INDEX BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR 2-8,16 COMMENT 14 SPORT | Page 6 ARAB WORLD 8, 9 BUSINESS 1-12 INTERNATIONAL 9-13,15 SPORTS 1-8 Sport’s role in DOW JONES QE NYMEX preventing violent 27,657.42 9,942.06 41.11 QBA continues to keep ties with -244.56 +0.63 +0.14 extremism -0.88% +0.01% +0.34% discussed global partners amid pandemic Latest Figures

published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11677 September 20, 2020 Safar 3, 1442 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Deal signed to set up Qatar’s UK risks new PM congratulates new lockdown as premier of Somalia 1st plant for electric vehicles virus cases rise HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al- OThe €20mn joint venture between French Gaussin Company and Qatar’s Al Attiya ritain is likely to need to re- Thani sent yesterday a cable of introduce some national coro- congratulations to Mohamed Motors and Trading Company to be established in Ras Bufontas Free Zone Bnavirus lockdown measures Hussein Roble on his appointment sooner rather than later, a leading as prime minister of Somalia. epidemiologist said yesterday, as new atar Free Zones Authority cases rose to their highest level since Karwa adds 14 more announced the signing of an early May. bus routes today Qagreement to establish the Neil Ferguson, a professor of epi- fi rst factory to assemble electric ve- demiology at London’s Imperial Col- Mowasalat (Karwa) has announced hicles in Ras Bufontas Free Zone, with lege and a former government ad- that 14 routes will be added to French Gaussin Advance Mobility viser, told the BBC the country was its network of city buses from Company. facing a “perfect storm” of rising in- today. These routes are Nos 10, The €20mn joint venture between fections as people return to work and 22, 31, 34, 40, 41, 76, 129, 156, 156A, Gaussin Company and Qatar’s Al At- school. 300, 301, 304 and 747, according tiya Motors and Trading Company, is Prime Minister Boris Johnson said to a notification posted by the set to assemble electric vehicles and on Friday that he did not want another transport company on social media accelerate the deployment of emis- national lockdown but that new re- yesterday. Page 4 sion-free vehicles. strictions may be needed because the The signing ceremony which was country was facing an “inevitable” Protocol for herbal held in the Business Innovation Park second wave of Covid-19. at Ras Bufontas Free Zone, was at- “I think some additional measures medicines endorsed tended by HE the Minister of State are likely to be needed sooner rather The World Health Organisation and chairman of QFZA Ahmad bin than later,” Ferguson said. (WHO) endorsed yesterday a Mohamed al-Sayed; Abdul Aziz al- Ministers were on Friday reported protocol for testing African herbal Attiya, chairman, Al Attiya Motors to be considering a second national medicines as potential treatments and Trading Company; Christophe The signing ceremony which was held in the Business Innovation Park at Ras Bufontas Free Zone, was attended by HE the lockdown, with new CovidD-19 cases for the coronavirus and other Gaussin, chief Executive Offi cer, Minister of State and chairman of QFZA Ahmad bin Mohamed al-Sayed; Abdul Aziz al-Attiya, chairman, Al Attiya Motors already at their highest in months, epidemics. Covid-19 has raised the Gaussin Company (through video and Trading Company; Christophe Gaussin, chief Executive Off icer, Gaussin Company (through video conference from hospital admissions rising and soaring issue of using traditional medicines conference from France); and Lim France); and Lim Meng Hui, CEO, QFZA, among other senior off icials. infection rates across parts of northern to battle contemporary diseases, Meng Hui, CEO, QFZA, among other England and London. and the endorsement clearly senior offi cials. ference; and Mohamed Maali, CEO, Al of the fi rst electric vehicle assembly economic relations between Qatar Government data yesterday showed encouraged testing with criteria The agreement was signed by Ab- Attiya Motors and Trading Company. factory in Qatar. We also welcome and France, and the role of the free 4,422 new cases, 100 more than on similar to those used for molecules dulla al-Misnad, Deputy Chief Ex- HE al-Sayed said, “We welcome the partnership between Gaussin zones in providing an attractive busi- Friday and the highest daily total since developed by labs in Asia, Europe ecutive Offi cer of QFZA; Christophe the establishment of the Gaussin Ad- Company and Al Attiya Motors and ness environment for partnerships May 8, based on positive test results. or the Americas. Gaussin, Chief Executive Offi cer of vance Mobility Company, which will Trading Company, which refl ects the between the private sector and inter- The true rate of infection is likely to Gaussin Company through video con- pave the way for the establishment depth of the bilateral commercial and national companies. To Page 5 be higher. Page12 Envelope of poison sent to White House An envelope addressed to Pro-democracy march in Bangkok the White House contained a substance identified as ricin, a deadly poison, several media Helpline launched to support outlets reported yesterday, citing a federal off icial briefed on the matter. The envelope believed to have come from Canada was Alzheimer’s patients intercepted at a government mail centre before it arrived at the White House, the New York Times, CNN atar has set up a national She is also the WHO representa- and Wall Street Journal reported. helpline to provide con- tive for Elderly People Care for Asked about the reports, the FBI Qfi dential information and Qatar, the Global Dementia Ob- said there is no known threat to advice for patients living with servatory focal point, and an exec- public safety. Alzheimer’s and their families, utive member of the European As- according to Dr Hanadi al-Ha- sociation of Medicine of Ageing. Belarus police detain mad, Qatar’s National Health “Every three seconds, someone hundreds of women Strategy lead for Healthy Ageing in the world develops dementia, and medical director of Rumailah which is a general term for a decline Riot police in Belarus yesterday Hospital and Qatar Rehabilitation in mental ability severe enough to bundled hundreds of women, Institute. interfere with daily life. According including a great-grandmother “Carers, often family mem- to the World Health Organisation, who has become an icon of the bers, can be overwhelmed with Dr Hanadi al-Hamad worldwide around 50mn people protest movement, into vans as the challenges of caring for a have dementia, with nearly 10mn opposition marchers rallied in relative in the advanced stages families. The Raha Alzheimer’s new cases emerging every year,” Minsk seeking an end to President of Alzheimer’s dementia. They and Memory Services Helpline is the statement explained. Alexander Lukashenko’s 26-year often feel ashamed or confl icted available on 4026 2222 between Last year, Alzheimer’s Disease rule. The protest was the latest about asking for help or advice 8am and 3pm, from Sunday to International (ADI) conducted in which Belarusian women have because they feel they are obli- Thursday,” she said in a statement one of the largest ever global taken to the streets with flowers gated to provide care to their par- issued by Hamad Medical Corpo- studies on attitudes about de- and flags. The women were seized ent or other elderly relative. We ration (HMC). mentia as a part of ongoing ef- by riot police in black uniforms Anti-government protesters gather in Sanam Luang during a pro-democracy rally in have set up a national helpline Dr al-Hamad has been a key forts to help reduce stigma and and balaclavas as well as off icers in Bangkok yesterday, as the Grand Palace is seen in the background. Tens of thousands of to provide confi dential informa- driving force in the development increase awareness about Alzhe- khaki uniforms and plain-clothed pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand’s royal palace, in a huge rally calling for tion and advice for patients liv- of geriatric care services and imer’s disease, the most common off icers in face masks. Page 12 PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy. Page 10 ing with Alzheimer’s and their Alzheimer’s awareness in Qatar. cause of dementia. To Page 4 Iran sanctions: US versus the world The United States will unilaterally declare this weekend that UN sanctions against Iran are once Trump’s Supreme Court push roils US election again in force, a move that risks increasing Washington’s diplomatic isolation while also stoking AFP the polls, the vacancy off ers Republi- The president’s tweet pushing for tion vote before the election has al- international tensions. But on this Washington cans a chance to lock in a conservative the Ginsburg vacancy to be rapidly ready brought an explosive response Trump mulling point, Washington is almost alone majority at the court for decades. The fi lled fuelled speculation of a fi erce from Democrats, still seething over in the world: All the other great choice of a new justice would likely af- partisan nomination battle at the Republicans preventing Barack Obama Barbara Lagoa, powers - China, Russia and also S President Donald Trump fect such far-reaching controversies as height of the election campaign. from fi lling a court vacancy through Amy C Barrett the US’ own European allies - have yesterday urged Republican abortion, healthcare and gun control. The prospect of a Senate confi rma- most of the 2016 election year. challenged the claim. Page 8 Ulawmakers to back his upcom- “Democrats are hopping mad about Two female US Appeals Court ing nomination for the Supreme Court this — not just a little mad,” Univer- judges are on President Trump’s Civilians killed in “without delay” as the issue upended sity of Virginia political scientist Larry short list of candidates to fill the air strikes on Taliban the election only a day after the death Sabato told CNN. Supreme Court vacancy opened up of liberal stalwart Ruth Bader Gins- Biden made clear on Friday that any by the death of Justice Ruth Bader At least 12 civilians were killed burg. nomination should await the results of Ginsburg. and more than 10 others injured The 87-year-old the election. Barbara Lagoa, a Cuban American, yesterday in twin air strikes on a justice, immensely “The voters should pick the presi- and Amy Coney Barrett, a Taliban base in the northeastern popular among dent and the president should pick the conservative Catholic, were among Afghan province of Kunduz, a Democrats, died justice for the Senate to consider,” he the top contenders, the source said. provincial off icial said. Defence on Friday after a said. Both women were nominated to ministry off icials in Kabul, who said long battle with Senate Democratic leader Chuck their current positions by Trump. more than 40 Taliban fighters had cancer. Schumer said that “this vacancy should Lagoa, 52, a former Florida been killed in the strikes, did not Coming shortly not be fi lled until we have a new presi- Supreme Court judge, was confirm any civilian casualties. They before the No- dent” — carefully echoing the words of nominated by Trump to the said an investigation was underway Ruth Ginsburg vember 3 election, Senate Republican leader Mitch McCo- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in into the incident which comes as in which Trump People gather at a makeshift memorial to honour Ginsburg in front of the US nnell in 2016 when he blocked Obama September of 2019. the warring sides hold peace talks. trails his Democratic rival Joe Biden in Supreme Court yesterday in Washington, DC. nominee Merrick Garland. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, September 20, 2020 QATAR

Official Qatar Sustainability Week

Amir sends cable of congratulations to governor-general of Saint Kitts and Nevis 2020 to kickstart in October

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir atar Green Building Council QGBC, said: “The complexity of the four previous editions of QSW at- od to travel; and living a healthy Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Governor-General (QGBC) has said it continues social and environmental challeng- tracted more than 100,000 people to lifestyle. Further, it encourages or- of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton, on the anniversary Qwith its national campaign es we face today demands the un- 760 events across Qatar. This year, ganisations to join the UN Global of his country’s Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid to build a sustainable society with wavering commitment of govern- QSW aims to engage the community Compact, certify their assets, issue bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani also sent a similar cable of congratulations to Prime Minister the fi fth edition of Qatar Sustain- ments, corporate organisations, and further and reinforce its ongoing na- sustainability reports and promote Timothy Harris. ability Week (QSW), to be held from individuals to sustainable living and tional campaign for shared responsi- carbon neutral operations. It also October 31 to November 7. way of doing business. Qatar Sus- bility in communicating and imple- challenges individuals to off set their QSW is a unique platform for pro- tainability Week aims to stress the menting sustainable practices with personal carbon emissions. moting the nation’s sustainability importance of making such a com- the ‘QSW 2020 Pledge’. Individuals can register their vision and engaging relevant stake- mitment by engaging the public and The pledge is an encompass- pledge to make changes in their holders under an overarching um- business communities in various ing commitment to protect the lifestyle, while corporate organisa- brella to achieve Qatar’s sustainable sustainability-oriented activities environment and combat climate tions can pledge to implement poli- development goals. The event plays and featuring innovations and initi- change through bold actions, such cies that help protect and sustain a crucial role in raising awareness atives that promote sustainability.” as banning single-use plastics; the environment, as well as register about the importance of preserving QSW showcases Qatar’s progress minimising waste by consuming their sustainability-oriented activ- the environment and implement- in sustainability and green buildings, responsibly; reusing and recycling ity, initiative, or event to become a ing sustainable business practices, as well as the collective eff orts of the products; promoting healthy spac- QSW 2020 partner. QGBC has said in a statement. nation’s public and private sectors es; conserving water and energy; QGBC is a member of Qatar Meshal al-Shamari, director of in building a sustainable future. The choosing a more sustainable meth- Foundation. MoPH reports 120,089 total Covid recoveries

QNA Qatar have succeeded in flattening Doha the curve and limiting the spread of the virus and the number of new daily cases and hospital admis- he Ministry of Public Health sions is continuing to decline each (MoPH) announced yesterday week. T229 new confirmed cases of Qatar’s proactive and extensive coronavirus (Covid-19) during the testing of suspected cases has ena- last 24 hours, of which 208 are from bled us to identify a high number of community cases and 21 from trav- positive cases in the community. ellers returning from abroad who are Qatar has one of the lowest Cov- subject to quarantine. id-19 death rates in the world. This The MoPH also recorded 267 is a result of: recoveries from the virus dur- „ Very high quality of care pro- ing the past 24 hours, bringing vided thorough the public health- the total number of cases recov- care sector for Covid-19 patients. ered in Qatar to 120,089. All new „ Qatar’s young population. cases have been introduced to „ Proactive testing to identify isolation and are receiving neces- cases early. sary healthcare according to their „ Expanding hospital capacity, health status. The MoPH issued a especially intensive care, to ensure statement on Covid-19 develop- all patients receive the medical care ments in Qatar, which said the they need. following: „ Protecting the elderly and those Measures to tackle Covid-19 in with chronic diseases. Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 3 QATAR Qatar Airways Group sends almost 100 tonnes of essential supplies to Khartoum

atar Airways, in partner- Qatar Airways ship with Qatar Charity Cargo shipped the Qand Monoprix Qatar – a member of Ali Bin Ali Holding, donated essential has delivered an aid programme that enabled citizens and resi- supplies free of dents of Qatar to donate almost charge from Doha 100 tonnes of food and other es- sential supplies to Sudan follow- to Khartoum ing the devastating fl ooding in on freighter the country. Since the aid programme flight QR8792 on was launched on September 12, September 17 thousands of Qatar citizens and residents purchased items from plies. He was joined by Sudan’s Monoprix Qatar’s store on tala- ambassador to Qatar Abdulra- bat from a special Qatar Airways him al-Sediq, Qatar Charity CEO Box for Sudan, a press statement Yousef bin Ahmed al-Kuwari and noted. Monoprix Qatar and tala- HIA chief operating offi cer Badr bat delivered the boxes to Qatar al-Meer. The donations will be Airways Cargo at Hamad Inter- distributed on the ground in Su- national Airport (HIA). dan by Qatar Charity. Qatar Airways Cargo shipped HE al-Baker said: “Our the donated essential supplies thoughts and prayers are with the HE Akbar al-Baker and other dignitaries and off icials at Hamad International Airport. HE Akbar al-Baker with other dignitaries and off icials. free of charge from Doha to Khar- people of Sudan at this time. The toum on freighter fl ight QR8792 devastating impact of the fl oods donations from our employees Al-Kuwari praised Qatar Air- shipped from Doha to Beirut by on September 17. Qatar Airways is being felt across the coun- and members of the public in ways for shipping the relief aid Qatar Airways Cargo. Group chief executive HE Akbar try, with hundreds of thousands Qatar who have come together free of charge to Sudan, noting Throughout the Covid-19 cri- al-Baker was at HIA while the of people aff ected. I have been as a community to support our that it constantly extends such sis, Qatar Airways Cargo’s network aircraft was loaded with sup- touched by the large volume of brothers and sisters in Sudan. support during urgent humani- has never fallen below 66 destina- “We hope that this commu- tarian interventions, most re- tions, helping transport essential nity initiative, combined with cently after the massive explo- supplies around the world through our special cargo relief fl ight, will sion that rocked the port area of belly-hold cargo on passenger support as many people as possi- Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. He also fl ights and freighters. ble and I thank our valuable part- pointed out that Qatar Airways It continued to operate its ners for their support in these provides support for Qatar Char- scheduled freighters throughout eff orts.” ity’s seasonal projects and social the crisis, while also operating Al-Kuwari said, “Qatar Char- welfare programmes, especially more than 500 freight charters ity continues distributing relief for orphans. of relief goods, personal protec- aid to those aff ected by Sudan’s The Qatar Airways initiative tive equipment and medical aid worst fl ooding in a century, aim- follows the success of a similar to impacted countries. ing to reach the largest number programme it organised in aid Over the past few months, the Qatar Airways Cargo shipped the donated essential supplies free of of people most in need under the of the people of Lebanon fol- cargo carrier has also worked charge. supervision of the Regulatory lowing the tragic explosion that closely with governments and Authority for Charitable Activi- took place in Beirut last month. NGOs to transport over 250,000 The world’s largest cargo airline is use the services of Qatar Airways ties.” Working with partners Qatar tonnes of medical and aid sup- also committed to helping people Cargo to transport humanitarian He also thanked the donors Charity, Ali Bin Ali Holding, plies to impacted regions around in need through its recently intro- aid and medical supplies all over and Qatari bodies such as banks, Monoprix Qatar and talabat, the the world on both scheduled and duced ‘1mn Kilos’ campaign, part the world, free of charge. companies, institutions and me- airline facilitated its employees charter services. of the ‘We Qare’ project. Qatar Airways is currently The crew aboard the Qatar Airways Cargo flight that shipped the dia organisations who donated to and members of the public to do- This equates to roughly 2,500 From July to the end of Decem- fl ying to more than 650 weekly essential supplies from Doha to Khartoum. or supported the campaign. nate essential supplies that were fully-loaded Boeing 777 freighters. ber 2020, charities will be able to fl ights to over 90 destinations. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, September 20, 2020 QATAR

