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SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 19 JUMADA I - 1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8491 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Build your own plan! Terms & Conditions Apply Amir condoles Cargo handling at Hamad Port continues rising with Ghani on With every passing cargo; 1,196,559 tonnes of death of Afghan month and year, general cargo; 59,443 vehicles; and 264,164 heads of livestock Containers, Bulk, Break-Bulk, Ambassador Hamad Port’s handling last year. RoRo and Livestock handled to Qatar of movement of In 2019, Hamad Port had received 1,545 vessels while it vessels and cargo is had handled over 1.3 million during the year 2020 QNA — DOHA increasing and the TEUs containers; 182,669 tonnes of bulk cargo; 625,532 Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin port is expanding its tonnes of general cargo; 76,501 Hamad Al Thani offered, container terminal vehicles; and 374,395 heads of during a phone call yesterday, livestock. Hamad Port handled his condolences to President base. around seven percent more of the Islamic Republic of TEU containers in 2020 when Afghanistan H E Dr. compared to the previous year Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and IRFAN BUKHARI (2019). to the friendly Afghan people THE PENINSULA In another tweet, QTer- on the death of Afghanistan’s minals also released figures of Ambassador to the State of Despite challenging situations cargo handling at Hamad Port Qatar Abdul Hakim Dalili. created by COVID-19 outbreak, in December 2020. Hamad Port – Qatar’s gateway According to data, the port UK logs more than to world trade – has wrapped received 147 vessels last month. up a successful year. The Port Hamad Port, in December TOTAL CONTAINERS BULK 57,000 new cases has registered an increase in 2020, handled 146,429 TEUs VESSELS TEUs F/T vessels’ arrival and cargo containers; 52,500 tonnes of AP — LONDON handling in 2020 which indi- bulk cargo; 172,690 tonnes of 1,600 1,412,689 304,481 cates port’s growing importance general cargo; 3,493 vehicles; The United Kingdom yesterday in regional trade. and 23,059 heads of hit a daily record for new coro- Hamad Port, in 2020, livestock. RORO LIVESTOCK B/BULK navirus infections — 57,725 — handled over 1.4 million With every passing month UNITS HEADS F/T and according to figures Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units and year, Hamad Port’s han- compiled by Johns Hopkins (TEUs) containers and received dling of movement of vessels 59,443 264,164 1,196,559 University has overtaken Italy 1,600 vessels. and cargo is increasing and the once again to be the worst hit According to figures port is expanding its container country in Europe with nearly released by QTerminals, ter- terminal base. he inaugurated the initial oper- line operators and would before the end of 2022. Phases 3 75,000 virus-related deaths. minal operating company pro- Recently on December 22 ation of Hamad Port’s Container increase the port’s capacity by & 4 will be developed later to raise The fear is that the number viding services at Hamad Port, last year, Prime Minister and Terminal 2, which is equipped about three million containers the port’s operational capacity of deaths will grow over the on its Twitter handle, the Port Minister of Interior H E Sheikh with the latest environment- per year. according to local market’s needs, coming weeks. The UK has handled 1.4 million Twenty- Khalid bin Khalifa bin friendly technological CT2 development project said an earlier statement of the recorded its five highest daily Foot Equivalent Units con- Abdulaziz Al Thani made a visit equipment to meet the needs consists of four phases. Full oper- Ministry of Transport and Com- new infection numbers over tainers; 304, 481 tonnes of bulk to Hamad Port, during which and requirements of shipping ation of Phases 1 & 2 will start munications. `P2 the past five days. Overwhelming response to QNL opens more services, booking slots COVID-19 vaccine in Qatar FAZEENA SALEEM Only 300 people will be allowed in the THE PENINSULA SANAULLAH ATAULLAH “Now we are in phase 1 (A) building during each time slot THE PENINSULA which covers three sections of Qatar National Library (QNL) the society: senior citizens aged has extended the timings and Time slots to be available from 8 to 10am, Head of Vaccination at the 70 and above, people with increased limit of number of Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), chronic diseases with risks and people allowed within the 10.30am to 2.30pm, and 3.30 to 8pm from Dr. Soha Al Bayat, has said that complications such as renal building since yesterday, as part Saturday to Thursday. COVID-19 vaccine being failure and frontline healthcare of reopening procedure under provided by Qatar has received workers,” said Dr. Soha. gradual lifting of COVID-19 high response from people. She said that completion of restrictions. To borrow books, Library members need to Speaking to a Qatar Radio phase 1 (A) vaccine programme “Starting January 2, 2021, request them in advance at least two programme yesterday, Dr. Soha will be announced next week we’ll open more services and working days before the time slot they said that 10 days completed and people will be kept updated booking slots for you, including since the Ministry rolled out the about the coming phases. welcoming you on Saturdays, booked for Library visit. vaccine in the country and no Speaking about the possible which is available now for complaint or any severe type side effects of COVID-19 booking. The Library will be of complication recorded. vaccine, Dr. Soha said: “There closed on Fridays,” the Library women are not allowed into the will need the Library ID to self- remain closed until further “We received calls from are mild side effects of the said in the website. Library during this phase of checkout these books. notice. people seeking vaccines against vaccine like any other types of The visits to the Library will reopening,” said the Library. Visitors will be allowed into The Heritage Library has reo- COVID-19. There is overwhelming vaccine. It could cause light continue to be allowed by Earlier only 200 people were the building only if they have a pened and Heritage Reading response for the vaccine. I would fever and slight soreness at the appointment only. allowed inside the Library during confirmation of their slot booking, Room is also available to users for like to assure people that no com- place of injection.” Only 300 people will be each in two slots and the Library are between ages 13 and 60 year, selected heritage and reference plaints of serious complications, She said that the most allowed in the building during was closed on Saturdays. have a green status on the Ehteraz materials (requests are processed so far, have been recorded among common side effect is slight pain each time slot (8 to 10am, To borrow books, Library app, have a temperature of not on a case by case basis). Heritage those who received the vaccine,” in the arm where the vaccine is 10.30am to 2.30pm, and 3.30 members need to request them more than 37.8 degrees Celsius Library materials are accessible she said. administered for few hours for to 8pm) from Saturday to in advance at least two working and wear a face mask or shield. primarily by requesting a digital She said that the vaccines some people or for maximum Thursday. days before the time slot they The Children’s Library and copy via this email (heritageli- are being provided in phases. 24 hours for others. `P2 “For their safety, pregnant booked for Library visit. They the Young Adults’ Area will [email protected]). `P3 Weekly Mahaseel Market to begin on January 7 THE PENINSULA — DOHA opened new horizons to The Festival also received encourage agricultural participation of eight nurseries The fifth edition of the Mahaseel investment and support food which offered flowers, roses Festival yesterday concluded its production projects with the and ornamental plants. activities in the southern part aim of achieving The fifth edition of the of Katara allowing Mahaseel self-sufficiency. Mahaseel Festival was also dis- Market to start operation from The fifth edition of the fes- tinguished by the diversity of January 7 for three days in a tival witnessed increased par- its exhibitors, products and the week (Thursdays, Fridays and ticipation by farmers, apiaries multiplicity of its wings, in Saturdays). and specialised local companies addition to its good prepa- Mahaseel Market will open with agricultural production ration, organisation and from 9am to 9pm on Thursday and livestock. services. and Saturday and from 1pm to A total of 28 Qatari farms On the other hand, 9pm on Friday until March end participated in the festival that Mahaseel Market will held its 2021, said Katara in a statement. displayed many varieties of activity on the southern part of The Mahaseel Festival, in fresh vegetables and honey, in Katara, starting from January 7, its fifth edition achieved great addition to the pavilions of nine (Thursday to Saturday from success by attracting Qatari specialized national companies 9am to 9pm and from 1pm to farms and national companies that highlighted national 9pm on Friday. The Mahaseel The fifth edition of the Mahaseel Festival witnessed increased participation by farmers, apiaries and specialised in agricultural products of fresh agricultural Market will continue until the specialised local companies production. The festival and food crops. end of March. `P2 02 HOME SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 12th International Falconry & Hunting Festival under way QNA/THE PENINSULA — DOHA The Marmi Festival is aimed at The 12th Qatar International Falconry preserving and promoting the & Hunting Festival (Marmi), held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Joaan bin sport of falconry. It sheds light on Hamad Al Thani, opened on Friday. It Qatari heritage through various will go on until January 30, 2021. shows and competitions. Organised by Qatar Al Gannas Society, the Festival is being held at Sabkat Marmi in Sealine. The Festival’s competitions began number of participants, with the with Talaa championship for groups 1 crowded schedule of competitions to 6. Three participants qualified for throughout the month, adding the the next rounds, namely: Mohammed qualifiers will be held on many days Ghaleb Al Dossary and Barzan Team during the morning and evening with two falcons. periods. Mohammed Mubarak Al Ali said the The Marmi Festival is aimed at pre- first day witnessed the participation of serving and promoting the sport of fal- 6 groups, adding that the start of the conry. It sheds light on Qatari heritage competitions was somewhat delayed through various shows and Participants during the 12th Qatar to ensure clear visibility so that the competitions. International Falconry & Hunting Festival chances are equal for all. The 12th Qatar International Fal- (Marmi). Al Ali praised the participants’ conry & Hunting Festival (Marmi) wit- response, respect and application of nessed tough competition on second groups of contestants from seven to 12 health conditions and precautions, by day yesterday. were held where the bird of Turkey qualified. tough competitions among Shahin wearing masks and showing the Four falcons qualified for forth- bin Abdullah Al Dosari of Group 8 Head of Al Talah Committee, falcons and Al Zajil of Abdullah Fakhro. Ehteraz app, which must be green. coming round Al Tala Championship. qualified. Mohamad Mubarak Al Ali said that the The falcons succeeded in over- Head of the Hadad Challenge Three falcons also qualified for Hudad Barazan Team of Group 9 and 12 second day witnessed participation of coming the pigeons after a strong Committee Ali Sultan Nasser Al Hamidi Al Tahadi Championship. Under Al Tala with two falcons qualified. The bird of six groups from Group 7 to 12. Hudad adventure in the sky of Sabkhat Marmi pointed out that the event saw a record Championship competitions of the Jaber Ubaid Al Ghithan of Group 10 also Al Tahadi Championship witnessed at Sealine. QRCS launches 2nd surgical mission for poor patients in Somalia Cargo handling at Hamad Port THE PENINSULA — DOHA Dr. Abdul Razak Yousef, cholecystectomy, amputation, Director of the De Martini abdominal hernia repair, continues rising Qatar Red Crescent Society General Hospital, said, “This is removal of abdominal tumours, FROM PAGE 1 (QRCS) has launched the 2nd the second surgical mission to hemorrhoidectomy, urinary surgical mission at the De be launched by QRCS’s repre- fistula surgery, breast cancer Phase 1 of CT2 has been Martini General Hospital in sentation mission. It will cover surgery, reconstructive burn equipped with 3 STS quay Mogadishu, Somalia. more critical cases at the surgery, removal of benign cranes with advanced tech- At a total cost of QR 336,150, hospital. tumours, varicocelectomy, and nology, including semi-auto- a local team of surgeons will "The first episode was C-section). mation and remote-control perform 200 surgeries for poor totally successful. I would like Since 2006, QRCS has been operations. patients, who will also receive to thank the State of Qatar and carrying out health projects in STS cranes are known for initial examinations, pre- and QRCS for their efforts to support Somalia. It operates the being so fast and highly effi- post-procedure care, and the health sector of Somalia”. Afgooye General Hospital and cient in handling containers medical prescriptions free of The ongoing mission the TB and Multidrug-Resistant and capable of handling latest charge. focuses on the newly displaced TB Center. types of vessels. Each crane Another aspect of the and conflict-affected local com- Other projects include the can handle four 20’ containers mission is to build the capacity munity of Mogadishu, Benaadir provision of healthcare services or two 40’ containers at the of the hospital’s medical staff, Region. So far, 80 major sur- in Bay and Sool Regions, as well same time. Four more cranes Doctors perform a surgery under the project supported by Qatar Red by engaging them in the oper- geries have been performed as many other medical pro- will be added during 2021, Crescent Society at the De Martini General Hospital in Mogadishu. ating room. (thyroidectomy, laparotomy, grammes across the country. taking the total number of cranes to seven. CT2 has been also equipped with 12 RTGs and 14 Weekly Mahaseel Market to begin on January 7 Overwhelming response to more will be added during FROM PAGE 1 Qatari farms and the best The market’s resumption 2021, taking the total to 26. The market will exhibit varieties of local dates, with of its activities comes within COVID-19 vaccine in Qatar RTGs are used for handling various types of fresh local the participation of major the framework of the efforts FROM PAGE 1 containers on the landside. products such as vegetables, farms and national com- of the Cultural Village Foun- continued.” RTGs are of battery hybrid agricultural produce, flowers, panies specialised in pro- dation Katara to support the “Most of the people who She asked people to have type. ornamental plants, and food duction and sale of sheep and agricultural and livestock took vaccine of COVID-19 patience and do not be in hurry This technology reduces products related to livestock, poultry meat, eggs, milk and sector and encourage Qatari need not to take medicines, in demanding for lifting the the environmental impact of in addition to the finest its derivatives, and natural farm owners and its interest few people who need are pre- restrictions. RTG operations by reducing natural honey produced by juices. in marketing local products. scribed minor medicines like “We should follow up fuel consumption. Further, any painkiller or those for closely the scientific infor- when a container/load is reducing fever,” said Dr. Soha. mation about COVID-19 vac- lowered, there is a spike of She urged people to keep cines. Clinical experiments and generated power which results adhering to the preventive and studies on the vaccine con- in a rapid charge event of the precautionary measures at this tinue to obtain more infor- batteries. stage to curb the spread of mation in this regard,” said Dr. In November last year, COVID-19. Soha. QTerminals achieved a mile- “The provision of vaccine Now, she said, for example, stone by reaching three million against COVID-19 does not when the vaccine came first it man-hours without any Lost mean the pandemic is over. was suggested for people aged Time Injury (LTI) during the The vaccines are provided in 18 and above but now the construction of Hamad Port’s phases. At least 75 percent clinical experiments include Container Terminal 2. people should be vaccinated aged 16 and above. in Qatar and the same per- “A vaccine manufacturing centage in all over the world company is experimenting on MoPH: 124 more but we could not reach at this those aged 12 and above by the level,” said Head of Vacci- time more sections could be recover from nation at Ministry of Public added,” said Dr. Soha. Health (MoPH). She said that adequate COVID-19 “We are expected to reach number of people will be this level in summer 2021. administered vaccines against THE PENINSULA — DOHA During current phase, COVID-19 during coming measures like social dis- months and more accurate The Ministry of Public Health tancing, wearing face masks, information will be available (MoPH) yesterday announced not shaking hands and using which will help to overcome the registration of 198 new People visiting the flowers section at Mahaseel Festival, at Katara, yesterday. sanitisers should be the pandemic. confirmed cases of COVID-19. Among them 24 were trav- ellers returning from abroad. Also 124 people have Aspire Academy endurance development camp a success recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of THE PENINSULA — DOHA and fit for purpose for the goals student-athletes and graduates recovered cases in Qatar to we had in mind as a coaching among its number. They hope 141,680. All new cases have Aspire Academy held an staff. We managed to get to make the final squad for the been introduced to isolation Endurance Development camp important background infor- annual GCC competition in and are receiving necessary recently in the Sealine area. mation on this training camp swimming scheduled for March healthcare according to their With the regular sports training that helps develop student-ath- 2021 and the AASF Asian Age health status. camp season severely disrupted letes from a holistic perspective. Groups Championships 2021. The total number of pos- by the coronavirus pandemic, In this time of the coronavirus, This year is also expected to itive COVID-19 cases recorded the Aspire Endurance team it has been difficult to travel pack in other swimming com- in Qatar is 144,240 and there came up with a home-made abroad for training camp, and petitions that were postponed are 2,315 active cases under solution and decided to hold its we thought why not go local, due to the coronavirus pan- treatment. camp at the Sealine Beach and it has turned out to be one demic, such as FINA Swimming Resort. of the best decisions we ever World Cup. The camp was for the made because this has been a Qatar Swimming Associ- Six arrested for student-athletes, most of whom wonderful training camp,” ation coach Omar Kheddache were on their first training McCarthy said. said the swimmers had reacted Student athletes during the endurance camp held at Sealine. violating home camp. The camp’s goal was to Aspire student-athlete Faris well to the training camp. Due help build on the momentum Ayman Salih Ali, who was on to the fruitful partnership and quarantine gained since the start of the year his first-ever training camp, expecting new records and new since the pandemic. Qatar relationship between the Qatar and help plans for more training said, “We came here to this medals. Swimming Association (QSA) Swimming Association and QNA — DOHA camp opportunities to come in training camp to get out of the “As a student-athlete at first had a camp in August for Aspire Academy, their opera- 2021. daily routine and relax. The Aspire Academy, this is some- 18 days to prepare the tions have been running The designated authorities Aspire Academy Endurance training camp here in the desert thing I am proud of and I thank swimmers for the forthcoming smoothly. “Everyone associated arrested yesterday six persons lead coach, David McCarthy, has been a nice camp; we swim Aspire Academy for how they swimming season. It’s all hands with swimming is pleased and who violated the requirements and fellow Aspire coaching staff and train in the morning. I like provide us with such support to the deck as the swimmers grateful for the cooperation of the home quarantine rules. Mathew Cullen (Team Culture running as a sport, and l expect for us to be the best we can be.” crisscross between Aspire between the two key players in The violators currently being Support) and Ahmad Jaad to take benefits from the expe- Meanwhile, the Qatar Academy pool and Hamad our sport, Qatar Swimming referred to prosecution are (Aspire Resident Educator and rience. The coach worked with national swim team is on a Aquatic Centre for intensive Association, and Aspire Karim Hussam Ibrahim Abde- graduate) said the camp was us to improve, we started from training camp in preparation for training, including fitness ses- Academy. They work together latti, Fakhruddin Hanoun, successful. a low level, and now we are the forthcoming international sions in the Aspire gym. so well that we can hold this Ahmed Afif Al Amour, Mahmoud “The venue and envi- improving and getting better competitions. The camp is the The Qatar national swim training camp without any issue Mohamed Attia, Ismail Karsia ronment turned out to be ideal each time. This year we are second training camp this year team counts Aspire at all." and Iyad Samir Reda Alwa. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 HOME 03 QSC honours winners of robot wrestling contest for students THE PENINSULA — DOHA level, was secured by Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib School team. Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) has The competition, held as Omar bin Al Khattab Prepar- honoured winners of a robot part of the spring camp, atory School team came second. wrestling competition. involved school students The third place went to the The event was organised by aged 12 to 16. A total of Qatar School of Science and QSC in partnership with Min- Technology team. istry of Education and Higher 25 teams took part in In the beginner category, Education with the support of the competition. the first place was secured by the Ministry of Culture and Omar bin Al Khattab Prepar- Sports, as part of the scientific atory School Team 1, while activities of the spring camp. second place went to Omar bin The competition was In the first week of the compe- Al Khattab Preparatory Team included in the camp’s activities tition, 25 teams participated, of 2. Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib for the first time, which helped which 15 teams qualified for the Preparatory School for Boys school students to participate second phase, which began on won the third position. during the holiday period. December 29, 2020. In the Advanced Design The competition involved There was a jury specialised Competition, Qatar Technical male and female students in the in the competition and applied School Team 2 secured the first One of the winning teams at the awards ceremony for the robot wrestling competition organised by age group of 12 to 16. the criteria for the compatibility place. Qatar School of Science the Qatar Scientific Club. The teams used remote- of the participating robots in and Technology Team 2 won controlled robots. terms of dimensions and the design competition in the The Qatar Scientific Club weight. There were prizes for beginner category. went to Qatar School of Science the Robot Competitions at the Department at Qatar Scientific provided the Qatari Committee the first three teams in the For the programming com- and Technology. Qatar Scientific Club, met with Club, said that the competition and the Organising Committee advanced category competition petition beginner level, the At the end of the compe- the competition committee, jury is a qualitative leap in the for Robot Competitions all the and two entry level awards in ranking was as follows: Qatar tition, Qatar Scientific Club hon- and contestants to provide rec- course of seasonal activities necessary support and addition to three prizes for each Science and Technology Team oured the judges and the par- ommendations and directions camps such as the spring camp assistance for each team, with category for the best pro- 1 and Qatar Science and Tech- ticipants in the competition. before the start of the and the summer camp, espe- the provision of a table for the gramming design. Multiple nology Team 2. As for advanced Maryam Al Awadhi, competition. cially in light of the current con- initial experiments. teams from the schools partic- programming, the first place Chairman of the Organising Sheikh Ali bin Salman Al ditions related to the excep- The competition had two ipated in the competition. went to Qatar Technical School Committee for National Robot Thani, Head of the Scientific tional measures regarding the levels, beginner and advanced. The first place, in advanced Team 1 while the second place Competitions and in charge of Activities and Events coronavirus pandemic. HMC advises quad bike use by trained adults only Ooredoo’s Shahry Me THE PENINSULA — DOHA plan a hit with customers The Hamad Injury Prevention Quad bikes are designed for one single operator, their THE PENINSULA — DOHA Program (HIPP) of the Hamad weight and power must be managed by the driver. He/she Shahry Me allows users Trauma Center has issued a must have enough strength, counterweight, training and Ooredoo has announced its series of recommendations new customisable app- easily to share data and experience to drive one safely. Families must see to it that that can help residents of managed postpaid plan, Shahry minutes with the whole young children do not drive or ride quad bikes or all-terrain Qatar to stay safe on their Me, is proving to be a great family and household quad bikes or all-terrain vehicles. success with customers. vehicles (ATVs) during this The new digital plan fea- members via the app at any time. year’s outdoor and camping Dr. Rafael Consunji tures a completely custom- season. isable allocation of data and HIPP team has analysed Director, Hamad Injury Prevention Program calling across family members data from 1,188 ATV-related and households. It can be trauma cases from the Qatar designed based on the cus- meaning all changes, charges, National Trauma Registry, Al must see to it that young on a quad bike, unless it is Mawater or the Ministry of tomer’s individual needs and and subscriptions can be exe- Wakra Hospital and the HMC children do not drive or ride specially designed for pas- Culture and Sports. family and household cuted in seconds and allows the Ambulance Service. These ATVs” he said. sengers. About a quarter of all Its highly recommended members, ensuring allowances main SIM owner to use the victims were all injured at Permanent paralysis or victims were injured as pas- not to operate quad bikes do not go to waste. Customers unique ‘Build Your Own Plan’ Sealine or Mesaieed area brain damage can happen at sengers. Quad bikes are without protective gear such can make the most of all ele- feature integral to the inno- while using off-road vehicles the moment of impact of an designed for only one user, as a helmet. The majority of ments of their plan. vative new system. from the months of November ATV crash. the driver or operator. injuries affected body parts Shahry Me allows users Shahry Me comes loaded to March for three seasons, Following recommenda- To drive a quad bike that can easily be protected easily to share data and with fantastic entertainment, 2017 to 2018, 2018 to 2019 tions have been advised to safely, one must be able to by the proper PPE; the head, minutes with the whole family including Hollywood and Bol- and 2019 to 2020. follow to reduce the chance adjust one’s position and shift arms, legs, feet, eyes and face and household members via lywood movies with STARZ “There is much to be of both injuries, in the event weight in response to sudden were most commonly the app at any time. The main PLAY and ErosNow, and thou- learned from this collabo- of a crash. changes in direction, speed affected. account owner can manage up sands of buy-one-get-one-free rative effort that serves as the Parents and ATV rental and terrain. Riding with or as Helmets, gloves, ankle to 5 SIM cards of the family offers at a wide range of leading basis for our safety recom- agencies should not allow a passenger increases the boots and protective eyewear while controlling services and leisure, lifestyle, and dining mendations that every person young children, to operate chance of weight imbalance are needed to protect the allowances via the specially options with the Urban Point in Qatar, who engages in quad bikes. Almost one third and instability. These result quad bike driver in the event designed app. Unused allow- app in Qatar, Kuwait, and activities using off-road of all victims were between in rollovers and crashes; of a crash. ances can be passed on to other Oman. vehicles, must know and the ages of 11 to 15 years. another reason that small Long sleeved shirts and family and household Director PR at Ooredoo implement to make their Quad bikes are not toys; their children, with low body long pants are also recom- members, and children can be Sabah Rabiah Al Kuwari said: camping season safe and size, power and weight weights, should not be riding mended to protect the vul- rewarded with extra data for “We’re delighted to see the injury-free,” said Dr. Rafael require complex decision- or driving quad bikes. nerable knees and elbows more screen time. market reacting so well to our Consunji, Director of the making, impulse control and HIPP has also advised to from cuts and scratches. Customers will also be pro- new Shahry Me digital cus- HIPP, which is the community strength, which are not avoid peak periods of activity Leave the stunt driving to tected against bill shocks as tomer experience. A tre- outreach arm of the Hamad present in young children. to reduce the risk of injury. professionals — the most dependent users will have to mendous amount of research Trauma Center. Quad bikes are designed Half of victims were injured common injury mechanisms request extra allowances from went into the design of the plan “Quad bikes are designed for responsible use by fully- on Fridays, between 2pm and are collisions and rollovers. the main account holder, who and its app; to ensure complete for one single operator, their trained and mature adults. 10pm. The congestion and Collisions may be with fixed will approve or reject such customer satisfaction, which is weight and power must be For these reasons, the density of different kinds of objects [suddenly appearing requests. at the heart of our corporate managed by the driver. He/ American Academy of Ortho- off-road vehicles added to the walls, posts etc], with another After installing the new strategy. she must have enough pedic Surgeons does not rec- mix of experience levels and quad bike or with other Shahry Me app, customers will "It’s great to see our cus- strength, counterweight, ommend that children driving expertise makes this vehicles. be able to order their Shahry tomers so enthusiastic about training and experience to younger than 12 years old period the most-risky for all. Children are more likely Me SIM online or migrate any everything it offers. Moving drive one safely. operate quad bikes and that It is best to go at a time to be injured in collisions or of their existing Hala or Shahry towards complete digitalisation "Some ATV rental outlets those with more than 90cc in when there are less enthu- in lateral rollovers while services to Shahry Me. is also a key focus at Ooredoo, in Qatar do not rent out to (engine) size should never be siasts using the course and to adults were most commonly Thanks to a customised in line with Qatar National children, younger than 18 operated by persons under 16 only use areas that are under injured in backward rollovers, plan within a fully digital Vision 2030, and this com- years. This is the globally years of age. the direct supervision of the a common mechanism when service, they will be charged pletely digital, app-managed accepted safest and recom- Its also advised that no responsible authorities, like ascending hills or dunes or only for the confirmed services. plan fits perfectly with our mended practice. Families passengers should be allowed the Traffic Department, doing “wheelies’’ or stunts. This works in real-time, future plans.” QNL opens more services, booking slots FROM PAGE 1 Visitors are required to follow the social dis- tancing rules every- where in the Library and stand only on designated stickers whenever queuing. Social gath- erings of more than 10 people are strictly restricted in the Library and will be monitored by security. Reading carrels may be used on a first-come, first-use basis, with only one user inside each carrel. The Library’s events and workshops will con- tinue to be offered online until further notice, despite re- opening doors to the public. Qatar National Library has scheduled a packed series of learning events to start 2021. 04 HOME SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 Reesha Student Art Display highlights children's artistry

