Took place in the saudi city of neon fossett has more from armada. There is a presumption that the Israeli Government has wanted this to be leaked and weve heard from ministers as well. The Education Minister saying that despite the semi official nature of its coming out, it was a great day for israel, essentially confirming that it had happened, as well as the Coalition Partner and erstwhile rival and potentially imminently future electoral rival of benjamin netanyahu. Benny gantz, the defense minister, he was chiding as a new no for allowing this to be leaked in this way. And israels cabinet has approved a mutual the say exemption agreement with the United Arab Emirates ministers ratify the treaty which was signed in tel aviv last month. Prime minister netanyahu says he hopes the development will strengthen, economic ties with the u. A. E. ,. The emirate is normalize relations with israel in august, u. S. , president elect joe biden, is set to make appointments in the coming days. His longtime adviser, anthony blinken, is expected to be named secretary of state. Want Jake Sullivan is being lined up as National Security advisor. Both served in the abomb administration. The leader of ethiopias tikrit Peoples Liberation front is denying that Government Troops have surrounded the city of mckelway. The government says its military is within 50 kilometers of the city. A spokesman says, forces a fired rockets at the city of daraa here by a dob, but didnt cause any damage. And libyas rival parliament are due to meet in morocco for reunification talks in a separate event. A 2nd round of you know, United Nations led talks have resumed in a virtual format. It comes after the warring sides held their 1st round of meetings last week in tunisia. Those are the headlines coming up next. Its talk to aljazeera, stay with us. Dissecting the headlines in the midst of a pandemic. Lets start with some of the on the ground realities affecting the news coverage. Whats the lay of the land . There are challenging assumptions and the official line on out is they are going to see more than 55000000. People have contracted cope with 1000 globally. More than 1300000 have done and as infection rates surged, governments are imposing measures hoping to buy time until a vaccine is approved for use. A number of vaccine candidates are now in the works in europe. A few days after our contract with bio tech, and im happy to announce a new agreement. If the tech scene has proven safe and effective against covered 98. 00, every member state will receive the vaccine at the same time on a curve a top basis. And under the same conditions, european governments are particularly worried about the alarming rise in infections. The 5 countries, theyre reporting most cases are france, spain, united kingdom, and italy. The European Center for disease prevention and control is an agency with a mandate to strengthen europes defenses against Infectious Diseases. But there are many who question its purpose. Critics say the agency has not been effective in dealing with this crisis. And without any executive powers, its recommendations are not legally binding. So, how will the agency convince its Member States for a more unified approach to the covert . 1000 pandemic, the director of the European Center for disease prevention and control dr. Andrea, im on talks to al jazeera head of the European Center for Disease Control and prevention. Dr. Andrea on. Thank you for talking to aljazeera. Hello, dr. Im on. What exactly is the e. C. C. s role when it comes to containment . And when it comes to controlling the coronavirus pandemic. So our principal mandate is assessing risk, identifying in them, and also communicating our, our analysis and assessments. So our role is basically assessing risk it providing options for the Member States to respond to dr. On mon is europe seeing a 2nd wave of coronavirus right now, or is just, is this just a continuation of the 1st wave that was paused during the lock downs that happened in spring . Well, this is a philosophical argument. People are having. The fact is that we are seeing now since 4 months, an increase in case notifications after the rigorous measures in march and april have reduced the case numbers by 80 percent during summer. So the virus will never go on. We always had cases. What are the factors that have led to europe being in the state that its in right now when it comes to the corona virus . The measures that have been introduced in march and april were very strict. And after a day have been eased, i believe there were a bit of people were a bit too all happy and into the asdic in meeting again. And then virus took the opportunity and the cases started to appear again. Doctor, im on the European Commission has been pushing for a more unified approach to combating the pandemic. What would you like to see happen for asked what is currently making it most most difficult to compare. The situation between the countries is that different approaches to testing, for instance, and old though we have rolled out parts of coles as to the approach to testing in the countries. Countries have the responsibility to choose their ways themselves out of the options that we provide and