Ooredoo ties Nojoom rewards initiative with Kalyan Jewellers Karwa adds 14 bus routes owasalat (Karwa) has announced that oredoo has launched 14 routes will be added to its network an autumn promo- Mof city buses from today. These routes Otion with partner are Nos 10, 22, 31, 34, 40, 41, 76, 129, 156, 156A, store Kalyan Jewellers, 300, 301, 304 and 747, according to a notifi cation it has been announced. posted by the transport company on social media The promotion will last yesterday. throughout the autumn, Timings and schedules are available on the the company has said in a Karwa Bus application and website. Public bus statement. services resumed on September 1, at 30% of their Over the next three capacity, with the start of Phase 4 of the gradual months, Ooredoo will be lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. offering double Nojoom Mowasalat initially resumed the operation of Points on purchases from buses on 22 routes: 11, 12, 20, 21, 32, 33, 33A, 43, Kalyan Jewellers, with an long history of retailing joom partner store, Kalyan 55, 56, 57, 101, 102, 102X, 104, 104A, 109, 119, 727, additional gift card worth high-quality jewellery in Jewellers. 737, 170 and 757. QR100 for customers Qatar, offering an array of It’s important to us our In a notifi cation last week, Mowasalat said spending QR5,000 or more. traditional and contem- customers feel valued, as it was withdrawing services on three of its bus The promotion, which porary jewellery designs part of our commitment routes — 101, 102 and 102X – on Fridays. builds on an existing part- crafted with gold, dia- to complete customer sat- “For our passengers’ health and safety, routes nership with the jewellery monds, precious stones and isfaction, and we’re proud 101 (Al Ruwais), 102 and 102X (Al Khor) will be boutique, lasts until De- precious metals. to show our appreciation withdrawn on Fridays eff ective from 18th Sep- cember 15 and offers “fur- Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari, for their loyalty with cam- tember until further notice,” Mowasalat tweeted. ther value to consumers director of PR at Ooredoo, paigns such as these.” These routes will still be available during the rest Mowasalat also operates a large fl eet of school plemented the necessary preventive and precau- who are part of the Nojoom said: “We’re delighted to be This offer is valid on all of the week, it added. buses in the country. With the addition of 14 routes tionary measures in line with the directives of the loyalty programme”, the offering our customers even purchases at Kalyan Jewel- Besides city buses, the company also resumed today, Mowasalat will now operate a total of 36 city Ministry of Transport and Communications on statement notes. more value for their money lers with the exception of the services of a number of metrolink feeder bus bus services – 33 of which will be available seven resuming public bus services in Phase 4 to fi ght Kalyan Jewellers has a when they shop at our No- gold coins and gold bars. routes on September 1. The metrolink buses con- days a week and three on six days a week. the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the safe trans- nect Doha Metro stations with surrounding areas. Mowasalat had earlier stressed that it had im- portation for passengers. MoI urges caution against card fraud

he Ministry of Inte- counts, social media pro- erations and stealing funds rior (MoI) has once fi les and e-mail IDs by us- from customers of banks. Tagain urged peo- ing strong passwords and They used to transfer these ple to be cautious while by changing them periodi- funds abroad, pay bills and dealing with suspicious cally. make online purchases messages sent by cyber “Never share your pass- after accessing their vic- criminals about block- words, OTPs and banking tims’ bank data. The total ing one’s bank card. “Be information with others,” amount of such fraudulent vigilant and take the right the MoI had tweeted. transactions reached nearly steps to avoid falling vic- Earlier, it had advised QR10mn, the MoI had said. tim to them. Remember to people not to respond to The department had contact the Economic and phishing messages through received complaints that Sales Manager Freight & Logistics

Cyber Crimes Combating which fraudsters try to some bank customers had Growing Logistics Company looking for a dynamic and Department,” the MoI said blackmail victims. “Your been victims of cyber fraud result oriented Sales Manager for their Qatar Operations. in a tweet. awareness and attention and money stolen from The Sales Manager is responsible to develop leads and convert The ministry listed the to the emerging forms of their accounts. The minis- it as customers. steps to be taken if an in- crime enhance your secu- try had called on all citizens Focus to grow the 3rd Party Logistics & Freight Forwarding dividual receives a message rity and safety,” the MoI and residents to exercise business. saying his/her card has had said. caution, not to respond to Responsible for growing the freight forwarding business of the been blocked. These are: Last month, the ministry these types of suspicious company. „ Contact the bank im- had announced that a cyber messages and not to dis- mediately crime gang that defraud- close personal and bank- Lead the team to achieve the target assigned in their territory and „ Ignore the message ed its victims of nearly ing data to unknown indi- sectors. once confi rmed it is fake QR10mn was busted in an viduals or institutions. It The sales manager should be highly motivated and has good „ Contact the Economic operation named ‘Uncov- also advised the public to knowledge on ocean / air / land transportation. Must be capable and Cyber Crimes Com- ering the Mask’. approach the banking au- to develop and foster the relationship. bating Department on The Economic and Cyber thorities to verify the au- Prefer the candidate below 40 years of age. 66815757. The ministry had Crimes Combating Depart- thenticity of the messages Skills Required also recently advised peo- ment arrested members of they receive or inform the Bachelor’s Degree with 8-10 years of Sales experience in the ple to protect their online the criminal gang for being authorities concerned at same industry. IDs pertaining to bank ac- involved in cyber fraud op- the MoI. Must demonstrate job knowledge and have business relationship in diverVL¿ed industries. Able to sell other verticals of company’s business-like Customs Brokerage and LCL Consolidation. Must have good interpersonal & communications skills with good business acumen. Helpline set up to support Must have ability to manage a team of people. Must have Qatar driving license. Mail your CV with recent photograph to: Alzheimer’s patients [email protected]

From Page 1 dementia is increasing around the world, espe- Nearly 70,000 people cially in higher-income across 155 countries, in- countries, understanding cluding Qatar, completed of Alzheimer’s remains the survey. The fi ndings low. This has frequently were published in the led to a negative impact World Alzheimer Report on patients living with 2019: Attitudes to De- Alzheimer’s, their families mentia. Some of the most and communities,” Dr al- notable fi ndings included Hamad said. that almost 80% of the “Elderly people with general public are con- Alzheimer’s often have cerned about developing multiple medical co- dementia at some point morbidities, meaning they in their life and that one have one or more addi- in four people think there tional diseases or disorders is nothing they can do to that need medical care. prevent dementia. However, Alzheimer’s The report also revealed symptoms can often make that 35% of carers across it more diffi cult to provide the world said they have even simple care. Often, hidden a family member’s families delay seeking dementia diagnosis. More medical support for a fam- than 50% of carers glo- ily member with Alzhe- bally say their health has imer’s, or delay getting a suff ered as a result of their diagnosis, due to stigma,” caregiver responsibili- she explained. ties, even while expressing Throughout September, positive sentiments about HMC is supporting World their role. Additionally, Alzheimer’s Month with a almost 62% of healthcare series of public awareness providers worldwide think events that underpin the that dementia is part of global campaign theme normal ageing and about of ‘Let’s Talk About De- 40% of the general public mentia’. Due to Covid-19 believe doctors and nurses restrictions limiting pub- ignore people with de- lic gatherings, this year’s mentia. campaign features an ADI research has shown educational webinar for that globally two out of university students and every three people believe faculty. there is little or no un- Around the world, derstanding of dementia Alzheimer’s disease in their country. The im- awareness is represented pact of World Alzheimer’s by the colour purple. In Month is growing, but the solidarity with all people stigmatisation and misin- living with this disease, formation that surrounds on September 21 key land- dementia remain a global mark buildings in Doha challenge, the statement and near the Doha Cor- For more information please contact us on adds. niche will be lit up in pur- Direct 33488019 or Email: [email protected] “While awareness of ple. Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 5 QATAR NU-Q explores how smartphones are reshaping journalism

orthwestern Qatar’s mu- dents’ experiences – this museum lenges and opportunities that seum – the Media Majlis – is another unique facet at North- smart speakers like Alexa and Nis exploring the disruption western Qatar.” Google Home bring to the news caused by the smartphone in the Among the artefacts of mobile media. Sumaiya and Yusuf Omar, Vodafone launches news media and how journalism technology on display at the exhi- co-founders of Hashtag Out has responded in its latest exhibi- bition are the fi rst cellular phone Story, will speak on October 20 tion, which is open to the public. and the fi rst mobile phone with and discuss how the role of social Huawei Watch Fit Breaking News? how the smart- a camera. Visitors can also par- media is fundamentally changing phone changed journalism exam- ticipate in interactive surveys that journalism. And, on November ines how mobile technology con- track opinion on the impact of 10, Phil Rees, director of the in- odafone Qatar has health with real-time ac- nects personal and professional fake news, mobile technology us- vestigative journalism directorate launched the new curate data. You can keep lives – enabling access to a world age and the role of social media in at Al Jazeera Media Network, will VHuawei Watch Fit track of your relaxation fl ooded with information and dis- infl uencing societal reform. They discuss the importance of taking for an active lifestyle at a data, thanks to the Hua- information, including deep fakes, can also browse a data visualisation control of one’s media literacy. retail price of QR399, it has wei TruRelax technology citizen journalism and opinions report on the worldwide usage of Also complementing the exhi- been announced. that provides 24/7 pres- misconstrued as fact. social media and mobile technol- bition is a publication that delves The device is available sure monitoring. Also, the As a result, this device has re- ogy, categorised by country. deeper into the exhibition through at Vodafone’s retail stores Huawei TruSleep TM 2.0 shaped the practice of journalism A new exhibition, Breaking News, opens at the Media Majlis at Accompanying its exhibitions, a collection of contributions from located in Villaggio and technology helps in meas- and recast the role of the audi- Northwestern Qatar. the Media Majlis organises a series journalists, broadcasters, critics, Landmark, plus online at uring sleep quality, which ence as contributors and shapers of programmes. The sessions for educators and social researchers www.vodafone.qa/acces- includes real-time heart of news. war in Syria. “The Media Majlis schools in the world, this exhibi- this exhibition focus on making from around the world. sories. rate tracking, breathing The exhibition uses examples at Northwestern Qatar, the only tion reinforces the connection change – from smart speakers to The Media Majlis is open to The Huawei Watch Fit during sleep and big data of media content that was cap- university museum in the country, between theory and practice and media literacy. the public and accepting private comes with a large 1.64- analytics. Lastly, the Hua- tured and shared on a smartphone provides a context for the aca- provides our faculty and students On October 13, Nic Newman, bookings in September and Oc- inch Amoled square dis- wei Watch Fit introduces with repercussions worldwide. demic programmes at the univer- with additional tools and resourc- senior research associate at the tober to support social distanc- play, 130+ “gorgeous” HUAWEI TruSeen 4.0 heart These include the killing of George sity,” said Marwan M Kraidy, dean es in their exploration of the news Reuters Institute of the Study ing. Bookings can be made for up watch faces and in three rate monitoring technolo- Floyd, the Covid-19 pandemic and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. media. Drawing on our faculty ex- of Journalism at the University to 10 people through the muse- “stylish” colours: Mint gy, which can monitor your and citizen reporting on the civil “As one of the leading journalism pertise – and broadening our stu- of Oxford, will discuss the chal- um’s website. Green, Sakura Pink and heart rate continuously, Graphite Black, a press quickly and accurately,” the statement notes. statement explains. Huawei’s latest smart- The Huawei Watch Fit watch comes with a bat- comes with a range of fi t- tery that can last up to 10 ness tracking features that Deal for Qatar’s 1st electric vehicle plant days. provide an “eff ortless and Additionally, the Huawei new active lifestyle”. The From Page 1 which will accelerate the national suppliers to provide is an engineering company Watch Fit supports Hua- animated personal trainer deployment of Gaussin the factory’s products and to that designs, assembles and wei’s fast charging tech- is just one of its unique fi t- “At the national level, this Smart and Emission-free manufacture the components sells innovative products and nology. One fi ve-minute ness features. The smart- partnership will allow us to Vehicles in the region.” used in these products.” services in the transport and charge can sustain the watch comes with 12 ani- further support our national Welcoming the project, Qatar Free Zones will sup- logistics fi eld. Its know-how smartwatch for an entire mated fi tness courses and champions, in addition to Christophe Gaussin said: port similar initiatives that encompasses cargo and pas- day of typical use, while 44 standardised fi tness establishing an R&D centre “This update to our ini- set the business ecosystem to senger transport, autono- just half-an-hour will exercises. It also supports to support the development tial agreement with QFZA create jobs opportunities and mous technologies allowing charge the battery to 70%. 96 workout modes, 11 pro- of vehicle technologies and is an exciting step for- enhance the competitiveness for self-driving solutions “The Huawei Watch Fit fessional sports modes and products, which will in turn ward for our development of national industries to ac- such as Automotive Guided monitors and tracks your 85 free sports modes. support the growth and suc- in Qatar and the Middle cess global markets. Al Attiya Vehicles, and the integra- cess of these companies in East. Gaussin’s innovation Motors and Trading Company tion of all types of batteries, this vital sector in Qatar.” is increasingly recognised is one of the largest privately- electric and hydrogen fuel Abdul Aziz al-Attiya said: in the transportation and owned businesses in Qatar cells. With more than 50,000 “Al Attiya Motors and Trad- logistics industry and our and has exclusive distribution vehicles worldwide, Gaussin ing Company is proud to business is gaining mo- rights to some of the world’s enjoys a strong reputation play a major role in support- mentum, and this agree- leading brands as well as its in four fast-expanding mar- ing ‘Made In Qatar’ initiative ment will pave the way for own Qatari brand names. kets: port terminals, airports, inspired by the wise vision long-term cooperation in Gaussin Manugistique logistics and people mobility. of His Highness the Amir favour of cleaner vehicles. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad “I wish to thank HE Abdul al-Thani and along with the Aziz al-Attiya, HE Ahmad pursuance of Qatar’s Na- al-Sayed and the team at tional Vision of 2030. We are QFZ for making the assem- honoured to launch a strate- bly of electric vehicles a re- gic collaboration with Qatar ality. We have no doubt that, Free Zones Authority part- ‘Gaussin Advance Mobility’, nering with a world-class will contribute to Qatar Na- innovative leader Gaussin. tional Vision 2030’s goal of This will become one of the making Qatar 100% green most technologically ad- and autonomous.” vanced machines dedicated Al-Misnad said: “As the to serve seaports, airports, world moves to fi nd more logistics and smart cities in sustainable modes of busi- Qatar. ness and production, we are “This partnership prom- proud that this agreement ises to provide outstand- is helping contribute to a ing opportunities that will cleaner, smarter future for benefi t both the region the automotive industry. and the globe. We created This is also an opportunity an incredible joint venture for Qatar to become a leader to ensure the long-term in the export of electric ve- success of the partnership hicles through seeing the between both companies joint venture work with

First annual planning forum today

The first annual planning forum of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) will begin this morning. The event is being held under the patronage - and with the participation - of HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, who will deliver the opening speech. The forum has been organised by the MME’s Planning and Quality Department. The event will held via visual communication technology, with the participation of all sectors in the ministry. The forum aims to build eff ective communication channels between the leaders of the ministry to discuss enhancing institutional eff ectiveness and exchanging ideas and opinions in the process of enhancing the mechanisms used to improve the satisfaction of beneficiaries. This comes within the framework of developing the MME’s strategic plan and in implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, September 20, 2020 QATAR Aircraft, with Qatar Charity’s relief aid for Sudan flood victims, lands in Khartoum n the continued cooperation and partnership felt across the country, with hundreds of thousands between Qatar Charity (QC) and Qatar Airways of people affected. I have been touched by the large I(QA), an aircraft carrying 100 tons of food and volume of donations from our employees and medical supplies landed at the Khartoum Airport members of the public in Qatar who have come on Thursday. Qatar Charity, through its field office, together as a community to support our brothers began distributing the aid to the flood victims within and sisters in Sudan. We hope that this community the framework of the “Peace for Sudan” campaign. initiative, combined with our special cargo relief The shipment consists of 70 tons of food aid flight, will support as many people as possible and provided by Qatar Charity, and 30 tons of food and I thank our valuable partner Qatar Charity for their medical assistance given by Monoprix Qatar and support in these efforts.” Talabat Qatar, in cooperation with Qatar Airways. Following the arrival of the Qatari aircraft with The plane was received at Khartoum Airport by the relief aid, Mr. Hussein Karmash, Director of the Commissioner of Humanitarian Aid in Sudan, Qatar Charity’s office in Sudan, said that the plan His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Ali Al-Kubaisi, for the distribution of emergency relief aid is based the Qatari Ambassador to Sudan, and the director on reaching out directly to the affected areas and of Qatar Charity’s Sudan office Hussein Karmash. delivering the support to eligible persons, after The Qatari aid aircraft departed from Doha in the conducting a pre-survey, in coordination with the presence of Mr. Yousef Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Humanitarian Aid Commission, to find out the areas Charity, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, GCEO of Qatar Airways, most in need of urgent shelter and food aid. and Mr. Abdulrahim Al Sediq, Ambassador of Sudan He added that Qatar Charity has recently carried to Qatar. out many relief interventions in the affected areas The CEO of Qatar Charity Yusef bin Ahmed Al- of Khartoum State and the southern countryside of Kuwari said, “Qatar Charity continues distributing Omdurman, where the floods damaged large areas relief aid to those affected by Sudan’s worst flooding almost completely. in a century, aiming to reach the largest number Karmash confirmed that Qatar Charity’s teams of people most in need under the supervision of would carry out a campaign to deliver food and shelter the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities assistance to the affected in the Nile River State in (RACA).” He thanked the donors and Qatari bodies northern Sudan, and then carry out field intervention such as banks, companies, institutions, and media in Sennar State where homes and properties were organizations who donated to or supported the largely damaged. He also pointed out that the aid campaign. distribution plan implemented by Qatar Charity is Al-Kuwari praised Qatar Airways for shipping flexible, comprehensive for the affected areas, and the relief aid free of charge to Sudan, noting that responsive to urgent needs. it constantly extends such support during urgent The director of Qatar Charity’s Sudan office said humanitarian interventions, most recently after the the projects of the first phase included the delivery massive explosion that has rocked the port area of of urgent food and shelter materials, primary health Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. He also pointed out that care services, and early recovery projects that include Qatar Airways provides support for Qatar Charity’s rehabilitating homes, schools, health centers, and seasonal projects and social welfare programs, water plants and wells. especially for orphans. He also indicated that the office would receive in Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His the coming days other aircrafts carrying materials Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Our thoughts for shelters, health centers, and schools in the form and prayers are with the people of Sudan at this of tents. He thanked Qatar Airways, Monoprix Qatar, time. The devastating impact of the floods is being and Talabat Qatar for their donation and support. Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 7 QATAR QLM Insurance expands global medical network