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Children have a unique, pure vision of the world around them. When they express their perspectives using their rich, untapped artistic talents, a glowing imagination emerges, expressing fresh insight and brimming with creativity and innovation. Those who have recently visited Qatar National Library would have seen more than 30 canvases painted in acrylic colors, created by the fingertips of children who participated in several art workshops organized by the Library. An elite group of Qatari artists ran these as mentors, including School students paint their creative visions of the most beautiful things in Qatar. Fatima Al-Nesf, Dana Safar, and many others. Last October, Qatar National encouraging them to express Last October, Qatar National and creativity. Some of them has aspired to achieve in the to learn something new.” Library launched the Children’s their ideas and visions in a imagined Qatar as a mother past and the present through Hassan Ahmad Al-Ansari, Art Display’ Reesha’, which variety of ways, whether in Library launched the with jewelry and gold in the their efforts that sponsored and a student at Omar bin Al- highlights the artistic talents writing, public speaking, or Children’s Art Display’ hands of her daughters. Others supported arts as in all its forms. Khattab School, said: “I was inherent in this promising gen- artistic creativity.” Reesha’, which highlights painted the falcon, a symbol of Pablo Picasso once said, ‘Eve- particularly excited for being eration of students. Organizing “These art workshops were the artistic talents inherent Arab and Qatari identity. Qatar’s rything you can imagine is real’ chosen as a participant in this student art display is part an ideal opportunity for partic- in this promising generation glorious past and heritage was - the seed of creativity begins Reesha art workshops because of the Library’s role as a cultural ipating students to hone their depicted as a modern lighthouse with an imagination which has I love drawing. My friends and institution that devotes its artistic skills under the guidance of students. on Doha’s towering buildings. no limits. No one has a rich and I discovered a landmark from utmost effort to promoting of an elite group of Qatari Each drawing expressed a fertile imagination similar to our beloved country, and I imagination, nurturing crea- artists. The result was a unique focused and deep perspective children.” learned to paint the houses tivity, unlocking talents, and collection of paintings rich in a Children’s librarian, and the that forms a bigger image of Khalifa Musa, a student at and ancient monuments. I developing skills to encourage meanings and connotations exhibition curator. “Young peo- Qatar in the eyes of our children Omar Ibn Al-Khattab School, drew the interior of an old children to showcase their about Qatar’s character, fea- ple’s contributions were varied and their creative pens. The said: “I grew up and saw my house. I also drew some artistic talents to patrons and tures, and most beautiful and reflected their diverse cre- guided art workshops were very mother drawing, painting and household pots and containers visitors. aspects. We now have a new ativity through paintings which successful in enhancing chil- doing handicrafts, which and enjoyed this artistic About this exhibition, Hind promising generation of artists, combined the past and the dren’s abilities of expression unleashed my passion and love journey which was beautiful Al Khulaifi, Manager of Chil- and we are looking forward to present. Children’s talents have through drawing,” Muhammad for the art of drawing. Cooper- and fruitful.” dren’s and Young Adults’ more artistic expressions in the been unleashed and manifested added: ating with my classmates, I The exhibition also included Library, said: “We firmly believe near future,” Hind Al Khulaifi themselves on canvas paintings Dana Al Safar, one of the participated in the art display paintings by male and female that the Library’s role is not added. with their spontaneous mentoring artists participating and spent my time in my students from several other limited to giving access to books “The aim of the art display drawings. Perhaps the most in the exhibition’s workshops, favorite place, drawing on schools, namely Khawla Bint Al- and spreading the culture of is to connect children with their beautiful description of this said: “Art is a mirror of nations weekdays. It was a unique Azwar Primary School for Girls, reading among the young, but cultural identity, boost their display is ‘Qatar in the eyes of that reflects our progress, experience, and it had a pos- Al-Bayan Al-Oula School for also includes developing a bal- sense of belonging, and unleash its children’.” development, culture, and itive impact on my personality. Girls, Taiba Model Independent anced personality for children, their artistic and creative imag- “Each student became ambition for all the world to see. I hope to take part once again School, and Abdullah bin Zaid enhancing their talents and ination,” said Nour Mohamed, immersed in their imagination This is what our government in this exchange of ideas and School. Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar holds online IEI Qatar marks 53rd Engineers' Day international poetry symposium THE PENINSULA – DOHA Annadurai, fondly known as Moon Man of India for having led various Institute of Engineers India (IEI) prestigious Indian space explo- of Qatar chapter has marked ration missions like Chandrayaan 53rd Engineers’ Day to commem- 1, Mangalyaan, and Chandrayaan orate the birth anniversary of the 2, graced the occasion. legendary engineer Bharat Ratna During his speech, he Sir Mokshagundam Visves- described how India was suc- varaya, at Liverpool John Moores cessful in its maiden Moon and University Qatar. Mars exploration programs at a Due to the COVID-19 pan- fraction of the cost of other inter- demic, the event was conducted national undertakings. Ingenuity, in hybrid mode for the first time. Innovation, and Adaptability Dignitaries and executive com- were the three keywords of mittee members joined in person wisdom he shared with attendees at the venue, with over 500 to ponder upon and consider. members and engineers from President of Arab Engineers Qatar, India, and other parts of the Ambassador of India to Qatar, Dr. Deepak Mittal, and President Forum, Eng. Jassim Ahmed Al Participants during the online global symposium organised by world joining in via zoom online. of Arab Engineers Forum, Eng. Jassim Ahmed Al Jolo, with other Jolo recognised and applauded Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar. Chairman of IEI Qatar officials during souvenir release at the event. the contribution of Indian engi- chapter, Eng. Abdul Sathar wel- neers towards Qatar’s national comed the delegates and opened relations through their work. events and meaningful themes vision and the part they have THE PENINSULA – DOHA Nadeem Rafi (USA), Sarfraz the 53rd Engineers Day 2020 He highlighted the impor- despite the challenges posed by played in building the nation. Bazmi (India), Jaleel Nizami, with an inspiring address, calling tance of engineers as builders COVID-19 throughout this chal- Sunitha Shyam, CEO and Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar (BUQ), Alok Kumar Shreevastiv Shaz upon all members of the engi- and the engineering profession lenging year. Founding Partner of Veritadyne the oldest Urdu literary Jahani (India), Mohammad neering profession and the wider as the backbone of any country Prof KK Aggarwal, Chairman Strategic Consulting, delivered organisation in Qatar, Rafiq Shad Akolvi, Iftikhar community to utilize their skills, and the innovations they bring of National Board of Accredi- the keynote address on the 53rd recently organised an online Raghb, Rashid Sheikh (USA), knowledge, and efforts for the about for society’s benefit. Dr. tation, India, highlighted the IEI Engineers’ day themed ‘Engi- global symposium from Doha. Zamir Ahmed Zamir (India), welfare of society and Mittal reiterated the significance Qatar chapter’s efforts as a high neers for a Self-Resilient India’. Bazm, founded in 1959, Farid Anwar Siddiqui (UAE), humankind. of blending quality and frugality performing arm of the organi- She highlighted the significance has been holding monthly Zeenat Kausar Lakhani The Chief Guest was Ambas- that Indian engineers are well sation and complimented the of the coming together of poetic symposiums for the (Pakistan), Fayyaz Bukhari sador of India to Qatar, H E Dr. known for and must continue to Government of Qatar for sup- potential and ambition to achieve last five decades. It also Kamal, Farooq Raza (India), Deepak Mittal, also the Patron of strive for in every future engi- porting the cause of the engi- India’s national development organises quarterly and Ajit Singh Badal (India), IEI Qatar chapter. In his inaugural neering projects they undertake, neering profession in a big way. agenda through self-reliance annual Urdu seminars and Mansoor Azmi, Dr. Wasi speech, Dr. Mittal lauded the Indian across all engineering areas. He highlighted the importance while ensuring that it is not inter- international poetic Bastavi, Mansoor Qasmi community resident’s contribution He commended the IEI Qatar for engineers to be aware of and preted as enforced isolation, symposiums. (KSA), Shahbaz Shamsi (UAE), to Qatar, including its engineers, chapter’s dedicated efforts in prepared for the ever-changing robbing the country of necessary The recent session gave Dr. Tariq Faiz (India), Izhar towards strengthening and fur- bringing together the engineering engineering paradigms. and meaningful global engage- poets couplet lines from noted Rashid (India), Vaijnath Shah thering Qatar and India’s friendly community through excellent Padma Shri Mylswamy ments and partnerships. classical poet Mirza Khan Manto, Razia Kazmi (USA), Dagh Dehlvi to write their Alia Taqvi (India), Sufyan poetry in line with Daagh’s Ahmed (India) and Nazhat MOCI announces lines using, ‘This news will fly Nausheen (India). for a long time,’ and ‘I have The guests of honour recall of select fallen after reaching the sky.’ delivered a short speech Poet Iqbal Khilash from about the online experience models of Honda India presided over the of the symposium. They programme, while Dr. Ahmad thanked BUQ for bestowing THE PENINSULA — DOHA Ali Barqi Azmi from Delhi was upon them the guests of the chief guest for the evening honor title for the evening, The Ministry of Commerce and and popular poet Dr. Ahmad saying such programmes Industry, in cooperation with Nadeem Rafi (USA) and were a dire need of the DOMASCO - Doha Marketing Sarfraz Bazmi (India) were society to promote Urdu Services, dealer of Honda in the guests of honour. language and literature. Qatar, has announced the The programme started The chief guest poet, Dr. recall of Honda Odyssey, with the recitation of the Ahmad Ali Barqi Azmi, hailed Accord, CR-V, Legend, Civic, Quran by Dr. Saad Rafiq Shad. BUQ for its activities. He and City models of 1998-2000, Dr. Faisal Hanif, Chairman recounted BUQ’s efforts to Number of vehicles: 729 over Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar gave the promote the Urdu language the driver’s airbag inflator may welcome speech offering an and literature in the country not function properly due to account of Bazm’s activities during this pandemic. excessive or insufficient for many decades and a brief Iqbal Khalish appreciated pressure during deployment. introduction of classical poet the poets in attendance. He The campaign comes within Daagh Dehvli. thanked BUQ’s team for the framework of the Ministry’s Meanwhile, the General- continuing to serve the cause continuous efforts to protect Secretary Iftekhar Raghib of Urdu in a foreign country. consumers and ensure that car intermittently invited Qazi The programme was dealers follow up on vehicle Abdul Malik and Abul Khair considered another fine defects and repairs. The Ministry Khan to recite poems of addition to the efforts of BUQ said that it will coordinate with Daagh in rhythm. in organising seminars to the dealer to follow up on the Amongst those who attract and enlighten Doha maintenance and repair works recited the Urdu Ghazal in the Urdu lovers about poets and and will communicate with cus- programe were, Iqbal Khalish writers who have significantly tomers to ensure that they (India), Dr. Ahmad Ali Berqi contributed to the growth of carried out the necessary repairs. Azmi (India), Dr. Ahmad Urdu literature. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 HOME 05 Inspectors have access to Iran nuclear facility: IAEA AP — DUBAI Iran’s decision comes after its parliament in Iran on a 24/7 basis and they and-development facility. Iran separately has begun have regular access to Fordo.” Under Iran’s former hard- construction on a new site at Iran said yesterday it plans to passed a bill, later approved by a constitutional The parliamentary bill also line President Mahmoud Fordo, according to satellite enrich uranium up to 20 percent watchdog, aimed at hiking enrichment to called on Iran to expel those Ahmadinejad, Tehran began 20 photos obtained in December. at its underground Fordo nuclear inspectors, though it appears percent enrichment. Israel, Iran’s announcement coin- facility “as soon as possible,” pressure Europe into providing sanctions Tehran still hasn’t decided to which has its own undeclared cides with the anniversary of pushing its programme a tech- relief. The International Atomic Energy Agency take that step. nuclear weapons program, the US drone striking Revolu- nical step away from weapons- acknowledged Iran had informed its inspectors Salehi said Iran would need feared Tehran was building a tionary Guard General Qassem grade levels as it increases to switch out natural uranium bomb. Soleimani in Baghdad last year. pressure on the West over the of the decision by a letter after news leaked in centrifuges at Fordo for After the discovery of Fordo, That attack later saw Iran tattered atomic deal. overnight on Friday. material already enriched to the US worked on so-called retaliate by launching a ballistic The move comes amid four percent to begin the “bunker buster” bombs missile strike injuring dozens heightened tensions between process of going to 20 percent. designed to strike such facilities. of US troops in Iraq. Tehran also Iran and the US in the waning Even Ali Akbar Salehi, the US President-elect Joe Biden, “It should be done under As Israel threatened at one point accidentally shot down a days of the administration of US-educated head of the who has said he is willing to re- IAEA supervision,” Salehi to bomb Iranian nuclear sites Ukrainian passenger jet that President Donald Trump, who civilian Atomic Energy Organ- enter the nuclear deal. added. like Fordo, US officials night, killing all 176 people on unilaterally withdrew America isation of Iran, offered a mil- The International Atomic Since the deal’s collapse, reportedly showed them a video board. from Tehran’s nuclear deal in itary analogy to describe his Energy Agency acknowledged Iran has resumed enrichment of a bunker-buster bomb As the anniversary 2018. agency’s readiness to take the Iran had informed its inspectors at Fordo, near the Shiite holy destroying a mock-up of Fordo approached, the US has sent That set in motion an esca- next step. of the decision by a letter after city of Qom, some 90 km in America’s southwestern B-52 bombers flying over the lating series of incidents capped “We are like soldiers and news leaked overnight on southwest of Tehran. desert. region and sent a nuclear- by a US drone strike that killed our fingers are on the triggers,” Friday. Shielded by the mountains, Israel, which under Prime powered submarine into the a top Iranian general in Salehi told Iranian state tele- “Iran has informed the Fordo is ringed by anti-aircraft Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Persian Gulf. Baghdad a year ago, an anni- vision. “The commander should agency that in order to comply guns and other fortifications. It has continued to criticize Iran’s On Thursday, sailors dis- versary coming Sunday that has command and we shoot. We are with a legal act recently passed is about the size of a football nuclear program, offered no covered a limpet mine on a American officials now worried ready for this and will produce by the country’s parliament, field, large enough to house immediate comment tanker in the Persian Gulf off about possible retaliation by (20 percent enriched uranium) the Atomic Energy Organi- 3,000 centrifuges, but small and Saturday. Iraq near the Iranian border as Iran. as soon as possible.” sation of Iran intends to hardened enough to lead US As of now, Iran is enriching it prepared to transfer fuel to Iran’s decision to begin Iran’s decision comes after produce low-enriched officials to suspect it had a mil- uranium up to 4.5 percent, in another tanker owned by a enriching to 20 perccent a its parliament passed a bill, uranium... up to 20 percent at itary purpose when they violation of the accord’s limit of company traded on the New decade ago nearly brought an later approved by a constitu- the Fordo Fuel Enrichment exposed the site publicly in 3.67%. Experts say Iran now has York Stock Exchange. Israeli strike targeting its tional watchdog, aimed at Plant,” the IAEA said in a 2009. enough low-enriched uranium No one has claimed respon- nuclear facilities, tensions that hiking enrichment to pressure statement. The 2015 deal saw Iran stockpiled for at least two sibility for the mining, though only abated with the 2015 Europe into providing sanc- The IAEA added Iran did agree to limit its enrichment in nuclear weapons, if it chose to it comes after a series of similar atomic deal. A resumption of 20 tions relief. not say when it planned to exchange for sanctions relief. pursue them. Iran long has attacks in 2019 that the US Navy percent enrichment could see It also serves as pressure boost enrichment, though the The accord also called for Fordo maintained its nuclear program blamed on Iran. Tehran denied that brinksmanship return. ahead of the inauguration of agency “has inspectors present to be turned into a research- is peaceful. being involved. Yemen airport attack aimed Iraq says it has dismantled mine to ‘eliminate’ Cabinet: PM on tanker in AP — CAIRO missile attack were hallmarks of the Houthis’ strategy. Arabian Gulf Yemen’s Prime Minister The attack took place yesterday said that a missile moments after a plane carrying AP — BAGHDAD attack on the airport in Aden Saeed and his Cabinet members was meant “to eliminate” the landed at the airport. Footage Iraq’s military yesterday said country’s new government as from the scene at Aden’s airport explosives experts with its it arrived in the key southern showed members of the gov- naval forces successfully city — a daring assault which ernment delegation disem- dismantled a mine that was he blamed on Iran-backed barking as the blast shook the discovered stuck to an oil rebels. tarmac, with many ministers tanker in the Arabian Gulf. Prime Minister Maeen rushing back inside the plane The statement said Iraqi Abdulmalik Saeed was or running down the stairs, authorities have opened an speaking in an interview con- seeking shelter. investigation into the incident. ducted at his office in the Saeed said three precision- No group has claimed respon- Mashiq Palace in Aden. It was guided missiles had struck the sibility for placing the mine. the leader’s first interview with facility, targeting his plane, the The announcement came international media after he arrival hall and the VIP lounge a day after Iraq confirmed survived Wednesday’s attack of the airport. “The guidance reports by private security that killed at least 25 people accuracy was great. The oper- firms that a mine had been dis- and wounded 110 others. ation was huge,” he said. covered attached to the side “It’s a major terrorist attack The prime minister said People attend a vigil marking the one year anniversary of the killing of Iranian military commander of a tanker rented from Iraq’s that was meant to eliminate the Yemeni investigators have col- General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in a US drone attack, Oil Marketing Company, government,” the premier said. lected the remains of the mis- in Sana'a, Yemen yesterday. known as SOMO, as it was “It was a message against peace siles and that experts from the refueling another vessel. and stability in Yemen.” Saeed Saudi-led coalition and the US It said that Iraqi teams repeated his government’s would help determine the type Iran Foreign Minister urges Trump were working to dismantle the accusations that Yemen’s and origins of the missiles. mine. Houthi rebels were responsible Saeed and his newly Iraq has not provided for the missile attack on the formed Cabinet were returning to avoid Israel ‘trap’ to provoke war further details, but the two airport and a drone assault on to Yemen a week after they private security firms said the the palace, shortly after the were sworn in before Yemeni REUTERS — DUBAI Washington blames Iran- “Be careful of a trap, @real- discovery was likely a limpet premier and his Cabinet were President Abed Rabbo Mansour backed militia for regular DonaldTrump. Any fireworks mine on the MT Pola, a transferred there. Hadi in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Iranian Foreign Minister rocket attacks on US facilities will backfire badly,” Zarif Liberian-flagged tanker. The new Yemeni gov- Riyadh, where the embattled Mohammad Javad Zarif urged in Iraq, including near the US wrote. A limpet mine is a type of ernment was formed in leader resides. US President Donald Trump embassy. No known Iran- Esmail Ghaani, who suc- naval mine that attaches to the December to end a dangerous The Cabinet reshuffle was yesterday not to be “trapped” backed groups have claimed ceeded Soleimani as head the side of a ship, usually by a political rift with southern sep- part of a power-sharing deal by an alleged Israeli plan to responsibility. elite Quds force, said on diver-member of special aratists who are backed by the between the Saudi-backed provoke a war through attacks “New intelligence from Iraq Friday Iran was still ready to forces. It later explodes, and United Arab Emirates. The Hadi and the secessionist on US forces in Iraq. indicate(s) that Israeli agent- respond. can significantly damage a internal rift threatened the Southern Transitional Council, He issued the warning on provocateurs are plotting The US military flew two vessel. UAE’s partnership with Saudi an umbrella group of militias the anniversary of the US killing attacks against Americans - nuclear-capable B-52 bombers The discovery came amid Arabia that is fighting the seeking to restore an inde- of top Iranian general Qassem putting an outgoing Trump in to the Middle East in a message heightened tensions between Houthis in Yemen. pendent southern Yemen, Soleimani by a drone strike in a bind with a fake casus belli of deterrence to Iran on Iran and the US in the final He said that the “tech- which existed from 1967 until Iraq. There was no immediate (act justifying war),” Zarif said Wednesday, but the bombers days of President Donald niques” used in the airport unification in 1990. comment by Israel. in a tweet. have since left the region. Trump’s administration. Syria slams US for sanctions after UN remarks Israeli forces shoot AP — BEIRUT Palestinian in neck Syria yesterday lambasted the US government for sanctions it AP — RAMALLAH Witnesses said has imposed on Damascus, the incident was following a UN special rappor- The Palestinian Health Ministry teur’s statement that called on said yesterday a youth is triggered when Israeli Washington to remove suffering from paralysis a day forces tried to stop unilateral sanctions against the after he was shot in the neck war-torn country. by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinians building The Syrian Foreign Ministry West Bank. a house in a village in described US sanctions against The man, Haron Abu Aram, the country as equal to “crimes 24, was left quadriplegic, the southern Hebron. against humanity” that impact ministry said. the life of normal citizens as the Witnesses said the incident country looks to rebuild after was triggered when Israeli incident is being investigated,” 10 years of civil war. forces tried to stop Palestinians the Israeli military said The US has imposed sanc- building a house in a village in yesterday. tions for years on Syrian Pres- southern Hebron and seized an Video showed a group of ident Bashar Assad and a electricity generator belonging Palestinians trying to number of his top officials. to Abu Aram. recover the generators from Measures that went into effect Israel prevents Palestinians the hands of the soldiers in June will also allow US from building houses on areas before a gunshot is heard authorities to target foreign under its control in the West and Abu Aram appears on companies that do business Bank without hard-to-obtain the ground. with some Syrian state building permits. In 2020, Israeli has demol- institutions. Asma Al Assad, her son and daughter during an afforestation drive of Harsh Al Tufaha (Apple Forest) The Israeli military said “a ished the homes of more than On Tuesday, UN human area in Al Drekish countryside in western Syria. violent riot” was instigated 900 Palestinians in the West rights expert Alena Douhan when the troops were evacu- Bank and east Jerusalem, called on the United States to lift Douhan, who is the U.N. Syrian people.” He said that the blame for ating “an illegal building” in the according to the Israeli rights its unilateral sanctions “which special rapporteur on the neg- Speaking on Wednesday, Syria’s economic situation and At-Tuwani village. group B’Tselem. may inhibit rebuilding of Syria’s ative impact of unilateral the US Special Envoy for Syria humanitarian crisis falls on The military said: “We are The Palestinians claim the civilian infrastructure” destroyed coercive measures on human Joel Rayburn rejected Douhan’s “Assad’s brutal war against the aware of a report regarding a West Bank and the Gaza Strip, by the conflict that has killed rights, said American sanctions statement as “misguided and Syrian people, not on US Palestinian who was injured by with a capital in east Jerusalem, about half a million people. “violate the human rights of the false.” sanctions.” live fire during the incident. The for a future state. 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 Niger presidential election heads to February runoff

