• These ice sculptures are part of the 32nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which runs from January 5 to February 5 in the northern province of Heilongjiang, China. Wu Hong / EPA
    These ice sculptures are part of the 32nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which runs from January 5 to February 5 in the northern province of Heilongjiang, China. Wu Hong / EPA
  • Residents burn their Christmas trees on the Museumplein in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on January 3, 2016. The annual tree burning has been a New Year’s tradition since 1974. Koen Van Weel / EPA
    Residents burn their Christmas trees on the Museumplein in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on January 3, 2016. The annual tree burning has been a New Year’s tradition since 1974. Koen Van Weel / EPA
  • Passengers peer through the frozen windows of a bus as the temperature dropped to — 21C in Minsk, Belarus, on January 4, 2016. Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters
    Passengers peer through the frozen windows of a bus as the temperature dropped to — 21C in Minsk, Belarus, on January 4, 2016. Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters
  • Washington Redskins’ Will Compton, No 51, and DeAngelo Hall, upper left, knock the helmet off Dallas Cowboys’ Robert Turbin, right, after a short run in the first half of an NFL football game on January 3, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. The Redskins were charged with a personal foul on the play. Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press *
    Washington Redskins’ Will Compton, No 51, and DeAngelo Hall, upper left, knock the helmet off Dallas Cowboys’ Robert Turbin, right, after a short run in the first half of an NFL football game on January 3, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. The Redskins were charged with a personal foul on the play. Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press *
  • Vijanera festival participants take a break from marching in the village of Silio in northern Spain, on January 3, 2016. The masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Francisco Seco / Associated Press
    Vijanera festival participants take a break from marching in the village of Silio in northern Spain, on January 3, 2016. The masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Francisco Seco / Associated Press
  • Children play games during a ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of Myanmar’s Independence day in Mandalay on January 4, 2016. Hein Htet / EPA
    Children play games during a ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of Myanmar’s Independence day in Mandalay on January 4, 2016. Hein Htet / EPA
  • A man walks along a road on January 4, 2016, during the season’s first major snowfall in Srinagar, India. Danish Ismail / Reuters
    A man walks along a road on January 4, 2016, during the season’s first major snowfall in Srinagar, India. Danish Ismail / Reuters
  • A Palestinian boy rides his bicycle on the beach at sunset during rainy weather in the Gaza Strip on January 3, 2016. Mohammed Saber / EPA
    A Palestinian boy rides his bicycle on the beach at sunset during rainy weather in the Gaza Strip on January 3, 2016. Mohammed Saber / EPA
  • Hundred of spectators dressed as the late cricket commentator Richie Benaud watch Australia and the West Indies battle it out on the second day of the third cricket test match in Sydney on January 4, 2016. William West / Agence France-Presse
    Hundred of spectators dressed as the late cricket commentator Richie Benaud watch Australia and the West Indies battle it out on the second day of the third cricket test match in Sydney on January 4, 2016. William West / Agence France-Presse
  • Seagulls are seen at sunset on January 3, 2016, at Bang Pu seaside resort in Samut Prakan province on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. Every year between October to March, thousands of the birds migrate to the area from Siberia to escape the harsh winter. Diego Azubel / EPA
    Seagulls are seen at sunset on January 3, 2016, at Bang Pu seaside resort in Samut Prakan province on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. Every year between October to March, thousands of the birds migrate to the area from Siberia to escape the harsh winter. Diego Azubel / EPA

World in focus — best photos for January 4, 2016


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A look at the best photos from around the world.

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees

Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.

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