LM Life and Medical In- surance Company has an- Qnounced the expansion of its global medical network based on the company’s keenness to pro- vide the best to its customers. This step highlights the compa- ny’s customer-focused approach of caring for its customers and up- grading its services, the company said in a statement. Barwa Real Estate and Qatar University off icials pose for a photo after signing the MoU that will provide support in the field of research, scientific studies, and workshops at the College Salem bin Khalaf al-Mannai, of Engineering through the formation of joint workshops between the two sides. CEO of Qatar Insurance Group, said: “QLM is preparing for a ma- Salem al-Mannai jor start by developing its prod- ucts to suit the largest segment of services and fl exible insurance its customer audience. Accord- programmes that suit all segments ingly, we have expanded our global of society in Qatar. medical network to include more Referring to the strength of the than 70,000 hospitals and medical newly expanded network, QLM centres around the world spread distinguishes itself by its large Barwa Real Estate, QU across fi ve continents. number of healthcare service pro- “The development of the com- viders and its geographical spread pany’s global medical network was that includes all continents, the completed earlier this year, but we statement notes. The expanded postponed its announcement due network contains major hospitals, to the Covid-19 pandemic and the dispensaries, clinics, medical cen- suspension of international travel. tres, dental and ophthalmology sign collaboration pact Since travel restrictions are being clinics, and pharmacies around lifted gradually, we thought that it the world. arwa Real Estate Group which are of interest to both University to raise the competi- of students of the College of En- studies, and fi eld training, all was time to announce the expan- QLM provides a help desk has signed a memoran- sides. In addition to the sup- tiveness of this vital sector in gineering in the labour market. of which are important, as the sion of the new network, which with a special representative in Bdum of understanding port extended to students of the conducting research and aca- Al-Rumaihi thanked all those university seeks to make this is considered as one of the largest some major countries to help and (MoU) with Qatar University to College of Engineering as part of demic studies, in addition to de- who contributed to achieving partnership an actual beginning medical networks for an insurance support customers and facili- enhance and consolidate co-op- their graduation projects, prac- veloping the skills of youth who this successful co-operation, for training that ends with the company in the region and is com- tate direct payment procedures. eration with the College of En- tical training, as well as organ- are the main element for the contributing to the support of employment of graduates in the parable in terms of size and excel- Through the integrated mobile gineering in expertise sharing, ising joint events, competitions success of long-term develop- the scientifi c and practical joint various production sites in this lence of accessibility to major in- phone application, customers can scientifi c research and raising and conferences which serve the ment plans in order to achieve process. important national institution.” ternational insurance companies.” search for a service provider from the standards of effi cient per- aspirations and goals of both. Qatar’s National Vision 2030.” “The signing of this memo- Barwa Real Estate Group has Al-Mannai said that the group is QLM’s network of service provid- formance. The MoU will provide support Al-Rumaihi said developing randum comes within the long experience in the manage- keen to provide a network of medi- ers with full details about doctors This is in accordance with in research, scientifi c studies, youth skills and adopting their framework of Qatar Univer- ment of development projects, cal service providers off ering the and their specialities, as well as lo- comprehensive quality stand- and workshops at the College of entrepreneurial ideas is a prior- sity’s permanent commitment carefully identifying opportuni- highest level of quality, effi ciency cation (GPS) services. ards, specialisations, and leg- Engineering through the forma- ity for Barwa Real Estate, being to community service and co- ties and implementing projects and geographical spread to ensure The company provides treat- islation of Qatar, and is directly tion of joint workshops. the strategic partner of the gov- operation with the private sector on time, while adhering to qual- the provision of healthcare servic- ment services all over the world addressing the pillars of Qatar “This signing is establish- ernment of Qatar and the lead- on issues that contribute to the ity standards, cost effi ciency, and es to clients all over the world. This and has developed a system that is National Vision 2030 and the ing a new phase of constructive ing company in the fi eld of real development of this sector,” al- employing expertise and optimis- indicates that the company aims the “fi rst of its kind” in the Middle National Development Strategy co-operation with Qatar Uni- estate development. Derham said. ing resources in order to succeed to expand globally and enter new East whereby it pays for medical (2018-2022). versity, the leading educational He explained that the MoU “The constructive co-oper- in business and achieve the de- markets and conclude direct con- treatment expenses incurred out- Barwa Real Estate Group CEO institution in the fi elds of aca- will support the diff erent as- ation between Qatar University velopment, economic and educa- tracts with healthcare service pro- side Qatar (all over the world) di- Abdullah bin Jobara al-Rumaihi demic and research excellence pects of research and scientifi c and Barwa Real Estate Group is tional renaissance in Qatar. viders around the world as a step rectly to the service provider based and Qatar University president in the region. This will enhance studies that will contribute to diversifi ed and is in line with the Today, Barwa has 3.6mn sq m in its path towards further growth. on the client’s choice of where to Dr Hassan bin Rashid al-Der- areas of sharing expertise and developing the real estate sec- two institutions’ plans to de- of built space under operation, He noted that QLM will contact receive treatment in line with the ham signed the MoU, which will scientifi c research, as well as the tor and establishing its various velop the capabilities of Qatari and a balanced mix of opera- its clients to provide them with benefi t schedule for each medical be the basis for this collabora- academic and professional co- projects. youth, and in this context comes tional assets that vary between details of the global medical net- insurance policy. tion. operation to support students of Stressing that Barwa has got the signing of this MoU, which residential, commercial, indus- work “in the near future.” The implementation of the net- According to the MoU, Barwa the College of Engineering and all the required expertise, mak- will enable the two parties to trial, logistical and multi-pur- QLM Life and Medical Insur- work expansion was completed Real Estate and Qatar University their training programmes,” al- ing it a distinguished and impor- exchange experiences and joint pose, including 8,129 residential ance is considered the largest only after conducting reviews of will exchange knowledge and Rumaihi said. tant partner for the university to research. units, 37,340 rooms for workers, health insurance company in Qa- major hospitals and medical cen- expertise, as well as informa- “Barwa Real Estate Group achieve a scientifi c renaissance “The memorandum also in- 335,981sq m of commercial and tar and the only specialised com- tres before they were included in tion, statistics, data, studies, always calls for such collabora- and constructive research co- cludes co-operation in the fi eld retail units and 445,779sq m of pany that leads the health insur- the network to ensure the same publications and periodicals, tions and integration with Qatar operation that supports the path of scientifi c research, various workshops and warehouses. ance sector through its advanced quality of healthcare services.

VCUarts Qatar professor’s book focuses on science fi ction in Islam

he merits of working and Khalifa University (HBKU). services and expertise towards create science fiction,” he says. contributed one of the earli- five different universities – and studying in Qatar Foun- The book titled ‘Islam, Sci- the project. “But the truth is to the con- est science fiction novels, Awaj countries – research and col- Tdation’s (QF) Education ence and Extraterrestrial Life: Dr Determann’s book focuses trary; the same zeal, creativ- bin Anfaq, by the 13th-century laborate on a topic that has City (EC) is being driven home The Culture of Astrobiology in on a topic that has often been ity, literary prowess and spirit Baghdad-based writer and phy- cultural, scientific and literary by the publication of a book the Muslim World’, was pub- overlooked – science fiction in of inquiry that drove Arabs to sician, Zakariya al-Qazwini. implications is something that written by a Virginia Common- lished by I B Tauris, an imprint Islam and the Muslim world. put forward numerous inven- Dr Determan explains how was made possible only be- wealth University School of the of Bloomsbury, this week. “If you compare genres of tions, discoveries and concepts, exploring the sheer breadth of cause of the uniqueness of Qa- Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) The research assistants – Lin- literature across the globe, you in the past, continue to pro- science fiction in the Muslim tar Foundation’s Education City faculty member in collabora- da binti Ridzuan Chun (GU-Q), will notice that writings on sci- duce science fiction that appeal world necessitated a research model.” tion with student research as- Anusheh Zaman (UCL-Qatar), ence fiction are sparse,” says the to different audiences, in the team drawn from various na- “These student research- sistants from five universities. Irfan Batur (HBKU), Mosammat VCUarts Qatar faculty member. present”. tionalities – and that’s where ers from Iran, Pakistan, Bang- Dr Jörg Matthias Determann, Samiha Sadeka (CMU-Q), and “And even when a literary study The academician notes how, the advantage of working in a ladesh, Indonesia, and Turkey an associate professor of history Shima Aeinehdar and Maphuza is published, more often than despite the enormous scien- multi-university campus, be- provided valuable input; they at VCUarts Qatar, worked with Akter (VCUarts Qatar) – were not, it is on Western science tific contributions made by came apparent. were able to detect social, po- students from other universi- hired through VCUarts Qatar’s fiction.” Arab civilization to mankind, “While this is not the first litical, cultural or psychological ties within EC, such as George- Student Employment Pro- The historian says that Dr Jörg Matthias Determann the prevalence – and popularity time that I’ve written a book, subtleties that lie hidden in the town University in Qatar (GU- gramme. Additionally, Dr De- though Arabic science fiction – of science fiction in the Arab it certainly is a first for me science fiction of their respec- Q), Carnegie Mellon University termann was supported in his has always been, and is, flour- media tend to assume that the world hasn’t been recognised. in terms of such an extensive tive countries – something that in Qatar (CMU-Q), UCL Qatar, research by Walli Ullah from ishing, misconceptions exist. Arabic speaking world is too In fact, not many sci-fi fans cross-campus collaboration,” I would not have been able to VCUarts Qatar and Hamad Bin GU-Q, who volunteered his “Western commentators and traditional and conservative to know that Islamic civilization he says. “To have students from pick up,” he added. ‘Qatar policy based on Tamuq off ers virtual robotics solidarity, co-operation’ programme for school students

QNA work of the 45th session of the for delivery of humanitarian exas A&M University at plete submission of the weekly Geneva Human Rights Council. and medical supplies. Qatar (Tamuq) - a Qatar tasks will receive a certificate. Taking into account the big- Al-Buainain explained that TFoundation partner uni- Texas A&M at Qatar dean Dr gest challenge that the world the Qatari support provided versity - is off ering a new pro- César Octavio Malavé encour- atar has affi rmed that it is witnessing today, which is was not limited to government gramme on robotics for students aged all STEM-minded students views international soli- the Covid-19 pandemic with agencies, but included many in grades 8-12 as it to commit to this extracurricular Qdarity and co-operation its great impact on all walks charitable and non-govern- continues its online STEM@ programme to develop and en- as indispensable principles for of life, al-Buainain said Qa- mental institutions, as Qatar Home designed to develop STEM hance their school learning. strengthening national eff orts tar has over the past months Charity provided aid to Unicef skills in Qatar’s school students “Our mission of teaching and and helping governments to adopted a foreign policy based and the High Commissioner for during Covid-19. learning continues despite the carry out their duties and re- on strengthening internation- Refugees. The Virtual Robotics Games circumstances we are living in sponsibilities to implement hu- al co-operation to ensure an He highlighted Qatar’s par- STEM (science, technology, en- due to the coronavirus pandem- man rights, especially the right effective response to the pan- ticipation in the launch of many gineering and math) programme The Virtual Robotics Games STEM programme is an integrated online ic,” Dr Malavé said. to development. demic. international initiatives, the is an integrated online learning learning workshop and competition organised and hosted by Tamuq to “As engineering and edu- In this regard Qatar has He added that despite the most important of which were workshop and competition or- provide an opportunity for middle and high school students to explore cation leaders in Qatar, Texas adopted over the past months unjust blockade imposed on the Group of Friends of Solidar- ganised and hosted by Tamuq to the fundamentals of designing, building, programming and testing A&M at Qatar is uniquely po- a foreign policy based on Qatar for more than three ity for Global Health Security provide an opportunity for mid- robots in a virtual environment. sitioned to be able to offer our strengthening international co- years and the closure of land, to Combat Coronavirus Pan- dle and high school students to expertise to school students to operation to ensure an eff ective sea and airspace by the block- demic, and the Group of Friends explore the fundamentals of de- robot in a virtual environment online training sessions, and help them continue to learn and response to the coronavirus ading countries, Qatar has of the Covid-19 Vaccine Global signing, building, programming using the Lego Mindstorms EV3 will be provided via videocon- grow. We are proud to be able to pandemic, Mohamed Abdullah responded to the global ap- Access Facility, known as ‘COV- and testing robots in a virtual en- virtual platform. Using state-of- ference and an online learn- support STEM learning in Qatar al-Buainain, second secretary peal launched by the United AX’, and worked with the United vironment - all from the comfort the-art design and simulation ing platform. The participants through our virtual program- at Qatar’s Permanent Mission Nations secretary-general to Nations Development Pro- and safety of their own homes, a software, participants will build will need a computer and In- ming.” to the United Nations Offi ce in confront the humanitarian ef- gramme in the innovation lab to press statement notes. a robot to complete the assigned ternet access, and are expect- Interested students should ap- Geneva said. fects of the pandemic, and the discuss solutions to address the Students in grades 8-12 will mission. They will also present ed to commit 4-6 hours per ply for a spot in the programme He was speaking during a United Nations Office for the negative consequences of the learn the basics of robot design, their designs to a panel of robot- week. They will also need to at https://stem.qa/stem-pro- panel discussion on “the right Co-ordination of Humanitar- epidemic, especially in devel- coding and simulation, and re- ics experts. purchase the simulation soft- grams/idea/. Applications are to development” within the ian Affairs to provide support oping countries. fi ne their ideas for a working Students will receive weekly ware. Only students who com- due September 21. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, September 20, 2020 QATAR/REGION Sixth Qatar Patient Safety Week focuses on health worker he Ministry of Public urge the community to partici- us that if health workers them- Health (MoPH) conclud- pate in ensuring healthcare safe- selves are not safe in their work Ted the celebration of the ty and to raise awareness about environment, they will not be sixth Qatar Patient Safety Week the importance of the safety of able to provide safety for their (QPSW) yesterday. health workers and the safety of patients, and that the health and The sixth QPSW was organ- the work environment, to ensure well-being of health workers ised by the ministry from Sep- patient safety through a more is of paramount importance to tember 13-19 under the theme holistic approach, the MoPH maintaining a safe and eff ective ‘Health Worker Safety: A Prior- said in a statement. healthcare system, capable of ity for Patient Safety’. Hoda Amer al-Kathiri, di- providing safe healthcare for our In conjunction with World rector of the Strategic Planning patients,” she added. The Torch Doha lit up in orange. Patient Safety Day, which falls and Performance Department The events and activities or- on September 17, the MoPH or- at the MoPH, said: “The Cov- ganised by the ministry included ganised a scientifi c conference id-19 pandemic has dramatically lectures and panel discussions via videoconference technology, changed our lifestyle: the usual by 24 local and international with the participation of a group ways of social communication, speakers, including four panel of experts and specialists in the such as wedding parties, funer- discussions of the key develop- fi eld of patient safety, and about als, modes of education, how we ments under the Covid-19 pan- 5,000 health workers. do work and the ways of how we demic HE the Minister of Public plan our vacations and our daily The fi rst panel discussion Health Dr Hanan Mohamed practices.” discussed the transformation al-Kuwari pointed out that cel- HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari “Just as all aspects of life of Qatar’s healthcare system in ebrating Qatar Patient Safety have been aff ected, healthcare the context of Covid-19, moder- Week for the sixth time affi rms “I would like to take this op- out of their way to bring this systems around the world have ated by Dr Yousef al-Maslimani, the commitment to provide safe portunity to acknowledge the pandemic under control. Also, faced great challenges during the medical director of Hamad Gen- and high-quality care to all peo- great eff orts and commitment we shouldn’t forget those who Covid-19 pandemic. Celebrating eral Hospital, with the participa- ple in Qatar. of every health worker in Qatar lost their lives battling the dis- this year’s World Patient Safety tion of a group of health offi cials. “With the Covid-19 pandem- who took part in the response to ease trying to protect and cure Day, the World Health Organi- The second panel discussion ic, this year has been a unique the Covid-19 pandemic. I would others,” she added. sation has adopted the theme reviewed infection prevention challenge to every healthcare like to express our gratitude to The sixth QPSW aimed to ‘Health Worker Safety: A Prior- and control, and was moderated system in the world. It was a all healthcare workers across the promote the concept of patient ity for Patient Safety”. Choos- by Dr Nasser Ansari, chairman practical test for the system globe who struggled and went safety at the national level, to ing this year’s theme reminds of the Medical Research and Ed- resilience and ability to cope ucation Committee at Al Wakra The MoPH building illuminated in orange in recognition of the eff orts with the challenges. Therefore, and The Cuban hospitals, and made by health workers. it makes sense that this year’s chairman of the Infection Pre- theme for Qatar Patient Safety vention and Control Committee ers, and was moderated by Frank premises. Several landmarks and Week and World Patient Safety of the Health System Control Federico, vice-president and buildings in Qatar, including the Day is to emphasise the safety Committee on Covid-19. senior safety expert, Institute MoPH headquarters, The Torch of health worker as a priority for The third panel discussion for Healthcare Improvement in Doha, Al-Ahli Hospital, Al Ema- patient safety. As we participate reviewed risk management and Cambridge, Massachusetts. di Hospital, Aspetar, Aster Hos- with the whole world in this cel- patient safety during crisis, and Various health and academ- pital, Doha Clinic Hospital, and ebration, we are also adopting was moderated by Professor Al- ic institutions such as Hamad Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Cen- this year’s theme: ‘Health Work- bert W Wu, director, Center for Medical Corporation, Primary tre were illuminated in orange as er Safety: A Priority for Patient Health Services and Outcomes Health Care Corporation, Qa- a symbolic gesture in recogni- Safety’,” HE Dr al-Kuwari said. Research at Johns Hopkins Uni- tar Red Crescent Society, Sidra tion of the eff orts made by health She lauded the great ef- versity Bloomberg School of Medicine, Qatar University and workers to provide safe medical forts and commitment of every Public Health. private hospitals have also par- care services to patients daily, in healthcare worker in Qatar who The fourth panel discussion ticipated in organising aware- addition to spreading awareness participated in combating the reviewed the psychological ad- ness activities for the sixth Qa- messages on social media plat- Covid-19 pandemic. Participants in the first panel discussion. justment of healthcare work- tar Patient Safety Week on their forms.

Temporary traffic closure 17 students of HBKU College of Science and on Dukhan Highway Engineering receive QNRF scholarship

he College of Science and try’s endeavours in the fi elds Engineering (CSE), part of of science, engineering, and THamad Bin Khalifa Uni- technology and we are proud to versity, is celebrating its “most see so many students receiving successful cycle” of the Qatar scholarships to study with us. It National Research Fund (QNRF) recognises our eff orts to make Graduate Student Research a signifi cant positive impact on Award (GSRA) programme yet, Qatar, the region, and globally. with 17 students receiving a In particular, it illustrates CSE’s scholarship. ability to attract top-notch The programme, now in its students into its graduate pro- seventh cycle, was launched to grammes.” promote the most deserving Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, ex- students QNRF believe will go ecutive director of QNRF, said: on to promote a world-class re- “QNRF would like to congratu- search culture in Qatar, and who late the 17 successful candidates will contribute to the nation’s and we wish them all the very research and development mis- best in successfully completing sion. their proposed research towards Aisha Alrumaihi was one of their master’s/PhD degrees. We The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced a temporary traff ic closure on Dukhan the award recipients and said: look forward to tracking their Highway towards Doha in Zone 80, Street 373, from 11pm today until 4am tomorrow for gantry “Ever since I graduated from my progress and witnessing their removal works. It will be implemented in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic. bachelor programme at CSE, ob- continued success.” taining a GSRA grant has been The full list of awardees: one of my biggest dreams. I hope a master’s in Cybersecurity at Maryam Haji said: “I am very Maryam Haji (PhD in Sustain- to repay the faith shown in me HBKU. He is currently working proud and absolutely honoured able Energy), Aliya Banu (mas- by using this scholarship for the as part of the ICT team to cre- to receive a GSRA scholarship. ter’s in Sustainable Energy), benefi t of my university, society ate a prototype deployment of a I am confi dent that I will be a Saif al-Hazbi (PhD in Compu- and the country in general.” blockchain-based transparent great exemplar to my peers and ter Science and Engineering), Zarif says world should oppose Aisha completed a master’s in rewarding system to incentivise an asset to HBKU and the com- Shehel Yoosuf (PhD in Com- Sustainable and Energy at CSE, people to commit to confi ne- munity. puter Science and Engineer- which gave her valuable experi- ment during Covid-19, using “My research project is to ing), Hagar Hussein (master’s US sanctions or expect same ence that has benefi ted her ca- wireless location as a monitoring develop a unique ‘resource at- in Data Analytics in Health reer at Qatar Petroleum. service. las’ for Qatar based on the EWF Management), Yasmin Abde- Shehel Yoosuf, who has an Nexus Node concept.” laal (master’s in Data Analyt- Reuters says that all United Nations Iranian state television hours MS in Data Science from HBKU, “Receiving this scholarship Maryam earned a bachelor’s ics in Health Management), Dubai sanctions on Iran have to be before the US move aiming to said: “Receiving this scholarship award recognises the degree in Industrial and System Hanaa Abbas (master’s in Cy- restored and the conventional restore UN sanctions against award recognises the work I have work I have done, Engineering at Qatar University bersecurity), Osama Mousa arms embargo on the country Iran. done, especially in the past two especially in the past before receiving a master’s in (master’s in Information Sys- he world community will no longer expire in mid- “As they (other countries) years as a graduate student, and two years as a graduate Sustainability at HBKU with a tems in Health Management), should oppose the Unit- October. will face the same thing to- it will drive me to keep learn- student, and it will drive GPA of 3.83. Ali Abdelaal (PhD in Sustain- Ted States’ use of sanc- morrow when America takes ing. I am currently focusing on me to keep learning. I am Noora al-Emadi said, “My as- able Energy), Noora al-Emadi tions to impose its will as a The Trump the same action towards the machine learning and computer currently focusing on piration is to contribute to Qa- (PhD in Computer Science and “bully,” or expect to face sanc- administration says Nord Stream project, as well vision for crowd analysis.” machine learning and tar’s vision in developing peo- Engineering), Mishal al-Thani tions itself, Iranian Foreign that all United Nations as other projects because a Jassim Mohamed Almulla computer vision for ple and an economy based on (PhD), Maryam AlHajri (mas- Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif sanctions on Iran have bully will continue to act as a said: “It really is an honour to be crowd analysis” knowledge and science. I hope ter’s in Data Analytics in Health said yesterday. to be restored and the bully if he is allowed to do it recognised by such a respected to see Qatar become a pioneer in Management), Aisha Alrumaihi US President Donald Trump conventional arms once,” Zarif said. organisation and it motivates He said: “My experience of all fi elds, especially research and (PhD in Sustainable and En- plans to issue an executive or- embargo on the country The United States and many me to give my best and meet the studying at HBKU has been ter- development.” ergy), Bader al-Sada (PhD in der allowing him to impose will no longer expire European countries bitterly high expectations of QNRF.” rifi c, even with the diffi cult cir- Noora was driven to continue Computer Science and Engi- US sanctions on anyone who in mid-October oppose the Nord Stream 2 Jassim recently graduated cumstances we have faced this studying at HBKU after receiv- neering), Bashar Hassna (PhD violates a conventional arms pipeline, which they say will from HBKU with a master’s in year due to Covid-19. HBKU’s ing her master’s in Data Science in Logistics and Supply Chain embargo against Iran, which is “The Americans as a rule act increase Europe’s reliance Analytics in Health Manage- management of these circum- and Engineering from the uni- Management), Jassim Moham- set to expire in October, four as a bully and impose sanc- on Russian gas and deprive ment. stances, and the capability of the versity earlier this year. ed Almulla (PhD in Computer sources familiar with the mat- tion...The world community transit states such as Poland Bader al-Sada completed his university to accomplish high Dr Mounir Hamdi, founding Science and Engineering) and ter said on Thursday. should decide how to act to- and Ukraine of leverage over bachelor’s degree in Computer quality learning remotely, has dean of CSE, said: “CSE is com- Manal Alkuwari (PhD in Logis- The Trump administration wards bullying,” Zarif told Russia. Networks and recently added been very impressive” mitted to supporting the coun- tics and Supply Chain). Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA World Cleanup Day marked in Kuwait Iran virus deaths top 24,000

