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FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 27 RABIA 1-1442 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 8440 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Recharge using the app and get health insurance as a gift! Deputy PM signs military cooperation UN official: Lift sanctions agreement with Libyan Defence Minister against Qatar immediately IRFAN BUKHARI she said that imposition of sanc- a frank and open dialogue. She THE PENINSULA tions against Qatar by the four will present a full report to the states lacked any legal basis. United Nations Human Rights Terming the unilateral restric- She thanked the gov- Council in September 2021. tions imposed against Qatar by ernment of Qatar for enabling During her stay in Qatar, four blockading countries on and supporting her visit. She said she met with H E Prime Min- June 5, 2017 and later as ‘violation that the purpose of the visit was ister and Minister of Interior; H of international legal standards’, to assess the impact of unilateral E Deputy Prime Minister and the UN Special Rapporteur on sanctions imposed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs; H E unilateral coercive measures and Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Deputy Prime Minister and human rights, Alena Douhan, has Bahrain and Egypt on the Minister of State for Defence called upon Saudi Arabia, the enjoyment of human rights by Affairs; senior government offi- UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to people living in Qatar, people cials, representatives of inter- immediately withdraw all such living in the four countries and national organisations, diplo- restrictions. any other affected people. matic community, civil society Alena Douhan was The Special Rapporteur also and national human rights addressing a press conference on commended the transparency mechanisms, lawyers, aca- the conclusion of her visit to and the constructive and co- demics, activists, and victims Qatar, from November 1-12, yes- operative way in which the and their families. terday. Sharing preliminary Qatar Government facilitated In a set of recommendations findings of her visit with media, this official visit, which allowed presented at the press con- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah ference, Douhan urged Saudi met yesterday with Libya’s Minister of Defence H E Dr. Salah Eddine Al Namrush, who is currently Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and visiting the country. The meeting dealt with bilateral relations in the military field and the means to Alena Douhan addressing Egypt to immediately withdraw enhance them. The meeting also saw the signing of a cooperation agreement between Qatar's Ministry the media at the Ritz all sanctions/measures aimed at of Defence and Libya's Ministry of Defence in the field of training and building military capabilities. Carlton Hotel. establishing restrictions on PIC:SALIM MATRAMKOT / freedom of expression, The meeting was attended by H E Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Thani, a number of THE PENINSULA movement, access to property, ranking officers in the armed forces, and members of the accompanying Libyan Delegation. trade barriers, and ban tariffs, quotas, non-tariff measures, including those which prevent financing the purchase of med- Qatar’s adherence to rule of law lauded icine, medical equipment, food, other essential goods for people SANAULLAH ATAULLAH UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures living in Qatar in violation of THE PENINSULA and human rights welcomed Kuwaiti efforts for international legal standards. mediation. She said that she also The UN Special Rapporteur on received credible information unilateral coercive measures International cooperation shall be based on the about hacking of Qatar News and human rights, Alena principles of sovereign equality of states. Agency, a significant increase Douhan, has lauded Qatar’s of incidents of incitement to adherence to the rule of law and Qatar is well-known for setting examples of pioneering hatred of Qatar and people attempts to appeal to the living in Qatar, losses of Qatar competent international organs the promotion of freedom of expression in the region. Airways, which had to cancel regarding imposition of sanc- flights – closing offices – inter- tions by the Saudi-led quartet. Unilateral sanctions are impeding full realisation of the rupting aviation schedules. Addressing a press con- seventeen Sustainable Development Goals set in the “Immediately after the uni- ference on the conclusion of her 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. lateral sanctions were imposed, 12-day visit to Qatar to assess Families that include a Qatari, separated by the the Qatari currency was the impact of sanctions against All steps taken by Qatar’s government to mitigate the measures adopted by the four states on June 5, impacted through alleged Qatar on enjoyment of human negative consequences of the sanctions applied on the market manipulation.” rights, Douhan welcomed people living in Qatar are laudable. 2017, shall be reunited. In the recommendations, Kuwaiti efforts for mediation, the Special Rapporteur also the use of any diplomatic and Immediately after the unilateral sanctions were called on the four states to guar- political means for settlement generally reported efforts Qatar is The Special Rapporteur imposed, the Qatari currency was impacted antee freedom of opinion and of discrepancies between states. taking to implement international stressed that any unilateral through alleged market manipulation. expression by annulling all Qatar She welcomed Qatar’s human rights standards. measures which are not sympathy laws, to take all nec- adherence to the rule of law and She said that imposition of authorised by the UN Security essary legislative and organisa- attempts to appeal to the competent sanctions against Qatar lacked Council or go beyond its author- The imposition of sanctions against Qatar by tional measures to guarantee that international organs, including the any legal basis. She reminded that isation may only be taken in full Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt lack any activities under their jurisdiction International Court of Justice, the international cooperation shall compliance with international legal basis. and control are taken without International Civil Aviation Organ- be based on the principles of sov- law in accordance with basic any discrimination, to not initiate ization, the World Trade Organi- ereign equality of states, prohi- principles of the rule of law, Transparency and the constructive and hatred towards people living in zation, the Universal Postal Union bition to use force, non-inter- including legality, legitimacy, cooperative way in which the Qatar Government Qatar; and to drop all cases and the Committee on the Elimi- vention in the domestic affairs of humanity and proportionality, facilitated the official visit, which allowed a frank related to the application of the nation of Racial Discrimination as states, peaceful settlement of with due account for the pre- Qatar sympathy laws to guar- the means of peaceful settlement international disputes, adherence cautionary approach as con- and open dialogue, is commendable. antee that no discrimination is of international disputes between to international obligations and cerns the humanitarian impact applied. `P3 the states involved, as well as protection of human rights. of measures taken. `P3 UK adds Qatar MoI takes actions against 164 Qatar gives over $89m in medical to its travel people for not wearing masks aid to countries to fight COVID-19 corridor list QNA — DOHA Climate Action Summit held in THE PENINSULA — DOHA members of the same September 2019, announced the THE PENINSULA — DOHA family,” it added. The State of Qatar participated in State of Qatar’s pledge to con- The Ministry of Interior (MoI) The statement said that the 44th virtual annual meeting tribute with an amount of $100m The United Kingdom has added has acted against 164 persons competent authorities called of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of to support small island developing the State of Qatar to its list of for not wearing face masks. on the public to adhere to the the Group of 77 and China. The states and least developed coun- travel corridors, so that trav- The Ministry has also referred precautionary and preventive State of Qatar was represented at tries in addressing climate change. ellers coming from the country seven persons to the Public decisions in force to protect the meeting by Minister of State He indicated that Qatar Fund to the UK are exempted from Prosecution for violating the community from the spread for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin for Development is currently quarantine starting at 4am limit of number of people of the COVID-19 in society. Saad Al Muraikhi. working on developing a mech- tomorrow, the Embassy of allowed in a vehicle. The Ministry of Interior on its In the State of Qatar’s speech anism in order to respond to the Qatar in London tweeted “In the implementation of social networking platforms at the meeting, Minister of State challenges related to climate yesterday. the State Cabinet decision and Masks provide safety called upon citizens and for Foreign Affairs stated that the change in these countries. He said "Qatar has been added to Law No. 17 of 1990 regarding and protection. expatriates to adhere strictly State of Qatar has provided aid to that the State of Qatar will also the UK government’s travel infectious diseases, and the Wearing mask in places to the necessary safety countries affected by the corona- host the 5th United Nations Con- corridor list following a preventive and precautionary where it is obligatory measures to prevent corona- virus (COVID-19) pandemic, as it ference for the Least Developed decrease in risk from corona- measures in place to limit the protects you from the virus especially wearing a provided urgent medical aid to 78 Countries from January 23 to 27, virus in the country. From 4am spread of coronavirus, com- face mask to protect them- countries, totalling more than 2022. on Saturday 14 November 2020, petent authorities referred risk of infection from selves and others. $89m. He reaffirmed the principle of passengers arriving into the UK 164 people to the Public Pros- coronavirus. “Masks provide safety and He said that within the the permanent sovereignty of from Qatar will no longer need ecution, as they did not protection. Wearing mask in framework of the challenges peoples over their natural to self-isolate so long as they comply with wearing (face) places where it is obligatory resulting from climate change, the resources that are under foreign haven’t been in or transited masks in places where it is Prosecution for violating protects you from the risk of State of Qatar has played a pio- occupation, the inalienable rights through any other non-exempt mandatory,” said the Ministry the limit allowed in a infection from coronavirus,” neering role in supporting the of the Palestinian people and res- countries in the 14 days pre- in a statement. vehicle, which is specified the Ministry said on its Twitter exerted international efforts, as idents of the occupied Golan ceding their arrival", the UK “Seven others were also as four persons, including account. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Heights and the right to government website said. referred to the Public the driver, except for `P2 Hamad Al Thani, during the self-determination. 02 HOME FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020

Foreign Minister meets Libyan Defence Minister OFFICIAL NEWS QNA — DOHA Amir holds

Deputy Prime Minister and telephone talk with Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Afghan President PRAYER Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul- TIMINGS rahman Al Thani met here DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim PRAYERPRAYRRAAAY TIMINGSMING yesterday with Defence bin Hamad Al Thani held yesterday Minister in Libya’s Government via telephone a conversation with FAJR 04.29 am of National Accord H E Dr. Salah President of the Islamic Republic Eddine Al Namrush, who is of Afghanistan H E Dr. Moham- SUNRISE 05.49 am currently visiting Doha. mad Ashraf Ghani, during which DHUHR 11.18 am During the meeting, the two they discussed bilateral relations ASR 02.25 pm sides discussed bilateral coop- and the means to enhance them. eration and relations and the The two sides also discussed the MAGHRIB 04.49 pm latest developments in the sit- latest developments in Afghanistan ISHA 06.19 pm uation in Libya, in addition to and the Afghan peace negotiations topics of mutual interest. hosted in Doha. The Afghan Pres- H E Sheikh Mohammed bin ident expressed his thanks and Abdulrahman Al Thani affirmed appreciation to H H the Amir for Qatar’s support for the sover- the State of Qatar’s continuous eignty of Libya, and reiterated efforts and its constant support to welcoming the declaration of a establishing peace, security, and ceasefire in all Libyan stability in Afghanistan to real- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al territories. ise the aspirations of the Afghan Thani meeting Defence Minister in Libya’s Government of National Accord, H E Dr. Salah Eddine Al He also expressed the people for unity and prosperity. Namrush and the delegation accompanying him, in Doha yesterday. WEATHER wishes of the State of Qatar that — QNA TODAY the ceasefire agreement would be a step forward in the path of solution that preserves the unity respects the rights of the establishes a state of law and Amir congratulates a comprehensive political of the Libyan territories, brotherly Libyan people, and civil institutions. President of Republic of Cote d’Ivoire o o Ooredoo says network issues fully resolved 25 C 34 C DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim THE PENINSULA — DOHA offer my apologies on behalf of bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir Minimum Maximum I would like to offer my all Ooredoo employees to our H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Misty to foggy at places at first Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading tele- apologies on behalf of all valued customers for the Al Thani, and Prime Minister and becomes relatively hot daytime with communications operator, has Ooredoo employees to our problems that occurred over the Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Kha- scattered clouds and chance of rain. announced its engineers have valued customers for the past few days, which affected lid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al resolved network issues that problems that occurred over mobile services. We realise com- Thani sent yesterday cables of W ALRUWAIS : 21o → 32o occurred while upgrading the munication has become a cor- congratulations to President of W ALKHOR : 24o → 33o main server and led to an the past few days, which nerstone of our lives, and that’s the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire H E W DUKHAN : 22o → 34o outage recently that affected affected mobile services. why we worked hard, day and Alassane Ouattara on the occa- customers’ mobile services. night, and didn’t settle until the sion of winning a new presidential W WAKRAH : 24o → 34o Ooredoo issued a video Sheikh Mohammed Bin issue was resolved by the grace term. — QNA MESAIEED : 24o → 34o W address to customers in which Abdulla Al Thani of Allah.” Sheikh Mohammed W ABUSAMRA : 18o → 34o CEO Sheikh Mohammed bin CEO Ooredoo Qatar also confirmed, as a gesture of Amir sends Abdulla Al Thani explained the thanks to Ooredoo’s valued cus- condolences to reason for the service inter- tomers for their patience and ruption. He reassured cus- main server, while conducting clock to identify the source of loyalty, its postpaid customers Ghanaian President HIGH TIDE tomers Ooredoo engineering the upgrade, many customers the problem and complete the — Shahry, Qatarna, and Data 03:14 – 14:18 teams had identified and fully found themselves unable to necessary works to get the plan – will have 50% of the DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim LOW TIDE 09:20 – 22:04 resolved the issues that led to access their mobile services. network back up and running monthly charge waived from bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir the outage and closely moni- Engineers attended both the again as soon as possible. their November bill, while Hala H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al tored networks to ensure affected main server and the CEO of Ooredoo Qatar customers have been given 500 Thani, and Prime Minister and Min- service continuation. relevant sub-servers. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Flexi points they can use until ister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid Due to the failure of the They worked around the Al Thani said, “I would like to the end of November. bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani sent yesterday cables of condo- lences to President of the Republic of Ghana H E Nana Akufo-Addo 'Restrictions against Qatar violating human rights' on the occasion of the death of former president Jerry Rawlings. IRFAN BUKHARI the media of the four states also — QNA THE PENINSULA violate the rights to freedom of expression, as well as obliga- The UN Special Rapporteur on tions to take all necessary MoPH: 245 new unilateral coercive measures measures to prevent and pros- and human rights, Alena ecute incitement to racial dis- cases, one death Douhan, yesterday expressed crimination. Insufficient trans- concerns over impact of parency adds to forming the due to COVID-19 blockade against Qatar by feelings of fear and uncertainty Saudi-led quartet on enjoyment that result in mental suffering. THE PENINSULA — DOHA of human rights. To a question whether The expulsion of Qataris United Nations Human Rights The Ministry of Public Health from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Council (UNHRC) could push (MoPH) yesterday announced UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights, Alena Douhan (left), Bahrain, and the recalls of the blockading countries to the registration of 245 new addressing a press conference in Doha yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA nationals of those states from find a better solution diplomat- confirmed COVID-19 cases. Qatar, as well as the bans on ically to the crisis, she said the Among them, 53 were trav- travel imposed by those states, communication networks may Council was not a court to ellers returning from abroad. have resulted in numerous The expulsion of Qataris from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and result in the violation of the make a final decision asking Also 227 people have reported violations of the Bahrain, and the recalls of nationals of those states from right to life with regard to spe- states to follow. “However, the recovered from the virus, enjoyment of fundamental Qatar, as well as the bans on travel imposed by those states, cific medicines for which there country visit is one of the bringing the total number of rights and freedoms, including: are no equivalent alternative mechanisms under special pro- recovered cases in Qatar to the right to family life; the right have resulted in numerous reported violations of the sources of supply, like scorpion cedures of the council in order 132,153. The Ministry also to an education; the right to enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms. and snake bite antidotes locally to collect information about announced one death of work; the right to health; the produced in the Kingdom of what exactly happened in the person aged 70 who was right to private property; the Alena Douhan Saudi Arabia. The interruption country. It is also impossible to receiving the necessary right to free exercise of religion; UN Special Rapporteur of communication and meet for example victims, jour- medical care. All new cases and the right to equal access to exchange of information nalists, academia, students, have been introduced to iso- justice, Douhan said at a press between law-enforcement lawyers, companies of the lation and are receiving nec- conference in Doha states (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, agencies involved in the organ- agencies increases risks in cre- country without visiting the essary healthcare according to yesterday. Bahrain and Egypt) or involved isation of Hajj and Umrah; and ating protection gaps for victims country.” their health status. In Qatar, she met a large in joint ventures with nationals Qatari nationals not being able of human trafficking, she said. She said that report which number of victims of human of the four states; Qatari stu- to exercise their religious rights “In addition, the four states’ will be presented to the UNHRC rights violations including indi- dents studying in the four states; by visiting Holy places are demands to shut down Al in September 2021 will be dis- MoI takes viduals, lawyers, journalists and nationals of the four states, among victims of sanctions.” Jazeera and other Qatari news cussed by whole Council. “We representatives of local civil Qatar and third countries exer- She noted that the rights of outlets, the banning of them on hope very much this will actions against society, humanitarian organi- cising their freedom of migrant workers are also their territories and the crimi- mediate and settle the conflict. sations, corporations and expression and speaking in directly and indirectly affected, nalisation of expressions of We want to draw attention to 164 for not academia. sympathy for Qatar or in oppo- as many lost their jobs and were sympathy with Qatar by Saudi the fact that it is important not She said that among those sition to their own govern- left stranded by employers Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain violate to relay on a single mechanism. wearing masks who are reported to be badly ments’ actions towards Qatar. without salaries and/or the rights of freedom of opinion That is way I commend very FROM PAGE 1 affected are couples in mixed “Individuals and employees benefits. and expression.” much the efforts that Qatar is marriages and their children; of companies designated by the The Special Rapporteur She said that the reported taking now by appeals to huge The Ministry further asked Qatari nationals with jobs or four states as being involved in expressed concerns that breach and well-documented anti- number of competent interna- people to ensure that there are businesses based in the four terrorist activity; Qatari or interruption of trade and Qatari incitement campaigns in tional bodies.” no more than four persons including the driver in a car while going out except for the same family. “Compliance Two Qatari planes deliver with precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coro- navirus is your national and medical aid to Lebanon moral duty,” said the Ministry. The assistance provided by QFFD The Ministry also asked resi- QNA — BEIRUT dents to keep Ehteraz app on will help set up two field hospitals and connected with internet. In the implementation of the in Tyre and Tripoli. “To keep the Ehteraz app directives of Amir H H Sheikh working properly, it requires Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, continuing support to Lebanon, not to disconnect your phone two aircraft of the Qatar Amiri dealing with the shortages in from the internet, Bluetooth Air Force landed in Beirut hospitals as a result of the enabled, location feature acti- yesterday, carrying medical spread of the coronavirus vated,” said the Ministry. equipment provided by the (COVID-19), and supporting the The app ensures access to State of Qatar to the Lebanese country’s efforts in containing the multiple services that Republic. the virus. enhances the precautionary The new shipment is pro- The two aircraft were measures and prevent the vided by Qatar Fund for Devel- received at Rafic Hariri Inter- spread of coronavirus, in opment (QFFD) to prepare two national Airport by Acting addition to get the latest devel- field hospitals that will be built Charge d’Affaires at the Qatar opments, statistics, notifica- in Tyre and Tripoli. Embassy in Beirut Ali Mohamed tions, and alerts and Crew and officials at the arrival of the planes at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. This is part of Qatar’s Al Mutawaa. awareness instructions. FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 HOME 03 QU hosts 5th annual International Conference on ELT virtually

