The US National Guard on Monday ended a nearly five-month mission to protect the Capitol complex after January 6, when a mob loyal to former president Donald Trump stormed Congress in a failed bid to overturn the 2020 election results.
The mission, which involved about 2,000 personnel guarding Capitol Hill, ended on Sunday.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the soldiers and airmen of the National Guard, who for the last five months have been standing watch over the Capitol grounds in Washington, DC,” US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
“They came here from all 54 states and territories, leaving behind jobs, homes and families to bolster security at the Capitol after the dramatic events on January 6.
“These airmen and soldiers protected not only the grounds, but the lawmakers working on those grounds, ensuring the people’s business could continue unabated.
"They lived out in very tangible ways the oath they took to support and defend the constitution.”
At the height of the mission, about 5,200 troops were stationed throughout central Washington alongside a security barrier that extended several blocks outside the Capitol, barring public access to the complex.
Security personnel removed the fence in March when the mission was initially scheduled to expire, but the Pentagon extended the National Guard's posting in a more limited size to the end of this month at the request of local authorities.
“It’s been a trying but telling year for the National Guard,” Mr Austin said.
"“Between natural disasters, civil unrest and an ongoing pandemic, our guardsmen and women have been tested time and time again. And each time, they have performed magnificently.”
While the general public has been able to walk outside the Capitol complex since March, the building and surrounding offices remain closed to tourists and constituents because of pandemic restrictions that have been in place for more than a year.
The Secret Service this month removed a fence barring public access to Lafayette Square in front of the White House.
The White House fence was erected about a year ago after Mr Trump had security forces violently disperse a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters so he could go to a nearby church to pose for a picture while holding a Bible.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Always use only regulated platforms
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Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
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Founder: Mamta Arora
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