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Ashleigh Barty Australian tennis Player, No 15 to 1 story

Australia (DT) Dec 10: Since she returned to the sport in 2016, Barty has consistently made it clear tennis will never govern her life. Even last year when she rose from 15th to No 1, she played only 15 tour events and returned home as much as she could. After a long stay in Europe during her Roland Garros title run, she did not touch a racket for two weeks. That decision may have cost her a deeper run at the US Open but certainly not her sanity. This time, faced with the choice of travelling around the tour or remaining at home, she seems to have welcomed the chance to take a beat. The pandemic will not end at the turn of the new year and she will eventually have to decide when is suitable for her to travel again, but when she does she will not have forgotten how to play.

As most of her top rivals close off their season this week in Ostrava, Barty will see out 2020  ranked No 1 for the second consecutive season. After the tour was suspended in March, the 52-week ranking system was amended so that players could retain points garnered since March 2019. Barty has spent 46 weeks at No 1 and unless the ranking system changes again she will remain there for at least another 15 weeks until the end of the Australian Open.

Canada became the third country to authorize use of the Covid-19 vaccine

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Canada 10 Dec(DT): Canadian health officials on Wednesday approved a COVID-19 vaccine made by U.S. drug company Pfizer for general use, becoming the second country worldwide to give it the go-ahead.

With the decision, Canada joined Britain in determining the vaccine is sufficiently safe and effective for general use. The U.K. and Bahrain approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within the past week. Canadian officials said Wednesday they expected to soon issue a decision regarding the Moderna vaccine.

Pfizer and BioNTech said that they would manufacture 50 million doses by the end of this year—a goal they have already hit, according to people familiar with the matter—and up to 1.3 billion by the end of 2021.

Lebanon PM Hassan Diab, and former finance Minister charged in deadly Beirut explosion

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Lebanon/Dec 10 Source(DT) : A judge in Lebanon on Thursday charged outgoing Prime Minister  Hassan Diab and three former department ministers with negligence in connection with the explosions that killed hundreds at the Port of Beirut four months ago.

Judge Fadi Sawan charged Diab, former public works ministers Ghazi Zaeiter and Youssef Fenianos and former finance minister  Ali Hassan Khalil in the blasts.

The explosions and resulting fires at the port on Aug. 4 killed more than 200 people, injured thousands and left 300,000 homeless. Investigators say 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been warehoused at the port for years set off the explosions.

The blasts, coupled with the country’s ongoing economic crisis, led many in Lebanon to demand government accountability. Critics say leaders knew about the ammonium nitrate being stored at the port.

Diab said Thursday he was surprised by the charges, but added that his “conscience is clear.”

Outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s File Photo

Khalil and Zaieter are both longtime Lebanon government leaders Fenianos is a senior official in the Marada Movement of Christian leader Suleiman Frangieh. They were charged because they were in office when the ammonium nitrate originally arrived at the Port of Beirut almost a decade ago.

Abdel-Hafiz al-Kaissy, the director of land and maritime transport in charge of the port, has also been charged in the case.

Qatar King Amir holds telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister

Qatar/New Delhi Source (DT) 08 December : The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held Tuesday via telephone a conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of India HE Narendra Modi, on bilateral relations and the means to enhance them in all fields.

During the call, they discussed the most prominent issues of mutual interest, regionally and internationally.

“The two leaders discussed the robust cooperation between both countries in the fields of investment flows and energy security, and reviewed recent positive developments in this regard. They decided to create a special task-force to further facilitate investments by Qatar Investment Authority into India, and also resolved to explore Qatari investments in the entire energy value-chain in India,” the Embassy of India in Qatar said in a statement.

The first Black man to hold the role of defense secretary in US history

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Washington DC (DT) 08, Dec 2020 | 10:45 AM

Biden picks retired General Lloyd Austin to run Pentagon
If confirmed, the retired General would become the first Black defense secretary in America’s history. according to three people with knowledge of the decision. In picking Austin, Biden has chosen a barrier-breaking former four-star officer who was the first Black general to command an Army division in combat and the first to oversee an entire theater of operations. Austin’s announcement could come as soon as Tuesday morning, people familiar with the plans said Monday. Austin’s emergence as a potential choice came amid growing calls from national civil rights organizations and Democratic Asian, Black and Latino caucuses to ensure that Mr. Biden nominated minorities and women to senior Cabinet posts. Mr. Austin faces a couple of hurdles, including his position in recent years as a member of the board of directors of defense contractor Raytheon. Mr. Austin’s full name is Lloyd James Austin |||, born in 1953 he is comes from Alabama district, US.|

90-year-old grandmother gets 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine in UK

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London — U.K (DT) health authorities began rolling out the first doses of a widely tested and independently reviewed Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, starting a global immunization program that is expected to gain momentum as more serums win approval. The first shot came early in the morning at one of a network of hospital hubs around the country where the initial phase of the U.K. program will be rolled out on what has been dubbed “V-Day.”

