NEW DELHI TIMES R.N.I. No 53449/91 DL-SW-1/4124/20-22 (Monday/Tuesday same week) (Published Every Monday) New Delhi Page 24 Rs. 7.00

11 - 17 January 2021 Vol - 30 No. 50 Email : [email protected] Founder : Dr. Govind Narain Srivastava ISSN -2349-1221 Gibraltar enters a new dawn with UK, Spain Yesterday is a dream, tomorrow is a vision Without us even noticing, much of the things where we put our inking the deal: Becomes part of Schengen hopes and expectations in will be ready for us only over a long Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory that occupies time, maybe in a month or even decades from now or perhaps a narrow peninsula of Spain’s southern Mediterranean even longer. coast, just northeast of the Strait of Gibraltar, on the east side of the Bay of Gibraltar. For example, the successful completion of a book, a sufficient This 5 km long, 1.2 km wide land is connected to amount of finances to buy a house or to start over a new career Spain by a 1-mile-long isthmus. Gibraltar is a or to fall in love and settle down with someone we love and heavily fortified British air and naval base that similarly, we worry that our past may catch up to our present guards the Strait of Gibraltar-the only entrance to the and ruin the good things that our future holds for us, we spent so Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Gibraltar much of our time mulling over past mistakes and traumas, over has been a symbol of British... the failures of the person we were yesterday... By Dr. Ankit Srivastava Page 3 By Dr. Pramila Srivastava Page 24 Pakistan’s jealousy obstructs India’s NSG membership

By NDT Special Bureau Page 2 The pandemic reveals how China is All Evils at Bosnia & Herzegovina: Israel enters into largest ever now the imperialist threat Migrant crisis a persistent trouble defence agreement with Greece

As Canadians squeal on their neighbours and then squabble The erstwhile Yugoslavia, now Bosnia & Herzegovina On January 4, 2021, the largest ever defence agreement amongst themselves over which politician to malign for (BiH), is on the verge of facing worst migrant crisis between Israel and Greece was approved. According to a the crime of travelling overseas, Britain balances... Europe could ever observe... press release by the Israeli Ministry of Defence... By Tarek Fatah Page 2 By Sujay Dhawan Page 20 By Himanshu Sharma Page 5 For critical insights One Year* Five Year* Subscribe Rs. 350 Rs. 1500 To Subscribe E-Paper Whatsapp +91 9999 331 600 * Details on Page 21

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Opinion NEW DELHI TIMES Pakistan jealousy obstructs India’s NSG membership disarmament. Pakistan deems it inherently ◆ By NDT Special Bureau discriminatory. Of course, the NPT ignores @NewDelhiTimes vertical proliferation while stressing horizontal non-proliferation. [email protected] On the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty ndia applied for membership Nuclear (FMCT) negotiated at the Conference on I Suppliers’ Group (NSG) in 2016. Not Disarmament, Member States were called to be left behind, Pakistan too applied for upon to reduce their existing stockpiles of the membership. Both the applications have fissile material before capping its future been held up since because of their non-NPT production. status and differences between members over the admission criteria. Post-9/11, international focus has Pakistan realises that NSG could advance shifted from non-proliferation to nuclear Indian application, hence criticises that the programmes of rogue countries like Pakistan multilateral export control regime has been and Iran. In 2004, a hostile neighbourhood politicised. forced India to scale back on the No First Use Policy. Pakistan should not compare itself with (AP) to the Safeguards Agreement with The topic of a webinar titled, “The politics India on nuclear matters. Deserving always the IAEA, separate civilian and military Pakistan must seek conflict resolution with of NSG: The current dimensions” statements gets preference over others. Respect can’t be nuclear facilities, provide list of nuclear India as maintaining regional strategic like “NSG very much epitomises the politics demanded but earned through hard work and installations, and sign the Comprehensive balance with an emerging financial of non-proliferation at the global level;” and building reputation. Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). blaming the NSG of according “precedence superpower won’t be easy. to the interests of the nuclear supplier India has signed bilateral agreements Pakistan is also prepared to accept the states,” denotes Pakistan’s negativity and with all NSG countries and gets nuclear aforementioned additional non-proliferation International norms lay out that any country frustrations. material from there. It hardly needs the NSG obligations demanded by Western countries, can join any forum to align its strategic membership. but with a quid pro quo - an NSG waiver for goals, national interests and own security Pakistan claims that it does not have a mix civil nuclear cooperation similar to India’s assessment. Pakistan can join the NSG of safeguarded and unsafeguarded facilities Pakistan has erred in the past and conceded admission into the nuclear trade cartel. after meeting the requirements. India- and has been more forthcoming in accepting on national television having sold and obsession is counter-productive. Pakistan legally binding commitments, hence better tried to sell nuclear related stuff to various Pakistan is jealous of India enjoying is more interested in scuttling India’s qualified than India as per the formula countries. It obtained nuclear technology exceptionalism through the NSG’s waiver membership into the NSG than ensuring its proposed by Ambassador Rafael Grossi through dubious means and supports and complains about the discriminatory own admission. The MTCR, Wassenar and in 2016. But the international community fissiparous groups who intend to harm other attitude of the West. Australia group have admitted India. wants mainstreaming of India to benefit countries. the non-proliferation regime. Pakistan The non-proliferation regime follows two Pakistan should focus on important areas complains of differential standards, lack of Without cleaning up the past mess Pakistan approaches: a US-centric approach and a of widening imbalance - economy, poverty, universality and legitimacy, inconsistent cannot elicit positive outlook from the universal non-discriminatory approach. democracy and human rights violations - vis- internal implementation and geopolitics. world. Doubts persist over Pakistan being a Article 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty à-vis India. India is on verge of becoming Pakistan emphasizes “equitable basis” on responsible and reliable nuclear state, hence (NPT) calls on the five recognised Member superpower, Pakistan is not in the race. according membership. it is asked to sign the Additional Protocol States to act “in good faith” towards nuclear Feeling jealous of India won’t help. The pandemic reveals how China is now the imperialist threat allowed international airlines to fly out of Wuhan to European and Asian capitals ◆ By Tarek Fatah resulting in havoc in Iran and Italy and Author & Columnist, Canada slowly across the world. @TarekFatah [email protected] The coronavirus managed to reach every corner of the world, but through its own A s Canadians squeal on their neighbours genius bypassed all major Chinese cities and then squabble amongst themselves such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and over which politician to malign for the crime Shenzhen. of travelling overseas, Britain balances life on the edge of its worst-ever recession in The once mighty United States crumbled 300 years and cities in the U.S. instruct under the weight of this new pandemic with ambulances not to bring the sick to hospitals, people blaming President Donald Trump I can imagine President Xi Jinping of China and not China. It must be added that The sitting back having a hearty laugh with his Donald dug his own grave by uttering one comrades on how he destroyed the West stupidity after another simply to remain in PC : Getty Images without firing a gun. the limelight, and in the end lost an election, The Chinese authorities did not even in China, with senior Chinese diplomats to the glee of China and its influencers in the Chairman Mao’s thesis that “a single spark pretend to express sorrow at causing nearly tweeting articles and videos that suggest the US. can cause a prairie fire” was put into action two million deaths due to their biological pandemic may have begun in the U.S. in the ‘wet markets’ of the city of Wuhan experiments or the wet markets of Wuhan. in central China where COVID-19 was As thousands were dying of COVID-19, Adam Kamradt-Scott, a global health reportedly born. or for the lack of healthcare, no one in the However, it seems the World Health security scholar at the University of Sydney, West had the courage to point their fingers Organization (WHO) that had so far played who helped write the international laws According to National Geographic, ‘wet at China and demand a total ban on its second fiddle to Beijing’s tune has woken up that govern the WHO had this to say to the markets’ are typically large collections of infamous ‘wet markets’. How could we? from their slumber. Wall Street Journal: “This is the Chinese open-air stalls selling among other fresh The mere mention of the words “China government wanting to perpetrate the seafood, live wild animals and their meat virus” risks being slandered by the ‘woke’ On Wednesday, WHO criticized China for argument that the virus started elsewhere … including “snakes, beavers, porcupines, and upper-class leftists as ‘racist’. blocking its investigation into the origins of They are very clearly on a mission to try and baby crocodiles, plus the blood and innards the virus. The United Nations agency called avert attention away from China being the of slaughtered animals.” The contrast between how COVID-19 out Beijing after WHO scientists weren’t source of the virus.” barely affected China and devastated the given permission to enter China to probe the The Chinese authorities put the entire city West was best illustrated on New Year’s Eve pandemic. It’s time that we the voter shed vote-bank of Wuhan in a strict lockdown on Jan. 23, when thousands took to the streets of Wuhan politics and elect visionaries who see the need 2020. However, despite cutting off all flights to celebrate 2021 while not a soul stirred on China on its part started a campaign to cast to change course and recognize that China is from Wuhan to every city in China, Beijing New York’s Times Square. doubt on whether the virus really began the post-Cold War imperialist threat. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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Editor’s Desk NEW DELHI TIMES Gibraltar enters a new dawn with UK, Spain inking the deal: Becomes part of Schengen and unrestricted will decide who enters the territory and mobility of persons” that Spanish officers won’t exercise any ◆ Dr. Ankit Srivastava across the border to avert controls at the airport or docks. Fabian Chief Editor the worst effects of a hard Picardo tweeted: “Under the New Year’s @AnkitNDT Brexit. Eve agreement only Gibraltar will decide [email protected] who enters Gibraltar and Spanish officers The deal was announced a week after will not exercise any controls in Gibraltar at ibraltar is a British Overseas Territory Britain reached its own last-minute exit the airport or port now or in four years’ time. G that occupies a narrow peninsula of agreement with the EU. Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast, just This is our land. Couldn’t be clearer.”In an northeast of the Strait of Gibraltar, on the However, the Brexit deal did not cover interview to the Gibraltar Chronicle, Picardo east side of the Bay of Gibraltar. Gibraltar-a tiny British territory on Spain’s said Schengen checks by Frontex officers southern tip-which is historically would be conducted “only once entry into This 5 km long, 1.2 km wide land is claimed by Madrid. Thankfully, Gibraltar has been granted” by BCA officers, connected to Spain by a 1-mile-long isthmus. both Spain and while acknowledging Schengen checks Gibraltar is a heavily fortified British air and Britain hailed would be “a purely European matter”. naval base that guards the Strait of Gibraltar- the agreement the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea as the start of “a He added that even in the four-year initial from the Atlantic Ocean. Gibraltar has period envisaged by the agreement, been a symbol of British naval strength Gibraltar “will not accept” Spanish law for three centuries, hence is known as enforcement officials wearing an arm band “the Rock.” as the Frontex force.

The opening of the Suez Canal in In reply to a question that what does the 1869 increased Gibraltar’s strategic agreement mean for Gibraltar, the Chief importance. Since World War II, the Minister remarked: “Gibraltar has avoided British military garrison and naval new era” that would a hard Brexit. We have avoided the UK dockyard have been an important part allow for “the removal having a deal and our being the only part of Gibraltar’s economy as the naval of barriers.” Britain of the Continent of Europe without a legal operations of the North Atlantic “wholeheartedly” relationship with the EU. Treaty Organization (NATO) often welcomed the deal, use the port facilities. The Rock of stressing that the UK is We are hoping to cure decades of mobility Gibraltar defines the western limits of commitment to “the issues and to deprive a future right wing navigation for the Mediterranean world. protection of Spanish government of the whip hand on the interests the queues. Gibraltar is not part of the UK, but unlike all of Gibraltar British Overseas Territories was a part of the and its British We have not ceded one iota of sovereignty, European Union like the UK. It participated sovereignty.” jurisdiction or control. We have, in some in the Brexit referendum and it ceased, by Under terms of the ways that will become apparent, cemented default, to be a part of the EU upon the UK’s agreement, Gibraltar our position”. withdrawal. would become a part of the “Prudently, we will get there and achieve Cut to the present. Gibraltar is set to Schengen zone a final deal which will best be described become part of the Schengen zone to ensure with Spain acting as follows: “Sovereignty Safe, Prosperity fluidity on its border with Spain, thanks to a s guarantor. Protected, Mobility Assured”. But that is a a landmark deal inked just hours before the long way off yet. Brexit deadline. With this agreement, There is still a lot to do and a Treaty to Britain is not part of the Schengen the fence is finalize. We may not get there in the end arrangement but Spain is. Gibraltar’s case removed and if there is any attempt to compromise the is typical as geographically speaking it is Schengen is applied things that matter to us, but I am hopeful a part of Spain but politically administered to Gibraltar. It allows that we will”, he added. by the British. Britain’s signing of Brexit for the lifting of controls creates a new “hard border” between this between Gibraltar and The Gibraltar Chief Minister made these tiny British territory and Spain (part of the Spain. The arrangement remarks in response to a statement by European Union). would be monitored by Frontex, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Arancha the EU’s border agency. González Laya. “Schengen is a set of rules, That would have caused huge disruption for procedures and tools, including its database, travellers and businesses on both sides of Until the agreement comes into to which only Spain has access. Gibraltar the line separating Gibraltar from Spain. So, force, the arrangements permitted and the United Kingdom do not,” Arancha negotiators representing the governments under Schengen will be used to relax González Laya told Spanish newspaper El in Madrid, London and Gibraltar worked controls at the border. The deal is expected País in an interview “That is why the final around the clock to ink a deal that would to be signed by the UK and the EU “within decision on who enters the Schengen area avoid the creation of the dreaded “hard an estimated six months”. final belongs to Spain”. border.” say on Spain would be responsible for managing who In the Brexit referendum vote in Britain in Spain reached an initial agreement with the the Schengen arrangement which would enters 2016, around 48- 52 percent of voters in United Kingdom which will serve as the be implemented by Frontex, the agency the British Britain properly voted in favour of leaving foundation for a future treaty between the charged with protecting the EU’s external overseas the bloc. In contrast, nearly 96 percent European Union and the United Kingdom borders through the introduction of a territory. of voters in Gibraltar-a British Overseas concerning Gibraltar. Frontex operation for the control of entry Territory-backed staying in the EU. and exit points. The arrangement will be in The agreement outlines a proposed place for an initial four-year period. Gibraltar’s That explains why Britain was under moral framework for a UK-European Union Chief Minister pressure to keep things flowing smoothly at agreement or treaty on Gibraltar’s future After the political agreement was reached, Fabian Picardo the Gibraltar-Spain border by entering into relationship with the EU. That sets the stage a fresh row broke out between Spain and claimed only Schengen arrangement even though British for a treaty that would allow for “maximised Gibraltar over which government has the his government Main land is excluded therefrom.

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International NEW DELHI TIMES The Future of Turkey-US Relations NATO nations weeks before, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized Turkey on ◆ By Ryszard Czarnecki several fronts. EU lawmaker @r_czarnecki His statements - against Turkey’s defense purchases, its exploration of natural gas in disputed waters in the eastern T urkey and the U.S. are bound together Mediterranean Sea - showed that Mr. by history and common values. Turkey Pompeo has given up trying to temper is an important U.S. security partner. Turkey rising tensions among European allies and has been a valued North Atlantic Treaty American lawmakers. Organization (NATO) ally since 1952. Turkey is a leader in the Alliance’s Resolute The new U.S Administration has made Support Mission in Afghanistan and serves clear that it will engage with Turkey as NATO’s vital anchor, controlling the through traditional and technical diplomatic Bosporus straits and the Dardanelles, linking channels - and not rely on the kind of ad-hoc the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. communication that marked the relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. Erdogan. What relationship can the US and Turkey Winning Turkey back would mark a huge have after 2020? success for the Biden administration. Turkey is an important player regarding many global challenges and conflicts, such as the It remains to be seen whether a new war in Syria and Libya, the disagreements multilateral approach of the U.S. will in the Eastern Mediterranean, migration, and PC : Getty Images improve the strained relations with the EU, bring a less confrontational stance within the relations of the West with Russia and Americans will continue to find in common The redirection of U.S. policy also will NATO and will entice Turkey back into the Iran among others. The US elections were beyond debate are their national security require President-elect Joseph R. Biden fold of the Western Alliance. consequential for all of these issues. and prosperity. Certainly, relevant cultural Jr. to carefully bring Turkey back into the and political “values” are also important to West’s embrace and keep from pushing it Turkey is one of the few modern states and Americans and Europeans. nearer to Russia. It also depends on whether and in how far the societies that has inherited from its history- new US Administration will modulate the and sustained through the modern era Most politically astute Americans and Turks The U.S. Congress approved economic previous administration’s position towards existential tests-a “great power” outlook on would agree that, as one of the world’s sanctions to Turkey in December 2020 for Russia which was coined by haphazard its regional and world interests. Since at least and the region’s leading and influential buying Russian missile defense systems appeasement and return to the previous clear the George W. Bush administration and the economic, military, and cultural powers, earlier, potentially exposing the NATO position. aftermath of the Gulf War, Americans have Turkey has evident important interests in military technology to Moscow. Mr. Trump Ryszard Czarnecki: been debating and reconsidering the US common with the United States, and that stalled the sanctions last year, after the Politician from Poland, Former Vice-President global interests and how best to pursue them. both should have a natural complementarity defense systems were delivered to Turkey. of European Parliament, Minister of European The vital national interests that Turkish and of capabilities to pursue them. At a meeting of Foreign Ministers from Affairs and Minister in Prime Minister Office International Political Scenario of the Week governments have made the relocation ◆ By NDT Bureau of the migrants and refugees impossible. @NewDelhiTimes The European Union Foreign Affairs Commissioner Josep Borrell has criticized [email protected] Bosnian local authorities and said that the crisis is largely due to the dysfunctional Bosnia governance in the country.