THE PENINSULA — DOHA knowledge to enhance their education because we believe participation in supporting the We must not let the that at the heart of every chal- The Qatar University (QU) development of the knowledge lenge comes opportunities.” Foundation Program (FP), economy in their countries and pandemic affect our spirit Dr. Ibrahim Al Kaabi, Dean under the Deanship of General local communities. Moreover, to grow the 21st-century of General Studies at QU, com- Studies, held recently its 5th the conference highlighted the skills in education mented, “The conference is the Annual International importance of professional first online international con- because we believe that QU President, Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham, inaugurating the Conference on English development for ELT specialists ference hosted by the Foun- at the heart of every conference. Language Teaching (ELT) through academic discussions dation Program at Qatar Uni- virtually. It was themed such as this. challenge comes versity. As we welcome eve- ‘Teaching English and the Skills Many education experts, opportunities. ryone, I am pleased to have of faculty members and The QU 5th Annual Interna- of the 21st Century — Commu- QU faculty members, and colleagues from the Ministry of researchers and upgrading their tional Conference on ELT pre- nicate, Collaborate, Create.’ teachers in the Ministry of Edu- Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Education and Higher Edu- capabilities to a high level, sented 85 discussion sessions In the presence of more cation and Higher Education Derham cation. We will continue to which would enhance the and a variety of training work- than 8,000 specialists and (MOEHE) and other practi- Qatar University President work together to promote best quality of services provided in shops that dealt with emotional interested professionals in ELT tioners in Qatar and the world practices in ELT and learning.” our educational institutions. intelligence, collaborative in Qatar and abroad, the con- attended the opening cer- Dr. Hezam Al Awah, the Stephen Krashen, Emeritus learning, critical thinking, inno- ference highlighted the latest emony conference. Conference Chair and Director Professor of linguistics at the vation in Teaching English to cutting-edge skills and practices QU President, Dr. Hassan effectively. of the Foundation Program at University of Southern Cali- Speakers of Other Languages in language education that Rashid Al Derham, said, “We are “In line with the current QU, said that this conference is fornia, USA, and a distinguished (TESOL), autonomous learning, would support students in very proud to host the fifth reality, we are having a virtual one of the most essential and author in second language practical ideas in e-learning, developing their skills and edition of this international conference this year because largest academic conferences acquisition (SLA) gave the con- project-based learning, educa- acquiring knowledge that con- online conference, which brings the global pandemic has made held at the university and in the ference opening plenary tional management skills in tributes to further advancement. together a large number of it impossible to meet in Doha region in line with Qatar 2030 session, “Three Issues in Lan- virtual classes, assessment and Over two days, this year’s teachers, educators and lan- as we did in the last four years. strategy. This conference has guage Acquisition and Use.” electronic tests. It also included conference discussed ELT and guage experts in TESOL. The I hope that we will be able to provided an opportunity to Prof. Krashen has received dis- workshops and panel discus- the skills of the 21st century that conference title reflects the gather physically in the near review and discuss modern aca- tinguished academic awards sions that focused on devel- educators seek to establish in current reality, as learners need future. We must not let the demic skills in the educational and contributed more than 486 oping language teachers’ skills the curricula. These skills would these skills to integrate into the pandemic affect our spirit to sector. These, in turn, contribute publications of papers and in Qatar in research, learning, enable students to acquire global labour market grow the 21st-century skills in to the significant development books. and teaching. Protecting human rights a strategic choice for Qatar: MoI Ooredoo opens pre-order for QNA — DOHA marks a renewal of Qatar’s promoting and protecting commitment to human rights human rights represents the iPhone 12 series The Ministry of Interior (MoI) nationally, regionally, and National Human Rights Day backbone of the comprehensive said yesterday that protecting internationally. He added that renews Qatar’s commitment reform policy pursued by Qatar, THE PENINSULA — DOHA human rights was the backbone the protection of human rights to human rights nationally, as development of human of the comprehensive policy is a national responsibility, regionally, and internationally. capital along with the pro- Ooredoo has opened pre- reforms undertaken by the State according to the UN Charter. tection and promotion of orders for the latest iPhone of Qatar. The Director of the Human human rights are at the top of range — the iPhone 12, iPhone This came during the speech Rights Department at the Min- Brigadier General Abdullah the country’s priorities. 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and of Director of the Human Rights istry of Interior noted that the Saqr Al Mohannadi He said Qatar is paying iPhone 12 mini. The iPhone 12 Department, Brigadier General Qatari Human Rights Day is an Director Human Rights Department increased attention to the issue series is the technology giant’s Abdullah Saqr Al Mohannadi, affirmation that commitment Ministry of Interior of promoting and protecting first 5G-enabled device, much- to mark the Qatari Human to human rights is a strategic human rights and to enhancing awaited in the market. Rights Day which falls on choice for the State of Qatar, the legislative and institutional Customers can pre-order November 11 of every year, and that providing the nec- structure for human rights, and the latest iPhones with which coincides with Amiri essary guarantees for it has He highlighted the cooper- rights complaints among other in the state’s commitment to Ooredoo from midnight on 13 Decree no. 38 of the year 2002 become an integral part of all ation between the ministry and initiatives related to promoting present and discuss its reports November via the Ooredoo establishing the National state institutions, in addition to the National Human Rights human rights. with the international moni- website, with prices starting Human Rights Committee. promoting the rule of law and Committee in terms of Brigadier General Al toring mechanisms concerned from QR2,999 and availability He said that the occasion good governance. processing human Mohannadi emphasised that with human rights. expected from 20 November. Alongside 5G capability, the new iPhone 12 series Qatar’s boasts the Apple-designed A14 Ministry updates COVID-19 instructions for gyms Bionic chip as well as a sleek adherence to rule new design, unrivalled new THE PENINSULA — DOHA Gyms have been to ensure social distancing. Outdoor group exercise is camera systems, a Ceramic of law lauded allowed to reopen They will check and allowed while keeping physical Shield front cover, and edge- FROM PAGE 1 The Ministry of Commerce and measure the body temperature distancing and leaving a safe to-edge Super Retina XDR dis- Industry (MoCI) has issued an restrooms and of gym staff and clients upon distance of not less than 3 plays for an immersive visual Alena Douhan said that update, which comes into effect changing rooms, arrival, and not allow entry to metres. Other measures include experience. Qatar is well-known for from November 12, on the individuals whose temperature allowing the reopening of toilets Director PR at Ooredoo, setting examples of pio- instructions relating to the and are required exceeds 38 degrees Celsius. and changing rooms in gyms, Sabah Rabiah Al Kuwari, com- neering of the promotion of gradual lifting of COVID-19 to sanitise gym They will allow staff and providing hand sanitisers and menting on the launch, said, freedom of expression in the restrictions on gymnasiums in clients entry only after checking soap in all facilities of the gym- “We know being able to get region. Qatar. equipment every two the colour code identifying their nasium, urging customers to their hands on the latest, most The Special Rapporteur “In line with the previous hours. health condition on the Ehteraz bring and use their own towels, covetable devices is a huge expressed her concern that decisions and measures taken app. Only green code holders personal hygiene kits, and priority for our customers. the demand to shut down to preserve the safety and are allowed in. water bottles. Gymnasium staff With Apple smartphones Qatari news outlets, health of Qatar’s citizens and Gymnasiums shall comply Staff and clients are must clean and sanitise gym being some of the most including Al Jazeera, is con- residents and to limit the spread with the precautionary and pre- required to wear masks while equipment every 2 hours at a sought-after on the market, trary to the international of the coronavirus (COVID-19), ventive measures outlined by inside the gymnasium. The area minimum. it’s imperative we’re able to human rights obligations it has been decided to make the Ministry of Public Health surrounding each fitness trainer “This decision goes into offer pre-orders to ensure our which are legally binding new amendments to the and the Ministry of Adminis- must be at least 2 square metres effect on Thursday, November customers are among the first for all five countries and decision issued on July 28, trative Development, Labour, in all directions. Outdoor group 12, 2020, and may be subject to to own such devices. We were clearly undermines freedom 2020, during the third stage of and Social Affairs. They shall exercise is strictly prohibited, amendments and updates delighted to arrange pre- of expression, creating a the gradual lifting of restrictions implement the guidelines to and fitness trainers are allowed according to the latest devel- orders for the long-awaited chilling effect that stifles on gymnasiums with regards to limit the occupancy rate in the to train only one person simul- opments in this regard. Any vio- iPhone 12 and look forward civil society as well as pro- the instructions that gyms gym’s capacity by ensuring taneously, with a commitment lation of this decision will to delivering them to our cus- vokes uncertainty and fear should comply with,” the Min- employees and customers’ to maintaining physical dis- subject perpetrators to legal tomers soon.” among writers and istry said on its social media commitment to maintaining a tancing and leaving a safe dis- accountability and procedures,” Customers can pre-order journalists. pages. safe distance of at least 3 metres tance of not less than 3 metres. the Ministry added. at pre-order.ooredoo.qa. The Special Rapporteur expressed concerns over the fact that the four states have implemented various uni- UN official: Lift sanctions against Qatar immediately lateral trade sanctions FROM PAGE 1 against Qatar which restrict June 5, 2017 and later are given GCC documents for four of them; extraterritorial character of undermine traditional trade in goods, services and The Special Rapporteur the opportunity to complete in the meantime, to establish international terrorism, human coherence and historical trade-related intellectual echoed the calls of the UN their education in the four coun- reasonable transparent criteria trafficking and other trans- peaceful co-existence of people property rights, impeding Special Procedures mandate tries or to obtain their educa- for granting residence permits, boundary crimes, they can only living in all five countries the full realization of the holders and UN treaty bodies to tional records if they wish to issuing visas, allowing short- be effectively combatted through full respect of funda- seventeen Sustainable the four states to review the def- continue their studies else- term visits and ensuring their through cooperation and mutual mental human rights standards Development Goals set in inition of terrorism and ter- where,” she said. safety. assistance. She called thus on all protecting free speech and the 2030 Agenda for Sus- rorism financing in their laws She said that Qataris affected Alena Douhan called on all parties to renew cooperation expression, as well as six criteria tainable Development. and bring it into line with inter- by the measures adopted by the parties to guarantee that all and intensify mutual assistance and indicators derived from the She also welcomed national human rights norms, four states on June 5, 2017 and people enjoy fully their right to in criminal matters. Rabat Plan of Action. In order to recent progress of Qatar in and to refrain from using anti- later be allowed access to tri- recognition before the law, While recognising that Hajj achieve that, all concerned states improving its domestic leg- terrorism and other forms of bunals and other judicial organs including by issuing and and Umrah constitute an inal- should develop and implement islation and practice in national security legislation to of the four countries without dis- renewing all necessary IDs and ienable pillar of the exercise of their own Counter Hate Speech countering terrorism. stifle peaceful and non-violent crimination of any kind. documents, especially for freedom of conscience of any Strategy. She said that Qatar is a activities through the desig- The Special Rapporteur also children. In the meantime, to fill Muslim, Douhan called on the To a question from The party to 15 multilateral nation of people, journalists and urged the four states to guar- the protection gap, the Special State of Qatar and the Kingdom Peninsula about possible prac- agreements relating to NGOs, including Qatar Charity, antee that no discrimination is Rapporteur recommended that of Saudi Arabia to negotiate and tical steps and measures by security and counter-ter- as well as others not included in applied towards people living in Qatar take all necessary steps to conclude in good faith and UNHRC in September 2021 rorism, and it is an active the UN Security Council lists. Qatar; that sport, cultural and provide temporary or per- without any discrimination pro- when the report of human contributing member of the “The designation of people academic events are used to manent IDs for affected people tocols between the Ministry of rights violations by the block- Community Engagement and companies as being enhance cooperation and devel- of the four states, and to Endowments and Islamic Affairs ading countries will be sub- and Resilience Fund, a non- involved in terrorist activity can opment of people without any establish centralized organs to in the State of Qatar and the mitted, she said: “The very idea profit foundation based in only be done bona fidae and discrimination; and that any provide them with asylum. Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in of the existence of special pro- Geneva, Switzerland, and based on clear standards with form of incitement to hatred is The Special Rapporteur the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia cedures is to collect information the first global effort to due account for fair trial and addressed, discontinued and called on the State of Qatar, the providing for quotas, local con- to analyse it and to bring to the support local community judicial guarantees under the prosecuted as required by inter- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the tractors, airports of arrival, the attention of international com- efforts to build resilience to control of the UN Security national human rights law, United Arab Emirates and the possibility of land crossing munity. The Special Rapporteur violent extremism Council,” she said. article 20 of the ICCPR. Kingdom of Bahrain — which points and other necessary ele- is individually just an expert The Special Rapporteur She said that families that The Special Rapporteur are all members of the GCC — to ments as is done with other who provides independent also commended all steps include a Qatari, separated by stressed the need for all con- resume their close cooperation countries. expert opinion and recommen- taken by Qatar’s gov- the measures adopted by the cerned countries to negotiate between member states and use The Special Rapporteur dations to the broad com- ernment to mitigate the four states on June 5, 2017, shall visa and residence issues, existing dispute settlement called on all parties to defuse munity. In my opinion, the best negative consequences of be reunited. “Qatari students including the possibility to re- mechanisms. tension and tackle together the way to protect human rights is the sanctions applied on the affected by the measures establish the freedom of The Special Rapporteur seriousness or severity of hate set a dialogue and find a general people living in Qatar. adopted by the four states on movement provided for by the noted that due to the speech that may solution.” 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020

IS claims Jeddah Iran crosses attack, says it targeted France grim milestone AFP — BEIRUT

The Islamic State (IS) group of 40,000 said yesterday it carried out a bombing against a gathering of diplomats in Saudi Arabia, saying it was to protest French virus deaths cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon AP — TEHRAN The latest 10,000 Him). deaths added in less Wednesday’s attack struck Iran yesterday passed the grim a World War I commemo- milestone of 40,000 corona- than a month as the ration at a non-Muslim cem- virus deaths, with the latest country struggles etery in the Red Sea city of 10,000 added in less than a to contain its most Jeddah, wounding at least two month, as the country struggles people. to contain its most widespread widespread wave It came less than a month wave of infection yet. of infection yet. The after a guard at the French Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri (right) meeting with Patrick Durel, an adviser to The Iranian health ministry consulate in Jeddah was Iranian health ministry French President Emmanuel Macron, in the capital Beirut, yesterday. announced 457 new fatalities wounded by a knife-wielding yesterday, along with 117,517 announced 457 new Saudi, amid Muslim fury over new infections, pushing the fatalities yesterday, cartoons of the Prophet total case count past 726,000, along with 117,517 new Macron envoy in Lebanon (PBUH). although officials have warned French President that’s a significant infections, pushing the Emmanuel Macron has vigor- undercount. total case count past to save French rescue plan ously defended the right to The death toll has soared in 726,000. publish cartoons deemed as recent weeks, shattering offensive by some, including records in the nation that for AFP — BEIRUT country’s collapse since a attempt to forge a consensus of the Prophet (PBUH), but he months has suffered the worst with no end in sight, author- crushing currency crisis and a on a cabinet line-up. has also tried to ease tensions outbreak in the Middle East. ities have come under pressure. An adviser to French President cataclysmic explosion at Beirut Hariri, who has held the over his remarks. Nearly half of Iran’s coro- The national coronavirus task Emmanuel Macron met top port. On September 1, Macron position twice, was forced to A statement by IS’s prop- navirus deaths are recorded in force will consider a two-week Lebanese officials yesterday in gave political leaders two resign last year, under pressure aganda arm Amaq said the the capital of Tehran, according nationwide lockdown proposal a desperate bid to save a plan weeks to form a non-sectarian from an unprecedented popular attack “primarily targeted the to health officials, where this weekend, Deputy Health Paris put forward to rescue the government of experts tasked protest movement. French consul over his coun- medical workers have warned Minister Qassem Janbabaei told country’s agonising economy. with carrying out urgent Hariri, Aoun, Berri and try’s indistance on publishing that the health system may the semi-official Tasnim news Patrick Durel, who arrived reforms capable of unlocking others embody the sectarian- the cartoons insulting to the soon be overwhelmed and agency. in Beirut on Wednesday, held billions in aid. driven, corrupt and hereditary Prophet of God”. demanded a strict month-long Saudi Arabia announced talks with President Michel On September 27, Macron brand of politics that protesters, An earlier statement by the lockdown in all provincial cap- 15 deaths from COVID-19 and Aoun and other key players, gave another deadline of “four and ostensibly France, say group on its Telegram channel itals to slow the virus’ spread. 311 new infections yesterday. including parliament speaker to six weeks” which also went needs to be done away with. said IS fighters had “planted But the government has The total number of recov- Nabih Berri. unheeded. French officials Lebanon, which defaulted an explosive device in... the resisted shutting down the eries increased to 339,114 A statement from the pres- have voiced their exasperation on its debt this year, is experi- cemetery in the city of Jeddah country, desperate to salvage after 412 more patients idency quoted Aoun as saying with Lebanese politicians’ encing its worst ever economic on Wednesday”. an economy cratered by recovered from the virus. A that he “adheres to the French unwillingness to put the interest crisis and is still reeling from a Diplomats from France, unprecedented American sanc- total of 5,605 people have initiative, which is in the of the country before their own. devastating explosion at the Greece, Italy, Britain and the tions that effectively bar Iran succumbed to the virus in the interest of the country”. After Lebanon’s ambas- port that gutted entire neigh- United States attended the from selling its oil Kingdom so far. Yet Lebanon’s ruling class sador to Germany was desig- bourhoods of Beirut on August Armistice Day commemo- internationally. The Kuwaiti Ministry of has ignored the deadlines set by nated to form a government 4. Both are widely blamed on ration ceremony in Jeddah, The Trump administration Health announced yestereday France, which has spearheaded and failed, Aoun last month government corruption and their embassies said in a reimposed sanctions in 2018 773 new cases of coronavirus efforts to stop the asked Saad Hariri to return and incompetence. statement after the bombing. after withdrawing from (COVID-19) in the past 24 Tehran’s nuclear deal with hours, bringing the total of con- world powers. firmed cases in the country to Earlier this week, author- 134,932. Libya factions agree preliminary plan for polls: UN ities ordered a month-long During the same period, nightly business curfew in four deaths have been AFP — TUNIS The talks, between 75 del- backing the Tripoli-based Gov- apart by war, economic crisis and Tehran and 30 other major recorded, bringing the total egates selected by the UN to ernment of National Accord the coronavirus pandemic. cities and towns, asking non- number of deaths in Kuwait to Libyans at UN-led talks were represent existing institutions (GNA) staged a withering June The UN is also convening essential shops to keep their 830 cases so far. The patients discussing the powers of a and the diversity of Libyan pushback against the forces of meetings of a joint military workers home. Still, in intensive care units have proposed transitional society, take place in parallel military strongman Khalifa commission with five repre- enforcement in the sprawling reached 110, bringing the total government yesterday, the UN with talks between former rival Haftar, who is allied with a rival sentatives from each side near metropolis remains a of confirmed cases that are still said, as it steps up efforts to end military delegations inside the administration in the east and the ceasefire line in Sirte, the challenge. receiving the necessary years of conflict in the country. country to fill in the details of a had attempted to seize Tripoli. coastal hometown of Gaddafi. As deaths continue to surge treatment to 8,509 cases. The meetings in neigh- key October ceasefire deal. The Tunisia talks, which build Talks continued there yes- bouring Tunisia have produced Oil-rich Libya has been on the relative calm on the terday, with a subcommittee on a preliminary roadmap for gripped by chaos since the 2011 ground, aim at creating a the withdrawal of foreign forces. Eight peacekeepers, including six “organising free, fair, inclusive ouster and killing of longtime roadmap towards elections and The GNA on Tuesday accused the and credible presidential and dictator Muammar Gaddafi, appointing a temporary gov- Wagner group, a Russian para- Americans, killed in Sinai copter crash parliamentary elections,” with rival administrations in the ernment to oversee the transi- military organisation accused of interim UN envoy Stephanie east and west vying for power. tional period. The administration backing Haftar, of preventing its REUTERS — OCCUPIED JERUSALEM Williams told journalists on The latest push for peace will be charged with providing delegation from landing at the Wednesday evening. comes months after forces vital services to a country torn Qardabiya airbase. A helicopter with the US-led Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Egyptian Sinai crashed yesterday near the resort town of Sharm Al Sheikh, killing eight members of the peace- Angolan police crack down keeper force, the MFO said. Iran arrests separatist group leader Those killed were six Americans, a French national and a on anti-govt protests Czech national, all of them military service members, the MFO AFP — LUANDA suspected of military parade attack said in a statement. It added that one American MFO member survived and was medically evacuated. The Israeli military said Angolan police fired live bullets and tear REUTERS — DUBAI Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards. it evacuated the injured peacekeeper to a hospital in Israel. gas at youth protesting against poor Islamic State (IS) militants also claimed An official briefed on the incident, and who could not be iden- living conditions, according to reporters Iran’s intelligence ministry has arrested an responsibility. Neither claim provided evi- tified by name or nationality, told Reuters it was an accident caused at the scene, the latest crackdown on a Iranian ethnic Arab separatist leader dence. “Farajollah Chaab, the leader of the by mechanical failure. The Czech Defence Ministry released a surge of anti-government demonstra- suspected of involvement in an attack on a separatist group, has been arrested by Iran’s statement confirming a Czech army member was among those tions in recent weeks. military parade in 2018 in the Khuzestan intelligence ministry agents,” state TV said, killed in the helicopter crash. The statement said the cause of the A number of demonstrations have province that killed dozens of people, without elaborating on when or how Chaab crash was a technical fault. taken place in Angola’s capital Luanda Iranian state TV reported yesterday. — who was based in Sweden —was arrested. Acting US Defence Secretary Christopher Miller confirmed this year in protest against unem- An Iranian ethnic Arab opposition “Chaab has planned several other major that six Americans had been killed and said on Twitter that he was ployment, high living costs and alleged movement called the Ahvaz National attacks in Tehran and Khuzestan province saddened by the deaths. The MFO was installed to monitor the demil- state corruption. The demonstrators, Resistance, which seeks a separate state in in recent years... he has recently been itarization of the Sinai under the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace accord. backed by main opposition party UNITA, Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan province, claimed planning to launch a new terrorist oper- It has decreased in size in recent years as the neighbouring coun- are also demanding a new date for local responsibility for the attack that killed 25 ation that failed with the efforts of the intel- tries tightened security cooperation against insurgents. elections delayed by the pandemic. people, almost half of them members of ligence ministry agents,” state TV added. Ethiopia claims control of west Tigray