AFP deadliest outbreak of Cov- Tehran id-19. Infections and deaths have been on a rising trajectory this month. Daily infections eaths in Iran from the have remained above 2,000 novel coronavirus have for the past two weeks and are Dtopped 24,000, the nearing the 3,574 high reached health ministry said yesterday, in early June. In the 24 hours to blaming reduced use of face yesterday, 2,845 people tested masks by the public. positive for the coronavirus, Figures “show that the use raising the total to 419,043, the of masks is declining, and at health ministry said. A further the same time we see a rise in 166 deaths from the disease daily infections and hospi- were recorded, bringing the talisations,” ministry spokes- overall toll to 24,118. woman Sima Sadat Lari said in There has been scepticism televised remarks. at home and abroad about “Let us not forget that the Iran’s offi cial fi gures, amid current condition of the vi- concerns the real toll could be rus refl ects our observance of much higher. Iran has made health protocols and mask us- wearing masks mandatory in age,” she said. enclosed public spaces and Participants clean trash on a beach in Kuwait City yesterday, to coincide with the World Cleanup Day. Since late February, Iran has called on the public to refrain been battling the Middle East’s from non-essential travel.

RETALIATION Iran Guards vow Peers of Sudan fi lmmaker, jailed revenge over commander’s death Lebanese party for ‘public nuisance’, urge release Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief said yesterday that Tehran will avenge the US killing of its top AFP Twitter to condemn what he bombed by Bashir’s regime commander General Qasem Khartoum called “fake charges”. with Antonov planes during Soleimani by targeting only those “Write 2 SudanEmbassy in the 1983-2005 civil war and involved, in an “honourable” retali- off ers plan to yr country for their release,” again for much of the last dec- ation. Soleimani, who headed the ilm industry profession- Markowitz urged. ade. Guards elite Qods Force, was killed als have called for the Cameron Bailey, the artistic Lawyer Othman al-Basri in an American air strike near Frelease of fi ve Sudanese director and co-head of the said that Kuka and the four Baghdad airport in January. artists, including a prize- Toronto International Film other artists were sentenced to A US media report, quoting un- winning fi lmmaker, after they Festival, said “Hajooj Kuka is two months in jail and a fi ne of named off icials, said Iran plans resolve dispute were sentenced to two months an exceptional fi lmmaker... 5,000 Sudanese pounds ($90) in retaliation to assassinate the in prison for causing a “public now he’s been jailed in Su- by a court in the central dis- American ambassador to South nuisance”. dan. We need to make some trict of Khartoum. Africa, Lana Marks, before the Filmmaker Hajooj Kuka was noise about it.” Kuka had in August said presidential election in November. sentenced on Thursday, along Another Kuka fi lm, “Beats on Twitter that he and others US President Donald Trump with four fellow artists be- of the Antonov”, won the Peo- were “attacked during a thea- threatened Iran this week with over new cabinet longing to the “Civic Lab” col- ple’s Choice Documentary tre workshop in #khartoum by a “thousand times stronger” lective after being convicted Award at the 2014 Toronto instigators. response in case of any attack on Reuters into the sand over how to pick Mustapha Adib, under Leba- on the charge, according to fi lm festival, and the Suda- The police stood by the at- his country, following the report. Beirut ministers in a country where non’s sectarian system of power their lawyer. nese fi lmmaker was recently tackers and arrested us”. Su- South Africa’s state security political loyalties mostly follow sharing, wants to shake up the The collective was formed invited to join the Academy of dan is undergoing a precarious agency said on Friday it had found sectarian religious lines. leadership of ministries, some in the wake of — and inspired Motion Picture Arts and Sci- political transition under a no evidence of such a plot against party founded by Leba- A Sept 15 deadline agreed with of which have been controlled by by — mass protests that last ences, the body responsible joint civilian-military govern- Marks. Guards’ chief Major General non’s Christian president France to name a cabinet has the same factions for years. year brought down Omar al- for the Oscars. ment that was formed on the Hossein Salami retorted to the Amade a proposal to end passed. Lebanon’s main groups — the Bashir. “Beats of the Antonov” back of months of protests fol- US president. “Mr. Trump, our a dispute that has blocked the Paris, which is leading an in- Amal Movement and the Hez- Steven Markowitz, who features the music and danc- lowing Bashir’s ouster in April revenge for the martyrdom of our formation of a new cabinet and ternational push to haul Leba- bollah — want to select the fi g- produced Kuka’s recent fi lm ing of people in Sudan’s Nuba last year. great commander is certain, seri- threatened a French drive to lift non back from economic col- ures to fi ll a number of positions, “aKasha” — shown at the mountains, a long marginal- Bashir had come to power in ous and real, but we are honoura- the country out of its worst crisis lapse, has voiced exasperation including the fi nance minister, a Venice fi lm festival — took to ised area that was repeatedly a coup in 1989. ble and take revenge with fairness since the 1975-1990 civil war. and told Beirut to act “without top position often called a “sov- and justice,” he said. The proposal, put forward delay”. ereign” ministry. yesterday, involved handing ma- The leader of the Free Patri- An FPM offi cial said the party jor ministries to smaller sectar- otic Movement (FPM), the party had not discussed the idea about Army surveys 85,000 building units post-Beirut blast CRITICISM ian groups in a country where founded by President Michel distributing ministries with Damascus slams power is shared between various Aoun and allied to Hezbollah, Hezbollah or Amal. “We are pro- Lebanon’s army said yesterday it has carried out 82 teaching institutions and 12 hospitals, among religious communities. proposed “undertaking an ex- posing an exit strategy for those a survey of more than 85,000 dwellings, busi- other units. It recorded almost 550,000 square Dutch legal action There was no immediate com- periment to distribute the so- who are stuck up a tree without a nesses and other building units damaged by the metres of glass ravaged, and well as 140,000 on rights record ment from groups, which have called sovereign ministries to ladder,” the offi cial told Reuters. massive Beirut port blast last month. The August square metres of glass facades broken. insisted they choose who fi lls smaller sects”. The statement With the nation buried under 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammo- More than 108,000 doors had been damaged, The Syrian government lambasted several posts. was issued after Gebran Bassil, a mountain of debt and with its nium nitrate stored at Beirut port killed more the survey showed. The army said it was still the Netherlands yesterday for But a political source familiar FPM head and son-in-law of the banks paralysed, the fi nance than 190 people, wounded thousands and rav- looking for nine people — three Lebanese, five launching a new bid through with the thinking of dominant president, chaired a meeting of minister will play a crucial role aged large parts of the capital. “A total of 85,744 Syrians and an Egyptian — still missing after the international bodies to hold it groups said the idea was unlikely the party’s political leadership. as Lebanon seeks to restart aff ected units have been surveyed,” the army blast. The survey “is considered to be suff icient, responsible for alleged gross to work. Bassil is a Maronite, Lebanon’s stalled talks with the Interna- said. It had surveyed 60,818 housing units, 19,115 and there is therefore no need for further sur- human rights violations. A foreign Lebanon’s eff orts to swiftly largest Christian community. tional Monetary Fund, one of the businesses, 1,137 heritage units, 962 restaurants, veys by donor countries”, it said in a statement. ministry source quoted by state form a new government have run Prime Minister-designate fi rst steps on France’s roadmap. news agency SANA accused the Netherlands of abusing its position as host of a number of the bodies concerned. “The Dutch govern- ment...is determined to use the International Court of Justice in Ethiopia fi les terror The Hague to serve the political Nigerians elect governor agendas of its American master,” the ministry source said. charges against leading The source accused the Nether- lands of doing so “in a flagrant violation of its obligations and opposition activist in pandemic’s fi rst poll commitments as the headquar- ters state of this international organisation”. On Friday, the Dutch Reuters tomorrow to answer to the AFP government announced that it Addis Ababa charges, the attorney gen- Benin City was pursuing all legal avenues to eral’s office said in the state- ensure that the Syrian govern- ment. ment was held to account for its thiopia has fi led terror- Jawar, a former ally of igerians in the southern human rights record. ism charges against a Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, state of Edo braved the prominent media mogul was instrumental in the coronavirus and voted E N LEGAL and opposition politician from Oromo protests that brought yesterday to elect a new gov- the Oromo ethnic group, Jawar Abiy to power in 2018. ernor in the country’s fi rst poll France indicts Mohamed, the attorney-gen- But he became a critic of since the start of the pandemic. eral’s offi ce said yesterday. Abiy, accusing the prime The vote was held as Nigeria Central Africa war Jawar, founder of the minister of failing to protect struggled to contain the spread crimes suspect Oromiya Media Network Oromo interests. of the virus which has so far in- and a member of the Oromo Tuuli Baayyis, Jawar’s law- fected some 57,000 people and France has arrested and indicted Federalist Congress party, yer, told Reuters that they had claimed almost 1,100 lives. a former guard of deposed Cen- was arrested in June amid learnt about the charges from More than 1.7mn voters in tral African Republic president the widespread unrest that social media as formal charge Edo were expected to elect a Francois Bozize for “complic- followed the assassination papers had not been provided new governor amid heavy se- Party supporters dance to celebrate candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Godwin Obaseki’s victory ity in crimes against humanity”, of popular Oromo musician to them yet. He did not com- curity, with police offi cers and at a ward after the Edo State governorship elections in Benin City, Midwestern Nigeria, yesterday. anti-terrorist prosecutors said Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. ment on the charges. soldiers screening vehicles on yesterday. Eric Danboy Bagale, Jawar and 22 other activ- At least nine people have major roads. pletely ignored,” nurse Florence Nigeria’s Independent Na- vote, it is a two-way race be- 41, was arrested in eastern France ists, including Oromo oppo- died in the Oromiya region Voting began in most polling Okonzua, 28 and a mother of tional Electoral Commission tween President Muhammadu on Tuesday and placed under sition leader Bekele Garba, around Addis Ababa follow- stations around 9:30am (0830 two, said in Benin City, the state (INEC) has said adequate ar- Buhari’s ruling All Progressives judicial investigation in Paris late face charges relating to the ing clashes between Ethio- GMT), one hour behind sched- capital. rangements were in place for the Congress (APC) and the main on Friday, prosecuting authority violation of anti-terrorism pian security forces and pro- ule due to late arrival of election She worried that the way vot- election. opposition People’s Democratic PNAT told AFP. laws, telecom fraud laws and testers demanding the release personnel and materials. ers milled together could help “Everything is set. We have Party (PDP). Incumbent gover- Bagale, who served in the presi- firearms laws, the attor- of the detained Oromo oppo- The majority of stations spread the virus. deployed personnel and materi- nor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP dential guard and then as head ney general’s office said in a sition politicians. closed at 3:00 pm, but regis- At another polling centre, als for a smooth and hitch-free ran against APC standard-bear- of the anti-Balaka militia, was also statement on social media. The unrest in Oromiya tered voters still waiting some a woman distributed free face poll,” Timidi Wariowei, state er Osagie Ize-Iyamu. indicted for “acts of torture” and Those charged include highlights the challenges fac- centres were allowed to cast masks. INEC spokesman, said. Obaseki was elected on APC’s for “criminal association for the journalists and scholars. ing Abiy ahead of elections their ballots. Nigeria, Africa’s most popu- Final results are expected to- platform in 2016 but defected preparation of a war crime” for Bekele is a senior leader of the which were due this August, “I am happy that people are lous nation, held general elec- day. to the PDP after being denied acts committed between 2007 Oromo Federalist Congress. but were postponed due to here with their face masks but tions last year, but there was no Although 17 political parties the ticket owing to intra-party and 2014, PNAT said in a They will appear in court the coronavirus crisis. physical distancing is com- governorship poll in Edo. have fi elded candidates for the squabbles. statement. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, September 20, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Polluted stretch of Manila Bay gets fake white sand makeover

Reuters ronmental campaigners, Presi- residential areas and ports. The Despite fears that dolomite Manila dent Rodrigo Duterte’s govern- use of artificial sand has been could be a health hazard, Manila ment has fi lled a 500-metre met with criticism, with en- Mayor Francisco Domagoso as- stretch of coastline beside the vironmental groups saying the sured the public that the cleanup esidents of the Philip- US embassy in Manila with sand facelift focuses only on aes- and beautifi cation project is not pines’ capital yesterday made from tonnes of crushed thetics and has little to do with a threat to residents’ well-being. Rfl ocked to an artifi cial dolomite boulders from central rehabilitation. “When we see something nice white sand beach that the gov- Philippines. Fernando Hicap, president of being done to our city and if we ernment has transformed from Manila Bay is a 60km semi- fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, feel it is for the betterment of our a polluted stretch of shoreline enclosed estuary facing the told Reuters that the pollution city, we should always be sup- to mark International Coastal South China Sea. Its waters was killing fish stocks in the portive of that,” Domagoso said Cleanup day. are heavily polluted by oil, bay. “There is still so much gar- in a speech to mark the opening The newly-built Manila Bay beach, where tonnes of artificial sand or crushed dolomite were dumped as Despite opposition from envi- grease and trash from nearby bage,” he said. of the beach to the public. part of the government’s eff orts to rehabilitate and beautify the polluted coastline, is pictured yesterday.

Australia Biggest Thailand protest in virus hotspot records years cheers calls for reform fewest cases z Reuters reporters estimate red shirt followers, veterans of at least 30,000 at protest clashes a decade ago with pro- z Calls for reform of establishment yellow shirts. since June monarchy repeated “I’m here to fight for the fu- by protesters ture of my children and grand- children. Reuters Reuters I hope that by the time I die, Sydney Bangkok they will become free,” said 68-year-old Tasawan Suebt- hai, a redshirt with amulets he Australian state at the ens of thousands of peo- round her neck which she centre of the country’s ple joined the biggest hoped would ward off bullets. Tcoronavirus outbreak Tprotest in years in Thai- So far the latest protests yesterday reported its low- land yesterday, cheering calls to have been peaceful. est daily increase of infections curb the powers of King Maha The military, which pro- in three months, putting it on Vajiralongkorn’s monarchy as claims itself the defender of course to relax a hard lockdown well as for the removal of former the monarchy and national in the capital city by the end of coup leader and Prime Minister stability, has carried out sev- the month. Prayut Chan-o-cha. eral bloody crackdowns on Victoria, Australia’s second- “Unless the monarchy is un- protesters since the end of ab- most populous state and home der the constitution, we will solute monarchy as well as 13 to a quarter of its 25mn people, never achieve true democracy,” successful coups. recorded 21 new cases of the vi- protest leader and human rights Prayut has said the govern- rus that causes Covid-19 in the lawyer Arnon Nampa told the ment would allow protests but prior 24 hours, less than half the crowd gathered within sight that demands for reform of the previous day’s number and its of the Grand Palace in central monarchy were not accept- lowest since June 24. Bangkok. able. “Those numbers tell a power- “More, more,” the crowd Arnon is among more than ful story of what can be achieved chanted after Arnon called for a dozen protest leaders who when you stay the course, when cuts to the royal budget and have been arrested and re- you don’t get sidetracked by changes to the constitution to leased on bail over the recent some of the loudest voices, who I bring the king clearly under its protests, but none has been understand are hurting and want control. charged under the lese majeste to open up,” state Premier Daniel The Royal Palace was not laws which protesters want Andrews told a news conference. available for comment on the scrapped. They also seek to re- “We would all like to open up protest and the demands for re- duce the king’s constitutional as quickly as possible, but we form. powers and his control over won’t be open for very long if Arnon said protesters would Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok, yesterday. the palace fortune and units of we don’t fi rst get these numbers today declare “the country the army. down to a low level.” belongs to the people not the by criticising the monarchy as the king is constitutionally “en- ple in the latest demonstration. today morning. The king was The last time such a large New South Wales, the larg- monarchy” and place a com- well as seeking a new constitu- throned in a position of revered Organisers said there were not in Thailand and has spent crowd assembled at Sanam est state and home to largest memorative brass plaque, echo- tion and elections. “People can worship”. Lese majeste laws more than 50,000, while po- much of his time in Europe Luang was in mourning for the city Sydney, reported three new ing the words of the leaders of protest but they should do that mean those insulting the mon- lice said there were 18,000, since taking the throne from late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, cases. the 1932 revolution that ended peacefully and within the law,” archy can be jailed. still enough to make it the big- his late father in 2016. who was widely revered in the The six other states and terri- absolute monarchy. said government spokesman “Down with feudalism, long gest since Prayut took power in Sept 19 is the anniversary of country of 70mn. tories had not reported daily case Protests that have been Anucha Burapachaisri. live the people,” was one of the a 2014 coup. the coup against the populist There were also sympathy numbers yesterday but in recent building in the southeast Asian Thai authorities have said crowd’s chants. Protesters have said they then-prime minister Thaksin protests in Taipei, Tokyo, Lon- weeks they have had single-digit country since mid-July have criticising the monarchy is un- Reuters reporters estimated plan to stay overnight and Shinawatra in 2006. Among don, Stockholm and Olso, with or zero case increases. broken a long-standing taboo acceptable in a country where there were at least 30,000 peo- march to Government House the protesters were many of his others planned elsewhere. Victoria reported seven new Covid-19 deaths, taking the na- tional total to 844, according to government fi gures. The state has had 90% of Australia’s coronavirus-related Taiwan scrambles fi ghters as Chinese jets again fl y near island deaths. Australia has reported just under 26,900 infections. Reuters southwest coast. It said China, which to scramble its F-16s and other jets to ing out provocative activities, seriously Both sides need to resume dialogue The country had largely es- Taipei claims democratic Taiwan as its own intercept them. damaging peace and stability. to reduce the risk of war, Johnny Chi- caped the high casualty num- territory, sent 12 J-16 fi ghters, two J-10 China had on Friday announced, “The Defence Ministry sternly con- ang, leader of Taiwan’s main opposi- bers of many others as the virus fi ghters, two J-11 fi ghters, two H-6 at a news conference in Beijing about demns this, and calls on the mainland tion party the Kuomintang, wrote on swept the world, but a second aiwan’s air force scrambled jets bombers and one Y-8 anti-submarine China’s UN peacekeeping eff orts, com- authorities to control themselves and his Facebook page. wave in Victoria put the country for a second consecutive day aircraft. bat drills near the Taiwan Strait and pull back from the edge.” “People who are willing to play a on high alert and prompted most Tyesterday as multiple Chinese According to a map the ministry pro- denounced what it called collusion be- China’s widely read state-backed communication role are stigmatised states to close their internal bor- aircraft approached the island and vided, none got close to mainland Tai- tween the island and the United States. tabloid the Global Times, published by and people who clamour for war are re- ders. crossed the sensitive midline of the wan itself or fl ew over it. US Undersecretary for Economic the ruling Communist Party’s offi cial garded as heroes. The Victorian capital, Mel- Taiwan Strait, with the island’s govern- “ROCAF scrambled fi ghters, and Aff airs Keith Krach arrived in Taipei People’s Daily, said in a Saturday edito- Such an atmosphere is defi nitely bourne, has been under one of ment urging Beijing to “pull back from deployed air defence missile system to on Thursday for a three-day visit, the rial that Friday’s drills were a rehearsal not conducive to the peaceful and sta- the toughest lockdowns, in- the edge.” monitor the activities,” the ministry most senior State Department offi cial to take over Taiwan. ble development of the Taiwan Strait,” cluding a nightly curfew, but the Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said 19 said in a tweet, referring to the Republic to come to Taiwan in four decades, an- “The US and Taiwan must not mis- said Chiang, whose party traditional state government has said it will Chinese aircraft were involved, one of China Air Force, the formal name of gering China. judge the situation, or believe the exer- favours close ties with China. let construction sites, manufac- more than in the previous day, with Taiwan’s air force. He left yesterday afternoon, accord- cise is a bluff . Life has continued as normal in Tai- turing plants, warehouses and some crossing the Taiwan Strait mid- Taiwan has complained of repeated ing to Taiwan’s foreign ministry. Should they continue to make prov- wan with no sign of panic. childcare facilities reopen on line and others fl ying into Taiwan’s incidents of Chinese aircraft near the Taiwan’s Defence Ministry, in a sep- ocations, a war will inevitably break The island has long been accustomed Sept 28 if increases in average air defence identifi cation zone off its island this year, and has regularly had arate statement, said China was carry- out,” it said. to living with Chinese threats. daily cases stay below 50.