The migrants in Bosnia are facing a dire Ethiopia humanitarian situation. There are currently close to 3,000 migrants and refugees in northern Bosnia who are facing harsh The crisis in the Tigray region in Ethiopia winter weather without adequate shelter, has turned out into a large humanitarian according to estimates by the International catastrophe. According to a report by Organisation for Migration (IOM). Between the UN Office for the Coordination of 900 and 1,400 men are reportedly living in Humanitarian Affairs, over 222,000 people the burnt-out Lipa camp, another roughly have been internally displaced in Tigray. 1,500 migrants and refugees - including People urgently need shelter, food, water, women and children - are sleeping rough sanitation, and hygiene, as well as health in the region of Una Sana Canton, which and protection. borders on the European Union member state Croatia. Now, another threat presents itself with the rural areas and in the peripheries of Mekele, about what exactly that deployment will risk of outbreak of COVID-19 infection. Shiraro and Shire among other locations, as look like, where and how it will happen,” he On December 23, 2020, the Lipa reception As per the UN report, only five out of 40 of last week,” the report states. said. Earlier, the Western Cape Department centre for migrants was closed down by hospitals in Tigray are physically accessible of Health had said that models tracking apart from those in (the Tigray capital) the IOM. It was a summer tent facility South Africa patterns of COVID-19 infections showed opened in response to COVID-19 in the Una Mekele, the remaining hospitals are looted that the province had officially entered the Sana canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and many reportedly destroyed. peak of the second wave. bordering Croatia. Reportedly, a handful of The South Africa National Defence Force occupants then set fire to the camp in protest, The interruption of COVID-19 surveillance (SANDF) will be deployed in the Western The province now has over 41,000 rendering it uninhabitable. and control activities for over a month in the Cape province to assist police with enforcing active cases and the Department said region, coupled with mass displacements lockdown regulations. Western Cape Health hospitalisations and mortality data showed On January 5, Peter Van der Auweraert, and overcrowded conditions in displacement Department Head Keith Cloete explained increases with early signs of these rates IOM’s Bosnia Chief of Mission has said setting is feared to have facilitated massive the details. stabilising. Western Cape Premier Alan that that there are two centers in Bosnia that community transmission of the pandemic. Winde has said that while the administration would have enough space to house these The report also says the Tigray region “The military will support the law and health authorities are getting ready for people, but that disagreements between remains volatile. “Localized fighting and enforcement efforts and the law enforcement the peak, the province is already planning its the central Bosnian government and local insecurity continue, with fighting reported in agencies are working with the military vaccine roll-out strategy. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES Israel enters into largest ever defence agreement with Greece Within the framework of the agreement, Elbit Systems will provide kits to upgrade and operate the Hellenic Air Force’s T-6 aircraft Gen. (Res.), Yair Kulas, stated that the Greek By Himanshu Sharma ◆ government’s approval of this agreement @_Himansh_ is “a historic step in further deepening the excellent defense relations between our two [email protected] countries. n January 4, 2021, the largest ever This is not just a defense export agreement, O defence agreement between Israel and but rather a partnership for at least 20 years”. Greece was approved. According to a press release by the Israeli Ministry of Defence, The security agreement is not just a defence the agreement includes the establishment deal but carries major strategic connotations. and operation of a flight school for the The deal further strengthens the already Hellenic Air Force, by Elbit Systems. It growing relations between Greece and Israel also includes the procurement of ten M-346 as Turkey continues to assert itself in the aircraft (Lavi), the maintenance of T-6 Mediterranean region. aircraft (Efroni), as well as the provision PC : Getty Images of simulators, training and logistic support. (IAF) flight academy, the Greek school will excellent and developing relations we In November 2020, Israel, Greece and The G-to-G agreement amounts to around be equipped with 10 M-346 training aircraft (Israel) have with Greece. It is a long-term Greek Cyprus agreed to step up military $1.68 billion and will span over 20 years. produced by Italian company, Leonardo. partnership that will serve the interests of cooperation they said will keep their armed Otherwise known as “Lavi,” these aircraft both Israel and Greece, create hundreds of forces better prepared, help create more jobs The Israel Ministry of Defence participated are also employed in the Israeli flight school jobs in both countries, and promote stability and bolster security. in an international tender for this project, and and are considered very successful. in the Mediterranean”. its winning bid was approved by the Greek government. As part of the agreement, the Within the framework of the agreement, Later in the day Gantz tweeted, “The Gantz had then remarked that the agreement flight school will be built and maintained by Elbit Systems will provide kits to upgrade largest-ever defence procurement agreement to “promote large-scale industry cooperation Elbit Systems. and operate the Hellenic Air Force’s T-6 between Israel and Greece is now happening. that will bolster our defence abilities aircraft. Elbit will also provide training, I am happy to update you all that following and create thousands of jobs for all three The press release from the Israeli Ministry of simulators and logistical support. In the my previous understanding with my Greek economies.” Defence further states that “in the near future, future, the parties will also consider areas of counterpart, a bilateral security cooperation SIBAT, the Directorate for International cooperation between the Israeli and Greek agreement between our two countries will The recently signed defence agreement Defence Cooperation in the Israel Ministry flight academies”. soon be launched, including $1.68 billion between Israel and Greece signifies a bulwark of Defence, and Elbit Systems will sign for the establishment and operation of a against Turkish regional maneuvers. It also the agreement to establish the Greek flight The Israeli Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, training facility for the Greek Air Force, for is a setback for Turkey’s desire to restore ties school. Modeled after the Israel Air Force remarked that the agreement reflected “the the coming 20 years.” SIBAT Director, Brig. with Israel. New power-sharing government formed in Yemen The reshuffle is seen as a major step toward closing a dangerous rift between the internationally recognized government and southern separatists backed by the UAE was part of the 2019 Riyadh Agreement The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin condemned the attack and called on Yemenis ◆ By NDT Bureau - a power-sharing deal between the Saudi- Griffiths, welcomed the reshuffle. “This is to unite against terrorism. “It’s a major @NewDelhiTimes backed Hadi and the Emirati-backed an important step for enhanced stability, terrorist attack that was meant to eliminate separatist Southern Transitional Council improvement of state institutions and the government,” he said. “It was a message [email protected] (STC)- an umbrella group of militias seeking increased political partnership”, Griffiths against peace and stability in Yemen.” to restore an independent southern Yemen, said. “It is also a pivotal step towards a A statement from Farhan Haq, Deputy O n December 18, 2020, Yemen’s President, which existed from 1967 until unification in lasting political resolution to the conflict Spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, currently 1990. The Riyadh Agreement also included in Yemen.” A press statement issued by the Antonio Guterres, said that the “Secretary- exiled in Saudi Arabia, announced a Cabinet the withdrawal of rival forces from Aden and UN Special Envoy to Yemen stated that General condemns the deplorable attack on reshuffle. The new Yemeni government the flashpoint southern province of Abyan. “more work needs to be done to include Aden airport shortly after the arrival of the was formed following a power-sharing Yemeni women in the Cabinet and decision- newly formed Yemeni Cabinet, which killed agreement in Riyadh earlier in December making posts, especially following the and wounded dozens of people.” between supporters of President Hadi and the historic precedent that Yemen’s political southern separatist movement which fought transition had set through the National The United Nations Special Envoy Hadi’s forces in Aden last year. According Dialogue Conference. The Special Envoy Martin Griffiths issued an “unequivocal to country’s state-run SABA news agency. wishes success to the Prime Minister and the condemnation of the cowardly attack on President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s Cabinet in their efforts to address the many the Yemeni cabinet upon the arrival of its decree said that the incumbent Prime challenges faced in the country and improve members to Aden airport which killed and Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, would the lives of Yemeni people”. injured dozens of civilians”. “Targeting keep his job while 24 Ministerial posts civilians and civilian infrastructure would have almost equal representation of However, the path to a lasting peace in Yemen is a serious violation of International both northerners and southerners. In a major PC : Getty Images is faced with many challenges, the most Humanitarian Law. development, the reshuffle also included important security challenge coming from women, for the very first time since the 1990s. Commenting on the developments of Yemen, that of the Houthi militias. On December This despicable attack horrified Yemenis Defense Minister Mohammed al-Maqdishi Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Yemen, 30, a large explosion struck the airport in the not just in Aden, but across the country. A and Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik Mohammed Al-Jaber, said that the Riyadh southern Yemeni city of Aden, shortly after transgression of such magnitude potentially kept their jobs in the new government. Ahmed Agreement would “fulfil peace, security a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet amounts to a war crime,” Griffiths said. “This Awad Bin Mubarak, who was Yemen’s and stability.” Mohammed Al-Jaber also landed there, security officials said. At least cabinet is a signal of hope that reconciliation Ambassador to the U.S., was named Foreign said that the Yemeni people would “reap the 25 people were killed and 110 wounded in is possible. This horrific attack was a Minister, replacing Mohammed Abdullah al- fruits” of the agreement. The UAE Minister the blast. Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin deliberate attempt to turn this moment of Hadrami, who was critical of the UAE. of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, Mubarak blamed the Houthis for the attacks. hope to one of rift and despair, and to derail tweeted: “The implementation of the Riyadh His Ministry said in a statement later that efforts to achieve peace and alleviate the This reshuffle is seen as a major step Agreement remains one of the most important the rebels fired four ballistic missiles at the suffering of the Yemeni people,” Griffiths toward closing a dangerous rift between the steps in the constructive political deal with airport, and launched drone attacks at the added. “The United Nations will continue internationally recognized government and the Yemeni crisis, and hope is returning once palace, the Cabinet’s headquarters. supporting Yemenis to reach a future of southern separatists backed by the United again towards the serious dealings of the sustainable peace, free from the fear and Arab Emirates. Naming a new government Yemeni parties with this agreement”. Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdelmalik grief of days like yesterday.”

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International NEW DELHI TIMES Iran’s announcement to enrich its Uranium reserves draws international concerns The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had also confirmed that it has received a letter from Iran declaring the country’s intention to start enriching uranium up to 20% accordance with the Parliament law,” Salehi monitor and report on any new Iranian ◆ By NDT Bureau said. “God willing, we will start enriching nuclear activities.” Responding to the @NewDelhiTimes [uranium] up to 20% soon. The President announcement by Iran, Israel said that it will should issue an order. Of course, the not allow Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. [email protected] President has already issued a preliminary Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu order according to which we sent a letter to said the move proved that Iran is seeking ran has announced that it has begun the Agency and made the announcement. nuclear weapons. I enriching uranium to 20%. The Iranian We are just like a soldier having his hand Government Spokesman, Ali Rabiei, said on the trigger, waiting for the commander “Iran’s decision to continue violating its that the higher enrichment had begun on to issue an order to open fire. We are ready commitments, raise the level of enrichment January 4, 2021, at the Fordo facility, to do this and God willing, we will do it as and advance its industrial capacities for which is located inside of a mountain. “A soon as possible,” added Salehi. underground uranium enrichment cannot be few minutes ago, the process of producing

explained in any way other than the further PC : Getty Images enriched uranium to 20% purity has begun. realization of its plans to develop a military The International Atomic Energy Agency And the first product of UF6 enriched nuclear program,” he remarked. In a similar January of uranium enrichment up to 20% (IAEA) had also confirmed that it has uranium will be produced in a few hours,” vein, the Israeli Defence Minister Bennyn at the underground facility of the Fordow received a letter from Iran declaring the Ali Rabiei said on January 4. On the same Gantz remarked that “Iran is a challenge Fuel Enrichment Plant.” “This action, which country’s intention to start enriching day, the Iranian Foreign Minister Javed Jarif to the world, to the region and to the State has no credible civil justification and carries uranium up to 20%. “Iran has informed tweeted, “We resumed 20% enrichment, of Israel. The defence establishment and very significant proliferation-related risks, the Agency that in order to comply with a as legislated by our Parliament. IAEA has all its organizations must continue tracking is in clear violation of Iran’s commitments legal act recently passed by the country’s been duly notified. Our remedial action this matter, and the State of Israel cannot under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization conforms fully with Para 36 of JCPOA, after allow Iran to go nuclear and to be allowed to Action (JCPoA) and further hollows out of Iran intends to produce low-enriched years of non-compliance by several other advance its other ambitions”. the Agreement. This is a serious negative JCPOA participants. Our measures are fully uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the development which undermines the joint reversible upon full compliance by all”. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant,” the IAEA The European Union has also expressed commitment of JCPoA participants on 21 said in a statement. its concerns at the Iranian announcement December to preserve the JCPoA. It also risks A few days back, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of uranium enrichment. “This action is compromising the important opportunity for of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran The announcement by Iran has raised in breach of Iran’s nuclear commitments a return to diplomacy with the incoming US (AEOI), had said that Iran will raise the level international concerns. The US Department and will have serious implications,” EU Administration”, the statement said. of uranium enrichment up to 20 percent “as of State has condemned the announcement Spokesperson Peter Stano said. “We are soon as possible.” “We have sent a letter to by Iran and termed it as a “clear attempt highly concerned by the measures taken by Iran’s move is seen as an attempt to get the representative of the Islamic Republic to to increase its (Iran) campaign of nuclear Iran”, he added. On January 6, a Statement leverages in the negotiations over from the the International Atomic Energy Agency in extortion.” “The United States and the rest by the E3 (United Kingdom, France and nuclear program as the US President Elect Vienna to submit it to the Agency. This letter of the international community will assess Germany) on the Joint Comprehensive Plan Joe Biden has said that the USA would seek was submitted to the Agency, informing Iran’s actions,” the State Department said. of Action (JCPoA) stated deep concerns “by to re-join the nuclear agreement if Iran came it that we want to start 20% enrichment in “We have confidence that the IAEA will the commencement by Iran on the 4th of back into the fold. South Korea passes legislations to constrain the power of state agencies now, prosecutors have been endowed with ◆ By NDT Bureau omnipotent authority but have not been @NewDelhiTimes held accountable for their faults, developing into a ‘sanctuary of power’ where there is [email protected] no way to hold them accountable,” the President said. “The CIO will serve as n December 13, 2020, the South an institutional mechanism that makes it O Korean National Assembly passed possible to hold prosecutors accountable for amendments to three major acts, namely, internal corruption and faults. The CIO is the Act on the Corruption Investigation not a monstrous organization to undermine Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), the the power of prosecutors. It will make sure National Intelligence Service (NIS) Act and that the great power held by prosecutors the National Police Agency (NPA) Act. becomes a force for upholding justice in our society.” The South Korean President signed the amended laws on December 15, Analysts say that the CIO will curtail 2020 and termed these as ushering an the power of the state prosecutors while “institutionalization of reforms to agencies the opposition has called it as a tool of of power, which has been a longstanding dictatorship and alleges that it will be used ambition of democracy”. for the suppression of political dissent. PC : Getty Images The CIO short, is an independent agency of The amendment to the NIS Act has also “anti-communist” investigations under the opposition but also by some rights group. the South Korean government responsible led to criticism from many quarters. The National Security Law. for prosecuting crimes and investigating amendment constrains the power of the A statement released by the Human Rights allegations involving “high-ranking National Intelligence Service. The National Security law also imposes Watch on December 22 states that while the officials” or their direct family members. severe criminal penalties on anyone who new provisions impose some restraints on the The NIS can now only deal with gathering and joins or induces others to join an “anti- NIS by prohibiting illegal wiretapping and The South Korean President has termed processing intelligence pertaining to foreign government organization.” the use of location tracking, prohibiting the the CIO as “a democratic tool of checking affairs and North Korea, as well as conduct use of information collected by the agency the authority of prosecutors”. “[This] will counterintelligence and counterterrorism The law further says that anyone who for purposes other than that for which it was serve as the cornerstone of ensuring that operations. The rationale for the amendments “constitutes or joins an organization aimed collected, and making clear that the agency agencies of power operate in accordance given by the governments is that the National at” propagating, inciting, praising, or acting in should be politically neutral, these positive with the principle of checks and balances Intelligence Service had abused its authority concert with an anti-government organization steps are offset by the broad definitions of and can be reborn as institutions that serve and committed human rights violations is committing a criminal offense. These the agency’s scope of work and the continued only the public,” the President said. “Until during criminal investigations, including amendments are not only criticised by the application of the National Security Law. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 7

International NEW DELHI TIMES Distressing scenes witnessed at the US Capitol Hill The protestors are alleging that an electoral has taken fraud in the US elections and Donald Trump, and not Joe Biden, is the rightful winner of the Presidential Polls