REUTERS — ADDIS ABABA people,” he added. his allegation and there was no With communications down immediate response from the Ethiopia’s military has defeated and media barred, independent TPLF, which has accused local forces in the west of Tigray verification of the status of the federal troops of being “mer- state, Prime Minister Abiy conflict was impossible. ciless” in bombing Tigrayans. Ahmed said yesterday, The Tigray People’s Liber- More than 10,000 Ethiopian accusing his foes of atrocities ation Front (TPLF), which rules refugees have crossed into during a week of fighting that the mountainous northern state Sudan since fighting started and threatens to destabilise the of more than five million aid agencies say the situation in Horn of Africa. people, announced a local state Tigray is becoming dire. Even Air strikes and ground of emergency against what it before the conflict, 600,000 combat have killed hundreds, termed an “invasion by people there were reliant on sent refugees flooding into outsiders”. food aid. Sudan, stirred Ethiopia’s ethnic Abiy accuses the TPLF of The United Nations’ Office divisions and raised questions starting the conflict by attacking for the Coordination of Human- over the credentials of Abiy, a federal military base and itarian Affairs said aid agencies Africa’s youngest leader who defying his authority, while the were unable to restock food, won a Nobel Peace Prize in Tigrayans say his two-year-old health and other emergency 2019. rule has persecuted them. supplies due to lack of access. “The western region of The premier said some of The UN refugee agency’s Tigray has been liberated,” his soldiers had been found representative in Ethiopia, Ann A police officer stands guard as volunteers gather to donate blood for the injured members of Ethiopia’s tweeted Abiy, 44, who comes dead in the town of Sheraro, Encontre, told Reuters negoti- National Defense Forces (ENDF) fighting against Tigray’s special forces on the border between Amhara from the largest ethnic group shot with their legs and arms ations were under way with and Tigray, at the Addis Ababa stadium, Ethiopia, yesterday. the Oromo and once fought with tied behind their back. “This both sides for humanitarian the Tigrayans against neigh- kind of cruelty is heart- corridors to be opened. non-essential U.N. and other by the United Nations, the troops’ Northern Command had bouring Eritrea. breaking,” he said. A “major emergency” may workers were pulling out of African Union and others for a survived a five-day siege and “The army is now providing He did not say how many be brewing with so many people Tigray and returning to the ceasefire and talks. was recapturing places humanitarian assistance and bodies were found or provide escaping to Sudan, she warned. capital Addis Ababa in convoy. His army chief of staff including Dansha, Humera services. It is also feeding the proof. Reuters could not verify About two dozen vehicles of Abiy has so far resisted calls Birhanu Jula said the federal airport and Baeker. FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 ISLAM 05 The seven phases of Prophet’s life

JAVEED AKHTER The peace dividend, following this treaty with the Quraysh, is huge and raditional scholarship’s divides results in an exponential increase in Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace the number of Muslims. Be Upon Him) life into Makkan This also allows the building of a and Madinan phases. This is model and just society that functions in Tchronologically valid and represents a coherent manner. Wealth is allowed the two broad aspects of his life before to be accumulated but has to be circu- and after the watershed event of the lated fairly into even the tiniest capil- Migration. It is historically important laries of the community’s economic and marks the beginning of the Islamic system. It is an egalitarian society with calendar. equity and justice for all, governed by Additionally I believe Prophet mutual consultation, equality before the Muhammad’s (PBUH) struggle can be law and protection of its most vul- naturally divided into seven phases. nerable members, women, children, Each phase brings forth a different orphans, indigents and slaves. As illus- aspect of his personality and highlights trated by many incidents from this phase a different facet of his mission. of his life, the Prophet (PBUH) proves to Studying the Messenger’s mission for be an exemplary statesman. He mediates its various phases and analyzing its disputes, defuses potentially explosive internal dynamics is important as it situations with ease, allowing the parties gives the narrative relevance for today. to the conflict to walk away as friends Since his life is better documented than and allies. He is unafraid to take risks but the lives of other prophets and leaders is never reckless and compromises for of major world religions, it is possible the sake of peace. His emissaries to to build this analysis on a historical other nations bring with them a message foundation. of cooperation seeking common ground. When he gives a pledge, he always keeps The seeker of truth it. If the other party breaks the pledge, As his biography (Seera) is recorded he does not flinch from measures that we find Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are appropriate to maintain the sanctity pondering over societal ills for years. of the pledge. The society he was born in was in a state of moral, religious, economic and Compassionate ruler and spir- social chaos. It is difficult to resist The stunning magnanimity and humility shown during Makkah victory itual leader drawing analogies between the seventh The final phase begins with the century world and the state of the by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions is unmatched in conquest of Makkah, which is a dem- human morality in today’s world at the history. He is humble in victory, compassionate, and forgiving to even onstration of meticulous planning and beginning of the new millennium. The the use of overwhelming force to nuclear man-woman two-parent his most intractable opponents. And his final sermon consolidates the achieve a victory with practically no family, as a core unit of society has loss of life on either side of the battle eroded seriously in the West. Brazen social, economic, and moral changes that have been brought about in front. The stunning magnanimity and sexual exploitation in the media is the society. It is time to prepare for the end. humility shown during victory by commonplace and illicit sex condoned Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his and even accepted. Violence at home, companions is unmatched in history. against women, children, and violence and the vulnerable and weak sections social or behavioural. It would also be needs to be studied carefully and imple- He is humble in victory, compas- in the streets, is frightfully routine. Sub- of the society were protected. Sexu- true for change in personal behaviour mented to the fullest extent in today’s sionate, and forgiving to even his most stance abuse is widespread, with ality was removed from public pru- like wearing immodest clothing, pro- inescapably multi-religious and multi- intractable opponents. United States as the largest consumer rience and became private and miscuity, and consumption of intoxi- cultural world. The final sermon consolidates the of drugs in the world. Alcoholism is wholesome. Wealth was re-circulated cants. Changing attitudes that valued social, economic, and moral changes rampant, especially among college stu- so that even the poorest segments of pride in wealth and country or class Courageous yet reluctant warrior that have been brought about in the dents, with only feeble attempts being the society were infused with energy and color of the skin over all else would After a brief respite, his mission is society. It is time to prepare for the end. made to address the problem. African- and indigence became nearly extinct. also be difficult. Not surprisingly the consumed by the need to fight wars of The anatomy of the mission, its Americans have been liberated as slaves struggle for change becomes life threat- survival. These three wars in four years, growth and evolution in some ways for a century and a half, yet many are The warner and exhorter ening. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had Badr, Uhad and Ahzab, besides posing parallels the various stages of human still trapped in an unending cycle of During one his meditative trips to to lay his life on the line and on several a physical threat, must have been life itself. These various phases reflect poverty and discrimination, which is in a cave near Makkah, Prophet occasions the nascent Muslim com- extremely distracting and demanding of not only the growing sophistication of a way a form of economic slavery. Muhammad (PBUH) receives the rev- munity faced the possibility of total his time and energy. Yet the work of the message but also the increasing Because of a system that allows unre- elation. Divine revelation is the reaf- extinction. Fortitude in the face of building the community goes on. maturity of the audience to whom the strained growth of wealth without firmation of the fact that celestial adversity is the salient feature of this It is important to remember that message is directed. The audience grows encouraging proper redistribution, eco- knowledge is essential in guiding the phase. The patience and stoicism even though faced with very aggressive in its understanding of what it would take nomic disparities and injustices continue inherently limited human intellect. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) displays proponents the Prophet (PBUH) and his to bear the burden of passing on the to grow at an alarming rate. profundity of this realization that he is during this phase has been a source of followers never initiated or instigated message to posterity. The Prophet’s There are many excellent charac- the recipient of this divine revelation strength to many a Muslim who has any wars. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) (PBUH) mission in its most fundamental teristics in Western societies, especially and the enormity of the task ahead found himself beleaguered by appar- and the Muslims engaged in these analysis was to interpret and spread the in the US that include the freedom of overawes him. Initially he shares the ently hopeless circumstances battles with great discipline, avoiding Quranic ideology. This Quran centered spir- thought, speech and assembly, a tol- message only with his closest family injury to the innocent and using only ituality remains the constant theme through erant attitude towards eccentricities and a few loyal supporters. It is both The pluralistic leader the minimum force needed. Women, all of the phases of his life. The Quran says in human nature and an ambition to fascinating and revealing that even the The Migration, which marks the children and non-combatants were not about him “Indeed there is for you in the be a just and compassionate society. individual who would later be rated as beginning of the next phase, involves to be harmed. When the enemy stopped Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern” These qualities of the ordinary the most influential man in human careful planning and meticulous exe- fighting, he was to be given immediate (Quran 33:21). His wife Ayisha (may Allah American, however, are not always history had these initial periods of cution. He demonstrates that self-help sanctuary. Striking a blow in anger, be pleased with her) calls him the living reflected in the policy makers and doubt and uncertainty about his and reliance on Allah go together and even in battle, was prohibited. He uses embodiment of the Quran. It is this com- political leaders. mission. It was the reassurance from are both essential for success. With his innovative strategies in the battles, plementary bequest of the Quran and The unraveling of the moral fabric the Quran and the confidence and nomination by the community in which include the use of the trench as Sunna that is our special blessing. in today’s society must weigh heavily support of his wife Khadijah (may Allah Madinah to a position of leadership, a defense. During the digging of the Over time, many differences based on the minds of individuals with be pleased with her), and his close he shows another facet of his person- trench he is an active participant. He on dogma, politics, personality cults insight. They can draw personal solace companions which provided him the ality: The capacity to create a truly plu- consults frequently (Shura) with his and egos have emerged amongst the and inspiration from the Prophet’s support he needs-surely a lesson for ralistic society with equity and dignity companions and follows the majority followers of Islam. In spite of many (PBUH) life. The Arab tribal society of us lesser mortals! for all religious and ethnic groups. In opinion (Ijma’), even when it sometimes heterodox sects, the core messages of the seventh century, whose structure a very short period after the Migration goes against his own judgment. Quran, and its realization in the life of was based on greed, debauchery, and The stoic optimist to Madinah, Prophet Muhammad the Prophet are alive and potent, and violence, was changed in a very short The next facet of his life is of (PBUH) proves he is capable of uniting Statesman par excellence and continue to provide spiritual solace, time, by the Prophet (PBUH), into a bringing about proactive change by various factions and setting exemplary teacher intellectual satisfaction and societal society with one of the highest moral inviting people (Dawa) to Islam. With standards of cooperation between During the next phase, he shows discipline to many making Islam the standards in history. Compassion, it comes the inevitable hostility of the them. He makes a seamless switch the capacity to compromise and dem- fastest growing religion in the world. humility, devotion to God and egali- entrenched powers in the society. from being a person under constant onstrates the foresight and wisdom to tarianism replaced the old well- Change is always threatening, and the persecution to a leader with a large realize that peace, even at seemingly Javeed Akhter, is the Executive Director of entrenched tribal attitudes of pride in greater the change, the more threat- administrative and judicial responsibility. unfavorable terms, is better than hos- the Chicago based International Strategy and wealth, family and class and self-cen- ening it is. This would be true of the The “Covenant (Constitution) of tility. The “Treaty of Hudaybia” also Policy Institute and he is the author of the book tered behavior. Women, for the first change against any established system Madinah” that lays out the rules of living needs to be studied and emulated by “The seven phases of Prophet Muhammad’s Life” time in history, had rights and dignity, of practices, whether it be economic, in a pluralistic society is a document that all who negotiate with their opponents. www.islamicity.org Never lose hope, with every difficulty there is relief SHEIMA SALAM mercy of Allah. Truly Allah for- and the faithful who were with the sustenance which We have Day of Judgment. gives all wrong actions. He is the him cried, “When will Allah’s bestowed on them. (Quran 32:16) (Saying of Prophet ollowing are some Quranic Ever-Forgiving, the Most Mer- help come?” Ah, verily the help So whoever would Waking up to pray to Allah Muhammad as recorded in verses and a hadith that ciful.” (Quran 39:53) of Allah is near. (Quran 2:214) when we are tired is a sure Bukhari and Muslim, Book Freflects the Islamic view Allah commands us to The path to paradise involves hope for the sign of our hope in Allah’s #037, Hadith #6631) about “Hope.” never lose hope in His mercy trials and difficulties. But never meeting with his reward. This hadith is a source of …And whosoever fears and forgiveness. Even if we lose hope! It is just a test! Call upon your Lord humbly great hope in that Allah has Allah…He will make a way for have committed many sins, Surely there is in the person Lord – let him do and in secret. Lo! He loveth not reserved 99 out of 100 parts of him to get out from every diffi- Allah forgives all sins except of Allah’s messenger an righteous work and transgressors. Work not con- mercy for the Day of Judgment. culty. And He will provide him that of associating partners excellent example for you—for fusion in the Earth after the fair Now reflect on this: only one from (sources) he never could with Him. every person who has hope in not associate in the ordering thereof, and call on part of this 100 is divided among imagine.(Quran 65:2-3) O my sons (said Prophet Allah and the hereafter and who worship of his Lord Him in fear and hope. Lo! The all living creatures on earth, …After a difficulty, Allah will Jacob)! Go you and enquire remembers Allah, reciting His anyone. mercy of Allah is nigh unto the including every single human soon grant relief. (Quran 65:7) about Yusuf (Joseph) and his name many times.(Quran 33:21) good. (Quran 7:55-56) being. Whatever mercy there is So, verily, with every dif- brother, and never give up hope Hope is faith in Allah and The believer calls on Allah on earth, 99 times of that is with ficulty, there is relief: Verily with of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly no the hereafter. (Quran 18:110) in fear and hope: fear of His dis- Allah. We cannot even fathom every difficulty there is relief. one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, …So be not of the despairing. pleasure, and hope in His mercy how merciful God is! Therefore, when you are free except the people who disbe- (Quran 15:55) and approval of us. So whoever would hope for (from your immediate task), still lieve. (Quran 12:87) Wealth and sons are allure- Allah created mercy in one the meeting with his Lord – let labor hard. And to your Lord turn Losing hope in Allah’s ments of the life of this world: (good) deeds. (Quran 47:35) hundred parts and sent down him do righteous work and not (all) your attention. (Quran mercy is likened to disbelieving but the things that endure, good Do not lose heart nor fall into to earth only one part. Because associate in the worship of his 94:5-7) in Allah. deeds, are best in the sight of despair! You shall triumph if you of this one part, there is mutual Lord anyone. (Quran 18:110) Allah promises us that after Do you think that you will thy Lord, as rewards, and best are believers. (Quran 3:139) love amongst creation, so much Let us be hopeful about every difficulty is relief. We enter paradise without such as (the foundation for) hopes. True success comes to those so that an animal will lift up its meeting our Lord with our must never lose hope that our trials as came to those who (Quran 18:46) who believe. hoof from its young one, fearing worship of Him alone. situation will improve. passed away before you? They The true foundation of hope Their limbs do forsake their that it might harm it. Allah has Say: “My servants, you who experienced suffering and is the good that we do in this life. beds of sleep, the while they call reserved the remaining ninety- This is a chapter about HOPE from have transgressed against your- adversity and were so shaken God is with you and will on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: nine parts of this mercy to favor the book “The Basic Values of Islam” selves, do not despair of the in spirit that even the Prophet never deprive you of your and they spend (in charity) out of His believing servants on the by the author. 06 ASIA FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 Seven dead as Typhoon Vamco pummels Philippines REUTERS — MANILA The typhoon, the recent weeks was “a stark reminder of the urgency of col- Philippine President Rodrigo eighth to hit the lective action to combat the Duterte yesterday ordered Philippines in the past effects of climate change”. government agencies to hasten Nearly three million house- relief efforts after a powerful two months and 21st holds in and around Manila were typhoon killed at least seven of the year, forced without power as people waded people and unleashed some of through waist-high floods, car- the worst flooding in years in residents to scramble rying valuables and pets. the capital Manila. onto rooftops to await Coastguard swam through Duterte cut short his rescue after tens of brown floodwater as high as attendance of a virtual meeting of electricity poles in some areas, Southeast Asian leaders to inspect thousands of homes while rescue workers used the damage from Typhoon were submerged and rubber boats and makeshift Vamco, moments after a speech floats to move children and the during which he urged his coun- unleashed some of elderly to safety. terparts to urgently combat the the worst flooding in In some suburbs east of effects of climate change. Manila, residents took refuge The typhoon, the eighth to years in the capital atop flooded homes. hit the Philippines in the past Manila. “The flood reached the two months and 21st of the year, entire second floor of our house. forced residents to scramble earlier this month. For more than eight hours, we onto rooftops to await rescue “Rest assured, the gov- stayed at our neighbour’s after tens of thousands of homes ernment will not leave anybody house,” call center worker were submerged. behind,” Duterte said in a Albert Rano, 35, said. Those killed across the main national address, pledging “Aside from some clothes and island of Luzon, home to half of shelter, relief goods, financial laptops, nothing is left.” The the country’s 108 million popu- aid and counselling. typhoons have battered the Phil- Residents being evacuated on a rescue boat from their flooded houses following Typhoon Vamco, in lation, included people who Nearly 200,000 people ippines as it faces an uphill struggle Rizal Province, Philippines, yesterday. drowned, an elderly man hit by were evacuated before Vamco to breathe life into its withering a tree and three workers crushed arrived late on Wednesday economy while keeping corona- “overwhelming” and the worst Residents posted images on Government work was halted when a warehouse collapsed. packing winds of 155km per virus infections under control. since a typhoon flooded large social media of flooded homes and and financial markets shut. It struck areas still reeling hour and gusts of up to 255kph. Roughly 40,000 homes had swathes of the capital in 2009. the disaster agency said parts of 36 Vamco was headed towards from Goni, the most powerful It has since weakened and either been fully or partially “The local government cities and towns were inundated. Vietnam, where devastating typhoon in the world this year, exited the mainland. submerged in the Marikina cannot handle this,” Teodoro Flights and mass transit in floods and mudslides over the which killed 25 people and Duterte told Southeast Asian area, a situation its mayor, told DZMM radio, requesting Manila were suspended and past month have killed at least destroyed thousands of homes leaders the devastation of Marcelino Teodoro, said was motorised boats and airlifts. port operations stopped. 160 people in central areas.

