UK’s Johnson slams brakes on reopening as virus cases surge

‘Britain at perilous turning point’ Turkey says EU helping the aggressor in Libya

ANKARA, Turkey, Sept 22, (Agencies): Turkey on Tuesday accused the European Union of “rewarding the aggressor” after the 27-nation bloc slapped sanctions on three transport companies for violating the U.N. arms embargo on Libya, including the Turkish shipping firm which operates a vessel that was at the center of a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and France.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement dismissed the decision as “of no value.” It insisted the ship was providing aid to Libya’s U.N.-recognized government based in the capital, Tripoli, and accused the EU of ignoring countries and companies sending arms to the rival Libyan National Army, led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, which controls the east.

“With this attitude, the EU insists on maintaining a double-standard attitude ... which rewards the aggressor, instead of taking an attitude in favor of international legitimacy,” the ministry said.

The statement also said it is “extremely unfortunate” that the decision came as efforts are underway to reduce tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

At talks in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions on the Avrasya Shipping company, which is headquartered in Turkey, saying it was “found to have violated the arms embargo in Libya.”

The EU noted that the company operates a cargo ship called Cirkin, which “has been linked to transports of military material to Libya in May and June 2020.”

On June 10, a French frigate acting on NATO intelligence tried to inspect the Cirkin off the coast of Libya to check whether it was smuggling weapons in. But France says that Turkish naval vessels escorting the Cirkin locked onto the frigate with targeting radar. The frigate withdrew to avoid a conflict.

Ankara has denied that any action by the Turkish warships was hostile. A NATO probe into the incident was “inconclusive,” according to Turkish officials, and its findings were never made public.

France, which was working with NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian at the time and is an ally in the military organization along with Turkey, pulled the frigate out of the fleet and is now working with the EU operation policing the arms embargo on behalf of the United Nations.

Meanwhile, The European Union Foreign Affairs Council Monday discussed the latest developments in Libya following the announcements made on 21 August by the President of the Presidency Council, Fayez al-Serraj, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, on the way forward out of the Libyan crisis.

According to a council statement tonight on the results of the meeting, Ministers identified as main priorities: the reaching of a permanent and sustainable ceasefire-agreement in the framework of the UN-led process, the lifting of the oil blockade across Libya, and the resumption of the political dialogue.

Ministers also had an opportunity to touch on the results of the recently launched EU naval Operation Irini in the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya.

Furthermore, the council adopted new sanctions targeting 2 people and 3 entities undermining the peace and security of Libya, violating the arms embargo or committing human rights abuses.

The council then exchanged views on the EU relations with its African Union counterparts, and ways to step up relations with Africa in the medium and long term both from a political and an economic point of view.

Ministers agreed to develop joint strategic priorities in order to pave the way for cooperation in the next decade, and to focus on tangible results.

Under current affairs, ministers had the opportunity to be briefed on Venezuela and the results of the latest meeting of the International Contact Group.

Ministers agreed that the international community needed to mobilise all efforts to help Venezuelans find a peaceful and democratic solution to the ongoing crisis, and to address the urgent needs of the population.

Concerning Russia, EU High Representative Josep Borrell touched on the poisoning of opposition leader Navalny and the need to have an urgent international investigation in full transparency and cooperation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Ministers acknowledged the difficult situation in Lebanon and stressed their solidarity with the people, highlighting the need for a speedy formation a new government.

On China, ministers were briefed by the High Representative on the EUChina Leaders’ videoconference of 14 September, with a focus on the state of play in negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement on Investments and the situation on human rights.

On Turkey, ministers briefly touched on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean ahead of the forthcoming European Council. While they acknowledged some recent positive steps, they called on Turkey to take further steps to de-escalate.

The council had an exchange of views on Belarus, during which it reiterated that the EU does not recognise the outcome of the August elections, as they were neither free nor fair.

LONDON, Sept 22, (AP): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has slammed the brakes on the country’s return to offices, saying people should work from home if possible, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Johnson on Tuesday announced a package of new restrictions, including a requirement for pubs, restaurants and other venues in England to close between 10 pm and 5 am.