◆ By NDT Bureau in sharp contrast to his tweets which were made just after the barging by his supporters. @NewDelhiTimes Vice President Mike Pence tweeted: “The [email protected] violence and destruction taking place at n January 6, 2021, truly unprecedented the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop O and unruly scenes were witnessed at the Now. Anyone involved must respect Law US Capitol Hill. Thousands of supporters Enforcement officers and immediately of outgoing Republican President Donald leave the building. Peaceful protest is the Trump barged into Capitol Hill and the US right of every American but this attack on lawmakers were forced to evacuate their our Capitol will not be tolerated and those chambers. involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Former US President The Trump supporters took over the George W Bush remarked: “This is how presiding officer’s chair in the Senate, election results are disputed in a banana the offices of the House Speaker and the republic ... I am appalled by the reckless Senate dais and raised slogans like “Trump behaviour of some political leaders since the won that election”. The breach by the mob election and by the lack of respect shown forced members of the House and Senate today for our institutions, our traditions, and to suspend a joint session of Congress to our law enforcement.” certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 US election. In an unfortunate The US takes immense pride in it being the oldest democracy in the world. The

turn of events, four people died during PC : Getty Images the violence, including one woman who Constitution of the United States of America, was shot by an officer outside the House The scenes at the US Capitol Hill were totally tweeted: “America is so much better than adopted in 1788, provides the world’s first chamber. Washington’s Mayor declared an uncalled for and have forever etched a black what we’re seeing today”. formal blueprint for a modern democracy. evening curfew in an attempt to contain the mark in the otherwise proud democratic The USA is the only country in the world violence. traditions of the US. It was no surprise that The outgoing US President Donald Trump where democratic traditions have stretched leaders across the political spectrum in the has also called for an orderly transition of for a continuum of more than 200 years. The protestors are alleging that an electoral US were unanimous in their condemnation power. “Even though I totally disagree with has taken fraud in the US elections and of the unwarranted incident. the outcome of the election, and the facts The democratic traditions in the US are Donald Trump, and not Joe Biden, is the bear me out, nevertheless there will be an too strong to be affected by the unfortunate rightful winner of the Presidential Polls. The US President Elect Joe Biden tweeted: orderly transition on January 20th,” Trump events at the Capitol Hill by some unruly However, there is very little ground to “Let me be very clear: the scenes of chaos said in a statement posted to Twitter by his elements who represent a miniscule support such claims which have been at the Capitol do not represent who we are. social media director. Trump added, “While proportion of the total electorate. Also, even debunked by multiple fact checkers and What we are seeing is a small number of this represents the end of the greatest first this miniscule minority must understand media outlets. Even the US Supreme Court extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This term in presidential history, it’s only the that causing chaos and resorting to violence has dismissed the allegations of a voter is not dissent, it’s disorder. It borders on beginning of our fight to Make America is not the right way to carry out a political fraud. sedition, and it must end. Now”. He again Great Again!” This message of Trump was protest. Sudan boosts relations with US establishing better conditions in the world, mechanism to attract investments and funding World Bank Group, enabling the country to ◆ By NDT Bureau expanding peace and promoting prosperity between Sudan and America. finally access financing sources amounting @NewDelhiTimes for human life for all peoples. The Foreign Ministry stated that with regards to the direct [email protected] responsibility, Sudan stretched its hand for joint cooperation with states and peoples, n January 6, 2021, Sudan officially and initiated inter-religious dialogue for the O signed the Abraham Accords, agreeing dissemination of peace and the guaranteeing to normalize relations with Israel. The of human dignity. signing took place at the United States Embassy in Khartoum. The US Treasury The signing of the Abraham Accords and Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, signed on behalf normalising ties with Israel brings with it of Washington, while Sudanese Minister of a host of foreign policy benefits. The US Justice, Nasereldin Abdelbari, signed on has removed Sudan from the list of State behalf of Khartoum. Sponsors of Terror. Sudan was put on the Abdelbari remarked that Sudan welcomed US State sponsors of terrorism list for giving the rapprochement and the diplomatic ties refuge to Osama bin Laden and other Al- between Sudan and Israel and that this Qaida leaders in the 1990s. rapprochement will benefit not only Sudan but other countries in the region. He said In December 2020, the US Secretary of Khartoum appreciated Mnuchin’s historical State, Mike Pompeo, remarked: “This visit and hoped to strengthen ties with the achievement was made possible by the US. efforts of Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government to chart a bold new course away On January 6, Mnuchin said it was “a great from the legacy of the Bashir regime and, in honour to be here with you today, and I think particular, to meet the statutory and policy PC : Getty Images this will have a tremendous impact on the criteria for rescission”. people of Israel and the people of Sudan as The US agreed to give Sudan a $1 billion to one and a half billion dollars annually. Sudan they continue to work together on cultural The visit of Mnuchin also led to greater trade “bridge loan” to help it clear its debt to the has more than $60 billion in foreign debt. and economic opportunities.” and investment opportunities for Sudan. World Bank. Sudan State News Agency On January 7, 2021, Sudan’s Ministry reported that during the recent Sudan visit The resources will support the country’s According to the Sudanese Ministry of of Infrastructure and Transport and the of Mnuchin, Sudan and the US signed a economy and help the government to Foreign Affairs, Sudan believes in the administration of the Export-Import Bank memorandum of understanding concerning implement the different infrastructure and positive values included in the declaration of the United States (EXIM) reached an the bridge loan whereby the United States development projects. This will also boost and feels its solidarity and responsibility for agreement on working out an implementation of America will pay Sudan’s arrears to the the regional economic standing of Sudan.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 8 11 - 17 January 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Hong Kong grants not hand in his British National Overseas WikiLeaks founder passport. bail to arrested Police said none of the activists arrested on suspicion of subversion under the security Assange denied bail in UK pro-democracy law had been formally charged. British judge denied bail to WikiLeaks’ Fitzgerald said it’s also unclear whether Former pro-democracy lawmaker Lam A founder Julian Assange, ordering him the incoming Joe Biden administration activists Cheuk-ting told reporters that determinations to remain in a high-security prison while will pursue the prosecution, initiated uthorities in Hong Kong said that they of whether to formally prosecute people in U.K. courts decide whether he will be under President Donald Trump. Fitzgerald A have granted bail to most of the 55 pro- Hong Kong are not based on evidence, but sent to the United States to face espionage said Assange would be safer awaiting the democracy activists who were arrested this on a “political decision” by officials. charges. outcome of the judicial process at home with week in a sweeping crackdown on dissent. Moris and their two young sons — fathered District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said One of the activists said they could still while he was in the embassy — than in Assange must remain in prison while the be charged under a tough national security prison, where there is “a very grave crisis of courts consider an appeal by U.S. authorities law. COVID.” But the judge ruled that Assange against her decision not to extradite him. still had a strong motive to flee. The activists were accused of taking part in The judge said Assange “has an incentive an unofficial primary election last year that “As far as Mr. Assange is concerned this to abscond” and there is a good chance he authorities said was part of a plan to paralyze case has not yet been won,” she said. “Mr. would fail to return to court if freed. the Legislative Council and subvert state Assange still has an incentive to abscond power. The primary was held to choose the Baraitser rejected an American request to from these as yet unresolved proceedings.” best candidates to field as the pro-democracy send Assange to the U.S. to face spying U.S. prosecutors have indicted Assange camp sought to win a majority of seats. charges over WikiLeaks’ publication of on 17 espionage charges and one charge The mass arrests were the biggest move secret military documents a decade ago. She Photo AP PC : of computer misuse over WikiLeaks’ denied extradition on health grounds, saying against Hong Kong’s democracy movement publication of thousands of leaked military the 49-year-old Australian was likely to since Beijing imposed the national security and diplomatic documents. The charges kill himself if held under harsh U.S. prison law in the semi-autonomous territory last “They haven’t made any charges against carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in conditions. June to quell dissent following months of us yet,” said Lam, who was among those prison. anti-government protests in 2019. arrested. “But I’m quite sure that they will The bail ruling means Assange must remain American prosecutors say Assange charge some of us sooner or later, whether in London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison Three of the 55 arrested people were not unlawfully helped U.S. Army intelligence they have sufficient evidence or not.” where he has been held since he was released - activists Joshua Wong and Tam analyst Chelsea Manning steal classified arrested in April 2019 for skipping bail Tak-chi, who were already in jail on separate He said the purpose of the arrests was to diplomatic cables and military files that during a separate legal battle seven years charges, and former Hong Kong Democratic silence Hong Kong’s people and create a were later published by WikiLeaks. earlier. Party Chairman Wu Chi-wai, who remained “chilling effect.” Lawyers for Assange argue that he was in custody for failing to meet bail conditions Separately, three people were sentenced to acting as a journalist and is entitled to in a separate protest-related case. up to 5 1/2 years in prison for rioting at Hong First Amendment protections of freedom Wu had been granted bail last month after Kong’s airport and assaulting a Chinese of speech for publishing documents that being charged with inciting others to join journalist in August 2019 at the height of the exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq unauthorized protests in July 2019. He was anti-government protests. and Afghanistan. ordered to surrender his travel documents, The judge rejected that argument in her and authorities later learned that he did Credit : Associated Press (AP) extradition ruling, saying Assange’s actions, if proven, would amount to offenses “that PC : AP Photo AP PC : would not be protected by his right to Israel postpones Netanyahu’s freedom of speech.” She also said the U.S. Assange’s partner, Stella Moris, said the judicial system would give him a fair trial. decision was “a huge disappointment.” trial amid virus lockdown But the judge agreed that U.S. prison WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson srael has postponed the next hearing in of the coronavirus crisis. Israel has seen a conditions would be oppressive, saying said “it is inhumane. It is illogical.” I Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent surge in cases despite unleashing there was a “real risk” he would be sent to corruption trial because of a tightened one of the world’s fastest vaccination Several dozen Assange supporters gathered the Administrative Maximum Facility in coronavirus lockdown that began. campaigns. The country has given the first outside London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Florence, Colorado. It is the highest security of two vaccine doses to nearly 20% of its The Jerusalem District Court said the Court, shouting “Free Assange.” Police said prison in the U.S., also holding Unabomber population, and Netanyahu said that it hearing scheduled for January 13 would seven people were arrested for breaching Theodore Kaczynski and Mexican drug lord has secured enough vaccines to inoculate be postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus lockdown rules. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. the whole adult population by the end of number of people required to attend in March. Lawyers for the U.S. government have “I am satisfied that, in these harsh person. appealed the decision not to extradite conditions, Mr. Assange’s mental health Netanyahu has placed the vaccination drive Assange, and the case will be heard by would deteriorate, causing him to commit at the center of his campaign for re-election Britain’s Hugh Court at an unspecified date. suicide,” she said in her ruling. that month, when Israel will hold its fourth nationwide vote in less than two years. In the Clair Dobbin, a British lawyer acting for the Assange’s legal troubles began in 2010, when meantime, he has called on Israelis to make U.S., said Assange had shown he would go he was arrested in London at the request “one last big effort” to halt transmission by “to almost any length” to avoid extradition, of Sweden, which wanted to question him adhering to the tightened restrictions. and it was likely he would flee if granted about allegations of rape and sexual assault bail. made by two women. In 2012, Assange Most schools and businesses were closed, jumped bail and sought refuge inside the with people required to remain within She noted that Assange had spent seven Ecuadorian Embassy, where he was beyond 1,000 meters (yards) from home except years inside Ecuadorian Embassy in London the reach of U.K. and Swedish authorities — for essential needs. Public gatherings are after seeking refuge there from a Swedish but also effectively was a prisoner in the tiny heavily restricted and public transportation extradition request in 2012. diplomatic mission. is limited. The restrictions are to last for at least two weeks. Dobbin said Assange had the “resources, The relationship between Assange and Photo AP PC : abilities and sheer wherewithal” to evade his hosts eventually soured, and he was Thousands of police will be deployed to justice once again, and noted that Mexico evicted from the embassy in April 2019. enforce them, with roadblocks set up on has said it will offer him asylum. Netanyahu has been indicted on charges of British police immediately arrested him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust connected major thoroughfares. Israel was already in its third national lockdown since the start of But Assange’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, breaching bail in 2012. to three long-running investigations. He has the pandemic. said the judge’s decision to refuse extradition Sweden dropped the sex crimes denied any wrongdoing and says he is the “massively reduces” any motivation to investigations in November 2019 because victim of a “witch hunt” by hostile media, Deputy Police Commissioner Ziv Sagiv abscond. so much time had elapsed, but Assange law enforcement and judicial officials. called on people to stay home, saying police would operate in “every possible way” to “Mr. Assange has every reason to stay in this has remained in prison throughout his In recent months he has faced weekly enforce the restrictions. jurisdiction where he has the protection of the extradition hearing. protests calling on him to resign over the rule of law and this court’s decision,” he said. Credit : Associated Press (AP) allegations and the government’s handling Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 9

International NEW DELHI TIMES South Africa buys Netanyahu reelection hopes Qatar emerges 1.5 million doses hinge on vaccination campaign from Gulf spat of AstraZeneca or media-obsessed Prime Minister He got vaccinated on national TV, and he resolute and F Benjamin Netanyahu, the coronavirus made sure to be at health clinics to greet vaccine vaccine has arrived just in time. the 500,000th and 1 millionth people to be largely unscathed vaccinated — with the events streamed live outh Africa says it will import 1.5 With elections approaching in March, ataris awoke to a surprise blockade and on YouTube. S million doses of the AstraZeneca Netanyahu has placed his world-leading Q boycott by Gulf Arab neighbors 3 1/2 vaccine to inoculate the country’s health vaccination drive at the center of his years ago, and this week were jolted again workers. This is South Africa’s first reelection campaign — launching an by the sudden announcement that it was all announcement of the purchase of a aggressive media blitz portraying him as over. COVID-19 vaccine as its cases soar. almost singlehandedly leading the country The period in between was bitter, with mud- out of the pandemic. He appears to be slinging by both sides and viscous media The first 1 million doses will be delivered betting that a successful vaccination effort blitzes, social media trolling, expensive later this month from the Serum Institute can persuade voters to forget about his lobbying efforts in Washington, and of India, followed by an additional 500,000 corruption trial and the economic damage allegations of hacks and leaks. Criticism of doses in February, Health Minister Zwelini caused by the coronavirus crisis. Mkhize announced. the boycott was a criminal offense in Saudi Netanyahu, like his good friend Donald Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain South Africa is battling a dramatic Trump and other world leaders, frequently and Egypt as the four sought to punish Qatar. resurgence of COVID-19 that is quickly tries to use social media and tightly Qatar’s resolve in the face of the assault outstripping its first peak. controlled press conferences to bypass the showed how little the campaign achieved as traditional media — and the scrutiny that has

PC : AP Photo AP PC : the small, but influential U.S. ally holds firm Some of South Africa’s hospitals are already come along with it. While this strategy has with its ties to Turkey, Iran and Islamists. reporting that they are at capacity. The often served Netanyahu well, his obsession Netanyahu boasts of his relationships with rapid spread of the disease in recent weeks with controlling the message also threatens “In terms of foreign policy, the international the chief executives of Pfizer and Moderna, has been driven by a new, more infectious to backfire. relations of the blockade, Qatar didn’t have implying his connections helped acquire variant of the virus, according to medical to change much because the blockade was It lies at the heart of a corruption case in millions of hard-to-get doses of vaccines. experts. on such shaky ground to start,” said Jocelyn which he is accused of granting favors to “I speak to them all the time,” he recently Sage Mitchell, an assistant professor in powerful media figures in exchange for quipped. residence at Northwestern University’s positive coverage of him and his family. Netanyahu rose to prominence in the 1990s campus in Qatar. An expanded indictment released this week in great part thanks to his mastery of the outlined 150 incidents showing detailed She said the quartet’s efforts to internationally media. He is at ease on camera and capable control he allegedly tried to exert over the isolate Qatar failed. This, coupled with of speaking in clear sound bites in both media. This included pressure on a news an incoming Biden administration in Hebrew and American-accented English. site to drop critical coverage about a lacy Washington that is expected to take a firmer Despite his skill as a communicator, he has dress worn by his wife Sara, and pushing the stance toward Saudi Arabia and re-engage had a rocky relationship with the Israeli PC : AP Photo AP PC : site to publish photos of her meeting actor with Iran, put Qatar in a strong negotiating media. Leonardo DiCaprio. position. Sounding much like Trump, he accuses the Netanyahu’s tactics have also contributed “I don’t expect to see any concessions media of having a liberal bias and leading a to a nascent uprising in his own party. Two or changes of significance from Qatar,” “witch hunt” against him. He has embraced prominent defectors accused him of creating Mitchell said. “Doha is actually used, and social media and brags about circumventing a “personality cult” in their resignation recognized, and welcomed for their ability the traditional media to spread his messages. speeches. to be the ally in the middle.” When he invites reporters to his press The country of 60 million people has Since he became the first Israeli to be conferences, he rarely takes questions. reported by far the most cases of the vaccinated two weeks ago in a festive Last week, Netanyahu welcomed the coronavirus in Africa, with more than 1.1 event broadcast live on national television, convicted U.S. spy Jonathan Pollard to Israel, million confirmed infections, including Netanyahu’s office has pumped out a capping a 35-year saga. “What a moment,” 31,368 deaths, representing more than 30% constant stream of statements, tweets and Netanyahu declared on the airport tarmac in of all cases on the continent of 1.3 billion. videos showing the Prime Minister extolling the middle of the night. Only no media were the virtues of the vaccine and claiming credit invited to witness the moment. Netanyahu’s South Africa is not the first country on the for making it available to the broader public. 54-nation continent to announce a vaccine office later released smartphone photos and deal. Kenya’s Health Minister said the “I have brought the vaccines and you are video taken by an aide. country is expected to start receiving 24 giving the vaccines,” he recently told Materials distributed by his political party, Photo AP PC : million doses next month of the AstraZeneca health workers at a clinic in an Arab town Likud, go even further. In November, it vaccine. in northern Israel as he implored residents released a video of Netanyahu getting a Saudi Arabia ended its embargo, opening to get the shot. “The whole world is amazed haircut and going to a vegetable store — a its airspace and, in the coming days, its land And last month, Morocco announced it had at Israel. They are writing that Israel is a message that he was doing his part to help crossing to it’s tiny Gulf neighbor. ordered 65 million doses of COVID-19 wonder.” struggling businesses hurt by the country’s Gulf Arab leaders and a representative from vaccines from China’s Sinopharm and economic crisis. Britain’s AstraZeneca. By many counts, Israel has pulled off a Egypt gathered in Saudi Arabia and signed a significant achievement so far. In just over “We thank you for the 24 hours every declaration to start a new page in brotherly South Africa has 1.25 million health care two weeks, the country has given nearly 1.4 day that you give to the people of Israel,” relations, effectively ending Qatar’s isolation workers in public and private hospitals, and million people the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine, the barber told him. “Prime Minister No. among the quartet. the government has decided they should roughly 15% of its population. That is the 1!” a supporter shouted as he exited the So stark was the about-face that Saudi have first priority in getting protection from highest level in the world on a per capita minimarket. Arabia’s crown prince embraced Qatar’s COVID-19, Mkhize said. basis, according to “ Our World in Data,” an open source research site that compares Gideon Saar, a Netanyahu stalwart, broke ruling emir upon his arrival to the summit, and later drove him to see historic desert The department of health has purchased the official government statistics. away from Likud last month to form his own sites in the area. In a nod to their fraternal vaccine directly from the manufacturer in party, accusing Netanyahu of turning Likud ties, Qatar’s emir landed in a jet named after India, he said. Israel aims to vaccinate most of the into a tool for personal survival as he goes population by the end of March — just on trial. an ancient town located in Saudi Arabia’s around the March 23 election. For the time landlocked Najd region, the birthplace of his South Africa’s drug regulatory body Zeev Elkin, a longtime confidant of is “fine-tuning and aligning all the being, Israel has not announced any plans Bani Tamim tribe. to share the vaccines with its Palestinian Netanyahu, later joined Saar. “Mr. Prime regulations processes to ensure that there Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad neighbors. Instead, they are dependent Minister, you’ve destroyed the Likud are no unnecessary delays or regulatory Al Thani, was 37 years old when the crisis on the U.N. to deliver vaccines at a still- and brought an atmosphere of a cult of impediments to activate this rollout,” erupted in mid-2017, marking the biggest unknown time. Netanyahu has made the personality, sycophancy, fear of expressing Mkhize said. political challenge of his rule. campaign deeply personal. He welcomed criticism, and a Byzantine court,” he said. Credit : Associated Press (AP) the first shipment of vaccines at the airport. Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP)

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 10 11 - 17 January 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Taiwan heralds visit by US Ambassador to UN as China fumes aiwan said that it welcomed the fighter jets near the island in a display of T visit of the U.S. ambassador to the force during both visits. United Nations in the closing days of the Trump administration, in a move that Heightened tensions with China present brought China’s renewed condemnation of a diplomatic challenge for Biden, who is Washington. expected to maintain many of Trump’s policies toward Beijing while seeking to Kelly Craft will visit Taipei, the island’s put relations on a more predictable, less capital, on Jan. 13-15, a week before the confrontational track. inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The U.S. Mission to the United Nations While Beijing has called for improved said that the visit would “reinforce the U.S. relations, it refuses to back down on issues government’s strong and ongoing support such as Taiwan that it considers to be among for Taiwan’s international space.” its “core interests.”