S Korea in final talks for vaccine, India’s Serum makes 40m doses of AstraZeneca vaccine REUTERS — BENGALURU more than 1.2 million people and will soon fill and finish human testing in India, Serum increased to more than seeks supply for worldwide. them in vials. said, adding that the company 128,000. Serum Institute of India, the AstraZeneca said last week Novavax, which is testing its and the Indian Council of India also has at least two 60% population world’s largest vaccine that it was holding back deliv- vaccine in a late stage study in Medical Research (ICMR) will home-grown COVID-19 vaccine producer, said yesterday it has eries of its COVID-19 vaccine the UK, last month postponed pursue “early availability” of the candidates in development, REUTERS — SEOUL made 40 million doses of Astra- candidate while it awaits the the start of its US trial by shot in India. while local drugmaker Dr Zeneca’s potential COVID-19 data from late-stage clinical roughly a month due to delays The ICMR, a federal gov- Reddy’s Labs is carrying out a South Korea is in final talks vaccine, and would soon begin trials, which got delayed due to in scaling up the manufacturing ernment body, had funded the trial in the country for Russia’s with global drugmakers making Novavax’s rival shot, as a summer dip in UK coronavirus process. clinical trial site fees for the vaccine candidate. including Pfizer Inc over they both seek regulatory infections. Serum said it had enrolled AstraZeneca vaccine, Serum Earlier this week, Pfizer and potential coronavirus vaccines approval. Serum declined to comment 1,600 participants in India for said. The company and the its partner BioNTech said their as it seeks to secure supplies While there are no on whether the 40 million doses the late-stage trials of Astra- ICMR are currently conducting vaccine candidate had proven to cover 60 percent of its COVID-19 vaccines approved of the AstraZeneca vaccine Zeneca’s candidate, and also Phase 2/3 clinical trials of the more than 90 percent effective population this year, health yet and trials are still under way were meant for global supply plans to seek regulatory shot at 15 centres across India. based on initial trial results. authorities said yesterday. to prove they are safe and or only for India. approval to run late-stage trials The news came as corona- Pfizer said it was committed The government has effective, leading drugmakers For production of the for the Novavax vaccine. virus infections in India, the to advancing its engagement allotted 172bn won ($154m) to have been funded to begin pro- Novavax vaccine, Serum said it The AstraZeneca vaccine, world’s second-worst hit with India’s government to purchase an initial 60 million duction early to expedite deliv- has received the bulk of the co-developed by Oxford Uni- country, reached 8.68 million supply its potential vaccine in doses to fend off persistent eries, as the pandemic has killed vaccine from the US company versity, is the most advanced in on Thursday and the death toll the country. COVID-19 outbreaks that have pummelled Asia’s fourth- largest economy and upended daily life for its 52 million Australia to prosecute people. This week, Pfizer said its experimental COVID-19 vaccine troops for war crimes was more than 90 percent effective amid a hastened global race to contain the pandemic in Afghanistan which has killed more than one million people since it emerged AP — CANBERRA Broadcasting Corp journalists in China late last year. until recently faced potential Health authorities said Australia yesterday announced prison sentences for using progress has been made in a new investigative agency to leaked classified defense doc- their negotiations with several build criminal cases against uments as a basis for a 2017 drugmakers conducting Phase Australian special forces report that detailed allega- 3 clinical trials for their vac- suspected of committing war tions of Australian soldiers cines, including Pfizer, Astra- crimes in Afghanistan. killing unarmed men and Zeneca and Novavax Inc. The Office of the Special children. “We will procure as much as Investigator is to be formed Police raided ABC Sydney possible with the initial goal of after a four-year investigation headquarters with search war- securing supplies for 60 percent into allegations and rumours rants last year but prosecutors of the population,” said Kwon surrounding behaviour of some decided that charging the jour- Jun-wook, deputy director of the soldiers in Special Air Service nalists would not be in the Korea Disease Control and Pre- and Commando Regiments in public interest. vention Agency (KDCA). Afghanistan from 2005 and Prosecuting alleged Aus- “So far, there has been 2016. tralian war criminals is meaningful headway and we Benjamin Roberts-Smith, expected to take years. were at a final stage of the Protest in Mumbai against China's anti-Muslim policies Australia’s most highly-deco- “These are incredibly talks,” Kwon said, declining to rated member of the armed complex events involving elaborate, citing ongoing services when he left the SAS actions and conduct in another Muslims hold placards as they protest against the Chinese government’s policies on Muslim Uighur negotiations. in 2013, has been accused of by country, in a war,” Morrison minorities, in Mumbai, India, yesterday. Kwon said the government former colleagues of unlawful said. has already secured some 20 treatment of prisoners “This is not a simple million doses, enough for 10 including illegally killing matter... and so it will take as million people, via the COVAX prisoners. long as it needs to take to facility, an international Bangladesh extends school shutdown The former corporal, who ensure we deal with our dual COVID-19 vaccine allocation was awarded the Victoria Cross objectives of addressing the platform co-led by the World and the Medal for Gallantry for justice that is necessary in Health Organization. over second coronavirus wave his service in Afghanistan, has accordance with our laws and The remaining 40 million denied any misconduct. systems but also ensuring the doses will be bought from REUTERS — DHAKA wave... We can’t play with the Islam said. Defence Force Chief integrity of our defence forces private companies. lives of our children,” said a The government is broad- Geneneral Angus Campbell will on which we all rely,” he The government said it Bangladesh is extending its senior official of the education casting lessons on television for make public a redacted report added. plans to hold its first meeting closure of all schools and other ministry, who declined to be school students, while univer- on the four-year investigation Neil James, chief executive late on Thursday with a newly educational institutions until named. sities are conducting online next week. of the Australian Defence Asso- formed advisory committee of December 19 amid fears of a The government however, classes. Prime Minister Scott Mor- ciation think tank, said the Aus- experts to discuss its vaccine second wave of coronavirus has lifted most other restric- But rights groups fear many rison said the new agency, tralian military wanted solders procurement plans including infections during the winter, the tions put in place to prevent the are at risk from not returning headed by a retired judge or to have their day in court to end safety standards and distri- education ministry said spread of the coronavirus. to classes. senior criminal lawyer, was a “continuous rumour mill.” bution procedures. yesterday. Daily infections have shown Most children in Bangladesh needed because the workload “It’s certainly the case that South Korea is one of the Experts say Bangladesh, a rising trend this month, with do not have access to the would “seriously overwhelm” they’re going to take a long coronavirus mitigation success with patchy healthcare facil- 1,845 new cases and 13 deaths Internet, while many have left existing police resources. time because we’re talking stories, with an aggressive ities, could face another surge reported yesterday. the cities due to their parents “This report will be difficult about a complex investigation, testing and tracing strategy, in infections, having so far con- “The government took the losing income as a result of the news and all of our partners witnesses will have to be inter- but it continues to battle small firmed 427,198 cases and 6,140 right decision. The coronavirus pandemic. must be assured and those viewed under caution, in many clusters of outbreaks. deaths from COVID-19. situation could worsen further Some have been forced around the world who rightly cases those witnesses will be The KDCA reported 143 The government closed all in the winter when viral and into marriage or to work in hold the Australian Defence overseas, and in some cases it’ll new coronavirus cases as of schools and other educational bacterial diseases increase,” factories to help their families Forces in high regard,” Mor- be hard to interview them Wednesday, taking total infec- institutions in the country on said virologist Nazrul Islam, a get by. rison told reporters. because they are in enemy- tions to 27,942 with 487 March 17. member of the national tech- “There are currently no sta- “In Australia, we deal with held territory in a war zone,” deaths. “It will take quite some The closure has since been nical advisory committee to tistics available on the dropout this stuff and we deal with it James said. time for any vaccine to obtain extended several times, with tackle COVID-19. rate. But we fear the figure honestly, but in accordance “So the complexity of this final approval before use,” the last order stating that “People are eager for the could be as much as 40 through the rule of law and by is going to be difficult, but it’s Kwon said. “But this winter schools would remain shut until vaccine but nobody is caring percent,” said Rasheda following the justice practices got to be faced because... Aus- will be the last one for us to at least November 15. about the health rules like Choudhury, executive director and principles that makes Aus- tralia has to face up to this, that spend by distancing and “The decision has been wearing masks and main- of Campaign for Popular tralia what it is,” he added. things did go wrong and we wearing masks.” taken considering the second taining physical distancing,” Education. Two Australian need to fix it,” he added. FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 ASIA 07 Asean summit begins with online meetings AP — HANOI The biannual summit in front of some 200 Vietnamese officials and foreign diplomats Vietnam’s prime minister high- of the Association of Asean’s partners attending the lighted challenges Southeast of Southeast Asian ceremony in Hanoi. Asian nations and others faced Nations, chaired by Vietnam’s Communist Party this year as he opened a General Secretary Nguyen Phu regional summit yesterday that Vietnam this year, is Trong called for trust among is again largely being held expected to focus on a nations for the benefit of their online due to the pandemic. people as the pandemic causes The biannual summit of the wide range of topics, havoc to people’s lives and the Association of Southeast Asian including South China economy. Nations, chaired by Vietnam “More than ever, nations all this year, is expected to focus Sea disputes, the over the world need peace, sta- on a wide range of topics, coronavirus and trade. bility and development. Its including South China Sea dis- people need to be cared for and putes, the coronavirus and protected to overcome this dif- trade. highlighted challenges being ficult time,” Trong said. The spread of the virus was faced during a year of unparal- Yesterday’s meetings will Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre), addresses counterparts at the Asean-South apparent with Cambodia being leled health crisis and regional include separate summits with Korea Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, on a live video conference held online represented by its deputy prime instability. leaders from China, South due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Hanoi, yesterday. minister rather than long- “This year, peace and Korea, and India. Asean leaders serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, security have been facing greater also had their first summit with promote a “Free and Open President Donald Trump would to ink a free trade agreement who is self-quarantining after threat as the result of com- new Japanese Prime Minister Indo-Pacific,” a vision of eco- attend the online meeting. covering almost a third of the being exposed to a visiting min- pounding risk rising from the Yoshihide Suga. nomic and security cooperation Trump attended the summit in world economy. The initiative’s ister who had the virus. unpredictable conduct of states, Suga, who took office in that Japan has initiated with the 2017, but sent only representa- members are the 10 Asean During his remarks at the major power rivalry and fric- mid-September, stressed the United States to counter China’s tives during the last two nations, China, Japan, South opening ceremony, which was tions that challenged the inter- importance of cooperation growing influence in the area. meetings. Korea, Australia and New livestreamed to Asean leaders national multilateral system, between his country and An Asean-US summit is A separate meeting of partic- Zealand. India backed out of the watching from their respective increasingly non-traditional Southeast Asian nations to scheduled for tomorrow, but ipants in a trade initiative backed plan last year and it does not countries, Vietnam Prime Min- security issues and the rise of achieve peace, stability and Vietnam’s foreign affairs min- by China is scheduled on Sunday, include the US, despite America’s ister Nguyen Xuan Phuc extremist tendency,” Phuc said prosperity in the region, and to istry has not confirmed whether where the leaders are expected $2 trillion in trade with the region.

Singapore arrests 21 members of Afghan journalist for US-funded radio killed in bombing AFP — KANDAHAR more common in recent months President Ashraf Ghani, said on up by media networks to fighting last month when South Korean as violence surges in Afghan- Twitter. oversee security for journalists Taliban militants launched a An Afghan journalist working istan, despite ongoing peace In a separate statement in the country, urged its broad offensive in a bid to seize religious sect for a US-funded radio network talks between the government condemning the murder, Ghani members to “keep safety as the city, triggering an exodus of was killed in a blast in southern and the Taliban. said his government was “com- their highest priority”. thousands of families. AP — SEOUL Afghanistan yesterday, officials Dayee, 33, was on his way mitted to preserving and No group immediately Helmand — a Taliban said, just days after a former to the local press club with his expanding freedom of claimed responsibility for the stronghold — is where interna- Singaporean authorities have television presenter was brother when the car expression”. attack. tional forces fought some of the arrested 21 people who are murdered in Kabul. exploded, Radio Liberty’s chief Radio Liberty, originally set Dayee’s murder comes after bloodiest campaigns of Afghan- thought to be connected to a Radio Liberty reporter editor Rateb Noori said. His up during the Cold War, is Yama Siawash, a former Afghan istan’s 19-year war. secretive South Korean reli- Aliyas Dayee was killed when brother and two others were funded by the US television presenter, was killed On Wednesday, Vice Pres- gious sect that was widely a sticky bomb attached to his wounded. government. on Saturday in a similar bomb ident Amrullah Saleh accused blamed for thousands of virus car exploded in the city of Lashkar Gah has been at the Top US envoy in Kabul, Ross attack in Kabul. the Taliban of planning to kill infections in that country. Lashkar Gah in Helmand centre of intense fighting Wilson, said Dayee’s murder The two killings come amid members of civil society groups. The 12 women and nine province, said Omar Zwak, the between government forces and was “another attack on the surging violence across “They are soft targets. The men were arrested for spokesman for the province’s the Taliban in recent weeks. freedom of the press”. Afghanistan, much of it killings are aimed at eroding “allegedly being members of governor. “Without a doubt, the assas- “These attacks on jour- unleashed by the Taliban as and hurting the emotions of the an unlawful society,” Singa- Targeted killings of prom- sination of Aliyas Dayee is the nalists must stop immediately,” they attempt to gain leverage society, which will lead to peo- pore’s home affairs ministry inent figures, including jour- work of the enemies of freedom he said on Twitter. in seemingly stalled peace talks ple’s dissatisfaction with the said. nalists, clerics, politicians and of expression and media,” Sediq The Afghan Journalists in Qatar. government,” Saleh said on Its statement issued late rights activists, have become Sediqqi, spokesman to Safety Committee, a group set Lashkar Gah saw intense Twitter. Wednesday added that the groups had been participating in “activities connected to the Imran to launch unregistered local chapter of HK pro-democracy legislators hand in resignations the Shincheonji Church of ‘Naya Pakistan Jesus,” which is registered in AP — HONG KONG South Korea. Certificates’ for It did not release their Pro-democracy legislators in nationalities, but said the Hong Kong began resigning Pakistanis abroad church had been ordered to yesterday to protest the cease operations last February expulsion of four other INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD and said five Korean members lawmakers, heightening a had been deported then. conflict with Beijing over the Pakistani Prime Minister A church spokesperson in semi-autonomous Chinese Imran Khan will launch the South Korea said it was trying to territory’s future. ‘Naya Pakistan Certificates’ for confirm details about the arrests. Pro-democracy activists say overseas Pakistanis. Kim Young-eun said the church China’s ruling Communist The development was doesn’t believe its members in Party, which has tightened shared by Senator Javed Khan Singapore have participated in control in Hong Kong in in a tweet post: “Yet another face-to-face worship services or response to demands for more great news for our overseas other gatherings. democracy, is destroying the Pakistanis and those Paki- “In spite of the actions civil liberties and rights that stanis who have declared taken, the local SCJ chapter were promised the territory assets abroad with FBR. PM has resumed its activities cov- when Britain returned it to Imran Khan is launching Naya ertly, under the direction of its China in 1997. Pakistan Certificates by the South Korean parent chapter,” The 15 remaining law- State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).” the home affairs ministry said, makers in the pro-democracy He also said that according to adding that the Singaporean bloc said Wednesday they will Shariah principles and rules, government “will not allow resign en masse after China’s Islamic certificates are also members of unlawful societies central government passed a available, the certificates will or persons associated with resolution this week that led to Pro-democracy legislators Wu Chi-wai, Andrew Wan and Lam Cheuk-ting wave to media after handing be available for a period of them to threaten Singapore’s the four lawmakers’ in their resignation in Hong Kong, yesterday. three months to five years. public safety, peace and good disqualification. The PTI leader said that order.” If convicted, the 21 The four had urged foreign ignation letters at the Legis- opposition and beg for foreign check-and-balance power, and even before the stipulated could face up to three years governments to sanction China lative Council’s secretariat. interference, they have miscal- all the constitutional power in period, capital can be with- imprisonment and a fine. and Hong Kong over Beijing’s China sharply criticised the culated,” it said in a statement. Hong Kong rests in the chief drawn, there will be NRPs and In August, South Korean crackdown on dissent in the move. Its Hong Kong and Macao Wu Chi-wai, the head of the executive’s hands,” Wu said. no tax filing will be required, prosecutors arrested the sect’s territory. The Communist Party Affairs Office called the mass pro-democracy bloc, said the He said it was the end of the only 10 per cent holding tax leader as part of an investigation accused them of violating their resignation “an open challenge” Chinese and Hong Kong govern- city’s “one country, two will be applicable on net profit. into allegations that his church oaths of office. to the authority of the central ments were trying to take away systems” framework under Faisal Javed said that hampered the government’s Most of the 15 lawmakers government and the Basic Law, the separation of powers in the which Hong Kong enjoyed investment in New Pakistan anti-virus response after thou- did not attend a regular session Hong Kong’s constitution. city, since the ousting of the four autonomy and freedoms not Certificate is fully refundable sands of worshippers were of the legislature on Thursday, “If these lawmakers hope to lawmakers bypassed the courts. found on the mainland since it and no approval would be infected in February and March. and some later handed in res- use their resignation to provoke “We lost our was returned to China in 1997. required to transfer these funds abroad. Back in September, Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugu- Dad: Teen, found dead in Malaysia, couldn’t survive jungle rated the Roshan Digital Account, which provide inno- AP — KUALA LUMPUR He said he had visited the Nora’s disappearance from indication Nora had been am not an expert but to us, vative banking solutions for area where Nora’s body was her family’s cottage at the abducted. Police believe she Nora’s body didn’t seem com- millions of non-resident Paki- The father of a French-Irish found, which involved a drive Dusun eco-resort in southern climbed out of a window on her patible of someone wandering stanis (NRPs) seeking to teenager who was found dead out of the resort and another Negeri Sembilan state on Aug. own, and the autopsy showed off in the jungle, half naked undertake fund transfers, bill last year near a Malaysian hour of walking along a rocky 4 last year, a day after her she succumbed to intestinal without shoes,” he said. payments and investment jungle resort after vanishing on stream in dense and slippery family arrived for their bleeding due to starvation and Quoirin said Nora’s normal activities in Pakistan. a holiday said yesterday that his terrain. vacation, sparked a massive stress. reaction when she felt scared Opening the Roshan daughter would not have had “I don’t believe she would search. Her body was found on Quoirin said rescuers had would have been to “freeze, Digital Account will require a the stamina or instinct to have coped at all... she didn’t Aug. 13 beside a stream in a combed the area where she was look down and call for mummy basic set of information and survive for days in the jungle. have a survival instinct,” the palm oil estate about 2.5 km found four times including once or daddy.” He said it was pos- documents, and only take 48 Sebastien Quoirin told an French man said via video link from the resort. with a canine unit but failed to sible that abductors later hours once all documents are inquest into Nora Anne Quoi- from his London home. “I don’t Her family believes she was spot her. When he and his wife released Nora due to her complete. rin’s death that the condition believe Nora would have had abducted because she had were asked to identify the body, handicap, the massive search The customer can choose of the 15-year-old’s body also the stamina or the strength to mental and physical disabilities he said they noticed that Nora’s operation and the media either a foreign currency or didn’t support the police be on the move for... days. Nora and couldn’t have wandered off feet “didn’t seem to be particularly attention to the case. rupee dominated account, or theory that she ventured out would not know what to eat, on her own. damaged” and were only dirty. The girl’s Irish mother, both. Funds in these accounts of the family’s cottage on her she would be seriously dehy- Police told the inquest that “I try to think how was it Meabh Quoirin, spoke at length will be fully repatriable, own, walked and hid in the drated... she would be very an investigation showed no possible since the police told us about Nora’s disability in her without the need for any reg- forest. weak.” criminal activity and no Nora has been on the move.... I testimony on Wednesday. ulatory approval 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020

Established in 1996

CHAIRMAN DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI A file photo of activists demonstrating against French President Emmanuel Macron over his controversial remarks on Islam, at Iqbal [email protected] Maidan in Bhopal, India. EDITORIAL Macron doesn’t need to insult Vaccine hopes Islam to defend free speech ANNOUNCEMENT by US pharma giant Pfizer and been more terrorist violence, in France, But the country now has a substantial Germany’s BioNTech that their candidate COVID-19 Austria and now Saudi Arabia. German non-Christian minority, largely from the vaccine is 90 percent effective against the pandemic Chancellor Angela Merkel struck the right Muslim countries it once brutally colo- disease, which has killed more than 1.2 million people note at a video conference of European nized, and it seems highly unlikely that globally, has boosted hopes of return to normalcy. leaders this week; she cautioned against Macron or anyone else can manage to Experts hope that first vaccines against the corona- talk of civilizational clash between Islam offend this historically humiliated popu- virus disease will be available early next year. and the West, and chose to focus on how lation into an Enlightenment. Qatar had signed an agreement, a couple of months PANKAJ MISHRA “our democratic social model” could deal As Le Monde reported, Macron sneered ago, with Pfizer and BioNTech to supply it with their BLOOMBERG with terrorism. Certainly, it is one thing to during a cabinet meeting at American candidate vaccine against COVID-19. After the break- defend freedom of expression - an obli- “multiculturalism,” calling it a “form of through reported by the pharma firms, Qatar hopes French President Emmanuel Macron gation of all democratic leaders. It is quite defeatist thought.” In fact, there is much he to receive the vaccine by the end of 2020 or early next seems a worried man. He first proposed to another to deploy a whole nation behind a can learn from the United States, the year, if it gets the necessary regulatory approval. The reform Islam along French lines. Then after particular expression of that freedom. impregnable bastion of free speech. Ministry of Public Health has welcomed the break- the vicious killing of a schoolteacher by a In one striking instance of rising majori- The “N” word, indissolubly linked to through reported by Pfizer and BioNTech, terming it Muslim teenager, he extended France’s tarian sentiment against an already centuries of slavery, was once freely ‘very promising’. “This news gives us good reason to support to caricatures of the Prophet that alienated minority, high schools across deployed across the US. Only the most be optimistic that life can return to normal sooner than most Muslims see as blasphemous. France plan to circulate booklets with bigoted white supremacist today will claim later, but it is important to note that these are the initial Many Muslim countries erupted in degrading images of the Prophet in order to that the banishing of such free speech from results of the study and additional results of the protest. Criticism also appeared in the affirm “the values of the Republic.” Part of public life is a blow to freedom. The First ongoing clinical trials are required to confirm the vac- British and American press. Macron now the blame for this unfolding disaster must lie Amendment didn’t have to be cancelled in cine’s effectiveness,” the Ministry said. claims he was misinterpreted, clarifying in on Macron’s increasingly desperate wish to order to stigmatize such offensive dis- The findings by Pfizer and BioNTech was the result an interview to Al Jazeera that he was beat his explicitly anti-Islam rival Marine le course. Rather, anti-racist activists created of the first independent analysis of any COVID-19 defending “the freedom to speak, to write, Pen at her own game in presidential elec- broad social acceptance for their moral vaccine in phase 3 trials — the final stage before com- to think, to draw.” He wrote to the tions due in 2022. But Macron and many of conviction - that the dignity of a once sys- mercial licensing. Around 43,000 participants took Financial Times this week to denounce his supporters are also misled by ideological tematically degraded people be respected. part in the trial. The candidate vaccine is likely to be “media articles that divide us.” The news- dogma. Much has happened in recent Contemptuous of America’s expe- submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration paper removed an article to which Macron decades, from the rise of Islamophobic troll rience, Macron could at least look to for approval this month. The two pharmas hope to objected from its website. factories in India to recrudescent anti- Simone Weil, the rare French thinker to produce 50 million doses this year and another 1.3 Nevertheless, the damage has been Semitism in Europe and Facebook-created take into account the presence of her coun- billion doses next year. done -—and not just to the principle of free “bubbles” in the US, to complicate the quasi- try’s colonial subjects and to understand Health authorities in Qatar have already announced expression. Two of the loudest voices religious faith that free expression is an that 18th-century articles of faith cannot that everyone in Qatar will get the vaccine free of cost against Macron — Pakistani Prime Minister absolute value, an unambiguous sign of remain the sole guide to human and as early as possible. The country is in contact with Imran Khan and Turkish president Recep moral and political progress. France’s close co-existence. the manufacturers of some other candidate COVID-19 Tayyip Erdogan — have exploited Macron’s neighbor Germany has been criminalizing Examining France’s catastrophic vaccines as well. missteps to deflect attention from their defamatory “fake news” and cracking down political and moral collapse in the late Over the past eight months, Qatar has achieved domestic excesses and failures. There has on social media companies. France itself has 1930s and early 1940s, Weil came to see remarkable success against the novel coronavirus pan- declared the denial of the Holocaust to be a duties and obligations rather than rights as demic. The country witnessed a major outbreak of the In one striking instance of crime - a contradiction that bedevils its the basis of an irrevocably mixed society. pandemic, recording around more than 135,000 cases. rising majoritarian sentiment advocacy of free speech. For her, words like “I have the right” evoke However, country’s proactive approach and a well A perplexed Muslim today may well a “latent war and awaken the spirit of prepared healthcare system have resulted in one of against an already alienated wonder why calumnies against the Prophet contention.” the lowest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world, with minority, high schools across and Islam should become the true test of a As Weil saw it, “to place the notion of 234 people dying from the disease so far. More than heavily and frequently compromised prin- rights at the center of social conflicts is to 132,000 people infected with the virus have already France plan to circulate ciple. Determined to resolve once and for inhibit any possible impulse of charity on fully recovered. The country has also tested more than booklets with degrading all the “crisis” of Islam, Macron and many both sides.” The spirit of contention, grown a million people for the virus so far. images of the Prophet in order of his supporters assume that the right to nasty, even lethal, is ravaging societies The country has also gradually reopened all busi- offend the devout is an essential step in around the world today while the impulse nesses and international travel while keeping the to affirm “the values of the mankind’s passage from religious super- to charity grows ever more feeble. Macron number of daily new cases in check, thanks to its con- Republic.” stition to secular enlightenment. can do a lot more to squash the impression tinued proactive testing and effective quarantine rules The historical evidence for this belief that insulting the core beliefs of nearly 2 for incoming passengers. may seem strong in the case of France, billion Muslims is what will sustain the core which in the late 18th century began to beliefs of French people. define its modern identity against a pow- erful and oppressive church. The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist.