Mainland China reports 14 new Covid-19 cases Abe visits Yasukuni Shrine for war dead

Reuters tients without symptoms as Reuters announced his resignation in late sion of “disappointment” from Beijing confirmed Covid-19 cases. Tokyo August, citing health problems. the United States. The total number of Cov- The shrine is seen by Beijing Yesterday, South Korea’s for- id-19 cases for mainland China and Seoul as a symbol of Japan’s eign ministry released a state- ainland China report- now stands at 85,269, while the ormer Japanese prime past military aggression because ment expressing “deep concern ed 14 new Covid-19 death toll remained unchanged minister Shinzo Abe vis- it honours 14 Japanese wartime and regret” that Abe paid respect Mcases on Sept 18, at 4,634. China’s capital Beijing Fited the controversial leaders convicted as war crimi- at the shrine “immediately” after down from 32 cases reported reported an imported asympto- Yasukuni Shrine for war dead nals by an Allied tribunal as well his resignation as prime minister. a day earlier, the Chinese na- matic case yesterday, the fi rst yesterday, his fi rst visit since as war dead. Suga, who was the chief gov- tional health authority said since the city resumed direct December 2013, after refrain- Abe had visited the shrine in ernment spokesman under Abe, yesterday. international fl ights on Sept 3, ing from doing so for most of person once during his last ten- was not among the Abe cabinet The National Health Com- local health offi cials said at a his term to avoid angering China ure as prime minister but regu- ministers who visited the shrine mission said in a statement briefi ng. and South Korea. larly sent off erings via an aide on the 75th anniversary of the that all new cases were im- A total of 2,615 international Abe announced the visit on on the anniversary of Japan’s end of World War Two on Aug 15. ported infections involving passengers have arrived in the his offi cial Twitter account along surrender in World War Two and Suga made a visit to the shrine travellers from overseas. city since the resumption of with a photo of himself at the during the shrine’s spring and in August 2011, according to a It also reported 24 new direct flights, with one asymp- shrine, just days after Yoshihide autumn festivals. post on his offi cial blog, well be- asymptomatic cases, up from tomatic infection reported, Xu Travellers wearing face masks walk at Beijing Daxing International Suga succeeded him as Japan’s His pilgrimage to the shrine fore becoming the Abe govern- 20 a day earlier, though China Hejian, a spokesman of the Airport following the global outbreak of coronavirus disease leader. in 2013 sparked outrage in South ment’s chief cabinet secretary in does not classify these pa- capital city, told the briefing. (Covid-19), yesterday. Japan’s longest-serving leader Korea and China and an expres- December 2012. Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 11 AMERICAS UN marks 75th anniversary facing a world split by the coronavirus

By Philippe Rater, AFP hattan will not be sealed off for president Nicolas Maduro, who But that belies the reality of es as a pandemic, Badie said. “The United Nations has “I am frankly deeply pessimis- United Nations the “UNGA”; there will be no much of the world sees as illegit- what has happened since Cov- The powers have clung to a helped mitigate dozens of con- tic about the chances for real UN endless limousine convoys, and imate, will address the assembly id-19 erupted early this year, “very conservative vision of se- fl icts, saved hundreds of thou- reform or innovations in global no busy beehive of diplomats, by video. with borders closed, co-opera- curity, that humanity is only sands of lives through hu- governance. he United Nations will journalists and translators in the Missing as speakers are the tion limited and countries forced threatened by rivalries between manitarian action and provided “I cannot see China and the mark its 75th anniversary halls of the UN. leaders of Syria and North Korea. to go it alone. countries”, Badie told AFP, call- millions of children with the US agreeing on big reforms now,” Ttomorrow, celebrating the Instead, with Covid-19 still “Diplomacy, to be eff ective, Bertrand Badie, professor at ing it “a very bad sign for the fu- education that every child de- Gowan said. mantra that “multilateralism is limiting global movement, just requires personal contacts, and the Paris Institute of Political ture”. serves,” the declaration says. Badie said the organisation not an option but a necessity,” one representative from each of I am very sorry that we are not Studies, said that the great pow- The declaration admits that, In the wake of coronavirus, it was immobilised by a power ri- even as the coronavirus under- the 193 UN members will be al- going to have the opportunity to ers missed a chance with the over seven and a half decades, the says, “we have a historic oppor- valry that dates back to the UN’s scores the fragility of interna- lowed, and only someone already bring together leaders of coun- coronavirus to strengthen global UN “has had its moments of dis- tunity to build back better and creation. tional co-operation. in the United States. tries,” said UN Secretary-General co-operation. appointment”. greener”. To embark on reforms, he said, The highly-contagious coro- Everyone else will have to ap- Antonio Guterres. Instead, co-operation broke “Our world is not yet the world Yet the coronavirus has placed it is necessary for the fi ve perma- navirus causes the Covid-19 res- pear by videoconference, includ- Even so, he said, there would apart amid allegations that China our founders envisaged 75 years a spotlight on the paralysing nent members of the UN Secu- piratory disease. ing some 160-170 heads of state be “many virtual meetings” on and the World Health Organi- ago,” it says, citing growing in- rivalry of the superpowers, es- rity Council – the United States, The anniversary will kick off and government planning ad- the sidelines of the assembly, sation (WHO) moved slowly on equality and the persistence of pecially between the United Britain, Russia, France and China the global body’s annual Gen- dresses. convening by teleconference on the initial outbreak, and the US poverty, hunger, armed confl icts, States and China, rapidly eroding – to change their Cold War men- eral Assembly (UNGA), when Appearing by video on Tues- subjects such as climate change, declared it would act alone and terrorism and climate change. Washington’s global leadership. tality. normally the leaders and repre- day will be Russia’s Vladimir Pu- biodiversity and the confl icts in pulled out of the WHO. However, the declaration also “Everyone has been too fo- The fi ve, though, “will always sentatives of nearly 200 coun- tin and China’s Xi Jinping, who Libya and Lebanon. The superpowers’ behaviour notes the United Nations has cused on the domestic impact refuse, because that would lead tries gather en masse to sound off in the past have let their top dip- The event kicks off with a joint has “caused the failure, even helped bring about decoloni- of the pandemic to really look at to an overhaul of the ‘interna- about the world’s problems and lomats speak for them; and US declaration full of good inten- the collapse, of the UN Security sation, promote freedom, set the global picture,” said Richard tional community’ and the loss off er myriad solutions. leader Donald Trump. tions and a call to combat unilat- Council”, which was set up to lead standards for development and Gowan of the International Cri- of the privileges of the nuclear But this year, a part of Man- On Wednesday, Venezuela’s eralism. on such world-shaking challeng- eradicate disease. sis Group. oligarchy”, Badie said. CDC reverses Covid-19

Former prime minister Turner. Canada testing guidance again US CDC reports 198,099 had encouraged testing for all said that they thought the ad- 6,706,374 cases of the new coro- April,” the president said. distribution to priority groups, ex-PM deaths from coronavirus those who were exposed. ministration’s choice to play navirus, an increase of 49,575 Trump also vowed to get including fi rst responders, could Friday’s guidance update ef- down the importance of testing cases from its previous count, the vaccine out with lightning begin in November and Decem- Reuters/AFP fectively returns the CDC’s test- refl ected a desire by Republican and said the number of deaths speed, saying: “I think distribu- ber, but that full implementa- Turner Washington ing guidance to what it said be- President Donald Trump to cut had risen by 983 to 198,099. tion will go even quicker than tion would take many more fore it was altered in late August. the tally of new cases. The CDC fi gures do not nec- most people think.” months at least. Reuters reported that a ma- Trump, who is running for re- essarily refl ect cases reported by Vaccines are seen as one of “I think we’re probably look- dead he Trump administra- jority of US states rejected the election on November 3, told a individual states. the top methods for halting the ing at late second quarter, third tion has reversed guid- CDC’s August 24 guidance in rally in June testing is a “double- On Friday Trump said that he spread of the coronavirus, which quarter 2021” before a safe Tance on Covid-19 testing an extraordinary rebuke of the edged” sword because it leads expects enough Covid-19 vac- has killed nearly 950,000 people and eff ective vaccine would be Reuters for a second time, urging those nation’s top agency for disease to more cases being discovered, cines “for every American” will worldwide, including a global broadly available to the general Ottawa exposed to people with the virus prevention. causing the United States to ap- be produced by next April, and high of 198,000 in the United public, he added. to get tested even if they are not The change was made on a pear worse off than it would oth- that the fi rst doses will be dis- States. Trump’s Democratic election displaying symptoms. webpage aimed at health work- erwise. tributed immediately after ap- The president has repeatedly rival, Joe Biden, also expressed ormer Canadian prime The Covid-19 respiratory dis- ers. He added that he urged offi - proval later this year. stated that he envisions a safe doubt about the timeline, and minister John Turner, who ease is caused by the coronavi- “The return to a science- cials to “slow the testing down, Claiming “historic progress” and eff ective vaccine approved told voters on Thursday in Penn- Fwas in offi ce for just 11 rus. based approach to testing guid- please”. with three vaccines in the fi nal in the coming weeks, even ahead sylvania that he does not trust weeks and led his Liberal Party The Centres for Disease ance from the Centres for Dis- A White House offi cial at the stages of development and tri- of the November 3 presidential Trump to put forward a vaccine to a massive electoral defeat in Control and Prevention (CDC) ease Control and Prevention is time told Reuters that the re- als, Trump said at least 100mn election. absent of political interference. 1984, died yesterday aged 91, sparked widespread outcry good news for public health and mark was a joke. doses would be manufactured But that extraordinarily opti- “I don’t trust the president on media reported. among state public health offi - for our united fi ght against this Trump administration offi - by the end of the year – perhaps mistic timeline was called into vaccines,” Biden said, explaining Turner, who had previously cials and experts in late August pandemic,” Thomas File, presi- cials denied that the move was more. question by a top government that he trusts the government’s held the posts of fi nance and when it said that people who dent of the Infectious Diseases political and told Reuters that it “Hundreds of millions of dos- health offi cial this week. top infectious disease expert justice minister, took over from do not have symptoms may not Society of America, said in a refl ected “current evidence and es will be available every month, CDC director Robert Red- Anthony Fauci instead. “If Fauci Pierre Trudeau in late June 1984 need to get tested. statement. best public health practices”. and we expect to have enough fi eld testifi ed to lawmakers on says the vaccine is safe, I take the at a time of increasing voter fa- Before August 24, the CDC Some state offi cials last month Yesterday the CDC reported vaccines for every American by Wednesday that a “very limited” vaccine.” tigue with the Liberals, who had been in power for 20 of the pre- vious 21 years. He called an election for Sep- tember and then presided over what many political observers Colombia consider to be one of the worst Rains bring relief to fi re-hit Oregon campaigns in Canadian history, marred by a series of gaff es. wants One key turning point came Reuters forts, said that residents in the during a televised debate when Gates, Oregon fi re-ravaged town of Estacada, Turner, under fi re from Con- Oregon, where he was born and Maduro servative leader Brian Mulroney, raised, were still in a state of said he had no option but to ap- ntermittently heavy show- shock but resolved to rebuild. prove a mass of patronage ap- ers brought some relief “I like to say that this event prosecuted pointments proposed by Tru- Ito fl ame-stricken west- is going to leave our commu- deau before he left offi ce. ern Oregon on Friday, helping nity with a beauty scar,” he said. “You could have said ‘I am not fi refi ghters to further subdue “We’ve been wounded but so AFP going to do it. This is wrong for deadly blazes that have ravaged many beautiful opportunities Bogota Canada’ ... you had an option, much of the state and choked to share and show our strength sir, to say no. And you chose to its air with smoke for the better as a town are coming out of say yes,” responded Mulroney in part of two weeks. this.” olombia’s President Ivan one of the most memorable mo- Oregon was especially hard Thundershowers brought Duque has called for Ven- ments in Canadian politics. hit by scores of wind-driven drenching rains to the western Cezuelan President Nico- The Conservatives swept to wildfi res that erupted all at slopes of the Cascade Moun- las Maduro to be prosecuted as power with 211 seats of the 282 in once across the western United tains late on Thursday and a “war criminal” in a joint news the House of Commons. States earlier this month in the through Friday, helping a force conference with US Secretary of The Liberals fell to just 40 midst of catastrophic lightning of more than 6,000 fi refi ghters State Mike Pompeo. seats from 135 but Turner hung storms, record-breaking heat make headway against 10 major Duque spoke as Pompeo onto his position. and howling winds. blazes still burning in Oregon. rounded off a three-day tour His 79-day tenure as prime “We lost everything, but we Winds blows embers from a tree at the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills, California. The heavy rains also prompt- of Venezuela’s neighbours de- minister is the second shortest will start all over again,” said ed fl ood and landslide warnings signed to increase pressure on in Canadian history. Bill Kesselring, 73, pointing to weather settled over the region, members, and no details of the (650,000 hectares) have burned in areas where fi re has stripped the socialist leader to leave pow- In the 1988 election campaign the spot where the log cabin he and reinforcements could ar- circumstances were released. in Oregon and Washington state hillsides and canyons of veg- er. he took a strong stance against a shared with his wife had stood rive. The death in the San Ber- since Labour Day. etation. Duque, a key US ally in the re- proposed free trade agreement on the outskirts of Gates, Or- By Thursday, offi cials in Or- nardino National Forest became The blazes, described by sci- Cooler, more favourable gion, said a UN report this week with the United States but lost egon, a Cascade Mountain vil- egon, Washington state and the 26th fi re-related fatality in entists and offi cials as unprec- weather in the region since showed “that this is a regime be- again to Mulroney, although not lage 80 miles south of Portland. California said that they were California over the past month. edented in scope and ferocity, last week has already dispelled hind violations of human rights as badly. The cabin and a garage hous- making steady progress sup- That tally includes two other have largely incinerated several some of the smoky, polluted that are systematic, and that the He resigned as Liberal leader ing a beloved antique car Kes- pressing the fi res. fi refi ghters – a Forest Service small towns, along with thou- air and tempered the fl ames, head of this dictatorship is a war in 1990 and was replaced by Jean selring had just fi nished re- Brightening the outlook fur- contractor killed in a lightning- sands of dwellings. enabling ground teams with criminal and the international Chretien, who led the Liberals to storing were both reduced to ther, much-welcomed rains sparked fi re in the Mendocino Thousands of evacuees, par- axes and bulldozers to take the community must put an end to victory in 1993. charred rubble. doused Oregon on Friday, even National Forest, and a private ticularly in Oregon, remained off ensive while also allowing the situation”. Turner, a lawyer by training, Only the fi replace and chim- as the tri-state death toll from helicopter pilot whose chopper huddled in emergency shelters, greater use of water-dropping “Nicolas Maduro is responsi- served as fi nance minister from ney remained of the home. the fi res rose to 35. crashed on a water-dropping mobile trailers and hotel rooms. helicopters and airplane tank- ble for crimes against humanity 1972-1975 but quit amid disa- “It breaks my heart. You The US Forest Service in Cal- mission in Fresno County last And Oregon emergency man- ers. as is his inner circle,” the Co- greements over policy with Tru- work hard all your life and then ifornia reported that a fi refi ght- month. agement offi cials have warned Higher humidity levels were lombian leader said, fl anked by deau. get hit with a disaster like this,” er had perished on Thursday Wildfi res have claimed at the death toll there could climb likewise bolstering hopes for Pompeo at Casa de Narino presi- He returned to legal work for he told Reuters. in a blaze still burning nearly least eight other lives in Oregon as search teams scour the ruins subduing blazes in the greater dential palace in Bogota. nine years before winning the Unaccustomed to the sheer two weeks after it was ignited and one in Washington state, all of homes engulfed in fl ames San Francisco Bay area. The 411-page UN Human Liberal Party leadership in June scope and magnitude of the by pyrotechnics at an outdoor civilians. during chaotic evacuations “Milder weather is helping Rights Council report accused 1984. confl agrations, Oregon’s ill- gender-reveal party east of Los Flames have blackened a early in the disaster. the fi re fi ght as crews continue Maduro and his inner circle of John Napier Wyndham Turner equipped fi refi ghters initially Angeles. record 3.2mn acres (1.3mn hec- Justin Gaskill, 28, a US Army to gain ground on many of the being responsible for probable was born on June 7, 1929. struggled for days to even keep Authorities withheld the tares) in California alone since veteran leading a community major incidents,” the Califor- crimes against humanity. He is survived by his wife pace with the blazes, before identity of the fallen fi refi ghter mid-August. watch organisation that was nia Department of Forestry and Caracas has dismissed the Geills and four children. cooler, moister and less windy pending notifi cation of family Another 1.7mn acres also organising food relief ef- Fire Protection said on Friday. report as “riddled with false- hoods”. Pompeo described his right- Dominica shaken by explosion of steam and gas Mexican school owner convicted over quake deaths wing host as “a true leader for the region and the dignity of its An explosion of steam and gas in the mountains Pascal said that there had been no volcanic A Mexican court has found the owner of a school Garcia Villegas was arrested after it was found people”. of the remote, jungle-clad Caribbean island of earthquakes recorded in the area associated with that collapsed in a 2017 earthquake guilty of that she had built a large apartment on top of The US top diplomat said Dominica has shaken residents, who are fearful it is “the strong steam degassing”. culpable homicide over the deaths of 19 children the classrooms, whose weight is thought to have on Friday that Maduro “has to a harbinger for renewed seismic activity. “It is possible that the area may still be unstable and seven adults. contributed to the building’s collapse. leave” power, drawing a furious The Dominica Off ice of Disaster Management and and that additional landslides may occur with Prosecutors said they would seek a prison The school was the focus of worldwide attention in accusation of “war-mongering” the Seismic Research team said the activity in the continued steam degassing,” Pascal said. sentence of 57 years for Monica Garcia Villegas, the hours after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake. from the Venezuelan leader. Soufriere area on Wednesday was likely the result Dominica last suff ered major phreatic or steam- head of the private Rebsamen elementary school A lawyer for Garcia Villegas, who spent more than Pompeo began his three-day of a landslide, followed by geological adjustments. drive volcanic eruptions in 1997, and before that in in Mexico City, following her conviction late on a year on the run, said that she planned to appeal South American trip on Thurs- In a statement, the off ice’s co-ordinator Fitzroy 1880. Thursday. the conviction. day in Suriname and Guyana. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, September 20, 2020 BRITAIN/EUROPE