A spokesperson for Taiwan’s Presidential Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Office said that they “sincerely welcome” Hua Chunying said a “handful of anti- the visit and that final discussions about the Photo AP PC : China politicians within the Trump trip were still underway. China. China continues to regard Taiwan as Craft was appointed by President Donald administration, to be clear, such as part of its territory to be recovered by force Trump to the position in 2019, and is due Pompeo, have been staging a show The trip is a “symbol of the solid friendship if necessary. to be replaced by career diplomat Linda of madness as their days at the reins between Taiwan and the U.S, and will Thomas-Greenfield after Biden takes office. are numbered, stopping at nothing to positively help and deepen the U.S.-Taiwan The visit is yet another move from the deliberately sabotage China-U.S. relations partnership,” the spokesperson said. Trump administration to step up interactions In defiance of China’s warnings, Congress for selfish political interests.” with the island despite their lacking formal and the Trump administration have pushed In announcing the trip, U.S. Secretary of diplomatic ties since Washington switched for more visits by sitting government “China will take all necessary measures State Mike Pompeo said he was sending recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. officials, along with arms sales and political to safeguard its sovereignty and security Craft to show “what a free China could support. Secretary of Health and Human interests,” Hua told reporters at a daily achieve.” Taiwan’s official title is the The U.S. outreach to Taiwan has exacerbated Services Alex Azar visited in August, briefing. “If the U.S. insists on going its own Republic of China, the name of Chiang Kai- tensions between Washington and Beijing followed the next month by Under Secretary way, it will definitely pay a heavy price for shek’s Nationalist Party government that he that are already running high over the of State Keith Krach. its erroneous actions.” moved to Taiwan in 1949 as Mao Zedong’s COVID-19 pandemic, trade, Hong Kong Communists swept to power on mainland and the South China Sea. China stepped up its angry rhetoric and flew Credit : Associated Press (AP) Australia sweltered through A year on, questions haunt its 4th-hottest year in 2020 Iran’s downing of Ukrainian plane hen Navaz Ebrahim learned that a W Ukrainian plane had fallen from the sky near Iran’s capital, she didn’t realize her older sister was on the flight. They had just spoken on the phone. Niloufar had promised her, like she always does, that everything PC : AP Photo AP PC : was going to be alright. government and further damaged Iran’s As news spread of the jetliner that burst into relations with the West. flames and plunged to the ground, killing all 176 on board, Ebrahim called her mother in After three days of denial in the face of PC : AP Photo AP PC : Tehran, desperate to hear that her 34-year- mounting evidence, Iran admitted its own ustralia sweltered through its fourth- weather pattern did not impact Australia’s old sister and brother-in-law, newly married aerial defence forces downed the plane by A hottest year on record last year despite temperatures until October. in the northern mountains of Iran, had taken mistake. Just hours before the crash, Iran the recent return of the usually cooling La any other plane home to London. Then her had fired ballistic missiles at American bases “You could say that the fourth-warmest year Nina climate pattern, the nation’s weather mother checked the flight number. in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike on record is our warmest La Nina year,” bureau said. that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani Watkins said. A year after Iran’s military mistakenly in Baghdad. The strike pushed Washington The wetter-than-average 2020 followed “But this year started very hot and dry and downed Ukraine International Airlines Flight and Tehran to the precipice of war. Australia’s hottest and driest year in 2019 ended more like La Nina. So it’s arguable PS752 with two surface-to-air missiles, the that came to a catastrophic conclusion with whether you’d say it was really influenced answers that have emerged from the disaster On alert and fearful of American reprisals wildfires fueled by drought that killed at for enough of the year to expect it to be only seem to lead to more questions. even as commercial air traffic was allowed least 33 people, destroyed more than 3,000 cooler,” he added. to continue, lower-level officers mistook the homes and razed 19 million hectares (47 Officials in Canada, which was home to Boeing 737-800 for a U.S. cruise missile, million acres). The hottest temperature in Australia for many of the passengers on board, and other authorities later reported. After receiving no 2020 was 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Globally, 2020 is likely to be recognized affected countries have raised concerns about response from higher command, a missile Fahrenheit) recorded at the height of the as the world’s third-hottest on record once the lack of transparency and accountability operator opened fire in violation of protocol. wildfire emergency at Penrith in New South climate data for December is calculated, in Iran’s investigation of its own military, Wales state on Jan. 4. It was the hottest The civilian airliner, bound for the Bureau of Meteorology head of climate while grieving families allege harassment temperature ever recorded in the Sydney Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, exploded. The operations Andrew Watkins said. by Iranian authorities. area. bodies of the passengers — including 82 La Nina, the cooler flipside of the better Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians Australia’s other hottest years were 2013 “Without knowing what really happened known El Nino, was declared in the Pacific — were burned beyond recognition and and 2005. to them, we’re stuck in that same horrible Ocean in September. La Nina occurs when strewn across a field near the village night,” said Ebrahim, who lives in Dallas, equatorial trade winds become stronger, of Shahedshahr just outside of Tehran. Australia’s daily temperature was 1.15 degrees Texas. “We haven’t received anything close changing ocean surface currents and They were students, recent graduates, Celsius (2.07 degrees Fahrenheit) above to the truth.” drawing up cooler deep water. average last year and rainfall was 4% above newlyweds, doctors, parents and children. The youngest was a 1 year-old girl. Waikins said the La Nina cycle usually average despite a parched start to the year. The shootdown ignited an outburst of unrest sets in between March and May, but the Credit : Associated Press (AP) across Iran, deepened public mistrust in the Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 11

International NEW DELHI TIMES

Bashir’s activities. In Australia, Prime Indonesian cleric who inspired Minister Scott Morrison described Bashir’s Kim vows to release as “gut wrenching” and said the government had long called for tougher improve ties with Bali bombings freed from jail sentences against those behind the bombings. firebrand cleric who inspired bombings team accompanied Bashir to his home at the “Decisions on sentencing ... as we know, are outside world at A in Bali and other attacks walked free Islamic boarding school he cofounded in matters for the Indonesian justice system from an Indonesian prison after completing Solo city, about 540 kilometers (335 miles) and we have to respect the decisions that party meeting his sentence for funding the training of east of the capital, Jakarta. they take,” Morrison said. Islamic militants. orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un Rohim said the family had agreed with He said that while Bashir’s release was N stressed the need to drastically improve Police said they will monitor the activities of authorities not to hold any celebrations to consistent with the Indonesian justice his nation’s ties with the outside world as he Abu Bakar Bashir, who is 82 and ailing. His welcome Bashir. system, “That doesn’t make it any easier for addressed a major political conference for son said Bashir will avoid activities outside any Australian to accept that ... ultimately, the third day. his home due to the coronavirus pandemic. those who are responsible for the murder of Australians would now be free. It’s State media said Kim also reviewed The slender, white-bearded Bashir, an sometimes not a fair world. And that’s one relations with rival South Korea but didn’t Indonesian of Yemeni descent, was the of the hardest things to deal with.” explain what steps he said he wanted to take. spiritual leader of the al-Qaida-linked Observers have expected Kim to use the first Indonesian authorities had struggled to prove Jemaah Islamiyah network behind the 2002 Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party in five Bashir’s involvement in the Bali bombings bombings on the tourist island of Bali that years to send conciliatory gestures toward and fought multiple battles to uphold killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, Seoul and Washington as he faces deepening convictions on other charges. Prosecutors including 88 Australians, leaving a deep scar economic troubles at home. in that country. were unable to prove a string of terrorism- related allegations, a treason conviction was In his speech on the third day of the meeting, Bashir was imprisoned in 2011 for his links overturned, and a sentence for a document Kim “declared the general orientation to a militant training camp in religiously forgery conviction was considered light. and the policy stand of our party for conservative Aceh province. He was comprehensively expanding and developing convicted of funding the military-style camp Upon release from prison in 2004, he was PC : AP Photo AP PC : the external relations,” the Korean Central arrested and again charged with heading to train Islamic militants and sentenced to 15 News Agency said. Jemaah Islamiyah as well as giving his years in jail. “I just want to keep my father from crowds blessing to the Bali bombings. A court Kim also examined relations with South during the coronavirus pandemic,” Rohim He received a total of 55 months of sentence cleared him of heading the group but Korea “as required by the prevailing said. “He will only rest and gather with his reductions, which are often granted to sentenced him to 30 months for conspiracy situation and the changed times,” KCNA family until the outbreak ends. There will be prisoners on major holidays, said Rika in the bombings. said. Aprianti, spokesperson for the corrections no other activities for him for sure.” After his release in 2006, he resumed department at the Justice Ministry. School spokesperson Endro Sudarsono said teaching at the Al-Mukmin boarding school it held no welcoming events because “we “He is released as his sentence ends,” he cofounded in 1972 and traveled the have agreed with authorities to keep away Aprianti said. country giving fiery sermons. a large crowd to curb the spread of the Bashir, wearing a white robe and mask, coronavirus.” The school became a militant production was escorted by the National Police’s Police removed five large welcoming banners line under Bashir’s influence, radicalizing a counterterrorism squad, known as Densus and dozens of smaller placards, saying they generation of students. Many later terrorized 88, when he left at dawn from Gunung would attract people, and replaced them with Indonesia with bombings and attacks that Sindur prison in West Java’s Bogor town, aimed to bring about an Islamic caliphate

a single banner announcing there would be Photo AP PC : Bashir’s son, Abdul Rohim, told The no celebrations. and battered the country’s reputation for Associated Press. tolerance. National Police spokesperson Ahmad He said the family, lawyers and a medical Ramadhan said police would monitor Credit : Associated Press (AP) The Congress is the party’s top decision- making body that reviews past projects, harm, venereal diseases and unwanted “extremely regrettable,” saying “the lays out new priorities and reshuffles top Seoul court pregnancies and left “big mental scars” in Japanese government cannot accept this by officials. It was convened as Kim struggles the women’s lives. any means.” to overcome what he calls “multiple orders Japan to crises” caused by an economy battered by The proceedings in the case had been South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it pandemic-related border closings, a series delayed as Japan refused to receive legal respects the ruling and will strive to restore of natural disasters and U.S.-led economic compensate 12 documents. Seven of the 12 women died the dignity of the women. It said it will sanctions. while waiting for the ruling. examine the verdict’s possible effects on Korean sex slaves ties with Japan and make efforts to maintain In his opening-day speech, Kim admitted his previous economic plans had failed and South Korean court ordered Japan Another 20 women, some already diseased “future-oriented” cooperation with Tokyo. A and represented by their surviving relatives, vowed to adopt a new five-year development to financially compensate 12 South plan. On the second day of the meeting, he Korean women forced to work as sex slaves filed a separate suit against Japan, and that ruling is expected next week. said he would bolster his country’s military for Japanese troops during World War II, capability. a landmark ruling that’s set to rekindle animosities between the Asian neighbors. The women were among tens of thousands Kim, who inherited power upon his father across occupied Asia and the Pacific who Kim Jong Il’s death in late 2011, turned 37 Japan immediately protested the ruling, were sent to front-line Japanese military on 8 January. His birthday hasn’t yet been maintaining that all wartime compensation brothels. About 240 South Korean women designated a national holiday like his father’s issues were resolved under a 1965 treaty that came forward and registered with the Photo AP PC : and grandfather’s. KCNA said the Congress restored their diplomatic ties. government as victims of sexual slavery, but would continue, suggesting it was having a only 16 of them, all in their 80s and 90s, are fourth-day session on Kim’s birthday. The Seoul Central District Court ruled the still alive. Japanese government must give 100 million After a provocative run of weapons tests won ($91,360) each to the 12 aging women Observers say it’s unlikely for Japan to abide in 2016-17 to acquire the ability to strike who filed the lawsuits in 2013 for their by the South Korean court ruling. A support the U.S. mainland with nuclear weapons, wartime sexual slavery. group for women forced to work as sex Seoul and Tokyo, both key U.S. allies, are Kim abruptly launched high-stakes nuclear slaves said it may take legal steps to seize closely linked to each other economically diplomacy with President Donald Trump, The court said Japan’s mobilization of these Japanese government assets in South Korea and culturally. But their historical and which awarded him long-desired legitimacy women as sexual slaves was “a crime against if Japan refuses to compensate victims. territorial disputes stemming from Japan’s on the world stage. He also met Chinese, humanity.” It said it happened when Japan colonial occupation have often complicated Russian, South Korean and other world “illegally occupied” the Korean Peninsula Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Washington’s efforts to strengthen trilateral leaders. But as his diplomacy with Trump from 1910-45, and its sovereign immunity that Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba cooperation to deal with North Korea’s stalled and the coronavirus forced him cannot shield it from lawsuits in South had summoned South Korean Ambassador nuclear threat and China’s growing influence to close his country’s borders, Kim has Korea. The court said the women were Nam Gwan-pyo to register Tokyo’s protest in the region. been focusing domestically to mitigate the the victims of “harsh sexual activities” by of the ruling. Chief Cabinet Secretary economic shocks from the pandemic. Japanese soldiers who caused them bodily Katsunobu Kato also called the ruling Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Art & Lifestyle NEW DELHI TIMES God is Kind A Poem by Shri Prakash God is kind, God has saved us from harming giving us help and shelter at whose pleasure So we find ourselves from further illnesses we hold the treasure ourselves gathering under the Christmas by sending sound medical advice of life Tree and enabling doctors to create vaccines Only God’s clemency even at a time once again, for one and all can chase away further disease when the World is rife Now in this Covid Year, Big or small and let our prayers be heard with the strife although with much fear so that we do not suffer a fall by the Shepherd of all creation of Covid-19. of the virus in our health whom we look at with fascination. that has created a Pandemic or in our wealth. We will be grateful and cost many lives untimely ended If some gifts have come our way if we live through these times. because of the endemic infection We pray this Christmas Day, We will thank God for his consideration which can attack without hesitation this Xmas day we beg for them to be blessed and worship him and her with or without a warning. for God’s mercy to continue by the Supreme Spirit devotion. Albert Roux, major influence Eric Jerome on UK dining habits, dies at 85 Dickey, bestselling novelist, dead at 59 lbert Roux, the French-born chef and its reopening after the coronavirus pandemic A ric Jerome Dickey, the bestselling restaurateur who along with his late is awaited by many. E brother Michel had a profound influence on novelist who blended crime, romance British dining habits, has died at 85. “He was a mentor for so many people in the and eroticism in “Sister, Sister,” “Waking hospitality industry, and a real inspiration to With Enemies” and dozens of other stories Roux died after being unwell for a while, his budding chefs, including me,” said Michel about contemporary Black life, has died at family said in a statement. The family did Roux Jr. age 59. not reveal the location or cause of death. Albert Roux was born in 1935 in the village Dickey’s publicist at Penguin Random In 1982, the brothers’ restaurant in London, of Semur-en-Brionnais in the central French House, Emily Canders, told The Associated Le Gavroche, became the first British region of Burgundy. After World War II, Press that the author died of cancer in Los restaurant to be awarded three Michelin the family moved to Paris to run a new Angeles. She did not immediately provide stars, testament to its pioneering role in charcuterie and it was in the French capital other details beyond listing four daughters turning the capital’s culinary scene from where both brothers really forged their among his survivors. one devoid of innovation into one of the passion for cooking. world’s most intriguing gastronomic Dickey was an aspiring actor and stand-up melting pots. At 14, Albert became an apprentice pastry comic who began writing fiction in his mid- chef, and four years later he moved to 30s and shaped a witty, conversational and England where he soon found work at the sometimes graphic prose style. French Embassy. After his military service in Algeria, Albert Roux became deputy chef It brought him a wide readership through at the British Embassy in Paris. such novels as “Sister, Sister” and “Naughty or Nice” and through his “Gideon” crime When he returned, along with his brother, to fiction series, which included “Sleeping With Britain in 1967, they brought their classical Strangers” and “Resurrecting Midnight.” skills, particularly in pastry-making, to a

restaurant scene that was old-fashioned He also worked on the screenplay for the Photo AP PC : and staid. The legendary La Gavroche was 1998 movie “Cappuccino,” wrote a comic that weren’t about slavery or civil rights. He created, appealing to those who wanted to book miniseries for Marvel, and contributed was a great storyteller.” broaden their culinary horizons. to such anthologies as “Mothers and Sons” and “Black Silk: A Collection of African Dickey was a native of Memphis, Tennessee, American Erotica.” In addition to Le Gavroche, the brothers and a computer technology major at the opened a series of other successful University of Memphis. He moved to Los “In comedy you learn to write with flow- restaurants. In 1972, they stumbled upon the Angeles after college and eventually set