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR EMAIL: [email protected] The US-EU trade war is bad for both sides THE WASHINGTON POST that competes for global com- the United States and Europe to permanently, or at least for the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 mercial aircraft sales with the negotiate mutual elimination of medium term; if the United FAX: +974 4455 7758 When is a setback for US national champion, Boeing. unlawful subsidies, as indeed States and Europe want to US-European trade not neces- The EU, in effect, countersued, both sides claim already to be prevent China from subsidizing MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4462 7505 sarily a setback for and the WTO - confirming its doing. The end of tariffs and its way to a larger share of that US-European trade? When it’s usefulness as an impartial subsidized competition would shrinking pie, jointly practicing DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: TEL: 4455 7769 Monday’s European Union arbiter in such matters - has be especially beneficial for lawful trade could help. announcement of $4bn in new ruled, correctly, that both sides Boeing, which is in deep crisis, The Trump administration LOCAL NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7743 tariffs on US goods, in retaliation are right. Each is guilty of ille- and dependent on federal aid, has gratuitously provoked for the Trump administration’s gally subsidizing aircraft due to the pandemic and Europeans with ill-conceived BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4462 7535 imposition of tariffs on $7.5bn in exports, Europe via subsidized problems with its troubled tariffs on steel and other European goods, ranging from loans, and the United States 737-Max aircraft, sales of which imports, as well as threats SPORT NEWS SECTION: TEL: 4455 7745 aircraft to whiskey, last year. through state-level tax breaks. have been all but paralyzed against the European auto- This latest round of tit-for-tat Therefore, unlike many since two fatal crashes of the motive industry. By contrast, ONLINE SECTION: TEL: 4462 7501 levies so clearly demonstrates other tariffs enacted under the new model in late 2018 and peace in the US-EU aircraft war email: [email protected] the mutually destructive nature Trump administration, the ones early 2019. Yet Airbus, too, has could be a predicate for estab- of transatlantic trade conflict it imposed on Europe last year much to gain from a truce since, lishing the united front of dem- PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 that it may finally prompt both were authorized by the WTO while the United States and the ocratic capitalist countries email: [email protected] sides to negotiate a permanent and valid under international EU have been fighting over the against Chinese mercantilism settlement. law. Alas for the United States, past decade-and-a-half, China that the Biden campaign ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 At issue is the United States’ the same can be said about the has been building its own com- promised. In fact, maximizing FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] 16-year-old battle at the World tariffs the EU just imposed. Col- mercial aircraft manufacturer, free trade with high-wage, Trade Organization, initiated lateral damage may soon pile COMAC, into a serious potential environmentally conscious CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 under the Bush administration, up on the various non-aircraft competitor, both in the huge Europe presents few of the email: [email protected] to punish Europe for subsidizing industries each side is punishing Chinese market and beyond. problems trade opponents often Airbus, the Franco-Anglo- to gain leverage on the other. The pandemic may have shrunk attribute to deals with low- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 German-Spanish consortium The obvious solution is for the air travel business wage countries such as Mexico. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar The Japan-US alliance is crucial amid the increasingly difficult security environment /Peninsula_Qatar surrounding Japan, as well as for the peace /ThePeninsulaNewspaper and prosperity of the international community. Yoshihide Suga, Japanese Prime Minister +974 6698 6188 FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 EUROPE 09 UK summons Chinese envoy over 'treaty breach' in HK

AFP — LONDON The Chinese “China has once again protest at the ouster of their col- parliament China had breached planned to breach its own inter- ambassador said on broken its promises and under- leagues, confirming fears its treaty obligations three times national agreement with the Britain yesterday summoned mined Hong Kong’s high degree among critics that democracy since 1997, and twice in six European Union over Brexit in China’s top diplomat in London Twitter, “Nowhere in of autonomy,” he said in a is being eradicated in Hong months. a “very specific and limited after accusing Beijing of the world are holders statement. Kong. The treaty was signed long way”. breaking its international treaty Britain is the former colonial On Wednesday, Raab said before Britain handed back But Johnson’s spokesman obligations by ousting four pro- of public office, power in Hong Kong and has China was seeking to “harass, Hong Kong to China in 1997 and said other countries should rec- democracy lawmakers from legislators included, increasingly locked horns with stifle and disqualify democratic was designed to allay fears ognise the “exceptional circum- Hong Kong’s legislature on China since Beijing imposed a opposition,” denting its inter- about its future under Beijing’s stances” the UK is in regarding security grounds. ever allowed to sweeping national security law national reputation. rule. proposed breaches of its EU Prime Minister Boris John- breach their oath & last year. London has angered Beijing It guarantees the financial divorce deal. son’s spokesman said Chinese betray their country”. Liu responded with a robust by offering Hong Kongers hub special status including a “There’s no way that you ambassador Liu Xiaoming had defence of Beijing’s position. holding British National high degree of autonomy to can extrapolate from our been called into the Foreign “This decision of #Hong- Overseas passports a route to manage its own affairs and the approach to these very specific Office to hear London’s “deep Hours earlier Foreign Sec- KongSAR is justified & rea- UK citizenship by relaxing entry right to freedom of speech. parts of the withdrawal treaty concerns at these latest actions”. retary Dominic Raab told British sonable. Nowhere in the world and residency requirements. Adams told lawmakers the to the UK’s international “The UK will continue to call lawmakers the new rules to dis- are holders of public office, leg- It has also suspended its latest move was part of a behaviour more generally,” he out these violations of Hong qualify elected assembly islators included, ever allowed extradition treaty with Hong “pattern of measures to said. Kong’s rights and freedoms and members was “a clear breach to breach their oath & betray Kong, one of a number of coun- pressure and stifle all voices “As a country we stand for hold China to the obligations it of the legally binding Sino- their country,” the envoy tries to do so. critical of China’s policies”. international law and the rules- freely assumed under interna- British Joint Declaration” agreed tweeted. Junior Foreign Office min- Britain has faced criticism based international system and tional law,” he added. in 1984. Fifteen legislators quit in ister Nigel Adams told in recent months for saying it we always will.”

French sought to Germany sees signs of party in thousands virus curve flattening amid virus: Airbnb AFP — BERLIN hospitals, which may “reach AFP — PARIS their limits”. Germany is seeing tentative “We must prevent the situ- Thousands of people sought signs that a surge in coronavirus ation from deteriorating,” he to rent places to hold clan- infections may be easing, offi- said, stressing Germany’s aim destine parties in France at cials said yesterday, giving is to bring infection numbers the end of the summer credit to anti-transmission down to a level that the despite the coronavirus measures that they warned healthcare system can cope pandemic, Airbnb said would have to be maintained with. yesterday. through winter and beyond. Wieler urged Germans to The platform said it “The curve is flattening,” keep social contacts to a blocked more than 30,500 said Lothar Wieler, who heads minimum, saying the so-called reservations in France the country’s disease control AHA-L measures would still be between mid-August, when agency RKI. necessary even if a vaccine is it tightened its rules and Falling daily new infection available because it will take banned parties at rental figures show “we are not time to roll out the jabs. properties, and helpless against this virus” and Under Germany’s AHA-L mid-September. that restrictions such as social rule mantra, individuals are Airbnb began cracking distancing and mask wearing urged to maintain distances of down last year as rowdy can help halt the march of at least 1.5 metres, wash their parties were causing problems COVID-19, he added. hands regularly, wear masks in with neighbours in certain Germany reported 21,866 indoors or crowded outdoor communities. new cases of COVID-19 over the places as well as airing out Health personnel and an employee of the German airline Lufthansa pose in front of the new Lufthansa With the coronavirus pan- last 24 hours, according to RKI rooms. coronavirus test centre at the Franz-Josef-Strauss airport in Munich, southern Germany, yesterday. demic there has been even data. Germany reimposed tough greater concern about events The key reproduction figure curbs this month to help slow and examine if the restrictions also begun managing Germans’ The virus “takes a long time where social distancing has fallen below 1 to 0.89, the outbreak, with leisure and should be maintained or expectations for Christmas, to brake,” he told regional radio measures are flouted. meaning that 100 people are cultural centres closing and res- toughened. saying that she could foresee RBB. “Even if we managed to The platform said that it passing on the virus to 89 others taurants and bars only allowed Taking questions during a small family gatherings but no bring the numbers down now, had also suspended or can- — a sign that transmission is to offer takeaway. citizens’ dialogue, Merkel told lavish parties. it doesn’t mean that people can celled around 900 listings slowing. Chancellor Angela Merkel a Bavarian hotel manager that Health Minister Jens Spahn just get going everywhere again after complaints about viola- Despite the encouraging is due to hold a new round of if people behaved “reasonably,... said it was clear that the in December or January.” tions and was determined to data, the Robert Koch Institute talks with regional leaders of we might have a chance” of Christmas festive season would “Partying over Christmas shut off access to people who chief said the situation could Germany’s 16 states on Monday slowly re-opening in December. be accompanied by like nothing is going on won’t do not respect the rules. worsen in the coming weeks in to take stock of the situation But the veteran leader has restrictions. work,” he warned. Relatively relaxed restric- tions were in force in August and September in France, with VIrus infections restaurants open and people Germany charges 12 in far-right ‘terror’ plot: Sources able to move around the surge in Italian country. AFP — BERLIN porting a terrorist group. The suspects are believed two of the main suspects, At the end of October the jails: Guard union The federal prosecutor’s to have founded a “right-wing named only as Werner S and country re-imposed a partial German federal prosecutors office could not immediately be terrorist organisation” with the Tony E. lockdown as virus cases REUTERS — ROME have charged 12 alleged far- reached for comment. goal of “destabilising and ulti- The suspects, all of whom are surged. right conspirators suspected of The arrests followed raids, mately overthrowing” Ger- German citizens, also communi- Airbnb, which has had COVID-19 is spreading rapidly planning “terrorist attacks” on some by heavily-armed special many’s democratic order. cated using messenger apps. troubled relations with offi- through Italian jails, a prison politicians, asylum-seekers and units, which hit 13 locations in A further eight suspects German authorities have cials in French capital Paris guard union said yesterday, Muslims, security service six German states. were alleged to have agreed to increased attention paid to the where the success of the urging the government to do sources told AFP yesterday. The four prime suspects “financially support the group, country’s underground extreme platform is blamed for making more to contain the outbreak. Eleven of the men, arrested planned to spark “a civil-war- provide it with weapons or take right scene since the murder of it difficult for residents to find On November 8, about in country-wide raids in Feb- like situation... via as yet unde- part in future attacks”. conservative local politician affordable long-term rentals, 1,265 guards and prisoners ruary, stand accused of mem- fined attacks on politicians, In order to plan their Walter Luebcke in June 2019 said it had also created a ded- tested positive for the new bership of a terrorist organisation asylum seekers and people of attacks, the group allegedly held and an attack on a synagogue icated address for officials to coronavirus, almost four times and weapons law violations. The Muslim faith,” federal prose- regular meetings which were in the eastern city of Halle in signal inappropriate the 344 who tested positive 13 12th has been charged with sup- cutors said in February. coordinated and organised by October last year. behaviour. days earlier, union data showed. Jails in Milan and Naples were hit especially hard, and guards accounted Johnson's top aide quits for almost 60 percent of all those infected. Most prisoners have not amid tensions in govt needed to be admitted to hos- pital and are being treated in BLOOMBERG — LONDON decision, people familiar with jail, the OSAPP union said. the matter said. By Wednesday “We demand that local A senior aide to Boris Johnson evening, Cain decided he had health authorities check ... that has resigned despite being to go. the shared areas meet health offered the role of chief of staff Cain’s departure is a standards,” it wrote in a letter to the UK prime minister, in a potential blow to Johnson at a yesterday to ministries and move that threatens to desta- particularly sensitive time: officials. bilise the British government. Britain is in a partial lockdown The justice ministry did not Lee Cain announced he was and the UK passed 50,000 immediately respond to a standing down as Johnson’s deaths due to the coronavirus request for a comment. director of communications in pandemic on Wednesday, After the coronavirus first a statement on Wednesday while talks over a major trade hit Italy late in February, evening. “It was an honour to deal with the EU are still prisons became an immediate be asked to serve as the prime unresolved. Spanish military set up a migrant camp in the island of Gran Canaria, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. concern due to their chronic minister’s chief of staff,” Cain Both Cummings and Cain overcrowding, which rights said, following reports that he worked with Johnson on the groups have long denounced Rights groups slam migrant arrival chaos in Canary had been lined up for the role Vote Leave referendum cam- as a human rights violation. by Johnson. paign of 2016 and Cain went Italy’s prisons house some AFP — MADRID pier,” HRW said in a separate rights, nor do they reflect well His exit raised questions on to serve as Johnson’s senior 54,900 people, above the statement. on Spain.” over the future of his close ally press aide in his role as foreign maximum capacity of around Amnesty International and Judith Sunderland, HRW’s A spokeswoman for the and friend Dominic Cummings, secretary. 50,500, official data show. Human Rights Watch on acting deputy director for regional government said they Johnson’s most powerful — and The exit of Cain and specu- Violent riots swept peni- Wednesday called for urgent Europe and Central Asia, said were trying to relocate the controversial — adviser. David lation among officials that Cum- tentiaries in March after the change to overwhelmed migrant she had visited the port on migrants to better facilities Frost, Johnson’s chief Brexit mings could follow him risks government imposed visiting services in Spain’s Canary November 7 — and that although there were still around negotiator, and his deputy disrupting Johnson’s prepara- restrictions to try to contain Islands, where more than 2,000 numbers had more than 1,800 people at the port. Oliver Lewis were also tions for that final stage in talks. the virus. At least 12 prisoners people arrived at the weekend. doubled since then. Local press reports cited by unhappy with the situation, Cabinet minister Robert died, many from drug over- Arguineguin port on Gran “What I saw.. was a row of Amnesty and HRW said the according to a person familiar Jenrick insisted the government doses after raiding prison Canaria “is overwhelmed and crowded tents where people authorities were reportedly with the matter. is not being distracted by medical supplies. reports say ‘return orders’ are are held for days on end, processing deportations without According to one version of upheaval in Johnson’s office. “I hope that those respon- being processed without any sleeping on the ground, 30 or offering legal assistance to the events, Cain and Cummings “The prime minister has a sible for taking immediate legal assistance,” London-based 40 people sharing a portable migrants — a move denied by the lobbied the prime minister to strong team around him and decisions do not wait until they Amnesty said in a statement. toilet,” she said. Spanish interior ministry. make Cain chief of staff. But all of us, whether its his become inevitable because of “Spanish authorities should “I cannot imagine the situ- “This is a serious irregularity Johnson was unhappy that the advisers or the cabinet, are protests and deaths,” said immediately alleviate over- ation now with over double the which must be ended immedi- appointment was made public focused on the big task, which OSAPP union leader Leo crowded and unsanitary con- people.. these conditions do not ately,” said Amnesty’s Spain in Wednesday’s newspapers is tackling the pandemic,” Beneduci. ditions on the Arguineguin respect people’s dignity or basic director Esteban Beltran. before he had reached a final Jenrick told BBC Radio. 10 EUROPE / AMERICAS FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020

