The Life News USA. Jan 16, 2021 by The Life News

Vol. 02 Issue 06 Jan 16, 2021

thelifenews.com.au, thelifenews.co

COVID-19 deaths top 2 million worldwide

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Worldwide passings from COVID-19 outperformed 2 million Friday as the United States keeps on confronting a flood in new cases and passings, as indicated by information from Johns Hopkins University. The authority passing tally incorporates just affirmed passings, and specialists state the real cost could be a lot higher. New cases and passings in the United States on Thursday were practically indistinguishable from the high figures that were recorded a day sooner. There were 235,300 new cases cross country on Thursday, as per researchers following the pandemic at the exploration college - an expansion of around 5,000 cases over Wednesday. There were likewise an extra 3,900 Covid passings in the United States on Thursday, the information show - nearly a similar number revealed the earlier day. In the previous three days alone, there have been 12,500 COVID-19 passings from one side of the country to the other. Since the beginning

of 2021, in excess of 50,000 patients have passed on in the United States. Since the start of the

pandemic a year back, there have been 23.4 million Covid cases and around 390,650 related passings. President-elect Joe Biden was required to develop his arrangement Friday to more readily circulate the immunizations. The public exertion under the Trump organization, Operation Warp Speed, has been censured as chaotic and excessively moderate. Active Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in December the organization’s objective was to inoculate 20 million Americans before the finish of 2020. Just about a portion of that figure has been accomplished fourteen days into 2021. Until now, the public authority has conveyed in excess of 30 million dosages of COVID-19 immunization and medical care suppliers have offered the underlying chance to 11.2 million individuals in the United States, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biden said Thursday night that his organization intends to achieve 100 million immunizations by the 100th day of his administration, which is the finish of April.

Grave of a child, pet dog discovered in France TL Bureau, Paris

French archaeologists said Thursday they found the grave of a little youngster with what gives off an impression of being a pet canine dating to the Roman guideline of the area around 2,000 years prior. The analysts said they found the entombment site during a burrow at the Clermont-Ferrand Airport in focal France. They accept the kid was about a year old and covered with creature contributions alongside the remaining parts of the pet canine inside a casket. The final resting place was found in a 6-by-3-foot grave. It was encircled by 20 articles, including earthenware jars, glass pots, a large portion of a pig, three hams and

other pork cuts alongside two headless chickens. “The graves of youthful GalloRoman youngsters are regularly situated external the local area

memorial service home and once in a while even covered close to the family home,” an assertion from France’s National Institute of Preventive Archeological

Research said. “These little children seldom profit by a similar memorial service rehearses as their seniors, who around then were for the most part incinerated. “The furniture that goes with the expired of Aulnat is very remarkable, both regarding its amount and quality. Such an abundance of dishes and butchery things, just as the individual possessions that followed the youngster to his grave, underline the advantaged rank to which his family had a place,” the establishment said. The revelation is essential for a burrow that covers 7.4 sections of land where various items from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages have been found. Scientists are directing trial of dish sets and compartments to realize what they may have held.

he Trump organization forced new authorizes against Chinese firms and military over its “foolish and aggressive activities” in the South China Sea just as named nine organizations including Xiaomi as military controlled and added an administration oil organization to its Entity List. The Departments of Commerce, State and Defense independently reported activities focusing on the People’s Republic of China on Thursday, moves that are relied upon to additional fight an all around loaded connection among Washington and Beijing long before the Biden organization expects power. The Commerce Department said it has added China National Offshore Oil Corporation to its import-trade Entity list over its contentious activities in the South China Sea. “CNOOC goes about as a harasser for the People’s Liberation Army to threaten China’s neighbors, and the Chinese military keeps on profiting by government common military combination strategies for censure purposes,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in an assertion. China lays clearing cases toward the East China Sea through its supposed Nine-Dash-Line maps, starting questions with neighboring nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam, yet the United States has stood up against China’s infringement, blaming it for building counterfeit islands since 2013 to use as military stations to sabotage the sway of its neighbors. In July, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared the United States dismisses the majority of China’s oceanic cases toward the South China Sea, featuring the United Nations’ 2016 decision that said the Nine-Dash-Line guarantee has no grounds. On Thursday, Pompeo said in an explanation that CNOOC

U.S. blacklists Chinese firms, on South China Sea

was added to the Entity List for its job in China’s “mission of compulsion” against different countries who guarantee proprietorship to an expected $2.5 trillion in oil situated in the East China Sea. Pompeo blamed China for weaponizing CNOOC to authorize its Nine-DashLine strategy just as of sending fishing and energy review vessels accompanied by military boats into the waters of its neighbors “to bother petitioner state oil and gas improvement in regions where it has neglected to advance an intelligent, legal sea guarantee.” Chiefs of state-possessed firms and authorities of the Chinese Communist Party and the Asian country’s naval force were endorsed with visa limitations by the State Department on Thursday for being answerable for or complicit in “either the huge scope recovery, development or militarization of contested stations in the South China Sea, or the PRC’s utilization of compulsion against Southeast Asian petitioners to hinder their admittance to seaward assets.” Independently, the Defense Department archived nine organizations including cell phone producer Xiaomi and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China on Thursday by adding them to a rundown of firms it says have connections to the People’s Liberation Army. President Donald Trump marked a chief request in November of a year ago that prohibits Americans from putting resources into the organizations and gives the individuals who have until

November of this current year to strip. The Pentagon said in an explanation that it “is resolved to feature and counter the People’s Republic of China’s MilitaryCivil Fusion improvement system, which underpins the modernization objectives of the People’s Liberation Army by guaranteeing its admittance to trend setting innovations and aptitude procured and created by even those PRC organizations, colleges and exploration programs that have all the earmarks of being regular citizen substances.” Ross said he added Skyrizon, a Chinese aeronautics firm, to the Commerce’s own Military End-User List over its “push to obtain and indigenize unfamiliar military innovations that represent a critical danger to U.S. public security and international strategy interests.” “China’s crazy and hostile activities in the South China Sea and its forceful push to obtain touchy licensed innovation and innovation for

editorial

its militarization endeavors are a danger to U.S. public security and the security of the global local area,” he said. China presently can’t seem to remark on the moves yet it has recently denounced comparable corrective activities by the United States, which has forced authorizations focusing on the Asian country over its denials of basic freedoms submitted against its Muslim minority populace in Xinjiang district and dissidents in Hong Kong. On Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection declared it will keep all cotton and tomato items created in Xinjiang because of the utilization of constrained work. Zhao Lijian, a China unfamiliar service representative, called the allegation of constrained work “the greatest lie of the century” intended to confine Chinese organizations and contain the country’s turn of events. “The United States should regard essential realities, promptly pull out its incorrect choice and quit meddling in China’s interior issues while accepting Xinjiang as a reason,” he told journalists Thursday during a standard press preparation. “China will take all basic measures to maintain public interests and respect, and defend power, security and advancement interests.”

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world

United States and Morocco Sign Travel from South American destinations, Cultural Property Agreement Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde banned

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Today, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco David T. Fischer and Morocco’s Minister of Culture Othmane El Ferdaous signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding that protects Moroccan cultural property. This agreement is an example of the United States’ enduring work with Morocco to combat cultural property trafficking and to preserve heritage items by allowing the U.S. to establish import restrictions on certain categories of Morocco’s cultural property. The agreement also gives U.S. law enforcement the ability to repatriate trafficked cultural objects back to Morocco while fostering the interchange of Moroccan cultural heritage with U.S. institutions. The United States has been unwavering in its commitment to protect and preserve cultural heritage around the world and to restrict trafficking in cultural property, which is often used to fund terrorist and criminal networks.  This cultural property agreement with Morocco was negotiated by the State Department under the U.S. law implementing the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The United States has cultural property agreements with countries around the world, as well as emergency import restrictions on cultural property from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

President of South Sudan offers mediation to solve the difference between Khartoum and Addis Ababa TL Bureau, Khartoum

President of South Sudan General Salva Kiir Mayardit today made a telephone call with Sudan’s President of the Sovereignty Council Gen. Abdulfattah AlBurhan. it was reported here today. During the conversation, the two sides discussed the incidents along the Sudanese Ethiopian border, with President Mayardit offering mediation to contain the crisis between Khartoum and Addis Ababa.