PC : AP Photo AP PC : segue, setup, and punch line — but in a Waterside Inn, a shabby old pub in Bray- much of his work there. on-Thames, west of London, which they way that people won’t see or notice. And From Le Gavroche’s launch, a loyal turned into their flagship restaurant outside in theater you learn about character,” he He worked as a software engineer in the clientele that included many of the icons of the capital. told BookPage in 2000. “You’ve got to aerospace industry, but found himself the swinging ’60s frequented the restaurant. bring something to it, and what you bring becoming more interested in the arts. He The brothers took turns in the kitchen and In 1985, the Waterside Inn received its third is the understanding of the character you developed his narrative skills through dining room, seeking “to achieve a global Michelin star. It is the only restaurant in the get from doing your homework, from creative writing classes at UCLA and reputation for service and the quality of their world, outside France, to have retained three understanding the little stuff like speech through reading; favorite authors included cuisine.” stars ever since. patterns and the way the character walks, Judy Blume. and from understanding the big stuff — your Over the years, well-known chefs such as The brothers separated their business character’s motivation.” “I’m always trying to write a good story,” Monica Galetti, Gordon Ramsay, Marcus interests in 1986, with Albert choosing Le he told NPR in 2007. “When I’m writing Wareing and Marco Pierre White earned Gavroche whilst Michel took control of The He wrote 29 novels in all, according to his I’m always trying to write these twists and their stripes at the restaurant that continues Waterside Inn. publisher, and has more than 7 million copies turns that, as you’re reading the book, you to serve classic French haute cuisine in the in print worldwide. His final book, “The Son get to -- it’s called these oh-no-he-didn’t well-heeled Mayfair neighborhood. In 2002, the brothers were awarded the of Mr. Suleman,” comes out in April. or no-she-didn’t or no-that-didn’t-happen Order of the British Empire honor by Queen moment where, you know, you want to call Although it lost one star in 1993, Le Elizabeth II for their contributions to the “I am truly saddened to hear about the your friend and say, are you on page 40? Get Gavroche, which is now run by Albert’s field. passing of Eric Jerome Dickey,” author to page 40.” son, Michel Jr., is still considered one of Roxane Gay tweeted. “His were some of the London’s most coveted places to dine, and Credit : Associated Press (AP) first novels I ever read about black people Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 13

THIS DAY | THAT YEAR | NEW DELHI TIMES

January 11, 1966 The second Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (then Soviet Union), one day after signing a peace treaty to end the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

January 12, 2010 A magnitude 7 earthquake devastated Haiti, killing

PC : Getty Images approximately 160,000 and destroying the majority of the capital Port-au-Prince on this day that year.

January 13, 1949

India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma, who went on to PC : Getty Images become the first Indian citizen to go into space in 1984 was born in Patiala, Punjab on this day that year.

January 14, 1914

The Gandhi-Smuts Agreement was reached between Gen. J.C. Smuts and Mahatma Gandhi, regarding voluntary registration, poll tax, recognition of Indian marriages and other matters on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

January 15, 2009 Chesley Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in NYC. All passengers and crew members survived in what becomes known as the “Miracle on the Hudson” PC : Getty Images on this day that year.

January 16. 2016 Zinnia flower, the first ever flower was grown, aboard the International Space Station using NASA Veggie system on this day that year.

January 17, 2017

The search for missing aircraft MH370 over the Indian Ocean was called off on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

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Delhi/NCR NEW DELHI TIMES Delhi Education Conference to be Schools in Delhi should raise awareness among parents regarding risks and consequences of organised from January 11- 17 underage driving: Department of Education PC : Getty Images

Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019”, the letter

PC : Twitter (@DelhiEduConf). : Twitter PC ◆ By NDT Bureau states. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education @NewDelhiTimes ◆ By NDT Bureau Minister Manish Sisodia. Sisodia tweeted: [email protected] The law then mentions that if an offence has @NewDelhiTimes “Launched Delhi Education Conference been committed by a juvenile, “the guardian 2021 @DelhiEduConf - a forum to of or the owner of the motor vehicle shall be [email protected] letter by the Directorate of Education, brainstorm on reimagining school education A Government of Delhi, addressed to deemed to be guilty of the contravention and in post-Covid era. Many national & shall be liable to be proceeded against and he Delhi Education Conference, organised the principles of schools in Delhi has asked international education experts will join us”. punished accordingly”. T by the Government of Delhi, will the schools to raise awareness and sensitise take place from January 11-17, 2021. The A twitter handle has been created for parents regarding the safety risks as well “Students and their parents should be made conference will contemplate how should the the Delhi Education Conference (@ as the legal consequences associated with aware of the above provisions of the law education sector be in a post-COVID world. DelhiEduConf). On January 6, the handle underage driving. and penalties and consequences of their tweeted: “How do we fill the learning gap ““Incidents of offences by juveniles while violations through classroom instructions, The conference will bring together caused due to the school closure? How will driving vehicles are on the rise. In this school assembly (whenever schools re- educators, policy makers, and administrators we implement the recommendations of context, attention of all parents and heads open), online instructional mediums used by from Delhi, other parts of India, and the National Education Policy? What are some of schools of Delhi is brought to the Section the teachers, parent teacher meetings, school world to have a dialogue around what makes of the global practices on improving public 199 A (1 and 2) and 199 B of ‘The Motor notice board,” the letter further states. an effective and equitable education system. education system? Let’s explore the answers The Delhi Education was launched by at Delhi Education Conference!” Foundation stone of School of Engineering and Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship laid at JNU, Delhi

of today even religious and family affairs ◆ By NDT Bureau need management consultation on various @NewDelhiTimes occasions. However, to meet the existing and emerging challenges, the management [email protected] education has to be designed innovatively and he foundation stone of the buildings in consonance with the dynamics of the field. T of School of Engineering and Atal At present, most of the management schools Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and are standalone educational institutions while Entrepreneurship at the Jawahar Lal Nehru others are part of a university system. A University (JNU) was laid by the Union management institute based in a university, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal like JNU has an advantage of offering ‘Nishank through a virtual summit. more comprehensive understanding of management and entrepreneurial principles. Vice Chancellor, JNU, Prof. M. Jagdish Today when our nation is putting every Kumar,Rector I Prof.Chintamani Mahapatra, effort to empower its youth, management Rector II Prof. Satish Chandra Garkoti, skills and entrepreneurship assume immense Rector III Prof. Rana Pratap Singh and the significance. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee deans of the new schools, Prof. Unnat Pandit School of Management and Entrepreneurship and Prof. Satyavrat Patnaik were present on in JNU will carve out a niche for itself and the occasion. will provide opportunities to our youth to get quality education and training. According to the JNU website, management education plays a key role in most systems The Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of and institutions, whether it is Education, Management and Entrepreneurship health, hospitality or manufacturing. In the (ABVSME), a newly created School in JNU fast moving and technology driven world aspires to strive for meeting this goal. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 15

National NEW DELHI TIMES Digital calendar and Digital Diary Government reviews the of Government of India launched progress of Jal laden and easier compared to other digital ◆ By NDT Bureau calendar apps”. @NewDelhiTimes Jeevan Mission The Digital Calendar of Government of [email protected] India is in line with Prime Minister’s Vision ◆ By NDT Bureau of “Digital India” and can be accessed at n a ceremony held at National Media @NewDelhiTimes click of a button on any smart phone. The I Center, Union Minister for Information [email protected] App is available for download on both and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar Google Play store and iOS App Store. launched he Android and iOS mobile n January 7, Ratan Lal Kataria, the applications for the Digital Calendar and O Minister of State for Jal Shakti, The app has been designed and developed Diary of Government of India. reviewed the progress of the Jal Jeevan by Bureau of Outreach and Communication, Mission. PC : Google Playstote Highlighting the features of the app, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Javadekar said “the app was free and will be in collaboration with National Informatics iii. Inspirational and motivational messages According to an official release by the Press available in 11 languages from 15th January, Centre (NIC). The application is currently from great personalities of our nation. Information Bureau, Government of India, 2021. The app will do away with the need available in Hindi and English language, a presentation was made about the progress for a new calendar every year”. and will be soon made available in 11 other iv. Provision for taking notes digitally which of the Mission by Additional Secretary, Indian regional languages. will be stored with cutting edge security and Department of Drinking water and sanitation He further added “each month will carry a privacy measures Bharat Lal. theme and an accompanying message and The Government of India Calendar will feature one famous Indian personality. application contains the following features: v. Provision for scheduling of meetings and Kataria informed that since Independence The app will also inform people about the setting reminders for important tasks and till August 2019, a total of 3.23 Crore rural timeline of launch of various government i. Latest information on various schemes, events. households (out of total 18.93 crore rural programmes so far”. events and publications of Government of households) had tap water connections, but India vi. Accessibility features for visually in a short span of 1 year alone, 3.04 Crore Speaking on the diary feature of the app, the impaired Dayanand in coming days fulfilling new connections have already been provided Minister said “because of the diary feature ii. Official holidays and various important the goal of Prime Minister’s “Accessible to rural households under this mission. the calendar is more advanced, more feature dates. India”/” Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan”. Supreme Court NIXI will offer free IDN in expresses concerns over attacks on Indian languages forest rangers ◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes ◆ By NDT Bureau [email protected] @NewDelhiTimes he National Internet Exchange of [email protected] T India (NIXI) announced that it will offer a free IDN (Internationalized Domain T he Supreme Court of India has Name) in any of their preferred 22 official expressed concerns over the attacks Indian language along with every IN domain the forest rangers in India face from armed Jal Jeevan mission has set an ambitious booked by the registrant. According to an PC : Getty Images yet achievable target of giving piped poachers and smugglers. A three-judge official release, the applicant will also get a and was registered on 19th June, 2003. water connections to each and every rural Bench headed by Chief Justice of Indi a free email in local language. This offer has NIXI was set up for peering of ISPs among household with an approach ensuring - ‘No (CJI), SA Bobde sought response from been created to stimulate the adoption of themselves for the purpose of routing the one is left out’. Centre and States on how forest officials IDN domain name and proliferation of local domestic traffic within the country, instead can be protected including arming them and language content. providing them with bullet proof jackets. of taking it all the way to US/Abroad, He informed that Goa is the first state to This offer is valid for new .in users who thereby resulting in better quality of service provide 100% piped connection and so register up to 31st January 2021. This offer is (reduced latency) and reduced bandwidth far, 27 Districts, 458 blocks, 33,516 Gram also extended to those existing in users who charges for ISPs by saving on International Panchayats, 66,210 villages have been renew their domain in the month of January Bandwidth. NIXI is managed and operated declared to have achieved ‘Har Ghar Jal’. 2021.NIXI is a not-for-profit Organization on a Neutral basis, in line with the best Recently, Kurukshetra became the 27th under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, practices for such initiatives globally. District in India and 3rd in Haryana to have achieved this target.

PC : Getty Images 11 rapid response teams in States of Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, UT of Puducherry are close to achieving 100% “We think the situation is serious and forest coverage. States which have made good guards would have difficulty in protecting Delhi to keep track of Bird Flu progress in terms of increasing the coverage vast tracts of inhibited land. It is difficult are - Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, to imagine how any law can be enforced ◆ By NDT Bureau Manipur, Mizoram, UT of Andaman and by the forest staff who are unarmed against @NewDelhiTimes Nicobar. poachers who are likely to be carrying arms,” CJI Bobde said. [email protected] For the Road Map ahead, 2 states (Bihar, Telangana) and 2 UTs (Puducherry, “We take note of fact that states like Assam D elhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish PC : Getty Images Andaman & Nicobar) are expected to and Maharashtra which has armed guards Sisodia has said that at present, there yet. Eleven rapid response teams have been achieve 100% coverage in the year 2021. who are forest officers above certain rank. are no cases of Bird Flu in the National set up to monitor Delhi’s potential hotspots,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Amicus Capital. Sisodia at a meeting with officials a statement said. Ghazipur Fish and Poultry The Ministry is working to leverage Curiae state that they will make a joint of the animal husbandry unit of the Market, Shakti Sthal Lake, Sanjay Lake, Information Technology to provide latest submission as to how life of forest Staff can Development Department reviewed the Bhalswa Horseshoe Lake, Delhi Zoo, and and relevant information about the progress be saved. We accordingly adjourn case till 4 Delhi government’s preparedness to prevent smaller water bodies in DDA parks among of this scheme in public domain through weeks,” the Court ordered. bird flu. “There is no positive case in Delhi others, are the areas which will be under vigil. web portal and mobile apps.

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Neighbourhood NEW DELHI TIMES Sri Lankan economy to record an annual contraction of Lawyer seeks to around 3.9 per cent in 2020: Sri Lankan Central Bank free man acquitted

◆ By NDT Bureau in Daniel Pearl’s @NewDelhiTimes killing [email protected] ◆ By NDT Bureau n a presentation “Road Map 2021: @NewDelhiTimes I Monetary and Financial Sector Policies for 2021 and Beyond”, Professor W D [email protected] Lakshman, Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka has said that the Sri Lankan economy he lawyer for a Pakistani man is expected to record an annual contraction T convicted and later acquitted in the of around 3.9 per cent. 2002 killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl said that he will petition the Supreme “The Central Bank is of the view that Court to free his client. continued support through monetary and fiscal interventions is essential to provide Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the key suspect adequate impetus to the economy amidst in Pearl’s slaying, remains in custody in the challenging domestic and global a jail in the southern port city of Karachi, macroeconomic conditions. Therefore, the despite the acquittal. Pearl’s family and

Central Bank will continue the prevailing PC : Getty Images the Pakistani government have appealed accommodative monetary policy stance in the acquittal to the Supreme Court, which path the economy would need some time. term fiscal framework of the Government 2021 to ensure the envisaged recovery of resumed its hearing this week. A decision is Until the economy reaches its full potential, is imperative to achieve the needed fiscal economic activity. We would of course, be expected before the end of the month. it is unlikely that there would be any notable space and to attain the targeted goal of a closely monitoring developments to avoid domestic demand pressures, despite the budget deficit of 4 percent of GDP by 2025. Sheikh’s lawyer, Mehmood A. Sheikh, has any strong demand-driven pressures on large monetary expansion witnessed at been trying to get his client, who has been inflationary trends”, the presentation stated. present. The Central Bank will continue to This would be of immense use in the on death row for 18 years, freed since the “It is well known that the Sri Lankan remain vigilant but is confident that inflation envisaged programme of sustained stable acquittal. economy has been operating well below will remain within the targeted range of growth with price stability. Low inflation, its potential for the past several years, and 4-6 per cent over the medium-term”, the by helping to sustain the low interest rate the outbreak of COVID-19 exacerbated presentation mentioned. regime, would bring down funding costs to this condition. Growth-conducive policy both the Government and the private sector. measures introduced in 2020, we believe, “The Central Bank and the Government The Central Bank will work jointly with the would take a while to be effectively will continue to pursue a coordinated Government to introduce and implement transmitted to the real economy. To catch up approach in steering the economy through essential structural changes that are required with the lost momentum and to sustainably these challenging times. The successful to drive the economy along the envisaged

realign itself with the envisaged high growth implementation of the envisaged medium- growth path”, the Central Bank added. PC : Getty Images Maldives will Bangladesh prohibits unnecessary The lawyer told The Associated Press he reinstate diplomatic was demanding freedom for Sheikh in line visits to Bhashan Char with an order issued last month by the Sindh relations with Qatar High Court. The lawyer, who is not related to Sheikh, said he also wants three other co- ◆ By NDT Bureau accused suspects freed. Their lesser charges @NewDelhiTimes of aiding and abetting were also overturned. [email protected] Last month, the US warned it won’t allow Sheikh to escape justice Acting US. Attorney aldives is ready to reinstate diplomatic General Jeffery Rosen praised Pakistan for M relations with Qatar. This decision come appealing the Sindh court’s order but said after Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations lifted that if “those efforts do not succeed, the the embargo on Qatar on December 5 at a Gulf United States stands ready to take custody Co-operation Council Summit. of Omar Sheikh to stand trial” in America. The Pearl family lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi, said he will oppose the petition, adding he was confident Sheikh would not be freed. “He will not be released,” said Siddiqi. PC : Getty Images “Omar Sheikh’s lawyer’s request has twice Kamal said: “Decisions were taken to been denied.” ◆ By NDT Bureau strengthen the security of Rohingya camps Sheikh was convicted of helping lure Pearl @NewDelhiTimes in Cox’s Bazar. We have taken the decision to a meeting in Karachi, during which he at the meeting to complete these works [email protected] was kidnapped. Pearl was investigating the PC : Twitter (@abdulla_shahid) PC : Twitter within a short time. It will be carried out by link between Pakistani militants and Richard the Bangladesh army”. In a tweet, Maldivian Foreign Minister he government of Bangladesh has C. Reid, dubbed the “Shoe Bomber” after Abdulla Shahid stated: “Maldives welcomes T prohibited unnecessary visits to These decisions were taken at a meeting of the trying to blow up a flight from Paris to the positive developments following Bhashan Char. national committee for coordinating, managing Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes. the annual summit of Gulf Cooperation and maintaining law and order of Rohingyas. A gruesome video of Pearl’s beheading was Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal Council. I have had fruitful discussions Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is sent to the U.S. Consulate. The 38-year-old said: “We have noticed that some curious with the #Qatari authorities and am pleased the Convener, with the Foreign Minister, State Wall Street Journal reporter from Encino, people have started visiting Bhashan Char. to announce Government of #Maldives Ministers for Disaster Management and Relief, California was abducted Jan. 23, 2002. His I would like to announce through you decision to reinstate full diplomatic relations Women and Children Affairs and 13 senior body was later found in a shallow grave in a [journalists] that such curious people have with Qatar.”. officials of different Ministries and divisions southern Karachi neighbourhood. to refrain from going to Bhashan Char.” on the 17-member national committee. Maldives severed diplomatic relations with Sheikh was sentenced to death and the Qatar in June 2017 during President Abdulla “If anyone needs to go there, they can go. The Bangladesh government has sent many others to life in prison for their role in the Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, But people should not crowd Bhashan Char Rohingya refugees to th Bhasan Char island, plot. The acquittal had stunned the U.S. after Saudi Arabia launched its embargo unnecessarily. We have taken this decision despite calls from human rights groups to government, Pearl’s family and journalism against Qatar. at the meeting,” the Minister said. halt the process. advocacy groups. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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North America NEW DELHI TIMES Mexico to vaccinate rural elderly, but still awaits vaccine nce Mexico has vaccinated its Health. “They are a target population for the O frontline medical workers against president’s policies.” COVID-19, the government will turn its attention to the elderly living in its most “In fact, the President himself said that remote places, President Andrés Manuel vaccines will be administered at the same López Obrador said. sites used to distribute (government) pensions,” Betancourt said. “I give you your Ten thousand brigades made up of medical vaccine, and I give you a handout.” personnel and health promoters with security provided by the National Guard will target Mauricio Rodríguez, a professor at the 3 million senior citizens in rural areas. The medical school of the National Autonomous brigades will work back from isolated areas University of Mexico, said starting in to towns and cities. rural areas would only make sense if it involved the easier-to-use CanSino vaccine. The plan will hinge on Mexico’s approval Otherwise, he said, starting in urban areas of the Chinese CanSino vaccine, which with more cases would make more sense. only requires a single dose and doesn’t Mexican officials have expressed concern in require ultra-cold storage. So far, Mexico the past that false vaccines could be offered has approved only vaccines from Pfizer and or advertised, and the Caribbean coast state AstraZeneca. of Quintana Roo, home to beach resorts like Cancun, alerted residents that fake Mexico started deploying those vaccines “vaccination teams” had been reported in