Russia promises European Union sanctions on extends Venezuela France, Germany over Navalny sanctions for a year AFP — MOSCOW AP — BRUSSELS The EU has also Russia said yesterday it will The European Union said imposed an arms soon introduce retaliatory yesterday that it was embargo on sanctions on German and prolonging sanctions against French officials over the dozens of Venezuelan officials Venezuela and poisoning of Russian oppo- for another year over allega- outlawed the supply sition figure Alexei Navalny. tions that they are undermining The 44-year-old anti-graft democracy in the crisis- of equipment that campaigner collapsed on a wracked country or are linked could be used in flight in Russia in August and to rights abuses there. was transported to Germany The move means that travel any crackdown on where experts concluded he bans and asset freezes against civilians. was poisoned with the Soviet- Police officers clash with demonstrators during a march marking the National Independence Day in 36 people will remain in place designed nerve agent Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday. until November 14, 2021. The Novichok. EU has also imposed an arms Once a wealthy oil nation, The European Union embargo on Venezuela and Venezuela is mired in a deep Polish far-right march criticised after violence slapped sanctions on several outlawed the supply of economic crisis, which critics Russian officials in October equipment that could be used blame on two decades of failed AP — WARSAW, POLAND allegedly setting an apartment despite the assurances from the saying the attack could not in any crackdown on civilians. socialist policies that have left on fire with a firecracker. organizers... it turned out in the have been carried out without “The decision was taken in the nation bankrupt and its Members of Poland’s right- Thirty-five riot police were end that they also walked in the the complicity of Moscow’s light of the ongoing political, infrastructure crumbling. wing government have wounded, three of who remain march on foot.... This should not security services. economic, social and human- Maduro says he is under attack condemned leaders of an hospitalised, and 36 people have happened, said Blazej Russian Foreign Minister itarian crisis in Venezuela, with from Washington, which wants annual far-right march in were arrested, Warsaw police Spychalski, spokesman for Sergei Lavrov said yesterday persistent actions undermining to oust him from power. Warsaw for having failed to spokesman Sylwester Marczak President Andrzej Duda. the Kremlin had confirmed democracy, the rule of law and The EU and Washington prevent violence and injuries. said yesterday. He said people Deputy Prime Minister sanctions in response and that respect for human rights,” EU back opposition leader Juan The Independence Day from across Poland took part Jaroslaw Gowin called for the they would soon be announced headquarters said in a Guaidó, who claimed presi- march on Wednesday was in the trouble. Amid general organisers to face criminal to Germany and France. statement. dential powers in early 2019 as planned to be held in cars and outrage, some government pol- charges. Warsaw authorities “Since Germany was the It said the measures are tar- head of the National Assembly. on motorbikes, to observe pan- iticians blamed the violence on had banned the march, which driving force behind the geted at officials in the regime A coalition of more than 50 demic-era social distancing. But far-right organisers who a court also declared illegal, European Union’s sanctions of President Nicolás Maduro nations recognize him, saying it was joined by an aggressive allowed people to march on citing the ban on gatherings connected to Navalny, since and not meant to harm the Maduro clings to power after crowd on foot that clashed with foot and even joined in them- intended to stop the spread of these sanctions directly Venezuelan people. an undemocratic election. the police, causing injuries and selves. “This is really sad that the coronavirus. concern senior staff of the presidential administration of the Russian Federation, our Ukraine President response sanctions will mirror Bolivia restores ties with Iran and Venezuela them,” Lavrov said. hospitalised due Navalny has said he REUTERS — LA PAZ they called US “meddling” in the believes Russian President to COVID-19 region. But days after Anez took Vladimir Putin approved the Bolivia’s new president, Luis power last November, Vene- poisoning, while the Kremlin REUTERS — KIEV Arce, has moved swiftly to zuelan diplomats and Cuban has strenuously denied restore ties with Iran and Vene- doctors were expelled amid involvement and accused Ukraine’s President Volo- zuela, receiving the credentials accusations by the interim gov- Germany of refusing to coop- dymyr Zelenskiy was hospi- of ambassadors from the two ernment that they had erate in an investigation. talised after he contracted countries on Wednesday, just fomented unrest following Lavrov yesterday added coronavirus earlier this week, three days after his socialist Morales’ departure. that Moscow had “reason to a presidential official said party retook the reins of power. Now, with the return to believe” the nerve agent could yesterday. Bolivia’s government said power of Morales’ socialist MAS have entered Navalny’s system “He first went home, but in a statement it wanted to party — with Arce at the helm during the flight to Berlin’s decided to move to Feofania “reestablish diplomatic rela- following elections in October Charite hospital or while he (hospital). To accurately isolate tions damaged by the previous — Bolivia is resetting its foreign was in Germany. Navalny’s and not expose anyone,” a de-facto government” led by policy once more. spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh presidential spokeswoman conservative interim president On Monday, Morales called the suggestion that said. “There are better condi- Jeanine Anez. returned to Bolivia from exile Navalny was poisoned in tions for patients. Nothing Writing on Twitter, Arce in Argentina and on Wednesday Germany “the most idiotic of Supporters of Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales attend a rally in serious,” she said referring to said he was restoring bilateral he was feted in a ceremony in them all”. Chimore, Cochabamba department, in Bolivia, on Wednesday. the president’s health. relations with Venezuela “to Chimore, a town in his native Doctors who treated Zelenskiy said on Monday strengthen strategic ties for the Chapare province, a central Navalny before he was flown he tested positive for corona- good of our peoples.” Sunday as part of a tour of leftist under pressure over disputed coca-growing region. to Berlin said last week the virus. Three other top officials, He said the same was being Latin American nations that elections last year. In a speech, Morales urged opposition figure had not been including the finance minister, done with Iran and that “they included Venezuela and Cuba. Morales had planned to Latin American nations to poisoned but instead was suf- the defence minister and Zel- are always welcome in Bolivia. Venezuela and Iran were make Iran a partner in the maintain their sovereignty over fering from metabolic issues enskiy’s top aide were also We will continue to strengthen key allies for former Bolivian exploitation of its bountiful natural resources. “The West, and pancreatitis. reported to be infected. common projects.” president and Arce ally Evo lithium reserves, while he and that is the industrialized coun- Navalny remains in Ukraine’s daily tally of new Iran’s foreign minister Javad Morales, who swept to office as longtime ally President Nicolas tries, only want us Latin Amer- Germany for treatment but has coronavirus infections began Zarif attended Arce’s swearing- the country’s first indigenous Maduro of Venezuela frequently icans so that we can guarantee vowed to return to Russia after spiking in late September and in ceremony in La Paz on president in 2006 and resigned sympathised publicly over what them raw material,” he said. making a full recovery. has remained consistently high in October and November, spurring the government to extend some restrictions until Finland fast-tracks ID code law change after hacking case the end of the year. On Wednesday, Zelen- AP — TALLINN, ESTONIA All Finns receive a personal Local Government Sirpa branches throughout Finland information private. Also the skiy’s cabinet voted to impose identity code at birth to allow Paatero who is in charge of the and operates as a sub-con- psychotherapy centre a national lockdown at The government of Finland them to access most public and Finnish government’s elec- tractor for the Nordic country's reportedly received a demand weekends to strengthen steps said yesterday it was preparing many private services. tronic services. public health system, for ¤450,000 ($531,000) in to curb the rapid spread of the legislation that would allow Under Finland’s current Finland also wants to The hacking episodes were Bitcoin. coronavirus. citizens to change their law, the criteria for changing develop a webpage that revealed last month. The case has stunned Ukraine registered a total personal identity codes in cases one's code are strict and, enables citizens to report a sus- The still unknown perpe- people in Finland, a nation of of 500,865 coronavirus cases of gross data breaches that according to the government, pected theft of their personal trator or perpetrators pub- 5.5 million, and cybersecurity as of yesterday, with 9,145 carry a high risk of identity cannot be applied in advance data and to block unauthorised lished at least 300 patient experts have described such deaths. theft. to prevent criminal or other use of the information. records containing names, per- gross misuse of patient records The government’s fast- significant harmful activity. Finnish police estimate that sonal identity codes and as exceptional even on an tracked proposal was designed The legislation being up to 40,000 clients of the Vas- contact information on the international level. President of primarily to assist thousands drafted would make the taamo psychotherapy clinic anonymous "dark web” Tor The National Bureau of of people whose personal process slightly easier. may have had their data com- network. Investigation said at the end of Argentina in information was stolen during "The work will start imme- promised in two likely Soon after, dozens of Vas- October that it had so far a hacking of patient records at diately, and the laws will be breaches of its information taamo clients received ransom received some 15,000 com- isolation after a private Finnish psycho- completed by the beginning of systems in 2018 and 2019. demands to pay money in plaints that victims of the clinic COVID-19 contact therapy centre. next year,” said Minister of The clinic has several exchange for keeping their data breaches filed with police. REUTERS — BUENOS AIRES Maradona leaves hospital after surgery The president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, and several AFP — OLIVOS, ARGENTINA Thanks.” Luque had earlier He had looked unwell of his ministers began prevent- published on Instagram a photo during a brief appearance on ative isolation after coming in Argentine football legend Diego of himself hugging the 60-year- October 30 to mark his 60th close contact with an official Maradona left hospital on old, who wore a bandage on his birthday at the stadium of Gim- infected with coronavirus, the Wednesday followed by a head. nasia y Esgrima, the Argentine government said in a convoy of supporters, eight days Maradona is expected to Primera Division team he statement late on Wednesday. after undergoing surgery to continue his rehabilitation in coaches. He seemed to have dif- Fernández tested negative remove a blood clot on his Tigre, 30km (19 miles) north of ficulty walking and did not stay for COVID-19 but will none- brain. Buenos Aires, near his daughter to watch his team’s game. theless remain in isolation, the Maradona did not speak to Giannina’s home. The following Monday, he statement said. the crowd of journalists and “Diego has gone through was taken to hospital in La His foreign and interior chanting fans gathered outside perhaps the hardest time of his Plata, where the club is based, ministers, as well as the Min- in masks as he left the Olivos life,” his lawyer Matias Morla suffering from symptoms of ister of Women, Gender and clinic in Buenos Aires by ambu- said earlier Wednesday, adding anemia and dehydration. Diversity are still awaiting the lance shortly after his doctor it was a “miracle” that the clot Tests revealed the blood An ambulance carrying Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona results of their respective tests. Leopoldo Luque told reporters “which could have taken his life, clot, after which Maradona was leaves the clinic where Maradona underwent brain surgery, in The president and his min- he could go home. was detected.” “What is needed transferred to a specialist clinic Olivos, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday. isters had met with Secretary Private security personnel now is family togetherness and in the capital. for Strategic Affairs of the held up dividers to screen the being surrounded by health Maradona has been Presidency, Gustavo Béliz, who ambulance before it left. professionals,” said Morla. admitted to hospital three times Dalma, Giannina and Jana have and previous health issues, he tested positive for COVID-19 A convoy of Maradona’s “With the doctors and his in the last 20 years for serious visited him daily at the clinic. is considered high risk in earlier today, the statement supporters followed the ambu- family, Diego will be as he health issues. His oldest son, Diego Jr, who relation to the coronavirus pan- said. lance after dozens had waited should be: happy.” Last week, his doctor had lives in Italy, announced last demic, which has hit Argentina Argentina is among the outside the clinic for days, The World Cup-winning said the football icon would Thursday on social media that hard. Alongside Brazil’s Pele, countries hardest hit by holding photos of him and former Argentine captain require prolonged treatment in he had tested positive for who turned 80 last month, COVID-19. It has logged 1.27 chanting their underwent surgery last Tuesday a clinic with different specialties COVID-19 and therefore would Maradona is widely regarded million cases of the disease encouragement. to remove a clot lodged than the current one. not be able to travel to Buenos as one of the greatest soccer and 34,531 deaths. One banner read “Eternally between his brain and skull. Maradona’s daughters Aires. Due to Maradona’s age players of all time. FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 AMERICAS 11 Biden moves forward with focus on virus fight REUTERS — WASHINGTON/ The President-elect Biden Trump’s campaign has filed WILMINGTON named longtime adviser a series of lawsuits aiming to Ron Klain as White House challenge vote counts in pivotal US President-elect Joe Biden chief of staff, his first major states as he makes unsubstan- moved ahead with planning his appointment before taking tiated claims of widespread new administration yesterday office on January 20. election fraud. State election as his fellow Democrats in officials have said no such Congress blasted Republican widespread fraud occurred. “shenanigans” challenging poisoning the well of our “They’re engaged in an Donald Trump’s election loss democracy.” absurd circus right now, and urged action on the coro- “The Republicans should refusing to accept reality,” navirus pandemic. stop their shenanigans about an Pelosi said. The Republican president election that President Trump In a sign of weakening has refused to concede the has already lost and focus their support for Trump’s efforts, the election and his allies in Con- attention on the immediate Las Vegas Review-Journal, gress have declined to issue at hand - providing relief owned by major Republican acknowledge Biden as the to a country living through the donor Sheldon Adelson, on winner while Trump’s cam- COVID health and economic Thursday ran an editorial saying paign pursues legal challenges crisis,” Schumer added. Efforts that Trump “seeks to delay the to vote counts in several states, to pass such legislation before inevitable.” “There is no evi- US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (right), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during based on unsubstantiated the election stalled. dence that fraud cost Mr. Trump press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, yesterday. claims of voting fraud. Biden has won enough of the the election, no matter how The two top Democrats in battleground states to surpass much the president tweets the and longtime confidant Antony of American democracy.” in order to be up to speed on Congress — House of Repre- the 270 electoral votes needed opposite and his supporters Blinken is seen as a possible Since major news organisa- threats facing the United States sentatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the state-by-state Electoral wish it,” the editorial said. choice for secretary of state or tions called the election for ahead of taking office. and Senate Democratic Leader College that determines the next Klain, who served as Dem- national security adviser. Biden on Saturday, Trump has Trump’s team has also been Chuck Schumer — yesterday president. He is also winning the ocratic President Barack Whoever is chosen for maintained a minimal public busy raising money, soliciting urged Republicans to join them popular vote by more than 5.2 Obama’s “Ebola czar” in 2014 treasury secretary will have to schedule, preferring instead to contributions to pay for legal in passing legislation to address million votes, or 3.4 percentage during an outbreak of that virus cope with a recession and job- air his grievances on Twitter, challenges. the pandemic and buttress the points, with a few states still in West Africa, is expected to lessness, as well as serving as and has not addressed the But a donor would have to battered economy. counting ballots. take a leading role in the Biden the fulcrum to address wealth climbing virus caseload. give more than $8,000 before “We just had a divisive and Biden in the last few days administration’s response to the inequality, climate change and In the past day, two Repub- any money goes to an account hard-fought presidential has not publicly engaged with nationwide spike in COVID-19 other issues. lican senators — James established to finance election election,” Schumer told Trump’s long-shot challenge, cases. Foreign allies have congrat- Lankford and Chuck Grassley challenges. Small-dollar dona- reporters. “But instead of instead focusing on planning his Attention is now expected ulated Biden. A group of prom- —have called for Trump’s tions instead will go to the working to pull the country administration. He named to shift to Biden’s picks for inent former world leaders administration to allow Biden Republican National Committee back together so that we can longtime adviser Ron Klain on Cabinet posts, though aides known as The Elders, chaired access to presidential daily or a newly formed political fight our common enemy, Wednesday as White House have so far given few clues by former Irish President Mary intelligence briefings. action committee, which can COVID-19, Republicans in Con- chief of staff, his first major about when announcements Robinson, urged Trump to A US president-elect tradi- use the cash for other purposes gress are spreading conspiracy appointment before taking will be made. accept defeat, fearing he was tionally receives such briefings such as travel expenses or other theories, denying reality and office on January 20. On foreign policy, diplomat “putting at risk the functioning from the intelligence community political campaigns. ‘Our divisions Few legal wins so far as Trump team hunts for fraud proof run deep,’ AP — PHILADELPHIA aim at Philadelphia, the Dem- Legal ethicists and pro- aired on Sunday. “Counting over the three-day extension to Obama says ocratic stronghold that helped democracy activists have ques- votes cast on or before Election accept mail-in ballots. During a Pennsylvania court push President-elect Joe Biden tioned the participation of Day by eligible voters is not cor- Nationally, the strategy is hearing this week on one of the over the 270 Electoral College lawyers in this quest, as Trump ruption. It is not cheating. It is being run by Trump allies such in new book many election lawsuits brought votes needed to win the race. clings to power and President- democracy.” Untold voters, as Rudy Giuliani, the president’s by President Donald Trump, a The president accused a local elect Joe Biden rolls out his however, are accepting Trump’s personal attorney; political AFP — WASHINGTON judge asked a campaign lawyer Republican election official, Al agenda. claim about a rigged election and operative David Bossie, who is whether he had found any signs Schmidt, of ignoring “a “This may be an attempt to are donating to his legal fund. not an attorney; and Jay Former president Barack of fraud from among the 592 mountain of corruption & dis- appease the ego in chief, but A law firm involved in the Sekulow, a lead lawyer during Obama says in his upcoming ballots challenged. honesty.” Twitter added a label there are real world conse- election suits, Ohio-based the president’s impeachment book that the divisions in The answer was no. that said the election fraud quences for real people that Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, trial this year. America “run deep” and the “Accusing people of fraud is claim is disputed. come out of that,” said Loyola appeared to take down its Election law expert Rick departure of Donald Trump a pretty big step,” said the Trump loyalists have filed Law School professor Justin Twitter feed on Tuesday after Hasen said he would expect to from the White House will not lawyer, Jonathan Goldstein. at least 15 legal challenges in Levitt, a former Justice it was inundated with attacks. see top-drawer Supreme Court be enough to bridge the divide. “We’re all just trying to get an Pennsylvania alone in an effort Department elections official. The firm declined to address litigators involved, such as two In an excerpt from “A election done.” to reclaim the state’s 20 elec- “The attempt to soothe the pres- questions about the feed in a former solicitors general, Paul Promised Land,” which goes Trump has not been so cau- toral votes. There is action, too, ident’s ego is not a victimless statement issued Wednesday Clement or Theodore Olson, if on sale on Tuesday, Obama tious, insisting without evidence in Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and crime.” Schmidt told CBS’ “60 that said it had a long history of Trump had a strong case. reflects on the four years since that the election was stolen Michigan. Minutes” that his office has election work. “There are certain names of he left office. from him even when election In court, his lawyers must received death threats simply A second firm, Jones Day, elite lawyers that signal to the “Our democracy seems to officials nationwide from both walk a precarious line between for counting votes. said it was representing not the Supreme Court that something be teetering on the brink of parties say there has been no advocating for their client and “From the inside looking out, Trump campaign but the Penn- is serious,” said Hasen, a pro- crisis — a crisis rooted in a fun- conspiracy. upholding their professional it feels all very deranged,” sylvania GOP, in litigation fessor at the University of Cali- damental contest between two On Wednesday, Trump took oath. Schmidt said in an interview that before the US Supreme Court fornia, Irvine. opposing visions of what America is and what it should be,” Obama said in the excerpt published yesterday in The Court clears Harvard Atlantic. The crisis “has left the body politic divided, angry, and mis- admissions race bias trustful,” he said. It has also “allowed for an REUTERS — BOSTON that Harvard can retain the ongoing breach of institutional benefits of diversity it has norms, procedural safeguards, A US appeals court yesterday already achieved,” she said. and the adherence to basic upheld Harvard University’s Blum in a statement facts that both Republicans use of race in undergraduate pledged to ask the Supreme and Democrats once took for admissions, rejecting a chal- Court “to end these unfair and granted.” lenge by affirmative action unconstitutional race-based Obama said he was opponents who said the Ivy admissions policies at Harvard “encouraged” by the election League school’s policy discrim- and all colleges and victory of his former vice pres- inates against Asian-Amer- universities.” ident, Joe Biden, and his icans. The Supreme Court has running mate Kamala Harris, Opponents of the decision allowed race to be used in and their “character and by the 1st US Circuit Court of college admissions to promote capacity to do what is right.” Appeals in Boston promised to diversity in the classroom. “But I also know that no single appeal to the Supreme Court, Harvard spokeswoman election will settle the matter,” where legal experts believe the Rachael Dane said yesterday’s Obama said. “Our divisions run 6-3 conservative majority decision reflected efforts to deep; our challenges are Vials of coronavirus disease vaccine candidate BNT162b2 are inspected at a Pfizer manufacturing could use the case to end more “create a diverse campus that daunting. If I remain hopeful site in Kalamazoo, Michigan. than 40 years of allowing race promotes learning and about the future, it’s in large as a factor in higher education encourages mutual respect and part because I’ve learned to admissions. understanding.... Now is not the place my faith in my fellow cit- Virus surge breaking infection The appeals court rejected time to turn back the clock on izens, especially those of the claims by Students for Fair diversity and opportunity.” The next generation,” he said. Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit 2-0 decision upheld an October “My book is for those records across the US founded by anti-affirmative 2019 ruling by US District Judge young people — an invitation action activist Edward Blum, Allison Burroughs in Boston. A to once again remake the AP — TEXAS according to data compiled by officials sounding the alarm which drew support from third judge on the appeals court world, and to bring about, Johns Hopkins University. Cali- was Dr. Julie Watson of Integris Republican President Donald panel, Juan Torruella, died last through hard work, determi- Texas yesterday became the first fornia, the most populous state, Health in Oklahoma. Trump’s administration. month. nation, and a big dose of imag- state with more than one million has logged over 995,000 cases. “We are in trouble,” she said. SFFA said Harvard engaged Burroughs had concluded ination, an America that finally confirmed COVID-19 cases, and The US has recorded over “If nothing is done soon to slow in impermissible “racial bal- that Harvard’s admissions aligns with all that is best in California closed in on that mark 240,000 deaths and more than the rise in cases, our hospitals ancing” to make it easier for program was “not perfect” but us,” Obama said. as a surge of coronavirus infec- 10.3 million confirmed infections, will be more overwhelmed than Blacks and Hispanics to win that it the school had no In the 768-page first tions engulfs the country. with new cases soaring to all- they already are and we won’t admission, and did not nar- “workable and available race- volume of his memoirs, the In New York, Governor time highs of well over 120,000 be able to be there for all of rowly tailor its use of race. neutral alternatives.” 44th US president reveals that Andrew Cuomo said all restau- per day over the past week. those who need it.” It said this violated Title VI Lynch said the nature of he writes longhand with a pen rants and gyms statewide will Health experts have blamed the Oklahoma’s health of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Harvard’s admissions process, on a yellow pad instead of on have to close at 10pm starting increase in part on the onset of department said Wednesday which the school must comply including that applicants win a computer and confesses to today, a major retreat in a cold weather and growing frus- that 1,248 people were hospi- with in order to receive federal approval from a 40-person an inability to be concise. corner of the US that had seem- tration with mask-wearing and talised for confirmed or funding. committee before being offered He talks about trying to ingly brought the virus largely other precautions. probable coronavirus, shat- US Circuit Judge Sandra admission, “offset any risk of “find a discreet location to under control months ago. He Cases per day are on the tering the previous one-day Lynch, however, said Harvard’s bias.” grab an evening smoke” while also barred private gatherings rise in 49 states, and deaths per record of 1,055. use of race was not “impermis- The US Justice Department at the White House and how of more than 10 people. day are climbing in 39. A month In New York City, a quiet sibly extensive” and was had under Trump backed SFFA, “drained, physically and emo- Texas, the second-most pop- ago, the US was seeing about parade of military vehicles, with instead “meaningful,” because arguing in a “friend-of-the- tionally” he and his wife, ulous state, has recorded 1.02 730 COVID-19 deaths per day no spectators, rolled through it prevented diversity from court” brief that Harvard Michelle Obama, were when million coronavirus cases and on average; that has now sur- Manhattan to maintain the 101- plummeting. “actively engages in racial bal- they left the White House in over 19,000 deaths since the out- passed 970. year tradition of veterans “Harvard’s race-conscious ancing that Supreme Court January 2017. break began in early March, Among the many health marching on Fifth Avenue. admissions program ensures precedent flatly forbids.” Business 12

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 United Kingdom logs record rebound from virus-driven recession Today’s figures show that our economy was recovering over the summer, but started to slow going into autumn.

