THE WORDS THAT ARE THE WISDOM OF A. A. MILNE IN AND OUT WITH THE FEBRUARY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION 26 - 28, 2021 GOVT. ISSUES GAZETTE VOL: 4- ISSUE 236 NOTICE PERMITTING BURIAL . IMPLICATIONS OF 30 OF COVID-19 VICTIMS IMRAN KHAN’S VISIT GLOCAL PAGE 03 RETHINKING AMERICA PAGE 06 COMMENTARY PAGE 07 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 09 Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/130/News/2021 Worldwide coronavirus deaths top 2.5 million PARIS - COVID-19 has killed more than 2.5 million people worldwide since the pandemic began in December 2019, ac- cording to an AFP count based on official figures at 1730 GMT Thursday (25). In total, 2,500,172 deaths and 112,618,488 cases have been reported. With 842,894 deaths, Europe is the hardest-hit region, followed by Latin America and the Carib- bean (667,972 deaths) and the US and Canada (528,039). Almost half of the fatalities have occurred in just five coun- tries: the US (506,232), Brazil (249,957), Mexico (182,815), India (156,705) and Britain (122,070). These figures are based on daily tolls provided by health au- thorities in each country and exclude later re-evaluations by statistical organizations, as has happened in Russia, Spain and Britain. The world passed one million reported coronavirus deaths on September 28, a little over nine months after the first death was recorded in China in January 2020. It took just four more months, until January 15, to reach two million deaths. But the pace of deaths has slowed since late January this year, with 66,800 last week or an average of 9,500 per day - well below the deadliest week of January 20 to 26, when 101,400 deaths or 14,500 per day were registered. The present daily figure is similar to that seen in early No- vember. Over the past week, more than one-third of global deaths have come in Europe's 52 countries and territories, al- though the figure has fallen 14% compared with the previous week, to around 3,400 per day. Other continents have also seen falling death rates, with the US and Canada dropping 23%, to 2,150 per day, falling faster than Europe and Africa, which shed 13% to 378 per day. Latin America and the Caribbean's rate fell 7%, to 2,720 daily deaths. -AFP Armenian premier accuses military of coup attempt YEREVAN/MOSCOW - In the midst of a domestic political crisis, the Armenian military has demanded the resignation of -SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who in turn accused the gen- A polar bear named Sessi and its cub, Kara, in their enclosure at the Zoological and Botanical park in Mulhouse, eastern France, on Thursday (25). The polar bear cub, who erals of attempting a military coup. makes its first steps outside, was born in November 2020 "It is the clear conviction and stance of the generals and officers, with one purpose – to serve for the salvation of our homeland at this critical moment," the Armenian Armed Forc- es said in a statement cited by news agency Armenpress. "The prime minister and the government are no longer able India, Pakistan agree to stop cross-border to make reasonable decisions," the military said in an earlier statement. Pashinyan spoke on Facebook however of an "attempt at a military coup" and immediately announced the dismissal of firing in Kashmir the head of the armed forces' general staff, Onik Gasparyan. Pashinyan called on his supporters to gather in the capital ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and In- to resolve potential misunderstand- between Yusuf and his Indian coun- Pakistan responded with an air- of the South Caucasus republic, Yerevan, on Republic Square. dia on Thursday (25) reaffirmed ings. “This is a victory of diplomacy terpart, Ajit Doval, had taken place strike in the Indian side of Kashmir. The military representatives noted in their statements that their commitment to a cease-fire and, God willing, more avenues will in a third country to advance the ef- While those were the most notable Pashinyan had recently dismissed the deputy chief of general along the troubled border between open in the future,” Moeed Yusuf, forts to reduce tensions. episodes of violence in recent years staff. Pashinyan has been under extreme pressure since the the two countries in the disputed Pakistan’s de facto national security Yusuf, without addressing the ex- between the two nations, which end of fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Kashmir, after a year of adviser, said in a brief statement to act nature of the discussions, con- have faced off in multiple wars, more than three months ago because the opposition holds him bloody skirmishes. The move was The New York Times. firmed the talks. smaller deadly skirmishes have fre- personally responsible for the defeat to Azerbaijan. welcomed in both countries for An Indian official with knowledge “These things happen behind the quently broken out along the bor- Most recently, tens of thousands of people called for his lowering tensions in the tinderbox of the developments, who asked for scenes — it takes a lot of effort,” he der despite a cease-fire agreement resignation in new protests, which Pashinyan has repeatedly region. anonymity to comment because he said. in 2003. Last year saw the highest refused to accept. According to the Interfax agency, Kremlin A joint statement released by the was not authorized to speak to the Tensions have been particularly number of violations, with about spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the situation militaries of the two countries said news media, said that back-channel high between India and Pakistan 5,000 incidents recorded. in Armenia was being observed "with concern." that top officials from both sides meetings between the two sides in since airstrikes in 2019. The increasing trouble along the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a press had agreed to a strict observance neutral locations had intensified In retaliation for an attack on In- border with Pakistan was threaten- conference with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in of the truce along the Line of Con- over the past month and had led to dian forces in the Indian-controlled ing to bog down India in a two-front Budapest that his country "strongly condemns the coup at- trol, as the disputed stretch of the the renewed commitment. part of Kashmir, India blamed mili- war, as tensions were also mounting tempt in Armenia." frontier is called, and to continue Indian news media reported that tants in Pakistan and carried out along the border with China. -dpa communicating through a hotline at least one face-to-face meeting aerial bombings across the border. -NYT US says Khashoggi report will help UN votes on vaccine equity resolution Manhattan DA now has Trump’s UNITED NATIONS - The UN Se- doses from developed economies bring ‘accountability' curity Council was voting Thursday and all those in a position to do so to tax returns WASHINGTON - The upcom- "will review the entirety of that (25) on a resolution on improving low- and middle-income countries ing release of intelligence on the relationship to make sure that the availability of COVID-19 vac- and other countries in need." NEW YORK — Tax and financial statement reacting to the Supreme killing of Saudi journalist Jamal it advances the interests of the cines in conflict-wracked or impov- It also "calls for the strengthen- records that former President Don- Court decision, he again called the Khashoggi will be a step toward American people and to ensure erished countries, diplomats said. ing of national and multilateral ap- ald Trump fought to keep secret for investigation a “fishing expedition” ensuring accountability, Presi- that it reflects the values." The draft obtained by AFP stress- proaches and international coopera- nearly 18 months have been turned and vowed to “fight on.” dent Joe Biden's administration The report's imminent re- es "the urgent need for solidarity, tion… in order to facilitate equitable over to the Manhattan District At- Prosecutors have begun combing said Thursday (25). lease is a sharp departure from equity, and efficacy" in fighting the and affordable access to COVID-19 torney’s Office, which is investigat- through millions of pages of esoter- The United States is planning the policies of former president pandemic in countries with limited vaccines in armed conflict situations, ing possible fraud by Trump and ic financial documents. In addition, shortly to declassify intelligence Donald Trump, who hailed his access to vaccines. post-conflict situations and complex his company, an official said. an outside consulting firm is scru- findings into the grisly October close friendship with Saudi Ara- The vote, requested by Britain, is humanitarian emergencies." The voluminous records, includ- tinizing commercial real estate and 2018 murder inside the Saudi bia and whose son-in-law and being carried out in writing over 24 The UN says some 160 million ing eight years of personal tax re- tax strategies. The office has also consulate in Istanbul of the US- adviser, Jared Kushner, became hours because of pandemic restric- people live in such conditions. turns, were handed over to pros- enlisted the help of a former fed- based journalist, who had writ- texting friends with Prince Mo- tions on council meetings. The result If passed this will be the council's ecutors Monday (22), the same day eral prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, ten critically about Crown Prince hammed. Ahead of the memo's will be known Friday (26), diplomats second resolution on the pandemic. that the Supreme Court rejected who has significant experience with Mohammed bin Salman.