The Kremlin Wall with Spasskaya Tower, left, and St. Basil's Cathedral are reflected in a rainwater on the almost empty Bolshoy Moskvoretsky bridge decorated with red flags prior to celebrating Victory Day in Moscow AP
The Kremlin Wall with Spasskaya Tower, left, and St. Basil's Cathedral are reflected in a rainwater on the almost empty Bolshoy Moskvoretsky bridge decorated with red flags prior to celebrating Victory Day in Moscow AP
The Kremlin Wall with Spasskaya Tower, left, and St. Basil's Cathedral are reflected in a rainwater on the almost empty Bolshoy Moskvoretsky bridge decorated with red flags prior to celebrating Victory Day in Moscow AP
The Kremlin Wall with Spasskaya Tower, left, and St. Basil's Cathedral are reflected in a rainwater on the almost empty Bolshoy Moskvoretsky bridge decorated with red flags prior to celebrating Victor

Europe

US expects Russia to target Covid-19 vaccine in disinformation campaign

US Special Envoy Lea Gabrielle has said the Kremlin has a track record for disinformation on public health issues

Callum Paton

May 07, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The US expects Russia will attempt to erode faith in a future Covid-19 vaccine as part of its disinformation campaign about the virus.

US special envoy Lea Gabrielle told reporters Washington was working with allies to see off a campaign to discredit a possible vaccine.

“The Russian disinformation ecosystem that the Kremlin has helped to build has consistently exploited fear and confusion or just exploited the general lack of understanding of an issue to both create and amplify dangerous narratives,” Ms Gabrielle explained.

She said during previous health emergencies like the Ebola and Zika outbreaks in recent years, Russia had stoked fear and confusion.

Mary Luz Hernandez, 34, a professional seamstress, holds up her spray gun to offer passing cars her disinfecting service, amid the spread of the new coronavirus in Bogota, Colombia. AP Photo
Mary Luz Hernandez, 34, a professional seamstress, holds up her spray gun to offer passing cars her disinfecting service, amid the spread of the new coronavirus in Bogota, Colombia. AP Photo
Maria Figueroa attempts to send pictures of her sons’ homework back to their teachers, from the roof of her apartment in the Catia slum of Caracas, Venezuela. AP Photo
Maria Figueroa attempts to send pictures of her sons’ homework back to their teachers, from the roof of her apartment in the Catia slum of Caracas, Venezuela. AP Photo
Waiters in protective gear carry food at a restaurant which is testing servers providing drinks and food to models pretending to be clients in a safe "quarantine greenhouses" in which guests can dine in Amsterdam, Netherlands. REUTERS
Waiters in protective gear carry food at a restaurant which is testing servers providing drinks and food to models pretending to be clients in a safe "quarantine greenhouses" in which guests can dine in Amsterdam, Netherlands. REUTERS
People stand on social-distancing markers at a Mercedes car dealer in Brussels, Belgium. REUTERS
People stand on social-distancing markers at a Mercedes car dealer in Brussels, Belgium. REUTERS
Red Cross volunteers walk in a street during operations in the French capital Paris. AFP
Red Cross volunteers walk in a street during operations in the French capital Paris. AFP
Lillian sweeping the empty streets of the CBD in Nairobi. AFP
Lillian sweeping the empty streets of the CBD in Nairobi. AFP
Red Cross volunteers carry a pregnant woman, as part of the Red Cross operation in Paris. AFP
Red Cross volunteers carry a pregnant woman, as part of the Red Cross operation in Paris. AFP
A man scoops with his bare hands some rice that fell from food parcels at the Kwa Mai Mai area of the Johannesburg CBD. AFP
A man scoops with his bare hands some rice that fell from food parcels at the Kwa Mai Mai area of the Johannesburg CBD. AFP
A nurse tends to a crying newborn wearing a face shield in Hanoi. AFP
A nurse tends to a crying newborn wearing a face shield in Hanoi. AFP
US Vice President Mike Pence stands among television soundmen as he listens to Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. REUTERS
US Vice President Mike Pence stands among television soundmen as he listens to Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. REUTERS
US President Donald Trump displays a proclamation in honour of National Nurses Day in the Oval Office at the White House. Reuters
US President Donald Trump displays a proclamation in honour of National Nurses Day in the Oval Office at the White House. Reuters
New York City Police officers wake up a passenger on the subway. Reuters
New York City Police officers wake up a passenger on the subway. Reuters
A man wearing a face mask uses exercise equipment at a public park in Beijing. AP Photo
A man wearing a face mask uses exercise equipment at a public park in Beijing. AP Photo
Seen through a bridge glass panel covered in graffiti a man wearing a face mask walks in Sarajevo, Bosnia. AP Photo
Seen through a bridge glass panel covered in graffiti a man wearing a face mask walks in Sarajevo, Bosnia. AP Photo

“Based on their track record, we do expect there's a high probability that the Russian disinformation eco system will act to undermine faith in a Covid vaccine when it becomes available,” said the head of the Global Engagement Centre, which was set up to counter non-US disinformation.

“We've seen this in the past and they will likely do this by introducing false information of their own and by amplifying local voices that push conspiracy theories."

Governments in North America and Europe have identified a variety of Covid-19 myths being pushed by various actors including China and Iran as well as Russia since the beginning of the outbreak.

They have ranged from the false claims that Covid-19 was produced by the US as a bio-weapon as well as conspiracies that Western governments are using containment measures as a means to control their populations.

Ms Gabrielle also explained that China was looking to deflect blame for the crisis through its own use of propaganda.

US President Donald Trump has frequently directed responsibility for the global pandemic at China and asserted that the disease first spread from a research lab in Wuhan.

“We've now seen concerted efforts by Beijing to push conflicting theories about Covid-19 that are intended to sow doubt, to deflect blame and to create the idea that it may not be possible to know the truth," she said.

The US envoy added that China was also "trying to push the narrative that it's superior to the West in responding to global health crises".

THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.

Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.

Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

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Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17

1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"

3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)

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Specs
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Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm

Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh209,000 

On sale: now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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