Rishi Sunak UK Finance Minister Business | 13 QSE 10,212.58 +92.89 (+0.92%) FTSE 100 6,331.28 -50.82 (0.80%) DOW 29,266.90 -130.73 (0.44%) BRENT $42.03 (+1.40)

QE Index soars over 320 points last week

SACHIN KUMAR International Investment THE PENINSULA The gains in stock Limited and Qatari German markets were driven by Company for Medical Devices, Qatar’s stock market ended the rising 10 percent each. week on a positive week as mostly global news. On Monday, the QE Index shares registered strong gains Shares started the week rose 1.9 percent to close at during the past five trading on strong note with 10,094.8. Gains were led by the sessions. The Qatar Stock news of Democratic Industrials and Real Estate Exchange (QE) Index has surged Presidential nominee indices that gained 4.7 percent by over 320 points to close at and 2.4 percent, respectively. 10,212.58 points yesterday from Joe Biden winning the Top gainers were Qatari 9889.46 on previous Thursday. US Presidential election. German Company for Medical The weekly rise was supported Devices and Mazaya Real Estate by strong gains in stocks Development which surged 10 yesterday as the index surged percent each. Among the top 92.89 points, or 0.92 percent on another boost from global drug- losers, Mannai Corporation fell Thursday. maker Pfizer announced that its 1.2 percent, while Qatar General The value of shares vaccine for COVID-19 was more Insurance & Reinsurance Performance of QE Index during the last week. increased to QR2.9bn from than 90 percent effective in a Company was down 1.1 percent. QR588.8m on Wednesday while large-scale clinical trial. The On Tuesday, the QE Index the volume of shares traded news triggered huge rallies in the rose 0.4 percent to close at top losers Qatar First Bank were Ezdan Holding Group and the red zone. Among the sectoral reached to 170 million from stock markets around the world. 10,131.9. Gains were led by Con- which fell 6 percent, while Dlala Al Khalij Commercial Bank, indexes, QSE Total Return Index 278.6 million on Wednesday. Shares performed positively sumer Goods & Services and Brokerage & Investment Holding which fell 3.6 percent and 3.4 witnessed highest increase yes- The gains in stock markets in the first trading session of the Insurance indices, which rose Company was down 4.3 percent. percent, respectively. Among the terday as it gained gained 0.92 were driven by mostly global week as the QE Index rose 0.2 2.8 percent and 1 percent, On Wednesday, the QE Index top gainers, Qatar Gas Transport percent to close at 19,633.34 news. Shares started the week percent to close at 9,908.3 on respectively. went down marginally down by Company Limited gained 10 points. on strong note with news of Sunday. Gains were led by the Top gainers were Mazaya 0.1 percent to close at 10,119.7. percent, while Gulf International QSE Al Rayan Islamic Index Democratic Presidential Real Estate and Transportation Real Estate Development and Losses were led by the Real Services was up 6.8 percent. increased 0.47 percent to close nominee Joe Biden winning the indices, which gained 2.9 Qatar Cinema & Film Distri- Estate and Industrials indices, During yesterday’s trade, at 4,164.01 points. QSE All Share US Presidential election. percent and 0.8 percent, respec- bution, rising 8.8 percent and 7.6 which fell 1.4 percent and 1.2 indices of six sectors ended with Index up 1.17 percent to close at On Monday, shares got tively. Top gainers were Salam percent, respectively. Among the percent, respectively. Top losers gains, while one sector closed in 3,163.30 points.

Challenges GECF Ministerial Meeting reviews dynamics of gas industry ahead for US THE PENINSULA — DOHA data-driven insights that it pro- vides. Furthermore, the Minis- economy: Powell The 22nd Ministerial Meeting terial Meeting hailed the brand- of the Gas Exporting Countries new GECF Annual Short-Term BLOOMBERG Forum (GECF) assessed the Gas Market Report. current dynamics in the natural In reviewing the status The US economy could be in gas industry and acknowledged report on preparations of the for a challenging few months that the fundamentals that will 6th Summit, the Ministers as Covid-19 spreads, despite drive natural gas’ projected recorded their satisfaction with recent positive news about growth to the top of the global the progress made by Qatar as vaccine development, Federal energy mix remain unchanged. the host of this flagship biennial Reserve Chair Jerome Powell The meeting was held event, scheduled to be held in said. yesterday, under the Chair- Doha on November 18, 2021. “We do see the economy manship of H E Abdelmadjid Algeria will host the 7th GECF continuing on a solid path of Attar, Minister of Energy of the Summit in Algiers in 2023. recovery, but the main risk we People’s Democratic Republic The meeting appointed H E see to that is clearly the further of Algeria as its President. The Franklin Molina Ortiz, Minister spread of the disease here in meeting was convened by vide- Ministers and senior officials during the 22nd Ministerial Meeting of the GECF. of Hydrocarbons, the Plurina- the United States,” Powell said oconference. tional State of Bolivia as Pres- Thursday during a panel dis- It was attended by Energy 23rd Ministerial Meeting of the namely economic development, consuming countries and the ident of the Ministerial Meeting cussion at a virtual conference Ministers and top authorities GECF will convene in Doha, on social progress and the pro- industry. for 2021, and H E Senator the hosted by the European from Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, November 16, 2021. tection of the environment. Yury Sentyurin, GECF Sec- Honourable Franklin Khan, the Central Bank. “With the virus Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Natural gas is the fastest The Meeting reaffirmed its retary General, presented the Minister of Energy and Energy now spreading, the next few Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad growing fossil fuel in the world determination to enhance the Management Report of the Sec- Industries of the Republic of months could be challenging.” and Tobago, and Venezuela, as and will become the leading pace of cooperation to raise the retariat, highlighting the various Trinidad and Tobago, as Fed officials made no changes well as Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, source in the global energy mix efficiency of the GECF. activities undertaken in 2020 Alternate President for the same to their policy stance last week Malaysia, and Norway as by mid-century, increasing its In his opening remarks, H E and aimed at realising the vision period. at a meeting following the US Observers. share from 23 percent today to Minister Abdelmadjid Attar pro- as enshrined in the 2019 Malabo Furthermore, the Ministerial election, sticking with near- Heads of Energy Adminis- 28 percent. vided an overview of the devel- Declaration, the Forum’s Meeting appointed Eng zero interest rates and bond trations of Indonesia, Mozam- The Ministers stressed that opments in the gas industry and Statute, its Long-Term Strategy, Mohamed Hamel from Algeria purchases of $120bn per bique, Senegal, Tunisia, and this abundant and flexible outlined the strategic impera- the 5-Year Working Plan, and as the Executive Board month. Turkmenistan along with the source of energy will continue tives that will carry it forward, the 2019 and 2020 Programmes Chairman and Eng Angel But prospect of a divided leadership of ERIA, IEF, and to satisfy the increasing world as well as the key role of the of Work. Ministers welcomed Gonzalez Saltron from Vene- government raised by the OPEC attended the opening energy needs, as well as the exi- GECF as a unique platform for the launch of the 2020 edition zuela as the Alternate Chairman election results has dimmed session as the guests of the gences of the three pillars of multilateral dialogue between of the GECF Annual Statistical of the Executive Board for the expectations for additional forum. It was decided that the sustainable development, gas exporting countries and gas Bulletin and appreciated the same period. aggressive fiscal stimulus. Mada Center grants Digital Access Germany’s recession may be milder BLOOMBERG next year from 5.2 percent development in coming weeks growth to 4.4 percent. and months,” they said. Certification to QSE website The pandemic will cause A massive government Germany reported 26,547 slightly less damage to stimulus program that includes coronavirus cases in the 24 THE PENINSULA — DOHA a financial institution in the It allows easy access to the Germany’s economy than aid to struggling businesses as hours through Wednesday, up State of Qatar, was handed over QSE’s services and information, expected this year as well as public investments in from 6,522 the previous day, Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) to Rashid bin Ali Al Mansouri, added by Al Mahmoud. government aid helps offset the infrastructure and climate pro- according to data from Johns website was granted the Digital CEO of Qatar Stock Exchange. QSE’s keenness to achieve effect of virus- containment tection will temporarily Hopkins University. While it’s Access Certification by the Aisha Al Mahmoud, Director digital access comes in imple- measures, the country’s top strengthen output, said the a large daily jump, new infec- Assistive Technology Centre of QSE’s IT Department, mentation of the State of advisers said. council, which is made up of tions have fluctuated signifi- (Mada) for applying the web expressed her pleasure at Qatar’s interest in fostering Gross domestic product will five members recommended by cantly in recent weeks, reaching content accessibility standards winning the certification and digital access and inclusiveness shrink 5.1 percent in 2020 and the government and appointed a record of more than 31,000 for persons with disabilities, affirmed the keenness of QSE consistent with QNV2030 and rebound 3.7 percent next year, by the president of the country earlier this month. elderly and those with func- to enhance transparency in the the UN’s Convention on the according to the Council of Eco- for five-year terms. For the month of November, tional limitations. market and facilitate digital Rights of Persons with Disabil- nomic Experts, which presented Still, pre-crisis levels won’t bars, restaurants, and gyms The certificate is awarded access to QSE’s website and ities (CRPD). its report to Chancellor Angela likely be reached until the have been shut down, while to websites that provide digital enhance the ability of this group Qatar has ranked first Merkel on Wednesday. beginning of 2022, according public events, non-essential access to content and to access the various electronic worldwide on the Digital Acces- The contraction is similar to the advisers, who said that travel and other leisure activ- e-services, in addition to services provided by the sibility Rights Evaluation Index in size to the one in 2009, fol- the pandemic’s resurgence ities have been banned. Across meeting the requirements and website. 2020 (DARE Index 2020) lowing the global financial underscored how fragile the sit- Europe, countries have also guideline for web content The QSE website is easy to released by the Global Initiative crisis. The government in early uation still is. taken drastic measures to crack access. access and effective with a dis- for Inclusive Information and September revised its economic “The strong increase in the down on the pandemic and Mada’s award, which is the tinctive design according to the Communication Technologies forecast for this year from -6.3 infection numbers is likely to prevent hospitals from over- first of its kind to be granted to latest international standards. (G3ict). percent to -5.8 percent and for weigh heavily on the economic flowing with Covid-19 patients. FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 BUSINESS 13 UK logs record rebound from virus-driven recession Gross domestic AFP - LONDON percent drop. fourth quarter and beyond will vaccines.” Sunak last week product (GDP) The impact depend on the stringency and announced a new multi-billion- Britain’s economy enjoyed a expanded by 15.5 is however far duration of ongoing lock- pound support package, record third-quarter rebound less severe downs.” Britain plunged into a extending his government’s fur- from its deepest ever recession, percent in the July- because the historic downturn after lough jobs scheme to the end of data showed yesterday, but September period, new measures imposing a nationwide March. The Bank of England experts predict another slump after an initial “are less lockdown on March 23 that (BoE) at the same time injected after fresh coronavirus restric- restrictive than lasted until mid-June. an extra £150bn in cash tions were introduced to curb coronavirus lockdown those intro- The economy shrank by a stimulus to lift growth. the pandemic. was eased, the Office duced in record 19.8 percent in the The ONS yesterday said the Gross domestic product March”, he second quarter after a 2.5- UK economy was 9.7 percent (GDP) expanded by 15.5 percent for National Statistics noted. percent contraction in the prior smaller than its level late last in the July-September period, said in a statement. The three months, meeting the tech- year, in line with BoE after an initial coronavirus National nical definition of a recession. forecasts. lockdown was eased, the Office Institute of Eco- “Today’s figures show that The outlook brightened for National Statistics said in a Growth slowed in Sep- nomic and our economy was recovering somewhat after US pharma statement. tember with a month-on-month England-wide restrictions, Social Research (NIESR) think over the summer, but started to giant Pfizer and Germany’s Activity bounced back after expansion of just 1.1 percent, which began last week, are set tank has forecast a 2.2-percent slow going into autumn,” said BioNTech announced Monday shrinking by almost a fifth in the after the end of the govern- to spark another slump in the contraction. finance minister Rishi Sunak that their candidate for a second quarter on the back of ment’s restaurant discount current fourth quarter or three “Growth in the fourth (pictured). COVID-19 vaccine had been 90 the first lockdown. scheme for the devastated hos- months to December, analysts quarter will be much slower “The steps we’ve had to take percent effective, boosting But the economy is still pitality sector. warn. than in the third quarter and is since to halt the spread of the hopes of a return to normality grappling with the virus fallout, Output was also hit after “There seems little doubt that likely to turn negative, due to virus mean growth has likely next year. according to the data, which more localised measures to a renewed national lockdown weaker growth in October and slowed further since then. BoE governor Andrew was published one day after control the virus were imposed will cause the economy to con- a second lockdown from “But there are reasons to be Bailey yesterday described the Britain’s COVID-19 death toll in parts of northern and central tract again in the fourth quarter,” November,” said NIESR econ- cautiously optimistic on the vaccine announcement as passed the grim milestone of England, as well as in Scotland said EY economist Howard omist Kemar Whyte. health side -- including prom- “encouraging”, adding that it 50,000 -- the highest in Europe. and Wales. Archer, who is forecasting a 4.0- “Our expectations for the ising news on tests and “reduces uncertainty”. Spain readies Coca-Cola’s Turkish measures bottler seeking new to support markets after debt drops hospitality BLOOMBERG sector Coca-Cola Co’s bottler for Turkey and nine other coun- REUTERS - MADRID tries spanning Central Asia and Middle East plans to enter new The Spanish government is markets after reducing debt to considering extending its the lowest level since its stock scheme of state-backed credit exchange debut 14 years ago. lines beyond December while “Our main focus is to also preparing measures to expand our franchise, growing support the battered hospi- our core business further with tality sector during the coro- the addition of new territories,” navirus pandemic, sources Burak Basarir (pictured), the with knowledge of the matter chief executive officer of Coca- said. Cola Icecek AS, said in an biggest brewer Anadolu Efes “Everything is under dis- interview at the company’s Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii AS, is cussion right now, the increase head office in Istanbul. “We among the top eight Coca-Cola of the grace period, the could think of adding a new bottlers globally. CCI earns extension of those credits and country or countries to our nearly half of its revenue and of the entire scheme beyond Car made of recycled waste geography.” two-thirds of its profit in December, but nothing has Students Lisa van Etten, project manager at TU/ecomotive and Matthijs van Wijk, public relations manager at The company is in regular Turkey, and has operations in been closed yet,” one source TU/ecomotive stand next to a car made of recycled waste in Eindhoven, Netherlands, recently. contact with Atlanta-based Azerbaijan, Iraq, Jordan, Kaza- said. Coca-Cola, which owns 20 khstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Hotels and restaurants percent of the firm, as it would Syria, Tajikistan and have been particularly badly need permission to make fresh Turkmenistan. hit as the pandemic stifled investments, he said. The drive The company returned to tourism in one of the world’s into new markets by Coca-Cola net volume growth of 1.8 most visited countries. BNP Paribas probed over middleman Icecek, also known as CCI, percent in the third quarter fol- Hundreds rallied in Seville, comes as beverage producers lowing a contraction in the pre- the capital of Spain’s most fee for Deutsche Bank hedge fund deal globally seek other avenues of vious three months. CCI can populous region of Andalusia, growth following the corona- finance its organic growth and demanding direct state aid to BLOOMBERG the people said, although it isn’t 5.4 percent to about €39 each virus pandemic and amid a capital expenditure with free “save the hospitality industry” clear if it will open a formal at 3:12 pm in Paris, leading the broader shift by consumers into cash flow generated from its as new restrictions kicked in, BNP Paribas SA’s deal for inquiry. The probe highlights the falls in European bank stocks. healthier drinks. operations.”During the pan- ordering recreation cetnres to Deutsche Bank AG’s business red flags raised when banks pay Deutsche Bank’s 2019 Any investment would most demic we didn’t have a major close at 6pm. catering to hedge funds, a outsiders to open doors or cul- decision to exit the business likely be through an acquisition supply chain problem in any Officials in Catalonia said landmark agreement aimed at tivate counterparties. Societe serving hedge funds, known as of an existing bottler, Basarir operations in the 10 countries. restaurants and shopping vaulting the lender into the Wall Generale SA, for instance, paid prime brokerage, was part of said. Supply chain is one of our malls in the region will remain Street elite, is being scrutinised more than $1bn in 2018 to CEO Christian Sewing’s retreat “There is a Coca-Cola strongest muscles within our closed for at least another 10 by French regulators over a fee resolve US allegations it paid from equities. BNP Paribas and bottler or operation in almost operations that cover 26 plants. days, but they planned a to a middleman. bribes to secure deals with Citigroup Inc emerged as every country in the world,” the None of them halted operations gradual return to open-air The bank paid hundreds of Libya. Last year, Deutsche Bank potential buyers. CEO said. “So you need to have because of the pandemic.”CCI activities on the terraces from thousands of pounds to former settled a suit -- without BNP Paribas Chief Executive either a partnership with that withdrew its 2020 guidance on November 23. Goldman Sachs Group Inc admitting liability -- from a Officer Jean-Laurent Bonnafe bottler in that country, or take the back of a lack of visibility A government source said banker Simon Lloyd months Dutch housing firm stemming was counting on it to vault the over its business if they are in the pandemic measures to extend loan grace after the transaction was com- from payments to a middleman French lender into the top tier quitting, with the permission environment.”Based on our periods - which allow bor- pleted in September 2019, who arranged their derivatives of the global industry, which is of The Coca-Cola Co.” first nine-month results, rowers to delay payment according to people familiar trades. BNP Paribas, Deutsche dominated by Wall Street giants CCI has more room on its although we are lagging behind without being charged late with the matter. The French Bank, AFA and the FCA declined including Morgan Stanley, balance sheet to fund an 2019’s volumes, in all other fees, being found in default or anti-corruption agency, known to comment. Lloyd, who isn’t JPMorgan Chase & Co and expansion after cutting its ratio metrics we are delivering having their loans cancelled - as AFA, identified the incident personally the focus of the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. of net debt to earnings before ahead of 2019. For 2021, we are would likely be approved by during a routine audit and is due inquiry and hasn’t been accused Enter Lloyd, an Australian interest, tax, depreciation and still working on the budget. We the cabinet as soon as on to issue a report in the next few of any wrongdoing, didn’t who founded a two-person amortization to a record low of will first want to see this year’s Tuesday and would initially weeks. respond to messages sent to his advisory shop in London called 0.54, compared with a limit of 12-month performance.” target the hospitality sector. Britain’s Financial Conduct LinkedIn profile or to phone Barbon Advisors LLP after 3.25 set by investors. Apart from Pakistan, Iraq The economy ministry Authority has also received messages left at his office. working at Goldman Sachs for The company, which is 50 and Jordan, CCI has a leading declined to comment. complaints about the payment, Shares in BNP Paribas slid a decade through 2011. percent owned by Turkey’s market share. The existing state-guar- anteed funding scheme of €140bn ($165bn) is due to expire in December, with the grace period on a significant 709,000 seek US jobless aid as pandemic escalates volume of loans ending by April. AP - WASHINGTON resurgence has triggered tighter transitioned to a federal Many small businesses restrictions on businesses, extended benefits programme have said they will not have The number of people seeking mostly restaurants and recre- that lasts 13 more weeks. been able to resume their US unemployment benefits fell ation centres, in a range of The number of people on activity by then to cope with last week to 709,000, a still- states, including Texas, New federal and state extended ben- their payments. high level but the lowest figure York, Maryland, and Oregon. efits rose 130,000 in the week ECB economist Paloma since March and a further sign “The risk may be for more that ended October 24, the latest Lopez Garcia wrote in an that the job market might be layoffs as coronavirus cases period for which data is article this week that “our slowly healing. surge and some states impose available, to 4.7 million. analysis shows that Spain is Yet the improvement will be restrictions on activity,” said The viral outbreak is threat- the most affected country” in put at risk by the sharp resur- Nancy Vanden Houten, an ening to upend the the euro zone, with about a gence in confirmed viral infec- economist at the forecasting improvement in the job market quarter of all firms with tions to an all-time high well firm Oxford Economics. in recent months. The unem- employees at risk of becoming above 120,000 a day. Cases are Last week’s count of new ployment rate plunged a full illiquid. rising in 49 states, and deaths applications for unemployment percentage point in October to Despite having the second are increasing in 39. The nation benefits was down from A file photo of workers waiting in line to apply for unemployment 6.9 percent while employers highest tally of cases in has now recorded 240,000 757,000 the previous week, the benefits in the US. added a solid 640,000 new Western Europe at over 1.4 virus-related deaths and 10.3 Labor Department said jobs. Yet weekly applications for million, the infection rate has million confirmed infections. Thursday. The still-elevated states, including such hot spots government said, from 7.2 jobless aid remain at historically stabilised overall in Spain of As colder weather sets in figure shows that eight months as Wisconsin and Illinois. At the million. That suggests that more high levels. The applications late. and fear of the virus escalates, after the pandemic flattened the same time, the figure jumped Americans are finding jobs and likely include some people who “The trend is positive and consumers may turn more cau- economy, many employers are by more than 5,000 in Cali- no longer receiving unem- lost jobs weeks ago but who we have been able to control tious about traveling, shopping, still slashing jobs. fornia, 10,000 in Washington ployment aid. have had to wait for states to it without having the lockdown dining out and visiting gyms, So far, the spike in viral State and 2,800 in Massachu- But it also indicates that process their claims. Some of we had in the spring,” barber shops and retailers. cases hasn’t triggered a wave setts. The number of people many jobless people have used them might not have filed for Economy Minister Nadia Companies in many sectors of new layoffs. The number of who are continuing to receive up their state unemployment benefits until last week even Calvino said earlier could cut jobs or workers’ applications for unemployment traditional unemployment ben- aid - which typically expires though they were laid off yesterday. hours. In recent days, the virus’ insurance fell last week in 29 efits fell to 6.8 million, the after six months - and have earlier. Sport FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 14 Casamento guides Lekhraib to Doha Cup win