AL JAZEERA — NIAMEY Ruling party remaining to be decided. candidate Mohamed Niger’s President Maha- Niger’s ruling party candidate madou Issoufou is stepping Mohamed Bazoum will face BazoumBazoum led down after two five-year terms, former President Mahamane the first round with which is expected to lead to the Ousmane in a presidential West African country’s first election runoff in February, 39.33 percent of the transfer of power between two according to provisional results vote, falling short of democratically elected announced by the electoral presidents. commission. the 50 percent plus Almost 7.5 million people Bazoum, 60, led the first one needed to win the cast their votes on Sunday to round with 39.33 percent of the choose a successor to Iss- vote, falling short of the 50 first round. Former oufou, who in a New Year percent plus one needed to win president Mahamane radio address hailed the the first round. Ousmane received 17 election as “a new, successful Ousmane received 17 page in our country’s demo- percent of the votes cast, the percent of the votes cratic history”. commission said yesterday. cast, the commission Insecurity overshadowed Niger’s Independent National Electoral Commission officials compile the results of the presidential Former prime ministers the campaigning, with Niger and legislative election at the Palais des Congres in Niamey on December 29, 2020. Seini Oumarou and Albade said yesterday. battered by armed groups on its Abouba respectively came third southwestern border with Mali a country of 23 million people. ongoing between the parties seen more than 30 percent of and fourth with 8.95 percent campaigned on promises of as well as its southeastern The country’s economy has over possible coalitions. voters not turning out for this and 7.07 percent of the ballots. improved security and edu- frontier with Nigeria. been hit hard by the corona- “Most of the democratically election,” Idris said. The second round is cation and had hoped to clinch Five years of violence in the virus pandemic with a fall in the elected governments [in Niger] “Will there be voter fatigue expected to be held on February victory in the first round. former French colony have cost price of its top export uranium. have been coalitions,” he said. when the run-off [takes place] 21 after the results of the first Bazoum’s Nigerien Party for hundreds of lives with many It has also suffered due to Idris said the two presi- in February? That is what most round have been validated by Democracy and Socialism more displaced. Earlier this the closure of the border with dential candidates are also political analysts think, but the the constitutional court, which (PNDS) is also leading in the leg- month, 27 people died in an Nigeria, a key gateway for the courting support in the final political parties are hopeful they will hear any appeals. islative vote held at the same attack claimed by Boko Haram. import of essential goods. round. will pull out more voters to the Bazoum, who has been both time with 80 of the 165 seats But security is not the only Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris “The question is, will the voting booths … [since] the most interior and foreign minister, and five diaspora seats concern for the people in Niger, said that discussions are now voters come out? Already we’ve votes will win the election”. Suicide attack in Mogadishu Algeria frees top officials jailed during mass protests leaves 5 dead, AL JAZEERA — ALGIERS real power running the North Supreme Court said they would movement that took to the streets as a moment of national renewal African country after his brother be retried after appeals. “After in early 2019, pushing the army and introducing some constitu- 14 wounded An Algerian military appeals suffered a debilitating stroke in deliberations, the court … to remove Bouteflika in April that tional changes. court yesterday acquitted three 2013. rescinded the original ruling and year after 20 years in office. But many supporters of the AP — ISTANBUL top officials who were jailed in But he was arrested in May acquitted all the defendants,” But many in Hirak said their leaderless Hirak movement 2019 during mass protests, 2019, a month after the former lawyer Khaled Berghel told state uprising had not yet achieved rejected those moves as merely A suicide bombing near the sources close to the officials president quit office following news agency APS. its goals of removing the old cosmetic change despite the senior Somali capital, Mogadishu, said. mass protests against his bid for Despite being cleared, ruling elite, forcing the army status of some of those imprisoned. yesterday killed five people The three — two former a fifth term. Bouteflika remains in custody from politics and ending cor- “We still want a radical change of including two Turks, Turkish security chiefs and the younger Said was sentenced along and will be transferred to ruption when the coronavirus the whole regime,” said Rachid and Somali officials said. brother of former President with two former intelligence another prison as he awaits a pandemic stopped their weekly Hamani, a Hirak figure. The Al Qaeda-linked Al Abdelaziz Bouteflika — were chiefs to 15 years in prison for separate trial over alleged cor- protests last March. Mohamed Mediene, who Shabab extremist group given 15-year prison sentences “plotting” against the army and ruption during his brother’s President Abdelmadjid Teb- enjoyed vast power as a claimed responsibility for the in September 2019 on charges the state, and in February, a rule, a court official said. boune, elected in December 2019 secretive security chief known attack in a post by its Shahada of conspiracy against the state. military court upheld that The jailing of the officials in a vote the protesters decried to his compatriots by the News Agency. The Somalia- The presidential aide, Said ruling. marked an apparent success for as a sham, has sought to placate nickname Tewfic, was freed by based group often targets Bouteflika, was long seen as the But in November, the the “Hirak” mass protest Hirak by praising the movement yesterday’s acquittal. Mogadishu with suicide bombings and other attacks, and it has exploded bombs against the Turkish military Sudan Prime Minister and other targets there in the past. Turkish Health Minister announces mechanism Fahrettin Koca tweeted that 14 people, including three Turks, were wounded and are for civilians’ protection being treated in a Mogadishu hospital named after Turkey’s IANS — KHARTOUM Convention for the Protection president. of All Persons from Enforced “We strongly condemn Sudanese Prime Minister Disappearance. this heinous attack targeting Abdalla Hamdok has He said the ratified conven- the employees of a Turkish announced formation of the tions are to be approved by the company that undertook the National Mechanism for joint meeting of the Sovereign Mogadishu-Afgoye road Protection of Civilians. Council and the cabinet to construction and con- “The formation of the become effective. tributes to the development national mechanism for the The announcement of the and prosperity of Somalia,” protection of civilians has com- formation of the national a foreign ministry statement pleted,” Xinhua news agency mechanism for the protection said. quoted Hamdok as saying in a of civilians came days after the The three others killed speecg on Friday marking the end of the UN-African Union were Somali policemen, police country’s 65th Independence Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Capt. Ahmed Mohamed said. Day. mandate in Sudan. Turkish security sources “The mechanism includes On December 22, 2020, the said the suicide attacker used a joint force from the regular UN Security Council unani- a motorcycle. They said the Nighttime curfew in Johannesburg forces and the peace parties, mously adopted a resolution attack took place 15km from which will achieve security and which ended UNAMID’s Police officers gesture during a patrol as a nighttime curfew is reimposed amid a nationwide COVID- a Turkish military base, which stability for our citizens,” he mandate on December 31, 19 lockdown, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday. was not affected. The base is noted. 2020. Turkey’s largest military Hamdok vowed to provide However, the withdrawal installation abroad. protection for all the civilians, of all the personnel from Sudan This is the second time the saying that the establishment is set to complete by June 30, road project has been Congo army recaptures eastern village of the national mechanism 2021, except for a team that will attacked by Al Shabab. In tends to impose security in all finalize any residual issues and January last year, a vehicle REUTERS — GOMA The Allied Democratic Forces and dislodged them from the area parts of the country, stop extra- complete the administrative filled with explosives (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist group located in the chiefdom of judicial killing, and prevent closure of UNAMID. exploded at the entrance, Congo said yesterday that 14 that has emerged as the most Ruwenzori,” army spokesman impunity. The UN has decided to killing and wounding dozens suspected Islamist militants and lethal of the militias in Democratic Antony Mualushayi said. The Prime Minister also deploy the UN Integrated Tran- of people, including several two soldiers were killed in Republic of Congo’s eastern bor- A local official said on announced the Council of Min- sition Assistance Mission in Turkish citizens. fighting on New Year’s Day as derlands, has carried out several Friday that the ADF was isters’ ratification of the UN Sudan to assist the political The attack led to a pause the Congolese army backed by attacks in recent weeks. responsible for the killing of 17 Convention against Torture and transition in the country at a in the project, which recom- UN peacekeepers regained “Yesterday Jan. 1, an army reg- people who were found hacked other Cruel, Inhuman or request by Hamdok. menced a few months ago control of Loselose village in the iment overpowered the terrorists to death in Beni Territory in Degrading Treatment or Pun- The mission is set to assume after security was improved. east of the country. of the ADF in the village Loselose North Kivu. ishment, and the International its work this month. Virus surveillance tool tests democratic norms in Israel AP — TEL AVIV watching its own citizens this device’s location, web browsing was seen as the best option to used emergency regulations to should have resisted the temp- closely should ring the alarm,” history and calls and texts pick up the slack, even though approve the use of the tool. tation,” she said. In the early days of the said Maya Fried, a spokes- received and made, but not its own leaders were reluctant After the hasty deployment was Under their partnership, the pandemic, a panicked Israel woman for the Association for their content. That has to deploy the tool. The Shin Bet challenged in court, the gov- Health Ministry sends the Shin began using a mass surveillance Civil Rights in Israel, which has reportedly helped the agency declined to comment. ernment was forced to legislate Bet the names, ID numbers and tool on its civilians, tracking repeatedly challenged the use track militants and halt attacks, Officials say the technology limits on its use in July, sub- contact details of those diag- people’s cellphones in hopes of of the tool in court. “This is although it’s unclear what has been a critical tool in mitting it to some parliamentary nosed with COVID-19. The stopping the spread of the coro- against the foundations of happens to all of the data. keeping track of the outbreak oversight. security agency can then go navirus. democracy. You can’t just give Israel first brought the Shin and insist they have struck a Critics say there is no proper back through two weeks of data The government touted the up on democracy during a Bet into its virus outbreak battle balance between protecting oversight on how the Shin Bet to determine what cellphones technology, normally used to crisis.” in March. By tracking the move- individual rights and public data is gathered, stored, used or were within a two-meter (six- catch wanted Palestinian mili- Little is known about the ments of people infected with health. deleted. foot) radius of the sick person tants, as a breakthrough against technology. According to the the coronavirus, it could “We believe that the cost is Michal Cotler-Wunsh, a leg- for more than 15 minutes. They the virus. But months later, the Yediot Ahronot daily, the Shin determine who had come into certainly reasonable,” Deputy islator on the parliamentary are then alerted and ordered to tool’s effectiveness is being Bet internal security service has contact with them and was at Health Minister Yoav Kisch told committee overseeing the tool, self-quarantine. called into question and critics used the tool for two decades, risk of infection, and order them a parliamentary committee last said Israel’s reliance on the Shin At the time, there was little say its use has come at an sweeping up metadata from into quarantine. month. “We haven’t seen this Bet prevented it from moving outcry against the inclusion of immeasurable cost to the coun- anyone who uses telecom With the contact tracing tool be used exploitatively. This toward more transparent the Shin Bet from ordinary try’s democratic principles. services in Israel. Information capabilities of Israel’s Health tool saves lives.” Initially, Prime civilian technology that could Israelis, who have great faith in “The idea of a government collected includes the cellular Ministry limited, the Shin Bet Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have done the job. “We really their security services. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 ASIA 07 India tests vaccine delivery system with nationwide trial AP — NEW DELHI contracted by AstraZeneca to make 1 billion doses for India tested its COVID-19 The trial included data developing nations, including vaccine delivery system with a India. It has applied to India’s nationwide trial yesterday as it entry into an online drug regulator for early prepares to roll out an inocu- platform for monitoring approval for emergency use in lation programme to stem the vaccine delivery, along the country. Applications for coronavirus pandemic. with testing of cold vaccines made by Pfizer Inc. The trial included data entry storage and and Indian manufacturer into an online platform for Bharat Biotech are also being monitoring vaccine delivery, transportation reviewed. along with testing of cold arrangements for the Serum Institute of India’s storage and transportation vaccine, the health vaccine doesn’t require the arrangements for the vaccine, ministry said in a ultra-cold storage facilities that the health ministry said in a statement. some others do. statement. Instead, it can be stored in The massive exercise came refrigerators. This makes it a a day after a government- feasible candidate, not just for appointed panel of experts held the first phase of the vacci- India but also for other devel- a meeting to review the appli- nation programme, which will oping nations. cations of potential vaccine include healthcare and front- Indian Health Minister candidates, including front- line workers, police and mil- Harsh Vardhan reviewed the runner Covishield, developed itary troops, and those with preparedness for the vacci- by Oxford University and U.K.- comorbidities who are above nation drive at a government based drugmaker the age of 50. hospital in New Delhi yes- AstraZeneca. The government is expected terday and urged the public not Recovered COVID-19 patients after 100 days of treatment prepare to go home at a government India’s vaccination drive is to initially lean on the vaccine to pay heed to anti-vaccine hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. expected to start in a few days produced by Serum Institute of rumors. once the country’s regulator India, the world’s largest “We will not compromise on worker in the capital who will vaccine and how it works. “Our 10.3 million coronavirus cases, approves a vaccine. vaccine manufacturing any protocol before approving be one of the first to be inocu- seniors have told us to not be second in the world to the U.S. The government plans to company. a vaccine,” he told reporters. lated, said hospital staff has had scared at all,” Moriya said. More than 149,000 people have inoculate 300 million people in The company has been Pooja Moriya, a health several meetings about the India has confirmed over died from the virus in India. South Korea to Farmer impasse likely to be resolved tomorrow expand ban on IANS — NEW DELHI between the two parties have controversy - over no market fee government accepted two be referred to a committee when been held. The sticking points of or cess or levy, by whatever demands of the farmers related it is constituted. small gatherings After the last meeting of the MSP being retained and APMC name called, under any State to environment and electricity On the demand for repeal of government and farmers led to may well see a resolution. APMC Act or any other state law, laws. After the sixth round of talks the farm laws, the minister said REUTERS — SEOUL positivity and breaking of bread In addition, at the ‘mandis’, to be levied on any farmer or held earlier this week, Union that this too can be referred to a together, it appears that the over the private players who are pro- trader or electronic trading and Agriculture Minister Narendra committee which will study the South Korea will expand a ban month-long deadlock may be curing will not be able to procure transaction platform for trade Tomar assured the farmer union constitutional validity and pro- on private gatherings larger resolved tomorrow. Sources on below the MSP. The dispute and commerce in scheduled leaders that the government is priety keeping in mind the than four people to include the both sides have indicated a thaw redressal system between the farmers’ produce in a trade area committed to resolving farmers’ welfare of farmers. whole country, and extend with a meeting ground on some private players and the farmers — could well see some problems and both sides need to Regarding the Air Quality unprecedented social of the most contentious issues will not be done by the SDM resolution. take steps forward to arrive at an Management Ordinance and the distancing rules in Seoul and emerging. anymore. The two sides have not been amicable solution. Electricity Amendment Bill, neighbouring areas until Jan. The government may well be These have been some of the able to reach a compromise for Tomar assured the farmer Tomar said that suggestions of 17, the health minister said ready to offer amendments to the major demands of the farmers. over a month as some of the unions that MSP and mandi the farmer unions have been yesterday. MSP and APMC issues in writing. Farmers do not want to be farmer groups have been system will continue like before. agreed to in principle. Tomar Kwon Deok-cheol told a As per the government and dragged out of their workplaces demanding a repeal of the three The demand of the unions for an assured the farmers that the gov- briefing that the measures farmer sources, tomorrow will to run around needlessly to sort farm laws passed by Parliament. MSP law and the difference ernment has an open mind and were necessary to reduce a see a big breakthrough after out issues. Moreover, clause 6 Last week, there were signs of between MSP and market rates is willing to resolve all issues with prolonged surge in infections more than six rounds of talks which has stirred up heaps of some forward movement as the for agricultural produce would clear intentions. that has led to a spike in deaths. The country reported 824 new cases as of midnight on Friday, down from 1,029 a Japan to consider new day before, a drop that officials said was likely due to less testing over the New Year COVID-19 emergency holiday. As much as 40% of recent REUTERS — TOKYO restaurants and karaoke parlors cases have been linked to small in the Tokyo area would be asked gatherings, Kwon said. The ban Japan will consider issuing a to close at 8 p.m., while busi- on such gatherings had been new emergency declaration nesses that serve alcohol should imposed in Seoul and neigh- after governors in the capital close at 7pm, he said. bouring areas before the region urged action to tackle a Prime Minister Yoshihide Christmas holiday and had record surge in COVID-19 cases, Suga has resisted calls to reinstate been due to expire on Sunday. the head of the nation’s a national state of emergency, The country also has pandemic response said which the government had intro- restrictions on churches, res- yesterday. duced in April during an earlier taurants, cafes, ski resorts, and The government needs to wave of the pandemic. Suga is other venues. consult with health experts next scheduled to speak publicly Kwon apologised to cit- before deciding on a new decla- on January 4. izens for having to maintain ration, Economy Minister Yasu- It relied on voluntary the rules, but thanked them for toshi Nishimura told reporters business closures and travel their “solidarity and after a meeting with Tokyo Gov- restrictions rather than the sort cooperation.” ernor Yuriko Koike and leaders of rigid lockdown measures seen Given plans to begin vac- from three neighbouring in parts of Europe and the United cinations in February, the next Japan’s Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono, Chiba Governor Kensaku Morita, Economy Minister and prefectures. States. Tokyo raised its COVID-19 few months will be the “last minister in charge of coronavirus response Yasutoshi Nishimura, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and “The national government alert level to its highest measure hurdle”, he said. and the three governors shared on December 17. New infections Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa attend a joint news conference after their meeting in Tokyo, yesterday. After initial success in sub- the view that the situation in the in the capital hit a record 1,337 duing earlier waves of infec- Tokyo area is getting more severe on December 31, and yesterday compounding a seasonal “The Japanese government bigger in the coming days, and tions, South Korea has such that an emergency decla- numbered 814. A nationwide increase in hospitalisations, said has not done a great deal to the emergency declaration struggled to reduce this latest ration may be necessary,” record was also set on December Fumie Sakamoto, infection control the infection,” Sakamoto should have come earlier, and largest surge, with daily Nishimura said. 31 with 4,520 new cases. The rise control manager at St Luke’s said. “I would expect the probably during December or cases hovering around 1,000 As an interim measure, in COVID-19 cases is International Hospital in Tokyo. (infection) numbers will get November.” for weeks. Thailand weighs new curbs to contain biggest virus wave Kerala logs 5,328 new virus