He said Britain was at a “perilous turning point” and had to act now.

People will have to wear face-coverings in taxis, as well as public transport. The size of gatherings is being curtailed, with weddings limited to 15 people instead of 30. A plan to bring spectators back to sports stadiums starting in October is being put on hold.

The British government is also increasing the penalties for breaking the rules.

The announcement comes a day after the British government’s top scientific and medical advisers said coronavirus infections were doubling every seven days and could rise to 49,000 a day by mid-October if nothing is done to stem the tide.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to announce new restrictions on social interactions Tuesday as the government tries to slow the spread of COVID-19 before it spirals out of control.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky News that pubs and restaurants across England will be ordered to close at 10 pm and people who can work from home will be encouraged to do so, reversing a government drive to get people back to their offices and other places of employment.

Gove said reducing “social mixing” was key to slowing the spread of the virus. He said it was impossible to say how long the restrictions would be in place.

“What we hope is we can take appropriate steps now, which mean that if we succeed in beating back the virus, then we will in the future be able to progressively relax them,” Gove told the BBC. “But what I can’t do is predict with absolute certainty.”

The prime minister is set to release further details when he speaks to the House of Commons at around 12:30 pm (1130 GMT) after meeting the Cabinet and the government’s COBRA emergency committee. He will later deliver a televised address to the nation.

Plans to have spectators return to sports stadiums are also likely to be put on hold as part of the new restrictions.

The news comes a day after the British government’s top scientific and medical advisers said coronavirus infections were doubling every seven days and could rise to 49,000 a day by mid-October if nothing is done to stem the tide. On Monday, the government reported 4,300 new confirmed cases, the highest number since May.

The UK has gradually been increasing restrictions as cases rise, including barring people from meeting in large groups. But the measures are likely to be far less stringent than a nationwide lockdown imposed in March that confined most of the population and closed most businesses. The lockdown was eased starting in June as cases began to fall, but that trend has now been reversed.

Some lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party are uneasy about the move to tighten restrictions on business and daily life, citing the impact on an already-reeling economy and the curbing of civil liberties.

Employers and workers in hospitality businesses are also concerned.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality said the planned restrictions were “another crushing blow” for many businesses.

But most epidemiologists believe restrictions are again necessary and worry that what the government plans to announce may not go far enough.

Polls suggest a majority of people in Britain support lockdown measures to contain the virus. But they also show that trust in the government’s handling of the pandemic has declined after troubles with testing, mixed messages on reopening and the UK’s high death toll.

Jennifer Cole, a biological anthropologist at Royal Holloway University, said people’s behavior was “the biggest influence” on the spread of the virus.

“Most people know how to prevent spread and, most importantly, how to prevent spread around older or more vulnerable friends and relatives,” she said.

“In essence, the government is saying, ‘Stay sober, stay sensible and the venues can stay open.’ It’s a carrot to encourage responsible behavior.”

The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Monday raised the UK’s virus alert from three to four, the secondhighest level, on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Center.

They said cases of COVID-19 were rising “rapidly and probably exponentially.”

In a live televised briefing, Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said after new confirmed cases increasing slowly over the summer, the number is now doubling every seven days.

In other countries, such an increase has soon led to a rise in deaths, Whitty said.

Whitty stressed that infection rates are rising among all age groups, and infections among the young and healthy will inevitably spread to friends, family and ultimately to the most vulnerable in society.

“This is not someone else’s problem,” he said. “This is all of our problem.’’

While death rates remain relatively low so far, Whitty warned that deaths are likely to rise. The UK reported a seven-day average of 21 deaths a day last week, compared with a peak of 942 deaths on April 10.

To persuade people to stay home if they test positive, the government announced it would pay low-income workers 500 pounds ($639) if they are told to self-isolate for 14 days. It also said those breaking quarantines could face fines up to 10,000 pounds ($12,800).

Britain has Europe’s highest death toll in the pandemic, with over 41,800 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say all such figures understate the true impact of the pandemic.