RESULTS (Top 3) THE PENINSULA — DOHA Baker De Saularie was victo- Horse, Trainer, Jockey rious in the Purebred Arabian DOHA CUP Lekhraib, with Marco Casa- Conditions, also carrying a prize 1 - Lekhraib, Mohammed mento in the saddle, yesterday money of QR100,000. Mickael Gassim Ghazali, Marco claimed the Doha Cup triumph Berto rode the 6-year-old horse Casamento with a short-head win in the to a 1¾-length win in the 1800m 2 -Barra, Alban Elie Marie De Conditions for Local Purebred run. Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi Arabians at Qatar Racing and Gassim Mohammad Ghaz- 3 - Sealine, Alban Elie Marie De Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan ali-trained Rajeh, with Saleh Mieulle, Ronan Thomas Park. Salem Al Marri in the saddle, PUREBRED ARABIAN The feature race of yester- secured second position while CONDITIONS day’s 10th Race Meeting pro- Faleh Bughanaim rode Bsheer 1 - Baker De Saularie, Osama duced a thrilling action with to third position. Omer E Al-Dafea, Mickael Barra, helmed by Soufiane In Class 3 Thoroughbred Berto Saadi, just finishing short of Handicap, JP Guillambert 2 - Rajeh, Gassim Mohammad Mohammed Ghazali-trained astride Shaheen Bin Khalid Ghazali, Saleh Salem Al-Marri 6-year-old Lekhraib in the Shaheen Al Ghanim’s Yaarmen, 3 - Bsheer (USA), Hossin QR100,000 event. was fastest recording a 5-length Mohammad Ashour, Faleh Ronan Thomas rode Alban win in 1700m run. Bughanaim Elie Marie De Mieulle-trained Marco Casamento rode THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP Sealine to third position, with Roman Legend to second place 1 - Yaarmen (USA), Gassim the winning side receiving in the race, while Jabalaly, with Mohammad Ghazali, JP QR57,000. Team Barra got QR Soufiane Saadi in the saddle Guillambert 22,000 for second place, while took third position. 2 - Roman Legend (IRE), Team Sealine walked away with Yesterday’s meeting Gassim Mohammad Ghazali, 11,000 for third position. brought an end to an exciting Marco Casamento Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi week of races, which also saw 3 - Jabalaly (IRE), Ibrahim presented trophies to the Ali Bin Saeed Aljafali Al Nuaimi’s winners of Doha Cup. Ajal clinching the Al Wukair Cup Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki, Lekhraib (left), with Marco Casamento in the saddle takes a slim lead during yesterday's feature race Soufiane Saadi Also yesterday, the Osama with a huge victory with Italian Omer Al Dafea-owned & trained jockey Alberto Sanna. at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park. NBA: Lakers to Djokovic leads the star cast as start 2020-21 London bids farewell to Finals season without fans in stands REUTERS — LONDON default in the US Open and runs being two runner-up between 2003 and 2015, the Last year nearly 250,000 fans thrashing by Nadal in the finishes in London in 2010 last three years in London It will not be the party flocked to the Thames-side French Open final he will be and 2013. has seen first-time winners REUTERS — LOS ANGELES envisaged as London bids dome over the eight days of the eager to put the year to bed His last two appearances in Grigor Dimitrov, Zverev farewell to the ATP Finals with a powerful statement. ended in round-robin stage and Tsitsipas and that First the Los Angeles Lakers were forced but despite the strangest of tournament won by Greek Djokovic,Djokovic, denied the exits. sequence could continue. to skip a championship parade and now circumstances the season- Stefanos Tsitsipas. This time, cchancehance to defenddefend hishis “Of“Of coucourserse I wantedwanted to AustAustrianrian wworldorld nnumberumber they are asking their fans to wait even ender should provide an with London in COVID-19 WWimbledonimbledon tittitlele thisthis win thethe tournamenttournament,, threethree Thiem,Thiem, thethe US OOpenpen longer for an up-close-and-personal gath- upbeat note on which to lockdown, the 20,000-seater yyearear wwhenhen it was but it’s alwaysalways dif-dif- champion,champion, was runner-uprunner-up ering. finish a difficult year for arena will be eerily empty, cancelledcancelled forfor thethe firstfirst ficult,”ficult,” Nadal, who inin 20192019 andand wouldwould lovelove to The defending NBA champions tennis. timetime since WorldWorld hashas never hadhad thethe cementcement hishis breakthroughbreakthrough announced that they will start the 2020-21 The ATP’s blue-riband barring the players, their War II,II, can matchmatch benefitbenefit of concon-- year byby winning thethe most season without fans at their home arena, event has proved a huge coaches, tournament officials thethe absent RoRogerger testingtesting it on his prestigiousprestigious title outside ofof Staples Center, and then assess the situ- success since it switched to and a smattering of media. Federer’sFederer’s six ATPATP favouredfavoured cclay,lay, saisaid.d. the fourfour GrandGrand Slams.Slams. ation as the season progresses. London’s cavernous O2 FinalsFinals tittitles.les. NaNadal,dal, After the domi-domi- Medvedev,Medvedev, who will be The Lakers said the decision was made Arena in 2009, drawing sell- incredibly,incredibly, still awaits nation ofof FedererFederer joinedjoined this yearyear byby fellow with more than a month remaining before out crowds to watch the his first.first. andand DDjokovic,jokovic, who Russian RublevRublev,, also looks a the season after guidance from state of world’s top eight singles pot of $9m to $5.7m with an TheT h e wonwon 11 ooff thethe goodgood bet after warmingwarming up California leaders, as well as local health players and doubles pairs go undefeatedfeated championchampion to SpanishSpanish 13 ediedi-- inin ststyleyle by winninwinningg lastlast officials. head-to-head. pockett $$1.56m1.56m comparecomparedd to tions week’s Paris MastersMasters,, The team’s official stance is that games Last year nearly 250,000 the $2.6m2.6m Tsitsipas earnedearned aalthoughlthough oonn his debut last will be held without fans “until further fans flocked to the Thames- despitete losinglosing one round-round- year hehe lostlost allall threethree ofof hishis notice.” “The health and safety of our fans, side dome over the eight robin mmatch.atch. round-robinround-robin matches.matches. players, staff and community are our main days of the tournament won Notot that cash will bbee the “Hopefully“Hopefully I cacann get priority and we will continue to work with by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. motivatorator for world numbernumber somesome wins. I have no other state and local officials to come up with a This time, with London in one Novakovak Djokovic,Djokovic, Rafa goal than just to getget some plan to safely welcome fans back to COVID-19 lockdown, the Nadal,, DominicDominic Thiem,Thiem, Tsit-Tsit- wins,”wins,” Medvedev,Medvedev, who Staples Center in the adherence with local, 20,000-seater arena will be sipas, Daniil Medvedev,Medvedev, lost to NNadaladal at tthehe state and NBA guidelines,” the team said. eerily empty, barring the Alexandernder ZverevZverev andand deb-deb- O2 last yyearear The NBA officially agreed this week players, their coaches, tour- utantss AndreyAndrey RublevRublev and despitedespite leadingleading on a December 22 start to the upcoming nament officials and a smat- Diego SchwartzmanSchwartzman whenwhen 5-1 in thethe season that will include 72 games, 10 less tering of media. the tournament’sournament’s 50t50thh 20-times20-times decidingdeciding set, saisaid.d. than usual. An NBA season typically starts Players must live in a editionn starts on Sunday.Sunday. GrandGrand RublevRublev coucouldld bebe in October but is being pushed back this strict ‘bubble’ and even line Serbianrbian DjoDjokovic,kovic, 3333,, is SlamS l a m dangerousdangerous too, year because of delays created last season judges will be missing, guaranteednteed to endend thethe yearyear championchampion havinghaving won ffiveive tittitlesles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. replaced by the Hawk-eye as numbermber one forfor a sixth hashas a rerela-la- Novak Djokovic thisthis year, more thanthan ananyy The just-concluded season was paused live system used recently at time, equallingequalling Pete Sam-Sam- tivelyt ively other player.player. in March, resumed in late July in a “bubble” the US Open. pras’s record. mediocremediocre While SchwSchwartzmanartzman environment near Orlando and the Lakers In these straitened times Butut tthehe llastast ooff hishis five recorrecordd in recentlyrecently cracked the top came away with the title on early October prize money has also been titles atat the yyear-enderear-ender came thethe eventevent,, 10 forfor the firstfirst timetime at the with a NBA Finals victory over Miami Heat. slashed from last year’s total in 20155 and, after his recent his best age of 28. Pakistan confirm Australia call up Pucovski, Australia kicks Smith Younis as batting captaincy question coach for 2 years Green for India Test series REUTERS — LAHORE down the road REUTERS — MELBOURNE Swepson among the potential injury, however, and his best REUTERS — MELBOURNE Former captain Younis Khan will test debutants against Virat chance of a debut may be the continue as the men’s batting coach Australia have named batting Kohli’s team. third test at the Sydney Cricket The question of whether of Pakistan until the Twenty20 talent Will Pucovski and all- “What we saw in the Ground to provide another pace Steve Smith (pictured) will World Cup in 2022, the country’s rounder Cameron Green among opening rounds of the... Shef- option if Australia opts for two regain the captaincy of the cricket board (PCB) said yesterday. five uncapped players in an field Shield were a number of spinners on a turning wicket. Test team continues to gnaw Younis is the only Pakistan extended 17-man squad for the players performing excep- New South Wales paceman at Australian cricket nearly batsman in test cricket’s 10,000-run four-Test series against India. tionally well,” selector Trevor Abbott and Queensland veteran three years after the ball- club and accompanied the side on Victoria opener Pucovski Hohns said in a media release. Neser are the reserve quicks tampering scandal in South their tour of England this summer. and Green join seamers Sean “Two of those many behind regulars Pat Cummins, Africa. “The PCB will also be utilising Abbott, Michael Neser and standout players were of course Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood Australia’s selectors, Younis Khan’s expertise and skills Queensland legleg- Cameron Green and Will and James Pattinson. however, are refusing to bite. when he’s not on national duty as spinners pinner Pucovski. The uncapped five may Smith was suspended The second vice-cap- he will help local batsmen hone MitchellMitchell “Their undeniable form struggle to dislodge anyone from cricket for 12 months tain’s role, which was held their skills,” PCB Chief Executive demanded selection and we are from the Australian team that and banned from leadership by batsman Travis Head, has Wasim Khan said in a statement. very pleased to have these whitewashed Pakistan and New roles for two years after been terminated to align The board said the appointment young men in the squad for Zealand last summer, though “Sandpaper-gate” erupted in with the more traditional of Younis will be “until, at least” the what will be a tremendous test opener Joe Burns may be Cape Town in March, 2018. leadership setup of the 2022 T20 World Cup, which is Series against an extremely for- feeling the heat from Pucovski Tim Paine has led Aus- one-day side. scheduled to be held in Aus- midable opponent.” after a run of low scores for tralia’s Test side with dis- Smith’s name was not tralia in Shaggy-haired 22-year-old Queensland. tinction since and continues even raised in discussions October-November. opener Pucovski has been in India beat Paine’s team 2-1 to with Smith back in it. about the leadership roles, Younis scored 10,099 red-hot form with the bat, in 2018/19, becoming the first With Paine turning 36 selectors chairman Trevor runs and 34 hundreds in 118 scoring 495 runs in two Shef- Asian side to triumph in a Test before the first Test against Hohns said yesterday. Tests, and also played 265 field Shield matches. He re- series on Australian soil. India starts on December 17, “All I can answer to that one-dayers and 25 T20 inter- joins the Test squad nearly two TEST SQUAD few players have better cre- one is that discussion hasn’t nationals for Pakistan. The years after narrowly missing dentials to succeed the wick- been had yet,” Hohns said 42-year-old said he was out on a debut against Sri Tim Paine (capt), Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, etkeeper than star batsman bluntly in a video call with pleased to take up the job on Lanka. Along with Pucovski, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Smith, whose leadership ban reporters. a long-term basis. Green has been earmarked as Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus expired in March. “That’s difficult to say, he “I am particularly a future Test performer and has Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Yet it was fast bowler Pat will obviously be - probably happy that my scope of piled up the runs for Western James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Cummins confirmed as the - a contender but whether

work has been extended Tim Paine Australia in the Shield. Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew team’s sole vice-captain we go down that path or not beyond the national He has only recently Wade, David Warner when the 17-man squad was depends on when that duties,” he added. returned to bowling after a back named yesterday. arises,” he said. FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 SPORT 15 Showcasing Doha's unique status as sports hub

QOC President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and members of OCA Evaluation Committee pose for a group picture with young football players during their visit at Aspire Academy.

Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi informs OCA Evaluation Committee members about facilities at Al Rayyan Stadium.

H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani speaks with an OCA Evaluation Committee member during their visit to Aspire Academy.

OCA Evaluation Committee members are being apprised about the facilities OCA Evaluation Committee visiting Al Bayt Stadium, yesterday. at Aspire Academy. Amir Cup Shooting & Archery begins with Trap event

THE PENINSULA — DOHA A shooter getting ready for the competition, The PET Trap round for the Amir yesterday. Cup 2020 Shooting & Archery Championship began at the Lusail Shooting Complex yesterday. Among the many seen fine-tuning their skills at the Lusail Range included A shooter takes Qatar’s shotgun athletes aim during Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Nasser opening day's Al Hamidi, Saeed Abu Sharb and action at Lusail. Rashid Al Athba. Many archers were also seen Saoud Al Qahtani practising ahead of the men’s Recurve 2x30 Qualification and Recurve Elimination (30m) Saoud Al Qahtani is head of needs participants to keep for the skeet, trap and double which will be take place from the shotgun referees committee developing and such champi- trap competitions, but also to 8am today. for the championship. onships provide them with the referee the rifle, pistol, and The prestigious champi- Speaking about the Amir ideal needed platform so that archery competitions." onship will see the participation Cup championship, he said, they can be ready for interna- "We hope that this com- of top Qatar shooters and “This prestigious tournament is tional competitions. mittee will have a role in the archers in the men, women and an opportunity for all our As for the referees, he said. success of the Qatari shooting youth category in the 17-day shooters and to enhance their “We have a distinguished and ensure their march in all the long event which will conclude experience and to sharpen their referee cadre and we have pre- competitions they are involved on November 28. skills. We all know that this sport pared a refereeing team not only in.” Qatar ready for Costa Rica friendly in Vienna U-16: Qatar beat Lebanon 3-1 in Doha friendly

Qatar U-16 players celebrate after their 3-1 victory over Lebanon, yesterday. The match Qatar national team's players during a training session ahead of their friendly match against Costa Rica, which was played at will be played today. The game will be played at Vienna's BSFZ Arena Admiral Stadium with kick off set for Aspire pitch. 6:00pm Austria time. Qatar will also play a friendly against South Korea on November 17. Sport

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2020 Younis Khan happy with appointment "I am pleased to join the Pakistan cricket set-up on a long- term basis. I felt honoured when I was given the opportunity this summer and thoroughly enjoyed my time, and I now look forward to continuing the work with the same group of people on an important tour of New Zealand." Younis Khan Sport | 14 Pakistan batting coach HORSE RACING: DOHA CUP; WINNER: LEKHRAIB; TRAINER: MOHAMMED GASSIM GHAZALI; JOCKEY: MARCO CASAMENTO

OCA Evaluation Committee members visit Qatar's top sports facilities Doha 2030 promises ultimate Asian Games experience THE PENINSULA - DOHA then taken to the Aspire Dome before moving onto the world-leading The Doha 2030 Asian Games Bid Aspetar sports medicine hospital, the Committee yesterday showcased to FIFIA World Cup Al Bayt Stadium and the OCA Evaluation Committee how the Lusail Arena, just some of the Doha is uniquely positioned to deliver existing world class venues that certainty, sustainability and excellence feature in the Doha 2030 Games plan. for the whole of Asia, at a time when Presidents of the National Feder- it is needed the most. ations of gymnastics, athletics and On their second day in Doha, the table tennis, and the President of the Evaluation Committee, was taken on Women’s Sport Committee joined the a tour of the city’s extensive, existing tour, meeting with promising young state-of-the-art infrastructure and athletes, in a demonstration of the bid’s presented with the Bid Committee’s full support from all levels of the Qatar plan’s to deliver a seamless, athlete- sports community. focused Games plan, with sustaina- Among the athletes was Abdulla bility at its core. Al Tamimi, who said: “I joined Aspire The expert delegation saw first- Academy as a junior in 2006, the year hand how Doha’s tried and tested Doha last hosted the Asian Games. sports venues and medical facilities, Thanks to the excellent coaching and which have catered for the world’s best state-of-the-art facilities I was able to athletes in the world’s biggest events, work my way to become one of the are ready to provide the ultimate top ranked squash players in the A young football player speaks to a member of the Olympic Council of Asia's Games experience in 2030. world.” Evaluation Committee at Aspire Academy in Doha yesterday. Qatar Olympic The tour began at Al Bidda Tower, Doha 2030 CEO and QOC Sec- Committee Chairman H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani is also seen. home of the Supreme Committee for retary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Delivery and Legacy of the FIFA World Buenain outlined the importance of Cup Qatar 2022. certainty and sustainability in the The delegation was presented with current climate: and responsible manner. We can say plans. Alongside world-class sports the Committee’s impressive sustain- “This year has been defined by this because all of our proposed per- venues, Nada explained that the Ath- ability strategy and commitment to uncertainty, which is why the sports manent venues already exist, and the letes’ Village would be located in Lusail delivering a carbon-neutral event, movement needs certainty now more majority of these world-class facilities City, Qatar’s first and largest sus- which will be leveraged by Doha 2030 than ever. Doha 2030 can do more have already successfully hosted many tainable city, providing accessibility The Evaluation to contribute to one of the most envi- than just offer certainty. We can say international or continental events." and unprecedented services. Committee yesterday ronmentally friendly Asian Games ever with absolute confidence that we will He added: "With this experience “Doha 2030 is committed to held. deliver the excellence that OCA and also comes knowledge in delivering ensuring our venues provide athletes experienced the city’s The Evaluation Committee was Asia’s NOCs deserve, in a sustainable the all-important Games-services that with everything they need so they can ultra-modern Metro, area critical to success- compete at their best and inspire the ffully staging major next generation," Nada said which is part of Doha’s events.e Our certainty of yesterday. sophisticated transport excellence,e will allow us “We can already guarantee ath- network, promising tot focus our attention on letes and all participants – OCA minimisingm our impact Family, officials, media and spectators average travel times at ono the environment and – an event experience like no other, the Games of 20 to 30 contributingc to a because we have a proven track record minutes. strongers future for Asia in successfully staging major sports beforeb and after 2030.” events. Nada Mohammed “All permanent venues for the Wafa,W one of Qatar’s first Games are in place and we have femalef Olympians who developed a Games plan that is The delegation was also competedc at London compact, sustainable and puts athletes 20122 and Rio 2016, pre- at its heart. This year, athletes have given an insight into senteds to the Evaluation experienced disruption like never Doha’s wealth of The OCA Evaluation Committee members are during their visit to Aspetar CommitteeC how athletes before, so it is vital that we offer them history, culture and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha yesterday. haveh been placed at the certainty of excellence, allowing them forefrontf of Doha 2030’s to focus on achieving their dreams.” entertainment, which will ensure the Games We can say with absolute confidence that we is a celebration of will deliver the excellence that OCA and Asia’s diversity and Asia’s NOCs deserve, in a sustainable and provide the perfect responsible manner. setting for the whole OCA family to relax and Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain Doha 2030 CEO and QOC Secretary General enjoy themselves.

A view of Aspire Academy's track and field arena in Doha.