Public health officials are asking the public to be patient because only those who are most at risk from the new coronavirus will be vaccinated in the early stages. Medical staff will contact people to arrange appointments, and most will have to wait until next year before there is enough vaccine to expand the program.

The first 800,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the U.K. are going to people over 80 who are either hospitalized or already have outpatient appointments scheduled, along with nursing home workers. Others will have to wait their turn, but all vaccinations will be provided free of charge via Britain’s National Health Service.
 
Among those older Britons scheduled to get vaccinated is Hari Shukla, of Newcastle.
 
“When I received the telephone call, I was very excited I got the opportunity of joining in and taking part in that,″ he said. “So we are very very pleased and happy and excited as well.″

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on reports that Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip, would be vaccinated as a public example of its safety.

Photos Capture World’s Largest Iceberg As It Heads Toward South Atlantic Island

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Britain’s Royal Air Force has obtained images of what is considered the largest iceberg as it veers toward the island territory of South Georgia. Pictures of A68a were released Friday following a reconnaissance flight of the iceberg. At roughly 93 miles long and 30 miles wide, the floe is believed to be the world’s largest.

The pictures taken by British military aircraft, offering some of the closest views of the iceberg thus far, show cracks and apparently smaller chunks of ice breaking off. In a Facebook post, British officials note that because of the iceberg’s massive size, it’s nearly impossible to photograph it in full with the exception of satellite imagery.

“Ecosystems can and will bounce back of course, but there’s a danger here that if this iceberg gets stuck, it could be there for 10 years. An iceberg has massive implications for where land-based predators might be able to forage,” said Geraint Tarling, an ecologist with the organization in November.

The survey notes that a large numbers of seals, whales and penguins feed off the coast of the southern Atlantic island.

UN Statement about On farmers protest, in India

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UN Statement about On farmers protest, in India

New Delhi, INDIA (PTI) – People have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so, said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for UN Secretary-General.

protesting farmers in India, spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said people have a right to demonstrate peacefully and authorities should let them do so.
The UN official was responding to a question on the ongoing farmers’ protest in India, PTI reported.


READ MORE : Indian farmers Protest

This comes at a time when India has called the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers as “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”, saying the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.


“As to the question of India, what I would say to you is what I have said to others when raising these issues is that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so,” Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said on Friday.


Earlier in the week, reacting to the comments made by the Canadian prime minister and other foreign leaders, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “We have seen some ill-informed commentsrelating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country.”
The MEA added that “it is best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes”.


This comment of Tuesday was followed on Friday by India summoning the Canadian High Commissioner.


As per PTI, the government told him that the comments made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others in his Cabinet on the farmers’ protest constituted an “unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs and these actions, if continued, will have a “seriously damaging” impact on the bilateral ties.


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GCC crisis: ‘Deal to be finalised at this month’s summit