BLOOMBERG — BANGKOK Twitter. cases, 21 more deaths Thailand Thailand will impose more reported 216 new IANS — THIRUVANANTHAPURAM restrictions on businesses and virus cases and one gatherings in regions that are death yesterday, Kerala recorded 5,328 new Of the 5,328 new cases, at greater risk from the latest with the majority of coronavirus cases yesterday 78 emerged outside the flareup in coronavirus cases infections locally even as 4,985 more patients state. As many as 4,801 including the capital Bangkok. transmitted. While recovered in the last 24 hours, persons tested positive Authorities identified 28 many of the new Health Minister KK Shailaja’s after contact with provinces as high-risk areas, cases in recent office said. and set new limitations such as weeks were tied to a Twenty-one more fatal- coronavirus patients suspension of some business seafood market in ities took the state’s death toll while the source of operations and meetings that Samut Sakhon to 3,116. contact of 392 patients could potentially fan infections, province near As many as 65,374 people was yet unknown. health ministry officials said in Bangkok, local trans- are undergoing coronavirus Bangkok yesterday. The new missions have been treatment in the state at Women wear face masks inside a department store after the Thai government measures will be effective from reported from more present. ordered a temporary closure of various public facilities amid the spread of Monday once approved by than 58 provinces Ernakulam district led with eight, Pathanamthitta Prime Minister Prayuth Chan- coronavirus disease, in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. now, health ministry with 743 new cases, whereas with seven, Kozhikode with Ocha, they said. data showed. Kasargod with 83 cases was five, and Kollam, Kottayam Thailand is battling a resur- The new wave threatens to the COVID-19 response center, New cases in Thailand, at the lowest position. The and Kannur with four cases gence in the virus outbreak with delay Thailand’s plan to grad- travel will be discouraged which was relatively successful positivity rate of Kerala is 9.85 each, Thiruvananthapuram the country reporting more ually reopen its tourism between provinces with more in containing the pathogen after per cent. with three, and Palakkad, than 2,000 new cases in the industry and revive Southeast than 50 active cases and people becoming the first country Of the 5,328 new cases, 78 Wayanad and Kasargod with past two weeks alone, Asia’s second-largest economy. will be recommended to work outside China to report the emerged outside the state. two cases each, and Idukki prompting authorities to close The government plans to extend from home, officials said. The deadly virus, may spike to as As many as 4,801 persons and Malappuram with one schools in Bangkok and tem- its domestic travel subsidy new curbs may be in place until high as 18,000 a day if no tested positive after contact case each. porarily shut some businesses program beyond April to help the end of this month and will control measures are imple- with coronavirus patients As many as 2,40,490 including gyms and spas. Pray- the tourism industry cope with be reviewed later, they said. mented, according to Taweesilp while the source of contact of persons are under observation uth’s government has refrained the hit from the latest outbreak, The education ministry also Witsanuyotin, a spokesperson 392 patients was yet in Kerala, including 2,28,679 from imposing a national Tourism Minister Phiphat ordered all the schools in these for the Center for Covid-19 Sit- unknown. in home or institutional quar- lockdown but allowed pro- Ratchakitprakarn said earlier areas to be closed from Jan. 4 uation Administration. The Fifty-seven health antine and 11,811 in hospitals. vincial authorities to set their this week. through the end of the month, country can limit new infections workers tested positive yes- Six new coronavirus hotspots own measures based on risks Under the stricter social dis- Rachada Dhnadirek, a gov- to about 1,000 cases a day with terday, followed by yesterday took the total to of infections. tancing rules recommended by ernment spokeswoman, said on strict control measures, he said. Ernakulam with 14, Thrissur 448, an official release said. 08 VIEWS SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 In Georgia, Biden presidency Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI meets early defining moment

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED BILL BARROW [email protected] AP

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Usually it’s a president’s first MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI midterm election that [email protected] reorders a White House’s political approach and prior- ities. For President-elect Joe Biden, his most defining EDITORIAL congressional election is coming before he takes office. Two runoffs Tuesday in Vibrant property market Georgia will decide which party controls the Senate and, thus, how far the new pres- THE real estate sector in Qatar is expected to see ident can reach legislatively US President-elect Joe Biden gestures with his fists alongside Democratic US Senate candidate Rev. more growth this year. The sector, supported by a on issues such as the pan- Raphael Warnock as Biden campaigns for him during a drive-in campaign rally ahead of his and Jon series of policy-driven decisions, is staging a turna- demic, health care, taxation, Ossoff’s January 5 runoff elections, at Pullman Yard in Atlanta, Georgia. round and is booming with residential properties energy and the environment. expected to increase in the years ahead. For a politician who sold there aren’t enough Democrats would be different in his press Democrats in Congress The sector is witnessing a significant rise in himself to Americans as a willing to change that presidency. to use the “budget reconcili- property deals. A look at select monthly and quarterly uniter and a seasoned legis- requirement. So, regardless of Even some Republicans ation” process to work around real estate transactions of last year shows that confi- lative broker, the Georgia Georgia’s results, Biden will are hopeful. Michael Steel, the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster dence is returning. According to the Planning and Sta- elections will help determine have to win over Republicans once a top adviser to Repub- threshold. Cohen argued that tistics Authority data, deals worth QR5.4bn were signed whether he’s able to live up to in a Senate where a bipartisan lican House Speaker John tactic might be used to during April-June quarter last year. his billing. group of more centrist senators Boehner, a chief Obama foil accomplish long-sought goals The second quarter was crucial as the pandemic “It’s not that you can’t get stand to see their stock rise. along with McConnell, like ending tax subsidies to had begun to show its impact on the economy. As a anything done in the minority A Democratic Senate still blamed Obama’s Capitol Hill fossil fuel companies and result of proactive measures taken by the government, or get everything done in the would clear an easier path for troubles on his personal enabling the Centers for the economic activity began to gain momentum. These majority, but having the gavel, Biden’s nominees to key approach to his fellow politi- Medicare & Medicaid Services increased deal-making activities in real estate sector having that leadership control posts, especially on the cians. Conversely, Steel said, to negotiate as a single cus- which resulted signing of deals worth QR10.1bn during can be the difference in federal judiciary, and give “President-elect Biden is a tomer with pharmaceutical July-September quarter. Property sales had reached success or failure for an Democrats control of com- legislator by avocation, by companies. QR11.4bn during the first half of last year. administration,” said Jim mittees and much of the floor training, by instinct, by expe- Those moves, Cohen Last year saw the further opening of real estate Manley, once a top aide to action. Conversely, a Senate rience in a way that former noted, could generate consid- sector by allowing foreigners to own real estate in former Democratic Senate led by McConnell almost cer- President Obama was not.” erable savings, creating new more areas in the country. In October, the government Leader Harry Reid, who held tainly would deny Biden Steel predicted Biden and revenue even if Republicans announced the decision to allow foreign companies his post opposite current major legislative victories, as McConnell, two former col- won’t agree to any tax and individuals to own real estate in 25 areas in the Senate Majority Leader Mitch it did late in President Barack leagues, can find “common increases. country. According to the new decision, the owners McConnell. Obama’s tenure, by keeping ground” on infrastructure and He also said progressives of property which is worth no less than QR730,000 Both Georgia Democrats his agenda from even getting immigration - policy areas will push Biden to use exec- will be offered residency for them and their family. Jon Ossoff and Raphael up-or-down votes. that have stumped multiple utive authority. He named Moreover, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry Warnock must win on Biden’s team is keenly administrations. Steel noted a two initiatives Biden has of Interior has launched an office for Non-Qatari Real Tuesday to split the Senate aware of the stakes. The pres- handful of Republican sen- called for publicly: ending Estate Ownership in The Pearl-Qatar, in order to 50-50. Vice President-elect ident-elect will travel to ators, including Marco Rubio new drilling on federal lands provide real estate ownership and utilization services Kamala Harris, as president of Atlanta on Monday, the eve of of Florida and Rob Portman and raising the minimum through one window for investors. The move boosted the Senate, would provide the the runoffs, to campaign with of Ohio, could face tough ree- wage for federal contractors the sentiments of the stakeholders. tiebreaker needed to Ossoff and Warnock for the lection fights in 2022, poten- to $15 per hour, even if Con- Continued demand for real estate units is still con- determine control. second time in three weeks. tially making them eager to gress won’t set that floor sidered by a large segment of investors as a safe To be sure, even a closely Biden’s campaign aides have cut deals they could tout in across the economy. Another haven. Real estate players, including developers and divided Democratic Senate helped raise millions to boost campaigns. progressive priority, can- market strategists, are now strongly betting on the wouldn’t give Biden everything the party infrastructure that Still, there’s no indication celling student debt under country’s vibrant property market. With the 2022 FIFA he wants. Senate rules still helped Biden become the first McConnell would allow con- federal loan programs, is World Cup fast approaching, progress can be seen in require 60 votes to advance Democratic presidential sideration of other top Biden something Biden has not said all aspects of Qatar. most major legislation; for now, nominee since 1992 to carry priorities, most notably a whether he’d be willing to Even real estate companies increased their activ- Both Georgia the state. Vice President-elect “public option” expansion of attempt unilaterally. ities. Barwa Real Estate launched the construction Kamala Harris will campaign the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Democrats’ limited expec- works for two upcoming projects in Al Wakra City. The Democrats Jon Sunday in Savannah. which passed without a single tations about their own power, first is ‘Madinatna’, which is a residential city for fam- Ossoff and Raphael In his last visit, Biden Republican vote when Demo- even with a potential majority, ilies, and the second is ‘Barahat Al Janoub’, a workers called Republican Sens. David crats controlled both belie the exaggerated claims accommodation project. Ezdan Real Estate Company, Warnock must win Perdue and Kelly Loeffler chambers on Capitol Hill. Republicans have used in the the major real estate developer, also announced launch on Tuesday to split “roadblocks” and urged Geor- Biden’s proposed tax hikes on Georgia races. of the second phase of its promotional campaign for gians “to vote for two United corporations and the In Perdue’s and Loeffler’s the residential and commercial units in ‘Ezdan Oasis’. the Senate 50-50. States senators who know wealthiest Americans also are telling, a Democratic Senate All these data confirm the strength of Qatar Vice President- how to say the word ‘yes’ and likely dead in a GOP Senate. would “rubber stamp” a economy and the continued growth of the real estate not just ‘no.’” Congressional Biden will need his negoti- “socialist agenda,” from sector as one of its key components. elect Kamala makeup shapes any adminis- ating skills to navigate the left “ending private insurance” Harris, as president tration, but perhaps even flank of his own party as well. and “expanding the Supreme of the Senate, more so for Biden, who spent While progressives say Court” to adopting wholesale 36 years in the Senate, plus they’ve lowered their expec- a “Green New Deal” that would provide the eight as Obama’s vice pres- tations of what’s possible - would spend trillions and tiebreaker needed to ident and top congressional even under a Democratic raise taxes on every US D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR liaison. Biden leaned on that Senate - they still intend to household by thousands of determine control. push Biden. dollars each year. Besides EMAIL: [email protected] resume to pitch himself to the country as a consensus Larry Cohen, chairman of misrepresenting Biden’s and builder; he also criticized Our Revolution, the offshoot most Democratic senators’ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 presidents’ increased use of of Vermont Sen. Bernie policy preferences, that char- FAX: +974 4455 7758 executive action to go around Sanders’ 2016 presidential acterization ignores the Congress and insisted it bid, said progressives will reality of the Senate’s roster. MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 Japan law on bias against differently abled to be broadened LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 THE JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI The government is pre- and private businesses from consideration, the revised BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 paring to submit the discriminating on the basis of law would equalize regula- The government plans to amendment to the Diet physical or mental ability. tions for the public and SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 amend an anti-discrimination session scheduled to convene The law requires the private sectors. law to require that private in January. central government and There are no penalties for ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 companies and stores give With an eye on the Tokyo municipalities to give rea- violations of consideration. email: [email protected] "reasonable consideration" to Olympics and Paralympics sonable consideration to the The government may provide people with disabilities. next year, the goal is to create disabled, while the private advice, guidance or recom- PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 The amendment to the an inclusive society with sector is called upon only to mendations if improvements email: [email protected] Law on Eliminating Discrimi- mutual respect for people of make an effort to undertake are not realized. nation against Persons with all abilities. voluntary initiatives. Reasonable consideration ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 Disabilities will make it man- The law was based on the The U.N. convention refers to the act of removing FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] datory for the private sector U.N. Convention on the views not giving proper con- barriers people with disabil- to remove obstacles such Rights of Persons with Disa- sideration to differently ities face regarding CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 people face in social activ- bilities and came into effect abled people as a type of movement and communi- email: [email protected] ities without being an in April 2016. It prohibits the discrimination. cation, but only to the extent excessive burden on private central government, munici- By mandating that private that costs and other burdens SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 enterprise. palities companies give reasonable are not excessive. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar They have a war against our physical currency. We are moving this year to a more profound /Peninsula_Qatar digital economy, in expansion. I’ve set the goal /ThePeninsulaNewspaper of an economy that’s 100% digital. Nicolas Maduro, +974 6698 6188 President of Venezuela SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 OPINION 09 Making sense of Australia’s climate exceptionalism