‘Time is right for Spain to become a republic’ 9,000 migrants move into tent camp

Reuters understand, especially young family and an ill-judged el- and has repeatedly declined to Reuters No one was hurt in the blaze. sands of migrants had camped Madrid people, that in the 21st century ephant hunting trip at a time comment on the subject. Lesbos, Greece About 9,000 people had been for days after the fi re, and stores citizens cannot choose who when Spaniards were struggling His lawyer says he remains at resettled in the new tent camp, in the area started reopening. their head of state is and that he with a deep recession. the Spanish prosecutor’s dis- set up by authorities at Kara Tepe Greek police launched an op- pain’s far-left deputy does not have to answer to jus- In June, Spain’s Supreme posal. housands of asylum-seek- near the port of Mytilene, by eration on Thursday to speed up prime minister said yes- tice like any citizen and cannot Court opened a preliminary in- As monarch, Juan Carlos ben- ers have moved into a new morning yesterday. the resettlement of migrants. Sterday that a fi nancial be removed from charge if you vestigation into the involvement efi ted from full judicial immuni- Ttemporary facility on the A few hundred had also moved Many had been reluctant to scandal which has rocked the commit a crime,” Iglesias told a of the former king in a high- ty though he can be prosecuted Greek island of Lesbos, govern- into a community centre man- enter the camp as they had hoped royal family had presented an party meeting. speed rail contract in Saudi Ara- for any wrongdoing since he ab- ment offi cials said yesterday, 10 aged by a non-governmental or- to leave Lesbos after the fi re and “historic moment” to push for a Spain’s former king Juan bia. dicated. days after a fi re destroyed the ganisation. reach other European countries. republic. Carlos left the country under Switzerland’s La Tribune de An opinion survey published Moria camp. Those entering the camp were Authorities believe the fi re that Pablo Iglesias, leader of the a cloud of scandal last month Geneve newspaper reported he in August for the pro-mon- The fi re that broke out in Mo- being registered and tested for gutted the notorious for its liv- Unidas Podemos party, the jun- and is living in the United Arab had received $100mn from the archist ABC newspaper found ria on September 9 left more than Covid-19, the disease caused by ing conditions Moria camp was ior partner in Spain’s coalition Emirates. late Saudi king. 56% of respondents supported 12,000 people, most of them the coronavirus. started by migrants following a government, said that the mon- Once a popular monarch, he Swiss authorities have opened the monarchy, compared with refugees from Afghanistan, Syria At least 214 were placed in dispute over Covid-19 quaran- archy is no longer relevant to a abdicated in favour of his son an investigation. 33.5% favoured a republic, while and various African countries, quarantine after positive tests. tine measures at the facility after younger generation. Felipe in 2014 after a tax fraud The former monarch is not 6% did not know and 4.1% were without shelter, proper sanita- Traffi c was returning to nor- dozens of asylum-seekers tested “Less and less people in Spain case involving members of his formally under investigation indiff erent. tion or access to food and water. mal on the roads, where thou- positive.

Surge in Covid-19 UK risks new lockdown cases pits doctors as Covid-19 cases spike against Reuters their highest in months, hospital iting nightspots and restaurants politicians London admissions rising and soaring after 10pm. infection rates across parts of London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, northern England and London. said on Friday that tighter lock- Reuters ritain is likely to need to “Right now we’re at about down measures were becoming Istanbul reintroduce some national the levels of infection we were “increasingly likely” for Brit- Bcoronavirus lockdown seeing in this country in late ain’s capital. measures sooner rather than February, and if we leave it an- Police broke up a protest in esurgent coronavirus cas- later, a leading epidemiologist other two to four weeks we’ll central London yesterday of es in Turkey are fuelling said yesterday, as new cases rose be back at levels we were seeing more than 1,000 people opposed Rtensions between doctors to their highest level since early more back in mid-March, and to existing lockdown measures, who say the offi cial fi gures un- May. that’s going to - or could - cause as the event did not comply with derplay the scale of the outbreak The coronavirus causes the deaths,” Ferguson said. rules limiting public gatherings. and politicians who accuse the Covid-19 respiratory disease. Yesterday government data Ferguson served on the gov- country’s medical association of Neil Ferguson, a professor showed 4,422 new cases, 100 ernment’s main scientifi c ad- undermining eff orts to contain of epidemiology at London’s more than on Friday and the visory board until May, when it. Imperial College and a former highest daily total since May 8, he stepped down after breaking The coronavirus causes the government adviser, told the based on positive test results. lockdown rules himself. Covid-19 respiratory disease. BBC that the country is facing a The true rate of infection is He said that future lockdown More than 1,600 new cases “perfect storm” of rising infec- likely to be higher. restrictions did not need to be and 60 deaths from Covid-19 tions as people return to work Britain’s statistics agency said as strict as those introduced in are now reported daily, well off and school. on Friday that around 6,000 March to be eff ective in slowing peak levels in April but rising Prime Minister Boris Johnson people a day in England alone the renewed spread of the dis- steadily, with average numbers said on Friday that he did not probably caught the disease ease. of deaths now three times the want another national lockdown during the week to September Britain’s capacity to test for rates recorded between June and but that new restrictions may be 10, based on its random testing. coronavirus infections has also August. needed because the country was Scotland’s First Minister come under strain since schools Doctors across Turkey wore facing an “inevitable” second Nicola Sturgeon asked John- in England reopened this month, black ribbons this week to com- wave of Covid-19. son to meet her and the leaders People gather in London’s Trafalgar Square to protest the lockdown imposed by the government. with many people reporting that memorate colleagues who have “I think some additional of the devolved governments tests were unavailable or only died, part of protests which also measures are likely to be needed of Wales and Northern Ireland decisiveness of action is impor- ment’s preferred measure. now beginning to rise. possible at locations hundreds included a social media cam- sooner rather than later,” Fergu- within the next 48 hours to try tant in the fi ght against Covid,” The sharp increase in infec- More than 10mn people in of miles away. paign with a message for the son said. to ensure coordinated meas- she said. tions has not yet led to a similar parts of northern and central “We have a perfect storm right government: “You can’t manage Ministers were on Friday re- ures across diff erent parts of the The United Kingdom has suf- rise in new fatalities – in part England are already under some now, of people – as they have it; we are exhausted.” ported to be considering a sec- United Kingdom. fered Europe’s highest death toll because cases have been con- form of lockdown restriction, been told to do – getting back Many doctors question the of- ond national lockdown, with “We know from experience from Covid-19, with more than centrated among younger peo- such as a ban on inviting friends to normal, schools reopening, a fi cial Covid-19 numbers, saying new Covid-19 cases already at earlier in the year that speed and 41,000 deaths on the govern- ple – but hospital admissions are or family to their homes, or vis- surge in cases,” Ferguson said. that although they don’t have their own independent nation- wide data, the scale of cases they see at a local level does not tally with the bigger picture present- ed by the government. Police detain hundreds of “The numbers of just one city, or the numbers unveiled by just one or two medical chambers are almost equal to the (offi cial) women at Belarus protest numbers for the whole country,” doctor Halis Yerlikaya told Reu- ters at a hospital in the south- AFP women detained, while police Tikhanovskaya, who has eastern province of Diyarbakir. Minsk spokeswoman Olga Chemo- taken shelter in Lithuania, con- “This process is not handled danova told AFP that the demned the “arbitrary” deten- transparently,” said Yerlikaya, number detained would be an- tions, saying that police offi cers who is a member of the medics iot police in Belarus bun- nounced today. without any identifying badges association’s central committee. dled hundreds of women, Police detained so many pro- had “roughly detained en masse Wearing a black ribbon on Rincluding a great-grand- testers that they ran out of room beautiful and brave women who his white medical coat, he said mother who has become an icon in vans, the opposition’s Co-or- were protesting lawfully and doctors wanted to highlight the of the protest movement, yes- dination Council said. peacefully”. challenges and risks they faced. terday into vans as opposition Around 2,000 women took The opposition’s Co-or- “We have tried to convey the marchers rallied in Minsk seek- part in the “Sparkly March”, dination Council, set up by voice of our colleagues who ing an end to President Alexan- wearing shiny accessories and Tikhanovskaya’s allies to ar- caught Covid-19, who are fi ght- der Lukashenko’s 26-year rule. carrying red-and-white fl ags of range a peaceful handover of ing for their lives in hospitals The protest was the latest in the protest movement. power, described the detentions ... therefore we kicked off these which Belarusian women have Among those detained yes- as “a new phase in the escalation A woman sits with a man lying on the ground near Belarusian law enforcement off icers during an protests.” taken to the streets with fl owers terday was Nina Baginskaya, a of violence against peaceful pro- opposition rally in Minsk to protest police brutality and to reject the presidential election results. The doctors’ campaign and fl ags. 73-year-old activist who has testers”. prompted a rebuke from Presi- The numbers detained yes- become one of the best-known Tikhanovskaya warned that members of his regime. managed to run away and took in Belarus after Lukashenko’s dent Tayyip Erdogan’s parlia- terday were far higher than the faces of the protest movement, protesters were ready to strip The marchers chanted slogans shelter in a nearby nail bar, Tut. use of extreme violence against mentary ally, who accused them previous week’s rally. known for her plucky antics and riot police who carry out “crimi- such as “Get out, you and your by news site reported. detained demonstrators. of treachery and called for the The women were seized by regularly celebrated with a chant nal orders” of anonymity. riot police!” and “We believe we The protest came as the op- Women began forming human medics association to be shut riot police in black uniforms of “Nina! Nina!” The Poland-based opposition can win!” position was due to hold mass chains and marching through down. and balaclavas as well as offi c- Police took away the fl ag and Telegram channel Nexta pub- One of the placards read: “Our demonstrations this afternoon Minsk and other cities wearing “The Turkish Medics Asso- ers in khaki uniforms and plain- fl owers she was carrying as they lished a list of more than 1,000 protest has a woman’s face”, a in Minsk and other cities. white clothes and carrying fl ow- ciation is as dangerous as coro- clothed offi cers in face masks. pushed her into a van but re- names and ranks of police of- reference to the title of a popu- Tikhanovskaya is set to meet ers in peaceful demonstrations navirus and is disseminating Police blocked the women and leased her outside a police sta- fenders, saying that it received lar book by the Belarusian Nobel European Union foreign min- that police initially allowed to go threats,” tweeted Devlet Bah- began pulling them into police tion shortly afterwards. the data from whistleblowers prize winner Svetlana Alexievi- isters and the bloc’s diplomatic ahead. celi of the Nationalist Move- vans as they stood with linked The march was the latest in and would post more if deten- ch, who has backed the opposi- chief in Brussels tomorrow, in Last weekend, police violently ment Party, whose alliance with hands, swiftly detaining hun- a series of all-women protests tions continued. tion cause. a move that Russian foreign detained several dozen at a simi- Erdogan’s AK Party sustains the dreds, an AFP journalist saw. calling for the strongman to Witness accounts of police “I will march to the end, until ministry spokeswoman Maria lar women’s protest. president’s parliamentary ma- Police lifted some women leave following his disputed vic- violence and torture of detain- we claim victory, because we are Zakharova condemned as “fl irt- Lukashenko last week warned jority. “The Medics Association off their feet in order to remove tory in elections last month. ees following the elections have in the right,” said one protester, ing with a self-appointed repre- of a possible “war” with some ... should immediately and with- them. His opposition rival Svetlana prompted the European Par- Irina, a 50-year-old program- sentative of the Belarusian op- neighbouring countries and has out delay be shut down.” The Viasna rights group pub- Tikhanovskaya also claimed vic- liament to call for sanctions mer. position”. turned to Russia for support af- Health Minister Fahrettin lished online the names of 328 tory. against Lukashenko and other Some of the women protesters The women’s protests began ter refusing to step down. Koca has dismissed the asso- ciation’s criticism of Covid-19 data, saying that he has repeat- edly highlighted the threat posed by the growing numbers and has not played down the challenges Kremlin critic Navalny posts photo of himself walking facing hospitals. “I say the situation is trouble- some. I say the number of criti- Reuters tal said he had been taken off a ventila- a long one,” Navalny wrote. Western governments have demand- cal cases rose 100% compared to Moscow tor and could breathe independently. In the Instagram post he said he had ed an explanation from Russia. last month,” he told journalists Navalny, the leading opponent of diffi culties using his phone, pouring The Kremlin denied Russia was re- on Wednesday. “I unveiled the Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell water or climbing stairs because his sponsible for Navalny’s illness and said number of deaths which is 4.5 ussian opposition politician ill on a domestic fl ight in Siberia last hands failed him and his legs trembled. that there was not enough evidence of times more than last month. Alexei Navalny was seen walking month and was airlifted to Berlin while Germany says laboratory tests in his poisoning. The country of around 83mn Rdown the stairs in a photo (seen still in a coma. three countries have determined that Russian authorities have refused people has so far reported about on the left) posted on his Instagram feed “Let me tell you how my recovery is Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok to open a formal probe into Navalny’s 300,000 cases of Covid-19, with yesterday, fi ve days after a Berlin hospi- going. It is already a clear path although nerve agent. case. nearly 7,400 deaths. Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 13 INDIA

TRAGEDY VERDICT CONTROVERSY PEOPLE CRIME 4 of jeweller’s family Court upholds acquittal Battle over Kerala Veteran Communist leader Man shoots father, kills found hanging in Jaipur of six in Goa blast case church intensifies Roza Deshpande dies at 91 himself over property

A jeweller, his wife and their two sons were The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court The ongoing factional feud in the Malankara Veteran Communist leader, women’s activist and A 32-year-old man allegedly shot dead his found hanging at their home in Jaipur yesterday upheld the acquittal of six people Orthodox Syrian Church is all set to take a ex-MP Roza Deshpande died on Saturday due 62-year-old father yesterday following a yesterday, police said. They were identified as accused of links with the Sanatan Sanstha turn for the worse after a court in Kottayam to age-related ailments, according to a family property dispute before turning the gun on Yashwant Soni,47, Mamta Soni, 40, Bharat, 17 and who were charged by the National asked the district authorities to hand over the source. She was 91 and is survived by a son and himself. He died at his home in Gurugram’s and Ajit 20. While their sons’ hands and feet Investigation Agency for a failed bomb blast church to the Orthodox faction. Over 4,000 a daughter. Her husband, the fiery Communist Laxman Vihar locality, police said. According were tied with a rope, the eyes of Mamta Soni plot in Margao town in 2009. NIA counsel members of the church owe their allegiance leader Bani Deshpande, died in 2015. She is the to the police, a heated argument broke out were covered with a cloth. The relatives of the Pravin Faldessai said Vinay Talekar, Dhananjay to the Jacobite faction, while the Orthodox daughter of one of the founders of the Communist between Ravinder Singh and his father Rajveer deceased told police that the family was under Ashtekar, Prashant Ashtekar, Vinayak Patil, faction has very few members. The Orthodox movement in the country, the legendary Shripad Singh over some property, following which financial stress. Soni owned jewellery shops in Prashant Juvekar and Dilip Mazgaonkar were faction welcomed the new directive, but the Amrut Dange. Deshpande plunged into politics Ravinder allegedly shot dead his father before Jaipur and Alwar. A woman along with some acquitted getting “the benefit of the doubt”. In Jacobite faction has vowed to challenge the through the All India Students Federation, various killing himself. “Ravinder was a lawyer and people reportedly had gone to their house a statement, the Sanatan Sanstha welcomed order. A senior priest of the Jacobite faction, trade unions and took part in the Samyukta used to practice at the local court in Gurugram, on Friday night demanding money she had the court order: “The innocence of the Sanatan K Kuriakose, said: At no cost will we give away Maharashtra Movement and also the Goa while his father Rajveer had retired from the lent them. The police said Soni had borrowed Sanstha has been proved once again. For anything. This is our church. At the moment Liberation Movement. While working in the textile Delhi police. The preliminary investigation and money on high interest from some people who those who propagate the myth of saffron peace prevails in and around this famed church. industry, Deshpande acquired a deep insight into scene of crime suggest that Ravinder first killed were harassing him. Police have detained some terrorism, this is a hard slap on their face.” In There should be no attempt to disrupt peace.” the conditions of working women not only in his father and later shot himself,” said a police suspects and are investigating the case, an all, 11 people were accused of participating in The coming days will reveal on how the district the textile sector, but also railways, engineering, off icer. “Whether the weapon was licensed or off icial said. the conspiracy. administration will handle the situation. pharmaceutical and chemical industries. not, is a part of the probe. Nine Al Qaeda militants held for planning terror attacks

