Three things for September 18
1. Bahrain, UAE sign deal with Israel
On Tuesday, foreign ministers from the Muslim-majority countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to sign a normalization agreement between the two Persian Gulf nations and Israel.
The agreement, dubbed the Abraham Accords, notably includes the suspension of Israel’s intended annexation of parts of the West Bank, at the request of the U.A.E.
The deal ensures full diplomatic relations between Israel and the two nations and provides the possibility of further cooperation in the future.
The agreement fails to address the long-lasting conflict between Israel and Palestine, provoking outrage from Palestinians, according to AP News.
2. CDC Director announces expectations for future COVID-19 vaccine
During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield stated he expects COVID-19 vaccinations will become available to Americans in November or December of this year, though not all Americans would have access to the vaccine initially.
“If you’re asking me when is [a COVID-19 vaccine] going to be generally available to the American public,” Redfield said, “I think we’re probably looking at late second quarter, third quarter 2021.”
Redfield also said that it will take about six to nine months for the entirety of the American public to be vaccinated.
3. Navalny posts first image since poisoning
Alexei Navalny, leader of Russia of the Future — a Russian anti-corruption political party that opposes Russian President Vladimir Putin — posted an image of himself in his hospital bed in Berlin, Germany on Tuesday.
Navalny fell ill on Aug. 20 and was flown to Berlin’s Charite hospital two days later, where he was kept in an induced coma for two weeks during his treatment.
Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. Despite calls from foreign officials, including German Chancellor Angela Markel, the Kremlin has denied any official involvement in the poisoning.