the necessary steps to address consumption patterns have ministers persistently argued deep reservoir of cognitive the global climate emergency. no material effect on climate that purposefully reducing dissonance. Yet, just a few months change and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions Like other settler-colonial after the fires, in an attempt to belief that we can extract our- would unnecessarily harm the nations, Australia’s official swiftly lift Australia out of the selves from the global effort to Australia’s economy while bringing mar- identity has always been built COVID-19 recession it found combat it without this causing ginal environmental gain. upon twin, mutually-rein- itself in, Prime Minister Scott much harm. seemingly After all, what was the point forcing logics: the erasure of STEPHEN PASCOE Morrison authorised a “Gas- Second, a purposeful suicidal posture in us making sacrifices while Indigenous sovereignty over AL JAZEERA Fired recovery”: a raft of new downplaying of the contribu- more populous nations like the land, and overreaching policies that completely tions of Australian extractive towards climate India and China were free to optimism in the national terri- ignores the country’s gloomy industries to carbon supply change often pollute all they liked? This tory’s boundless potential for 2020 has had no shortage of ecological reality and aims to chains, which paints the puzzles foreign cynical reasoning has since capital investment and images of catastrophe and revitalise the economy by country as an incidental inter- become a cornerstone of Aus- extraction of mineral suffering, but the ones that getting “more gas into the mediary in the production of observers. Indeed, tralia’s environmental excep- resources. haunt me the most are from market”. global emissions, encourages the Australian tionalism – it is not so much While extractive industries the inferno that engulfed my Australia’s seemingly sui- Australians to view climate that Australian politicians do have always played a prom- home country, Australia, at cidal posture towards climate change as somebody else’s state’s persistent not believe the climate is inent role in Australian pol- the very beginning of the year. change often puzzles foreign problem. This, despite Aus- reluctance to take changing, they simply do not itics and economy, their For us Australians, the observers. Indeed, the Aus- tralia now being the third- think they should be the ones power has paradoxically year started with images of tralian state’s persistent reluc- largest exporter of carbon meaningful action paying the price to fix it. grown over the past quarter- giant flames climbing up the tance to take meaningful dioxide in fossil fuels, behind as the country Racism and a chronic century alongside the cliffs of the Blue Mountains action as the country wilts Russia and Saudi Arabia. indifference towards the suf- necessity to regulate their and the news that over a from the worst effects of These convenient fictions wilts from the fering of communities of atmospheric “externalities”. billion animals had perished climate change defies rational allow Australian governments worst effects of colour, both inside and The mining industry, in in the fires raging across the explanation. Noting that “Aus- to ignore the scientific con- climate change outside Australia, also play a concert with the Murdoch continent. Over the previous tralia is already having to deal sensus on climate change significant role in the coun- press, has the power to make month, we had witnessed the with some of the most when politically and econom- defies rational try’s climate exceptionalism. and break elected govern- Sydney skyline disappear extreme manifestations of ically convenient and opt in explanation. In 2015, for example, three ments in Australia. In his first under a dystopian, orange pall climate change”, renowned an out of climate change miti- of Howard’s former ministers tenure as prime minister of smoke and would soon British conservationist David gation and adaptation – Peter Dutton, Tony Abbot (2007-2010), in the midst of a watch in worry as hundreds Attenborough once described measures as they see fit. This that influence the country’s and Scott Morrison – were phenomenal mining boom of vacationing families the Australian government’s was not always the case. stance on important issues, overheard mocking and ridi- tied to China’s rising demand huddled together on beaches disinterest in responding to In the 1980s, when the such as climate change, to this culing the plight of Pacific for minerals, Australian Labor to be rescued from fast- the climate emergency as public first became aware of day. Island nations facing rising Party (ALP) leader Kevin Rudd approaching fires. “extraordinary”. the “greenhouse effect”, as it In the international seas from climate change. attempted to increase the We Australians have long Australia’s apparent indif- was then commonly termed, sphere, Howard’s tenure saw During a conversation about government’s take of the imagined ourselves as a ference towards this global Australia was among the coun- Australia break its com- Pacific Island leaders sup- super-profits from mining, in uniquely nonchalant and emergency is not so much a tries taking the problem seri- mitment to multilateralism posedly arriving late to a the form of a Minerals irreverent nation. But at the case of climate change deni- ously, developing policy frame- and international cooperation meeting, Dutton quipped that Resource Rent Tax. dawn of 2020, long before alism as it is exceptionalism. works that began to address the and focus solely on its rela- “time doesn’t mean anything The backlash, orches- COVID-19 even reached our There are some climate problem and participating in tions with “countries that when you’re about to have trated by mining tycoons shores, we found ourselves change deniers on the far international forums on the share its values” – namely the water lapping at your door”. employing tactics similar to dismayed by our apocalyptic right who exercise an inor- issue in good will. Anglosphere. It was textbook environ- the Koch brothers in the US, present and terrified of what dinate amount of political The turning point on this Under Howard’s lead- mental racism, marrying, in a was astonishing. After months likely lies in our future. power relative to the size of issue was the election of the ership, Australia quickly single breath, the old white of hostile press and slipping This year’s bushfires, and their support base. However, conservative Liberal-National signed up to the Iraq and colonialist trope of non- approval ratings, Rudd was the unprecedented devas- more fundamentally, what Party (LNP) leader, John Afghanistan wars but refused western peoples not deposed in an internal coup tation they caused, have left guides the Australian state’s Howard, as prime minister in to ratify the Kyoto pact on respecting industrial capital- and replaced by Julia Gillard. an indelible scar on the col- problematic stance on climate 1996. Howard defied expecta- climate change. Trying to ism’s nexus between time and After taking office in June lective consciousness of Aus- change is a form of exception- tions and became Australia’s explain his reasons for work-discipline with callous 2010, Gillard immediately tralians. As the carnage we alism. Australia’s climate second-longest-serving prime refusing to ratify the protocol indifference to the commu- dropped the fight with the experienced made clear that change exceptionalism rests minister, remaining in office in 2002, Howard claimed nities of colour that are most mining magnates. But when the climate is changing faster on several pillars. for eleven long years. During such a move would “would exposed to climate change. she tried a modest route than our worst fears, we First, the conviction on the his time in power, he funda- cost us jobs and damage our A similarly hostile indif- towards emissions reduction, hoped that our elected repre- part of successive Australian mentally altered Australian industry”. ference has been displayed by in the form of a tax on carbon, sentatives would finally take governments that our national political discourse in ways He and his successive governments she received her own drawn- towards Australia’s own out political crucifixion. Indigenous citizens. Torres Upon assuming office as Strait Islanders, whose homes prime minister in 2013, Tony are at risk of being submerged Abbott’s first item of business by rising sea levels in the near was to repeal Gillard’s future, have taken the maligned “Carbon Tax”, extraordinary step of which, during its brief period launching a complaint with of operation, had succeeded the UN’s Human Rights Com- in reducing our emissions. mittee against the national Australia thereby became the government over its failure to first country in the world to reduce greenhouse gas abolish a demonstrably emissions. effective pricing mechanism In a theatrical stunt in the on carbon. Having crushed national parliament in 2017, the brief interregnum on Morrison brandished a lump climate inaction, Abbott of coal and shook it in the air restored the environmental as he goaded his opponents, exceptionalism in which we whom he accused of being remain mired to this day. afflicted by the malady of Tragically, at precisely the “coalaphobia” – an “ideo- moment Australia needed to logical, pathological fear of take radical action to decar- coal” that allegedly harms the bonise its economy, its gov- economic prosperity of eve- ernment determined that the ryday Australians. country’s economic pros- Morrison’s performance perity was irrefutably tied to of coalaphilia, while con- its capacity to allow multina- taining a decent dose of tional corporations to dig “petro-masculinity”, was not minerals and fossil fuels out entirely chest-thumping of the ground. This, despite cosplay. His unshakeable the said corporations paying conviction in the inherent minimal contributions back A fire burning in the grass near Bumbalong, south of the Australian capital, Canberra, on February 1, 2020. benefits of mining tapped a to the citizenry. COVID-19 supercharged 2020’s tech winners. What about 2021? which of these trends will stick ability to generate faster have been better. Take Nin- overwhelming. outdoor experiences or falter over the next business insights, resulting in tendo Co.’s virtual-life simu- Whenever hardware becomes toward online 12 months. The answer will also a further push to accelerate lation game “Animal Crossing: available for sale, they both shopping. This could reverse determine which technology the transition. And it’s New Horizons,” which was instantly sell out in seconds. next year as vaccines become names are best positioned to be nowhere near over. According released in the spring and The product pipeline looks just widely available. victors in 2021. To figure it out, to a recent survey conducted provided a much-needed as strong, with Sony slated to Slowly Fading here’s a case-by-case review: by Cowen Research, nearly outlet for escapism just as release an eagerly anticipated E-commerce growth may TAE KIM Cloud-Computing Software half of corporate technology lockdowns were enforced lineup of exclusive software in fact have already peaked. BLOOMBERG The pandemic had a buyers said they were in the across the US In the summer, titles and Nvidia set to launch According to the latest credit- big impact on enterprise tech- “early stages” of their Nvidia’s latest lineup of new cards at lower price points. card spending data, online nology budgets. In recent upgrading toward cloud com- graphics cards were released, E-commerce sales have been materially Some of 2020’s biggest tech- years, companies have steadily puting, pointing to a growth giving PC enthusiasts vastly Online sales have soared slower over the last few nology winners shifted their information tech- runway that will be measured improved performance for as consumers increasingly weeks. While it may be - including Zoom Video nology spending away from in- in years, not months. This their games. Then in the preferred shopping at home because shoppers pulled Communications Inc., Shopify house equipment to the more bodes well for a fall, Sony Corp. and Microsoft on their phones and com- forward their holiday pur- Inc. and Nvidia Corp. - have flexible cloud-computing company such as Okta Inc., Corp. launched their next- puters over going to a physical chases this year to take delighted shareholders with model, using external vendors the leading player in cloud- generation gaming consoles, store and risking infection. advantage of promotional gains ranging from 100 such as Amazon.com Inc.’s services user authentication marking the first hardware Even traditional retailers such activity, it is nevertheless percent to 400 percent. Amazon Web Services and and a stock-market darling upgrades in seven years. as Target Corp. and Best Buy worrisome data. A continu- And they have a common Microsoft Corp.’s Azure. This this year. Demand for its Going into 2021, the indus- Co. were able to post stunning ation of this pattern would thread: Besides being top year’s shelter-in-place software, which provides try’s prospects remain bright. triple-digit sales growth for pose a challenge for e-com- performers, these companies orders hastened the trend office workers the ability to Gamers have developed new their online businesses, merce players such as are all market leaders that as companies raced to enable sign on once to access dozens social connections online that helped by popular Amazon and Shopify, and benefited from trends that virtualised offices and remote- of different cloud applica- should lead to greater offerings such as same-day might shake investors’ confi- were supercharged by the working environments for their tions, should remain robust engagement going forward. It’s delivery and curbside pickup. dence as well. pandemic. Whether it was the employees. Zoom, too, was a for a long time. also notable many of the indus- Where things go from here That is not to say e-com- shift to remote work, the big beneficiary as the com- Video-gaming try’s product cycles are just is unclear. For certain cate- merce won’t keep growing. move to cloud-computing pany’s video-conferencing tool With much of the public getting started. Specifically, gories such as clothing and But compared with cloud- software, the rise of video- became the industry standard, spending more time inside Sony and Nvidia may be best jewelry, there are advantages computing software and gaming or the surge because of its ease of use and with their families, gaming positioned for success next year for in-person shopping video-gaming, it could be the in e-commerce sales, these quality of service. has thrived this year as one of on the back of their latest because buyers can touch and most likely to disappoint rel- companies were there at the Once the process of the main options for in-home offerings: Sony’s PlayStation 5 try on products. ative to elevated expectations right place at the right time to shifting to the cloud begins, entertainment. Fortunately, and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 30 Also, some consumers may next year. If that is the case, profit. there is no turning back. Exec- the timing and product Series cards. Ever since these have reallocated a portion of Okta, Sony and Nvidia may be With the year drawing to a utives get used to cloud soft- cadence of industry’s key products were launched, the what they normally would the better bets to keep close, the critical question is ware’s flexibility, savings and releases this year couldn’t demand has been have spent for dining out or thriving through 2021. 10 ASIA SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 Sydney makes masks mandatory; virus clusters spread

BLOOMBERG — SYDNEY by placing restrictions on inter- national arrivals and isolating Mask-wearing in Sydney will All residents of all travellers returning from become compulsory in most Australia’s largest city overseas trips for 14 days in indoor public venues as quarantine hotels. Australian health authorities will be required from Authorities believe the new battle to get on top of new virus tomorrow to wear outbreaks in Australia’s two clusters that have disrupted the masks when shopping, most populous states are likely nation’s peak summer holiday on public transport, in connected, with the removal of period. cinemas and in places of many interstate border restric- All residents of Australia’s tions allowing people to travel largest city will be required worship, New South more freely during the peak from tomorrow to wear masks Wales Premier Gladys summer holiday season. when shopping, on public Berejiklian told The detection of the latest transport, in cinemas and in reporters in Sydney clusters has led some states to places of worship, New South yesterday. reinstall hard borders, causing Wales Premier Gladys Bere- havoc for thousands of families jiklian told reporters in Sydney who travelled interstate for yesterday. Individuals as possible but also to make vacations. breaching the rule, which will sure we maintain and even Berejiklian on Friday said also apply in Wollongong, increase economic activity,” she didn’t consider Victoria’s Central Coast and Blue Moun- Berejiklian said. decision to close its border to tains, will be issued with a The announcement came as New South Wales as “a good A$200 ($154) fine, she said. the neighbouring state of Vic- use of resources.” New South Wales added toria said it had detected 10 new Yesterday, Victorian Health seven new locally acquired virus cases acquired through Minister Martin Foley New South Wales police officers walk past sign boards on COVID-19 precautions in Sydney, yesterday. cases in the past 24 hours, local transmission, the majority responded by saying he made increasing the size of a cluster linked to an outbreak in the “no apologies” for the decision originally confined to the capital Melbourne. after transmission testing had — particularly as more people restrictions in those suburbs. Sydney Cricket Ground Northern Beaches region of That city last year endured shown his state’s outbreak had will be returning to work after For the rest of that region, between Australia and India. Sydney that spread to other one of the world’s strictest and originated in Sydney. the holidays and trains and stay-at-home orders will The game will have crowds areas of the city and has now longest lockdowns, and had The New South Wales buses become increasingly remain in place until January of up to 24,000 people a day infected more than 150 people. previously been the only place branch of the Australian crowded,” it said in a 9, with no visitors allowed and over as many as five days. The premier yesterday in Australia where mask- Medical Association welcomed statement. non-essential businesses to “This is an example where announced other restrictions, wearing had been made the decision to make masks Other changes to rules stay closed. the New South Wales gov- including limiting the size of mandatory. mandatory in Sydney, fol- announced yesterday included Despite the latest restric- ernment strategy is to keep gym classes, weddings and Australia has managed to lowing Victoria’s decision to making the southern areas of tions on Sydney, Berejiklian jobs, to keep community funerals. largely suppress community implement the measure across Northern Beaches viewed as said she remains committed to morale and wellbeing, while “This strategy in New South transmission through rigorous the state on Thursday. part of Greater Sydney, allowing a cricket match to making sure we are COVID-19 Wales is to keep life as normal testing and contact tracing, and “This is a crucial decision allowing for some easing of proceed from January 7 at the safe,” she said. Myanmar insurgents release 3 ruling party politicians Pakistan reports 2,184 new

REUTERS — YANGON candidates were held for more have any more information mentary election. virus cases, 82 more deaths than two months. right now,” spokesman Myo In Rakhine, however, the Insurgents from western “This is a goodwill gesture... Nyunt Myo Nyunt told Reuters party lost most of the seats it INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD government’s COVID-19 Myanmar on Friday released and we hope Myanmar army by phone. took in 2015, a result some ana- portal, Sindh has so far con- three ruling party politicians and Myanmar government will Rakhine state has been lysts said highlighted the deep- Pakistan reported 2,184 new firmed 216,632 cases and who had been kidnapped from make similar goodwill gestures roiled for more than a year by ening sense of grievance many coronavirus cases and 82 3,582 deaths, Punjab 139,341 conflict-torn Rakhine state, a too,” said Arakan Army conflict between government there harbour against a central deaths in the past 24 hours, cases and 4,085 deaths, Balo- spokesman for the insurgent spokesman Khine Thu Kha in an troops and insurgents from the government dominated by the taking the tally to 484,362 and chistan has reported 18,181 group said, calling it a goodwill audio recording sent by text Arakan Army fighting for ethnic Bamar majority. 10,258 respectively. cases and 184 deaths, while gesture to build trust with the message. A spokesman for Aung greater autonomy for the About two-thirds of the In 24 hours, 38,229 tests KP has 59,023 cases and lost government. San Suu Kyi’s ruling National region. The fighting is separate state’s population were unable were conducted across the 1,661 to COVID-19. The three — two women and League for Democracy (NLD) from violence that has led to to vote after the election com- country, taking the total Meanwhile, Islamabad has a man — were abducted by the confirmed the candidates had the flight of hundreds of thou- mission shut some polling sta- number of tests conducted to confirmed 38,020 cases and banned Arakan Army in mid- been transferred to an army sands of Muslim Rohingya, also tions, citing insecurity because 6,775,307. 421 deaths, Gilgit-Baltistan October while campaigning in camp near Paletwa in Chin state. from Rakhine state. The NLD of fighting between government There are now 35,130 has reported 4,862 corona- Rakhine as candidates before a “We haven’t met with the scored another commanding troops and the Arakan Army active cases in the country out virus cases and 101 deaths. November 8 election. The candidates yet, so we do not win in the November parlia- insurgent group. of which 2,264 are critical Jammu and Kashmir has con- cases. firmed 8,303 cases and 224 The country also reported fatalities. 1,745 recoveries in the last 24 Meanwhile, Sindh has so Afghan scribe hours, taking the number to far confirmed five cases of the 438,974. new UK coronavirus variant shot dead in According to the in UK returnees. car ambush

REUTERS — KABUL Pakistan to have e-gates

An Afghan journalist was shot dead in a car ambush across major airports in the central province of Ghor, the fifth media INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD at seven major airports, professional to be killed in including Karachi, Islamabad, the country in two months, The Civil Aviation Authority Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, officials said yesterday. (CAA) of Pakistan has decided Multan, and Faisalabad in two Bismellah Adel Aimaq, to install e-gates across the phases. 28, the editor-in-chief of major airports which will fasten The CAA said that in the Sada-e-Ghor (Voice of the process of immigration. first phase of the operation, Ghor) radio station, was The purpose of e-gates is to e-gates would be installed at killed near Firoz Koh city, scan travellers’ passports and airports in Karachi, Lahore, and the capital of Ghor, on clear their immigration without Islamabad. Friday. any delay. The data will be protected No militant group has e-gates are a self-auto- under cyber security law. Trav- claimed responsibility for mated service option which ellers will only have their pass- the killing. facilitates the passengers by ports and tickets scanned at the “Unfortunately, Bis- scanning their passports before e-gates before they are issued mellah Adel Aimaq, the issuing them their boarding boarding passes. head of Sada-e Ghor Radio, passes. The CAA has also issued was killed by unknown Indonesia bans foreign tourists e-gates are also equipped tender notices in this regard. gunmen this evening in with the technology to conduct An official said that interested People walk with their luggage at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport following Indonesia government’s Firoz Koh. facial recognition and finger- companies will be able to decision to ban foreign tourists from entry to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease in Tangerang, “He was 28 years old, print check of passengers. submit their bids by January 15, and started working with on the outskirts of Jakarta, on Friday. The e-gates will be installed 2021. Sada-e-Ghor Radio since 2015,” said Habibollah Rad- manesh, the deputy gov- US bans palm oil Kashf Foundation wins UN award for COVID-19 action Pakistan launches ernor of Ghor. Afghan President Ashraf imports from INTERNEWS — KARACHI business. The initiative adopted online visa system Ghani condemned the a multi-pronged strategy to killing and said his gov- Malaysia firm Kashf Foundation has won UN Kashf Foundation is the support women rehabilitation in for 191 countries ernment was committed to Women’s Asia-Pacific Women’s only Pakistani the country during this period. supporting and promoting AFP — KUALA LUMPUR Empowerment Principles (WEPs) organisation that has As a principal approach, INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD freedom of expression. award for COVID-19 action. been honoured at the Kashf Foundation pivoted its “The Taliban and other The United States has banned Kashf Foundation is the only model to cater to the most imme- Pakistan’s Interior Minister terrorist groups could not imports from a Malaysian Pakistani organisation that has recently held first edition diate and medium to long term Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said silence the legitimate voices palm oil giant whose products been honoured at the recently of Asia-Pacific WEPs business needs of women micro- that the government has of journalists and the media are found in numerous held first edition of Asia-Pacific Award hosted by UN entrepreneurs in the country. launched online visa system by carrying out such household goods over WEPs Award hosted by UN Women and funded by In parallel, a response for 191 countries to make its attacks,” he said in a tweet. concerns that its workers face Women and funded by the the European Union. strategy was also introduced to process easy for people. A civil society activist a litany of abuse. European Union. raise awareness amongst its Talking to media in was also killed on Friday by The move against Sime These awards recognised the 500,000 women clients about Rawalpindi yesterday, he said unknown militants. Darby Plantation, one of the efforts of business leaders across the contagion and how to curb online visa system will erad- Targeted killings of world’s biggest producers, the globe for their efforts in its ‘Don’t let corona impact your its spread. icate corruption and ensure journalists, government marks the second time the US advancing gender equality based business’ initiative in the Speaking about the initiative transparency besides officials and rights activists, has blocked shipments from a on excellence in six categories ‘COVID-19 action’ award and achievement, Roshaneh addressing complaints of have increased rapidly in palm oil company in the including leadership action and category. Zafar, Managing Director at people. The Minister said two recent months as violence Southeast Asian nation in just commitment, youth leadership, In view of the devastating Kashf Foundation said that after hundred thousand applica- surges in Afghanistan months. Announcing the ban gender-inclusive workplace, financial impact of COVID-19 on the onset of the pandemic, it tions were received on the despite peace talks between late Wednesday, US Customs gender-responsive marketplace, women micro-entrepreneurs became imperative for the very first day of online visa. the government and the and Border Protection (CBP) community and industry from marginalised communities, organisation to undertake evi- The Minister said 1.5 Taliban. The Taliban stated said there was evidence Sime engagement and COVID-19 the ‘Don’t let corona impact your dence based interventions to million Afghan refugees are in December it was not Darby workers face abuses action. Over 400 entries from 17 business’ initiative, led by Kashf effectively respond to the eco- allowed to live in Pakistan, involved in the killing of including physical violence, countries were received, while Foundation, offered financial and nomic and social impact of while two hundred thousand media professionals. withholding of wages and Kashf Foundation was the only non-financial products/services COVID-19 on the marginalised illegal national identity cards restrictions on movement. Pakistani organisation to win for to help them rebuild their communities, especially women. have been blocked. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 ASIA 11