BahrainUS Military Cooperation Discussed TL Bureau, Manama

Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa received here today Chief of U.S. Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday. The two sides reviewed the BahrainUS joint military cooperation and coordination.

to prevent spread of new variant

TL Bureau, London

Entry to the UK banned for passengers arriving from destinations across South (and Central) America, Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde from Friday 15 January at 4am British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK who arrive after 4am and have travelled from or transited through these destinations in the last 10 days will have to selfisolate immediately along with their household move is in response to new evidence

Aruba, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, Chile, Qatar, Madeira and the Azores removed from travel corridor list

TL Bureau, London

Aruba, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, and Qatar have been removed from list of travel corridors for England from 4am on 16 January 2021, following data showing a significant increase in confirmed cases we will also be removing Chile, Madeira and the Azores from the travel corridor list for the UK from 4am on 15 January 2021, due to their strong travel links with Brazil there will be no additions to the list of travel corridors

People returning to the UK from these locations will need to selfisolate for 10 days.

travellers are urged to check the latest advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) before travelling and will be required to fill in a passenger locator form before returning home

Pakistan, Azerbaijan Agree to Enhance Cooperation in Defence, Trade TL Bureau, Islamabad Pakistan and Azerbaijan Thursday discussed measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in multiple spheres including defence, trade and commerce besides agreeing to increase land and aerial linkages. The bilateral ties were discussed during talks between the two

countries at the foreign ministry as part of the visit of Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Jeyhun Bayramov led their respective sides during the talks which also focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in fields of education, culture and technology.

Prime Minister releases supplementary mandate letters for ministers

TL Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario

The global COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious public health crisis Canada has ever faced. It has had devastating impacts on the lives and livelihoods of Canadians, and has exposed fundamental gaps in our society. The Government of Canada will keep doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to have people’s backs during this difficult time. We will continue to support families and protect Canadians’ health and jobs as we work to build a stronger, more resilient country.

To continue to support Canadians through the pandemic and build a healthier, cleaner, and fairer Canada, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today released supplementary mandate letters for Cabinet ministers. The supplementary mandate letters outline the government’s continued plan to address the challenges of today and prepare for the opportunities of the future. They reaffirm our top priorities, to keep Canadians safe and healthy and help people and businesses pay their bills through this continued

crisis. They also outline our bold approach to build back better, which includes creating over one million new jobs, taking action to fight climate change, and ensuring everyone has an equal and fair chance at success. Since 2015, the Prime Minister has publicly released ministerial mandate letters to remain open, transparent, and accountable to Canadians. As we continue to battle this crisis, the government will deliver real results for all Canadians and take action to ensure everyone has the support they need.

New travel restrictions from 4am Friday 15 January on passengers arriving in the UK from South American destinations, Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde.

highlighting the likely spread of a new coronavirus variant in South

America and to countries with strong travel links with Brazil

TL Bureau, Brussels

particularly in the field of border management and related security and justice issues. EUBAM Libya, a civilian Mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy, was launched on 22 May 2013. It is tasked with contributing to the Libyan authorities’ efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks involved in smuggling of migrants, human trafficking and terrorism. The mission coordinates and implements projects with international partners in the fields of border management, law enforcement and criminal justice. Today’s decision was taken by the Political and Security Committee.

EUBAM Libya: new Head of Mission appointed

Today, Natalina Cea was appointed Head of Mission of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya. She will take up her duties on 1 February 2021 succeeding Vincenzo Tagliaferri, who has been Head of Mission since 1 September 2016. Natalina Cea is an Italian civil servant who has worked at a senior level for more than 20 years, both in Italy – as Director of the International Cooperation and Technical Assistance Office of the Italian Customs Administration – and internationally, leading missions, programs and projects in the civilian security sector,

U.S. Coast Guard Operation Southern Cross Builds Multilateral Cooperation to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the South Atlantic

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

The Department of State is proud to support the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Operation Southern Cross as part of our efforts to build regional maritime security partnerships and counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the South Atlantic. The multi-month inaugural deployment of the new USCG Legend-class National Security Cutter, the Stone (WMSL 758), will strengthen cooperation and enhance security throughout the region. In Guyana on January 9, the USCG Cutter Stone and the Guyanese Defense Force Coast Guard engaged in a series of cooperative exercises that support combatting IUU fishing, the first such operations conducted in conjunction with a new shiprider agreement ratified in 2020. The USCG Cutter Stone will

next partner with the Brazilian Navy on joint patrols, making port calls in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. The Stone will also visit Montevideo, Uruguay, the first visit of a U.S. Coast Guard ship in over a decade. For its southernmost stop, the Stone will visit Mar del Plata, Argentina for a ceremonial welcome by the Coast Guard’s sister service, the Argentine Naval Prefecture before the cutter returns home. An observer from the Portuguese navy is embarked on the Stone, supporting its crew and the Operation daily. While underway, the USCG Cutter Stone will also perform the full range of USCG statutory missions as circumstances warrant. The Stone crew has already interdicted one go-fast vessel in the Caribbean, seizing over 900 kilograms of cocaine on January 7 south of the Dominican Republic.

4 Statement on US decision to place Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism TL Bureau, Oslo

‘The Trump administration’s decision to include Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List is regrettable. Placing Cuba on the list will make it difficult to normalise relations between the US and Cuba, and will impede efforts to promote positive change and development in Cuba,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide.

Henrik Haapajärvi to continue as State Secretary to the Prime Minister TL Bureau, Helsinki

On Thursday 14 January, the Government appointed Henrik Haapajärvi to serve as State Secretary to Prime Minister Sanna Marin from 18 January 2021 onwards. The State Secretary’s term ends with that of the minister. Haapajärvi has been deputising for State Secretary Mikko Koskinen during his parental leave period from 17 September 2020 to 17 January 2021.

Norway steps up support to UN’s peacebuilding efforts TL Bureau, Oslo

‘Ending conflicts and building sustainable peace requires a combination of efforts. Norway will continue to play an active role in the Peacebuilding Commission and we have disbursed the first part of our contribution of NOK 500 million over five years to the Peacebuilding Fund,’ says Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide

world

Certain amendments to the ban on entry from the UK and Denmark

TL Bureau, Stockholm

The aim of the powerful measures introduced in December is to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus and its new variants so that fewer people become infected. Among these measures is the general ban on entry from Denmark and the UK. However, it is important that children are not unduly affected as a result of this ban, which could happen if they and one of their parents live in Denmark or the UK or are there for some other reason. The Government is consequently introducing an

The Government decided today on certain amendments to the ban on entry into Sweden from the United Kingdom and Denmark. The amendments have been made to enable children and parents to spend time together and to facilitate certain medical transport services from Denmark. In addition, the time-limited ordinance will be extended until 31 January 2021.

exemption to the entry ban so that children travelling to be with a parent who lives in Sweden or on Bornholm, and

Dogs and drones to the rescue

the person accompanying the child on such trips, can enter the country. In addition, people who are the subject of, or involved

10th Anniversary of the Revolution in Tunisia TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

TL Bureau, The Hague Dogs and drones work side by side during disaster relief operations and exercises. During an emergency response exercise jointly organised by NATO and Serbia, a search and rescue dog from the Greek military worked alongside a Spanish military drone team to locate survivors in an abandoned factory. NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre

(EADRCC) conducts annual large-scale field exercises with realistic scenarios to improve the interaction between NATO and partner countries. Exercise Srbija 2018 was jointly organised by the EADRCC and the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia and it involved 2,000 personnel from almost 40 NATO Allies and partner countries and several international organisations such as the European Union and the Red Cross

in, medical transport services, from Denmark are also exempt from the ban. “Even during a pandemic, it’s very important that children are able to spend time with both their parents. That’s why the Government has introduced this exemption. We’re also ensuring that medical transport services are not affected at a time when the health care system is already struggling,” says Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg. The revised ban on entry from the UK and Denmark will enter into force on Saturday 16 January and apply until 31 January.