Agencies A man who was staying in the New Delhi same building as Hassan, said the suspects rented the apartment where they were staying during he National Investigation the coronavirus lockdown. Agency (NIA) said yester- An NIA offi cial said: “These Tday it has arrested nine Al terrorists were planning to go to Qaeda militants who were plan- Kashmir for weapons delivery to ning attacks in several locations their handlers.” including New Delhi. They had bought potassium “The group was planning to nitrate from fi recrackers in large undertake terrorist attacks at vi- amounts. tal installations in India with an “During the raids the agency aim to kill innocent people and got huge cache of fi recrack- strike terror in their minds,” the ers. They bought the fi recrack- country’s main counter-terror- ers to hide procurement of huge ism arm said in a statement. amount of potassium required to Those arrested “were moti- make the IEDs,” a senior NIA of- vated to undertake attacks at fi cial said. People sit in front of a restaurant off ering free meals in Ahmedabad yesterday. multiple places” including the Kerala police discovered that capital region. Hussien was in the southern Six of the militants were ar- state for the past one decade and rested in West Bengal and while was working in a textile shop at three in Kerala, the NIA said, Perumbavoor, near Aluva. adding the individuals were “as- Hassan came in Kerala at the sociated a module of Al Qaeda”. beginning of the nationwide India has stepped up an off en- lockdown. sive against militants in Kashmir The Bharatiya Janata Party Parliament session may and elsewhere. said successive governments in Last year, security forces Kerala have failed in anti-terror killed the leader of an Al Qaeda- activities. affi liated militant group in Kash- mir, triggering protests in parts “The anti-terror squad in of the region. Kerala is in deep slumber and In the latest raids, the NIA successive governments have be cut short due to Covid seized sharp weapons, domesti- also failed to tackle this ter- cally made fi rearms and locally ror menace. We have seen a few Agencies involved in the functioning of been relatively low. ity-level status and eff ectively Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, fabricated body armour. cases where terrorists were ar- New Delhi parliament proceedings. The virus has killed 1,247 plan and manage logistical is- Chandigarh, Telangana, Kerala, The nine militants will be pro- rested in the past from our state. The government has also people in last 24 hours, taking sues related with its availability. Delhi, Punjab and West Bengal. duced in court for police custody What happened in Ernakulam is mandated daily tests for jour- the total death toll to 85,619, On September 15, the Health About 80 per cent of the Covid and further investigation, the the latest incident,” Kerala BJP ndia’s parliament session nalist entering parliament to government data showed yes- Ministry had clarifi ed that there caseload in the country is con- agency said. president K Surendran said. that began this week is likely cover the session from yester- terday. was no shortage of medical oxy- centrated in these regions. Three of the suspects have “It’s now come to light that Ito be cut short after 30 MPs day. The MPs who have been in- gen in the country. The minis- Goyal also urged the states to been identifi ed as Murshid Has- there was a WhatsApp group in were found infected with the Piyush Soperna, joint direc- fected include Nitin Gadkari, try said there was a surplus of share their best practices which san, Yakoob Bishwas and Mor- the police helping those engaged coronavirus, two senior par- tor at the Rajya Sabha (upper highways and medium and thousands of metric tonnes of in turn can be emulated by other shraf Hussien, all three residents in terror activities. Also a police liament offi cials said, as the house) secretariat, said in an small enterprises minister in oxygen. Medical oxygen is used states and UTs in the country. of Ernakulam in Kerala. offi cial who was suspended for number of cases in the country e-mail response that it has no Prime Minister’s Narendra Mo- for oxygen therapy in hospi- Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gau- Those arrested from Murshida- leaking e-mails from the police rose to 5.3mn. information on the issue of pre- di’s cabinet. tals, and it is considered on par ba, while complementing the bad in West Bengal are Najmus and this government was rein- The parliament met for the maturely ending the parliament On Wednesday, the gov- with a drug or a pharmaceutical states for signifi cantly ramping Sakib, Abu Sufi yan, Mainul Mon- stated. This can happen only in fi rst time in six months on Sep- session next week. ernment ordered states not to product. up testing, expressed concern dal, Leu Yean Ahmed, Al Mamun Kerala,” he said. tember 14 and was to function India, which recorded 93,337 hoard oxygen supplies and al- As part of the government’s that the case fatality rates of Kamal and Atitur Rehman. In another development, the until October 1, but the two of- new infections in the last 24 low free movement to cope with co-ordinated strategy for eff ec- several states were still higher These men were from diverse NIA yesterday seized the prop- fi cials said its duration could be hours, has been posting the the rising number of cases. tive containment and manage- than the national average. walks of and included a second- erty of a member of the Jaish-e- reduced by a week. highest single-day caseload in Yesterday Commerce and In- ment of Covid-19, a high-level He urged the states to ana- year graduate student, farmer, Mohamed (JeM) group blamed “Since the commencement the world since early August. dustry Minister Piyush Goyal review meeting was chaired lyse deaths district-wise and tailor, cook, electrician and a for an attack on the Central of the session the number of India is the second-most addressed 12 states and union senior offi cials. hospital-wise for identifi cation computer science graduate. Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in positive cases have gone up so badly hit country after United territories and reviewed their The states and UTs that par- of critical areas of intervention. Those arrested from Kerala Pulwama district of Kashmir the government is thinking of States with total recorded coro- oxygen availability. He request- ticipated in the conference He also exhorted the states to were also originally from West in December 2017 in which fi ve cutting short the session,” said navirus cases at 5.3mn. ed them to focus on analysing included Maharashtra, Kar- ensure optimal utilisation of Bengal. troopers were killed. one of the two offi cials, who are However, deaths in India have district-level and health facil- nataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar testing capacity. Decommissioned aircraft carrier sails into oblivion

IANS Formerly known as ‘HMS wan in Sri Lanka from July 18 journey to a scrapyard, not on its Mumbai Hermes’, she had served the Brit- to August 17, 1989, Operation own steam but towed by tugs. ish Navy for a quarter century Vijay in 1999 during the Kargil Any other country would have from November 1959 to April War, and several other creditable made all out eff orts to retain he Indian Navy’s once 1984 and rubbed shoulders with achievements. such a glorious ship as a muse- majestic and imposing royalty for a brief period. With a full load displacement um-ship. But we have consigned Taircraft carrier INS Vi- It was commissioned into the of 28,700 tonnes, the 226.50m- this seven decade-old warhorse raat – now decommissioned Indian Navy as its second air- long and 48.78m-wide ‘Vi- to a scrap heap. A 76-year-old – started on its swansong voy- craft carrier, ‘INS Viraat’ in May raat’ was capable of operating maritime history of two nations age to Alang port in Gujarat, the 1987 after extensive refurbish- Sea Harrier jump jets – a Short peddled for just Rs38.50 crore!” country’s biggest graveyard for ments and beefi ng up its fi ghting Take Off and Vertical Landing lamented defence expert Sarosh condemned ships, offi cials said capabilities. (STOVL) fi ghter aircraft, and al- Bana. yesterday. Having a call sign of ‘Romeo most all types of naval helicop- Initially, at least three states The British-built carrier Two Two’, she served with mer- ters. – Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra served the Indian Navy for 2,258 it, but the Indian Navy fi nally The ship was like a mini Pradesh – had shown interest days and covered 10,95,000km – decommissioned her in March floating township with attend- in converting it into a fl oating equal to encircling the planet 27 2017 and since then, it was ant logistics and infrastructure museum and in 2018 Maharash- times, and clocked 22,622 hours docked at the naval dockyard in like libraries, gyms, an ATM, tra even set aside Rs8.52bn for of fl ying operations by its air- Mumbai. a TV and video studio, a full docking it in Sindhudurg dis- craft in the country’s service. With a crew of 1,500 and 150 fledged general hospital with trict. Towed by two other vessels for offi cers, she could carry a huge two full-fledged operation In May 2019, the Maharashtra her fi nal voyage, Viraat will reach load of combat-ready aircraft theatres and a dental hospital, Maritime Board (MMB) fl oated a Alang port in three days, signal- and helicopters, and she took tailor and salons, a massive proposal to convert ‘Viraat’ into ling the end of a glorious era of part in several operations during laundry to wash 800 pairs of an integrated tourism facility, Indian maritime history, a naval her long career at sea. uniforms daily, and a generator but found no takers. offi cial said. These included the UK-Ar- which produced nearly 9 MW Bana said this becomes the The vessel was bought by Shri gentina confl ict over the Falk- of power. second Indian aircraft carrier to Ram Green Ship Recycling In- lands Islands in 1982, later the “Its painful to see an impor- be broken down as scrap after Indian Navy’s decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat is towed by boats as a helicopter hovers above dustries Ltd of Gujarat, for Rs Operation Parakram in October tant piece of Indian and Brit- ‘INS Vikrant’ met the same fate on the ship’s final journey to the Alang Ship breaking yard in Gujarat, from the naval dockyard in Mumbai 385mn in an auction. 2001-July 2002, Operation Pa- ain’s naval history sail on its fi nal in November 2014. yesterday. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, September 20, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Strategic dialogue underlines Qatar-US Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko commitment to long-term co-operation

P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar al-Thani. US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, especially in the global fi ght against Covid-19; and US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, enhancing educational and cultural cooperation. [email protected] Qatari Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi, and During the strategic dialogue, Secretary Pompeo 44350478 (News), Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin and Minister HE Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani signed Ahmed al-Kuwari also delivered opening remarks. an agreement designating 2021 the US-Qatar Year 44466404 (Sport), “The Third US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue of Culture. In addition, the two sides also: 44466636 (Home delivery) showcased the many areas in which the United zAnnounced an agreement between Nasa States and Qatar partner,” US Chargé d’Aff aires and Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) 44350474 Ambassador Greta Holtz commented. Qatar Energy and Environment Research facebook.com/gulftimes “The productive discussions among experts and Institute (QEERI) to formulate a study to detect leaders from our two countries over the past days underground water aquifers; twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar truly demonstrate the depth and breadth of our zAnnounced HBKU’s acceptance of two strategic bilateral relationship. We look forward US Fulbright scholars to conduct research on to building on these relationships and further hydrology and Alzheimer’s disease next semester; strengthening ties between the people of the z Signed a Memorandum of Understanding United States and Qatar.” (MoU) between Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, GULF TIMES The annual strategic dialogue process underlines and the Smithsonian Institution on educational, the commitment of Qatar and the United States cultural, and sports collaboration; to long-term co-operation on consolidating zAnnounced an upcoming MoU between the US Chargé d’Aff aires Ambassador Greta Holtz state-of-the-art defence facilities; countering Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and USAID terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms; on international development and humanitarian European eco-tax he governments of the United States and promoting regional peace and security; engaging in assistance; and Qatar held the Third US-Qatar Strategic military, commercial, and aviation co-operation; zMade an Announcement of Intent for Qatar to Dialogue September 14-15, 2020 in providing humanitarian assistance; promoting host an investment forum in the United States in TWashington, DC. US Secretary of State law enforcement collaboration; combating the 2021. proposal may push Michael Pompeo co-chaired the opening session fi nancing of terrorism; expanding trade and Qatar and the United States look forward to with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign investment relationships; supporting labour reviewing progress in these areas at the next up air travel costs Minister HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman reform; increasing public health partnerships, strategic dialogue in Doha in 2021.

Proposed new environmental taxes in Europe have brought in new challenges to the aviation sector, which is already decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Carbon taxes are among a series of measures proposed to curb aviation emissions, including an eco-tax on tickets, which obviously will jack up airfares at a time when the pandemic caused commercial air travel to come to a standstill and now at only a fraction of 2019 demand! For example in France, the Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat (CCC) – a citizens’ body created under President Emmanuel Macron – is proposing a series of measures to curb aviation emissions, including an eco-tax on tickets issued in France, to raise 4.2bn euros annually. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) estimates that if implemented the CCC proposal would lead to 150,000 job losses and cost the French economy 5-6bn euros in lost GDP. Against those economic costs, the measures would reduce emissions by 3.5mn tonnes a year, which is less than 1% of France’s total emissions. Similar proposal to levy air passenger taxes has been made in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The onset of Covid-19 has seen passenger numbers in France plunge 80% since March, while airline revenues have fallen an estimated 15bn euros, putting about 466,000 jobs at risk, according to IATA analysis. France will this year lose its position as the world’s ninth biggest travel market. An aviation tax pushes The onset of up costs and has a marginal eff ect on reducing Covid-19 has emissions. IATA analysis shows that if the tax is seen passenger introduced, for each tonne numbers in of CO2 avoided, passengers will be paying nearly $2,470. France plunge To achieve the same environmental outcome 80% since with an off setting March mechanism or an emissions Yoshihide Suga poses for a picture following his press conference at LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) headquarters, in Tokyo on September 14. trading scheme, the cost would be 100 times less, industry analysts say. Similarly, achieving the same CO2 mitigation using sustainable aviation fuels would be 10 times cheaper. This is why governments in the UN ruled against a tax Japan’s geopolitical balancing and supported a global off setting mechanism to deal with emissions from international aviation – the Carbon Off setting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). The world’s fi rst global carbon off set scheme for an act just got harder for new PM economic sector – CORSIA was agreed by governments through the International Civil Aviation Organisation By Minxin Pei President Xi Jinping, and made summit will pale in comparison with against Japan if the rapprochement (ICAO) and applies to all international fl ights. Claremont, California a diplomatic ice-breaking trip to the likely impact on Japan of two US- initiated by Abe fizzles and Suga’s Beijing in October 2018 for the first China disputes in the coming years. administration starts to collaborate It is estimated CORSIA will reduce emissions by around Sino-Japanese summit in seven First, the US will call on Japan with the US more overtly and 2.5bn tonnes over the lifetime of the scheme. apanese Prime Minister Shinzo years. With US-China relations in to tighten restrictions on key energetically in disputes over the The aviation industry says it has global commitments to Abe’s unexpected resignation free fall, Xi seized Abe’s olive branch technologies that it supplies to South China Sea. decarbonise. From 2021 the sector is committed to carbon- last month for health reasons and planned a state visit to Japan in China. But with more than $38bn One thing that could completely neutral growth, and airlines globally are working to cut the J has raised many questions April 2020, which would have been invested directly in China and wreck Sino-Japanese ties in the next sector’s net carbon footprint to half of 2005 levels by 2050. about the legacy of the country’s the first by a Chinese leader since nearly 14,000 firms operating there, 5-7 years would be the deployment longest-serving premier. One of them 2008. (The visit has been postponed Japan would find it practically of medium-range US missiles on IATA warned that a unilateral approach to reducing is whether his successor, Yoshihide indefinitely because of the Covid-19 difficult, economically ruinous, and Japanese soil. Pentagon strategists aviation’s emissions could compromise the progress that Suga, will be able to continue Abe’s pandemic.) diplomatically costly to comply in are eager to position powerful is being made globally. geopolitical balancing act as tensions But Suga will find it increasingly full with US sanctions against China. offensive weapons closer to the “Taxation aimed at stopping people from exercising between China and the United difficult to avoid taking sides in the No one knows how Suga, who Chinese mainland, and Japan is an their freedom to fl y will make travel more expensive States are continuing to escalate intensifying US-China conflict. was Abe’s cabinet secretary and ideal location. dangerously. In the short term, he will have to closest aide for the last eight years, The missiles are still in but do very little to reduce emissions. It is a politician’s The US and China are critical make a decision regarding Xi’s will be able to please the US on the development, so there is no need yet feel-good solution, without taking responsibility for the to Japan’s peace and prosperity. postponed state visit. Opposition technology issue without angering for the US to ask Japan to host them. negative impact it has on the economy or the mobility America is Japan’s security to the visit runs high within Suga’s China, or vice versa. He will certainly But once America has produced restrictions it imposes on people with lower incomes,” guarantor and second-largest Liberal Democratic Party, owing to face a much harder task than his sufficient quantities, it is hard to said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general. trading partner, while China is its the Chinese government’s recent predecessor, unless the US and China imagine that it will not press Japan largest trading partner and a next- imposition of a harsh national- somehow de-escalate their conflict. for permission to deploy them. Were door neighbour. After Abe returned security law in Hong Kong. A Suga will also have a far tougher Japan to agree, its relations with as prime minister in December made-for-TV state visit to Japan time sitting on the fence when China could face their worst crisis To Advertise 2012, he adroitly managed Japan’s would be a huge win for Xi, who is it comes to security issues. As a since the two countries restored relationships with both. eager to demonstrate that the Trump member of the so-called Quad – an diplomatic ties in 1972. [email protected] Abe went out of his way to befriend administration’s containment of Indo-Pacific security grouping Of course, none of these troubles Display US President Donald Trump, even China is failing. also including Australia, India, and are Abe’s or Suga’s fault. But they as Trump claimed that US-Japanese Chinese pressure to reschedule the US – Japan will face US calls to illustrate once again the plight of 44466621 44418811 trade was “not fair and open,” and the visit will put Suga in a bind. participate in joint naval exercises a country squeezed between two demanded that Japan quadruple its Acceding to China’s wishes would more often and on a larger scale in duelling geopolitical giants – and Classified contribution to the cost of keeping cost him political capital at home, but order to challenge China’s territorial the scale of the diplomatic challenge 44466609 44418811 American troops in the country. scrapping the visit would humiliate claims in the South China Sea. Last facing Japan’s new prime minister. – He further pleased the Trump Xi and hurt Sino-Japanese ties. The year, for example, a Japanese aircraft Project Syndicate Subscription administration by quietly banning only thing Japan’s new prime minister carrier joined US-led naval drills in the Chinese telecommunications can do is to find all the excuses he can waters claimed by China. z Minxin Pei is Professor of [email protected] giant Huawei from participating in to continue postponing the visit for China did not react strongly Government at Claremont McKenna building Japan’s 5G network. as long as possible. to Japan’s participation, owing College and a non-resident senior At the same time, Abe also In any case, tensions regarding to the two countries’ improving fellow at the German Marshall Fund of © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved cultivated ties with Chinese a largely symbolic Sino-Japanese bilateral ties. But it could lash out the United States. Gulf Times Sunday, September 20, 2020 15 PAKISTAN