Chinese mainland reports 22 new COVID-19 cases Kazakhstan scraps death penalty ALJAZEERA courts continued to sentence The notice published yesterday said President IANS — BEIJING convicts to death in exceptional Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had signed off on Kazakhstan has abolished the circumstances, including for The Chinese mainland has death penalty, making crimes deemed “acts of terror”. parliamentary ratification of the Second reported 22 newly confirmed permanent a nearly 20-year Ruslan Kulekbayev, a lone Optional Protocol to the International Covenant coronavirus cases, of which freeze on capital punishment in gunman who killed eight eight were locally transmitted, the Central Asian country, policemen and two civilians on Civil and Political Rights — a document that the National Health according to a notice on the during a rampage in Kaza- commits signatories to the abolition of capital Commission said yesterday. presidential website. khstan’s largest city Almaty in punishment. Seven of the locally trans- The notice published yes- 2016, was among the convicts mitted cases were reported in terday said President Kassym- set to be executed if the mora- Liaoning province, and one in Jomart Tokayev had signed off torium were lifted. of the death penalty, was take the following obligations: Beijing, Xinhua news agency on parliamentary ratification of Kulekbayev will serve a life adopted on December 15, 1989, first, not to apply the death quoted the Commission as the Second Optional Protocol sentence in jail instead. and came into force in 1991. penalty, second, to take all nec- Kazakhstan President saying in its daily report. to the International Covenant Life imprisonment was Kazakhstan’s parliament essary measures to abolish the Kassym-Jomart Tokayev The remaining 14 cases on Civil and Political Rights — introduced in Kazakhstan in ratified the protocol on death penalty within their juris- were detected in persons who a document that commits sig- 2004 as an alternative December 29. diction. The only exception is had arrived from outside the natories to the abolition of punishment. force in 1976, and 173 states Apart from Kazakhstan, 88 the death penalty is allowed in mainland. capital punishment. The International Covenant acceded to it. other nations are members of case of wartime,” Kazakhstan’s Nine COVID-19 patients Executions were paused in on Civil and Political Rights was The Second Optional Pro- the agreement. Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleu- were discharged from hos- Kazakhstan from 2003 but adopted in 1966, entered into tocol to it, aimed at the abolition “The signatory countries berdi said at the time. pitals after recovery on Friday. By the end of the day, a total of 4,287 imported cases had been reported on the China diplomat says mainland. Among them, 4,015 had been discharged from hos- US relations at pitals following recovery, and 272 remained hospitalised. So far, the total number of ‘new crossroads’ confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland has reached REUTERS — SHANGHAI 87,093, including 383 patients still receiving treatment. China’s relationship with the Wang, China’s state A total of 82,076 patients United States has reached a “new councillor and foreign had been discharged from crossroads” and could get back minister, said in an hospitals and 4,634 had died on the right track following a interview that recent US as a result of the virus, period of “unprecedented diffi- according to the Commission. culty”, senior diplomat Wang Yi policies towards China There was one suspected said in official comments had harmed the COVID-19 case on the published yesterday. interests of both mainland, and 14,311 close Relations between the countries and brought contacts remained under world’s two biggest economies huge dangers to the medical observation. have come under increasing strain amid a series of disputes world. over trade, human rights and the Vietnam reports origins of COVID-19. In its latest move, the United States black- Wang did not mention Trump first case of new listed dozens of Chinese com- or Biden by name, but he urged Rally in Taiwan panies it said had ties to the the United States to “respect the virus variant military. social system and development Taiwan’s independence supporters hold a rally in support of US President Donald Trump in Taipei, Wang, China’s state councillor path” chosen by China, adding yesterday. REUTERS — HANOI and foreign minister, said in a that if Washington “learns joint interview with Xinhua news lessons”, the conflicts between the Vietnam has detected its first agency and other state media two sides could be resolved. imported case of the new outlets that recent US policies “We know some people in the coronavirus variant that is China rebuffs talks offer from Taiwan towards China had harmed the United States are apprehensive spreading rapidly around interests of both countries and about China’s rapid development, Britain, the health ministry REUTERS — BEIJING a statement late on Friday, China’s re-elected by a landslide last year brought huge dangers to the but the most sustainable lead- said yesterday. Taiwan Affairs Office said there on a pledge to stand up to China world. But there was now an ership is to constantly move The variant was detected in China has rebuffed the latest was no way of changing the and defend Taiwan’s democracy opportunity for the two sides to forward yourself, rather than a 44-year-old woman returning offer of talks from Taiwan, saying reality that the island was part of and security, has repeatedly said “open a new window of hope” block the development of other to Vietnam from Britain, who the government was engaging in China, and the refusal of Taiwan’s Taiwan is already an independent and begin a new round of dia- countries,” he said. was quarantined upon arrival a “cheap trick” and provocation government to accept that was country called the Republic of logue, he said. Politicians in the US have and was confirmed positive for by seeking confrontation with the root cause of present China, its formal name. The election of Joe Biden as accused China of covering up the the virus on December 24, the China at every turn. tensions. Tensions have risen in recent US President has been widely outbreak of COVID-19 during its ministry said in a statement. Taiwan is ready to have Since 2016, Taiwan’s ruling months with China ramping up expected to improve relations early stages, delaying its response “Researchers ran gene- “meaningful” talks with China as Democratic Progressive Party its military activities near the between Washington and Beijing and allowing the disease to sequencing on the patient’s equals as long as they are willing (DPP) “has continued to provoke island, including on occasion after four years of escalating ten- spread much further and faster. sample and found the strain is to put aside confrontation, Pres- by seeking independence, con- flying fighter jets across the sions under the administration of But Wang said China had a variant known as “VOC ident Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday, fronting the mainland at every median line of the narrow Taiwan Donald Trump. done its utmost to combat the 202012/01””, it said. offering another olive branch to turn, deliberately creating con- Strait, which usually serves as an Last month, Wang said he virus’s spread, “sounding the The variant includes a Beijing in her New Year’s speech. frontation across the Taiwan unofficial buffer. China says it is hoped the election of Biden would alarm” for the rest of the world. genetic mutation that, in theory, China views the democratic Strait”, it said. responding to “collusion” allow US China policy to “return “We raced against time, and could result in the virus and self-governed island as its “They again talked about so- between Washington and Taipei, to objectivity and rationality”. were the earliest to report the epi- spreading more easily between own territory, and cut off a formal called ‘dialogue,’ but where can angered at growing US support However, President-elect demic to the world,” he said. people. talks mechanism in 2016 after that come from?” the office for the island. Beijing views this Biden, who will take office on Jan. “More and more studies show Countries around the Tsai was first elected, viewing her added. “We urge the DPP author- as a precursor to Taiwan 20, has continued to criticise that the epidemic very probably world have cut off travel links as a separatist bent on a formal ities to stop it with these cheap declaring formal independence, China for its “abuses” on trade emerged in many places to Britain to stop the spread of declaration of independence. In tricks that dupe people.” Tsai, a red line for China. and other issues. throughout the world.” the new variant, which scien- tists have said is 40-70% more transmissible than the original virus. Vietnam is still operating Hong Kong in talks to use vaccine records for travel repatriation flights to bring its citizens stuck in the UK home BLOOMBERG — HONG KONG The electronic-registration Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE, Astra- The Hong Kong government the city’s Hospital Authority, said amid the pandemic. system will record when and Zeneca Plc and China’s Sinovac appointed a committee to the organisation is considering With strict quarantine and Hong Kong will complete an which type of vaccine a person/ Biotech Ltd. to acquire 22.5 approve the emergency use of testing all of its medical staff reg- tracking measures, Vietnam e-booking system for COVID-19 citizen has received and will million potential doses of vac- the vaccines, Chief Executive ularly for coronavirus. quickly contained coronavirus vaccine inoculations this month remind the user when to receive cines, and is seeking a further 7.5 Carrie Lam said last week, sign- Hong Kong does not require outbreaks, allowing economic and is in talks with other coun- a second shot, Secretary for Inno- million. The government has said aling the city is moving closer to all residents to screen for the activity to rebound faster than tries to allow the records to be vation and Technology Alfred Sit residents will be able to choose authorizing the candidates. virus but issued mandatory in much of Asia. It has used for travel, local media was cited as saying in a radio which type they receive, though Separately, Radio Television testing orders to tenants of 44 recorded 1,474 infections, with including Hong Kong Economic interview. Hong Kong has the details are yet to be Hong Kong reported Saturday buildings where cases were 35 deaths. Times reported. already reached agreements with announced. that Tony Ko, chief executive of found in the past 14 days. Midnight cafeteria feeds stray cats in Taipei AP — TAIPEI “You can just be one person Started by Chen Chen-yi, a doing something a little bit at a researcher at the Taiwan Animal Pipi already dines well. time, a little bit, and taken all Equality Association, the cat The plump, black-and-white together, you can achieve a lot.” houses help ensure stray cats get street cat lives near a night market Hung began volunteering after a fed well and local residents do in a neighbourhood of Taiwan’s good friend rescued and raised a not have to deal with a mess. capital where volunteers have fed stray cat. For five years, she has They also raise awareness about and taken care of strays for years. worked with other cat lovers in the spaying programme and the But Pipi and his fellow street cats the neighbourhood who buy the condition of stray cats. got an upgrade of their dining sit- cats food, help clean the houses “In Taiwan there are a lot of uation recently with the “Midnight and coordinate with residents people who feed strays, but often Cafeteria” project. who may have complaints. they leave a mess, and then the Launched in September, the Hung also helps capture public becomes annoyed by it “cafeteria” is actually 45 small injured cats and cats that need and they become annoyed with wooden houses painted by Tai- spaying, takes them to get veter- strays as well,” he said. wanese artists and scattered inary attention and then returns The cat houses were a mul- across Taipei. The idea is to give them to their haunts. titeam effort. Chen applied for a the cats a place to rest while The wooden houses in Hung’s grant from the Taipei city gov- making feeding them less messy. neighbourhood were hand- ernment to fund the project, and It began in math teacher painted by a local artist Stefano then connected with a local ward Hung Pei-ling’s neighborhood, Misesti and feature smiling felines leader as well as volunteers to where about 20 neighbours are as well as street food that is loved carry it out. helping stray cats in addition to in Taiwan such as stinky tofu. In On a recent Sunday, Pipi and their full-time jobs. addition to food bowls, one two of his friends were enjoying Call for release of prisoners “We want to push forward houses basic medicine for the cats. attention from Hung and another this philosophy that you don’t Neighbors have brought small volunteer who came to feed Pro-democracy activists on a vehicle argue with police officers during a rally to call for the release have to be part of a very top-level cushions as well as decorated them. After eating at the cafe- of political prisoners outside Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre in Hong Kong, on Friday. association or something that cardboard boxes to add to the teria, they settled in for a lazy takes up all of your time,” she said. houses. morning nap. 12 EUROPE SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 Britain to allow mixing of vaccines on rare occasions

AGENCIES — LONDON In a departure from The government’s new guidelines said there “is no evi- Britain will allow people to be other strategies dence on the interchangeability given shots of different globally, the of the COVID-19 vaccines COVID-19 vaccines on rare government said although studies are underway”. occasions, despite a lack of However, the advice said evidence about the extent of people could be given that while every effort should immunity offered by mixing a mix-and-match of be made to complete the dosing doses. regimen with the same vaccine, In a departure from other two COVID-19 shots, if the patient is at “immediate strategies globally, the gov- for example if the high risk” or is considered ernment said people could be “unlikely to attend again” they given a mix-and-match of two same vaccine dose can be given different COVID-19 shots, for example if was out of stock, vaccines. the same vaccine dose was out Britain sparked controversy of stock, according to guidelines according to the new earlier this week by announcing published on New Year’s Eve. guidelines. plans to delay giving the coro- “(If) the same vaccine is not navirus vaccine booster shot in available, or if the first product an attempt to ensure more Ambulances are parked outside NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCeL centre amid the outbreak of received is unknown, it is rea- Europe, and health officials are people could be given the more the coronavirus disease, in London yesterday. sonable to offer one dose of the racing to deliver doses to help limited protection conferred by locally available product to end the pandemic as fears grow a single dose. complete the schedule,” that the health service could be The top US infectious dis- term begins next week, but open, the report said. pupils in exam years will return according to the guidelines. overwhelmed. eases expert, Anthony Fauci, primary schools in 10 London The letter called for primary during the week beginning Mary Ramsay, head of Earlier this week, the gov- said on Friday he did not agree boroughs are due to reopen on school pupils across London to January 11. immunisations at Public Health ernment reactivated emergency with the British approach of time. move to online learning until Primary schools in a small England, said this would only hospitals built at the start of the delaying the second dose up to In a letter sent to UK Edu- January 18, apart from vul- number of areas with the happen on extremely rare occa- outbreak as wards fill up with 12 weeks. cation Secretary Gavin Wil- nerable children and those of highest Covid-19 infection rates sions, and that the government COVID-19 patients. “I would not be in favour of liamson on Friday, the borough key workers. will remain closed was not recommending the Britain has been at the fore- that,” he told CNN. “We’re going leaders said they were “strug- “The omission of 10 bor- temporarily. mixing of vaccines, which front of approving the new to keep doing what we’re gling to understand the oughs ignores the deep inter- Calling the plans “nonsen- require at least two doses given coronavirus vaccines, becoming doing.” rationale” behind the idea as connectedness of our city, and sical”, London Mayor Sadiq several weeks apart. the first country to give emer- Meanwhile, leaders of nine pupils and teachers moved the many thousands of teachers Khan also wrote to the UK gov- “Every effort should be gency authorisation to the London boroughs have written between boroughs, according and students that study or teach ernment, asking for a “delay to made to give them the same Pfizer/BioNTech and the Astra- to the UK government, calling to a BBC report. in one borough and live in all London schools opening vaccine, but where this is not Zeneca/University of Oxford for official steps to reverse plans Primary schools in 23 another,” the letter said. until mid-January”. possible it is better to give a vaccines last month. to reopen primary schools in London boroughs will remain On Wednesday, Williamson In response, the government second dose of another vaccine Both vaccines are meant to some areas of the British capital. closed, but schools in the City told the House of Commons has said the measure would be than not at all,” she said. be administered as two shots, All secondary schools and of London, Camden, (lower house of the British Par- reviewed fortnightly. COVID-19 has killed more given several weeks apart, but some primary schools in Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, liament) that most primary Williamson said he wants 74,000 people in Britain — the they were not designed to be England will face delayed Harrow, Islington, Kingston, schools will open as planned on school closures to be as “short second-highest death toll in mixed together. return when the new school Lambeth and Lewisham will January 4, while all secondary as possible”. Spain extends British judge to rule on US extradition for Assange entry ban on travellers AP — LONDON Assange’s partner and the mother “Consistently, the defence politicized” prosecution that been held at Belmarsh prison of his two sons, has appealed to asks this court to make findings, constitutes “a flagrant denial of in London since April 2019. from Britain WikiLeaks founder Julian US President Donald Trump via or act upon the submission, that his right to freedom of His legal team argued that Assange will find out tomorrow Twitter to grant a pardon to the United States of America is expression and poses a funda- Assange would, if extradited, whether he can be extradited Assange before he leaves office guilty of torture, war crimes, mental threat to the freedom of likely face solitary confinement IANS — MADRID from the UK to the US to face on January 20. murder, breaches of diplomatic the press throughout the world.” that would put him at a espionage charges over the And even if Trump doesn’t, and international law and that the Defense lawyers also said heightened risk of suicide. They Spain announced on Friday publication of secret American there’s speculation that his suc- United States of America is ‘a Assange was suffering from said if he was subsequently con- that entry for passengers trav- military documents. cessor, Joe Biden, may take a lawless state’,” they said. “These wide-ranging mental health victed, he would probably be elling from the UK by air and District Judge Vanessa more lenient approach to submissions are not only non-jus- issues, including suicidal ten- sent to the notorious ADX sea will be prohibited till Baraitser is due to deliver her Assange’s extradition process. ticiable in these proceedings but dencies, that could be exacer- Supermax prison in Colorado, January 19, according to the decision at London’s Old Bailey US prosecutors indicted the should never have been made.” bated if he is placed in inhospi- which is also inhabited by Official State Gazette. courthouse at 10am tomorrow. 49-year-old Assange on 17 espi- Assange’s defence team table prison conditions in the US. Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Spanish nationals and If she grants the request, then onage charges and one charge argued that he is entitled to First They said his mental health Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El those with legal residency in Britain’s home secretary, Priti of computer misuse that carry Amendment protections for the deteriorated while he took Chapo” Guzman. Spain, however, will be Patel, would make the final a maximum sentence of 175 publication of leaked documents asylum inside the Ecuadorian Lawyers for the US gov- allowed entry. decision. Whichever side loses years in prison. that exposed US military wrong- Embassy in London for years ernment argued that Assange’s Due to the “uncertainties... is expected to appeal, which Lawyers acting on behalf of doing in Iraq and Afghanistan and and that he was diagnosed with mental state “is patently not so about the scope of the new could lead to years more legal the US government said in their that the US extradition request an autism spectrum disorder. severe so as to preclude extra- SARS-CoV-2 variant, more wrangling. closing arguments after the four- was politically motivated. Assange jumped bail in 2012 dition.” Assange has attracted information will be needed on However, there’s a possibility week hearing in the fall that In their written closing argu- when he sought asylum at the the support of high-profile the evolution of the epidemi- that outside forces may come into Assange’s defence team had ments, Assange’s legal team embassy, where he stayed for figures, including the dissident ological situation in the United play that could instantly end the raised issues that were neither accused the US of an “extraor- seven years before being Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and Kingdom,” the Gazette stated, decade-long saga. Stella Moris, relevant nor admissible. dinary, unprecedented and evicted and arrested. He has actress Pamela Anderson. Xinhua news agency reported. The new coronavirus variant, first reported by the UK, is said to be up to 70 EU avoided chaos, explored percent more transmissible. Starting from December new paths in turbulent 2020 22, Spain has suspended entry into its territory of “citizens from the UK, except nationals AP —BRUSSELS pandemic quickly relegated or residents in our country,” environmental concerns to the according to a communique Between the spectre of Brexit, background. published on Twitter. the coronavirus pandemic and EU leaders agreed this year The entry ban was a new leadership team facing on a more ambitious target for scheduled to end on January a budget battle, the European cutting greenhouse gas emis- 5. Union looked set to remember sions, yet immediate public “Border control in 2020 as an “annus horribilis.” health needs and the economic Gibraltar (the British Overseas Instead, a last-minute trade fallout of the virus crisis Territory on Spain’s south deal with the United Kingdom eclipsed the ambitious Green coast) will also be coupled with the rollout of Deal that von der Leyen envi- strengthened,” the commu- COVID-19 vaccines in the final sioned to make Europe the nique added. days of the year produced a world’s first carbon-neutral As of Monday, Spain has sense of success for the continent by 2050. confirmed 19 cases of the new 27-nation bloc and brought Faced with a more urgent coronavirus strain in six glimmers of hope to the EU’s crisis, Brussels showed regions, many of the infected 450 million residents. adaptability. have previously entered Spain After months of chaotic After several member states from the UK. negotiations, the EU also will closed their borders in response French police patrol on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris after celebrations and gatherings have head into 2021 with both a to the virus, temporarily threat- been banned due to restrictions amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in France. Italy sees 364 virus long-term budget and a coro- ening the sacrosanct principle navirus recovery fund worth of free movement of people deaths in a day ¤1.83 trillion ($2.3 trillion) that and goods within Europe’s French police shut down illegal rave could help the EU’s member visa-free Schengen Area, the REUTERS — ROME nations bounce back from EU secured the creation of pri- Europe’s most brutal economic ority corridors to allow cross- Italy reported 364 corona- party defying COVID-19 curbs crisis since World War II. border movement of essential virus-related deaths yesterday “The European Union supplies. In an unprecedented against 462 the day before, the REUTERS — PARIS to wait for reinforcements to be notices for using illegal drugs, managed to do what was nec- move, the bloc also relaxed its health ministry said, while the deployed before moving in to put Berthier said. There were also essary,” Fabian Zuleeg, chief stringent state aid rules so daily tally of new infections Several hundred French police an end to the party, Emmanuel five arrests and sound and executive of the European national governments could plunged to 11,831 from 22,211, yesterday shut down an illegal Berthier, head of the Ille-et- lighting equipment was seized, Policy Centre, an independent help businesses on the verge of with far less testing than rave party in northwestern Vilaine prefecture, told reporters. he added. think tank, said. “In the end, the collapse. normal carried out on New France that had been underway Interior Minister Gerald Prosecutors in Rennes have European Union is resilient The true silver lining of the Year’s day. Just 67,174 swab since New Year’s Eve in Darmanin said on Twitter that opened a probe into the illegal because it delivers benefits to COVID-19 pandemic was cer- tests were carried out in the defiance of a curfew and coro- more than 1,200 party-goers organisation of a musical event its member, that the members tainly the emergence of a past day, the ministry said, navirus restrictions on large were issued with penalty and violence against persons of will not want to give up.” common approach to health, down from a previous 157,524. gatherings, officials said. notices as they left the site, authority, the prefecture said, Ursula von der Leyen, a which was until this year purely Italy has registered 74,985 About 2,500 revellers from adding that the event’s organ- while local health authorities veteran member of German of member states’ competence. COVID-19 deaths since its out- across France and abroad isers were being identified and urged party-goers to self- Chancellor Angela Merkel’s When the virus first struck break came to light on Feb. 21, attended the rave in a disused would be prosecuted. isolate for seven days. Cabinet, pledged to put the fight Europe hard in March, a critical the highest toll in Europe and warehouse in Lieuron, near About 800 of the revellers During the clashes on New against climate change at the shortage of personal protective the fifth highest in the world. Rennes, and some clashed with were sanctioned for attending Year’s Eve, people attending the top of her agenda when she equipment for health care The country has also reported police soon after the party an illegal party, breaking party threw bottles and rocks took over as president of the workers laid bare the weak- 2.141 million cases to date, the kicked off on Thursday evening. curfew and not wearing masks, at police, and several officers EU’s powerful executive arm nesses of the EU’s supply health ministry said. The clashes prompted police and the rest were mostly issued suffered minor injuries. on December 1, 2019. But the chains. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 EUROPE 13 Norway landslide: Third body found; seven still missing