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the Tunisian people on the 10th anniversary of Tunisia’s revolution. Our partnership is strong, dating back centuries to the 1797 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between our two countries. The United States views Tunisia as a partner of choice, our relationship grounded in our shared commitment to democratic values and the promotion of economic prosperity for our peoples. We are proud to have stood by the Tunisian people in the last decade as they became an example of an inclusive democracy, one where the rights of women and minorities and freedom of speech and association are

constitutionally respected. That Tunisia received the Nobel Peace Prize for dialogue and peace is a testimony to the true character of the Tunisian people. Since the start of the revolution, U.S.-supported projects have created thousands of jobs, opened new markets to Tunisian goods, educated and registered voters, and invested in Tunisia’s people. Together, we face global challenges and stand strong against the threat of terrorism. Looking forward, we remain committed to standing by the Tunisian people to create jobs, engage the private sector, and strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law . We look forward to preserving the gains made over the last ten years and to working together to foster economic prosperity across Tunisia.

United States – Georgia Memorandum of Understanding on 5G Security

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

The following memorandum of understanding was adopted by the Governments of the United States of America and Georgia on January 14, 2021. Taking into account that secure fifth-generation wireless communications networks (5G) will be vital to both future prosperity and national security,

the United States and Georgia declare their desire to strengthen cooperation on 5G. 5G will enable a vast array of new applications, including the provision of critical services to the public, which will benefit our citizens and our economies. Increased amounts of data on 5G networks will further interconnect the economies of the world, including the United States and Georgia, and

facilitate cross-border services and commerce. Protecting these next-generation communications networks from disruption or manipulation and ensuring the privacy and individual liberties of the citizens of the United States, Georgia, and other countries is of vital importance.Therefore, the United States and Georgia emphasize the Chairman’s statement from the Prague 5G

Security Conference—the “Prague Proposals”—as an important step toward developing a common approach to 5G network security, and ensuring a secure, resilient, and trustworthy 5G ecosystem. The Prague Proposals emphasize the need to develop, deploy, and commercialize 5G networks based on the foundation of free and fair competition, transparency, and the rule of law.

USA

U.S. Department of State and National Park Service Partner to Strengthen Fulbright Exchanges and Increase Global Environmental Awareness

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), the National Park Service (NPS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB), are pleased to announce the establishment of the Fulbright-National Parks Partnership. The Fulbright

Program and the National Park Service will combine efforts, resources, and ideas, to increase environmental and cultural awareness worldwide through Fulbright exchanges. Today’s virtual signing ceremony to establish the Fulbright-National Parks Partnership was the inaugural event of the Fulbright Program’s 75th anniversary year. The MOU establishing the Fulbright-

United States-Eswatini Declaration on 5G Security

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

The following joint declaration was issued by the Governments of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Eswatini on January 15, 2021. Taking into account that secure fifthgeneration wireless communications networks (5G) will be vital to both future prosperity and national security, the United States and Eswatini declare their desire to strengthen cooperation on 5G. 5G will enable a vast array of new applications, including the provision of critical services to the public, which will benefit our citizens and our economies. Increased amounts of data on 5G networks will further interconnect the economies of the world, including the United States and Eswatini, and facilitate cross-border services and commerce. Protecting these next-generation communications networks from disruption or manipulation and ensuring the privacy and individual liberties of the citizens of the United States and Eswatini are vital to ensuring that our citizens are able to take advantage of

the tremendous economic opportunities 5G will enable. Therefore, the United States and Eswatini recognize the Chairman’s statement from the Prague 5G Security Conference—the “Prague Proposals” — as an important step toward developing a common approach to 5G network security, and ensuring a secure, resilient, and trustworthy 5G ecosystem. The Prague Proposals emphasize the need to develop, deploy, and commercialize 5G networks based on the foundation of free and fair competition, transparency, and the rule of law. The United States and Eswatini emphasize the importance of encouraging the participation of reliable and trustworthy network hardware and software suppliers in 5G markets, taking into account risk profile assessments, and promoting frameworks that effectively protect 5G networks from unauthorized access or interference. The United States and Eswatini further recognize that 5G suppliers should provide products and services that enable innovation and promote efficiency.

National Parks Partnership was signed by Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, Counsellor to the Secretary of the Interior exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director Margaret Everson, and Fulbright Board Chair Paul Winfree. At its core, the new partnership will strengthen and deepen linkages between the Fulbright

Program and the National Park Service, and encourage new collaboration. The partners have also identified additional opportunities for Fulbright Program participants to study and gain professional experience within U.S. national parks and for U.S. National Park rangers to explore national parks systems around the world to advance NPS protection and conservation efforts at home.

U.S. Coast Guard Operation Southern Cross Builds Multilateral Cooperation to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the South Atlantic

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

for a ceremonial welcome by the Coast Guard’s sister service, the Argentine Naval Prefecture before the cutter returns home. An observer from the Portuguese navy is embarked on the Stone, supporting its crew and the Operation daily. While underway, the USCG Cutter Stone will also perform the full range of USCG statutory missions as circumstances warrant. The Stone crew has already interdicted one go-fast vessel in the Caribbean, seizing over 900 kilograms of cocaine on January 7 south of the Dominican Republic. The United States is a global leader in efforts to tackle IUU fishing, including through work in multilateral institutions to strengthen the rules governing international fisheries and bilateral engagement with the world’s coastal, port, and market States. The value of global capture fish production in 2018 was over $151 billion, and it is estimated that IUU fishing results in tens of billions of dollars of lost revenue every year. IUU fishing jeopardizes global food security, destabilizes the economic security of coastal States, and violates state sovereignty by undermining international agreements and fisheries conservation measures.

Imposing Sanctions Related to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Iranian Shipping Entities

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

In June 2020, the State Department sanctioned the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) pursuant to Executive Order 13382 (WMD Proliferators and Their Supporters). At that time, we underscored the fact that IRISL is the preferred shipping line for Iranian proliferators and procurement agents. We have warned the industry that those who do business with IRISL, its subsidiaries, and other Iranian shipping entities, risk sanctions. Today, we are sanctioning seven entities and two individuals for such conduct. As a part of this action, the State Department is imposing sanctions on IRISL pursuant to Section 1245(a) (1)(C)(i)(II) of the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA). IRISL knowingly transferred, directly or indirectly, to Iran grain-oriented electrical steel to at least one Iranian person on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the

Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury (SDN List), namely Hoopad Darya Shipping Agency Company (and thus this grain-oriented electrical steel was transferred to Hoopad Darya Shipping Agency Company). The State Department is also imposing sanctions on Mohammad Reza Modarres Khiabani, the Chief Executive Officer of IRISL, who has been determined to be a principal executive officer, or person performing similar functions and with similar authorities, of IRISL. The State Department is also designating the PRC-based Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co., LTD pursuant to Section 1245(a)(1)(C)(i)(II) of IFCA. Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co., LTD knowingly transferred grain-oriented electrical steel to Iran via the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) (and thus this grain-oriented electrical steel was transferred to IRISL); IRISL is an Iranian person on the SDN list. The State Department is also designating Iran Transfo Company and Zangan

Distribution Transformer Company pursuant to IFCA Section 1245(a)(1)(C) (i)(II). Both of these entities knowingly transferred (imported), directly or indirectly, to Iran grain-oriented electrical steel to at least one Iranian person on the SDN List, namely Hoopad Darya Shipping Agency Company (and thus this grain-oriented electrical steel was transferred to Hoopad Darya Shipping Agency Company). Separately, the State Department is also designating the UAE-based Accenture Building Materials, Iran’s Mobarakeh Steel Company, and the IRISL subsidiary Sapid Shipping pursuant to IFCA Section 1245(a)(1)(C)(i)(II). Accenture Building Materials knowingly sold, supplied, or transferred, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran raw or semi-finished steel and the steel was sold, supplied, or transferred to or from an Iranian person (Sapid Shipping) included on the SDN List. Accenture Building Materials also knowingly sold, supplied, or transferred, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran

raw or semi-finished steel and the steel was sold, supplied, or transferred to or from an Iranian person (Mobarakeh Steel Company) included on the SDN List. Mobarakeh Steel Company knowingly sold, supplied, or transferred, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran, raw or semi-finished steel and the steel was sold, supplied, or transferred to or from an Iranian person (Sapid Shipping and IRISL) included on the SDN List. The State Department is also imposing sanctions on Hamidreza Azimian, the Chief Executive Officer of Mobarakeh Steel Company, who has been determined to be a principal executive officer, or person performing similar functions and with similar authorities, of Mobarakeh Steel Company. Sapid Shipping knowingly sold, supplied, or transferred, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran raw or semi-finished steel and the steel was sold, supplied, or transferred to or from an Iranian person (Mobarakeh Steel Company) included on the SDN List.

BUSINESS

Terms for switches in inflation-linked bond SGB IL 3108

The Swedish National Debt Office offers switch auctions in inflation-linked bond SGB IL 3108 with the aim of decreasing the outstanding volume to around SEK 25 billion before the bond’s time to maturity is shorter than one year. The initial switch auctions will be held on 5 and 8 of February. TL Bureau, Stockholm

The offered bonds in the switch auctions are SGB IL 3112 and SGB IL 3114. The switches will be cash neutral1. Fri 5 February Mon 8 February Cash neutral Cash neutral SNDO sells bond 3112 3114 SNDO sells amount (SEK mn) 1,000 1,000 SNDO buys bond 3108 3108 SNDO buys amount (SEK mn) 2 1,070 1,060 Time for yield on buy-back loan 10:45 10:45 Time for auction cut-off 11:00 11:00 Time for auction result 11:03 11:03

173 New Confirmed Covid-19 Cases, 181 Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia TL Bureau, Riyadh

The Ministry of Health announced, in a statement, here today that 173 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 364,613, including 1,918 active cases undergoing treatment. Of these, there are 310 critical cases,

Wall Street Closing: U.S. stocks fell slightly Thursday TL Bureau, New York

U.S. stocks fell slightly Thursday. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 68.95, or 0.2 per cent, to 30,991.52. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 indexes fell 14.30, or 0.4 per cent, to 3,795.54. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 16.31, or 0.1 per cent, to 13,112.64.

while the health condition of the rest is stable. It added that 3 new deaths have been reported; putting the tally of fatalities, at 6,313. Meanwhile, as many as 181 cases have recovered, raising recoveries’ toll to 356,382. On the other hand, 50,695 new laboratory tests were conducted, in the last 24-hour, across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Preliminary COVID-19 Vaccination Plan (EU and Nordic countries)

TL Bureau, Copenhagen

following the specific order for the Danish vaccination programme in accordance with the Danish Health Authority’s prioritization of target groups of Danish citizens. For more information on target groups see: Target groups - COVID-19 vaccination - Danish Health Authority (sst.dk) Staff and family members will be notified via their e-boks or if

exempt from receiving digital post via postal letter. Once notified, please go to www.vacciner.dk (in English) and book a time for vaccination. The possibilities for including Diplomats and staff in International Organizations from other countries in the Danish vaccination plan is still being considered by the Danish Health Authorities.

The Council today decided to add Faisal Mekdad to the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures on Syria, in light of his recent appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This decision brings to 289 the total number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze. 70 entities are also subject to an asset freeze. The sanctions currently in place against the Syrian regime were introduced in 2011, in response

to the violent repression of the Syrian civilian population. Companies and prominent business people who benefit from their ties with the regime and from the war economy are also subject to sanctions. Additional restrictive measures adopted by the EU include a ban on the import of oil, restrictions on certain investments, the freezing of assets held by the Syrian central bank in the EU, and export restrictions on equipment and technology that could be used for internal

repression or for the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications. The Council keeps developments in the Syrian conflict under constant review. Any decision to prolong the sanctions is for the Council to take on an annual basis. The EU remains committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria on the basis of UN Security Council resolution 2254 and the 2012 Geneva Communiqué.

exchanges on the messaging app, which Facebook acquired for $19 billion in 2014 but has been slow to monetize. WhatsApp said on Friday users will no longer have to review and accept its updated terms by Feb. 8, nor will they have their accounts suspended or deleted by that date. Privacy advocates have jumped on

the WhatsApp changes, pointing to what they say is Facebook’s poor track record of supporting consumer interests when handling their data, with many suggesting users migrate to other platforms. WhatsApp said the planned update does not affect personal conversations, which will continue to have end-to-end encryption or expand its ability to share data

with Facebook. “The update includes new options people will have to message a business on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data,” the company said. WhatsApp said it had set a new target date of May 15 for the launch of the business tools and will approach users gradually to review the policy changes.

Staff and families from EU and Nordic countries at Diplomatic Missions, International Organisations and Other Missions will as holders of the “Special Health Insurance Card” or the yellow “Health Insurance Card” (see para 10.1.2 in “Guide for Diplomats) be offered a COVID-19 vaccine

Syrian foreign affairs minister added to EU sanctions list

TL Bureau, Brussels

WhatsApp to Delay Launch of New Business Features After Privacy Backlash

TL Bureau, San Francisco

Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp is delaying the rollout of new business features following user backlash over the company’s datasharing practices, according to Reuters. The delay is a setback for WhatsApp’s plan to generate revenue by facilitating commercial

IMF Executive Board Concludes Annual Discussions on CEMAC Common Policies and Common Policies in Support of Member Countries Reform Programs TL Bureau, Washington, D.C. On January 12, 2021, the IMF Executive Board concluded the annual discussions with the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) on Common Policies of Member Countries and Common Policies in Support of Member Countries Reform Programs The economic shock associated with the COVID-19 pandemic struck when the economic outlook for the region was improving. Tight regional policies helped maintain an improved external position in 2019. The current account deficit shrank to 2.5% of GDP, and external reserves increased. Fiscal balances remained broadly unchanged from 2018 at -0.3 per cent of GDP, bringing public debt to 52 per cent of GDP. Overall regional growth was 1.9 per cent in 2019. While

the pandemic seems to be under control in the region at the moment, the related oil price shock led to a sharp deterioration of fiscal and external balances in 2020. CEMAC is expected to experience a 3 per cent recession in 2020. The current account deficit is expected to worsen to 6.5 per cent of GDP, and external reserve coverage to remain at 3.5 months of imports of goods and services. The fiscal deficit would deteriorate to 3.8 per cent of GDP, and public debt increase to 57 per cent of GDP. The policy response from national and regional authorities helped mitigate the economic fallout in 2020. CEMAC governments announced various support measures to firms and households in their revised budget laws. BEAC quickly eased monetary policy and introduced accommodative measures to ensure

adequate liquidity in the banking system and strike the right balance between supporting internal and external stability. COBAC eased prudential regulations to help banks delay pandemic-related losses. The Fund supported this response with significant emergency financing for the region while three programs expired in 2020. The shock is set to have long-lasting effects on the economic outlook for the CEMAC. With lower medium-term oil prices, the outlook projects that CEMAC’s fiscal and external adjustments will be slower than previously envisaged, and risks are tilted to the downside. Growth is expected to rebound in 2021 to 2.7 per cent and continue to pick up gradually to around 3.5 per cent in the medium term, as reforms to improve governance and the business climate are assumed

to slowly take hold. Balanced fiscal consolidation efforts would increase nonoil revenues and contain expenditure. Reserves are projected to be re-built at a slower pace than previously envisaged but should reach the equivalent of 5 months of imports by 2025. Inflation is projected to stay at around 2.5 per cent over the medium term, below the regional convergence criterion, as monetary policy would remain appropriately tight. This outlook is highly uncertain and contingent on the evolution of the pandemic and its impact on oil prices. It also assumes a continuation of IMFsupported programs with Congo, CAR and Equatorial Guinea, some additional IMF emergency assistance for the region, and approval of three new IMF-supported programs (Cameroon, Chad, and Gabon) in 2021.

FEATURE

To support democracy abroad, the U.S. needs to set its own house in order,

says Stanford political scientist Michael McFaul

Former Russian ambassador and Stanford political scientist Michael McFaul recommend that the incoming Biden administration “go big” in its efforts to reaffirm core democratic values – including passing comprehensive, structural reforms. TL Bureau, California BY MELISSA DE WITTE

The armed insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 is a gift to America’s autocratic adversaries who want to challenge America’s fight to promote universal values of democracy and human rights, says Stanford political scientist Michael McFaul. For the United States to continue in its pursuit for democracy abroad, it’s crucial that the country put its own house in order, said McFaul in an interview with Stanford News Service. But even as that is happening, the U.S. should not cease speaking up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world, he emphasized. Here, McFaul discusses how the insurrection, and the country’s democratic regression that was accelerated by Donald Trump’s presidency, will impact the incoming Biden administration and what steps the U.S. must make to reaffirm its democratic values, both domestically and abroad.McFaul is the director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in the School of Humanities and Sciences and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. McFaul served in the Obama administration as U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation and has authored several books, most recently, From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What long-term impact will the insurrection have domestically?

I would start by saying that for several years now we have been in a period of democratic regression in the United States that started before Donald Trump became president but was accelerated over the past four years. The tragic events of last week – an armed insurrection against the Capitol inspired by the president of the United States – is a giant exclamation point to a very dark period for American democracy. That said, I cannot predict what this inflexion point means. I know what I want it to mean, though: I want all Americans, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, to unite behind our democratic institutions and our constitution, and to unite against those autocratic forces. I hope that recent events lead to a recalibration within the Republican Party that says whatever our ideological differences are within our party and with respect to other parties, we are all going to adhere to the democratic rules of the game. I think that demands speaking the truth. I think that demands pushing out those anti-democratic elements that won’t sign up for that. But I don’t want to try to predict what will happen. I know what I want, I don’t know what the trajectory will be.

that President Biden is walking into. But I know President-elect Biden, I used to work with him when he was vice president. I travelled to places like Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova with him and I know that he believes that morality has to be part of U.S. foreign policy. I am encouraged by him and his new team that we are going to return to speaking up about democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world. But there is no doubt about it, it will be a much more challenging proposition as a result of the tragedy that happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Can you explain a little further what morality in U.S. foreign policy looks like?

Michael McFaul portrait Michael McFaul (Image credit: Courtesy FSI) behind a defence of our democratic institutions. As for President Biden and his team, I would recommend that they go big. Once President Biden is sworn in, I believe that he should get very serious with a long list of democratic reforms. He can start with House Resolution 1 that calls for deep structural reforms needed to revive our American democracy. House Resolution 4 – which is voter rights named after John Lewis – is another place I would start right away. In Biden’s address to the nation on Jan. 6, he remarked that the world is watching. What will other countries be looking for in how Biden and his administration tackle the insurrection and the events leading up to it? The world was watching on Jan. 6. Some cheered and some lamented. Remember, the world is not unified. The autocrats of the world cheered. If you look at the publications that came out of Tehran, Beijing or Moscow, it’s very clear what the autocrats of the world thought. This was a gift that will live for years, and maybe decades tragically, for America’s fight to promote universal values of democracy and human rights. That is an analytic statement in my view; that is not a normative statement. Likewise, “small d” democrats around the world lamented in all those places I just described. I know lots of people were disheartened because they were looking for a new moment and renewal of American moral leadership with the Biden presidency.

What can Biden and the new administration do to rebuild America’s reputation on the global stage?

What can the new administration do to Without question, the most important thing that the prevent further violence and assault from United States of America and President Biden can do to support democracy abroad is to get our own house happening around the country? Before we talk about the Biden administration specifically, I think there is a lot of responsibility, particularly among Republican elected officials, to understand the dangers of disinformation and the dangers of spreading falsehoods, to come to grips with that and to tell the truth to the American people. Start with the November presidential election. It was a free and fair election and millions of votes were not stolen. Until Republicans admit that, it’s going to be very difficult for us to come together and unify

in order here at home. We need democratic reforms here to have any credibility to demand democratic reforms of other regimes. At the same time, it is incorrect to say, “Well, until we get our own house in order we cannot talk about democratic erosion and human rights injustices abroad.” I do not believe that. And believe me, human rights activists also don’t want us to check out for years or decades until we get our own house in order to stop speaking up in their defence. I think that’s a challenging space

In American history, we had a debate about whether morality and the support for human rights abroad should be a part of our foreign policy, and that debate goes all the way back to the founders of our republic. Some believe it should, some believe it shouldn’t. I am in the camp that believes that it should, not only because I think it’s the moral thing to do, but I think it also advances American security interests. Having more democracies in the world is good for our security. All of our enemies have always been autocracies. No democracy has ever threatened, let alone attacked, the United States.I believe that is a tradition President-elect Biden also adheres to. The devil is in the details, of course. It’s an easy thing to proclaim that at 30,000 feet; it’s a much harder thing to do when you admit honestly and openly that the United States has many security relationships with countries around the world that are not democracies. That hypocrisy is true and makes it challenging to speak about these things with any credibility, but I think that you can and that speaking honestly about what is a democracy, what is human rights, what is rule of law is a first positive step.

I realize it may be too early to tell, but how do you think you will teach last week’s events to your students? What lessons do you hope can be learned about American democracy?

I am teaching a course in the spring on popular mobilization with an Egyptian colleague of mine. It will be very interesting to discuss our comparative perspectives and to talk about under what conditions do popular mobilization led to democracy and under what conditions does it lead to the breakdown of democracy. For me, I think the biggest challenge will be to speak analytically about causality. What causes moments like this to happen? What are the causal factors here at play? We as social scientists need to explain them and that is most certainly what we are going to be doing in our course in the spring. There are socio-economic structural factors involved as well as an agency – an agency of politicians like the president as well as the agency of groups like the Proud Boys.I get really animated when I hear people saying these people were right-wing conservative. It had nothing to do with conservatism. It’s the exact opposite of that. I think we are undermining 200 years of American tradition. It had nothing to do with the ideas of conservativism or even the right-wing. I think we need to give our students the language to speak about these things with an open mind. The way that people talk about these things will be different, and we have to listen but we don’t have to check our values at the door just because we are listening to other political perspectives.

life and real estate

Air New Zealand - a year not so much in the air

TL Bureau, Wellington

Air New Zealand reflects on some of the numbers from a most extraordinary 2020. During New Zealand’s Alert Level 4 lockdown, 67 of the airline’s aircraft were grounded, and by the end of 2020, the 15 strong Boeing 777 fleet had been sent to long term storage facilities in Auckland, Roswell, New Mexico and Victorville, California. The Air New Zealand Contact Centre recorded its busiest day on 15 March. This followed the New Zealand Government announcement on 14 March that everyone entering New Zealand, except from the Pacific, would be required to self-isolate for 14 days. On top of email and chat options, calls from customers topped 75,000 compared to 9,900 calls received on the busiest day in 2019. As borders around the world began to close, Air New Zealanders worked hard to keep flights going to bring almost 60,000 Kiwis home that had started a return international journey before New Zealand’s Alert Level 4 lockdown began. COVID-19 travel restrictions meant many passengers became stranded and Air New Zealand assisted governments around the world to repatriate them home. The airline operated 29 special

While it was a year not so much in the air, there were no days in 2020 without an Air New Zealand flight taking to the skies.

flights to bring Kiwis home from Wuhan, Mumbai and Delhi (all destinations a first for the airline) as well as to help get foreign nationals to Germany, the Netherlands, Korea, Samoa and Tonga. With borders closed and international passenger demand being almost nonexistent, it comes as no surprise that the number of international flights dropped from over 30,000 in 2019 to under 10,000 in 2020. Despite a strong domestic recovery, the passengers carried by the airline overall dropped from 17.6 million in 2019 to 8.4 million in 2020. While international passenger flights were significantly scaled back, Air New Zealand’s Cargo team stepped up to help our export community maintain international trade links, operating 3,306 flights carrying cargo with the support of the Government’s International Air Freight Capacity (IAFC) Scheme.

Scientists tackle vaccine safety, efficacy and access at global R&D forum

TL Bureau, Geneva

More than 2,800 scientists from 130 countries gathered on Friday (January 15) in a virtual forum hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify knowledge gaps and set research priorities for vaccines against SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They discussed the safety and efficacy of existing vaccines and new candidates, ways to optimize limited supply, and the need for additional safety studies. “The development and approval of several safe and effective vaccines less than a year after this virus was isolated and sequenced is an astounding scientific accomplishment,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in his opening remarks. “The approval of the first few vaccines does not mean the job is done. Far from it. More vaccines are in the pipeline, which must be evaluated to ensure we have enough doses to vaccinate everyone.” More than 30 million vaccine doses have already been administered in 47 mostly high-income

countries. But the global vaccine rollout has exposed glaring inequalities in access to this life-saving tool. Only one of the 47 countries that have started vaccination to date is a low-income country. “The spirit of collaboration has to prevail in these challenging times as we seek to understand this virus,” said Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. “We have to be mindful of the inequalities and we must deliberately promote investment in regional capacities to level the playing field and have meaningful collaboration to begin to address some of the challenges.”Experts agreed the need for critical research on administering vaccines in different target populations, as well as on vaccination delivery strategies and schedules. This includes trials, modelling and observational studies, all of which would help to inform policy. They discussed the impact of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants on the efficacy of vaccines, the impact of vaccines on transmission of infection, and the need to develop the next generation of vaccine

platforms. “The world needs multiple vaccines that work in different populations in order to meet global demand and end the COVID-19 outbreak. Ideally, those will be single-dose vaccines that do not require cold chain, could be delivered without a needle and syringe and are amenable to largescale manufacture,” said Professor Mike Levine, Director of the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland. The meeting concluded with agreement to establish a WHO-hosted platform for global sharing and coordination of emerging vaccine research information on efficacy and safety. The forum would enable scientists to share and discuss unpublished and published data and research protocols to further our collective understanding of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. “The WHO will regularly convene experts from around the world, promote collaborative research, provide standard protocols and develop a platform for sharing the latest knowledge in the field,” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist.

SPORTS

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing INTRODUCES GR010 HYBRID HYPERCAR

TL Bureau, Higashi-Fuji

The reigning World Champions and three-time Le Mans winners will defend those titles against new manufacturer competitors using a racing version of the upcoming hypercar road car, featuring powertrain technology developed in the TS050 HYBRID and highlighted via new Racing Hybrid branding. The GR010 HYBRID is a prototype racer developed over the last 18 months in partnership by engineers at the team’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany and the electric hybrid powertrain experts at HigashiFuji in Japan. The GR010 HYBRID incorporates a powerful fourwheel drive racing hybrid powertrain, with a 3.5litre V6 twin turbo engine, providing 680PS to the rear wheels and combining with a 272PS motor generator unit, developed by AISIN AW and DENSO, on the front axle. Total output is capped at 500kW (680PS), meaning the GR010 HYBRID’s sophisticated electronics reduce engine power according to the amount of hybrid boost deployed. The striking new look of the racing prototype reflects the appearance of its inspiration, the GR Super Sport hypercar which made its public debut during a demonstration run and ceremonial trophy return at the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours and is currently in development. To mark this new era for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, a new livery includes the iconic GR lettering to indicate the strong link between race and road cars. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing enters its ninth season in WEC with the same driver line-up which brought Le Mans and World Championship glory to the team in the 2019-2020 campaign. Newly-crowned World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López will drive the #7 GR010 HYBRID while Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley race with the #8 car. Nyck de Vries continues in his role as test and reserve driver. They have already started an intense programme of developing the GR010 HYBRID, with two three-day tests already completed as the

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing begins a new era of endurance racing with the launch of its all-new GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar, which will compete in the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

team adapts to new regulations which are a significant shift in terms of performance and philosophy. As part of a cost-cutting initiative incorporated in the regulations, the new GR010 HYBRID is 162kg heavier and with 32% less power than its TS050 HYBRID predecessor, with Le Mans lap times expected to be around 10secs slower. It also has bigger dimensions; it is 250mm longer, 100mm wider and 100mm higher. For the first time since the beginning of its WEC project, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will participate without a rear motor generator unit (MGU), with the single permitted MGU located on the front axle. This means a starter motor must be fitted on the GR010 HYBRID while fully hydraulic rear brakes are also required. The GR010 HYBRID features state-of-theart aerodynamics, optimised for efficiency, and developed using powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics software and wind tunnel testing. The new technical regulations permit only a single homologated bodywork package, with only one adjustable aerodynamic device. The GR010 HYBRID will therefore compete in the same specification at both low and high downforce circuits, with an adjustable rear wing modifying the aerodynamic characteristics. For the first time, the top class of WEC and Le Mans will feature a balance of performance, meaning organisers will modify the performance of each car on a race-by-race basis, regulating

energy usage and weight, targeting identical performance potential from each Le Mans Hypercar. That should ensure close racing between TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and its hypercar competitors Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus and ByKolles Racing, as well as Alpine, which will present an additional challenge with its LMP1 car. Those battles will be fought over six races on three continents, beginning with the 1000 Miles of Sebring on 19 March prior to the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (1 May) and the season highlight, the Le Mans 24 Hours on 12-13 June. The first World Championship endurance race in Monza since 1992 takes place on 18 July before trips to Fuji Speedway (26 September) and Bahrain (20 November), all of which are six-hour contests. Hisatake Murata, Team President: “It is a fascinating time for endurance racing, with the new Le Mans Hypercar class, and also for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, with the launch of the GR010 HYBRID. This car represents our next generation of racing hybrid. During our LMP1 era, since 2012, we worked tirelessly to improve and strengthen our hybrid technology for racing. We set new standards with the TS050 HYBRID and our first loop of racing hybrid development is complete; this technology will be available to our future customers soon. Now the second stage will begin. Through our WEC

participation, we will refine our racing hybrid powertrain in the GR010 HYBRID, enhance our understanding of hypercar technology and continually develop our staff. We do this with one clear goal: to deliver more exciting sportscars to our customers in the future. The GR010 HYBRID is a preview of our road-going cars and what we learn on the WEC race tracks will directly benefit our customers. For this reason, we are delighted to welcome new competitors to the top category of WEC; a tough fight on the track will inspire us to continuously improve and push the limits for better.” Rob Leupen, Team Director: “It has been a tremendous effort from the team in Higashi-Fuji and Cologne, as well as our suppliers and partners, to develop and produce this new car, despite the difficult global circumstances, and we are all looking forward to show it to the world. The Le Mans Hypercar category represents a new era, with a different philosophy and new competitors; we are looking forward to this challenge. Balance of performance is something we have not experienced before in WEC but we know from our other projects that it puts the emphasis on fast drivers, perfect operations and optimal strategy. Over our nine years in WEC we have achieved a lot, but are not complacent. We always challenge ourselves to improve our technology and our processes to continuously perform better. So we have been working intensively

and will continue to do so in the remaining tests before our long-awaited race debut with the GR010 HYBRID in Sebring. We look forward to finally showing our new car to the fans and being part of this new, exciting era.” Pascal Vasselon, Technical Director: “The new regulations are designed to showcase roadrelevant technology in WEC whilst also delivering a toplevel, attractive spectacle. We are looking forward to welcoming new competitors and being part of an exciting future for endurance racing with our GR010 HYBRID. The new Le Mans Hypercar regulations mean the GR010 HYBRID is a completely new car, designed to a different philosophy. A major difference is the architecture of the hybrid system; we will have one kinetic energy recovery system and brake-by-wire, on the front axle. This means we had to install a starter motor and fully hydraulic rear brakes for the first time in our WEC project. Following the regulations, our car will have one bodywork specification to handle all circuits, so we needed to provide a wider working window for this car. These are just examples; there have been many such differences and challenges to address during development, so it has been an interesting engineering challenge. Now we are all looking forward to continuing our testing programme and finally seeing our new car compete; I think it will be worth the wait.”

11 TL Bureau, Molsheim Bugatti is still in the fast lane. The French manufacturer of luxury cars increased its operating results for the third consecutive year. Bugatti can therefore look back on the most successful year in its history. “2020 was without a doubt the most unusual year for all of us. The coronavirus pandemic brought so much to a halt and caused enormous disruption to our everyday lives. I’m happy that our workforce and most Bugatti enthusiasts have so far made it through this difficult period and have managed to overcome these challenges extremely well,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “I’m very proud that, despite the difficult circumstances, we have been able to achieve our third record-breaking year in a row. For this I would like to thank the entire staff. What’s more, with the first customers receiving deliveries of the Divo1, we kept our promise of bringing a modern interpretation of the historic coachbuilding tradition to the road.” Coachbuilding is all about creating customised cars for individual tastes. The Divo, a limited edition of just 40 vehicles, is a highly customised masterpiece of automotive craftsmanship and a must-have for any Bugatti collection. The hyper sports car, which is priced at five million euros (net), is named after Albert Divo, a French pilot and racing driver who was also a Bugatti works driver for quite some time. “Unfortunately, the Bugatti team were not able to meet fans and friends of the brand in person nearly as much as they would have liked due to the pandemic. Therefore, we are now using digital platforms to maintain contact with Bugatti owners and friends of the

tech/auto

Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann looks back on 2020 Bugatti has achieved another record-breaking year – the best in the company’s history

brand,” explains Stephan Winkelmann. “During the few lockdown-free months, Bugatti customers finally had the opportunity to experience the new Chiron Pur Sport2 for themselves. The entire team was delighted by the extremely positive feedback on the new hyper sports car, which gave them affirmation and motivation for their work.” Bugatti has calibrated the Chiron Pur Sport for agility, handling and driving performance. An ideal car for drivers who like to take corners at the limits of lateral dynamics. The Chiron Pur Sport is an extremely precise hyper sports car for the race track and country roads and offers maximum driving enjoyment. Production of the standard version of the Chiron Pur Sport, which is limited to 60 units and priced at three million euros (net), began in autumn 2020 in

Molsheim, France. In October, Bugatti presented the Bolide3, an extreme, race track-oriented hyper sports car with an unprecedented power-to-weight ratio of just 0.67 kg/PS. A power output of up to 1,850 PS from the W16 engine meets an unladen weight of just 1,240 kilograms. This technological concept represents the brand in its purest form, with its impressively high performance, low weight and a driving experience in a new dimension. “Bugatti is continuously aiming for new and exciting goals. The Bolide is the quintessence of our philosophy. Excellence, courage, dedication.

An incredible car and an incredible project” says Stephan Winkelmann. Bugatti has special plans in store for 2021. All 40 Divo will be delivered to customers in the coming months. It will certainly be both a wonderful and a sad moment when the last Divo leaves the Atelier in Molsheim. Most of the Chiron Pur Sport, designed for lateral acceleration, will also be delivered to their owners. Following the launch of Bugatti’s La Voiture Noire4 in March 2019, the French manufacturer will finally bring the world’s most exclusive and expensive car to completion.

ZF to produce Ibeo and SICK 3D Solid-State LiDAR for Industrial Applications

TL Bureau, Friedrichshafen

Following initial production of the ibeoNEXT LiDAR system last year, the ZF Group has obtained its next order: Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH and SICK AG will bring the 3D Solid-State LiDAR sensor for industrial applications to market. ZF will produce transceiver modules for both ibeoNext automotive and industrial applications at its facility in Brest, France. ZF to produce Ibeo and SICK 3D SolidState LiDAR for Industrial Applications The market for autonomous and semiautonomous systems for industrial applications is predicted to grow at aboveaverage rates. There is particular demand here for highly durable, ever smaller and cost-efficient sensor solutions. The new solid-state technology from Ibeo – a company in which ZF holds a 40 percent stake – works entirely without moving parts and features a compact form. It thus offers decisive advantages

for a range of applications which can be used in the industrial sector. ZF produces measuring core of ibeoNEXT The agreed technology partnership between Ibeo and SICK will result in the development of a 3D LiDAR sensor based on Ibeo’s innovative solidstate technology from the automotive sector for industrial applications. In this partnership, Ibeo is providing its ibeoNEXT measurement core, which ZF produces in Brest (France). SICK will develop the system design and

• ZF to produce the transceiver module for all new Ibeo and SICK 3D SolidState LiDAR Sensor • LiDAR industrial applications based on Ibeo’s advanced automotive design • Measuring core comes from ZF´s production in Brest the application software for a new industrial LiDAR sensor so that industrial applications can be created to meet customer requirements. “At ZF we consistently use LiDAR in our sensor set from level 4 onwards - but of course the sensor already contributes to significantly more safety and comfort from level 2 onwards“, says Christophe Marnat, executive vice president of the ZF Electronics and Advanced Driver Assist Systems Division. “These advantages can now also be implemented in industrial applications such as automated guided

vehicles, forklift trucks and other forms of mobile automated machinery.“ ZF production on behalf of Ibeo In Brest ZF currently produces the IbeoNEXT LiDAR Sensor for Ibeo. The company has been delivering the first batches to partners and customers worldwide since the fall of 2020 – including the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor, which will use ibeoNEXT LiDAR in SUV “Wey“ models. IbeoNEXT is based on a new type of solid state, photon laser measurement technology.

world

Fact Sheet: Activity at the Wuhan Institute of Virology

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

For more than a year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has systematically prevented a transparent and thorough investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic’s origin, choosing instead to devote enormous resources to deceit and disinformation. Nearly two million people have died. Their families deserve to know the truth. Only through transparency can we learn what caused this pandemic and how to prevent the next one. The U.S. government does not know exactly where, when, or how the COVID-19 virus—known as SARS-CoV-2—was transmitted initially to humans. We have not determined whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, China. The virus could have emerged naturally from human contact with infected animals, spreading in a pattern consistent with a natural epidemic. Alternatively, a laboratory accident could resemble a natural outbreak if the initial exposure included

only a few individuals and was compounded by an asymptomatic infection. Scientists in China have researched animalderived coronaviruses under conditions that increased the risk of accidental and potentially unwitting exposure. The CCP’s deadly obsession with secrecy and control comes at the expense of public health in China and around the world. The previously undisclosed information in this fact sheet, combined with opensource reporting, highlights three elements about COVID19’s origin that deserve greater scrutiny: Illnesses inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV): The U.S. government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses. This raises questions about the credibility of WIV senior researcher Shi Zhengli’s public claim that there was “zero infection” among the WIV’s staff and students of SARSCoV-2 or SARS-related viruses.

Accidental infections in labs have caused several previous virus outbreaks in China and elsewhere, including a 2004 SARS outbreak in Beijing that infected nine people, killing one. The CCP has prevented independent journalists, investigators, and global health authorities from interviewing researchers at the WIV, including those who were ill in the fall of 2019. Any credible inquiry into the origin of the virus must include interviews with these researchers and a full accounting of their previously unreported illness. Research at the WIV: Starting in at least 2016 – and with no indication of a stop prior to the COVID-19 outbreak – WIV researchers conducted experiments involving RaTG13, the bat coronavirus identified by the WIV in January 2020 as its closest sample to SARS-CoV-2 (96.2% similar). The WIV became a focal point for international coronavirus research after the 2003 SARS outbreak and has since studied animals including mice, bats, and pangolins. The WIV has a published record of conducting “gain-of-function”

management in the healthcare and social welfare sector. Coronavirus vaccination data must be entered in Kanta The coronavirus epidemic will have an impact on the development of Kanta in 2021. Coronavirus vaccination data must be entered correctly in healthcare in order to ensure that it can be utilised in national monitoring and that it is accessible by citizens in My Kanta Pages. The healthcare and social welfare services must ensure that a sufficient system version is used to ensure harmonised entry and recording of vaccination data. Kela supports providers of healthcare and social welfare services in the

deployment and testing. Progress determined by the Client Data Act The new Client Data Act for healthcare and social welfare services is currently under reform. Parliament will continue the consideration of the Client Data Act during the spring session of 2021. The changes resulting from the Act will be extensive, having an impact on all healthcare and social welfare service providers. As a result of the Act, in addition to patient data, also client data from social welfare services, as well as wellbeing data would be entered in the Kanta Services in the future.

explosives precursors and repeal the current act on the marketing and use of explosives precursors. National provisions will supplement the relevant Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. The new Act contains certain clarifications required by the EU Regulation. For example, consumers will no longer be able to obtain specific chlorates and perchlorates in certain concentrations. Sulphuric acid

in a certain concentration will also be subject to a licence. In addition, more thorough background checks will be carried out on licence applicants in future. The related provisions will be added to the Criminal Records Act and to the Act on the Storage of Information Extracted from the Criminal Records and on the Disclosure of Such Information between Finland and Other Member States of the European Union.

research to engineer chimeric viruses. But the WIV has not been transparent or consistent about its record of studying viruses most similar to the COVID-19 virus, including “RaTG13,” which it sampled from a cave in Yunnan Province in 2013 after several miners died of SARS-like illness. WHO investigators must have access to the records of the WIV’s work on bat and other coronaviruses before the COVID-19 outbreak. As part of a thorough inquiry, they must have a full accounting of why the WIV altered and then removed online records of its work with RaTG13 and other viruses. Secret military activity at the WIV: Secrecy and non-disclosure are standard practice for Beijing. For many years the United States has publicly raised concerns about China’s past biological weapons work, which Beijing has neither documented nor demonstrably eliminated, despite its clear obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention. Despite the WIV presenting itself as a civilian institution, the United States has determined that the WIV has collaborated on publications

and secret projects with China’s military. The WIV has engaged in classified research, including laboratory animal experiments, on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017. The United States and other donors who funded or collaborated on civilian research at the WIV have a right and obligation to determine whether any of our research funding was diverted to secret Chinese military projects at the WIV. Today’s revelations just scratch the surface of what is still hidden about COVID-19’s origin in China. Any credible investigation into the origin of COVID-19 demands complete, transparent access to the research labs in Wuhan, including their facilities, samples, personnel, and records. As the world continues to battle this pandemic – and as WHO investigators begin their work, after more than a year of delays – the virus’s origin remains uncertain. The United States will continue to do everything it can to support a credible and thorough investigation, including by continuing to demand transparency on the part of Chinese authorities.

TL Bureau, Kyiv

albeit with difficulties and provocations. He informed the Chancellor about the death of a Ukrainian warrior this week and about the wounded soldier the day before. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that, apart from the ceasefire, there is virtually no progress on other aspects of the peace settlement, although Ukraine has fulfilled all the agreements reached at the meeting of the leaders of the “Normandy Four” in Paris in December 2019. Both parties acknowledged that the talks between the advisers to the leaders of the “Normandy Four” on January 12 this year in Berlin were difficult yet constructive. Ukraine and Germany look forward to the next consultations on January 22. The President invited Germany to join the international platform for the de-occupation of Crimea and also invited Angela Merkel to visit Kyiv on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

Priorities of the Kanta Services in President of Ukraine had a phone conversation with the 2021 have been confirmed Federal Chancellor of Germany

TL Bureau, Helsinki

Kanta is being developed in order to address the needs of healthcare and social welfare and the citizens even better than before. The priorities in 2021 include coronavirus vaccines, the Client Data Act, and the development of My Kanta Pages. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM), the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) have published the priorities of the Kanta Services for 2021. The development of the Kanta Services is part of a wider roadmap for digitalisation and information

Act on the Marketing and Use of Explosives Precursors to enter into force on 1 February 2021

TL Bureau, Helsinki

The new Act on the Marketing and Use of Explosives Precursors will place further restrictions on consumer access to certain explosives precursors. The Government submitted the bill for approval on Thursday 14 January. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on 15 January. The Act will lay down national provisions on the marketing and use of

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the beginning, the leaders congratulated each other on the New Year holidays. The situation in Ukraine and Germany related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply of vaccine against this infection was then discussed in detail. Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Angela Merkel to help speed up the obtaining of the vaccine by Ukraine. “The key task now is to protect the most vulnerable categories of citizens: the elderly, doctors, servicemen. The emergence of certified vaccines gives us all hope,” the President of Ukraine said. The President of Ukraine informed the German Chancellor in detail about the situation in Donbas, emphasizing that the ceasefire, which has been in place since July 27, 2020, is generally observed,