the so countries have chosen different paths leading to the friend denominators, from which the, the figures that we are comparing come from. And that would be in our. 2 opinion the something where we would see a progress if countries school agreed to a common approach. Do you believe that a more vigorous test and trace system will be put in place to try and control the coronavirus Going Forward . Since so many months, countries in youll have actually beefed up their testing capacities and the Contact Tracing capacities. And we said that this is an element that has to be put in place all the time regardless how many other measures are present. Because that is one of the baby seeks that allows you to see and get a good overview of the situation, but also to evaluate whether the measures that are put in place or eased whether they have an effect with much of the e. U. Now in lockdown again, lockdown, fatigue is once again setting in. Do lockdowns actually work . I mean, if other measures arent in place, wont infection rates just rise again once the lock downs are over . I mean the, what we have seen in march and april was actually a very, very good effect of the package of measures that have been put in place. The infectious case, not if occasions have decreased by 80 percent after these measures were put in place. Now, besides to good effect on the case numbers, these measures, of course, have also an effect on the economy and on society. So it was now the aim for off Health Authorities to find ways how to balance the 2. So keeping the case numbers at bay, but still allowing some life in society and the economy, not tramon. What is the position of the c. D. C. When it comes to the issue of School Closures . We have said very clearly that although not everything is known yet about the role of children in transmission, it seems that they are not a major driver of infection. So we said that if a certain measures are put in place in school, in schools, that it is very important that the children get actually educated and go to schools. So we consider that the advantages outweigh the risks when certain measures are put in place. Brussels is going to sign a deal to secure up to 300000000. 00 doses of pfizer and by on tax experimental coronavirus fact seen this is a vaccine that has shown thus far promising results. When is the soonest that you think this vaccine could start appearing in parts of europe . When do you think vaccinations could take place and how will it be distributed . This is very, very difficult to say that trials are for some of the make scenes indefinite status, but still not concluded. And its very difficult to say when the big scenes will be available regarding that this to fusion, its very clear that the, at the beginning amount of doses will be limited. And to so that prioritization prioritized groups in the population have to be defined. And that is what we are working right now on with technical advisory committees in the countries. Dr. Mona will a vaccine that prevents covert 19 be able to stop the spread of the virus. That this one of the elements that is important for a bike scene that it prevents getting infected and infecting someone else. But it is also a question how effective to make scene is meaning which percent each of the ones that are actually vaccinated are also protected. And these are figures that we dont know yet. There is a lot of vaccine hesitancy. There is a lot of anti Vaccine Sentiment in the world right now in parts of europe. What are the challenges that lie ahead for you and that you c. D. C. In ensuring that you can educate the public in europe that a vaccine would be safe . One thing that we know from the surveys is that there are 2 factors that are most concerning for, for the population, and that is the safety of the vaccine and the fictitious ness. So we are now working with our colleagues from the European Medicines Agency to put a system in place for. 2 money, touring, safety and the effectiveness of these of experience as soon as they are actually on the market. And that is to ensure the population that these 2 aspects are closely mourn it toward also our colleagues in the Medicines Agency are reassuring that they will not compromise the safety off the vaccine compared to the speed of the authorization. There are critics of the c. D. C. Who question the purpose of the c. D. C. They say that the c. D. C. Was specifically created in order to be able to tackle a crisis like the coven 1000 pandemic. But that it has not been effective in dealing with the crisis. What do you say to that . It depends on what the expectations were compared to the monday. To date we have been given what i have seen, sometimes east, that the expectations towards us were far outside the legal mandate that we have been provided with. And that of course then can lead to well disappointment in the expectations if they go beyond what we have been basically permitted in the legal base to do so. The c. D. C. Doesnt have any executive powers. Your recommendations, as i understand, are not legally binding. So how can you be sure that countries will follow your advice . We cannot be sure we can only ensure that we have a close contact tool to