AP — HELSINKI pockets inside the destroyed buildings. "Medically, you can Norwegian police Rescue teams searching for survive for several days if you survivors four days after a land- have air,” she told reporters at pledged not to scale slide carried away homes in a a news conference. down the search, saying Norwegian village found no By late yesterday, a second it may still be possible to signs of life yesterday amid the and third body had been found find survivors in air ruined buildings and debris. after a first one was discovered pockets inside the Three bodies have been on Friday. Only a Dalmatian dog recovered but searchers are still has been rescued alive from the destroyed buildings. looking for seven more people ruins so far. Only a dog has been believed to be missing. The King Harald V, Queen Sonja rescued alive from the landslide in the village of Ask is and Crown Prince Haakon plan ruins so far. the worst in modern Norwegian to visit the disaster area today history and has shocked citizens to pay their respects to the in the Nordic nation. victims and to meet with resi- Flattened homes lie covered in snow as rescue crews work with a dog in the landslide area at Ask, Search teams patrolled with dents and rescue workers. The crater-like ravine. Photos and Gjerdrum, Norway, yesterday. dogs as helicopters and drones 83-year-old monarch said in his videos showed buildings with heat-detecting cameras New Year’s speech that the hanging on the edge of the flew amid harsh winter condi- royal family had been deeply ravine, which grew to be 700 rescue equipment, including a for having a lot of quick clay, a the area, but houses were even- tions over the ravaged hillside moved by the tragedy. metres long and 300 metres heavy vehicle from the Nor- material that can change from tually built there later in the in Ask, a village of 5,000 people Norwegian police have pub- wide. At least nine buildings wegian military. solid to liquid form. Experts said decade. Spokeswoman Toril 25km northeast of Oslo. lished the names and birth years with over 30 apartments were Over 1,000 people have the substance of the clay com- Hofshagen from the Norwegian Norwegian police pledged of the 10 people initially destroyed. been evacuated, and officials bined with excessive precipi- Water Resources and Energy not to scale down the search reported missing, including a The rescue operation is said up to 1,500 people may be tation and the damp weather Directorate called the landslide even though a rescue team from 2-year-old child. Officials being hampered by the limited moved from the area amid fears typical for Norway at this time unique in its destruction. neighboring Sweden has haven’t yet identified the three number of daylight hours in of further landslides. of year may have contributed "Not since 1893 has there already returned home. recovered bodies. Norway at this time of year and The exact cause of the to the landslide. been a quick clay landslide of Local police chief Ida Melbo The landslide early fears of further erosion. The accident is not yet known but Norwegian authorities in this dimension in Norway,” Oeystese said it may still be pos- Wednesday cut across a road ground is fragile at the site and the Gjerdrum municipality, 2005 warned people not to con- Hofshagen told the media sible to find survivors in air through Ask, leaving a deep, unable to hold the weight of where Ask is located, is known struct residential buildings in yesterday. Denmark PM sets April as turning point in virus fight Serbia opens pipeline BLOOMBERG Friday, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced that she for Russian gas, Denmark will probably reach had received her first doze. a turning point in the fight The 80-year-old monarch against the pandemic in early is among the first 1% of the pop- ignores US opposition April, Prime Minister Mette ulation to begin the process. Frederiksen said. Still, on the last day of 2020 AP — BELGRADE, SERBIA to Germany, the Turkish “I think the worst year is Denmark registered a record- Stream was threatened by US behind us but we must expect high 42 deaths related to Defying US calls to reduce its sanctions against companies that the most difficult months COVID-19 and some hospitals dependency on energy supplies involved in the project. are still ahead of us,” the Social warn they face a shortage of from Russia, Serbia on Friday Serbia, a European Union Democrat premier said in her ICU beds if hospitalisations con- officially launched a new gas candidate country, depends New Year speech broadcast on tinue to rise. link that will bring additional almost entirely on Russian Friday. Frederiksen said Denmark Russian gas to the Balkan energy supplies. Washington She said Easter Sunday, on has so far avoided the large country via Bulgaria and has been urging Serbia to April 4, will “not be the end but economic setback predicted in Turkey. diversify its energy supplies a turning point,” helped by vac- the spring and she noted that Serbian President Ale- and use and American liquid cinations and better weather more than half of the jobs lost ksandar Vucic attended a cer- gas shipments, but those tend conditions. during the crisis have been won emony on Friday for the to be more expensive. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reacts as she follows the The Nordic country started back so far. Denmark has opening of the 400-km (250- Although when he was in first innoculation via video link from her residence in Marienborg, its vaccination programme on extended a hard lockdown for mile) section of the Turkish Washington, Vucic signed a December 27 and earlier on until January 17. north of Copenhagen, on December 27, 2020. Stream pipeline, saying that pledge to reduce Serbia’s Serbia has become “much Russian energy dependency, he richer” thanks to the new has said he would not be black- Greece reimposes Netherlands to vaccinate emergency Russian energy supplies. mailed by anyone to buy more “Serbia has managed, with expensive gas for political COVID-19 curbs the help of our Russian friends reasons. care workers as soon as possible and partners, to secure supply Although Serbia has been REUTERS — ATHENS on its territory with gas,” Vucic formally seeking EU mem- REUTERS — THE HAGUE said. “From our territory, gas bership, it has also been Greece will tighten corona- personnel in homes for the the health ministry said in a will go towards Hungary, strengthening its political, eco- virus curbs for a week from elderly, home care nurses and statement. Bosnia-Herzegovina. We will nomic and military ties with today, closing hair salons, The Netherlands will start people working in care homes On Thursday one of the look at what other territories traditional Slavic ally Russia as bookstores and some other vaccinating 30,000 emer- for the disabled, rather than country's health chiefs said a and countries (will be well as with China. shops that had been allowed gency care workers as soon as emergency care workers as national lockdown to curb the included) in the future. It’s an Critics says Russia can exert to reopen in the run-up to possible, the health ministry well. However, it was still spread of the coronavirus in important and great day for political pressure and influence Christmas, the government said yesterday, as the unclear when these workers the Netherlands will probably our country.” on Serbia through gas said yesterday. government comes under fire would get vaccinated. The have to last at least until mid- Serbia has so far received supplies. Most shops remained for lagging other European ministry said it would give February and even then can the Russian gas via Hungary Russian Ambassador to closed during December in Union countries in launching more details on Monday. only be partially lifted. and Ukraine. But with Mos- Serbia Aleksandr Botsan- Greece but the seasonal easing immunisations. Amid a surge in COVID-19 Jaap van Dissel, head of cow’s attempts to circumvent Kharchenko said during the of restrictions provided a little The government had pre- cases, unions and hospitals infectious disease control at the Ukraine pipelines to the pipeline opening that “this is relief for some hard-hit retail viously said its national vac- have been pushing for front- the National Institute for rest of Europe, it has been really the best present for the businesses. cination campaign would start line carers to get vaccinated Public Health, said some 2 looking for alternative supply New Year”. The new, tighter rules will on January 8, the latest date rapidly. “The concerning situ- million people in the country routes. “As soon as the New Year come into force today, gov- for any EU country. ation in urgent care is partly of 17 million had caught Like the almost-completed started, we have a great event ernment spokesman Stelios The first doses were driven by coronavirus related COVID-19 and probably had Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is in the development of our Petsas said in a televised planned to go to healthcare sick leave by care workers,” some immunity. to double Russian gas supplies bilateral relations,” he said. statement. A night-time curfew will start at 9 pm, an hour earlier than before. Petsas said the measures COVID-19 toll linked to Belgian were aimed at helping schools reopen on January 11. party for elderly hits 27 Greece, which started the first vaccinations against the AP — BRUSSELS Belgium, a nation of 11.5 coronavirus last week, has million, has been badly hit by reported 139,447 confirmed The death toll of a virus outbreak the pandemic with 19,441 coronavirus cases and 4,881 in a care home linked to a gath- deaths so far, many of them in related deaths. ering for the elderly last month care homes. has reached 27. The Mol municipality said The Mol care centre in two weeks ago the party would Ukraine seeks northern Belgium had organised have been barred had the local a December 4 event, but there crisis cell known about it. 16 million is a possibility the actor could At the last count, the care have been a super spreader of home had 88 infections, vaccine doses COVID-19 unbeknownst to including 42 among the staff. himself. Initially, the actor had been REUTERS — KIEV The municipality said on pinpointed as the source of the New Year’s Eve that a 27th outbreak, but subsequent scien- Belgian police officers check the papers of passengers at the Thalys terminal at Brussels South railway Ukraine hopes to double the person had died but the out- tific research could not be fully station, amid the new rules imposed by the government due to COVID-19 outbreak, in Brussels, yesterday. eight million COVID-19 break was finally stabilising. conclusive. vaccine doses guaranteed under the global COVAX scheme, set up to provide vaccines to poorer countries, ECB dividend recommendation flouted by small bank in Finland President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday. BLOOMBERG extension, the European Central between the strongest and the de facto ban on dividends but 2019. That’s equivalent to 59% “Eight million doses we are Bank. weakest bank in Europe,” urged banks to limit such share- of its earnings per share, guaranteed to receive through A small Finnish bank is The ECB has urged lenders Alandsbanken said in a holder payouts to less than 15% almost four times the ECB’s the global COVAX mechanism. explicitly disregarding to show restraint with dividends statement. of profit for 2019 and 2020, or guideline. We are also working to European regulatory guidelines and share buybacks in light of Its board “believes that the 0.2% of their key capital ratio, The ECB directly oversees increase supply through on dividends with the justifi- the ongoing pandemic, and the long-term risks to the bank may whichever is lower. That makes the biggest euro-zone lenders COVAX to 16 million doses,” cation that ignoring its share- threat it poses to the economy. be larger if — based on our the ECB more hawkish than while national regulators Zelenskiy said on Telegram. holders would be more risky in But Alandsbanken says it current level of earnings and watchdogs such as the Bank of supervise smaller banks. The presidential office said the long run. won’t heed that guidance risks — we choose to follow the England. Some smaller banks in the on Wednesday Ukraine had Alandsbanken Abp said on because its profits in 2019 “were regulatory recommendation Alandsbanken, which said bloc have been allowed to pay signed a contract to buy 1.8 Friday that it is “choosing not the highest in the bank’s 100- than if we also begin to take the it doesn’t expect to receive gov- dividends, with German regu- million doses of China’s Sinovac to follow” the recommendations year history.” bank’s other important stake- ernment aid in this or future lator BaFin saying it will permit vaccine, with the shots expected of the Finnish Financial Super- The regulatory recommen- holder groups into account.” crises, is proposing a total div- payouts if banks have sufficient in the shortest possible time. visory Authority and, by dations “do not distinguish Last month, the ECB lifted a idend of ¤1 ($1.22) per share for financial strength. 14 AMERICAS SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 Some Mexicans struggle to get oxygen amid surge in virus cases

AP — MEXICO CITY The demand for trouble finding a bed, it oxygen as the virus becomes a question of life and On January 1, dozens of people death. Juan José Ledesma, a stood in line with empty oxygen spreads through the Mexico City retiree, got sick tanks in one of Mexico City’s capital of 9 million along with his wife and son. hardest hit boroughs to take residents has driven When his test came back pos- advantage of a city offer of free itive on December 16, he had to oxygen refills for COVID-19 prices up and made stay home — and consult a patients. lines long. private doctor — because the Jorge Infante took his place local hospital had no room. in line at 8am with three tanks “I have been taking medi- he wanted to fill for sick rela- down a street and around a cation prescribed by a private tives. He had learned about the corner, waiting to refill oxygen doctor because what hap- offer, only in its third day, via canisters for relatives suffering pened was we went to a health Facebook. The demand for from COVID-19. The city has center and there was no oxygen as the virus spreads seen a surge in coronavirus room,” Ledesma said. “There through the capital of 9 million infections and the city’s hos- was no room because too residents has driven prices up pitals are 87 percent occupied, many people were coming in” and made lines long. Infante straining oxygen supplies. for treatment. Since then, his said that by getting his three Blanca Nina Méndez Rojas son — who recovered — has tanks filled for free, his family was waiting in line to refill a had to go out three or four would save about $45 per day. tank for her brother, who was times every day to try to refill Iztapalapa, the capital’s recently discharged from a his father’s oxygen tank. A nurse attends to a patient suffering from the coronavirus disease at Hospital General in Ciudad largest borough and one of the public hospital after contracting Iván, an employee of one Juarez, Mexico. on Friday. hardest hit by the pandemic, is COVID-19. “We just left him dis- oxygen refill store, acknowl- a sprawling area of low connected (from oxygen), so he edged that sometimes there least bring some oxygen home acetylene torches, is not as pure the private market is prohibi- resources. “The economic con- has to stay completely reclined were so many people waiting, to their relatives.” as the medical-grade gas. tively expensive for most ditions are not first world,” said so he won’t get agitated or have desperate for gas, that they To top off the problems, city The city government has families. Carlos Morales, Iztapalapa’s a problem, until we return with couldn’t fill all of their canisters officials have done little to started a program to give some Before the pandemic, basic health director. “That means that the tank,” Méndez Rojas said, completely. “There are times combat price hikes that doubled people oxygen canisters or machines started around $900, people are suffering to get tanks.” noting “two weeks ago a refill when we don’t have enough or tripled the price of a refill - but oxygen concentrators, which but prices have since reported Morales said they are trying to fill cost 70 pesos ($3.50), and now oxygen to fill everybody’s tanks they have shut down a black are machines that pull oxygen risen to $1,500 or more. “The about 50 tanks per day. it is 150 pesos ($7.50)”. completely,” he said. market in which producers of from the air and don’t need to prices for concentrators have Elsewhere in the capital, In a city where people are “There are times when we industrial-grade oxygen were be refilled. But there aren’t gone through the roof, there has some residents spent New afraid to go to hospitals, and have to reduce the refill, so that selling canisters for medical use. enough to go around, and been too much profiteering,” Year’s Eve in lines that snaked where those that will go have everybody who is line can at Industrial oxygen, used to operate buying one of the machines on Méndez Rojas said. Maduro plans Appeals court vacates order shift to a fully delaying woman’s execution digitalized AP — WASHINGTON clemency petition. Moss concluded that the under economy A federal appeals court has his order the Bureau of Prisons cleared the way for the only could not even reschedule Mont- BLOOMBERG — CARACAS woman on federal death row to gomery’s execution until at least be executed before President- Jan. 1. But the appeals panel disa- Venezuela’s government is elect Joe Biden takes office. greed. Meaghan VerGow, an planning to move to a fully The ruling, handed down attorney for Montgomery, said digital economy as hyperin- on Friday by a three-judge her legal team would ask for the flation has made worthless panel on the US Court of full appeals court to review the bolivar notes practically dis- Appeals for the District of case and said Montgomery appear, and dollarization Columbia Circuit, concluded should not be executed on expands through the local that a lower court judge erred January 12. financial system. when he vacated Lisa Mont- Montgomery was convicted The US dollar has operated gomery’s execution date in an of killing 23-year-old Bobbie as an escape valve for Vene- order last week. Jo Stinnett in the northwest zuela amid US sanctions and US District Court Judge Missouri town of Skidmore in collapsing oil revenues, Pres- Randolph Moss had ruled the December 2004. She used a ident Nicolas Maduro said in Justice Department unlawfully rope to strangle Stinnett, who a televised interview with rescheduled Montgomery’s was eight months pregnant, Telesur on Friday. He said 18.6 execution and he vacated an and then cut the baby girl from An activist speaks before anti-gun violence march on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. percent of all commercial order from the director of the the womb with a kitchen knife, transactions are in dollars, Bureau of Prisons scheduling authorities said. Montgomery while 77.3 percent are carried her death for January 12. took the child with her and out in bolivars with debit Chicago ends 2020 with over 760 Montgomery had been attempted to pass the girl off as cards. Only 3.4 percent are scheduled to be put to death at her own, prosecutors said. paid with bolivar notes. the Federal Correctional Montgomery’s lawyers have “They have a war against homicides as gun violence rises Complex in Terre Haute, argued that their client suffers our physical currency. We are Indiana, in December, but Moss from serious mental illnesses. moving this year to a more delayed the execution after her Biden opposes the death penalty profound digital economy, in AP — CHICAGO in December 2019. smaller cities, including Grand attorneys contracted virus vis- and his spokesman, TJ Ducklo, expansion. I’ve set the goal of None of these numbers come Rapids, Michigan, and iting their client and asked him has said he would work to end an economy that’s 100 percent The number of homicides and as a surprise, as the year unfolded Rockford, Illinois. Chicago, the to extend the time to file a its use. digital,” Maduro said, adding shootings in Chicago spiked with news reports about violence nation’s third-largest city, saw that physical money will even- dramatically in 2020, ending that often included the word hundreds more homicides than tually disappear. with more bloodshed than in “deadliest,” such as after either New York or Los Angeles. Venezuela’s currency has all but one year in more than Memorial Day weekend, the Law enforcement officials Mexico: Fishermen attack lost 99 percent of its value two decades, statistics released deadliest in five years. Then a few and experts around the US have during three years of hyper- by police on Friday revealed. days later, May 31, ended with pointed to social and economic conservationists, 2 injured inflation, forcing the country After three years of falling more homicides — 18 — than in upheaval caused by the to issue higher-denomination homicide totals, 2020 ended any single day in memory. COVID-19 virus, public sen- AP — MEXICO CITY as the Sea of Cortez, on notes that in turn become with 769 homicides — 274 more Chicago was not alone. timent toward police following Thursday when people on a useless in record time. than the previous year and the During that weekend in par- Floyd’s death and a historic The conservationist group Sea group of about a half dozen The largest note now in most since the 784 homicides ticular, which came after the shortage of jobs and resources Shepherd said that two fish- small, open fishing boats began circulation, 50,000 bolivars, in 2016. death of George Floyd after in poorer communities as con- ermen were injured off Mex- tossing petrol bombs at the is worth about $0.04. The gov- The latest shooting victim being forcibly detained by Min- tributing factors. ico’s Baja California coast when vessel, setting the bow and ernment has delayed plans to figures told the same story, with neapolis police, cities across the According to the Chicago they rammed their small boat another part of the ship afire. issue a 100,000 bolivar bill, the year ending with 4,033 United States witnessed spasms Police Department, 79 officers into a larger vessel used by the The attackers also threw lead which currently would be shooting victims compared of violence. were shot at in 2020, compared group in efforts to protect the net weights at the crew, the worth less than $0.10. with 2,598 the year before. The year ended in Detroit, with 22 who were fired upon endangered vaquita porpoise. group said. After formerly subsidized And it never let up, as is Washington, DC, New York, the year before. The number of Sea Shepherd said its Two of the boat’s occupants fuel prices were increased in illustrated by the fact that in Milwaukee and other cities with officers who were struck by vessel, the Farley Mowat, was were pulled from the water by June, cash is now only used to December, there were 50 hom- more killings than the year bullets doubled from five in pulling illegal gill nets out of the Sea Shepherd crew members ride public transportation, and icides — 19 more than occurred before. The same held true in 2019 to 10 in 2020. waters of the gulf, also known and Mexican marines. the Caracas subway routinely stops charging passengers due to cash shortages. Since late 2019, local banks Alberta Premier not to punish govt officials for pandemic trips have slowly started to offer accounts and financial AP — ALBERTA error by not issuing a clear sweater before a fireplace. fed up as well.” Kenney said he preparedness, left for the United products in US dollars, but directive earlier urging them to Rod Phillips resigned on has now ordered all Cabinet States on December 19 and con- those remain limited as there’s The Premier of Canada’s remain in the country due to the Thursday after being ordered ministers and senior gov- tinued to work while away. He no clearing system in place to western province of Alberta COVID-19 pandemic. home by Ontario Conservative ernment officials not to vacation said he learned of her trip on allow for digital transactions said he will not punish members He said those in public posi- Premier Doug Ford. outside Canada after learning Tuesday and asked her to in US dollars. of his government for vaca- tions should be held to a higher But in Alberta, Kenney of multiple recent trips by party return. Some banks have had tech- tioning outside Canada despite standard in their personal declined to sanction members officials and employees. Kenney said Allard apolo- nical meetings with Venezuela’s government guidelines urging conduct but said he won’t of his party. At least one top “We should be here at gized for her lack in judgment central bank in an attempt to people to avoid nonessential sanction them. health official said he’s had home, plain and simple, if we over the trip abroad. solve the problem amid high travel. Politicians travelling enough. carry a position of public trust,” Kenney also said Jamie scepticism and caution due to Alberta Premier Jason abroad for vacations during “I’m fed up with politicians Kenney said. Huckabay, his chief of staff, US sanctions. But Maduro Kenney said he learned this the pandemic became a big who just don’t care,” said Dr. Opposition parties called for travelled to the United Kingdom vowed to create “payment week of travel abroad by a story in Canada this week after Andrew Morris, a professor of the resignation of Municipal with his family before formats” allowing transactions “few” legislature members, it became known that infectious diseases at the Uni- Affairs Minister Tracy Allard Christmas. using savings and checking senior staff and officials with Ontario’s finance minister versity of Toronto and the after it was reported on After learning of the accounts in US dollars. the United Conservative gov- went to the luxury Caribbean medical director of the Antimi- Thursday that he was in Hawaii COVID-19 variant in the UK, A press official with the ernment, including his island of St. Barts for weeks crobial Stewardship Program over the holidays. Kenney said Huckabay changed his travel Central Bank of Venezuela municipal affairs minister and and seemingly tried to hide the at Sinai-University Health Allard, the legislature member plans and returned to Alberta didn’t immediately respond to his chief of staff. fact by sending social media Network. for Grande Prairie who is also on December 26, the premier a request for comment. Kenney said he made an posts showing him in a “And the public needs to be responsible for emergency said. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 AMERICAS 15 Congress overrides Trump veto of defence bill AP — WASHINGTON The bill affirms a 3 evolving threats to their safety, at home and abroad. It’s our The Congress on Friday percent pay raise chance to ensure we keep pace overrode President Donald for US troops and with competitors like Russia Trump’s veto of a defence policy guides defence and China’’. bill, a first by lawmakers since The Senate override was he took office nearly four years policy, cementing delayed after Senator Bernie ago, ensuring that the measure decisions about troop Sanders, I-Vt., objected to becomes law. levels, new weapons moving ahead until McConnell In an extraordinary session, allowed a vote on the Trump- the Republican-controlled systems and military backed plan to boost COVID-19 Senate easily turned aside the readiness, personnel relief payments to $2,000. veto, dismissing Trump’s objec- McConnell did not allow that tions to the $740bn bill and policy and other vote; instead he used his par- handing him a stinging rebuke military goals. liamentary power to set a vote just weeks before he leaves the limiting debate on the defence White House. measure, overcoming a fili- Trump lashed out on a resounding rebuke to Pres- buster threat by Sanders and Twitter, saying the Senate ident Trump’s reckless assault Senate Democratic leader missed an opportunity to elim- on America’s military and Chuck Schumer of New York. inate protections for social national security’’. Without a bipartisan media platforms that he said Trump’s veto of the National agreement, a vote on the bill give “unlimited power to Big Defence Authorization Act, or could have been delayed. Law- Tech companies. Pathetic!!!’’ NDAA, “would have hurt the makers, however, agreed to an Trump also slammed law- health, financial security and immediate roll call on Friday makers for rejecting his call to safety of our service members, once the filibuster threat was US Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris arrives for a vote on overriding the veto on the National Defence increase COVID-19 relief pay- their families, our veterans and stopped. Trump vetoed the Authorization Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, on Friday. ments to $2,000: “Not fair, or our allies and partners defence measure last week, smart!’’ The 81-13 vote in the worldwide,’’ Pelosi said. saying it failed to limit Twitter Senate on the defence bill fol- “Instead of keeping Americans and other social media com- members and their families the Earlier this week, 130 House defence bill override. Forty lowed an earlier 322-87 safe, the President continues to panies he claimed were biased resources they need, but it also Republicans voted against the Republicans — including the override vote in the House. The use his final moments in office against him during his failed ree- makes our nation more secure - Trump-backed COVID-19 relief entire GOP leadership — voted bill affirms a 3 percent pay raise to sow chaos and undermine lection campaign. Trump also pushing back against China and cheques, with many arguing they for the override, along with 41 for US troops and guides our security.’’ opposed language that allows for Russia (and) strengthening our were unnecessary and would Democrats. Sanders and five defence policy, cementing deci- The defence bill, which now the renaming of military bases cyber defenses.’’ increase the federal budget other liberals who opposed the sions about troop levels, new has the force of law, “looks after that honor Confederate leaders. Trump has succeeded deficit. The Democratic-con- defence bill also voted against weapons systems and military our brave men and women who Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, throughout his four-year term trolled House approved the larger the override. readiness, personnel policy and volunteer to wear the uniform’.’ Chairman of the Senate Armed in enforcing party discipline in payments, but the plan fizzled in Trump has vetoed eight other military goals. said Senate Majority Leader Services Committee and a close Congress, with few Republicans the Senate amid opposition from other bills, but those were all House Speaker Nancy Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “But it’s Trump ally, hailed the override willing to publicly oppose him. McConnell and other Repub- sustained because supporters Pelosi, D-California, said the also a tremendous opportunity: vote. “Today, the Senate sent a The bipartisan overrides on the licans, another sign of Trump’s did not gain the two-thirds vote “sweeping and overwhelm- To direct our national security strong message of support to our defence bill showed the limits fading hold over Congress. needed in each chamber for the ingly bipartisan votes” in the priorities to reflect the resolve troops,’’ Inhofe said. “Not only of Trump’s influence in the final Only seven GOP senators bills to become law without House and Senate “delivered of the American people and the does this bill give our service weeks of his term. voted with Trump to oppose the Trump’s signature. Judge dismisses COVID-19 cases in US surpass 20 million lawsuit against REUTERS — WASHINGTON shots according to priority groups Pence over and birthdays, while welcoming US Senator Mitt Romney urged other ideas from medical profes- electoral count the US government to immedi- sionals. Prioritizing vaccine ately enlist veterinarians, combat recipients is currently being REUTERS — WASHINGTON medics and others in an all-out handled state by state. national campaign to administer With the inauguration of A federal judge on Friday coronavirus vaccinations and Democratic President-elect Joe rejected a lawsuit from a slow a surging rise in COVID-19 Biden set for January 20, Romney Republican congressman that hospitalizations and deaths. has emerged as one of the few sought to allow Vice-President The Utah Republican, who leading members of his party to Mike Pence to reject Electoral ran unsuccessfully for president openly criticize fellow Repub- College votes for Joe Biden as his party’s nominee in 2012, lican President Donald Trump. when Congress meets on called for greater action as the Trump has repeatedly January 6 to certify his victory Trump administration fell far emphasised that he, not Biden, over President Donald Trump. short of its goal of vaccinating deserves credit for the speedy The latest long-shot 20 million Americans with a development of the vaccine, even attempt by Trump’s Repub- first of two required doses by as he has left immunization lican allies to overturn the the end of 2020. efforts largely to state and local November 3 election was dis- As of Friday, the first day of officials to administer with the missed by one of Trump’s own the new year, an estimated 2.8 help of private pharmacies. appointees to the federal million vaccine doses have States and localities only bench, Jeremy Kernodle. He actually been given, mostly to Law enforcement members guard the Oregon Governor’s residence as supporters of US President recently received federal money ruled that US Representative front-line healthcare workers Donald Trump protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Salem, Oregon, US, on Friday. for vaccinations under the latest Louie Gohmert of Texas and a as well as staff and residents of relief passage signed into law slate of Republican electors nursing facilities. “That compre- coronavirus deaths in the world. recent weeks to the arrival of more critical. on Sunday. Romney said the from Arizona could not show hensive vaccination plans have Meanwhile, the tally of colder weather and the failure Romney called for deploying country needs to acknowledge they suffered any personal harm not been developed at the known US infections reached of many Americans to abide by veterinarians, emergency the current vaccination plan “fairly traceable” to Pence’s federal level and sent to the another sober milestone on public health warnings and medical workers and medical “isn’t working” and is “woefully allegedly unlawful conduct and, states as models is as incom- Friday, surpassing 20 million requirements to stay home and students to help deliver vaccina- behind,” and that leaders must therefore, lacked legal standing prehensible as it is inexcusable,” confirmed cases since the start avoid unnecessary travel over tions and set up inoculation find ways to quickly bolster to bring the case. Romney said in a statement. of the pandemic, and the number the year-end holiday season. clinics at sites such as school capacity. “It was unrealistic to The standing requirement The United States has lost of hospitalized COVID-19 The recent emergence of a buildings that are largely empty assume that the healthcare “helps enforce the limited role more than 345,000 lives from patients exceeded 125,000, more transmissible variant of because of the pandemic. workers already overburdened of federal courts in our consti- COVID-19 to date, equal to one setting a daily record once more. the coronavirus in the United He also recommended estab- with COVID care could take on tutional system. The problem in every 950 Americans, and Medical experts attribute States could make a swift lishing a clear order for Amer- a massive vaccination for plaintiffs here is that they ranks 16th in national per capita the worsening pandemic in rollout of immunizations all the icans nationwide to receive their program,” Romney said. lack standing,” Kernodle wrote. Trump has refused to concede defeat to Democrat Biden and has repeatedly Georgia groups push falsely claimed the election was tainted by widespread fraud. He and his allies have for Black voter turnout lost dozens of court efforts seeking to reverse the election THE WASHINGTON POST — ATLANTA an infusion of cash from Dem- results. Biden beat President ocratic donors inside and Donald Trump by a 306-232 In the final days before twin outside of Georgia. margin in the Electoral College runoff elections on Tuesday that Nsé Ufot, the chief executive and is set to be sworn in on will determine the trajectory of of the New Georgia Project, one January 20. Congress for the next two years, of the leading statewide groups Under the Electoral College more than a dozen civic focused on voter registration system, “electoral votes” are engagement groups scattered and engagement, estimates that allotted to states and the District across the state are making an by yesterday, her canvassers of Columbia based on their con- aggressive push to mobilise Black will have knocked on a million gressional representation. voters, whose strong turnout in doors and sent 3 million text Gohmert’s suit argued that November helped Joe Biden win messages. Democrats appear to Pence had discretion to decide the state in the presidential race. be in a slightly better position what votes should count. They They are up against his- than they were at this point also asked the judge to bar torical winds, as Georgia runoffs before the November election, Pence from following the Elec- Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff speaks at a Latino meet and greet and literature distribution typically draw out a whiter pool thanks to Black voters making toral Count Act of 1887, which rally on December 30, 2020 in Marietta, Georgia. of voters than regularly up a larger portion of early lays out how objections to votes scheduled elections and have runoff votes. are handled by Congress. traditionally favored Repub- Republicans have acknowl- aggressive agenda in his first graduation parties to talk about inclination. Their focus is on Some Republicans have said licans. Though most of the edged that both contests are two years. But if even one of the the importance of the election. mobilizing Black voters in the they plan to object to the count groups are officially nonpar- close and that they are working Republicans wins, the GOP And they have targeted immi- Atlanta metro area, as well as of presidential electors next tisan, Black voters overwhelm- harder than in past runoffs to would have a bulwark to Dem- grant communities — people pockets around the state with week in Congress. Reuters ingly support Democrats. re-elect Sen. David Perdue and ocratic control. characterized as low-propensity sizable Black populations, reported this week the effort But the groups — ranging get Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was To court Black voters, who voters who may have been over- including Augusta, Savannah, could trigger a debate in the from well-known outfits such appointed to replace a retiring make up a third of Georgia’s elec- looked in previous elections. Macon, Albany and Columbus. Senate but has virtually no as Black Voters Matter to more senator, elected to a full term. torate and are one of the Demo- Some groups are combining Biden and President Donald chance of overturning the informal clubs — are never- If Democrats Jon Ossoff and cratic Party’s most loyal voting political activity with charity, Trump will appear within hours results. A Justice Department theless trying to match or even Raphael Warnock win, their groups, over a dozen groups are tucking vote-by-mail and early- of each other on Monday, the eve lawyer representing Pence on improve upon Black voter party would control the upper going beyond convention. voting instructions — even a of the election. Vice-President Thursday urged Kernodle to turnout in a set of contests that chamber with Vice-President- They’re hosting pop-up concerts number to call for rides to the Mike Pence has stumped for dismiss the lawsuit saying they will determine which party con- elect Kamala Harris holding the and asking DJs at hip-hop clubs polls — into bags of groceries Loeffler and Perdue half a dozen had sued the wrong person as trols the Senate. Their sprint tie-breaking vote once she is to encourage clubgoers to talk to being given away. Even though times during the runoff, and they raised “a host of weighty comes after years of grass-roots inaugurated. A pair of wins in “voting ambassadors” in VIP millions have already cast Harris will make her second legal issues about the manner organizing on voting in Black Georgia would allow President- booths. Organisers are popping ballots, organizers are going Georgia runoff appearance in in which the electoral votes for communities, and is buoyed by elect Joe Biden to enact a more into Zoom birthday and after people with little political Savannah today. president are to be counted”. SUNDAY 3 JANUARY 2021 16