Resident Pakistanis can now 12,553 cases selected for invest in USD Naya audit by tax authority Pakistan Karachi’s Saddar Bazaar balloting in the presence of FBR Shaikh also hoped that the of taxpayers are excluded from ing scientifi c approach for which Rs3,059,924,445 was collected is Pakistan’s highest tax chairman Javed Ghani and busi- FBR will continue to improve selection – those picked up for software – Risk Based Audit in taxes from 2,384 fi lers, where- paying market, at more than nessmen. its standards by providing serv- investigations by the FBR Intel- Management System” (RAMS) as from Market Estate Avenue Certifi cates Rs77bn from 72,339 tax filers The national tax numbers/ ices to both government depart- ligence & Investigations Wing, – has been designed and put in Rs6,191,036,104 was collected for the fiscal year ending in CNIC (computerised national ments and taxpayers. where income chargeable to tax place. from just 774 fi lers, and from June 2018 identity card)’s of those cases He assured the business com- under the heading of salary and/ This software empowers the The Forum Rs3,314,055,039 was Internews selected for audit have been dis- munity of his full support and or pension exceeds 50% of taxa- FBR to focus on non-compliant collected in taxes from 202 fi lers. Islamabad Internews played on the FBR website. expressed the hope that the fu- ble income, except in cases hav- taxpayers and thus facilitate Second on the list was Is- Islamabad Shaikh said that the selection ture is more promising for the ing business income. compliant taxpayers to build lamabad’s Blue Area, where of audit cases would be compu- country’s business sector. Ghani said that directors of confi dence in the audit system. Rs39,935,580,162 was collected n order to facilitate invest- terised. In order to further build up companies do not qualify for Meanwhile, the centre of from 5,854 tax fi lers, for the fi s- ment in the country, the he Federal Board of Rev- He also explained that a mini- taxpayer confi dence, two com- this exclusion. economic hub Karachi’s Saddar cal year ended in June, 2018. IState Bank of Pakistan (SBP) enue (FBR) of Pakistan mum number of cases are being mittees have been constituted All cases where the entire in- market has emerged as the high- From Lahore’s Multan Road, has allowed resident Pakistanis Thas picked 12,553 cases of selected for audit by focusing to address complaints against come is covered under Final Tax est tax-paying market in the Rs10,912,783,552 was collected who have declared assets abroad income tax, sales tax and fed- on only high-risk income tax, the FBR: a Business Committee Regime, declaration under the country, as per the data released in taxes from 17,800 tax fi lers, with the Federal Board of Rev- eral excise duty (FED) for audit sales tax, and federal excise duty to include board representa- Voluntary Declaration of Do- by the FBR. whereas, Rs4,175,140,322 was enue (FBR) to invest in USD Naya through electronic balloting. cases, so that the audit process tives and business individuals, mestic Assets Act 2018, declara- According to the Tax Direc- collected in taxes from Lahore’s Pakistan Certifi cates. Last year, 14,154 cases were can be completed appropriately and a Technical Committee for tion under the Asset Declaration tory Analysis for the Year ended Raiwind Bazaar. To do so, they need to open a selected for audit, while in 2018 and within a reasonable amount complaints about refund mat- Ordinance 2019, and federal, June 30, 2018, from Saddar mar- From Peshawar’s Karkhano Foreign Currency Roshan Dig- the number was 44,868. of time. ters that would also include rep- provincial and local government ket – one of the country’s largest Market, Rs5,274,998,666 was ital Account by visiting a branch Of the total cases selected for “This will also help in reduc- resentatives from private sector. departments, have also been ex- markets - Rs77,177,558,945 was collected from 10,417 tax fi lers. of one of the eight participating audit, 10,441 fall under the cate- ing the complaints of taxpayers FBR chairman Ghani said that cluded. collected in taxes from 72,339 The FBR said that the data has banks in Pakistan. gory of income tax, 2,065 in sales about harassment and corrup- the authority is working on the The criteria for selection of tax fi lers, for the fi scal year end- been compiled on the basis of Here is the process: tax, and 47 in FED. tion,” he said, adding that the basis of the principles of trans- cases (for all taxes) for Tax Year ed in June, 2018. registered addresses of fi lers. „ To open an account, physi- Adviser to Prime Minister exclusions in audit policy will parency, simplicity and predict- 2018 is risk-based and paramet- Among the leading taxpaying Retail outlets have been re- cally visit participating banks: on Finance Dr Hafeez Shaikh minimise the undue hardships ability. ric. markets in Karachi, from Jodia ported as per registered address The account can be opened pressed the button for electronic faced by taxpayers. He said that certain categories Cases have been selected us- Bazaar alone situated in Saddar, of head offi ce. by visiting a branch of any of the following eight partner banks in Pakistan: Bank Alfalah, Fay- sal Bank, Habib Bank, MCB, Educated Meezan, Samba, Standard Char- tered, and UBL. Second measures Security „ Follow usual process: The standard account opening Left: This picture taken on process for resident Pakistanis Covid-19 Tuesday shows principal Saba forces kill will apply. Faisal speaking with a class „ Provide tax return: of students at the Islamabad In addition to standard docu- wave Model College of Commerce four terror ments required for KYC/CDD for Girls. (Know Your Customer/Custom- er Due Diligence), the latest tax ‘unlikely’ Below: This picture taken suspects return including wealth state- earlier this week shows a ment fi led with the FBR, duly student getting his hand showing declaration/disclosure Internews sprayed with a sanitiser before Internews of assets held abroad will be re- Islamabad entering class at a school in Islamabad quired. Peshawar. „ Joint account facility: The account can be opened cross-sectional study ecurity forces shot dead jointly with another resident Pa- conducted from May to four suspected terror- kistani. AJuly at the National In- Sists during an operation in „ Feeding the account: stitute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) Awaran district of Baluchistan, The account can be fed with in Karachi reveals that there is a said a statement issued yester- remittances received from slim chance of a second wave of day by the Inter-Services Public abroad through banking chan- the novel coronavirus. Relations (ISPR). nels. Feeding from local sources The coronavirus causes the According to the ISPR state- is not allowed. Covid-19 respiratory disease. ment, security forces personnel „ Banking services: The study published by the conducted an intelligence-based All banking services allowed Oxford University Press’s Jour- operation (IBO) in Awaran, and through digital channels will be nal of Public Health is titled on confi rmation of the presence available with the account e.g. Challenges in acquiring herd of the terror suspects in central Internet/mobile banking, ATM/ immunity for Covid-19. Makran range, they took the ac- Debit cards. A total of 1,675 samples were tion. The bank may also issue a taken from three groups of the The security forces during cheque book to the account population. their operation destroyed the holder, if required. The study revealed that the suspects’ hideout, and seized a „ Investments: city is “still far from herd im- large cache of arms, ammunition The account can be used to munity after the results showed and communication equipment. invest in foreign currency-de- that overall seroprevalence in The security forces in their nominated debt securities of the the city is 36%, still far from the anti-terror campaign had re- government of Pakistan, notably 60-70 %”. cently destroyed multiple hide- the USD Naya Pakistan Certifi - Seroprevalence is the “in- outs and administrative camps cates, as well as foreign currency cidence of a disease or illness of terrorists. deposit schemes of the various within a distinct population at Right: This picture taken earlier On July 25, security forces had banks. one time”. this week shows students averted a major terrorist attack Profi t from these investments The study added that if 60% adjusting their masks as they in the province. and disinvestment proceeds can seroprevalence is acquired, in get their temperature checked The Frontier Corps Balu- also be credited in the account. next few months, then herd im- before entering class at a chistan conducted an intelli- „ Payments: munity is not far from reality. school in Karachi. gence-based operation (IBO) on Transfer and payment to any However, Dr Samreen Zaidi, suspected terrorist hideout in person within or outside Paki- who led the study, has said that Head of the NIBD Dr Tahir the Buleda area of Baluchistan’s stan is allowed. follow-up studies show that the Shamsi has also said that there Turbat district. „ Withdrawal: seroprevalence rate has reached are low chances of a second During the operation, a key Cash withdrawal is available 60%, as per expectations. wave of the pandemic. member of the proscribed or- in either foreign currency or in “We, on the basis of a gradual “The data this study shows is ganisation Baluchistan Libera- equivalent Pak Rupees. drop in cases, and other rele- as of July. We are in September tion Army (BLA) was killed. „ Full Repatriability: vant factors, assume that there now, and the latest statistics In May this year, seven sol- Funds in the accounts can are low chances of a second and testing results suggest that diers were killed and many in- be repatriated abroad anytime wave of coronavirus. However, the seroprevalence or immu- jured in two terrorist attacks in without any prior approval from assumptions are assumptions,” nity rate is almost 60% now,” Baluchistan. the SBP or the bank. Zaidi told Anadolu Agency. he said. Six soldiers were killed when their patrol vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Baluchistan’s Machh town. The improvised explosive de- vice (IED) in Pir Ghaib area of Alvi discusses issues of mutual interest with Standard Chartered Machh detonated on a Frontier Corps vehicle returning to base camp after routine patrol duty, Turkmenistan’s President Berdimuhamedov announces ‘Women leaving six personnel dead. The dead included a junior commissioned offi cer (JCO) and Alvi calls for early of the China-Pakistan Econom- in Tech’ winners a civilian driver. operationalisation of TAPI ic Corridor (CPEC), Alvi said project that the corridor would boost regional connectivity, and that Internews InTech Programme 2020. Pakistan wins stay Internews countries of the region, particu- Islamabad This year, in addition to the over $6bn penalty Islamabad larly Afghanistan and Central regular fi ve grants, the pro- Asian Republics, would tremen- gramme announced two ad- in Reko Diq case dously benefi t from its road and tandard Chartered has ditional grants for “Covid-19 resident Dr Arif Alvi has railway infrastructure. announced winners of relief-based projects”. The World Bank’s International said that important bi- He also highlighted the im- S“Women in Tech” pro- The seven businesses were Centre for Settlement of Plateral issues came under portance of the Gwadar seaport, gramme, with seven women- selected from a pool of the Investment Disputes (ICSID) discussion during his telephone which off ers shortest route to led companies winning up to top 23 teams that have been has granted a stay on the conversation with his Turkmen Turkmenistan. Rs1.5mn each in seed grants. through the #SCWomenIn- enforcement of the penalty counterpart Gurbanguly Ber- He suggested early fi nalisa- Standard Chartered Tech programme incubator for imposed on Pakistan in the Reko dimuhamedov. President Alvi tion of a memorandum of un- launched Women in Tech (SC- three months. Diq mining lease dispute. Taking to Twitter yesterday, derstanding on a sister-port re- WomenInTech) in Pakistan The seven winning compa- In a statement in Islamabad, the president said that it was a Pipeline Project, and the TAP According to a press release of lationship between the ports of last year to promote the eco- nies for 2020 are Connect Hear the off ice of attorney-general pleasure talking with Berdimu- Power Transmission lines. the President’s Media Offi ce on Gwadar and Turkmenbashi. nomic and social development of Azima Dhanjee, CreditBook for Pakistan described the hamedov. “He reminded me that we Friday, the two leaders expressed Alvi also highlighted the al- of women through innovation of ImanJamall, OrbitEd Wajiha development as a success for the On Friday Alvi exchanged both are dentists by profession, satisfaction over the existing re- leged human rights violations in or technology-led entrepre- of Habib and Naveera Waheed, country and its legal team. views with Berdimuhamedov on and that the last four alphabets lationship and emphasised the Indian-administered Kashmir. neurship. PakAgri Market of Ayesha In July last year, an international Pakistan-Turkmenistan bilat- in our title refer to our profes- need to further strengthen and Berdimuhamedov has pro- Standard Chartered, in part- Ahmed, Scaryammi of Ayesha arbitration tribunal of the ICSID eral relations, implementation sion. The talks were very sub- diversify trade, economic and posed online meetings of exist- nership with INNO Ventures Nasir, Foster Learning of Hira had slapped a near-$6bn penalty of the Turkmenistan-Afghani- stantive,” the president further energy co-operation. ing institutional mechanisms Global announced the top sev- Javaid, and Skin Deep Interna- on Pakistan for denying a mining stan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas tweeted. Underlining the signifi cance between the two countries. en winners of the SCWomen- tional of Sadaf Mohyuddin. lease to an Australian company. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, September 20, 2020 QATAR

Four food outlets Qur’anic Botanic shut in Al Rayyan Garden marks 12th anniversary with online celebration QBG was inaugurated during he Qur’anic Botanic Gar- Ramadan in 2008, by Her Highness den (QBG), the fi rst garden Tin the world to exhibit all Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, 60 plant species mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, by marked 12 years since its inaugu- planting the garden’s very first tree, ration with a special online event featuring QBG’s team with exclu- Sidra, the symbol of Qatar Foundation sive live video footage from around Al Rayyan Municipality carried out 1,557 inspection tours the garden in Education City, in- during August, with 38 violation reports issued in relation to cluding its Botanical Conservation the human food control law. Of these violation reports, 28 Centre and Botanical Museum. Abdulrahman al-Hammadi Ahmed ElGharib were resolved through reconciliation and 16 referred to the The event was moderated by competent security authorities, the Ministry of Municipality Houssameldeen Khalafalla, news- The campaign is well on track and Environment said. In the same period, 48 related room specialist, Qatar Foundation. for successfully completing the complaints were received and dealt with and four food Fatima al-Khulaifi , director of challenge, with close to 2,000 outlets were shut down for related violations. In addition, QBG, kicked off the proceedings trees already planted. some foodstuff s were destroyed for being unfit for human with a speech highlighting the nu- “QBG has been a powerful in- consumption, including 92 fully slaughtered carcasses of merous successes and milestones fl uence in cultivating a shared livestock and around 260kg of meat. Besides, veterinarians that QBG has witnessed since its sense of responsibility towards supervised the slaughter of 5,929 heads of livestock and establishment. In addition, speak- the environment in schoolchildren destroyed 23,047kg of fruits and vegetables at the Al Sayliyah ing in real time from the garden’s of all ages through its impactful market, while 15 food samples were sent to the central Botanical Museum, Abdulrahman and interactive Young Botanist, laboratory for tests. Pictured are MME inspectors at work. al-Hammadi, QBG Events & So- Food Security, and Fun and Learn cial Media specialist, elaborated educational programmes and ini- Mohamed Hassona on QBG’s many educational pro- tiatives, which focus on environ- grammes and initiatives. mental sustainability and conser- “The public has really en- His colleague, assistant re- vation,” a press statement noted. gaged with us, and the support searcher Ahmed ElGharib, ad- QBG has also organised an ar- we have received for our online dressed the audience live from ray of educational fi eld trips and events throughout the recent QBG’s Herbarium and Seed Bank workshops, where students have challenging months of Covid-19 Unit in its Botanical Conserva- been able to gain both theoreti- is deeply satisfying. In addition tion Centre, outlining the impor- cal and practical knowledge about to our many successful events, tance of environmental preser- modern agricultural techniques programmes, and campaigns, we vation. Mohamed Hassona, QBG used in Qatar and other countries. have established fruitful part- horticulturist, also presented In addition, QBG regularly nerships and collaborations with viewers with home gardening holds campaigns, events, fairs important local and internation- and seed propagation techniques and exhibitions, as well as hor- al stakeholders, including min- from QBG’s Plant Nursery. ticultural and educational pro- istries, banks, and other botanic QBG was inaugurated during grammes for the public that en- gardens around the world.” Ramadan on September 17, 2008, courage both home gardening and Additionally, in a bid to support by Her Highness Sheikha Moza natural resource preservation. the Environmental Development bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qa- Last month QBG held an in- pillar of QNV 2030, protect eco- tar Foundation, by planting the teractive webinar on the indis- systems and empower community garden’s very fi rst tree, Sidra, the pensable eff orts undertaken to members to be active contribu- symbol of Qatar Foundation. conserve the fl ora and ecosys- tors to these eff orts, QBG recently Since its inauguration, QBG tems of the Arabian peninsula. launched its free-of-charge ‘Home has emphasised Islam’s rich tra- Commenting on QBG’s anni- Garden Phone Helpline’. The ini- dition of environmental con- versary, al-Khulaifi said: “Today’s tiative enables the public to pose servation and evolved into an anniversary marks an important any home gardening questions active and constant contributor day for QBG and its dedicated directly to QBG experts by call- to Qatar National Vision 2030 team. It’s amazing to look back ing 3091 8519 every Monday from (QNV 2030). As part of its Ghars and see how many milestones we 9am-12.30pm, and every Wednes- Campaign, QBG pledged to plant have achieved since our estab- day from 12.30pm-2.30pm. 2,022 trees in the lead-up to the lishment back in 2008, and there QBG is a member of Qatar A view of Qur’anic Botanic Garden. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. is much to be proud of. Foundation. New Jaguar F-PACE: ‘Luxurious, connected, electrifi ed’

ith an assertive new exterior, beautifully Wcrafted all-new inte- rior, latest generation Pivi Pro infotainment and MHEV tech- nology, the new Jaguar F-PACE is more “luxurious, connected and effi cient”. “The new exterior design gives the award-winning F-PACE performance SUV a cleaner, more assured presence, featuring a new sculpted bon- net with a wider power bulge and smoother, more precisely defi ned surfaces. The new bonnet also contributes to a more striking fi nish by reducing the number of shutlines on the front of the car,” according to a press statement issued in Doha by Al- fardan Premier Motors Co, the offi cial retailer of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles in Qatar. An enlarged grille features Jaguar’s heritage logo-inspired ‘diamond’ detailing, while the side fender vents now feature the A view of the interior. The new Jaguar F-PACE. iconic Leaper emblem, demon- strating the exceptional atten- optimise visibility and minimise tailgate also add visual drama and Pro infotainment system. Julian ogy, which removes allergens and six-cylinder turbo, eight-speed instantly depending on conditions. tion to detail found right across risk of distracting other drivers. deliver a more confi dent appear- Thomson, Jaguar Design direc- unpleasant odours. The system automatic, AWD; and Petrol – The new F-PACE features Jag- the vehicle. A new front bumper Premium LED technology ance. tor, said: “The heightened luxury now also features PM2.5 fi ltra- 250PS 2.0-litre four-cylinder uar’s advanced Electronic Ve- with redesigned air intakes and is fi tted as standard across the The F-PACE has an all-new and attention to detail inside the tion, which captures ultra-fi ne turbo, eight-speed automatic, hicle Architecture, dubbed EVA dark mesh details visually widen range and is available with Auto interior with heightened luxu- F-PACE with seamlessly inte- particles – including PM2.5 par- AWD; and 400PS MHEV 3.0-li- 2.0, which supports a range of the new F-PACE for a more as- High Beam Assist on SE and HSE ry, enhanced connectivity and grated state-of-the-art tech- ticulates – to improve occupant tre six-cylinder e-s/c and turbo, new technologies to ensure the sured dynamic presence. models. The technology uses the greater serenity and refine- nologies ensure both driver and health and well-being. The cus- eight-speed automatic, AWD. future-ready vehicle is always New super slim all-LED quad forward-facing camera to auto- ment. The new cockpit design passengers feel a real sense of oc- tomer activates the system by Colin Kirkpatrick, chief prod- connected and always up to date. headlights with ‘Double J’ Day- matically switch between high is bolder, more dynamic and casion whenever they get in the pressing the ‘Purify’ button. uct engineer at Jaguar, said: “The To help drivers access vital time Running Light signatures, and low beam, reducing risk of with greater focus on the driver. vehicle.” Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle extensive powertrain choice in- information quickly, the new F- which are available with optional dazzling oncoming drivers. A new sporty centre console, The new Drive Selector – just (MHEV) technology is available cludes our latest Ingenium pet- PACE also features a new 12.3- Pixel LED technology, deliver Animated Directional Indica- faster in profile, sweeps up to one of the many beautiful de- on selected engines for the fi rst rol and diesel engines, which inch HD Interactive Driver Dis- increased resolution and bright- tors are also available on all mod- the instrument panel and in- tails – features an upper sec- time. All F-PACE models feature feature advanced technologies play with enhanced graphics and ness. els when fi tted as part of addi- corporates an optional wire- tion fi nished with ‘cricket-ball’ intelligent all-wheel drive and and provide the perfect blend of a confi gurable layout. With Adaptive Driving Beam tional linked options and provide less charger and greater console stitching, the lower part being eight-speed automatic trans- performance, refi nement and ef- The new infotainment system capability, which evaluates the heightened sophistication. At the stowage. made of precision-engineered missions. The full powertrain fi ciency.” features Apple CarPlay as stand- road ahead and automatically rear, new slimline lights feature At the heart of the new inte- metal for enhanced tactility. A range is as follows: Diesel-204PS All-wheel drive is standard ard and allows customers to con- adapts the high beam light to Jaguar’s double chicane graph- rior is a seamlessly integrated series of advanced technologies MHEV 2.0-litre four-cylinder across all F-PACE models and In- nect two phones simultaneously mask oncoming traffi c or traffi c ic – fi rst previewed on the all- centrally-mounted 11.4-inch ensure the health and well-be- turbo, eight-speed automatic, telligent Driveline Dynamics pro- via Bluetooth. Android Auto and signs, the system can create var- electric I-PACE – to accentuate curved-glass HD touchscreen in ing of all occupants. Cabin Air AWD; 300PS MHEV 3.0-litre vides rear-wheel drive biased per- Baidu CarLife are also available ying light beam patterns by se- the width of the vehicle. The new an elegant magnesium alloy cas- Ionisation improves interior air six-cylinder turbo, eight-speed formance, with the ability to vary as standard depending on market lecting diff erent LED segments to bumper design and sculpted new ing, which controls the new Pivi quality through Nanoe technol- automatic, AWD; 300PS 3.0-litre torque to individual axles almost applicability.