Dec. 24 in Mexico City and the northern Photo AP PC : the state. state of Coahuila. The government hopes to have 750,000 front-line health workers classes would also be vaccinated at that time. they are easier to reach and because they The teams reportedly visited homes and vaccinated by the end of January. live closer together and have a higher risk of asked people for copies of their ID cards, as Much will depend on the availability of the infection. Under López Obrador’s plan, the a purported requirement to sign up for shots. “We’re going to start at the bottom, where vaccines. CanSino has not yet presented the experts said, a time-consuming and difficult The state health department said the teams the most marginalized people live,” López results of its final stage trials, which would campaign will be required to reach the rural are fraudulent and urged people not to give Obrador said of a population that makes up be needed for emergency approval. elderly. them any information. Such documents have an important part of his political base. been used in the past for electoral fraud and Experts said it would be more efficient to “The only explanation I see (for the plan) identity theft. The President said teachers in states where focus the first vaccine efforts on elderly is a political one,” said Miguel Betancourt, it could be possible to return to in-person people living in urban areas, both because President of the Mexican Society for Public Credit : Associated Press (AP) Puerto Rico to reopen beaches, Salvador court convicts ex-President relax Coronavirus curfew of illicit enrichment uerto Rico’s new Governor announced hard hit by strict closures that have been in court in El Salvador found ex- P that he will reopen beaches, marinas place since March. A President Tony Saca guilty and his and pools, eliminate a Sunday lockdown and Photo AP PC : The U.S. territory of 3.2 million people wife, Ana Ligia de Saca, guilty of illicit shorten a curfew that has been in place since enrichment and ordered them to repay the the pandemic began to control the number of has reported more than 127,000 confirmed government $4.4 million. benefit of his businesses and third parties, COVID-19 cases. and probable cases and more than 1,200 confirmed deaths. The ruled that Saca could not explain the becoming the first Salvadoran ex-President Gov. Pedro Pierluisi stressed alcohol will be origin of $6.5 million in income he made found guilty of corruption. banned at beaches and other places, and that Pierluisi kept in place other measures while President. Saca will also be barred Saca, 54, was President from 2004 to 2009 social distancing is required between people implemented by former Gov. Wanda from holding public office for 10 years. and was arrested in October 2016. who are not family members, with no large Vázquez, including the closure of bars and groups allowed to gather. Meanwhile, the a limited capacity at gyms, restaurants and Saca is already serving a 10-year prison Two other Presidents have also been accused of new curfew will run from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. other places. sentence for corruption and has already been corruption. Francisco Flores, who was President ordered to return some $260 million to the and face masks remain mandatory. “Our goal has to be to be able to return to in 1999-2004, died in 2016 while awaiting trial state. a new normal,” Pierluisi said. “We have under house arrest. Mauricio Funes, who held the to keep taking preventive measures in the Saca was convicted on those charges in top office in 2009-2014, fled to Nicaragua where meantime.” September 2018 after pleading guilty in he was granted asylum, allowing him to avoid connection with the diversion of more than facing trial back home. The announcement comes the same day that $300 million from government coffers to Credit : Associated Press (AP) health experts began receiving the second COVID-19 vaccine dose, with some 60,000 PC : AP Photo AP PC : people vaccinated so far and an expected Cuba reiterates commitment to 90,000 by the end of the week. Those scheduled to be vaccinated soon include teachers, with Pierluisi saying in-person the Non-Aligned Movement classes could resume by March on a gradual scale. ◆ By NDT Bureau to non-alignment and multilateralism”. The He said that new measures will be in place term “unilateral coercive measures” usually for 30 days from January 8 but can be Carlos Mellado, Puerto Rico’s designated @NewDelhiTimes refers to economic measures taken by one amended any time if there’s a spike in cases. Health Secretary, said he expects 40,000 [email protected] State to compel a change in the policy of vaccine doses to arrive on the island every another State. The announcement was cheered by many week. uban Minister of Foreign Affairs across Puerto Rico who have long sought C Bruno Rodriguez has endorsed Cuba’s Examples of such measures include trade Meanwhile, officials reported an outbreak to visit the U.S. territory’s beaches that had commitment to multilateralism within the sanctions in the form of embargoes and at a prison in the northern city of Bayamon, remained off limits to all except those doing Non-Aligned Movement. the interruption of financial and investment with more than 140 inmates testing positive. exercise. flows between sender and target countries. Nearly all are asymptomatic, but two He tweeted on January 7 that “The NAM has More recently, so-called “smart” or “It’s quality of life,” Pierluisi said. have been hospitalized. Officials said the rejected unilateral coercive measures that “targeted” sanctions such as asset freezing outbreak began when a corrections officer He also ordered Puerto Rico’s Treasury prevent confrontation cash at #COVID19 and travel bans have been employed by who had COVID-19 came into contact with Department to use federal funds and and promotes solidarity and international individual States in order to influence five inmates. create economic incentives to help tens of cooperation. In 2020,#Cuba supported the persons who are perceived to have political thousands of small and medium businesses Credit : Associated Press (AP) Movement and endorsed its commitment influence in another State.

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Africa NEW DELHI TIMES EXPLAINER: Lives at stake in Zimbabwe jails 3 for having tense Ugandan Presidential vote New Year’s party despite ban eadly violence and repressive measures by drawing huge crowds in rural areas and Zimbabwean court has jailed three D have alarmed observers as Uganda dispelling the idea that he represents only A men who organized a New Year’s Eve prepares to vote on January 14, with long- the urban poor. party attended by thousands of people in the time President Yoweri Museveni challenged capital, Harare, in violation of COVID-19 Although Uganda’s recent elections have by young singer and lawmaker Bobi Wine, regulations at a time the country is facing an been marred by violence, it’s more intense who has captured the imagination of many unprecedented surge in infections. across Africa in a generational clash. this time. Security forces have been deployed to break up opposition rallies, and The three men were sentenced to 12 months Authorities have used the COVID-19 at least 54 people were killed in November in prison, with six months suspended pandemic as a reason to ban rallies in amid protests after one arrest of Wine in the because they pleaded guilty and did not urban areas where Wine has strong support, country’s worst unrest in years. waste the court’s time. including the capital, Kampala. Photo AP PC : “Let Museveni know that we are not slaves Zimbabwe banned New Year parties as was later eased as infections slowed. But In recent days, Wine has been arrested and we shall not accept to be slaves,” Wine part of measures to slow the spread of the figures of confirmed cases and deaths have and blocked from staying in hotels while said at the time. “We shall be free.” COVID-19, which is resurging amid signs recently begun increasing significantly and campaigning, and one bodyguard was of complacency by a public not keen on the government last week reintroduced a killed. Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Fears are growing that violence will be even following preventive measures. nighttime curfew, banned public gatherings, closed beer taverns and indefinitely Despite the ban, large parties were held in suspended the opening of schools. several Zimbabwean cities and towns. The new restrictions, however, appear to The three men jailed for organizing the have done little to reduce the country’s controversial party attended by hundreds of general atmosphere of complacency. Many young people in the capital’s poor Mbare told people in working class and poor areas still the court that they had intended to stream the congregate at shopping centers where they event so people could watch via the internet, surreptitiously buy alcohol. Others are still but crowds had gathered anyway. gathering for church services under trees and without practicing social distancing or Zimbabwe had recorded low numbers of wearing masks while they sing and pray. COVID-19 infections since March last year when it imposed a lockdown that Credit : Associated Press (AP) Sudan religious leaders hold talks aimed

PC : AP Photo AP PC : at ending intercommunal fighting Ssentamu, fears for his life as well. Critics worse if the election results are disputed ith an eye toward ending intercommunal “Many people have been affected, displaced allege that Museveni, who successfully amid allegations of repression or fraud. A W violence that killed dozens of people and living in hiding and properties lost. In oversaw the removal of a constitutional age candidate must win more than 50% to avoid last month in Central Equatoria state, many consultative forums, most of them are limit on the Presidency, is taking advantage a runoff vote. South Sudanese religious leaders and civil ready to reconcile and we call on the people of the pandemic to militarize the election in society activists have organized direct peace to give room for peace and dialogue so that which he almost certainly will be declared Museveni has accused Wine of being an and reconciliation talks between various we can move forward,” Modi told South the winner. Here’s what’s at stake: agent of “outsiders, homosexuals and others communities. Sudan in Focus. Edmund Yakani, executive director for the local NGO Community who don’t like the stability and independence Some meetings already have taken place Museveni, a former rebel leader who Empowerment for Progress Organization, of Uganda.” That language is meant to hurt in rural villages of Terekeka County and took power in 1986 and brought stability said the government should renew a failed Wine in a country where homosexuality is included chiefs, women, youth, farmers, and after years of horrific upheaval, faces 10 gun-collection campaign aimed at reducing illegal. Meanwhile, some officials point cattle camp leaders. challengers. His main opponent is Wine to international statements in support of violence in the area, while making a greater and his “People Power” movement that is Wine — and objecting to his treatment — effort to protect people’s lives and property. so popular that authorities have banned its as evidence of alleged collaboration with “The disarmament did not work effectively distinctive red beret. Wine has been detained foreigners. He denies it. and responsively, because there are [not] many times on charges ranging from treason critical factors like provision of safety and to violating virus restrictions, but he has Some dismayed Ugandans have called protection for the lives of the communities never been convicted and supporters call his for the vote to be cancelled, questioning through police that can adhere to the rule treatment politically motivated. PC : Getty Images the point in a country where the President of law. And the state needs to engage in criticizes election officials and speaks with intercommunal mitigation free from political The 76-year-old Museveni, long a U.S. Paul Ygugusuk, archbishop of the Central the confidence of a leader who believes he’s manipulation,” Yakani said. regional security ally, asserts a “popular not going anywhere. Equatoria province of the Episcopal Church mandate” in ordering security forces to of South Sudan, blames a lack of clear Yakani says his group and other NGOs are crack down on people he calls criminals bent “I have been elected by the people of laws on the movement of cattle and justice organizing a national peace dialogue to be on undermining his government’s authority. Uganda repeatedly to look after their affairs, for victims of cattle raids for the increased held later this month that will address the His campaign theme is “securing the future” and I cannot allow their affairs to be messed violence in certain areas, particularly in cyclical violence caused by cattle raids and of the East African nation of over 44 million up by criminals and traitors,” Museveni said Terekeka and Lainya counties. revenge attacks. people. At least 17 million are registered in his final national address of 2020. “We “The problem of Terekeka is that all previous voters. cannot allow the revolution of the people to Archbishop Yugusuk is urging armed and resolutions have not been implemented, be destroyed by crooks.” non-armed actors to reconcile their political stolen cattle have not been returned; as such The 38-year-old Wine asserts that Museveni differences and work for lasting peace in people take the law into their own hands,” is part of the old guard that has presided over Wine has said his party will try to protect South Sudan. Yugusuk told VOA’s South Sudan in Focus. rampant corruption and dimmed the hopes of the vote, including by deploying technology “We cannot do our work when people millions of jobless Ugandans. The country’s such as an app they say can track voting. Cattle raids are a chronic problem in parts are fighting. Now that there is an ongoing population is one of the youngest in the of South Sudan, separate from the civil war peace dialogue in Rome and although it’s world, with a median age under 18. Wine They also will attempt to run a tally center that killed tens of thousands between 2013 going slowly, we call on the conflicting has urged Museveni to retire peacefully, whose results would be checked against and 2017. communities, the opposition and the saying he would guarantee his safety. official counting. That could lead toa More than 50 people were killed and government that the time has come for confrontation with security forces, who us to join hands for the revitalized peace There has been no reliable polling ahead of hundreds of others were displaced by previously have broken up attempts to track agreement so that the implementation the vote. Museveni is thought to enjoy solid sectional violence in December alone, election results. becomes easy,” he said. support among older Ugandans in some rural according to Paul Modi, bishop of the areas, but Wine has surprised authorities Credit : Associated Press (AP) Episcopal Church’s Terekeka diocese. Credit : Voice of America (VOA) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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South America NEW DELHI TIMES Brazil suspends Venezuela’s socialists take syringe purchase control of once-defiant Congress effort as arading giant portraits of Hugo Maduro’s allies swept legislative elections assembly. “President Guaidó and the vaccination lags P Chavez and independence hero Simon last month boycotted by the opposition National Assembly are the only democratic Bolivar, allies of President Nicolas Maduro and denounced as a sham by the U.S., the representatives of the Venezuelan people as razil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said retook control of Venezuela’s Congress, European Union and several other foreign recognized by the international community, B that his administration is suspending the last institution in the country it didn’t governments. While the vote was marred and they should be freed from Maduro’s an effort to buy hundreds of millions of already control. by anemically low turnout, it nonetheless harassment, threats, persecution, and other syringes just as the country is preparing to seemed to relegate into irrelevancy the U.S.- abuses.” launch a nationwide vaccination campaign backed opposition led by lawmaker Juan against COVID-19. Guaidó. While Guaido’s bravery hasn’t wavered, the opposition’s political fortunes have tanked Bolsonaro said on his social media channels Exactly a year ago, Guaidó, in a blue suit as Venezuelans own hopes for change have that prices for syringes have soared, so, “The and tie, tried to scale a spiked iron fence collapsed. Recent opinion polls say support Health Ministry has suspended the purchase to get past riot police blocking him from for Guaidó has fallen by more than half since until prices return to normal.” attending the parliament’s inaugural session, he first rose to challenge Maduro two years He also said states and municipalities which according to the constitution must be ago. Meanwhile, Maduro has managed to possess enough stock to handle the first stage held every year on Jan. 5. retain a solid grip on power and the military, of the forthcoming immunization campaign the traditional arbiter of political disputes in “because the amount of vaccines at first is A far cry from that electric display of Venezuela. not big.” defiance, Guaidó held his own virtual parliamentary session, via Zoom, with a Gaby Arellano, a lawmaker exiled in The government posted its tender for 331 PC : Getty Images cohort of opposition leaders. Colombia, said many in the opposition million syringes on Dec. 16, but received underestimated Maduro, thinking he bids for only 8 million by the Dec. 29 “They are trying to annihilate Venezuela’s The symbolic restoring of the images to stood no chance in a doomsday economic deadline, apparently because companies democratic force,” Guaidó said in his online Venezuela’s parliament capped a celebratory environment marked by hyperinflation, were demanding a higher price than the address, which was overshadowed by the day for the ruling socialist party in which miles-long lines for gasoline and pulverized government-set maximum. they claimed to have avenged the humiliating government’s celebratory session in the wages worth just a few pennies per month. defeat five years ago when government legislature downtown. “But we aren’t going After meeting with Brazil’s three main opponents won control of the legislature to give up.” But Maduro has managed to outmaneuver syringe producers, Health Ministry officials and proceeded to remove portraits of the his foes through a mix of repression and initially said they would publish a new two national icons in a fierce — if futile — Last month, anti-Maduro lawmakers, several co-optation exacerbated by the opposition’s tender, seeking more offers. challenge to Maduro’s lock on power. dozen of them from exile, also gathered own missteps, Arellano said. She expects a online to vote to extend their mandate new round of repression now that Maduro Jorge Rodriguez, the incoming assembly stemming from a landslide victory in 2015 has seized Congress. president, vowed to “exorcise” from the for another 12 months, operating through legislative palace all vestiges of its previous an adjunct committee normally reserved for Guaido criticized photos on Twitter occupants, who he accused of plotting legislative recesses. showing what he said were security forces from its neo-classical chamber Maduro’s surrounding his apartment building in violent overthrow with the help of foreign Supreme Court justices loyal to Maduro Caracas. The Associated Press was unable mercenaries and the Trump administration. immediately struck down that measure as to confirm the report. invalid. But that hasn’t stopped the Trump “Just so there are no doubts, pretty administration from doubling down in its Reflecting the lack of unity in the opposition, soon we’ll spray every corner of the support of Guaidó. a few lawmakers still inside Venezuela- parliamentary chambers with holy water,” including Guaidó’s former deputy as joked Rodriguez, who was previously led “We consider this group to be illegitimate National Assembly Vice President - signaled internationally sponsored talks with the and will not recognize it nor its they would no longer lay claim to their seats. PC : Getty Images opposition as well as met with envoys from pronouncements,” Secretary of State Mike the Trump administration. Pompeo said, referring to the pro-Maduro Credit : Associated Press (AP) Bolsonaro’s comments seemed to halt such efforts. Economy of Chile witnessed Colombia brings an upward trend in Some health experts said the government should have acted far sooner to secure November 2020: Central back lockdowns syringes for the nation of some 210 million Bank of Chile as Coronavirus people. ◆ By NDT Bureau Ethel Maciel, an epidemiologist at the Federal University of Espirito Santo who at @NewDelhiTimes cases rise one point advised the Health Ministry on its s the holiday season winds down, [email protected] immunization plan, said she was frightened A Colombia is experiencing a sharp when she found out in a December meeting