Sinking land will affect 635 million PRAYER TIMINGS PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING people globally

FAJR 04.58 am IANS — NEW YORK identified an area’s sub- SUNRISE 06.20 am sidence susceptibility based Human activities such as on factors like flooding and DHUHR 11.38 am groundwater removal and groundwater depletion caused ASR 02.37 pm other natural causes are by human activities. MAGHRIB 04.59 pm leading to sinking of the “Notably, the model also Earth’s surface and the revealed that most of the 635 ISHA 06.29 pm phenomenon will affect 635 million inhabitants in sub- million people, mostly in Asia, sistence-susceptible areas are with a total exposed Gross located in Asia, with a total Domestic Product (GDP) of exposed GDP of $9.78 trillion,” $9.78 trillion in the next four the findings showed. years, warn researchers. While the model does not By 2024, 19 percent of the consider existing mitigation world’s population — measures, potentially accounting for 21 percent of resulting in overestimates of A two-seater Cessna aircraft painted with Pakistani truck art is seen at general aviation area at Jinnah the global GDP — will be subsidence exposure, their WEATHER International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, on December 30, 2020. TODAY impacted by subsidence, the results still represent a step sinking of the ground’s forward to effective policies. surface, said the study pub- During the next decades, lished in the journal Science. factors including global pop- Famous truck art in Pakistan goes airborne The results represent “a ulation and economic growth, key first step toward formu- exacerbated by droughts, will REUTERS — KARACHI issues; it a very diverse country our truck art representation; lating effective land-sub- probably increase land sub- and a land of opportunities,” now, with this aircraft, our o o sidence policies that are sidence occurrence and Pakistan’s famous truck art will Imran Aslam Khan, chief oper- colours will fly in the air. We 16 C 23 C lacking in most countries related damages or impacts. move from its highways to the ating officer of Sky Wings, a are really excited,” Haider Ali, Minimum Maximum worldwide,” the authors “Policies that implement skies, as a flying academy is flight training organisation, the artist painting the aircraft, Misty at places at first becomes noted. subsidence modeling in painting a two-seater Cessna said. told Reuters at the academy’s moderate temperature daytime Lead researcher Gerardo exposed areas, constant mon- aircraft with the colourful tech- He also plans to paint other hangar. with scattered clouds, relatively cold by night. Herrera Garcia and his team itoring of high-risk areas, nique. aircraft, with the aim of pro- Trained by his father, Ali, performed a large-scale lit- damage evaluation, and cost- With elaborate and flam- moting tourism in Pakistan.Suc 40, has been decorating trucks W ALRUWAIS : 20o → 22o erature review that revealed effective countermeasures boyant motifs, Pakistani truck h art has become one of since his childhood and is now W ALKHOR : 15o → 23o that during the past century, could help reduce the impacts art has inspired gallery exhibi- Pakistan’s best-known cultural one of the most prominent such W DUKHAN : 14o → 22o land subsidence due to of subsidence where it will hit tions abroad and prompted exports in recent years. Unesco, painters in Pakistan. W WAKRAH : 14o → 24o groundwater depletion hardest — namely, areas with stores in Western cities to sell for example, has been using Ali hopes to paint an Airbus occurred at 200 locations in increased population density, miniatures. truck art, blended with indig- or Boeing aircraft in the future, W MESAIEED : 14o → 24o 34 countries. high groundwater demand, “We want to show the enous themes, to promote girls’ saying an opportunity to work W ABUSAMRA : 13o → 23o The team developed a and irrigated areas suffering world that Pakistan is not all education in a northwestern on such gargantuan planes model by combining spatial water stress,” the authors about Financial Action Task Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. would truly be a learning and statistical analyses that elaborated. Force (FATF) and terrorism “The world is familiar with experience. HIGH TIDE 07:20 – 18:19 LOW TIDE 00:55 – 15:14 Theatres look to Bond, Black Widow to spark 2021 moviegoing

REUTERS — LOS ANGELES “I think we’ll see a lot of yanked from the 2020 schedule. short of a normal action movie B&B Theatres, which improvements throughout 2021, James Bond thriller “No debut, ticket sales for the movie operates in nine states, sold out WhatsApp users Movie theatre operators, after but I do think it will take some Time to Die,” from MGM and from AT&T Inc’s Warner Bros. some of its “Wonder Woman a year of dismal ticket sales time to get there,” said Shawn Comcast Corp’s Universal Pic- came in higher than expected, 1984” showtimes on Christmas globally made during the pandemic, are Robbins, chief analyst with Box- tures, is scheduled for April. even though US audiences Day, executives said. But they hoping a lineup of superheroes, OfficePro.com. “It won’t be an “Black Widow,” from Walt could stream the film at home offered only 25 percent to 50 1.4 billion calls fighter pilots and cinema’s most overnight return to normal by Disney Co’s Marvel Studios, and on HBO Max. percent of seats, depending on famous spy will help them stage any means.” Universal’s new “Fast & Warner Bros plans the same the state, to ensure social on December 31 a comeback in 2021. The timing of any rebound Furious” installment are set for dual-release strategy in 2021 for distancing. Roughly two-thirds of the- is uncertain, as debut dates May. 17 films, including a “Dune” “We’re seeing week after IANS — SAN FRANCISCO atres remain shut in the United could change. Hollywood exec- Anticipated summer movies remake and “Godzilla vs Kong.” week our attendance go up,” States and Canada, normally the utives have repeatedly shuffled include “Top Gun: Maverick” The performance of said executive vice president WhatsApp users globally made world’s largest film market. Box their schedules as they try to from ViacomCBS Inc’s Para- “Wonder Woman 1984” dem- Bobbie Bagby Ford. But she more than 1.4 billion voice and office receipts in 2020 plunged judge when the pandemic will mount Pictures, Universal’s ani- onstrated an appetite for the big added she did not expect the video calls on New Year’s Eve, 80 percent from a year earlier. fade. Initial excitement over mated “Minions: The Rise of screen, B. Riley analyst Eric industry to hit “any semblance the most ever calls in a single But theatre owners and vaccines has been tempered by Gru,” and Marvel’s “Shang-Chi Wold said in a research note. of normal” until vaccinations day on the platform, Facebook industry analysts see reason for slow distribution. And audi- and the Legend of the Ten “This helps support the expand and attendance limits said. optimism as COVID-19 vaccines ences will have more choices Rings.” thesis that when consumers are can be lifted. As COVID-19 made roll out and James Bond, Black to stream at home. The theatre business was allowed back to theaters with “It’s probably going to be the meeting with friends and Widow and other heroes star in Currently, studios plan to buoyed by the turnout for attractive content, they will holidays of 2021 before I see us family tough, WhatsApp new blockbusters set to begin send theatres a heavy lineup of “Wonder Woman 1984” over once again become mov- back to full swing,” Bagby Ford calling on New Year’s Eve lighting up screens in the spring. big-budget movies that were the Christmas holiday. While far iegoers,” said Wold. added. 2020 increased over 50 percent compared to the same day last year, the company said. Claude Bolling, popular jazz & Video calling became arguably the most in-demand classical musician, dead at 90 feature in 2020 as people turned to technology to stay AP — NEW YORK decades would perform with in touch and get things done everyone from Lionel Hampton in the face of social distancing Claude Bolling, the French to Yo-Yo Ma. He arranged and stay-at-home pianist, composer and arranger music for Brigitte Bardot and mandates. who attained a worldwide Juliette Greco among others, “Before COVID-19, New following through his melodic wrote soundtracks for hun- Year’s Eve generated Face- blend of jazz and classical dreds of French film and tele- book’s biggest spikes in mes- influences and stayed on the vision productions and his saging, photo uploads and Billboard classical charts for compositions could be heard social sharing at midnight more than a decade with his on such American releases as across the world. However, in 1975 album “Suite for Flute and “The Holiday” and “Joker.” March 2020, the early days of Jazz Piano,” has died. Bolling’s three Grammy the pandemic produced traffic Bolling’s representatives nominations included one for spikes that would dwarf New announced on his website that best chamber music for “Suite Year’s Eve several times over he died on Tuesday in Garches, for Flute and Jazz Piano,” a col- — and it lasted for months,” France, at age 90. A cause of laboration with flutist Jean- Caitlin Banford, Technical Pro- death was not provided. Pierre Rampal which featured gramme Manager at Facebook, A lifelong admirer of Duke the playful “Baroque and Blue” said in a statement. Ellington, the Cannes native and the more reflective “This year, New Year’s Eve was a professional musician by “Irlandaise” and sold more than looked a lot different, and we his teens and over the following 1 million copies. had engineering teams across Facebook’s apps, ready to support any issue, so the world Study of coronavirus screening at could ring in 2021.” Spot and Atlas robots dance during a year-end video by the robotics company Boston Dynamics. People celebrated with concert reports zero infections effects in Messenger, and the top AR (augmented reality) AP — BARCELONA concert hall. The other 500 effect in the US was “2020 Boston Dynamics’ dancing androids a hit were sent home and used as a Fireworks.” The organisers of an indoor control group. Facebook said that New AP — WALTHAM designed for warehouse work. robots’ moves and the tech- music festival in Barcelona to All participants were called Year’s Eve 2020 was the Boston Dynamics is nology powering them. Others test the effectiveness of back to take a second test eight biggest day ever for Mes- Boston Dynamics released a infamous for its scary robot appeared to be a little freaked same-day coronavirus days later. The results showed senger group video calls (3+ video showing four of its robots videos, but this one is clearly a out by their dexterity. screening said that preliminary zero infections among the 463 people) in the US, with nearly dancing to the 1962 hit “Do You playful attempt to close the “Slightly creepy, I have to results indicate there was zero concertgoers who complied 2X more group video calls on Love Me?” by The Contours, books on 2020. admit,” tweeted Carl Bildt, a transmission inside the venue. with the second round of testing, the day compared to the and it caught fire online. “Our whole crew got Swedish diplomat who co- The results were released while the control group of 496 average day. Two of the company’s together to celebrate the start chairs the European Council on over two weeks since 1,000 people who did not get into the There were more than 55 humanoid Atlas models do the of what we hope will be a Foreign Relations. music fans volunteered to take concert had two positive cases. million live broadcasts across twist, the mashed potato and happier year,” the Waltham, “Do you love me? Not when part in the experiment. After The concertgoers were Facebook and Instagram glo- other classic moves, joined by Massachusetts, company says you come to annihilate us,” passing an antigen test on site, obliged to wear masks inside bally on New Year’s Eve, the Spot, a doglike robot, and in the caption. tweeted Jan Nicolas, a around 500 people were ran- the concert, but dancing and company said. Handle, a wheeled robot Thousands applauded the photographer. domly selected to enter the singing were allowed.