afternoon of the elected House and birth and protected by a law Parliament is not expected
rounds or rubber bullets. and ended about six hours appointed Senate. Constitu- that makes defaming the to agree on specific constitu-
Some of the injuries occurred later, when protest leaders tional changes require a joint monarch and his immediate tional changes at this point.
vote of both bodies. Any mo- family punishable by up to 15 The protesters back a propos-
tions that are passed will have years in prison. al that would roll back aspects
to go through second and of the current 2017 constitu-
third votes at least a month tion — enacted during mili-
after this week’s balloting. Tuesday's violence grew as tary rule — that granted extra
about 1,000 protesters were powers to unelected branch-
Lawmakers adjourned a pre- pushed back by police wa- es of government, such as the
vious session without voting ter cannons as they tried to Senate.
on proposed amendments, breach barriers set up on
leading the protesters to ac- several streets to keep them Instead, Parliament is likely
cuse the government of bad from entering the Parliament to establish a drafting com-
faith. compound. mittee to write a new charter.
The parliamentary session is This would allow the gov-
an effort by the government Police also fired fired tear ernment to say it is willing to
of Prime Minister Prayuth gas canisters, some of which meet the protesters’ demands
Chan-ocha to take the initia- were tossed back by demon- at least halfway, while buying
tive away from the pro-de- strators, many of whom wore time with a process that could
mocracy movement, which helmets and other protective extend over many months.
in addition to seeking consti- gear. Any change to sections of the
tutional changes and reforms constitution concerning the
to the monarchy wants Pra- The Erawan emergency monarchy is fiercely opposed
yuth and his government to medical services group said by the government and its
step down. 41 people were injured, in- supporters, who consider the
cluding five who were shot in monarchy untouchable.
The protesters say that Pra- the leg, stomach or wrist. No
yuth, who as army chief in further details were available. Thailand has had 20 consti-
2014 led a coup that ousted Police later denied firing any tutions since abolishing the
an elected government, re- guns and said they had com- absolute monarchy in 1932
turned to power unfairly in plied with laws and interna- in favor of a constitutional
last year’s election because tional standards. monarchy.
laws had been changed to fa-