Few of us will miss 2020, but at least it sowed seeds of hope for 2021.
One reason to be cheerful is a monkey called the Popa langur. It lives on Mount Popa, an extinct volcano in central Myanmar. There are only a few hundred Popa langurs in existence, but until recently scientists had never even heard of this species, nor more than 500 other species newly discovered in 2020, including various bees, bugs and snakes. Our old, tired, depleted planet Earth, is still full of surprises, and some good news.
The Popa langur reminds us that 2021 could become a year of even greater surprises – and hope. Imagine, for example, if governments manage to work constructively to tackle both climate change and the loss of habitat for endangered animals and plants. It could happen.
The change of administration in Washington is one reason for guarded optimism. US President-elect Joe Biden promises a return of American leadership on international agreements, including the Paris accords on climate change, and 2021 will see the world climate conference meeting in Glasgow in November. And there's more. Departing President Donald Trump's slogan "America First" appealed to the unilateralist tendency on the right of American politics. But Mr Biden is instinctively a multilateralist. The winds of change in Washington will reinvigorate international co-operation against crime, money laundering, people and drug trafficking, and could boost a world-wide economic recovery and global co-ordination on public health.
An adult female and juvenile Popa langur in the crater of Mount Popa, Myanmar. The Popa langur has been around for at least a million years, according to a study detailing the find, published on November 11, 2020, in Zoological Research. AFP
Specifically on the environment, many businesses and financial organisations in the private sector – even those generally resistant to regulation – would in some cases welcome new international rules to end some of the worst environmental vandalism. Forward-thinking businesses know customers want good products and investors want a profit, but the demands for more environmental action will continue to transform businesses in 2021. "Greenwashing", the pretence of environmental action, is still a problem. But in 2021, activist investors, responsible pension funds and financial advisers will increasingly demand scientifically verifiable metrics and standards to demonstrate which businesses can be trusted on environmental issues, and which cannot.
Even the greatest horror story of 2020 – the Covid-19 pandemic – contains reasons to hope.
Despite all the anti-vaccination ignorance and mischief, it's even more obvious that science and expertise really matter. Scientists and businesses, universities and pharmaceutical companies, skilled people of different nationalities and cultures, have worked together to produce Covid-19 vaccines and improved treatments for those who are sick. We can hope in 2021 that the pandemic – which has ruined so many lives in 2020 – may, as a result of scientific breakthroughs, result in a rapid economic recovery.
Moreover, faced with a universal health threat there has been an international response based on facts, science and truth. Baseless conspiracy theories about Covid-19, anti-vaxxer pseudo-science, and the complicity of social media spreaders of falsehoods have highlighted the danger of believing internet clickbait and distrusting real experts.
Yes, scientists make mistakes. But the biggest mistake of 2020 has been to accept attention-grabbing false stories and rumours on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, while ignoring the warnings of those who have devoted their lifetimes to medical research. Perhaps in 2021, we will truly understand that those who study science for years, virologists, epidemiologists and others, never claim to be infallible, but they can generally claim to be honest.
Being a multilateralist, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to restore American leadership on the world stage. AP Photo
And if 2021 has one big promise, let it not be that we “get back to normal". That’s because one of the practices that unfortunately became “normal” in recent years is the normalisation of lying in public life. The new normal for 2021 could be much better. The new normal would mean social media companies police harmful content more aggressively, or be forced to do so by all of us who use them. The new normal for 2021 could mean world leaders would be more confident in telling us inconvenient truths and admitting errors, rather than offering empty promises and boasting about how wonderful they are, often despite the facts.
Surely it is not too much to hope that our children and grandchildren will see 2021 as a turning point
The new normal might even mean that Covid-19 will show us that countries, businesses and scientists can compete but when faced with a worldwide crisis we can also co-operate.
Surely it is not too much to hope that our children and grandchildren will see 2021 as a turning point – a year in which it is no longer considered “normal” to witness melting ice-caps, rising sea levels, out-of-control forest and bush fires from Australia to California and the deliberate burning of rainforests from Brazil to Indonesia. Nor should our children think it “normal” for millions of refugees round the world to be forced to flee drought and conflicts.
A new year often means making resolutions about better behaviour in the months ahead – eating more healthily, avoiding bad habits, exercising more, and being more thoughtful towards others. So as we celebrate 2021, let’s learn from the mistakes of 2020. It can be a truly happier new year for billions of us around the world – and also for little miracles like the Popa langur monkey, clinging to life in the jungles of Myanmar. We can do better.
Gavin Esler is a broadcaster and UK columnist for The National
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results Lost to Oman by eight runs Beat Namibia by three wickets Lost to Oman by 12 runs Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.9" Liquid Retina IPS, 2360 x 1640, 264ppi, wide colour, True Tone, Apple Pencil support
Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR
Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps
Audio: Stereo speakers
Biometrics: Touch ID
I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)
Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular
Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Red flags
Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