rise in coronavirus infections that has Photo AP PC : he Central Bank of Chile has said that that officials had not yet signed a contract prompted several cities to impose curfews T that economic activity in Chile rose for syringes. and stay at home measures that had not been thousands of tourists are still spending their by 0.3 percent in November 2020 compared implemented for months. holidays. to the same month in 2019, marking the “We risked having a vaccine, but no first increase since the novel coronavirus syringes,” Maciel said. “If they had started In the capital city of Bogota, the local Officials said the measures are being taken pandemic broke out here in March, 2020. to control a growing number of infections planning back in July, they wouldn’t have government locked down three districts this problem with prices,” she said. that have a population of about 2.5 million and stabilize hospitalization rates. According to the bank’s preliminary figures, people, ordering all businesses except for A spokesperson for the Brazilian Medical the Monthly Index of Economic Activity Colombia was reporting around 8,000 new supermarkets and pharmacies in that part of Devices Manufacturers’ Association, which (Imacec) increased 1.1 percent compared to coronavirus infections per day at the end of the city to close. represents the three main syringe producers, the previous month, driven mainly by trade. November, but transmission appears to have risen in December as people traveled for said the suspension of the tender came In Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, the holidays, met with their families, and in as a surprise. “We learned about it in the Trade registered an annual increase of 15.3 authorities announced a curfew that will last some cases, held mass gatherings and dance media,” the person told The Associated percent in November, partially offset by a from 10 p.m.to 5 a.m. every day until next parties, despite a government ban on such Press, declining to be named for lack of 12-month fall in the services sector, which week. Night-time curfews have also been activities. authorization to speak publicly. dipped 2.3 percent, and in the production of adopted in the city of Cali and in some towns goods, which decreased 1.3 percent. along Colombia’s Caribbean coast where Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Opinion NEW DELHI TIMES Is Islam incompatible with Science & Technology? Despite killing the polio vaccine workers, Pakistanis still eagerly await the COVID vaccine! than developed countries; explicable as a scientific mind-set. Humans are never The U.S., the E.U., China, South Korea, ◆ By NDT Bureau educated and internet-savvy respondents completely comfortable and struggle against Taiwan, Japan and India imbibed a culture @NewDelhiTimes were chosen. Muslims lack a culture of science in daily lives because it is not of science and technology. Turkey separated science but consume technology. A USB common sense. He preferred alignment of religion from science. Liberal Muslim [email protected] memory stick and a CPU chip explain how the laws of physics and biology with people’s nations like the UAE launched Mars probe. knowing facts about science does not require naïve intuition and religious beliefs. Many But other Islamic nations hurtle towards the P rof. Pervez Hoodbhoy, the noted a scientific mind-set. The first is passive, awkward facts in science make it difficult to Stone Age! Science is for the mundane-mind Pakistani physicist and popular writer, relatively simple and cheap while the second get to the truth. and body; religion should be for the heart in his article “Muslims and technology” in is active, extremely complex and costly. and soul. Pakistani daily ‘Dawn’ dated January 2, Historically, lack of curiosity impacted the 2021 discussed the prospects of Muslims Muslim civilisations. The spirit of science For reasons of safety, Hoodbhoy dared not adopting technology to innovate. died after the Arab Golden Age. The rich delve into the causes. Monolithic religions Ottoman sultans hired technologists from like Islam perpetuate closed mind that never Muslims have always feared that technology Europe to build ships and cannons but their accept contrarian viewpoints. That leaves will destroy their faith. Of course, they Ulema-dominated educational system could no space for alternate views, open mind- accepted printing press, loudspeaker, never produce native experts. The British sets, diverse ideas and myriad possibilities weather forecasts, cameras and television, East India Company brought inventions and which breed scientific and technological blood transfusions, organ transplants, and products from a new scientific England but innovations. Muslims and science are in-vitro fertilisation. Despite killing the the Mughals simply paid cash and never oxymoron but author attempts an excellent polio vaccine workers, Pakistanis still tried to produce/duplicate the gadgets. insight into the mind-set of the Islamic eagerly await the COVID vaccine! societies. Islamic rituals now use technology. A Hoodbhoy suggested bringing science SalatCard counts rakats in prayers. There is back into Islam the way music - highly For over a millennium, Muslims ruled major wuzu (ablution) machine. Egypt government incompatible in principle to Islam - was parts of Asia with brute power, monumental airs computer-run standardised azan in 113 adopted in Muslim countries. FM radio arrogance, despicable indulgence and mosques of Cairo. All these would have PC : Getty Images station can run modern songs, briefly pause all excesses. Repeating history, Pakistan invited multiple fatwas a decade back, not to broadcast pre-recorded azan, then resume blackmails its geostrategic location and anymore. songs until the next azan! threatens with nukes! Science is the fount of technology but The traditional mind-set requires knowledge Galileo said, “the Bible teaches us how to Multi-cultural India embraced science using technology does not resolve the to be acquired, stockpiled, disseminated, go to heaven, not how the heavens go.” The and technology for people’s welfare. science-religion conflicts. Science is not understood and applied but not modified or domains of science and belief do not overlap. Jews cultivated a tradition of science and popular in Muslim societies. The 2020 Task transformed. The scientific mind-set involves The West, China, and India followed that technology. The rich, educated Jews carried Force Report on Culture of Science in the ideas of forming, testing and abandoning Muslim scholars absorbed Greek learning scientific temper from Europe to Israel and Islamic World, based on online survey of unproved hypotheses. The survey probably keeping their religious beliefs strictly the USA. Now Israel-a small dot on the map- 3,500 respondents, chosen mostly from avoided probing questions on Muslims’ personal. But currently, Muslim world is a giant in science and way ahead of Islamic Arab countries and Pakistan, revealed the scientific worldview as difficult questions regards religion and science as incompatible. countries. The South Indian Brahmins, with following. upfront could be discouraging. But freedom, Muslims asked for Islam-based Pakistan more than 4000 years of education culture, openness and diversity nurtures science! state, got estranged from secular ethos and dominate the R&D and technology sectors Surprisingly, Muslims showed slightly scientific education and curiosity evaporated in India and the USA. Religious tolerance better knowledge of basic scientific facts Author rued the difficulty of developing from the Islamic psyche! and plurality matters. All Evils at Bosnia & Herzegovina: Migrant crisis a persistent trouble ◆ By Sujay Dhawan the year 2018. The European Union has already declared it as a humanitarian crisis Editor and provided €89 million as immediate @SujayDhawan assistance to BiH since the year 2018. [email protected] Per the UN International Organisation for he erstwhile Yugoslavia, now Bosnia Migrants, the crisis is deepening and stirring. T & Herzegovina (BiH), is on the verge The desultory efforts of the International of facing worst migrant crisis Europe could community in solving this crisis could be ever observe. Emergent humanitarian crisis easily observed from afar. in the western part of Bosnia is not new or unknown to the Human Rights organizations But, yes, there is always a but, either while worldwide. speaking or otherwise, which compels us to PC : Getty Images ask an obvious and pertinent question that After the closure of the BIHAC migrant is piquant to ask generally. Although, I will an excellent way to enter the European these migrants or will those migrants really shelter, most of the migrants were moved ask for sure. Union via BiH. Earlier, they used to be willing to come back is a much serious to LIPA but that too was destroyed in a spend thousands of euros (paid to agents/ question which of course will be deflected. devastating fire last year on December 23, In this case there are several questions which traffickers) for crossing into Europe via pop. 2020. Turkey or Greece or Albania or Macedonia. The European Union and Europe at large But now they can cross over from BiH. need to take some serious and stringent steps Why this migrant crisis ever cropped up? As per the United Nations International They just need to get visas fraudulently by to understand and deal with this migrant Organisation Migration (IOM), “Nearly all Why these migrants are even coming to this paying the Embassy officials in Islamabad crisis. First and foremost, all should learn infrastructure at the Lipa Emergency Tent place? handsomely and then legally flying to from France, as it has taken stern actions Camp, which housed about 1,400 migrants, Sarajevo, BiH and crossing the western against the sick elements creating disruption has been destroyed or badly damaged. From where are these migrants coming at borders into Croatia. This newly found way in the society and amended existing laws to This number is in addition to some 1,500 the first place? of Pakistani migrants has easily helped in deter any future mishaps. migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees – creating a dent in the political and economic including women and children – stranded Majorly, 70% of these migrants are from crisis of the Balkan country. Second, the migrant crisis should be called in squats and forest camps nearby. With the Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco and Iraq. migrant crisis and not humanitarian crisis devastation, the overall number of people in We understand the condition of countries Pakistan well aware of this situation even by governmental and non-governmental dire need of assistance has swelled to almost like Morocco, Iraq, Afghanistan that they inked an agreement with BiH to bring International Organisations and last but not the 3,000.” are facing instability but what is the reason back the illegal migrants as the Bosnian least Europe should adopt austerity measures for Pakistani nationals to take refuge in BiH. government complained that more than in dealing with the emergent migrant crisis An approx. 70,000 migrants have taken 23 percent of illegal migrants are from across the Europe or else the European citizens shelter in Bosnia & Herzegovina since Actually, the Pakistani migrants have found Pakistan. Now, will they actually take back will suffer both economically and politically. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 21

Sports NEW DELHI TIMES Gulf Cooperation Council’s reconciliation Australian Open CEO assures with Qatar paves way for a smooth players all is OK organisation of 2022 FIFA World Cup for Melbourne Supreme Council, the highest GCC authority, praised the preparations made by the State ustralian Open chief executive Craig A Tiley is reassuring players that the of Qatar to host the 2022 Football World Cup and “reaffirmed its support for the State of delayed season-opening Grand Slam Qatar in anything that leads to the success of the upcoming World Cup” tournament will get underway on Feb. 8 and has asked for patience with the logistics and The Supreme Council, the highest GCC on the increase of the number of teams from quarantine planning amid the COVID-19 ◆ By Dr. Pawan Mathur authority, in its closing statement of the 32 to 48 in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022” pandemic. @PawanMathur Summit stated: “The Supreme Council which mentioned that the blockade imposed praised the preparations made by the State of on Qatar could have hindered the smooth [email protected] Qatar to host the 2022 Football World Cup, he organisation of the FIFA World Cup, as reaffirming its support for the State of Qatar the tournament would involve the constant n January 5, 2021, at the 41st Summit in anything that leads to the success of the movement of organisers, teams, referees, O of the six-member Gulf Cooperation upcoming World Cup.” commercial affiliates and spectators. Council (GCC), the leaders signed the Al- Ula declaration (named after the Saudi city The FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited The reconciliation with Qatar has shrugged where the Summit took place) aimed towards Saudi Arabia a day after the 41st GCC summit off all the concerns by FIFA regarding ending the diplomatic rift with Qatar. that ended the three-year blockade of Qatar. the organisation of the 2022 FIFA World PC : AP Photo AP PC :

The world’s leading tennis players are set to start arriving in Melbourne from Jan. 15 and must undergo 14 days in hotel quarantine, although they’ll be allowed to practice for limited periods daily in a bio-secure bubble.

Reports from Europe about players being unclear on charter flight details prompted a series of Twitter posts from Tiley to provide an update. Australian Open organizers are chartering up to 20 flights from Dubai, Singapore and Los Angeles to bring players to Melbourne.

“There have been some unavoidable delays finalizing flight details for players and I’d like to take this opportunity to provide an update,” Tiley posted on Twitter. “There are a lot of pieces to this logistical puzzle and the last few are being finalized right now.

PC : Getty Images “We appreciate your patience and are conscious that time timelines are very tight.”

In a symbolic move, the Saudi Crown Prince Infantino called the Al-Ula Declaration as Cup. This has also paved the route for the The professional circuit resumed, with Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al a “very positive step for the region on the organisation of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021. main-draw action at the Abu Dhabi WTA Saud signed the document alongside Qatar’s path to reconciliation”. “Football has shown In November 2020, Infantino confirmed Women’s Tennis Open, and at the ATP’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, throughout this crisis that it is a unique that 22 national teams from the Arab region Delray Beach Open. Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al- platform of exchange for people of the Gulf have signed up to participate in the FIFA Jaber al-Sabah, the United Arab Emirates and I am sure the game will continue to unite Arab Cup, which will be staged from 1 to 18 Women’s singles qualifying or the Australian (UAE) Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed the region in the near future … This will be December 2021. Open will be staged in Dubai and men’s bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Bahrain’s Crown the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East singles qualifying in Doha, Qatar from Jan. Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and in the Arab world, a unique opportunity “Through football, this tournament will unite 10-13. Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin for the entire region to unite and shine on the over 450 million people from across the region, Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Mahmoud Al-Said, and GCC’s Secretary global stage”, the FIFA President remarked. and we are confident that the FIFA Arab Cup Rafael Nadal will be involved in a 12-team General Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf. will help to build excitement across the region ATP Cup to be staged at Melbourne Park, Egypt was also invited to the summit and After the crisis broke out in 2017, it also as we edge ever nearer to hosting the first FIFA along with a WTA tournament and an ATP signed the Al-Ula declaration. The Al-Ula spilled to the field of sports as some nations World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world 250 event, from Feb. 1-5 to give players Declaration aims at strengthening the unity also demanded that Qatar be stripped off in 2022.” In a similar vein, the 2022 FIFA some exposure to match play in Australia and solidarity between the GCC Member the hosting rights of the 2022 FIFA World World Cup in Qatar offers avenues for peace before the season’s first major. states, restore the normal joint Gulf actions, Cup. In a strongly worded statement in and strengthening regional cooperation in the and preserve the security and stability of the response to such demands, the Government Gulf region. Credit : Associated Press (AP) region. Communications Office, Qatar then stated: “Qatar will host the first World Cup in Middle The outcome of the 41st GCC Summit not East – the positive benefits and impact will only had major diplomatic connotations as extend beyond Qatar and throughout the it led to the opening of the airspace, land Middle East”. and sea borders between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and When the diplomatic crisis broke out in Qatar thereby ending diplomatic dispute 2017, FIFA President Infantino had initially began in 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the said that FIFA was keeping a close tab on United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt the situation. “The essential role of FIFA, severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties with as I understand it, is to deal with football Qatar, it also carried significant implications and not to interfere in geopolitics,” he for sports, most notably paving the way for remarked. Almost two years after Infantino’s the smooth organisation of FIFA’s marque statement, in March 2019, FIFA had allayed event- the 2022 Men’s World Cup which concerns regarding the impact of the will be held in Qatar. blockade on Qatar in its” Feasibility study