colleagues in the countries that to be are open to their questions that we consult them in preparing our guidance. So that it is not a priori, infeasible for dam. And otherwise, we can only a mat being asked, been seeing scientifically as possible. Do you believe that the c. D. C. Advice needs to be officially adopted across the e. U. Bloc to be effective in the fight against covered 19 . In other words, if theyre not listening to you, are they going to be effective in the fight against the pandemic . Well, there are elements in our, in our advice where its more crucial that every country does it then for other elements. And there is also the, the fact that the epidemic logical situation is not the same in all the countries, even within the country. There are sometimes differ. So there is also a need to for, at the patient off measures, according to the local or are separate national. It became a logical situation. What is the top of the list for you when it comes to, priorities . The priorities being listed by the c. D. C. For the e. U. , and are those recommendations being listened to at this stage . Can i just ask you priorities for culvert or in general for Infectious Disease i already is right now for covert and then if you could also answer priorities also for Infectious Diseases other Infectious Disease so far for coverage, what we need to do now is to ensure that we can more nato or in the winter, influenza and cold to sleep because both viruses may circulate. And we have to keep track of both of them, both into population and in hospitals. And the 2nd part is that we need now to prepare for, for that is a set priority that we now the tools really learn lessons and prevent the 3rd wave off of coal bit. When we come over to peak of the current wave, let me ask you this. How is the latest rise in infections in europe different from the 1st . Is it a more violent form of the virus or are people just less compliant when it comes to the recommendations . I think in the 1st rise that we saw in july and august was mainly due to in intensified testing. And we could see that population where in the h. P. Groups, off the cases notified indecent months where different then in march and april. So we had more cases with the year disease and only now in september or october, since this period, it starts also to get in the older age groups again to hospitalizations, riots and the deaths rise that term. And let me ask you specifically about the logistics of potential vaccine coordination and distribution. How challenging will that be . I mean, do you believe that that is going to go smoothly in the various countries or do you think there are serious logistical problems Going Forward . Well, we dont know yet, which just a big scenes will be licensed, but we know that some of the big scenes will require to does this. So sticky disable require a good system of free coal of those who had received the 1st dose that youll make sure to get the 2nd dose and are fully fully immunized. So that is a logistical requirement. And then we know that at least one of the vaccines has a requirement that none of those existing maxines has, that it requires a storage with a minus 70 degree. But they may need it in the end, it will depend on which of these vaccines will be licensed and on the market. Definitely, it is something that countries need now to think about how they would organize campaigns. And do you think that the countries are actually thinking about this . Are they going ahead from now and looking at the challenges of distribution, where is this something thats going to be dealt with later . Well, the thing is, i believe certain scenarios are discussed. Dr. Ramon let me ask you, did europe in your opinion, miss the boat when it came to containing the corona virus, when the 1st cases were discovered in europe and confirmed in january . Well, you have to see that retrospective uss situations differently because we know now much more than we knew in february and beginning of march a retrospective at the city situation in february, at least before right. You started to need to leave. We had very few cases that were very few cases that we knew about and were detected because i am sure now that we had many more cases actually already in the population that were not tested for because the testing rationale was targeted towards returning travelers. Im going to ask you to expand of that a little bit more because i want to ask you about the fact that in late february, the e. C. C. Said there was only a low to moderate chance that covert 19 would spread across europe. That governments in europe had solid preparedness plans and adequate testing capacity. And that was at a time when case numbers were spiking in italy. Why make an assessment like that at that particular time . Ok, so regarding the Laboratory Assessment that was made after we did a survey repaired, a Member States replied to us, what kind of capacities they had that was beginning of february and was geared towards the fact that each country had the possibility to diagnose the virus. What turned out to be decays . Was that the Laboratory Material . The testing kits that was there was a shortage, but that debt time that was not considered in the, in the reply saw that. So one thing regarding to prepare this, we do not have the possibility to check each member state on their prepared unless they invite us. So we had to rely on the feedback from the Member States when we have, we have actually started asking them in january regarding looking at their prepared miss plans and they have said they have looked at their preparedness plans and so forth. So again, there is a discrepancy between what is expected from us and what we can actually do. Where are things now when it comes to the cooperation of Member States when it comes to Member States, allowing the e. C. D. C. , to look at their preparedness plans, coordinating with the c. D. C. , making sure things go forward in a smoother manner. We have right now. I think our colleagues in the Member States are quite busy with feeling with their epidemics, but we have an understanding that we would like to actually dual in action reviews with the countries we have published a protocol for diesel ready in july. So that those who would like to learn lessons to improve now already during the pandemic, can do this and b, how to have them support dr. Ramona, how much do your budgetary constraints hamper the ability of your team to do the kind of work thats necessary to perhaps more effectively combat covert 19. I mean, right now its not the budgetary constraints, its a staffing constraints that sets our limits. And where do you need to be when it comes to staffing that you would feel that you would be able to more effectively combat covert 19 and where are you now . Well we have right now, 280. 00 started, tory staff, and any increase will be part of the negotiation that will now take place in the coming weeks and months. Dr. Ramon, theres been animal to human transmission in denmark at me for mxs. How concerned does europe need to be about this development . We have published a Risk Assessment on this and then markets only one of the countries where a transmission is, have occurred. Theres still a number of investigations that need to be done, of uncertainty off the implications. But in our assessment, it warrants very much scrutiny and attention and furthermore, natori patrimony starting on november 23rd, spain is going to be demanding a negative p. C. R. Test to be taken within 72 hours of travelers going to spain in the case of european countries. And those in the area, spain is going to rely on the east c. D. C. Risk map is the e. C. D. C. Ready to take on this responsibility . Well, the risk that the map that we have is based on the numbers that the countries are reporting to us. And i think it, there was an agreement how to scale the maps, how to color the differend categories off of case notifications. And that is what we publish, what decisions the Member States based on this is their responsibility to take. Is it frustrating to you if i can verge into a little bit of a personal questionnaire . Is it frustrating to you to be hampered in not having more authority . When it comes to trying to get e. U. Member states to really take on these recommendations from you and your team. When i took up the post here, i knew what the mandate would be, so its nothing that has surprised me. This is what we can do, or we do all what the best with the means that we have. And we are committed to provide the best Available Evidence so that the Decision Makers in the countries have to best basis to make their decisions. Do you believe that Member States are being fully transparent with the data theyre providing you with . I have no reason to think otherwise. One of the biggest factors from your point of view as far as when it comes to the spread of coronavirus. Now, one of the biggest reasons why the spread continues, i think that one of the things is stat i, the measures that have been put in place are not effective or dare not completely complied with. And 2nd is steps. The testing and Contact Tracing can still be further developed. Final question for me, how much longer do you believe society is going to be living with coronavirus . I believe this virus will not disappear. The question is, how we build a doppler tooled up virus over time. The question will be, what additional value can provide . I know old there are also Research Going on for a specific medicine against a cold weight. So be the way how we will have to live with the virus will depend on all these factors. Head of the European Center for Disease Control and prevention, dr. Andrea mone, thank you for talking to us. My pleasure. On countering the cost sambir becomes the 1st african nations. The fault on its debts and the pandemic. Here are other steps pileups Central Banks think the unthinkable. Negative Interest Rates was dumped on the rankings of the worlds top 10, economies countering the cost on aljazeera. This is aljazeera. Hello, im sad to say that this is the news live from coming up in the next 60 minutes describing it as a covert 19 vaccine for the world. And also universities say there is cheaper and easier to distribute their rivals. If the open Government Forces say theyre close to the city and make a way as the desperate humanitarian situation worsens for refugees, a trial begins for form