GCC Crisis :Source(DT) 06 December, 2020
On Monday 5th June, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain announced they were cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar, and announced an air, sea, and land blockade. This development marked a rapid and unexpected escalation in the campaign against Qatar. It followed a concerted campaign of misinformation and fabricated news, including the hacking of Qatar’s national news agency. The accusations being made against Qatar are unjustified and baseless. Qatar has not, does not, and will never support terrorism in any form. We stand firm with our partners and the international community in the fight against terrorism. The Government regrets the unprecedented steps currently being taken against Qatar. We continue to believe that any issues can and should be solved through dialogue and discussion. 20 April 2017 The first in a series of thirteen opinion pieces critical of Qatar appears in the American media. The articles include baseless accusations designed to smear Qatar’s reputation in the United States. 20 May 2017 His Highness the Amir attends the Riyadh Summit and commits to working with the United States and members of the GCC to combat extremist ideology and cut terrorist funding. 24 May 2017 The website of Qatar News Agency is hacked and a false statement about HH the Amir is published. The State of Qatar immediately launches an investigation. His Excellency the Foreign Minister confirms that “Qatar was subjected to a carefully orchestrated smear campaign”. 5 June 2017 Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt launch an illegal and unjustified blockade against Qatar. 19 June 2017 The citizens of blockading countries are forcibly recalled from Qatar, resulting in human rights violations. Families are divided, education interrupted and businesses forced to close. The blockaders’ unilateral measures are denounced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 23 June 2017 The blockading countries release a baseless list of 13 demands to Qatar. 1 July 2017 Qatar rejects the blockading countries’ demands. The demands constitute an attack on Qatar’s sovereignty. Allegations of terrorism perpetuated by the blockading nations have no basis in fact. 11 July 2017 Qatar and the US sign an MoU on combatting terrorism and its financing: The MoU reinforces the existing strategic framework on counter terrorism
The MoU builds on the long history of cooperation and partnership between the US and Qatar
20 July 2017 Qatar’s Ministry of Interior confirms they have evidence to prove the cyberattack on the country’s official media originated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 21 July 2017 His Highness the Amir addresses the nation, saying that Qatar and its people “rose spontaneously, defending the sovereignty and independence of the country.” 19 September 2017 His Highness the Amir speaks at the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, condemning the “unjust blockade” and the violation of human rights conventions and agreements. 5 December 2017 His Highness the Amir attends the GCC Summit in Kuwait, expressing his hope that the GCC would continue working towards stability and security in the Gulf region. None of His Highness’ counterparts from the blockading countries were in attendance, and the two-day GCC Summit ends in Kuwait within hours of its start. 19 December 2017 Qatar Central Bank launches an investigation into attempts to harm the Qatari economy though the manipulation of its currencies, securities and derivatives markets. 10 January 2018 Qatar seeks international arbitration to end the blockade following a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) which documents violations by the blockading countries. 11 January 2018 Qatar informs the UN that Emirati fighter aircraft has violated its airspace, affirming the Qatari Emiri Air Force’s adherence to the highest standards of aviation safety and its firm position to ensure the safety of civilians. Four airspace violations are recorded between December 2017 and February 2018. 30 January 2018 The first Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue takes place. The two countries sign important agreements to further bilateral relations. 16 February 2018 His Highness the Amir speaks at the Munich Security Conference, calling for a regional governance framework and the peaceful arbitration of disputes in the Middle East. 17 March 2018 Qatar files a lawsuit in the United States against individuals who are conducting an illegal social media and internet campaign to spread false information and damage Qatar’s economy. 10 April 2018 His Highness the Amir meets with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, reaffirming the close partnership between the two countries in security and defence, as well as economic and political cooperation. 17 May 2018 The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) board agreed on the necessity of the commitment of all parties to the highest standards of safety and security as well as emphasising the full cooperation between States that have signed the 1944 Chicago agreement. 23 May 2018 One year ago, Qatar News Agency was hacked and false statements were published. Less than two weeks later, the statements were used to justify an illegal blockade of Qatar. 5 June 2018 One year ago today, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt launch an illegal and unjustified blockade against Qatar. 11 June 2018 The State of Qatar initiated proceedings against the UAE before the International Court of Justice for human rights violations against Qataris and residents of Qatar. 23 July 2018 The ICJ issued today an order granting the State of Qatar’s request for provisional measures against the United Arab Emirates in a case relating to the UAE’s unlawful discriminatory treatment of Qatari citizens. 18 December 2018 The World Trade Organisation (WTO) announced that it will establish a panel to investigate Qatar’s allegations of intellectual property theft against Saudi Arabia regarding it blocking of the beIN Sports network, and its refusal to act against the piracy of its content by Saudi-owned/operated Beout 8 April 2019 Qatar sues banks in Luxembourg, UAE and Saudi Arabia for engaging in currency manipulation of the Qatari Riyal. 19 May 2019 Qatar ships LNG to UAE after Dolphin pipeline outage. 30 May 2019 His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attends an emergency summit on regional security in Mecca, becoming the highest level Qatari official to visit Saudi Arabia since the onset of the illegal blockade. 14 June 2019 The International Court of Justice rejects a request by the UAE for measures against Qatar in a case relating to the UAE’s unlawful discriminatory treatment of Qatar and the Qatari people. 8 August 2019 The UAE formally withdraws from its WTO dispute with Qatar, dropping allegations of trade restrictions by Qatar against the UAE. 23 August 2019 Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirms that delegations from Qatar and the UAE met before the WTO dispute settlement committee for three days of hearings, as part of Qatar’s lawsuit against the UAE for arbitrary trade measures imposed since the launch of the illegal blockade of Qatar.

The death of the Syrian ambassador to Qatar

Diplomat source (DT)06 December,2020 : His Excellency Mr. Nizar Hassan Al-Haraki, the Syrian ambassador to the State of Qatar, moved to the mercy of God Almighty in Istanbul yesterday, at the age of fifty-eight, following his infection with the Coronavirus. Al-Haraki worked as his country’s ambassador to Qatar since September 2013, and it is reported that the ambassador was on a working visit to Syria to inspect the situation. The National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces mourned Ambassador Al-Haraki yesterday, expressing condolences to the family of the deceased, his friends and colleagues, recalling his role and effectiveness and the efforts he made throughout his work as ambassador to Syria. The deceased ambassador Al-Haraki, born in the city of Daraa, worked on public affairs and the issues of his homeland, and contributed to the Syrian revolution. May God Almighty cover him with the breadth of his mercy and make him live in paradise, and inspire his family with patience and solace.