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Technology & Health NEW DELHI TIMES Sex, Lies and Drugs that as the males evolved larger gonopodia, the females evolved larger brains. Extra ◆ By Smt. Maneka intelligence helps the females to find ways Sanjay Gandhi to avoid unwelcome male advances. @ManekaGandhiBJP As for kinky sex, we are not a patch on animals. In fear of being eaten by a female ccording to a research study, people during mating, the male Argonaut Octopus A lie at least once a day, but even that will often rip off his own penis and fling it number is probably a lie. However, humans at the female to ‘do’ herself. With lobsters are not the only species on the Earth that are the opposite is true. Here it is the female that capable of deception. You will find as much feels vulnerable as, in order to mate, she must danger and intrigue in the animal kingdom first shed her hard shell, rendering herself as in a Tarantino film. Many primates, open to predation. So, first the female tests especially the common chimpanzee, PC : Getty Images whether she can trust the male to protect her display the ability to deceive in order to Cuttlefish, and Eastern Grey Squirrels. to differentiate between higher and lower while she is exposed, moving in with him gain competitive advantage. Such acts Cowbirds trick other birds into incubating quality sperms, and whether the new lovers’ for extended foreplay lasting several days. range from the simple, as in a chimpanzee and nurturing their offspring by sneaking genes are compatible with theirs. This Once sure of her man, the female disrobes, deliberately leading his troop away from a their eggs into the nest of their target birds. prompts them to engage in serial adultery slowly shedding both her hard shell and the hidden food stash, to the relatively complex, The Eastern Grey Squirrel pretends to bury in quest of better genetic prospects for pouch where she had banked sperm from a like a subordinate chimpanzee exploiting the nuts while still holding onto them, like in a their young. Since her partner would either prior mate. Her new shell has a new sperm fear of darkness of a superior chimpanzee in magic trick, fooling potential robbers who leave her or, in rarer case, put in less effort pouch; he thrusts a packet of sperm into it order to stop his bullying behaviour. Their are spying on him. in raising the offspring, this little lady hides using appendages called gonopods. The lying is not malicious or mischievous, it her infidelity from him for fear of enduring deed is done. As soon as one mate leaves, is only to improving their own chances of the hardship of a ‘single mother’. The animal kingdom boasts of magicians the male will welcome another. Rather than survival. Nor is it only their own kind that as cunning as our own. The cuttlefish who, primates seek to fool. There is the infamous mating for life, a dominant male lobster despite the name, is not a fish but a mollusc, In the animal world, as in ours, sex sells. mates with an entire harem. case of Koko the gorilla blaming a kitten for is nature’s own camouflage expert. Gifted Female penguins, whether they are single the mess he had made in his den. Sounds with specialized skin cells that allow them to or attached, will barter sex for ‘precious’ Finally, humans aren’t the only creatures exactly like any teenager! instantly change colour, look how creative stones. Stones, to the penguins, are truly on Earth to indulge in substance abuse. these clever creatures are. Researchers valuable materials because that’s what As with us, broken homes often cause Dolphins have been seen passing a Pufferfish noticed that the male sometimes displays a they need to keep their eggs afloat. The problematic, even dishonest, behaviour between them for upto 30 minutes at a time. strange, split-down-the-middle colouration. prostitution starts with the female penguin among animals. Take the reaction of bird These Pufferfish release a potent defensive On the side facing a female, he shows initiating courtship by joining a male at his chicks. Studies found that infant chicks chemical, when threatened, that has trance- typically male pulsating stripes. On the site and ‘head-bowing’ to him, soon followed were more dishonest when there was inducing qualities. side facing a male, he shows mottled by copulation. She will then collect a stone family conflict. If the parents were likely to camouflage— a typically female pattern. It from his nesting site and return to her own The dolphins carefully, and deliberately, divorce or die, the chicks engaged in more was observed that this behaviour occurred nest. In some exceptional cases, female handle him in such a way that’s indicative of exaggerated begging behaviour. This makes only in groups where there were two males penguins manage to cheat a male out of his the fact that they know what they’re doing, sense because the loss of one parent would and one female. So the male cuttlefish stones without providing any sexual favours and it’s not the first time they’re doing it. mean that future babies would not be full reveals his identity to the female he is in return. African apes and humans share a genetic siblings to the existing chicks. Exaggerated wooing and fools his rival male into thinking mutation that enables them to effectively begging behaviour was common in species that it’s just a couple of girls together. The metabolize ethanol. Chimps frequently drink that lay a lot of eggs and mate with multiple “Me Too’’ ? They too. Sometimes sexual fact, that males only display this behaviour fermented palm sap-an alcoholic, naturally- partners, such as blackbirds. Dishonesty was conflict occurs : for instance, males might in a very specific context, proves that they occurring sort of wine that human locals rarest in long-lived, hardy species that mate become persistent and forceful in their are able to correctly assess a situation and are also partial to. The slow loris ingests for life, like the albatross. This shows that mating behaviours with a lack of courtship behave accordingly. fermented nectar from the Bertam palm, evolution has resulted in sibling dishonesty rituals. The female evolves ways to handle this, evolving traits specifically to avoid while green monkeys at St Kitts shamelessly when it would help chicks compete with target tourist cocktails. potentially unrelated siblings. Nor is cheating uncommon among animals. male harassment and forced copulation. Gouldian finches cheat on their mate, not just Male mosquito fish have a modified fin, To join the animal welfare movement Some of the animals, expert at the game once or twice but multiple times. Research called a gonopodium, that they use to contact [email protected], of deception, are Cowbirds, Blue Jays, has shown that the females have the ability inseminate females. Researchers found www.peopleforanimalsindia.org Study: Warming already baked EU agency authorizes Moderna’s in will blow past climate goals COVID-19 vaccine he amount of baked-in global warming, Change calculates that a bit differently and he European Union’s medicines agency T from carbon pollution already in the now figures the carbon pollution already T gave the green light to Moderna Inc.’s air, is enough to blow past international put in the air will push global temperatures COVID-19 vaccine, a decision that gives the agreed upon goals to limit climate change, a to about 2.3 degrees Celsius (4.1 degrees 27-nation bloc a second vaccine to use in the

new study finds. Fahrenheit) of warming since pre-industrial Photo AP PC : desperate battle to tame the virus rampaging times. across the continent. that’s going to cause the climate system to But it’s not game over because, while that The approval recommendation by the European amount of warming may be inevitable, it can Previous estimates, including those accepted keep warming, and that’s essentially what we’re calculating,” said study co-author Medicines Agency’s human medicines be delayed for centuries if the world quickly by international science panels, were about a committee — which must be rubber-stamped stops emitting extra greenhouse gases from degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) less Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University. “Think about the climate by the EU’s executive commission — comes the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, the than that amount of committed warming. amid high rates of infections in many EU study’s authors say. system like the Titanic. It’s hard to turn the ship when you see the icebergs.” countries and strong criticism of the slow pace International climate agreements set goals of vaccinations across the region of some 450 For decades, scientists have talked about of limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius Dessler and colleagues at the Lawrence million people. “This vaccine provides us so-called “committed warming” or the (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial Livermore National Lab and Nanjing with another tool to overcome the current increase in future temperature based on past times, with the more ambitious goal of University in China calculated committed emergency,” said Emer Cooke, Executive carbon dioxide emissions that stay in the limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 warming to take into account that the world Director of EMA. “It is a testament to the atmosphere for well over a century. It’s like degrees Fahrenheit) added in Paris in 2015. has warmed at different rates in different efforts and commitment of all involved the distance a speeding car travels after the The world has already warmed about 1.1 places and that places that haven’t warmed that we have this second positive vaccine brakes are applied. degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit). as fast are destined to catch up. recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO.” But a study in the journal Nature Climate “You’ve got some ... global warming inertia Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

11 - 17 January 2021 23

Entertainment & Lifestyle NEW DELHI TIMES Shooting for Akshay Kumar -Kriti Sanon starred Bachchan Pandey begins he shooting has commenced for the movie Bachchan Pandey which starts Akshay Kumar and T Kriti Sanon in the lead roles. Kriti Sanon shared the pictures from the sets of the movie on Instagram with the message “1st Day of 1st film shoot in 2021!! With the production that gave me my very 1st film! #BachchanPandey Here we go.”.

The official twitter account of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment (NGE) also tweeted the pictures of the shoot with the message: ‘Straight from the Muhurat Shot of #SajidNadiadwala’s #BachchanPandey”.

Akshay Kumar posted the image from the upcoming film and tweeted : “New year, old associations...begun shooting for #BachchanPandey, my 10th film with #SajidNadiadwala, and hopefully many more. Need your best wishes and do tell me your thoughts on the look.”

Bachchan Pandey is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Farhad Samji, written by Nischay Kuttanda and Farhad Samji and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

The film will see Kumar playing a gangster, who aspires to be an actor; Sanon as a journalist, who wishes to be a director and Warsi as a struggling actor.

The makers are yet to reveal character details of other cast members. PC : Getty Images

PC : Getty Images By NDT Bureau Grammy Awards shift to March best performances in film and television. Neil Young “The Daily Show” host and comedian Trevor Noah is set to host the 2021 Grammys, becomes latest due to pandemic conditions where Beyoncé is leading contender with nine nominations. She scored nominations for song and record of the year with “Black artist to sell stake Parade,” which she released on Juneteenth, while “Savage” — her No. 1 collaboration in his songs with Megan Thee Stallion — picked up bids eil Young has become the latest for record of the year, best rap song and best N musician to strike gold with his song rap performance. catalogue, selling a 50 percent stake in his music to a British investment company in a Beyoncé’s “Black Is King,” which aired on deal announced. Disney+, is nominated for best music film while “Brown Skin Girl,” a song dedicated The Hipgnosis Songs Fund said it had to dark- and brown-skinned women, is acquired half of the copyright and income nominated for best music video. Her interests in some 1,180 songs written by the daughter Blue Ivy Carter sings on “Brown 75-year-old rock star, composer of “Heart Skin Girl” and also earned a Grammy of Gold,” “Rockin’ in the Free World” and nomination. “Cinnamon Girl.” PC : AP Photo AP PC : Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, Jhené he 2021 Grammy Awards will no and the hundreds of people who work Aiko, Post Malone, Renée Zellweger, Billie T longer take place this month in Los tirelessly on producing the show,” read the Eilish and her producer-brother Finneas also Angeles and will broadcast in March due statement from Recording Academy interim scored nominations. First-time nominees to a recent surge in coronavirus cases and CEO Harvey Mason Jr., CBS executive Jack include The Strokes, Megan Thee Stallion deaths. Sussman and Grammys executive producer and Harry Styles. Ben Winston. The annual show would shift from its Since the pandemic, a number of awards original January 31 broadcast to March 14, “We want to thank all of the talented artists, shows were postponed and later revamped according to a joint statement released from the staff, our vendors and especially this due to COVID-19 restrictions. The BET the Recording Academy and CBS, which year’s nominees for their understanding, Awards was the first major awards show broadcasts the ceremony. The statement said patience and willingness to work with us as during the pandemic and was a success the decision was reached “after thoughtful we navigate these unprecedented times.” thanks to its artsy, highly produced, well- conversations with health experts, our host

crafted pre-taped performances. Photo AP PC : and artists scheduled to appear.” The Grammys will be held in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. Los Angeles County, The MTV Video Music Awards featured “The deteriorating COVID situation in Terms were not disclosed. the epicenter of the crisis in California, has Lady Gaga winning awards and performing Los Angeles, with hospital services being surpassed 11,000 COVID-19 deaths and has onsite in a mask, and the Latin Grammys The deal comes a month after Bob Dylan sold overwhelmed, ICUs having reached had 40% of the deaths in California. It is the pre-taped several performances the week of publishing rights to more than 600 songs to capacity, and new guidance from state third state to reach the 25,000-death count. the show, handing out some of its awards to the Universal Music Publishing Group for and local governments have all led us to the winners who attended the show. a reported fortune of between $300 million conclude that postponing our show was the The new Grammys date coincides with and a half billion dollars. Stevie Nicks sold right thing to do. the scheduled hosting of the Screen Actors Performers at the upcoming Grammys will an 80 percent stake in her music to Primary Guild Awards, which is typically held at be announced at a later date. Wave for a reported $100 million. Nothing is more important than the health another downtown Los Angeles venue, the and safety of those in our music community Shrine Auditorium. That show honours the Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Think - Tanks NEW DELHI TIMES Yesterday is a dream, tomorrow is a vision all, but miraculously you got out of the coma that we have no authority in us to exercise ◆ By Dr. Pramila and found yourself struggling to get back to our forceful will over a span of years and Srivastava the life you use to have before the accident. should not allow us to deprive ourselves If someone were to ask us how we were of the pleasures of one or two wins in the @PramilaBK doing we would probably say something few hours ahead of us, like read a book and [email protected] like “we’re taking it one day at a time” or thoroughly enjoy the few pages that we read imagine a person had a bad injury and was or to spend a few moments enjoying the new ithout us even noticing, much of the bedridden, today they did a few house chores song we just discovered or to have a nice W things where we put our hopes and or took a short walk for the first time since conversation with someone. expectations in will be ready for us only the fall, if we ask them how they are, they’d over a long time, maybe in a month or even say “we’re talking it slowly one day at a Life as a whole is growing ever more decades from now or perhaps even longer. time”. These may be extreme examples and complicated, but we must remember that we hope that they will never happen to any it’s good for us to unclench and smile a little For example, the successful completion of a of us but they contain valuable teachings for once in a while along the way rather than book, a sufficient amount of finances to buy anyone. wolfishly reserving our joys for a grand a house or to start over a new career or to finale that may or may not happen in the fall in love and settle down with someone Taking things slowly or a day at a time distant future. Given the magnitude of the we love and similarly, we worry that our may help remind ourselves that sometimes future, we’re up against and that no matter past may catch up to our present and ruin our tendency of hopefulness and wishful how much we try, our imperfect or agreeable the good things that our future holds for us, thinking and the bewildering emotion that past is far beyond our reach and perfection PC : Getty Images we spent so much of our time mulling over comes along with it, may turn into our own may never be achieved, we can and should past mistakes and traumas, over the failures challenges in an intimate relationship, or the worst enemy stopping us from seeing what stoop with gratitude for the few little gifts of the person we were yesterday, how we split between ones aspirations and available we have today in the present, and render us that’s already within the grasp of our reality. let a friend or our loved ones down, how realities or we are introduced to the fullest impatient and blind. But by learning to limit we failed an exam or wasn’t able to attend extent of human wickedness and to one’s ourselves to the present or today or even an important wedding because of work. We should learn to look at the cloud or a own enumerable selfishness and weakness, tonight we gird ourselves for the long haul We hang on to our past like a dead body flower or the people around us with fresh so taking our steps one at a time and enjoying and remember that maybe an improvement being dragged along as we struggle to move gratitude, but sometime when we’re too the good things that our present reality has to may be best achieved when we don’t wait forward. preoccupied with the worries of life, what we offer should no longer becomes a distraction for things to happen too ardently but take were in the past and what we may become or an insult to our ambitions but a genuine But on occasions, life turns out in such things one step at a time. or when we’re young, this things may seem pleasure amid the sea of troubles and a a way that our normal long-term way of ridiculous and we may scoff at this very way to cope with our crushing anxiety and thinking or tendency to be hopeful for the The act of “taking it one day at a time” suggestion as there are far larger and grander ward off self-criticism, a small resting place future and our fear of the past or tendency to helps to reduce the crushing pressure and things to hope for than such evanescent for hope in a sea of disappointment and dwell in a past memory becomes impossible. expectation we have on ourselves to be manifestation of life, but with time almost beguiling past. Our present can be a proper Imagine you were in a terrible car accident able to control the uncertain future and the everyone’s grand aspiration may tend to resting place to come to terms with our past and seemed as if you might not make it at haunting past. It is the capacity to realize face a predicament like the innumerable and prepare to meet our uncertain future. Angola Energy 2025 Vision perceived as essential that needs and key extra renewable (biomass, the solar, wind, and ◆ By International Institute for Non - Aligned Studies project be defined now, for a 2018-2025 time small scale hydro), thereby placing Angola on period, in accordance with the objectives and a level battleground with the best ten nations @iinsNAM desires of Angola Strategy 2025 and the Electric on the planet in SADC, OPEC and OECD, as [email protected] Sector Transformation Process (PTSE). to installed renewable power and CO2 power he Government of Angola created area related emissions. The 2025 vision for the power sector T “The Angola Energy 2025,” intending However, to accomplish the Vision in the depends on the objective of addressing the to ensure comprehensive and sustainable 2018-2025 horizons, it will be needed to nation’s necessities and, given the elevated development of the nation through balanced PC : Getty Images assemble public and private investments of level of those requirements and the time dissemination of social and economic activities, USD23b. Without subverting the support spans accessible, expanding prosperity As indicated by this Long Term Vision, intending to advance human development in to other areas likewise strategic for the through goal-oriented objectives and demand will see huge growth dependent Angola. It builds up vital worldwide goals nation, the mobilization of a new investment a productive allotment of assets. Solid on an electrification process centered and incorporates the 2013– 2017 Action Plans cycle requires the power sector to produce development of energy consumption is in provincial capitals and metropolitan for Energy. The goal is to accomplish 60% revenues to reimburse those investments foreseen until 2025, predictably reaching municipalities (which signify 97% of the 3.7 essential energy access. As indicated by the in the medium and long haul. The study a heap of 7.2 GW, more than four times million household clients expected in 2025) strategy, the execution of a sustainable energy shows that the lower expenses of hydro and the present. This development will result and Community Township at whatever point development strategy is necessary to finish gas permit to ambition a monetarily self- mostly from bringing power to 60% of economic and technical rational permit it. during the 2015 – 2025 period. supporting sector with electricity tariffs the populace, from the Rapid Assessment Importance will be given to grid extensions in accordance with those charged in the and Gap Analysis – Angola 58 increase in to augment the number of municipal and The long term Angola Energy 2025 sets district. Nonetheless, that Vision requires a residential consumption, growth of national Community Township and the proceeded up key goals for the nation, reflecting the substantial commitment to loss reduction, wealth through the service sector, and the investment in structural undertakings in the key challenges for the advancement of and a steady update of electricity traffics. the energy sector, autonomous from the nation’s industrialization. interconnected grid. To assure a safe power current circumstance of the oil markets. The supply, even in long periods of lower hydro (in arrangement with development of generation capacity and the The “Angola Energy 2025 – Power Sector flow, Angola ought to have 9.9 GW of installed News from Non-Aligned World) extension of the grid and the mobilization Long Term Vision” had two significant capacity through expanding power capacity in www.iins.org of private capital are key long-haul axes set targets: I) the Renewable Energy Atlas of every single sub-system up in the Policy and Strategy for National Angola and ii) the Plan for the Electrical and through a definite Energy Security, with influence on the Sector until 2025. dependence on hydro and Contact New Delhi Times nation’s long-term development on the gas. expansion of the national economy. The Long Term Vision believed that the For Complaints & Suggestions key options are hydro, thermal, and other The Vision sets up that +91-9999331600 The National Development Plan and the renewable and consolidated in situations Angola will accomplish Action Plan for the Sector establishes that meet the necessary level of safety and over 70% of installed A-2/59, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029 investment objectives and plans for the employment. The generation blend selected renewable capacity 2013-2017 horizons. Given the long for the 2025 prospect results from a weighting (perhaps the highest rate Visit us at : twitter@NewDelhiTimes implementation periods for investment in criterion: economic, regional development, in the world), which facebook.com/newdelhitimes the area, the Government of Angola has environmental, and energy security. incorporates 800 MW of Printer and Publisher: Dr. (Mrs.) Pramila Srivastava, on behalf of Dr. Ankur Srivastava, Printed at Sudhir Printers, 151, Desh Bandhu Gupta Market, Karol Bagh, Delhi - 110005, Published at A-2/59 Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi-110029. Ph.: 26102520, 26105846 Fax: 26196294 Email: [email protected], Vol. 30, No. 50 Editor : Dr. Ankit Srivastava www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper