QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune tuesday QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune August 25, 2020 Muharram 6, 1442 Vol.13 no. 5034 qR 2

Fajr: 3:52 am Dhuhr: 11:36 am Asr: 3:05 pm Maghrib: 6:01 pm Isha: 7:31 pm

Business 9 Sports 13 QAFCO deal, new Bayern arrive in fine GSPA to boost IQ’s Munich to low-key High : 42°C growth: Report celebrations LOW : 33°C

Amir greets President HRW’s report on of Ukraine QNA Doha workers’ wages His Highness the Amir of State of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of congratulations to Presi- dent of Ukraine Volodymyr misleading: GCO Zelensky on the anniversary of his country’s Independ- Qatar’s labour programme protects all workers ence Day. Tribune News Network Doha Qatar, US air forces conduct Qatar has slammed the Hu- Now, job-seekers man Rights Watch (HRW) for a misleading and inaccurate re- can register joint aerial sortie port about workers’ wages. The Qatari Amiri Air Force and the US Air Forces carried out a joint aerial sortie as an expression In a statement on Monday, on Kawader of friendly relations between the two countries. A group of Rafale and Mirage aircraft of the Qatari the Government Communica- Amiri Air Force and F-15E aircraft of the US Air Forces, which recently landed at Al Udeid Air Base, tions Office (GCO) said the Hu- Qatar’s labour programme protects all participated in the sortie. The event comes within the framework of continuing military cooperation man Rights Watch, in its report workers in all stages of their employment to enhance friendship and strengthen the strategic partnership between Qatar and the US. (QNA) published on August 24, inten- tionally misled readers while cycle. The success of our approach is doing a disservice to those they evident in the achievements we have made to date claim to be assisting. and the positive impact it is having on hundreds of “The current report con- thousands of workers and those reliant on their tains repeated inaccuracies income. — The Government Communications Office around policies and does not Active COVID-19 cases drop reflectthe current situation Starting from Monday, in Qatar. Nearly all individu- interviewed in the report. A wage – the first of its kind in the the National Employment als who come to Qatar for em- backward-looking annual re- Middle East. Platform (Kawader) became ployment never experience any port does little to address the “Currently, in collaboration available for job-seekers to below 3,000-mark: MoPH form of wage abuse. There are specific challenges raised by the with the International Labour log in, register and create a few, isolated, instances where workers,” the GCO pointed out. Organization, the Wage Protec- CVs, the Ministry of Ad- Tribune News Network workers experience this is- Going forward, it said, the tion System and the Workers’ ministrative Development, Doha sue. These cases have declined government is available to Support and Insurance Fund” Labor and Social Affairs as laws and regulations have work collaboratively with Hu- are being upgraded, the GCO (MADLSA) has said. Active coronavirus (COVID-19) cases driven fundamental and lasting man Rights Watch when they noted. The platform will display dropped below the 3,000-mark for the first change,” the GCO said. have issues related to “wage The statement said Qatar’s jobs available in Qatar in time in several months in Qatar on Monday, The Human Rights Watch abuse or any other employment labour programme protects all various sectors including the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said in reached out to the government concern, as we do with other workers in all stages of their government and private its daily report. only prior to the publication of NGOs.” employment cycle. entities. The last 24 hours saw 258 more people the report, it added. It said the recommenda- “The success of our ap- The platform aims to testing positive for the virus, while 291 people “We never heard about tions put forward in the report proach is evident in the provide citizens with the op- making recovery from the disease. these issues in real time or in by HRW are already being im- achievements we have made to portunity to obtain jobs that With this, the total recoveries jumped to any of our engagement with plemented or on track to be date and the positive impact it suit their qualifications. 114,099, while the number of active cases stood them. If notice had taken place implemented. This includes is having on hundreds of thou- As a first stage, reg- at 2,973. earlier, the government would laws that have done away with sands of workers and those de- istration on the platform Sadly, a 63-year-old patient, who was re- have worked to address the No-Objection Certificates and pendent on their income,” the was open for citizens, who ceiving the necessary medical care, succumbed issues raised by the workers the introduction of a minimum GCO said. do not have jobs, to get to the virus, taking the death toll in the country nominated and look for to 194. jobs in the government and In a statement, the MoPH said all the new private sectors. In Septem- cases have been introduced to isolation and are “Unless we follow all precautionary meas- ber 2020, they will be able receiving necessary healthcare. ures, we may experience a second wave of the Trump opens QAF takes PArt in to view and choose the The MoPH urged the public to follow the virus and see the numbers increasing — there combative bid for suitable jobs. (TNN) precautionary measures to limit the spread of are already signs of that happening in other Biathlon Competition the virus. countries around the world,” it said. second term (PG 8)

Doha Metro gears up QU announces updated to resume service plan for Fall 2020 Tribune News Network infections and ensure a safe journey to all our Doha customers. We constantly work on sanitising surfaces in our stations,” it added. The Doha Metro is all geared up to resume Thermal scanners have been installed at service next month, with all COVID-19 precau- Doha Metro stations. “As a high body tem- tionary measures in place. perature is an indicator of potential infections, The Qatari Armed Forces are participating, for the first time, in Doha Metro employees have been trained thermal scanners have been installed to moni- the Military Games ‘Tank Biathlon 2020 Competition’, held in to apply precautionary measures to prevent tor the temperature of customers entering our the Russian Federation. This competition is held annually, with the spread of the coronavirus. “We have stations,” Doha Metro said. the participation of 16 countries, and will continue until Sep- ensured that our staff receives the required As many as 18,000 social distancing mes- tember 6. page 2 training to comply with National COVID-19 sages have been installed across the network. precautions,” Doha Metro said in a tweet. “We encourage social distancing — for your “Hand sanitisers have been installed across safety — and all other Doha Metro custom- all our stations to help prevent the spread of ers,” it said. The Higher Committee for Health and Safety at Qatar Univer- sity has announced an updated plan for Fall 2020 as part of the preparations for the fourth phase of reopening that is Lusail University accepts expected to start on September 1. All academic that were suspended during Spring 2020 have been reactivated and first batch of students classes will continue according to the announced Fall 2020 calendar with no changes. Lusail University has accepted the first batch of students Teaching will continue to be online except for students in its various disciplines for the Fall semester 2020. A total enrolled in some specific courses. Faculty members teaching of 833 students were accepted to join the university. More the courses will communicate directly with their students to than 3,000 students submitted applications for admission, notify them that teaching will be on campus. The courses the university said. The College of Managerial, Financial and include: Graduate studies (diploma, masters and doctoral Economic Sciences came first with 49 percent of the accepted degrees). Face-to-face teaching on campus will start on students, followed by the College of Law with 32 percent, and Tuesday, September 1. page 16 the College of Education and Arts with 19 percent. page 2 02 Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Contact US: Qatar Tribune ı EDITORIAL ı Phone: 40002222 ı ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING ı Phone: 40002155, 40002122, Fax: 40002235 P.O. Box: 23493, Doha.

Quick read Qatar Armed Forces take part in Tank Biathlon Competition

Deputy Amir congratulates president of Ukraine The Deputy Amir His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of congratulations to President of Ukraine Volody- myr Zelensky on his country’s Independence Day. (QNA) PM congratulates Ukrainian counterpart Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani on Monday sent a cable of congratulations to Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal on his country’s Independ- ence Day. (QNA) Qatar’s Embassy provides financial aid to to combat COVID-19 The Embassy of Qatar in Uzbekistan has provided financial assistance offered by Qatar Charity to Uzbekistan to help combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Ambassador (non-resident) of Qatar to Uzbekistan HE Mohammed bin Hamad Al Fuhaid Al Hajri said the aid is The Qatari Armed Forces are participating, for the first time, in the Military Games ‘Tank Biathlon 2020 Competition’ in , . The competition is held annually provided to support Uzbekistan officials’ efforts to protect people from with the participation of 16 countries, and will continue until September 6. Armed Forces’ Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Training Major-General Hamad Ahmed the COVID-19 pandemic. (QNA) Al Nuaimi and Qatar’s Military Attach to Russia Nautical Brigadier-General Mubarak Rashid Al Sulaiti attended the function. (QNA)

Qatar’s people will continue to support Lusail University receives first batch of 833 students Beirut residents, says Engineer Nuaimi LUSAIL University has re- ed students, followed by the ceived the first batch of stu- College of Law with 32 percent QNA the world and hurt Arab peo- launching many initiatives for dents in its various disciplines and the College of Education Doha ples who have historical, civili- charitable and humanitarian offered for the fall semester and Arts with 19 percent. sational and cultural ties with organisations as an expression 2020. The university will organ- Director of Doha Munici- Lebanon, as one of the most of solidarity with the Lebanese A total of 833 students ise an introductory meeting pality and Chairman of the important cultural influences people in their ordeal. were allowed to join the uni- remotely for the accepted stu- Institution of the Arab Cities in the Middle East and the He expressed confident versity out of more than 3,000 dents on September 1 for three Award Engineer Jamal Matar Arab world, it is rich cultural that the city of Beirut, through enrolment applications, repre- days. The meeting will include Al Nuaimi affirmed the soli- activities such as a free press, the efforts of its loyal people, senting 27 percent of the ap- information about the regis- darity and support of the city theatres, publishing houses, wiil overcome the ordeal and plicants, the university said in tration procedures for the new of Doha, its residents and the art galleries, museums and in- return to its effective and in- a statement. semester, the mechanism for Qatari people in general to ternational universities. fluential status in Arab, re- The admitted students organising blended learning, the city of Beirut and all its He highlighted the active gional and international sur- were selected on the basis of an introduction to the student residents, who have borne participation of the Beirut roundings. competitiveness and accord- services centre, the academic -- and are still bearing -- the Municipality, a member of The session was also at- ing to the available seats for guidance, and an introduc- consequences of the terrible the Executive Council of Arab tended by Secretary-General each college in the fall se- tory profile about the campus explosion at the Beirut port Director of Doha Municipality and Chairman of the Institution of the Towns Organization (ATO), in of Arab Towns Organization mester of 2020. The College which includes the library, recently. Arab Cities Award Engineer Jamal Matar Al Nuaimi participates in the the Arab Cities Award compe- Engineer Ahmad Al Subaih of Managerial, Financial and the medical clinic and parking Nuaimi was speaking on General Secretariat of the Organization of Arab Cities video confer- titions based in Doha, during , Mayor of Beirut Engineer Economic Sciences came first lots. Classes will begin on Sep- Monday during his partici- ence on Monday. its previous sessions. Jamal Itani, Director of Arab with 49 percent of the accept- tember 6. (QNA) pation in a panel discussion Eng Nuaimi said Qatar Towns Organization Award organised by the General Sec- support to the Lebanese peo- tures following the explosion stood by Lebanon as Qatar Issa Rashid Ali Hamad and a retariat of the Organization of ple and developing a mecha- that rocked Beirut. rushed to establish an air bridge number of heads of Arab cities Arab Cities, via video confer- nism for the reconstruction He said the painful in- to transport aid that included municipalities and heads of encing, about support for the and restoration of damaged cident shook the feelings of field hospitals and medical sup- institutions affiliated with the Doha Municipality shuts city of Beirut, providing moral historical buildings and struc- hundreds of millions around plies to Lebanon, in addition to Arab Towns Organization. three ‘Continue to follow COVID-19 precautionary measures’ CATHERINE W GICHUKI still there and people need to tect themselves, family and clinical trial and we hope to DOHA protect themselves from con- the community by wearing have this vaccine in the future tracting it. masks. but this will not happen to- Even though Qatar is gradu- “Since we are in the last “It really helps to prevent morrow,” she said. ally moving to the last phase phase of the gradual lifting infection from people hav- Dr Ajmi said to limit the of the lifting of the COVID-19 of restrictions against the ing symptoms and also those spread of the virus, all mem- restrictions, people should COVID-19, this doesn’t mean who may be infected but may bers of the society have an continue to follow the precau- we should not continue to fol- not show any symptoms – obligation to follow the ba- tionary measures to limit the low the preventive measures the asymptomatics,” Dr Ajmi sic health and infection pre- spread of the virus, a Hamad against this virus. Unfortu- said. vention measures, including Medical Corporation (HMC) nately, the virus is spread According to her, current- regular washing of hands, expert has said. everywhere. Some countries ly, there is no concluded treat- wearing of mask, keeping a Speaking via a video re- started to apply the quarantine Dr Jameela Al Ajmi ment for the virus and there- distance between two people cently, HMC Executive Di- measures because the number fore people should protect and staying at home if sick, The Health Control section of the Doha Municipality has closed three rector of Corporate Infection of cases of people infected with severe disease and large num- themselves from contracting it stressing that these will help restaurants in Doha for periods ranging from three to 30 days following Prevention and Control Dr Ja- the virus is increasing. Some ber of deaths,” she said. in the first place. in returning to normal lives an inspection carried out on food outlets in the area. The Health Control meela Al Ajmi said the virus is countries are still experiencing She urged people to pro- “Yes, we have vaccine in soon. section carried out 113 inspection tours of food establishments. (TNN)

MME launches fifth local dates festival in Lulu branches

Tribune News Network Doha

The Ministry of Municipal- ity and Environment (MME), in cooperation with the Lulu Complex, on Monday launched the fifth edition of the local dates festival week in all Lulu branches. The festival will run un- til August 30, in conjunction with the festival currently being held in Al Meera com- plexes. The inauguration was held via visual communica- tion technology in the pres- ence of Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, assistant un- Ministry of Municipality and retary for Consumer Affairs Al Khulaifi, director of Agri- member of the Qatar Cham- number of businessmen and available at various prices ac- dersecretary for Agriculture Environment; Sheikh Jassim at the Ministry of Commerce culture Affairs Department; ber; Dr Mohamed Altaf, CEO Qatari farm owners. cording to the type and grade and Fisheries Affairs at the bin Jabr Al Thani, undersec- and Industry; Youssef Khaled Mohamed Ahmed Al Obaidly, of Lulu Group Qatar, and a All types of local dates are in all branches of Lulu Mall. Nation Tuesday, August 25, 2020 03 JEM praises Qatar’s continued support for peace, stability in tribune news network stressing it will intensify co- tions between two countries. Mutlaq bin Majid Al Qahtani unifying efforts to establish mon concern for establish- Nahar said that the peace doha ordination with the parties Political Secretary of confirms the Qatari com- peace, security and stability ing permanent and compre- agreement, expected to be in conflict to remove obsta- JEM Nahar Othman Nahar mitment to supporting the in Sudan. hensive peace in Sudan”, he signed soon at the Juba ne- THE Sudanese ‘Justice and cles in the establishment of on Monday said in remarks peace process in Sudan, and “Doha Peace Agreement stressed. gotiating platform, will sig- Equality Movement’ (JEM), peace in the country. to Qatar News Agency: “The Darfur in particular.” is still present on the ground He pointed out that JEM nificantly contribute, along which is a signatory to the The movement praised visit of the Special Envoy of He added that the visit and constitutes a strong sup- introduced on Sunday in El with the Doha Peace Agree- Doha Peace Agreement, has continued Qatari endeavour the Qatari Minister of For- has taken bilateral relations port for the current peace Fasher, the second stage of ment, to establishing just, affirmed its continued sup- to establish lasting peace in eign Affairs for Combating between Qatar and Sudan to process through the Juba security arrangements in comprehensive and sustain- port to the comprehensive Sudan, noting that Qatar has Terrorism and Mediation in a new level while reinforc- negotiating platform, within accordance with the Doha able peace and enhancing peace process in Sudan, set a model in fraternal rela- Settlement of Disputes HE ing Qatar’s keen interest in the framework of the com- Peace Document. stability in Sudan. QC delivers its relief aid to flood-hit people in Somalia The package has benefited 150 families affected by Shebelle and Juba floods in Afgooye, near Mogadishu

The Weber Arch at Northwestern University in Qatar. Purple and white balloons decorate the space in preparation for NU-Q’s annual March Through the Arch. Northwestern Qatar officially welcomes largest class to date Education is a roadmap to life, Dean Marwan M. Kraidy tells the new students Tribune News Network to embrace the changes around Doha them “to adapt and find new ways to be able to get ourselves Northwestern University back on track.” Qatar’s (NU-Q) largest class to Also drawing from his life date was officially welcomed experiences, speaker E. Patrick to the school by its dean, the Johnson, dean of Northwest- Tribune News Network affected by the floods that lia, causing the destruction of president of the student union ern’s School of Communication, Doha hit last month. The baskets dozens of homes, agricultural and the dean of Northwestern’s shared life skills and values that include basic food supplies damage, large-scale displace- School of Communication. shaped his upbringing and ca- Qatar Charity (QC) has dis- sufficient for a household for ment of residents from the af- In welcoming the new class, reer. tributed food baskets to 150 a month. fected areas, especially in the Dean Marwan M. Kraidy told Johnson, who is a renowned families affected by the floods The beneficiaries have ex- Lower Shabelle, Middle Sha- the students that Northwestern scholar of ethnography and from the Shebelle and Juba pressed delight with the timely belle and Banaadir regions, in Qatar is “a magical space of en- communication, recalled an in- rivers in Afgooye, a town relief aid that contributed to addition to many parts of the counter, a special community cident from his childhood when about 30 km west of Moga- meeting part of their basic Juba regions in the south of the had implemented many relief Besides, water projects and sitting in Doha, at the conflu- he was racially discriminated dishu, the capital of Somalia. needs, thanking the benefac- country. The recurring floods campaigns for the drought relief campaigns implemented ence of continents,” where their against by his teacher who The distribution of relief tors in Qatar for extending a of the Shabelle River during and natural disaster-hit people last year for those affected by creativity can flourish and their called him a “coloured boy.” aid took place in response to helping hand in this time of ad- the rainy seasons have badly across Somalia where it has drought amounted to nearly talent will be met with support Turning to his mother for the appeal made by the So- versity and easing their sorrow. affected the lives of people in distributed assistance valued QR11.5 million, which ben- and opportunity. answers, Johnson said he came government to extend The floods have spread to several regions. at about QR6mn, benefiting efited more than 550,000 With the students begin- to understand his teacher’s re- urgent assistance to those many parts of southern Soma- Previously, Qatar Charity 119,606 people. people. ning their university career dur- marks and that he needed to ing a global pandemic, Kraidy learn to rise above them and not assured the students that “every be defined by them. crisis carries with it the seeds of In learning how to do this, renewal that the human spirit Johnson said he learned how always overcomes adversity,” to listen – whether it was to his Artists join QC to help low-income families encouraging them to seize this mother’s advice or to people he opportunity at Northwestern interviewed when researching, Tribune News Network the initiative, emphasised the im- Qatar for personal and profes- for Johnson, listening was key. Doha portance of an artist’s role in edu- sional growth, keeping their cu- “Listening,” he said, “in- cating people and delivering a mes- riosity alive as they navigate the cludes asking questions, which Several Qatari and resident visual sage to society through art. next four years as undergradu- provokes authentic exchanges artists displayed 42 different paint- Hanadi Al Darwish, an artist and ates. and deepens relationships.” ings on Qatar Charity’s (QC) website the owner of Dar Hessa, thanked Kraidy recalled turning He added that listening and social media accounts to sup- other artists who participated in points in his life where he, like “doesn’t mean being invisible or port low-income families in Qatar the imitative, pointing out that they the incoming class, had to em- taking claims at face value. In- with the profits of these paintings have a responsibility towards the brace uncertainty. For Kraidy, stead, it is occupying the space going to them. country, especially during the pan- it was the Lebanese civil war in required to develop informed This comes as part of the initia- demic. “Through our artworks, we 1989. “As the war raged on, I opinions and expertise.” tive that Qatar Charity has launched will contribute to mitigating the suf- attended classes when I could, Speaking to a class of future in cooperation with Dar Hessa to fering of the low-income families wrote papers, spent time with journalists and media profes- benefit the families with low incomes affected by the pandemic,” Darwish family and friends, and hid in sionals, Johnson urged them facing a challenging situation, espe- said. shelters when it rained fire. to broaden their networks and cially in light of the outbreak of the She added that this is the first When things got better, I was work collectively to “contribute coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. programme of Dar Hessa, which was ready to reap the harvest I had to effective lasting social and The initiative aims to raise established this year and has started sown,” he said, reminding the political change.” awareness about humanitarian and the business with a charitable pro- class to use their time wisely to He added, “Journalists are social issues, garner support to min- ject to support the affected families find their strengths and hone not the enemy of the people. On imise the negative impact of the cor- through the art. new skills. the contrary, they are the eman- onavirus on the affected and achieve For her part, Wadha Al Sulaiti, A similar message was de- cipatory voice of the people. social solidarity among the mem- another artist, was delighted to livered by Hamad Alfayhani, For the media artists, scholars, bers of society by easing the sorrow participate in the initiative for the president of Northwestern Qa- theorists and filmmakers here. of these families through meeting benefit of the low-income families, tar’s Student Union, who re- This is the space where a narra- their basic food and health needs. noting that she is taking part, with flected on his personal growth tive develops. Read between the Qatar Charity is inviting people paintings for the benefit of families Many artists, who donated all two of her artworks, in this noble hu- and encouraged the students lines, colour outside them.” and companies to purchase these with limited incomes. the proceeds of their paintings to manitarian action. DFI opens jury applications for Ajyal Film Festival 2020 Tribune News Network festival director and chief ex- tition segments – Mohaq (ages Doha ecutive officer of DFI, said: “At a 8-12), Hilal (ages 13-17) and time of uncertainty and physical Bader (ages 18-25), the Ajyal The Doha Film Institute separation, we take great pride Jurors evaluate a curated film (DFI) is accepting juror appli- in our global Ajyal community programme including feature cations from youth from Qatar and its collective belief that art films and short films appropri- and beyond for the eighth edi- and film are here to comfort and ate to their age brackets. Be- tion of its flagshipA jyal Film inspire each of us. As we reim- ing an Ajyal Juror is a highly Festival, set to take place from agine one of our annual flagship creative learning experience November 18 to 23 in a new events in and for this extraor- that instils an appreciation of hybrid format that extends dinary time, DFI is presenting cinema as well as the values of the spirit of Ajyal into a virtual an adapted festival edition that teamwork, critical thinking and space for immersive creative will continue to celebrate the leadership. expression and community. essence of Ajyal and its com- Last year more than 550 ju- Building on the immense safe event experience. discussions. at the festival and discover and a registration fee of QR50 mitment to youth development. rors of 54 nationalities served as success of the Ajyal Film Fes- DFI has invited youth DFI’s annual signature cinema not just from the per- is required to confirm interest. While we must remain respon- Ajyal Jurors, who had access to tival and its reputed jury pro- aged 8-25 years to the Ajyal event is an immersive celebra- spective of entertainment but as Participants can avail of an ear- sive to the global public health specially curated workshops, gramme that welcomes over Jury Competition programme tion of community and the a medium that can bring about ly bird discounted fee of QR150 situation, we are also hopeful daily film screenings, jury 550 jurors annually, DFI is running from November 11 to permeating power of film for positive social change. for applications received before that Ajyal’s move into the vir- discussions, opportunities to presenting an adapted festi- 23 and be part of an invalu- audiences across generations. To register for the Ajyal September 20. More informa- tual sphere will inspire an even interact with global filmmak- val edition this year with most able cultural experience and In a fun and collaborative en- Jury programme visit: https:// tion is available at the email: greater number of participants ers and a range of events and activities, including the Ajyal explore the exciting world of vironment, Ajyal Jury in three www.dohafilminstitute.com/ ajyaljury@dohafilminstitute. to benefit from this one-of-a- activities that inspire creative Competition awards, running cinema through curated film age-groups from 8 to 25 years ajyaljury. The last date for ap- com. kind cultural initiative.” interaction and stimulate cin- online to offer participants a screenings, workshops and evaluate the films showcased plications is October 31, 2020 Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Categorised in three compe- ematic dialogue. 04 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Nation QRCS surgeon performs unique tumour removal surgery in Gaza 7-kg cancerous tumour removed from a patient who had suffered eight months of dyspnea

Tribune News Network however, my family admitted cessing the veins feeding into dealt with five similar cases, Doha me to the Nasser Medical Com- the cancerous area, but the but smaller in size. plex, where I met Dr Saber Al team managed it well. We had Awad and his family were THE thoracic surgeon team at Sarfandi, QRCS’ consultant to keep calm and concentrated so happy for the success of sur- the Al-Shefaa Medical Complex thoracic surgeon in Gaza and throughout the operation to gery. Currently, he is attending in Gaza has performed a first- started the diagnosis and treat- preserve the patient’s life”. prescribed sessions of physi- STARZPLAY brings of-a-kind surgery to remove a ment”. In the post-procedure pe- otherapy. His health is now 7-kg cancerous tumour from a Dr Sarfandi said, “When riod, the patient was put under significantly better. patient who had suffered eight Awad came to us, we made intensive care for 48 hours, This surgical intervention brilliant TV, great months of dyspnea. the standard medical exami- and then was followed-up by falls under QRCS’ $1.4 million Headed by Dr Raed Al nations. X-ray showed a fluid the department of thoracic sur- project to support specialised Arini, the thoracic surgeon swelling in the right lung, and gery. A new biopsy was taken surgeries in Gaza, which covers movies closer to hired by Qatar Red Crescent then, the CT scan revealed a and sent to the pathological lab many specialisations, including Society (QRCS), the team man- large tumour”. Under medi- to identify the type of cancer. cardiothoracic, vascular, ortho- aged to save the patient’s life cal cooperation, Dr Arini was Dr Raed Al Arini As the vital signs of the pa- pedic and urologic surgeries. Visa cardholders and put a smile on his family’s contacted to perform the sur- tient were stable, he was dis- Also, it involves local pro- face. gery at the Al-Shefaa Medical cal team of X-ray, anesthesia, charged from hospital to start grammes on clinic pharma- Tribune News Network Hamdan Awad (63), a resi- Complex, with all the data of and surgical specialists, and a new life, after too much pain cology and advanced training Doha Available only for a lim- dent of Rafah, southern Gaza, the case reported. the health conditions were re- and fear. in minimally invasive surgery ited period, Visa card- said he had felt severe pain, fa- After extra medical exami- ported to the management. According to Dr Arini, (MIS). Other components of STARZPLAY, the leading holders who subscribe tigue and weight loss. “At first, nations, Dr Arini explained, “After the 4-hour surgical the surgery was a remarkable the project include supporting video-on-demand (SVOD) to STARZPLAY for the I was reluctant to go to hospi- it was found that the patient operation, the medical team medical achievement, as such MA in Health Management, subscription service in the tal for treatment, out of fear of needed a surgical intervention successfully removed the tu- cases were typically referred Diploma of Anesthesia and MENA region, has part- first time can benefit the coronavirus”, he stated. “As to remove the tumour. The mour, which weighed around for treatment out of Gaza. Ac- Intensive care, and phenylke- nered with Visa, the world’s from a 20 per cent dis- the pain became more terrible, case was discussed by a medi- 7 kg. There was a difficulty ac- cording to him, he had already tonuria (PKU) patients. leading digital payment count on their monthly provider, to offer cardhold- subscription ers an exclusive monthly subscription offer. Available only for a for MENA for Visa. “With DI holds ‘Forsa’ training MoCI recalls Triumph Tiger limited period, Visa card- more people adapting to the holders who subscribe to new social distance lifestyle STARZPLAY for the first and spending more time at programme to hone Arab 1200 XCA, Speed Triple RS time can benefit from a 20 home, this offer shows how % discount on their monthly we adapt and tailor our pro- subscription. Offering ad- motions to the post-COV- youths’ leadership skills & Street Triple RS models ditional value-added and ID-19 standard so that we The Ministry of Commerce that dealers follow up on vehicle seamless redemption, new can continue to deliver rel- Tribune News Network tiatives. and Industry, in cooperation with defects and repairs. subscribers can enjoy the evant offers and experiences Doha The second course titled ‘Technology Alfardan Motorcycles, dealer of The ministry said that it will best of regional and global to our cardholders.” and youth identity’ touched on the most Triumph Motorcycles in Qatar has coordinate the maintenance and programming at any time, New subscribers who THE Excellence Center for Training and important technological developments to announced the recall of Triumph repair work with the dealer and anywhere and from any de- sign up for a monthly STAR- Consulting at the Doha Institute for Grad- save time and support innovative creative Tiger 1200 XCA, 2019-2020 Speed will communicate with customers vice on STARZPLAY alone. ZPLAY subscription to the uate Studies (DI) and Silatech have suc- thinking whereas the third course ‘Create Triple RS and 2018-2020 Street to ensure that they have completed Danny Bates, Chief website or to the STAR- cessfully completed ‘Forsa’ programme your job’ focused on a set of innovative Triple RS models due to the possi- the necessary repairs. Commercial Officer and ZPLAY app may benefit that aimed at building leadership skills jobs and jobs that were cancelled during bility of cleavage in the front brake The ministry urged all custom- co-founder of STARZPLAY from the discount during of the Arab youth and strengthening their Covid-19, and how to deal with the labour pad, which may lead to the detach- ers to report any violations to its said: “Offering the best en- the two-month promotion roles within society. market. ment of the front brake. Consumer Protection and Anti- tertainment and making period. Subscribers can con- Over 2,400 trainees from 18 countries Dr Sahn added that the fourth course The recall campaign is part of Commercial Fraud Department, it easily accessible to sub- tinue to take advantage of including Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Mo- titled ‘Leader in a different time’ dealt the ongoing efforts of the Ministry which processes complaints, in- scribers has been our goal the offer for as long as they rocco, , , , Lebanon, with the concept of leadership and ap- to protect consumers and ensure quires and suggestions. (TNN) from the outset. Partnering pay a monthly STARZPLAY Palestine, Sudan, Egypt, Guinea, Mau- propriate decision-making mechanisms, with a global brand such as subscription via their Visa ritania, Oman, , Benin, Iraq, and whereas the ‘Positive youth leadership’ Visa reiterates our commit- card-with the best Holly- Libya participated in the programme. course reviewed leadership and positiv- ment to provide convenient, wood and Arabic titles, all Many national and international en- ity, how youth positivity overrides nega- flexible and secure access to on one platform. tities also participated in ‘Forsa’ com- tivity, and ways to exploit psychological MoCI recalls Hyundai Santa our diverse content library. With more than 10,000 prising: Ministry of Administrative De- capital. We are confident that the hours of premium content velopment Labour and Social Affairs, The last training course was ‘Post- Fe (CM) models of 2005-09 incredible offer will further including blockbuster mov- International Labor Organization (ILO), pandemic entrepreneurship’, which enhance the value of Visa ies, exclusive TV shows, Cisco, UNICEF, Ministry of Education and demonstrated leadership skills and how The Ministry of Commerce and The recall campaign is part of cardholders who can enjoy children’s content and Ara- Higher Education, Qatar Medical, Kah- individuals manage their situations to Industry, in cooperation with the ongoing efforts of the Ministry our high-quality premium bic series, STARZPLAY is ramaa and Ministry of Culture and Sports. become entrepreneurs. Skyline Automotive, Hyundai to protect consumers and ensure content while benefiting the number one player in Dr Farid El Sahn, director of the Ex- A meeting was held at the end of the dealer in Qatar has announced that car dealers follow up on vehi- from the exclusive offer. the MENA region. The ser- cellence Center for Training and Consult- training with representatives of ILO and the recall of Hyundai Santa Fe cle defects and repairs. “We are pleased to part- vice is available to fans in 20 ing at DI, said that ‘Forsa’ programme the Ministry of Administrative Develop- (CM) manufactured between The ministry said that it will ner with STARZPLAY to countries across the Middle covered six diverse training courses, ment Labor and Social Affairs to famil- March 16, 2005 and September coordinate the maintenance and offer this exclusive offer East, North Africa and Paki- starting with ‘Youth empowerment strat- iarise participants with the rights and 22, 2009, due to the fact that repair work with the dealer and to Visa cardholders in the stan to enjoy quality content egies’ course to instill the principles of responsibilities associated with employ- some vehicles may experience will communicate with customers region,” said Kalika Trip- at any time, anywhere and loyalty, belonging and love of the home- ment in international and local institu- electrical shortness of power on to ensure that they have completed athi, Head of Marketing from any device. land and to work on important youth ini- tions. the ABS / ESC module. the necessary repairs. (TNN) McDonald’s Qatar launches its first ‘Rice Meal’ Meal consists of three layers of basmati rice, crispy chicken and gravy sauce

Tribune News Network Doha

McDonald’s Qatar, based on demand from its dedicated customers, has introduced its first authentic ‘Rice Meal’ with a signature Gravy sauce that complements its Crispy Chicken. Since rice is a staple food for the majority of Qatar’s di- verse population, McDonald’s Qatar ‘Rice Meal’ will cater to the specific taste buds of the residents and expats and their families alike with the per- The new offering comes in combination meals that include one or two pieces of crispy, golden brown, tender and juicy chicken served with yellow or fect combo of rice with Crispy white steaming rice and signature Gravy sauce. Rice and Gravy sauce can also be ordered on ala carte basis. Chicken and Gravy sauce. Each portion of the rice Health’s (MoPH) protocols. our customer demand. Cus- and face covers for all staff, all McDonald’s employees and gravy meal consists of The new offering comes tomer satisfaction is our main mandatory and frequent hand and customers are always at three substantial layers of in combination meals that goal, and we are confident that washing, provision of alcohol- the core of everything we do. yellow or white basmati rice, includes one or two pieces of our new Rice and Gravy offer- based hand sanitiser for staff Which is why we have en- Crispy Chicken and Gravy crispy, golden brown, tender ing will resonate well with our and customers, enhanced hanced our hygiene and safety sauce which is loved by the and juicy chicken served with customers.” cleaning of all areas from the measures of social distancing, majority of the population in yellow or white steaming rice As per the protocol and door handles to kiosks; con- including face covering, gloves Qatar. and signature Gravy preventive measures stipu- tact-free ordering, contactless and wellness checks at all our Launched across all Mc- sauce. Rice and Gravy lated by the MoPH and the payment at every , branches and all times,” Abu- Donald’s Qatar outlets, the sauce can also be ordered on Ministry of Commerce and and ensuring proper social Nasser added. ‘Rice Meal’ was presented ala carte basis. Industry (MoCI), McDonald’s distancing. McDonald’s Qatar Customers can also order during a special event held McDonald’s Qatar General Qatar has been following a set has been running restaurants online from the comfort of at the Town Center branch, Manager Mithqual AbuNasser of enhanced safety measures at 50 percent capacity and their homes or offices through with social distancing and all said, “Being a consumer-cen- that includes temperature keeping two-metre distance the McDelivery app, Talabat, the safety measures in place tric brand, we are happy to and ‘Ehteraz’ checks at all res- between tables. Rafeeq, Carriage, Fingertips, as per the Ministry of Public present a product that meets taurants, provision of gloves “The health and safety of Snoonu and Trackoo. Middle East / Africa Tuesday, August 25, 2020 05 Guards say three US-linked infiltrators killed Iran’s presidential election set for June 18, 2021 Tehran Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Monday that its forces killed three gunmen with Tehran Iran’s presidential election will be on June 18, 2021, the Interior Ministry announced on Monday. links to the United States who tried to infiltrate its territory in the country’s far northwest. Given the coronavirus crisis, it remained unclear how the election campaign and voting could take News “Last night, a counter-revolutionary terrorist group... got caught up in an intelligence web place, said Jamal Araf, head of the electoral office, part of the Interior Ministry. of (Guards) fighters in the Maku public area,” the Guards’ Sepahnews website reported. The Foreign Ministry would gather information from countries that also conducted elections during the in brief The Guards said the armed group was “affiliated with the global arrogance”, a term the pandemic, Araf said, according to news agency ISNA. Islamic republic uses for its arch enemy the United States. After two terms in office, President Hassan Rowhani cannot stand for re-election. They said the group had “intended to penetrate deep into our country” but added that Monitors expect a three-way competition between candidates from the reformers, conservatives and all three were killed during clashes. (AFP) hardliners. (DPA)

Algeria’s presidency Libya’s Haftar labels GNA ceasefire announces constitutional referendum for announcement a stunt November 1 AFP AFP Benghazi UN in Libya urges probe after Algiers violence at protest A spokesman for eastern Libyan Algeria will hold a promised strongman Khalifa Haftar has Tripoli The UN mission testers in one of the capital’s referendum on a revised con- slammed a ceasefire announce- to Libya on Monday urged streets. stitution on November 1, the ment by the rival Government the Government of National Ayman al-Wafi, a young office of President Abdelmad- of National Accord (GNA) as a Accord (GNA) to conduct an man in his twenties who at- jid Tebboune announced on media stunt, accusing it of pre- “immediate and thorough in- tended the protest, told AFP Monday evening. paring a new offensive. vestigation” after violence at a that demonstrators had left After “consultations with Libya’s warring rival ad- protest in Tripoli a day earlier. Tripoli’s Martyrs’ Square after the parties concerned, it was ministrations announced sepa- Hundreds gathered in the “security forces started firing decided to set the date of 1 No- rately on Friday that they would capital on Sunday evening in the air”. vember 2020 for the holding of cease all hostilities and hold to protest deteriorating living Angered by chronic water, the referendum on the draft re- nationwide elections, drawing conditions and denounce cor- power, and petrol shortages in vision of the Constitution”, the praise from the UN, the EU and ruption in the war-torn country, a country with Africa’s largest presidency said. several Arab countries. before security personnel fired proven crude oil reserves, That date also marks the The surprise declaration into the air to disperse them, the mostly young people had anniversary of the start of Al- followed multiple visits by top witnesses said. marched through the city cen- geria’s 1954-1962 war for inde- foreign diplomats to Libya in “UNSMIL calls for an im- tre chanting slogans including pendence from France. recent weeks, and came after a mediate and thorough investi- “No to corruption!” Tebboune came to power in series of agreements and pledg- gation into the excessive use Interior Minister Fathi a presidential election last De- es that, however, have failed to of force by pro-GNA security Bashagha called those cember after an unprecedented be implemented. A file photo shows members of the self-proclaimed eastern Libyan National Army (LNA) special forces in personnel in Tripoli yesterday responsible for the violence months-long protest move- Friday’s statements were Benghazi. (AFP) which resulted in the injury of “outlaws who infiltrated the ment that had forced longtime signed by Fayez al-Sarraj, head a number of protesters,” the security forces” supervising president Abdelaziz Bouteflika of the UN-recognised GNA, beaten back. charged that “pro-GNA forces Later on Saudi television UN mission said in a state- the protest. to resign the previous April. based in the capital Tripoli, Fighting has stalled around intend to attack our units in channel Al-Hadath, Mesmari ment, without specifying how The interior ministry on Even official figures put and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the central Mediterranean port Sirte and Al-Jufra and then ad- appeared to tone down his re- many people were wounded. Sunday evening said in a turnout in the poll at less than the eastern-based parliament of Sirte, the gateway to Libya’s vance towards the ‘oil crescent’” marks, denying Haftar’s side Videos and photographs statement that the men “do 40 percent. backed by Haftar. eastern oil fields and export ter- further east. had rejected the ceasefire but circulating on social media not belong to the security forc- The demonstrations only However, Haftar’s spokes- minals, and to the key Al-Jufra “In the past 24 hours, we claiming the GNA’s statement showed men in military attire es” and would be arrested. petered amid the social dis- man Ahmed al-Mesmari said airbase to the south. have observed Turkish ships had been “written by Ankara”. aiming their guns towards pro- (AFP) tancing necessitated by the late Sunday in video message Turkey and Qatar have and frigates advance towards Haftar made no mention of coronavirus early this year. that the GNA statement is backed the GNA, while the Sirte,” he added, warning that the statement from parliament Tebboune, formerly a “media marketing... The truth United Arab Emirates, Egypt “we will retaliate against any speaker Saleh. militias have been vying for fire announcement, German prime minister under Boutef- is what is happening on the and Russia support Haftar, hostile act”. Oil-rich Libya was thrown power ever since, increasingly Foreign Minister Heiko Maas lika, has since taking office ground”. who is also suspected of receiv- Sirte lies roughly halfway into chaos after veteran dictator drawing in foreign countries warned of a “deceptive calm” in sought a constitutional refer- Haftar launched an offen- ing French backing. between Tripoli in the west and Moamer Kadhafi was ousted in and threatening the region’s Libya and that outside powers endum, ostensibly as an an- sive to seize Tripoli from the Mesmari, showing a map Libya’s second city Benghazi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. stability. were “continuing to massively swer to the popular protest GNA in April 2019, but was of the region around Sirte, the east. Rival administrations and Last week, before the cease- arm the country”. movement.

No deal in Mali talks on return to civilian rule, say negotiators AFP The August 18 coup triggered “There were discussions on both Bamako shockwaves among Mali’s neigh- sides, given that at this stage noth- bours, fearing that one of the re- ing has been set down, nothing has Talks between West African na- gion’s most volatile countries would been decided, and that as far as we tions and Mali’s new junta ended spiral into chaos. are concerned, the final architecture on Monday without a deal on how ECOWAS -- the 15-nation Eco- of the transition will be discussed the country should return to civilian nomic Community of West African and defined by us,” said the junta’s rule following last week’s coup, the States -- sent a high-level delegation spokesman, Colonel Ismael Wague. two sides said. to Bamako on Saturday, led by for- Jonathan said: “We have agreed Separately, they also said that mer Nigerian president Goodluck on a number of issues, but there ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Jonathan, to press its demands for are some issues that we have not Keita -- whose return to office had the “immediate return to constitu- agreed. So on those issues we told been initially demanded by the re- tional order.” the military officers the thinking of gional bloc ECOWAS -- no longer The talks have focussed on the ECOWAS and we asked them to go wished to resume duties. transition to civilian rule. and review.”

Hamas urges Mideast leaders to press over Gaza blockade

AFP Jerusalem

As US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo started a Middle East tour in Israel on Monday, Islamist group Hamas called on regional leaders to “break their silence” on Israel’s block- ade of Gaza. Israel has bombed the coastal Palestinian strip, which is ruled by the group, almost daily since August 6, while balloons carrying fire bombs and, less frequently, rocket fire have hit Israel from Gaza. In retaliation for the balloon at- tacks and the widespread blazes A Palestinian observation point (R) is seen along the border between the Gaza on farms and scrubland they have Strip and Israel near the southern Israeli Kibbutz Nir Am, on Monday.(AFP) caused, Israel has tightened its 13- year blockade of Gaza’s two million against the Palestinians. arson balloons were launched from inhabitants. Pompeo touched down in Tel the Gaza Strip into Israel,” an army It has banned Gaza fishermen Aviv Monday morning to kick off a statement said. from going to sea and closed its goods five-day trip to the Middle East. “In response ... fighter jets, crossing with the territory, prompt- His visit will focus on Israel’s and aircraft struck military posts and ing the closure of Gaza’s sole power normalising diplomatic ties with the underground infrastructure” belong- plant for want of fuel. UAE, seen as a betrayal by many ing to Hamas in the southern Gaza Hamas in a statement called the Palestinians, and urging other Arab Strip, it said. closure of the Kerem Shalom cross- states to follow suit. Earlier Monday On Thursday night, Gaza mili- ing a “crime against humanity” and the Israeli army said it had again hit tants fired a dozen rockets at Israel, called on the international commu- Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip over- which responded with air strikes on a nity and “decision-makers in the re- night, in retaliation for incendiary rocket-manufacturing plant and un- gion” to “break their silence to bring balloon and rocket attacks launched derground infrastructure. an end” to the blockade. from the Palestinian enclave. Egypt has acted to calm repeated Hamas also said that the normal- An Egyptian delegation has been flare-ups of violence in recent years isation of relations between Israel trying to broker a return to an infor- to prevent any repetition of the three and the United Arab Emirates helps mal truce. wars Israel and Hamas have fought “maintain crimes and violations” “During the day, explosive and since 2008. 06 Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Established September 3, 2006 hamad bin suhaim al thani chairman Opinion adel ali bin ali managing director dr hassan mohammed al ansari editor-in-chief

Biden’s Calm Nomination Acceptance Caps A Unifying Are Schools In Democratic Convention The Ready In his speech, Trump’s challenger convincingly portrayed himself as both a progressive innovator To Open In A Pandemic? and an advocate of civility and compromise N accepting the Democratic presidential porters of Senator Bernie Sanders felt about a The Duterte government must get its act together now that the start nomination, Joe Biden decisively debunked nominating process they thought was rigged Ithe accusation by President Donald Trump in favour of Hillary Clinton. The party seemed of the school year in the country is again delayed that he is “sleepy” or mentally impaired. His much more unified this week. speech may not have been soaring oratory, but An obvious reason for solidarity is the Mong Palatino it was a self-assured and sobering address. It knowledge about what another four years of Tribune News Service combined a withering indictment of the man Trump the White House would mean for the he referred to disdainfully as “the current oc- country. In a devastating dissection of Trump’s HE Philippine government’s decision cupant of the White House” with a promise to presidency, former President Barack Obama to again postpone the opening of pub- “choose hope over fear, facts over fiction, fair- said in his speech to the convention that Trump lic schools from August 24 to October ness over privilege.” has “shown no interest in putting in the work; 5 reflects the difficulties it is encoun- Biden’s overarching emphasis was on no interest in finding common ground; no in- tering in addressing the impact of the the urgency of replacing a president who has terest in using the awesome power of his office TCOVID-19 pandemic. “cloaked America in darkness for much too to help anyone but himself and his friends.” When COVID-19 lockdowns were im- long” and failed to deal competently with a Biden made that point even more bluntly posed in March across the country, classes pandemic that has upended the economy. in his acceptance speech: “What we know in most schools were already ending. Thus, Character, compassion and decency, he said, about this president is if he’s given four more the disruption caused by the pandemic to were on the ballot; much of the convention had years, he’ll be what he’s been for the last four the learning of most students was minimal. been spent demonstrating those qualities in years, a president who takes no responsibility, As the public health crisis intensified, Biden. Invoking Franklin Delano Roosevelt, he refuses to lead, blames others, cozies up to dic- the traditional June opening of classes was also promised to harness the power of govern- tators and fans the flames of hate and division.” moved to August. This was seen by almost ment to improve the lives of Americans, includ- But Biden also benefits from a decision all stakeholders as necessary to ensure ing young people who know only an America of to move closer to positions championed by the safety of students, teachers, and other rising inequality. the party’s progressives. He may not have school personnel. But they also expected The former vice president thus evoked the embraced Sanders’ signature proposal, that the government would use the post- two themes of the party’s virtual convention. ‘Medicare for All’, but as the Vermont sena- ponement to strategise and implement One was the moral and political imperative of tor acknowledged, Biden “has a plan that will programmes that would make it possible to ending the misrule of the ever more unhinged greatly expand health care and cut the cost of resume classes without triggering further and erratic incumbent. The other was a com- prescription drugs.” COVID-19 outbreaks. mitment to tackle racial and economic inequi- Beyond health care, Sanders noted, Biden During several Congress and Senate Teachers highlighted the failure of the munication towers to extend services to ties that have been thrown into shocking relief has endorsed a $15 minimum wage and 12 hearings in the past three months, lawmak- government to conduct mass testing, the all those in need. by the coronavirus pandemic. weeks of paid family leave. And in her speech ers expressed concern about the readiness lack of contact tracing teams in communi- COVID-19 did not create the school woes In addition to devoting substantial air- to the convention, Senator Elizabeth War- of the Department of Education (DepEd) ties, and the shortage of health care work- that are under discussion today, but the vi- time to portraying Biden as an empathetic, ren of Massachusetts, another stalwart of the in transitioning to a blended type of learn- ers who can provide assistance to schools. rus has made it more urgent to resolve these honourable figure — the anti-Trump — Dem- party’s progressive wing, noted that Biden also ing, which would entail continuous training, They raised these issues to press for the problems before they further undermine the ocrats used the convention to deliver a pair of has committed to making child care affordable procurement of new learning materials, and further postponement of school openings. education of Filipino children. messages to the two flanks of the party. For for every family. Even as he promised to push installation of broadband connections. They were joined by legislators and local Meanwhile, many colleges and universi- younger and more progressive voters, there for these and other progressive policies, Biden In response, DepEd assured legisla- leaders who are worried that DepEd will ties, which are mostly privately owned, have were powerful pronouncements about the has made it clear that he isn’t endorsing every tors and the public that the government be overwhelmed with an unmanageable started classes despite the fear that many importance of voting and the need to con- agenda item of the party’s left wing. And, like was all set for the August start of classes. crisis if it continues to insist on opening students from poor families will be left be- front systemic racism and income inequal- the four-day convention, Biden’s speech was It insisted that teachers have been ad- schools in August. hind. Students whose parents lost jobs and ity, along with the inclusive pitch by Senator light on policy specifics; the emphasis was on vised about innovative teaching strate- On August 14, Duterte finally directed livelihoods during the pandemic might be Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, who goals and values, not how to achieve them. gies, internet access is being improved, DepEd to prepare for an October opening forced to drop out. Some groups argued that spoke of a “beloved community — where all That won’t prevent Trump from ascribing and modules are set for distribution. of classes. it might be better to adopt an “academic are welcome, no matter what we look like, to Biden positions he has never taken and ac- Nevertheless, some senators con- This new postponement confirms what freeze” instead of allowing schools to oper- where we come from, or who we love.” cusing his campaign of being a Trojan horse tinued to pinpoint glaring gaps in the many have been asserting about the sluggish ate while the pandemic is still raging. For older voters, there were reassurances for city-burning, police-defunding socialists. DepEd plan for the opening of classes. preparation by DepEd and the Duterte gov- But this controversial proposal was also — including from John Kasich, the former Re- On Thursday, Trump said that Biden is “a pup- For example, they aired concerns that the ernment when it comes to reorienting the rejected since it might do more harm to publican governor of Ohio and 2016 presiden- pet of the radical left movement that seeks to digital divide will lead to further exclu- school system under the “new normal.” young people whose right to education will tial candidate — that Biden isn’t a fire-breath- destroy the American way of life.” sion. Lawmakers are not convinced that Before COVID-19, many schools were be denied to them. ing radical. Alluding to one of specters raised In his acceptance speech, Biden convinc- the slow and unreliable internet access in barely coping with meager funding, in- The postponement of the new school by the Trump campaign, Kasich said that while ingly portrayed himself as both a progressive the country can be fixed in time for the adequate facilities, and high enrollment year until October has given space to the some “fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave innovator and an advocate of civility and com- scheduled start of the new school year. rates. It is feared that the pandemic will DepEd and the Duterte government, which them behind,” he didn’t believe that “because I promise. In the coming campaign Trump can While this debate was taking place, the exacerbate these problems, which critics is scrambling to revive many sectors of the know the measure of the man.” be counted on to twist Biden’s words and ac- COVID-19 situation deteriorated. By early blame on years of under-investment in falling economy. There is admittedly some tension between tions in a desperate attempt to cling to an office August, the Philippines topped the ranks of public education. In the end, the government has to make these two messages — a return to normalcy he has disgraced. Biden and his fellow Demo- positive cases in the Southeast Asian region. Another big obstacle is poor inter- itself accountable for whatever will happen and a new progressivism — but the party was crats effectively used their convention to tell President Rodrigo Duterte and his team net infrastructure in non-urban regions once classes start in October. If the govern- right to try to harmonise them and it seems to voters who their nominee actually is, but as the were accused of bungling the government’s of the country. If DepEd aims to rely on ment messes up the education of millions of have succeeded. The 2016 Democratic conven- campaign moves forward, he will need a united COVID-19 response. the internet for distance learning, this students, the backlash might not just doom tion was haunted by the resentment that sup- party to keep reminding them. Will they perform better in overseeing will require extra spending not just on the electoral chances of the ruling party in the start of schooling while struggling with gadgets and workshops for educators, 2022 but could also threaten the future of (Tribune News Service) the pandemic solution? but also massive construction of com- Duterte’s presidency.

Turkey & Greece: The Law Of The Sea Offers A Peaceful Solution The Greco-Turkish maritime standoff will neither go away, nor be resolved without diplomacy and dialogue

This lack of clarity has contrib- forts aimed at shoring up their dangers, on August 12 one of the science have removed much of the avoiding further instability in the uted to frictions for decades, and respective maritime claims. The Turkish warships escorting the guesswork – and therefore much Eastern Mediterranean, and the not just over Kastellorizo. In fact, Turks have signed a Memoran- Oruc Reis was involved in a minor of the risk – from negotiated mari- UN has invested significant time the two countries claim Exclu- dum of Understanding on EEZs collision with a Greek frigate sent time settlements. It is this “by-the- and effort in several attempts to sive Economic Zones (EEZs) that with Libya (November 17, 2019), to shadow the survey. book” approach that Greece and broker a solution for the overlap significantly, casting a pall while the Greeks have signed an Not all the news is bad, though, Turkey need to latch onto in order facet of the Greco-Turkish dispute. over any plans to fully exploit the EEZ agreement with Egypt (Au- mainly because despite the long- to further their respective inter- Apart from the maturation of resources beneath the waves. As a gust 6, 2020). Neither of these standing enmity between Greece ests while simultaneously meeting the technologies and legal prec- result, unless and until both coun- pacts has been ratified, however, and Turkey, the means to resolve their obligations, as UN member edents that have empowered a tries are fully prepared to resolve which means they are not yet in their dispute are readily available. states, to resolve disputes peace- “by-the-book” approach, not to their differences peacefully, crises force. Even if and when ratifica- The United Nations Conven- fully. Their differences are real and mention the economic benefits like the current one will keep re- tion does take place, it remains tion on the Law of the Sea (UNC- some of the details are complex, that both countries stand to gain curring, each time increasing the to be seen whether the pacts will LOS) lays down a comprehensive but the principles of LOS consti- from being free to exploit their re- odds of an actual shooting war. be deposited with the United Na- set of rules for the fair and equi- tute a proven solution, so much sources, there is another reason to The stakes have been made tions Division for Ocean Affairs table resolution of such disputes, so that they have played a central be optimistic that a sincere push Roudi Baroudi exponentially higher in recent and the Law of the Sea (DOA- and over time those rules have, role in each of the last two dozen for peace would be successful at years, mainly by the discovery of LOS), to which coastal states effectively, become part of inter- resolutions of maritime disputes this time. REECE and Turkey are at it major hydrocarbon deposits at typically entrust their boundary national law. This means that even via arbitration, court verdict, or in- This is not the time for heated again, playing a dangerous several locations across the East- treaties for wider dissemination. countries which are not party to ternational treaty. rhetoric and aggressive naval pos- Ggame of brinkmanship over the ern Mediterranean. Some observ- Therefore, while these bilateral UNCLOS can (and do) invoke the This problem will neither go turing. The mechanisms for an eq- Greek island of Kastellorizo, which ers warn that relations between documents can be used to regu- treaty’s principles in all manner of away, nor be resolved without uitable solution are within reach. lies just 2 kilometres off the Turk- the two are at their lowest since late interactions between their interactions, including proceed- diplomacy and dialogue. The sta- Greece and Turkey need to com- ish coast. The two countries have 1974, when Turkish forces in- respective “pairs of signatories”, ings before international courts, tus quo is highly unstable, and mit to a peaceful process and stick long been at odds over the island, vaded Cyprus following a Greek it remains to be seen whether and arbitration processes, and both neither side can impose its will their proverbial guns until they and the current standoff relates to Cypriot coup aimed at uniting the how they can be reconciled with bi- and multilateral diplomacy. on the other, at least not without achieve an agreement, and their al- the dispatch of a Turkish survey island with the military junta then the delineations claimed by their What is more, recent technologi- incurring unacceptable losses in lies need to help them do it. vessel, the Oruc Reis, to search for holding sway in Athens. other neighbours. cal advances have revolutionised blood and treasure. subsea oil and gas in the area, but Instead of engaging in produc- For all these reasons, the need the precision with which disputed Such requests are very likely to (Roudi Baroudi is CEO of the tensions stem ultimately from tive dialogue with each other, both to end these periodic rolls of the areas – on land or at sea – can be find receptive audiences. Both the Energy and Environment the absence of a maritime bound- Athens and Ankara have been en- dice grows more urgent every day. defined and delineated. United States and the European Holding, an independent ary treaty between the two sides. gaged in parallel diplomatic ef- As if to underline the attendant Together, then, the law and the Union have vested interests in consultancy based in Doha)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Asia / World Tuesday, August 25, 2020 07 Taliban team in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan officials AFP the process remains bogged ence. change, Kabul has released dullah, who is leading the Islamabad down over a controversial pris- Qureshi said Islamabad about 4,680 insurgent detain- Afghan government’s peace oner swap. had invited the Taliban to Pa- ees while the Taliban says it process, called for the prisoner Pakistan has invited key Both sides have fought for kistan to stress the importance has freed 1,000 members of exchange to be wrapped up. Taliban negotiators to its capi- nearly two decades in a con- of talks, saying negotiations Afghan security forces, broad- Tensions remain high be- tal to push for peace talks to flict that has left tens of thou- were the “the only way for- ly fulfilling an agreement tween Islamabad and Kabul, end the conflict in neighbour- sands of people dead. ward” in Afghanistan. outlined in a deal reached be- with the administration of ing Afghanistan, Islamabad’s “The delegation is in Is- “This is for Afghans to rec- tween the US and the Taliban. President Ashraf Ghani fre- foreign minister said Monday. lamabad and we will have oncile, and our task is that of But the swap has stumbled quently lashing out at Pakistan The Taliban and the Afghan a round of talks with them facilitator,” he added. over the final few hundred for allegedly sheltering, fund- government had signalled they tomorrow as part of efforts “The main objective is prisoners, with Kabul reluc- ing and supplying the Taliban. were prepared to start talks aimed at (building) mutual to secure peace and the next tant to release what it says are Pakistan, which was one of immediately after the Muslim confidence,” Pakistan’s for- phase should be the start of dangerous Taliban fighters only three countries to recog- Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (right) speaks festival of Eid al-Adha, which eign minister Shah Mahmood intra-Afghan dialogue.” tied to deadly attacks. nise the Taliban regime in the during a press conference at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on ended earlier this month, but Qureshi told a press confer- Under the prisoner ex- Meanwhile Abdullah Ab- 1990s, denies the claims. Monday. (AFP) Abe goes for check-up as he becomes ’s 14 dead, scores wounded in longest-serving premier DPA surgence of the coronavirus Tokyo pandemic. Additionally, its twin bombings in Philippines economy in the second quarter Japanese Prime Minister shrank a record annualized 27.8 AFP the Philippines’ worst terror Shinzo Abe told reporters on per cent, compared to the previ- Jolo attacks as well as kidnappings Monday that a visit to the hos- ous three-month period. of foreign tourists and Chris- pital on the day he became the Abe’s government has been At least 14 people were killed tian missionaries. country’s longest-serving prime criticized for failing to ramp up and 75 wounded -- includ- They also have ties to Is- minister had merely been for testing capabilities for the virus ing members of the security lamic State militants seeking “additional tests.” The return to and spending taxpayers’ money forces and civilians -- in twin to set up a caliphate in South- the hospital, a week after a “reg- on promoting tourism amid the bombings Monday involving east Asia. ular checkup” drew questions. COVID-19 pandemic. a suicide attacker on a south- Monday’s attacks come In July 2007, Abe abruptly quit Overall, Japan has so far ern Philippine island that is after the arrest earlier this as prime minister due to health reported more than 63,400 a stronghold of Islamist mili- month of an Abu Sayyaf lead- issues, only one year into the confirmed cases of the virus and tants, officials said. er on the southern island of job. about 1,200 deaths, according The apparently coordinat- Mindanao. Despite few significant ac- to the Health Ministry. ed attacks happened in Jolo in Security forces had been complishments, Abe, who re- A weekend survey conduct- Muslim-majority Sulu, where on alert for possible reprisal turned to power in December ed by Kyodo News showed 58.4 government-backed security attacks after detaining Ab- 2012, has marked 2,799 con- per cent of those polled have forces have long been fighting duljihad Susukan, who is ac- secutive days in office as prime been dissatisfied with his gov- the Abu Sayyaf group. cused of kidnapping and be- minister. ernment’s handling of the pan- Seven soldiers, a police heading several foreigners. He surpassed the previous demic, while 34 per cent were officer, and six civilians were He has been charged with record, set by his great-uncle satisfied. killed in the two bombings, the 23 murders, five kidnappings Eisaku Sato, who served from According to the same sur- first at around midday when and six attempted murders, November 1964 to July 1972. vey, 70.8 per cent think Abe an improvised explosive de- Military personnel take away some of the victims after an improvised bomb exploded next to a military police have said. “You will be judged on what should convene an extraordi- vice attached to a motorcycle vehicle in the town of Jolo, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao on Monday. (AFP) President Rodrigo Du- you have accomplished, not on nary parliamentary session to parked outside a supermarket terte’s spokesman Harry how many days you have been discuss measures to help con- blew up, Lieutenant General Roque condemned the “das- in office,” Abe said. tain the spread of the virus, Corleto Vinluan said. Philippines minister accuses of fabricating sea claims tardly attacks” and issued con- The new record comes as while 22.6 percent do not think That was followed by a sec- dolences to the families and Japan is struggling with a re- he needs to do so. ond blast a short time later in Manila China’s “nine-dash a flashpoint between the two gion’s richest fishing grounds, loved ones of those killed. the same street when a suicide line” used to claim most of countries. is located 240 kilometres “We call on the residents of attacker blew herself up as se- the South China Sea is a The Philippine foreign west of the Philippines’ main Jolo to stay vigilant and report curity forces cordoned off the fabrication, the Philippine ministry last week lodged a island of Luzon and 650 kms suspicious personalities and area, Vinluan said. defence minister said, as he diplomatic protest over what it from the nearest major Chi- unattended items in their ar- A soldier had been try- accused Beijing of illegally said was the “illegal confisca- nese land mass, the southern eas,” Roque said. ing to apprehend the bomber occupying Filipino maritime tion” by China’s coast guard island province of Hainan. The Philippine Coast when she detonated her explo- territory. of fishing equipment near the “That area is within our Guard issued a “red alert” for sives, he added. The remarks late Sun- shoal. EEZ,” Defence Secretary Sulu and several other areas in A total of 48 civilians were day come amid a fresh row China seized Scarborough Delfin Lorenzana told report- the restive south as it assists also wounded along with 21 between Manila and Beijing from the Philippines in 2012 ers in a text message, refer- the military and police in re- soldiers and six police. over the disputed Scarborough following a tense standoff. ring to the country’s exclusive sponding to the incident. A soldier saw a person leave shoal, which has long been The shoal, one of the re- economic zone. (AFP) The explosions happened the motorbike outside the gro- near a Catholic cathedral in cery store “where there were a Jolo where two suicide bomb- lot of people” including mem- “Our soldiers are conduct- nated,” he said. Listed by the United States ers blew themselves up in Jan- Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) arrives at the prime minister’s bers of the military. It imme- ing security operations. That Abu Sayyaf was “most as a terrorist organisation, uary 2019 killing 21 people. It office on August 24, 2020. Abe earlier in the day returned to hospital diately detonated, Lieutenant was the time that the impro- probably” behind the double Abu Sayyaf is a loose network was blamed on a group linked for more medical checks, a government spokesman said. (AFP) Colonel Ronaldo Mateo said. vised explosive device deto- bombing, Mateo said. of Islamic militants blamed for to Abu Sayyaf. One dead, scores feared trapped in building collapse Indonesia secures up AFP structures buckling under the “over 200 people are stuck in- Mahad weight of non-stop rain. side”. to 60 million doses of Three rescue teams, armed “Our primary goal is to res- One person was killed and with specialised equipment cue as many people as possible dozens feared trapped after a and sniffer dogs, had been de- who are trapped under the de- COVID-19 vaccines five-storey apartment building ployed to the scene of the acci- bris”. DPA between November and March collapsed late Monday in west- dent, a statement from India’s “We cannot yet ascertain Jakarta next year. ern India, officials said, with National Disaster Response the reason for the collapse”, he The first 20 million doses a local legislator warning that Force (NDRF) said, with Home added. Indonesia has secured a are expected to be delivered by the number could be as high as Minister Amit Shah tweeting Local politician Manik supply of up to 60 million doses the end of this year. 200. that he was “praying for every- Motiram Jagtap told the chan- of potential COVID-19 vaccines Marsudi and Thohir also The structure comprised one’s safety”. nel that the structure was 10 from China and the United secured the provision of 10 mil- 47 flats, police in the town of NDRF spokesman Sachi- Rescue workers search for people in the rubble of a five-storey apart- years old and built on “weak” Arab Emirates, officials said lion doses of a potential vaccine Mahad -- 120 kilometres south danand Gawde told reporters ment building after it collapsed in Mahad on Monday. (AFP) foundations. Monday. for this year from Abu Dhabi- of Mumbai -- said in a state- that emergency workers had The accident brings yet The supply is part of the based G42 Healthcare and Chi- ment. retrieved the body of one vic- to hospital,” the police said in vors as ambulances ferried vic- more bad news for Maharash- 290 million vaccines that na’s Sinopharm, during a visit The cause of the accident tim, while Mahad police said at a statement. tims to nearby hospitals. tra, which has already been hit would be made available for to the UAE this weekend. was not immediately clear but least 70 people were believed Local residents and police Mahad legislator Bharat hard by the coronavirus cri- Indonesia throughout 2021, The two companies are cur- building collapses are common to be trapped under rubble. combed through tin sheets, Gogawale told the local TV9 sis, with the state accounting President Joko Widodo said rently leading phase 3 clinical during India’s June-September “Fifteen injured people metal rods and other wreckage Marathi channel that early es- for over a fifth of India’s more during a cabinet meeting. trials of the vaccine candidate monsoon, with old and rickety have been rescued and taken in a desperate search for survi- timates seemed to suggest that than three million infections. “We would produce some in Abu Dhabi. parts of the 290 million vac- Indonesia reported 1,877 cines, while the rest would be new infections on Monday, produced abroad,” Widodo bringing the national caseload said. During a Chinese state to 155,412, with 111,060 recov- New Zealand mosque gunman unmoved as survivors recount ordeal visit last week, Indonesian For- ered patients and 6,759 coro- eign Minister Retno Marsudi navirus-related fatalities. AFP rifle ringing in their ears. and State-Owned Enterprises The government was able Christchurch Tarrant has pleaded guilty New Zealand extends Auckland lockdown Minister Erick Thohir secured to decrease the fatality rate to to 51 charges of murder, 40 of the supply of 50 million doses 4.35 per cent, he added, much The white supremacist who attempted murder and one of as virus outbreak persists of a vaccine candidate by Chi- lower than in the previous murdered 51 Muslims in last terrorism after storming into Wellington Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday extend- na’s Sinovac, to be delivered months. year’s New Zealand mosques two mosques in Christchurch, ed a lockdown in New Zealand’s largest city, saying more time shooting showed no emotion with the rampage ending when was needed to ensure a stubborn cluster of coronavirus infec- Monday as distraught survi- police stopped him as he trav- tions was under control. vors confronted him in court elled to a third. Ardern said stay-at-home orders would remain in place with harrowing accounts of the Lawyers expect the 29-year- across Auckland until at least late Sunday, instead of restrictions atrocity. old to be the first person jailed easing late Wednesday as originally planned. FOR RENT At the opening of the sen- for life without parole in New “These extra four days are believed necessary to allow us to tencing hearing in a Christch- Zealand. move down a level in Auckland, and stay down,” she said. new apartments urch courtroom, prosecutors Survivors and family members of “In his interview, the de- “We want both confidence and certainty for everyone.” revealed chilling details of a Christchurch mosque attacks vic- fendant referred to his attacks Auckland went into lockdown on August 12, a day after the in Mansoura meticulously planned attack in tims arrive outside the Christch- as ‘terror attacks’. virus re-emerged in the city, ending New Zealand’s record of 102 which Brenton Tarrant wanted urch High Court on Monday. (AFP) “He further stated the at- days without community transmission. (AFP) (3) Bedrooms Qr. 5,000 “to have shot more people than tacks were motivated by his he did”. for the first time, survivors ideological beliefs and he in- or more generally non-Europe- Cameron Mander has imposed (2) Bedrooms Qr. 4,000 With the Australian gun- told of hiding under bodies, of tended to instil fear into those an immigrants.” reporting restrictions to pre- man face-to-face with the be- forgiving Tarrant, and of living he described as ‘invaders’, in- Tarrant is representing vent him using the court as a reaved families and wounded with the sound of an automatic cluding the Muslim population himself at the hearing. Judge platform for extremist views. 55555065 08 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Europe / Americas Canada conservatives elect new leader German court orders man to pay back Twin storms track towards US as 13 to battle Prime Minister Trudeau €170,000 wrongly placed into account killed in Haiti, Dominican Republic OTTAWA: Canadian Conservatives on Monday announced their HANOVER: A German court ruled on Monday that a man who wrongly WASHINGTON: Two storms are expected to hit the US Gulf News new leader, former air force navigator Erin O’Toole, who will received 170,000 euros (201,325 dollars) in his bank account must Coast in the coming days, forecasters said on Monday, quickly have to get the party battle-ready to challenge liberal pay the money back. The Hanover regional court said the 30-year-old though the threat of both being hurricanes receded as in brief Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in possible snap elections. must reimburse the money to the bank, saying it did not help in his fa- Hurricane Marco weakened sharply. Following a largely virtual campaign due to the coronavirus vour that he had “squandered” most of it on “luxury expenses.” Having Tropical Storm Laura, which killed at least 13 people epidemic, O’Toole, 47, was proclaimed the winner early Mon- received the money in mid-July last year, the man went on a spending when it struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic, was set day after a record 175,000 voted in the party race. (AFP) spree, ridding himself of 92,000 euros in just three days. (DPA) to track just south of on Monday. (AFP)

Russia hits back with expulsion Trump, formally nominated, of Austrian diplomat AFP the man’s behaviour had vio- Moscow lated diplomatic relations, de- clining to give further details. Moscow said on Monday it The Kronen Zeitung tab- makes surprise appearance was expelling an Austrian dip- loid said the diplomat had lomat in response to Vienna’s been given until September 1 expulsion of a Russian report- to leave the country. ed to be involved in economic The Russian Embassy in espionage. Vienna earlier said the expul- at Republican convention “Based on the principle of sion order was “detrimental to reciprocity, a diplomat with constructive relations”. the last Republican nominee the Austrian embassy in Rus- Austria has boasted close The president is due Mitt Romney are not sched- sia has been declared persona ties with Russia in recent uled to appear, as it becomes non grata,” the foreign min- years. to appear or speak increasingly clear Trump has istry said in a statement after In 2018, Austria said it at each night of the broken with the old guard. summoning the Austrian am- would not follow a number of After the kick-off in Char- bassador in Moscow. other EU countries in expel- 4-day convention lotte, parts of the convention “The ambassador was pre- ling Russian diplomats over are to take place at the White sented with a firm protest in the poisoning of former Rus- DPA House, stoking criticism of connection with the unfound- sian spy Sergei Skripal in Brit- Washington Trump for using federal prop- ed decision of the Austrian ain, stressing its neutrality. erty for his campaign. side,” the statement said. Raising eyebrows, former US President Donald Trump is trailing Biden in Vienna earlier confirmed foreign minister Karin Kneissl Trump made an unscheduled national polls and in key battle- it was expelling a Russian dip- -- under Austria’s previous in-person appearance during ground states. It will be crucial lomat after media reported he conservative and far-right co- the first day of the Republican for the Republicans to make a had spied with the help of an alition government -- invited National Convention on Mon- case that only they can rebuild Austrian citizen at a high-tech Russian President Vladimir day after he was officially re- the economy and handle the enterprise for years. Putin to her wedding later that nominated for president. virus. The Foreign Ministry said year. Trump won the nomination Surveys increasingly show process unanimously, a day af- national upset with how the ter the Republicans declined to White House has dealt with the introduce a new party platform, coronavirus outbreak. citing constraints imposed by Trump will attempt to pin summons Nobel the pandemic. Delegates cheer as US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence stand on stage during the the blame for the virus, and The Republican Nation- first day of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday. (AFP) the more than 170,000 deaths winner Alexievich in al Committee, however, pledged in the country, on China, while to “enthusiastically support” the on sensitive points, including four more years and with your accusing Biden of being soft on opposition crackdown president’s agenda, indicating pledging to prevent socialism continued support, and with Beijing. the extent of his popularity and from the left and vowing to de- They (Democrats) are using God’s help, we’re going to make “China will own our country AFP The Investigative Commit- control in the centre-right bloc. fend the right to bear arms. He America great again, again,” if this guy gets elected. We can’t Minsk tee summoned Alexievich for Trump used his speech also threatened that the Demo- Covid to defraud our people Pence said, riffing on the cam- let it happen,” Trump said of his questioning on Wednesday as before a boisterous group of crats and their candidate, Joe of a free and fair election. paign slogan. rival. Belarus on Monday sum- a witness in an ongoing crimi- state delegates to claim that the Biden, would raise taxes and The only way they can take “[The president] will work Trump said he wanted to moned Nobel Literature Prize nal probe into the council’s Democrats were making an at- weaken the police. this election away from us is day and night to build our convey a “positive message” at winner Svetlana Alexievich for creation, focusing on alleged tempt to steal the November The president is due to ap- if this is a rigged election economy back to historic lev- the convention, as he tries to tar questioning over her ties to calls for seizing power. election through mail-in bal- pear or speak at each night of els of growth,” Republican Na- the rival Democrats as the party the opposition as the authori- Another presidium mem- lots, which the centre-left bloc is the Republicans convention, ac- US President Donald Trump tional Committee Chairperson of gloom. ties cracked down on protest ber, former arts minister and promoting to reduce the risk of cording to a campaign official. Ronna McDaniel said as she On the first day of the con- leaders following the latest diplomat Pavel Latushko, fac- spreading the new coronavirus. The president’s in-person egates from each state casting opened the convention, as the vention, more than two dozen unprecedented demonstration es questioning on Tuesday. “They are using Covid to appearance is in contrast to votes officially renominating audience chanted “four more former Republican lawmakers against President Alexander The announcement came steal an election, they are using the Democratic National Con- Trump. years.” The convention in North announced their support for Lukashenko’s disputed re- hours after police reported the Covid to defraud our people, all vention, which was conducted Vice President Mike Pence, Carolina is scheduled to feature Biden, including former law- election. detention of two other Coor- of our people, of a free and fair largely online. who was also renominated, ap- Trump’s children each night, a maker Jeff Flake, who was a Alexievich, who won the dination Council members on election,” Trump said. The move comes as Trump peared in person to issue strong slew of Republican leaders, and sometime critic of Trump in the Nobel Prize in 2015, has sup- suspicion of organising illegal “The only way they can take pushes for getting the economy support for law enforcement a handful of Americans whom Senate. ported the opposition leader strikes. this election away from us is if back to a pre-pandemic lifestyle, and tout the administration’s conservatives have promoted as Each night of the well-re- Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and The detentions came as this is a rigged election,” Trump despite a particularly high case- economic record prior to the culture war figures. ceived Democratic convention is a member of the Coordina- a top US diplomat met Tikh- said, in a in-person speech that load and death toll in the US. pandemic, though in the last First Lady Melania Trump last week also featured Republi- tion Council set up by her al- anovskaya in Lithuania and af- was rumoured to take place but The convention, which is few months millions of jobs is scheduled to feature on Tues- cans defecting to support the ri- lies to oversee a peaceful tran- ter tens of thousands took part which was not on his official still being pared back because have been lost. day. val party, helping Biden build a sition of power, although the in some of the largest protests schedule. of the pandemic, got under way “We are going to reelect Notably, former Republican coalition of the left and the right 72-year-old writer has not at- in the country’s recent history His speech focused deeply on Monday morning, with del- President Donald Trump for president George W Bush and against the incumbent. tended its sessions. for a second Sunday in a row.

Spain imposes new restrictions due to Berlin hospital says Putin critic Navalny tests indicate poisoning AFP Cholinesterase is an en- ● Navalny remains in increasing coronavirus infections Berlin zyme needed for the central nervous system to function medically-induced coma, DPA to make 500,000 Covid-19 ties urged everyone to avoid The Berlin hospital treating properly. It is used to make but his condition isn’t Madrid tests available in the educa- non-essential social contact. leading Kremlin critic Alexei medicines and insecticides, life-threatening tion sector, although teachers Authorities in the Balear- Navalny said on Monday that but also nerve agents such as ● introduced new re- and classrooms are in short ic island of Mallorca admit- test results indicated he had sarin. Germany’s Merkel calls strictions in several regions supply. Students go back to ted that a second wave was been poisoned, contradicting “Alexei Navalny’s progno- on Moscow to identify and following a surge in coronavi- school in early September ongoing, with the virus’ rapid the findings of Russian doctors. sis remains unclear; the pos- prosecute Navalny’s rus cases, the authorities said and many employees return spread hindering contact The revelation prompted sibility of long-term effects, culprits on Monday. from their summer holidays, tracing. German Chancellor Angela particularly those affecting the Catalonia banned meet- stoking fears that the number Spain has seen a dramatic Merkel to swiftly call for the nervous system, cannot be ex- Merkel had extended an offer ings of more than 10 people, of cases could increase even increase in the number of Russian authorities to ensure cluded,” the hospital said on to treat him in the country. Regional President Quim further. cases, with more than 3,000 those responsible are held ac- Twitter. “In view of Mr Navalny’s Torra announced. In the south-eastern re- new infections registered dai- countable. Alexei Navalny Navalny is being treated prominent role in the political “The situation is not sta- gion of Murcia, meetings of ly in the past days. The 44-year-old opposi- in intensive care and remains opposition in Russia, the au- ble anymore, instead the more than six people who are In June, the number of tion leader and anti-corruption disorder. in medically induced coma, it thorities there are now urgent- numbers are rising constant- not from the same household new cases in a 24-hour pe- campaigner was brought to the Berlin’s renowned Charite said, adding: “While his con- ly called upon to investigate ly,” Torra said. were banned. riod had fallen to below 100, German capital on Saturday hospital said its clinical tests dition is serious, it is not cur- this act thoroughly -- and to do Catalonia is also to reduce In Madrid, which has but this figure started grow- after falling ill in Siberia last on Navalny “indicate poisoning rently life-threatening.” so with full transparency,” she the size of school classes and been hit hardest, the authori- ing in July. week with what Russian doc- with a substance from the group He was transferred to Ber- said in a joint statement with tors blamed on a metabolic of cholinesterase inhibitors”. lin by a German NGO after Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. Ukraine’s Zelensky hails new ceasefire: No combat losses for 29 days DPA his Ukrainian counterpart Kiev Dmytro Kuleba earlier on Monday, Maas spoke of “sub- Ukraine veterans march to mark Independence Day Ukrainian President Vo- stantial progress.” In addi- KIEV: Tens of thousands of people, many of them veterans in lodymyr Zelensky praised a tion to the ceasefire, this also uniform, joined an unofficial march in Kiev to mark Ukraine’s Inde- ceasefire that came into effect applies to the exchange of pendence Day on Monday, after the president refused to organise last month, saying on Monday prisoners, clearing mines and a traditional military parade. that it has renewed hope for establishing transition points It was the second year in a row that Volodymyr Zelensky, who peace in the country’s eastern between the areas of the con- came to power in 2019 on promises to end the six-year war in conflict zone. flicting parties, according to the east with Russian-backed separatists, decided not to hold the “For 29 days there have Maas. parade. Veterans of the conflict organised a march of their own, been no combat losses or in- There have been more than walking through the centre of the capital alongside relatives and juries. I believe that this is our 20 attempted ceasefires since well-wishers, waving blue and yellow national flags. great common victory,” Zelen- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) meets with German the conflict erupted in early The emotionally charged event saw some participants crying People, including veterans, take sky said during a meeting with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Kiev on Monday. (AFP) 2014 following Kiev’s ouster and others applauding veterans of the war, which has claimed part in a march on Ukraine’s Germany’s top diplomat, Hei- of the country’s pro-Russian some 13,000 lives. ian parliament’s declaration of independence Independence Day in Kiev on ko Maas, according to a state- eign ministers of Russia and tween Russia and Ukraine for president amid a political during the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. (AFP) Monday. (AFP) ment by the Ukrainian side. Ukraine would meet next the past six years in an effort pivot away from Russia and Maas, whose visit to Kiev month to continue the peace to end the simmering conflict towards the European Union. than 100 violations within Maas described the ceasefire lasted for over four weeks, is coincided with Ukraine’s In- process. in eastern Ukraine, near the The Organization for Se- days of the latest ceasefire at- as a “hopeful sign,” in com- the longest since 2014 and that dependence Day celebrations, Germany and France have Russian border. curity and Cooperation in Eu- tempt starting in late July. ments ahead of his trip to Kiev. is a hopeful sign. We want to expressed hope that the for- been brokering peace talks be- After a meeting with rope (OSCE) recorded more Despite the violations, “This ceasefire, which has build on that,” Maas said. European stock surge on vaccine hopes page 10

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

28,189.97 9,890.37 38,799.08 1,928.29 +259.64 pts +81.32 pts +364.36 pts Gold -0.63% Tesco unveils 16,000 jobs as online Dow QE sensex food sales surge page 11 Price percentage Price percentage 26.71 Brent 45.07 +1.62% WTI 42.64 +0.71% Silver -0.62% GCC sovereign QAFCO deal, new GSPA to sukuk issuance boost IQ’s growth: Report to rise in H2 of QNBFS upgrades IQ from ‘market perform’ to ‘accumulate’ with price target of QR11.50 2020: Moody’s Satyendra Pathak Tribune News Network al medium term note (MTN) Doha Doha programmes can usually be executed more swiftly, which Industries Qatar (IQ) A recovery in market condi- is crucial when dealing with agreeing to buy the remain- tions and an increase in the unanticipated sudden increas- ing 25 percent stake in Qatar borrowing requirements of the es in government financing Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) world’s largest sukuk sover- requirements like those trig- from Qatar Petroleum (QP) eign issuers including the GCC gered by the recent crisis. for $1 billion and a favourable governments will fuel a rise in The credit rating agency blended gas price for a new nominal sukuk issuance this said, sovereign debt manage- gas sale and purchase agree- year, rating agency Moody’s ment offices have shown a ment (GSPA) for QAFCO 1-6 said in a recent report preference for conventional is- will have a positive financial The recovery will support suance throughout this crisis. impact on IQ in 2020, QNB a full-year increase in sover- In many cases, domestic sukuk Financial Services (QNBFS) eign sukuk issuance of around markets have not reached has said in its latest report. 40 percent to $92 billion in sufficient depth to meet the “We see the modest upside 2020. However, despite an to our existing QR1.4 billion increase in nominal issuance, earnings estimate for IQ in Moody’s still expects the pro- 2020. The 100 percent con- portion of sukuk in the fund- solidation of QAFCO would ing mix of major issuers will add QR93 million or 19 per- decline this year. cent to IQ’s reported H1, 2020 “While year-on-year sover- net income of QR485 million, eign sukuk issuance volumes bringing it up to QR578 mil- remained flatin the first half lion. Looking at it on a seg- of 2020 despite a significant ment level, QAFCO at 100 The 100 percent consolidation of QAFCO would add QR93 million, or 19 percent, to Industries Qatar’s reported net income of QR485 million in increase in government financ- percent added QR371 mil- the first half of 2020, bringing it up to QR578 million. ing requirements due to low oil lion in H1, 2020 net income, prices and coronavirus related which is around 45 percent of a new GSPA covering gas re- feedstock price for trains 1-4, spectively provide further cat- way for similar deals in the spending, we expect that issu- $92 billion our 2020 net income estimate quirements for QAFCO 1-6 expired in December 2019 alysts for stock price upside, future.” ance will bounce back over the for QAFCO. and QMC from August 1 until and was replaced on an in- QNBFS said, “We could wit- “We upgrade IQ from mar- rest of 2020 as market condi- ● The sovereign sukuk “Given our expectation of December 31, 2035. Under terim basis by a gas process- ness similar deals concerning ket perform to accumulate tions normalise,” said Thadde- issuance is expected to rise an H2 recovery and IQ’s com- the agreement, the 25 percent ing agreement. We believe these JVs, especially in light with a QR11.50 price target. us Best, an analyst at Moody’s. by more than 40 percent ments of favourable new gas stake in QAFCO will revert this new GSPA will lower the of QP’s strong deal-making Our previous price target was Beyond 2020, Moody’s to $92 billion in 2020 pricing, we could end up with back to QP when the above- overall blended gas price for ability and bargaining power QR10. Although recent strong expect the sukuk market’s a modest upside to our overall mentioned GSPA expires in QAFCO 1-6 against the previ- relative to minority partners stock price activity suggests growth prospects to remain 2020 net income forecast for end-2035. IQ will finance ous blended gas cost,” the re- and IQ’s robust cash position that this deal could be some- strong. The slow recovery in sudden increase in financing IQ of QR1.4 billion. We await this transaction with internal port said. and cash-generating ability. what baked into the current oil prices is likely to keep fund- needs like in this most recent more details from manage- cash given the company held If the acquisitions of the Indeed an agenda item in the price, valuing QAFCO at 100 ing requirements of GCC sov- crisis. Additionally, while the ment and could change our QR11.3 billion in cash and remaining stakes of 20 per- upcoming EGA, which au- percent in our DCF model al- ereigns elevated over the next spread has narrowed, sukuk estimates going forward,” QN- bank balances as of the first cent in Qatar Petrochemical thorises IQ’s board controlled lows us to up our price target. three years. issuances continue to attract a BFS said in the report. half of 2020. Company (QAPCO) and 50 by special shareholder QP to We will fine-tune our model In year-on-year terms, sov- slight premium over their con- As part of the deal, QAFCO “We remind investors that percent in Qatar Fuel Addi- negotiate transactions with when more details become ereign sukuk issuance was sta- ventional counterparts, which and QP have also entered into the prior GSPA, which set the tives Company (QAFAC) re- JV partners, could pave the available,” QNBFS said. ble in the first half of 2020, in may disincentivize issuers who contrast to a broader increase are already grappling with in emerging market issuance. higher borrowing costs. According to Moody’s, the “Oil and gas exporters like complex operational require- Saudi Arabia and Qatar have ments for sukuk compared to seen their borrowing require- QSE gains for second consecutive day, up 81 points conventional debt instruments, ments increase the most since pressures on bank liquidity and March, but Indonesia , Ma- Tribune News Network lion on Sunday and the investor meetings by con- an increase in borrowing costs laysia and Turkey will also see Doha value of shares increased to ference calls in , kept sukuk issuance volumes sizeable increases this year,” QR586.546 million on Mon- and London, com- flat despite rising borrowing said Best. Qatari stocks, which opened day from QR419.134 million mencing on August 24, 2020. requirements. Beyond 2020, Moody’s ex- the week on a positive note, in the previous session. According to a statement Sukuk issuance is com- pect the sukuk market’s growth continued its gaining trend Indices of six sectors out posted on the QSE website, plex. Issuers are required to prospects to remain strong. for the second day in a row. of the seven closed in the posi- the bank said, “A benchmark set up special purpose vehicles The slow recovery in oil prices The Qatar Stock Exchange tive territory. The QSE Total size fixed rate USD Regula- to meet borrowing conditions is likely to keep funding re- (QSE) main index gained 81.32 Return Index gained 0.83 added 0.54 percent to close at Agricole CIB, HSBC, Mizuho, tion S 5-year Senior Unse- and in some cases may need quirements of GCC sovereigns points, or 0.83 percent, to close percent to close at 19,013.90 3,064.30 points. MUFG, QNB Capital, Societe cured Sukuk offering under to provide physical assets to elevated over the next three at 9,890.37 points on Monday. points. QSE Al Rayan Is- Meanwhile, Masraf Al Generale and Standard Char- MAR’s $2 billion Trust Cer- secure the borrowing. These years, which the rating agency The volume of shares lamic Index increased 1.41 Rayan (MAR) announced on tered Bank as Joint Lead Man- tificateI ssuance Programme operational requirements can expects to continue to be met traded increased to 357.983 percent to close at 4,061.99 Monday that it has mandated agers & Bookrunners to ar- will follow subject to market delay issuance. In contrast, through a mix of conventional million from 273.191 mil- points. QSE All Share Index Al Rayan Investment, Credit range a series of fixed income conditions.” drawdowns from convention- and sukuk instruments.

COVID-19 changes consumption values of 68% MENA consumers: EY with certainty what consumers to be safe and will minimise 69% of Mena consumers believe that the will be doing 18 months from unnecessary risk as much as way they live their lives has changed as a now, they will need to antici- they can. For example, they pate the consumer require- would rather shop online than result of the COVID-19 pandemic: EY survey ments and values they will be in store because it feels safer. trying to serve.” Moreover, 64 percent have Tribune News Network ing such values for the first time, “As consumers re-evaluate increased spend on household Doha with 68 percent saying that their their approach to personal products and home hygiene, values have changed, and they consumption and adopt new while 57 percent would pay Almost 69 percent of con- look at life differently. This will habits, preferences, and at- more for products that pro- sumers in the MENA region have implications for what and titudes for the future, compa- mote health and wellness. believe that the way they live how they consume in the future. nies will also need to ensure The second largest seg- their lives will significantly For example, consumers that their products meet ex- ment of consumers at 25 per- change in the long term as a expect to make deep and last- pectations to either maintain cent put affordability first as result of the COVID-19 pan- ing changes with 78 percent or brand loyalty. This will have part of their decision making. demic, according to the EY Fu- saying they will be more aware a pivotal impact on consump- They focus on living within ture Consumer Index. and cautious about physical tion patterns and consumer their means and don’t care From the start of the pan- health. In addition, 73 percent identities over the next few much about the brands they demic, 84 percent of consum- will be more focused on value years,” Reda said. buy but that the product de- ers declared that they have for money in the future, with only 9 percent planning to ‘get activities. For instance, only individuals have learned from Of the consumers sur- livers what they need. The 74 changed the products they buy 67 percent planning to de- back to normal’ against 40 26 percent of MENA consum- the shared experience of the veyed, 29 percent said that percent of affordability first with a greater focus on value crease the amount they spend percent globally. While there ers are comfortable going to a pandemic is how resourceful their biggest priority was to consumers have identified for money, and an increased on non-essentials. has been a general ease of re- mall. and adaptable they can be. protect their health and the price as increasing in impor- commitment to consume lo- MENA consumers do plan strictions across some coun- EY MENA Consumer In- Now attention is turning to health of their family, which tance, while 21 percent think cally made products. to remain frugal and keep cut- tries in the region, many con- dustry Leader Ahmed Reda what the world might be like will guide the choices that it will take years for their fi- Many consumer segments ting their spending, far more sumers are still uncomfortable said, “One of the many things once the crisis is behind us. they make. They prefer brands nancial stability to reach pre in the MENA region are adopt- than global consumers, with returning to their pre-COVID that both organisations and While companies can’t forecast and products that they trust COVID-19 levels. 10 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Economy & Business US frowns as WTO ruling European stock markets favours Canada surge on vaccine hopes in lumber dispute Hong Kong’s main stock index led gains across Asia markets, rallying 1.7 percent at close AFP China. Washington Returning to a strictly bi- Afp lateral system would be bet- London The United States slammed ter than the current flawed a World Trade Organiza- structure, he wrote. European stock markets tion ruling on Monday that The WTO report upheld surged on Monday on hopes favoured Canada in a long- most of Ottawa’s complaints for a coronavirus treat- standing battle over lumber against the US, saying Wash- ment, while the euro gained imports, holding the case up ington’s claims the govern- against the dollar on contin- as further justification for ment was providing illegal ued deadlock over a new US Washington’s campaign to subsidies to lumber produc- stimulus deal, dealers said. drastically reform the global ers were based on miscalcu- Looking ahead to a key trade body. lated prices and transactions meeting of central bankers The WTO’s dispute set- like purchase of electricity this week, traders sent Lon- tlement body -- long a target don’s benchmark FTSE 100 of attacks by US Trade Rep- index rallying by 1.7 percent resentative (USTR) Robert Under Donald Trump, while major eurozone indi- Lighthizer -- agreed with Lighthizer has led a cam- ces were more than 2.0-per- Canada’s complaints that paign to reform the WTO, cent higher at the close. Washington had violated claiming it is unfair to In New York, the Dow trade rules when imposing the United States, and as Jones index was 1.0 percent duties on lumber widely used a result the US has para- higher in midday trading. in construction. On Sunday, US authori- Lighthizer called the lyzed the Dispute ties announced that doctors findings “erroneous” and Settlement Body which could use blood plasma from said they “prevent the United arbitrates trade grievanc- recovered coronavirus pa- States from taking legitimate es among members. tients as a treatment against action in response to Cana- the disease that has killed da’s pervasive subsidies for more than 176,000 in the US. its softwood lumber indus- that did not qualify as subsi- The move by the Food try.” dies. and Drug Administration “This flawed report con- It was the ninth com- comes as President Donald firms what the United States plaint filed by Ottawa over Trump faces intense pres- has been saying for years: Washington’s use of anti- sure to curb the contagion the WTO dispute settlement dumping and countervailing that has hobbled the world’s system is being used to shield duty measures -- long the largest economy and clouded non-market practices and subject of anger from Ameri- his once-promising pros- harm US interests,” he said can trading partners. pects for re-election in No- in a statement. In the latest battle in the vember. Under President Donald 40-year-old dispute, the US “European markets have The New York Stock Exchange building at Wall Street in New York. (File photo) (Afp) Trump, Lighthizer has led in 2017 imposed import du- kicked off the week in style, a campaign to reform the ties of 18 percent on Canadi- with the FDA’s decision to ap- from China’s banking regu- Federal Reserve chief Jerome language to make politicians Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 per- WTO, claiming it is unfair to an softwood lumber imports prove the convalescent plas- lator that it would continue Powell’s Thursday speech re- understand in Washington cent at 22,985.51 (close) the United States, and as a to compensate for what it ma coronavirus treatment to back the city as a finan- mains a top attraction. about the importance of an- Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP result the US has paralyzed said was “dumping” of the raising hopes that we could cial hub, after concerns were Traders are also keeping other stimulus package.” 1.7 percent at 25,551.58 the Dispute Settlement Body product, meaning it was sold see a vaccine fast-tracked be- raised following the imposi- tabs on Washington, where (close) which arbitrates trade griev- below market prices and fore long,” said Joshua Ma- tion of a new security law last US lawmakers are strug- Key figures around 1545 - Composite: UP 0.2 ances among members. received government subsi- hony, senior market analyst month. gling to reach agreement on GMT percent at 3,385.64 (close) The upheaval led to the dies, thereby hurting US pro- at IG trading group. Investors will this week a fresh stimulus package for London - FTSE 100: UP 1.7 Dollar/yen: UP at 105.93 yen resignation of WTO Director- ducers. For OANDA analyst Craig be looking for “more clarity” the American economy. percent at 6,104.73 points from 105.78 yen General Roberto Azevedo. USTR said imports of Erlam, “markets don’t need on monetary policy from a “Democrats and Republi- (close) Pound/dollar: DOWN at In a column last week, softwood lumber products much on the vaccine front virtual gathering of central cans are still very far (from) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 2.4 per- $1.3076 from $1.3087 Lighthizer said the trade from Canada in 2016 totaled to get excited. Any positive bankers in Jackson Hole, reaching a deal, and this cent at 13,066.54 (close) Euro/pound: UP at 90.26 body and the dispute system $5.78 billion. reports tend to get a big re- Wyoming, Ben Emons of means no further immediate Paris - CAC 40: UP 2.3 percent pence from 90.09 pence needs major changes, and “The United States is sponse.” Medley Global Advisors said. aid in terms of fiscal policy,” at 5,007.89 (close) Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.4 he blamed it for allowing evaluating options in re- Hong Kong’s main stock Policymakers have al- said Naeem Aslam, chief EURO STOXX 50: UP 2.2 per- percent at $44.98 per barrel “profound distortions to the sponse to the panel report,” index led gains across Asia, ready provided a wall of cash market analyst at Avatrade. cent at 3,332.71 West Texas Intermediate: UP world economy” caused by USTR said. rallying 1.7 percent with to support the global econo- “Investors will like to New York - Dow: UP 1.0 per- 0.8 percent at $42.68 per traders cheered by a pledge my during the pandemic, but know how the Fed will use cent at 28,202.16 points barrel South African GDP needs at least 5 Nigerian economy contracts years to recover from virus impact: UN by 6.1% in second quarter AFP coronavirus pandemic. Nigeria emerged from its AFP world’s most unequal socie- Abuja Like many others, the gov- first recession in more than Johannesburg ties. ernment had to impose na- two decades in 2016, but the While most economic Nigeria’s economy shrank tionwide lockdowns to contain economy has been struggling ’s economy will restrictions were lifted this by an annualised 6.1 percent the spread of the virus. to fully recover ever since. take at least five years to re- month, the United Nations in the second quarter of 2020, “The decline was largely Inflation has risen to 12.8 cover from the impact of the Development Programme the statistics agency said on attributable to significantly percent, its highest level in coronavirus, the United Na- (UNDP) warned it would Monday, owing to low oil pric- lower levels of both domestic more than two years, while tions said on Monday, with take “at least five years” for es and effects from the corona- and international economic unemployment currently poverty and inequality expect- South Africa to return to 2019 virus. activity during the quarter, stands at 27 percent, up from ed to rise sharply in 2020. growth levels. Economic activity in Afri- which resulted from nation- 23 percent in 2018. The UNDP said GDP The UNDP noted that ca’s largest producer of crude wide shutdown efforts aimed The government has re- would decline by 7.9 percent Black populations, female-led oil had expanded by 1.87 per- at containing the COVID-19 vised its 2020 budget, re- this year due to the pandemic households, people with lower cent in the first quarter, com- pandemic,” an NBS statement duced its oil benchmark price and “recover slowly through A customer queues to enter a store in, Johannesburg recently. (AFP) education levels and those pared with the same period a said. to $28 per barrel from $57 2024”, in a socio-economic working informally would be year earlier, the National Bu- Oil production stood at and obtained several loans impact assessment study re- In the best-case scenario, ready in recession when it was particularly hard hit. reau of Statistics (NBS) said in 1.81 million barrels per day in to help cope with the drop in leased Monday. over 47,000 South Africans hit by the virus, and rolled out South Africa’s Cooperative a report. the second quarter, compared revenue. Extreme poverty levels could lose their jobs this year a strict lockdown in March to Governance Minister Nko- Nigeria, which relies on with 1.98 mbpd in the same Nigeria has also cut its could increase by as much as in a country where unemploy- stem the spread of COVID-19. sazana Dlamini-Zuma, who the oil sector for 70 percent of period of 2019, it added. crude output in line with Or- 66 percent in 2020, with 34 ment already stands above 30 The resulting restrictions launched the study, warned government revenue and 90 Activity in non-oil sectors ganization of Petroleum Ex- percent of middle-class house- percent. on businesses, the jobs and that the coronavirus would percent of its foreign exchange fell on average by 6.05 per- porting Countries (OPEC) holds likely to fall into the The continent’s most in- incomes lost, has exacerbated “further exacerbate... wide in- earnings, has seen oil output cent, the first such decline in efforts to strengthen the oil “vulnerable class”. dustrialised economy was al- existing hardship in one of the come inequalities”. and revenue battered by the nearly three years. market. Facebook agrees with France to pay $125 mn in back taxes The statement said that The office of US Trade share of their fiscal payments. Google, Apple, Facebook & Amazon are since 2018, Facebook changed Representative Robert Ligh- In the meantime, France, unfairly exploiting tax rules: EU countries its sales structure so that “in- thizer found France’s digital Britain, Spain, Italy and oth- come from advertisers sup- services tax was discrimina- ers have imposed taxes on the AFP the subject of a longstanding ported by our teams in France tory and “unfairly targets US largest digital companies. Paris conflict between France and is registered in this country”. digital technology companies,” US officialshave slammed the United States. Many have “This year we are pay- and said it would impose pu- these moves as discriminat- US social media giant Face- their EU headquarters in low- ing 8.46 million euros ($9.98 nitive duties of 25 percent on ing against American firms, book on Monday said it had tax-regime countries. million) in income tax, an in- $1.3 billion worth of French and say any new levies should agreed with the French gov- “We take our tax obliga- crease of almost 50 percent products. come only as part of a broader ernment to pay 106 million tions seriously, pay the taxes compared to last year,” it said. But it will hold off on col- overhaul of international tax euros ($125 million) in back we owe in all the markets in “We have also entered into lecting the fees to allow time rules. taxes for its French operations which we operate and work an agreement with the tax au- for the dispute to be resolved. In January, 137 countries over a 10-year period from closely with tax administra- thorities covering the years Big EU countries say the agreed to negotiate a deal on 2009, and to pay 50 percent tions around the world to en- 2009-2018, under which we so-called GAFA -- Google, Ap- how to tax tech multination- more tax in the current year. sure compliance with all appli- will make a payment of 106 ple, Facebook and Amazon als by the end of 2020, under The payment by American cable tax laws and resolve any million euros.” File photo of Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. (AFP) -- are unfairly exploiting tax the auspices of the Paris-based digital giants of tax on rev- disputes,” a Facebook France The dispute between rules that let them declare Organisation for Economic enues in the country in which spokesperson said in a state- France and the United States escalated to the extent that veiled heavy import duties on profits in low-tax havens, de- Co-operation and Develop- they are accrued has been ment. on the digital giants’ tax has the United States in July un- France. priving governments of a fair ment. Economy & Business Tuesday, August 25, 2020 11 Norway investor divests from oil, gas majors over lobbying AFP mining and metals giant Rio seeks to cap global warming “Either the company additional 4.6GW by 2023. of non-oil and gas invest- Paris Tinto, chief executive Jan Erik at “well below” two degrees The institutional investor, transforms its business ac- Shell has probably com- ment planned,” rating agency Saugestad confirmed in out- Celsius above pre-industrial with $91 billion under man- tivities with larger invest- pleted more renewables deals Standard and Poor’s noted re- Norwegian investor Store- lining his firm’s new policy. levels. agement, has unloaded ment in renewables to become than any other energy major. cently, referring to the sector brand Asset Management said “We have already imple- Burning fossil fuels has holdings in US’ Chevron and broader energy companies, or But both energy giants as a whole. on Monday it had divested mented this climate strategy been by far the main driver of ExxonMobil, Germany’s makes that cash available to continue to invest 90 percent Regulators such as Mark from fossil fuel and petro- and divested from those com- rising temperatures. us as shareholders to redeploy of their capital to develop Carney, former head of chemical giants because they panies,” he told AFP in an in- Storebrand has also di- BASF, and British-Australian through our portfolios.” planet-warming fossil fuels, the Bank of England, have lobbied against regulations terview. vested from a score of other mining giant Rio Tinto Shell has said it will shrink according to a recent analy- warned investors that climate designed to tackle the climate “We will now exclude energy companies that de- its net carbon footprint by 65 sis by the Institute for Energy change could lead to stranded crisis and speed the greening companies that actively work rive more than five percent of BP, Shell and Equinor -- that percent by 2050, while Total Economics and Financial assets. of the global economy. against regulations and poli- their revenues from carbon- back the Paris goals and have has pledged to be “net-zero” in Analysis (IEEFA) that pre- “For us, sustainable de- The medium-sized institu- cies that are required to reach intensive coal or oil sands, announced plans to sharply Europe by 2050, including its dicts the companies will fall velopment is about provid- tional investor, with $91 bil- the climate goals,” he said, re- including ConocoPhillips and curb their carbon footprints, own operations and the down- “well short” of their own sus- ing long-term returns for our lion (77 billion euros) under ferring to targets set under the Entergy, and Japanese con- saying they “cannot rest easy”. stream use of its products. tainable investment targets. stakeholders,” Saugestad said. management, has unloaded Paris Agreement. glomerate Mitsui Corpora- “It is important to us that Total has more than dou- “The proportion of pub- “We strongly believe that holdings in US oil and gas ma- “The Exxons and Chev- tion. their investments and capex bled its renewable energy lic communications about in order to have successful jors Chevron and ExxonMobil, rons of the world are holding Saugestad fired a shot (capital expenditure) plans capacity -- from 3 gigawatts greener strategies or renew- investment, we need sustain- German chemical company us back.” across the bow of European reflect scenarios to reach the to 6.6 gigawatts -- in the last able initiatives... has not able regulations and legisla- BASF, and British-Australian The 2015 climate treaty oil and gas majors -- notably climate agreement,” he said. year, and plans to install an been matched by the share tion.”

MS defends Fortnite maker Tesco unveils 16,000 jobs in Apple fight as online food sales surge AFP develop and support Un- New York real Engine for iOS or ma- cOS will harm game crea- The new permanent positions are in addition to around 4,000 full-time jobs created by Tesco during the pandemic Microsoft came to tors and gamers,” wrote the defense of the maker Kevin Gammill, Micro- AFP of video game sensation soft’s general manager of London Fortnite on Sunday, say- gaming developer experi- ing in a court filing that ences. Tesco will create 16,000 Apple’s moves to cut off Apple has alleged that permanent UK jobs to meet a the company from pro- the Fortnite maker de- coronavirus-fuelled surge in gramming tools would serves to lose its access to online grocery demand, the hurt other game creators the programming tools be- supermarket giant said Mon- and players as well. cause it violated the terms day in a boost for the country’s Epic Games is locked of their contract. embattled retail sector. in a legal battle with Apple At the heart of the fight Britain’s biggest retailer after trying to dodge com- is the 30 percent that Ap- added in a statement that it mission payments due to ple takes on the revenue expects “the majority” of jobs the tech giant, prompting generated by companies to be filled by temporary staff the iPhone maker to pull to distribute their apps drafted in during the pandem- Fortnite from its online through its online store. ic to cope with soaring home store. Epic Games filed a food deliveries amid the coun- Apple also threatened lawsuit against Apple last try’s lockdown. to cut off Epic’s access week after the tech giant “Since the start of the pan- to its programming tools took Fortnite off its App demic, our colleagues have needed to maintain “Un- Store for releasing an up- helped us to more than dou- real Engine”, a software date that dodges revenue ble our online capacity, safely platform that was devel- sharing. serving nearly 1.5 million cus- oped by Epic and which is The latest version con- tomers every week and prior- used by many video game tains a payment system itising vulnerable customers studios to create graphics. that lets player trans- to ensure they get the food In a filing to the Cali- actions bypass the App they need,” said Jason Tarry, fornia court handling the Store, preventing Cuperti- chief executive for Tesco UK case between Epic and no-based Apple from col- and Ireland. Apple, a Microsoft man- lecting its typical 30 per- “These new roles will help ager said Unreal Engine cent cut. us continue to meet online de- “is critical technology for Epic has asked a judge mand for the long term, and numerous game creators to make Apple put Fortnite will create permanent employ- including Microsoft”. back in the App Store until ment opportunities for 16,000 “Apple’s discontinu- the matter is resolved in people across the UK,” he add- ation of Epic’s ability to court. ed in a statement. The new permanent posi- tions are in addition to around Customers leave a branch of a Tesco supermarket in London. (File photo) (AFP) 4,000 full-time jobs created by Tesco during the pandemic. after major UK companies an- Britain’s biggest retailer ment across Britain. the government in its next re- Some 47,000 temporary nounced thousands of job cuts The Association of British view to provide tailored sup- staff joined Tesco at the peak in recent weeks, notably across added in a statement that Travel Agents (ABTA) warned port or tens of thousands more of the coronavirus, most of the aviation, energy and retail it expects ‘the majority’ of Monday that more than jobs will be lost,” said ABTA whom have reached the end of sectors, owing to COVID-19 jobs to be filled by tempo- 90,000 travel jobs have been chief executive Mark Tanzer. their contracts. fallout. rary staff drafted in during lost or remain under threat The gloomy survey came Pre-pandemic, online sales Britain’s economy shrank the pandemic to cope with owing to coronavirus fallout. after student specialist holiday at Tesco accounted for about by one fifth in the second quar- soaring home food deliver- Far fewer Britons are firmST A Travel UK collapsed nine percent of total revenue. ter, more than any European ies amid the country’s heading abroad, particularly on Friday. That has jumped to more neighbour, as the lockdown after the UK government re- Among British retailers hit than 16 percent, with Tesco plunged the country into its lockdown imposed quarantine on trav- hard by virus fallout is Marks expecting online sales this deepest recession on record. ellers returning from nations and Spencer, which last week year to reach more than £5.5 In October, the UK gov- around ten million workers including Austria, Croatia, said it was axing 7,000 jobs billion ($7.1 billion, 6.0 billion ernment is to end a furlough during the pandemic. France, the and as wary customers steer clear euros). scheme that has been paying Analysts said this would Spain. of its stores, which mainly sell Monday’s update comes up to 80 percent of wages for result in soaring unemploy- “Travel desperately needs clothes and food. TikTok confirms suing over ban ordered by Trump Germany launches AFP a misuse of International first ‘green’ bonds San Francisco Emergency Economic Pow- ers Act because the platform AFP gases by 55 percent by 2030 Video app TikTok on Mon- -- on which users share often Frankfurt am Main compared with 1990 levels. day said it had filed a lawsuit playful video snippets -- is Rita Schwarzeluehr-Sut- challenging the US govern- not “an unusual and extraor- Germany on Monday an- ter, parliamentary state secre- ment’s crackdown on the dinary threat.” nounced details of its first tary for environment, said the popular Chinese-owned plat- The executive order “has “green” bond placing, tapping bonds will contribute to the form, which Washington ac- the potential to strip the financial markets to fund en- government’s efforts. cuses of being a national se- rights of that community vironmental projects for the “Green federal bonds cre- curity threat without any evidence to jus- first time.T he finance minis- ate a clear incentive. In this As tensions soar between tify such an extreme action,” try said it would raise up to 11 way, we are showing how the world’s two biggest the suit contended. billion euros ($13 billion) in green and climate-friendly economies, President Don- “We believe the Adminis- 2020 to support climate-relat- economic activities can be ald Trump signed an execu- tration ignored our extensive ed projects. made transparent and predict- tive order on August 6 giving efforts to address its con- The first issue in Sep- able,” she said. Americans 45 days to stop cerns, which we conducted tember of a 10-year bond, or The green bonds will be doing business with TikTok’s fully and in good faith even Bund, will have a minimum of “twin bonds”, issued alongside Chinese parent company as we disagreed with the con- four billion euros in volume. conventional federal bonds ByteDance -- effectively set- cerns themselves,” TikTok The German government with the same maturity and ting a deadline for a sale of said. announced late last year that coupon, the finance ministry the app to a US company. TikTok’s kaleidoscopic it would launch the bonds in said. “Today we are filing a feeds of short clips feature the second half of 2020 as part It means investors will complaint in federal court everything from dance rou- the world. nage. The US measures come of its efforts to combat climate be able to swap their bonds challenging the Administra- tines and hair-dye tutorials Trump claims TikTok The company has said ahead of November 3 elec- change. from one variant to the other, tion’s efforts to ban TikTok to jokes about daily life and could be used by China to it has never provided any tions in which Trump, be- The country earmarked 54 with the aim of making them in the US,” the company said politics. The app has been track the locations of fed- US user data to the Chinese hind his rival Joe Biden in billion euros in spending to more attractive to investors, in a blog post. downloaded 175 million eral employees, build dossi- government, and Beijing has the polls, is campaigning 2023 as part of a climate pack- according to Joerg Kukies, TikTok argued in the law- times in the US and more ers on people for blackmail, blasted Trump’s crackdown hard on an increasingly stri- age that includes introducing parliamentary secretary to the suit that Trump’s order was than a billion times around and conduct corporate espio- as political. dent anti-Beijing message. a carbon tax to cut greenhouse finance ministry. 12 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Economy & Business Zoom probes Trump floats complete Foxconn considers Mexico glitches with US-China ‘decoupling’ video tool DPA Washington factory as China risks rise as kids head US President Donald back to school Trump has again said he is Other Asian firms like Pegatron and Luxshare thought to be having similar talks willing to largely end trade Tribune News Network with China, known as de- Doha coupling. “If they don’t treat us An increasing number of right, I would certainly do, people are reporting issues I would certainly do that,” with Zoom on Monday morn- Trump said when asked ing as Americans wake up about decoupling during Donald Trump and start their work shifts an interview with Fox News and kids start the school year that aired on Sunday. have been tense since remotely. “We get nothing from Trump took office, initially According to DownDetec- China,” Trump added. largely over trade and intel- tor, a platform that monitors The president has been lectual property disputes, app outages, the problems increasingly bellicose with and spiralling downwards started at around 7:30 ET. China, saying that he no as the coronavirus pandem- A live outage map shows hot longer values the US inter- ic worsened. spots on most of the East im trade deal with Beijing, The two countries Coast. People are also experi- and referring to the novel reached a Phase 1 agree- encing glitches in Texas, and coronavirus as the “China ment in January, which around Chicago and Detroit. Virus.” The president in requires China to purchase The primary issue seems June previously said he large amounts of US agri- to be that people are having would consider ending the cultural products and other a hard time logging in. Zoom United States’ economic re- goods, however, it appears said on its service status web- lationship with China. Beijing may be unable to site that the company is in Relations between meet the demands due to the “process of deploying a Washington and Beijing the coronavirus pandemic. fix across our cloud.” Zoom meetings and webinars on the platform’s website are experi- encing “partial” disruptions. China trade war could push iPhone contractor Foxconn to build in Mexico. Of the people reporting problems with the video con- GAFTA: Arab nations Agencies invest as much as $1 billion “tipped the scale” in favor of ferencing platform, 75% re- in India. Later that month, shorter supply chains, the vi- ported issues logging in, 12% In a nutshell TechCrunch reported that it rus could also cause problems had problems with the web- hold follow-up meeting A number of major Asian ● Foxconn’s plans aren’t had started assembling flag- for investment in Mexico. site while 13% are struggling manufacturers such as Fox- final,R euters reports. ship iPhones in India for the The country has reported with the server connection. QNA periodic report of the Union conn, Pegatron, and Luxshare Apple hasn’t signed off on firsttime, avoiding a 20 per- the third-most deaths from Zoom let users known on Cairo of Arab Chambers to follow are considering opening new cent import duty the country the pandemic globally, and the Twitter that it’s looking into up the free trade zone, in ad- factories in Mexico, Reuters the idea and declined to imposes on foreign-made elec- Financial Times recently re- the problems. The Implementation and Fol- dition to following up on the reports, responding to the comment to Reuters. But tronics. ported it has now exceeded the “We have received re- low-up Committee of the Arab work of the committees estab- coronavirus pandemic and Foxconn is reportedly In August, Foxconn chair- worst-case scenario for deaths ports of users being unable to Economic and Social Coun- lished within GAFTA frame- ongoing US-China trade war. looking to make a final man Liu Young-way said his predicted in June. start and join Zoom Meetings cil has held its 49th meeting work and the work of the Arab Foxconn reportedly has plans decision this year.. company was working to pro- Apple and Foxconn did not and Webinars. We are cur- remotely, with the participa- team concerned with anti- to produce iPhones at the new vide two different sets of sup- immediately respond to The rently investigating and will tion of representatives of the dumping, support and preven- factory, according to two Reu- ● Foxconn already has a ply chains in response to ten- Verge’s request for comment. provide updates as we have Arab member countries of the tive measures. The committee ters sources, although Apple significant presence in sions between the world’s two In a statement, Foxconn told them,” the platform said in a Greater Arab Free Trade Area also followed up the work of isn’t thought to be directly in- Mexico. Five Foxconn largest economies. Reuters that it is expanding its tweet. (GAFTA). the expert team in the field of volved at this time. factories in Mexico make “The world factory no global operations and already “I’m a teacher and I need The Director of the Eco- competition and monopolies The plans are thought televisions, servers, and longer exists,” he said, accord- has investments in Mexico (a to give class,” said one user nomic Integration Depart- control in the Arab countries, to have come in response to other products. ing to Reuters. country where it has five facto- on DownDetector. Another ment of the Arab League, Bah- and the work of the Arab team looming tariff barriers be- A final decision on Fox- ries), but it added that it cur- said their teacher is hav- jat Abu Al Nasr said that the for food safety and trade facili- tween the US and China. conn’s plans in Mexico could rently has no plans to increase ing a hard time logging into meeting discussed a number tation, he added. Reuters notes that locating from Asia to the Americas is come later this year, Reuters this. class.”Missed my firstcollege of items on the agenda, includ- Bahjat Abu Al Nasr ex- factories in Mexico could allow reportedly gaining political notes, although the company’s Apple and Pegatron de- online class. Thanks zoom,” ing follow-up on the imple- plained that the recommenda- companies to benefit from the traction in Washington, too. plans are subject to change. clined to comment to Reuters posted Alex Laniel. mentation of GAFTA, and the tions of this committee will be new United States-Mexico- There’s precedent for this For example, after an- on its report, and Luxshare did Others are having issues obstacles that countries face in submitted to the next meet- Canada trade agreement, al- kind of relocation, with Fox- nouncing a major investment not respond to a request for with working remotely. Beth implementing the provisions ing of the Arab Economic and lowing them to take advantage conn previously investing in in Wisconsin in 2017, Foxconn comment. Hudson of Maine says she of the Greater Arab Free Trade Social Council at the level of of tariff-free exports to the US countries in response to tar- now appears to have signifi- Mexico has spoken to a can’t share a slideshow dur- Area. senior officials slated for next under certain circumstances. iffs. cantly scaled back its plans. host of foreign companies in ing a meeting. “I can’t start Abu Al Nasr added that the Monday under the chairman- The idea of encouraging In July, Reuters reported Although the coronavi- an effort to lure business from my work meeting. Help!” committee also discussed the ship of Kuwait. firms to move manufacturing that Foxconn had plans to rus pandemic is said to have Asia. posted Lisa Marshall. EU trade chief feeling growing heat, faces Commission questions

DPA sioner Hogan to provide a full Sunday. It was due to return on 15 to collect “personal belong- dent as it might constitute a Brussels report,” European Commis- Hogan’s apology came September. ings and essential documents” breach of Covid-19 regulations. sion spokesperson Dana Spi- hours after Ireland’s govern- It has also emerged that the at his apartment there before Irish Agriculture Minister EU Trade Commissioner Phil nant said on Monday. ment announced parliament commissioner was stopped by driving on to Galway for the Dara Calleary resigned his post Hogan is facing increasing Adding that Hogan had is to be recalled from its recess gardaí (Irish police) for using golf event. Friday along with the deputy heat for having attended a din- submitted his report on Sun- early amid growing public an- his mobile phone while driving The spokesperson said: chairman of the Senate, Jerry ner that flouted coronavirus day night, Spinant said Euro- ger over the scandal. in County Kildare on 17 August. “The lockdown guidelines for Buttimer, over their attend- rules, with the European Com- pean Commission chief Ursula About 80 participants were The county has been under Kildare provide for excep- ance at the event. mission announcing on Mon- von der Leyen “has requested at the event, separated into two strict restrictions that prevent tional travel outside the county Under the new restrictions, day that it is closely following further clarifications because groups, according to media re- people from travelling in and ‘to travel to work and home indoor gatherings are limited the matter. details are important and she ports. The upper limit for par- out except in exceptional cir- again’.” to six attendees with excep- He is also facing questions wishes to have them.” After ticipants at such events was 50 cumstances. Mr Hogan will not be re- tions for theatrical events and regarding a reported incident initially stating he had attend- people until restrictions were Phil Hogan A spokesperson for Hogan signing from his position, his weddings. of using his mobile phone ed the dinner on Wednesday tightened further last Tuesday. told the Irish national broad- spokesperson also told RTÉ The Dail was due to resume while driving a car in Ireland. believing coronavirus rules The Irish government has controversy surrounding the caster RTÉ that the incident News. on September 15, but will now “The [commission] presi- would be respected, Hogan agreed to recall the Dáil (Irish attendance of political figures happened while he was en Irish police have launched resume after school starts on dent has requested Commis- apologized “profoundly” on parliament) early amid the at the Galway gathering. route from Kilkenny to Kildare an investigation into the inci- August 31.

Fishing In Swimming Pool KFC hits pause on popular Virus-hit Indian resort turns pool into fish farm slogan amid pandemic AFP the Middle East,” Surendran Tribune News Service Tan-Gillespie, global chief Kochi said, predicting about four marketing officer at KFC, in tonnes of pearl spots grow- Fried chicken chain KFC is a statement. “While we are A luxury resort in southern ing in the swimming pool hitting pause on one of fast pausing the use of It’s Finger India has turned its swim- could be worth $40,000 on food’s most popular slogans. Lickin’ Good, rest assured the ming pool into a fish farm the market. The restaurant said Mon- food craved by so many people to stop the business sinking The makeshift farm day it will suspend use of “It’s around the world isn’t chang- amid the economic crisis would not cover the losses Finger Lickin’ Good” in its ad- ing one bit.” caused by the coronavirus from the pandemic, which vertising after Accord- pandemic. has driven many hotels to 64 years. ing to the Normally the 150-me- bankruptcy, said the hotel In a state- Centers for tre (500-feet) pool at the boss. ment, KFC Disease Con- Aveda Resort in Kerala state But Surendran was hope- said during trol and Pre- is packed with European ful that the money would an unprec- vention, one tourists. Now thousands of help cover basic bills so the edented year of the steps pearl spot fish are causing business can keep running during which people can the splash. until tourists return. the COVID-19 take to pro- The complex was forced And the Aveda plans to pandemic has tect them- to shut in March when a keep faith with the pearl upended busi- selves from nationwide coronavirus A member of resort staff pumps in the backwaters in a swimming pool that has been turned into a spot even when business nesses and spreading lockdown was ordered. Few fish farm at Aveda Resort in Kumarakom, in Kerala state.( AFP) resumes. lives around COVID-19 hotels have been allowed to “We can’t continue with the globe, use of the slogan is washing hands often, and reopen since. alternative use. the pool,” Aveda’s general full size, is a popular ingre- this farm in the pool, but we “doesn’t feel quite right.” keeping hands away from your Of those which are still “We have had zero manager Jyotish Surendran dient in dishes in southern are trying to find alternative “We find ourselves in a mouth, nose, and eyes. shuttered, not many boast a revenues, so in June, we told AFP. India and the Middle East. land where we can build up unique situation – having KFC said the slogan will pool with 7.5 million litres put around 16,000 two- The fish, which takes “We plan to harvest by this knowledge for bigger an iconic slogan that doesn’t not go away forever. The chain of water, which can be put to month-old pearl spot fish in about eight months to reach November and will export to projects,” he said. quite fit in the current en- said they will bring it back vironment,” said Catherine “when the time is right.” Anderson kept waiting for 600th wicket as Pakistan annoy England TUESday, AUGUST 25, 2020 page 14

‘Triple 2020’

Bayern Munich’s French for- ward Kingsley Coman raises the European Champions League Cup in Lisbon on Sunday. (AFP) Of the triumph and quotable quotes “It’s an incredible feeling, lots of happiness and a bit of sadness for Paris.” – Paris-born Kingsley Coman after scoring the goal that gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over PSG, his boy- hood club, in the Champions League final.

“We want Neymar and Kylian to score but we can’t ask for it all the time.” – PSG coach T. Tuchel. Bavaria’s State Premier Markus Soeder (centre) welcomes Bayern Munich’s players as they arrive at the airport in Munich, Germany, on Monday, a day after winning the UEFA Champions League final against Paris “Walking down 18th was Saint-Germain in Lisbon, Portugal. (AFP) strange with no crowds. But it was so beautiful. I thought it looked like Lord of the Rings.” – German golfer Sophia Popov at Royal Troon where Bayern arrive in Munich she won the Women’s British Open.

“Football without support- ers is not football.” – Shanghai SIPG’s Por- to low-key celebrations tuguese coach Vitor Pereira after the Chinese Super AFP/DPA mier Markus Soeder wel- at Munich Airport. sought to enforce corona- League allowed fans to at- Munich/Paris comed squad home. Soeder greeted the vic- virus restrictions on mass tend games for the first time Coach Hansi Flick said had tors with the elbow bump now gatherings. since the lockdown. Champions League win- been no curfew the previous standard due to the coronavi- Hardcore supporters in ners Bayern Munich returned evening as the team celebrated rus pandemic, asking captain the Collectif Ultras Paris at “I have to lift my game so to Bavaria on Monday after at their hotel after lifting the Manuel Neuer and the team first called on fans to head to much because I don’t want clinching the side’s second European Cup for a sixth time. for a group photo. the Parc des Princes to wel- him to think, oh, I never treble but celebrations will be In the past, Bayern cel- “This is one of the most im- come the team home, but want to hit with her again. without their fans due to the ebrated by showing the trophy pressive Bayern teams that we later backed down after police She totally sucked.” coronavirus pandemic. to fans from a balcony at Mu- have ever seen,” Soeder said. banned all gatherings related -- Serena Williams after Midfielder ThiagoA lcan- nich city hall. This time there “All of Bavaria is proud.” to the match and ordered bars practising with Stefanos Tsit- tara was the first off the plane, will be a private event at the Earlier coach Flick had and restaurants around the sipas in New York. Manuel Neuer carried the tro- Allianz Arena. released the team from party stadium to close. phy as Robert Lewandowski Players will have a two-week restrictions. “Enjoy the even- Earlier, city authorities “I saw the chequered flag and wore sunglasses, all wearing holiday after the festivities be- ing,” he told them. appealed to fans who had no one was around me and I t-shirts adorned with “Triple fore they start the new campaign Abandoning his normal taken part in celebrations or was like ‘I’m going to win’. It 2020” in bright sunshine. by travelling to fifth-tier ama- reserve, Flick added: “Really watched the match in groups was sweet. Super cool.” The players and coach- teur outfit Dueren to begin their men, I’m so proud to have been to get themselves tested for – Miguel Oliveira on win- ing staff wore club masks defence of the German Cup. allowed to be with you. I’ve nev- the virus. During the celebra- ning the Styrian MotoGP with while David Alaba held the Following a night of er trained a team like this.” tions, police said they repeat- a daring double overtake on match ball from the 1-0 win celebrations after their 1-0 In Paris, PSG too made a edly had to remind people to Bayern Munich’s German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer carries the trophy the last bend. over French champions Paris victory in Lisbon, the dog- discreet return without any observe social distancing via as he, Robert Lewandowski (front) and their teammates arrive at the Saint-Germain as state pre- tired winners arrived back public events, as authorities loudspeaker announcements. Munich Airport in Germany on Monday. (AFP) After Neymar’s tears, PSG will hope CL final was no one-off

AFP dominated by a couple of su- Yet while there are posi- Lisbon perstars to all pull together in tives, questions remain and the same direction. Tuchel has much work to do, Paris Saint-Germain will Nobody thought we “The players are right be- and little time to reflect on look back at their narrow de- would make it to the hind the coach. I have heard what might have been -- PSG feat by Bayern Munich in Sun- things about how he suppos- play their first game of the day’s Champions League final final. We were very edly can’t handle the dressing new Ligue 1 season, away in in Lisbon and wonder what close to winning it, but room and the star players but Lens, on Saturday. might have been, while also that’s football. the truth is that he is oversee- The Champions League steeling themselves to come ing the best season in the his- group stage begins again in back stronger in Europe’s elite PSG president tory of the club,” said Mbappe October and between now and club competition in a new sea- Nasser Al Khelaifi of Tuchel ahead of the final. then Paris may need to get son which is already starting. PSG showed fantastic spir- busy in the transfer market. Kingsley Coman’s second- it to come from a goal down Edinson Cavani, right-back half goal decided the final at Qatar Sports Investments took next season because that is our and beat Atalanta in the quar- Thomas Meunier and young the Estadio da Luz in Bayern’s Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar (left) and French for- over in the French capital in objective and now we believe in ter-finals and then outclassed defensive prospect Tanguy Ni- favour, allowing them to be- ward Kylian Mbappe arrive at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Monday 2011 and they will be hopeful of it more than before.” RB Leipzig in the semi-finals. anzou Kouassi all left the club come European champions a day after the UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon, Portugal. (AFP) getting to another Champions On Sunday they became They had overturned a under freedom of contract be- for the sixth time and deny- League final while Neymar and the seventh consecutive side first-leg deficit to oust Borus- fore the ‘Final Eight’. ing PSG victory in their first early on, but Kylian Mbappe in tears at the end. Mbappe are still there. to lose when appearing in the sia Dortmund in the last 16, The latter has joined Bay- appearance in club football’s really should have done bet- “Inconsolable” was the “Nobody thought we Champions Leaague final for just before the coronavirus ern, becoming the latest in a biggest game. ter than shoot straight at the headline on the front page of would make it to the final. We the first time.A t least next shutdown, while in France long line of exciting young- The French champions goalkeeper just before half- sports daily L’Equipe on Mon- were very close to winning it, time, if there is one, they will they won every trophy going sters to walk away from PSG. were left to pay the price for time. The two most expen- day, underneath a photo of but that’s football,” said PSG’s not be novices. last season. Their improved They can only hope he failing to convert the oppor- sive players in football his- the Brazilian crying. Qatari president, Nasser Coach Thomas Tuchel, European performances rep- does not come back to haunt tunities that came their way tory were signed, ultimately, But PSG have muscled their Al Khelaifi. who put the defeat down to resent enormous progress af- them in the way Coman – an- -- Neymar was notably denied to win this game. It was not way into the very elite of Eu- “We are going to work hard “bad luck”, has been widely ter often humiliating defeats other Paris-born ex-PSG star- by a fine Manuel Neuer save their night, and Neymar was ropean clubs in the years since to win the Champions League praised for getting a team in previous campaigns. let – did in Lisbon. 14 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Sports Former cricket chief Anderson kept waiting Sutherland lands top golf job his experience. for 600th wicket as “He did so much in cricket at so many levels from playing to financial and corporate to stakeholder relations,” he said. “He knows what excellent and elite look like and I can’t Pakistan annoy hosts wait for him to impart his vision on the broader golf industry.” AFP Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Former Cricket Australia chief Sutherland spent 20 years Southampton Australia’s Shane Warne (708) James Sutherland during a press at Cricket Australia where he and India’s Anil Kumble (619). conference in Melbourne in was credited with increasing James Anderson was left just Anderson started the day August 2010. participation in the sport, par- one shy of becoming only the in sight of the select group af- ticularly among women. fourth bowler to take 600 Test ter taking 5-56 – his 29th five- AFP He was heavily involved wickets as a combination of wicket haul in 156 Tests – dur- Sydney with the introduction of the poor catching, bad weather ing Pakistan’s first-innings 273. highly-successful Twenty20 and some determined Paki- Scoreboard He might even have James Sutherland was Mon- Big Bash League and day- stan batting conspired against reached the landmark late on day appointed head of Golf Aus- night Test cricket. England 1st Innings 583-8 decl the England paceman at Pakistan 1st Innings 273 Sunday had not three catches tralia, two years after stepping But he also endured a pay Southampton on Monday. Pakistan 2nd Innings (following-on) been dropped off his bowling down as the country’s cricket war with players in his final Anderson, denied an early Shan Masood lbw b Broad ��������������������������������� 18 with the new ball. chief in the wake of a damaging few years and came under in- Abid Ali lbw b Anderson �������������������������������������� 42 breakthrough when Jos But- Azhar Ali not out �������������������������������������������������� 29 And there was more frus- ball-tampering scandal. tense pressure in 2018 when tler dropped a routine chance Babar Azam not out �����������������������������������������������4 tration for Anderson when The 55-year-old will take Steve Smith, David Warner to reprieve Shan Masood, re- Extras: (lb7) ����������������������������������������������������������7 Masood, on three, edged an in- over from Stephen Pitt from and Cameron Bancroft at- turned for a third spell late on Total: (For 2 wkts, 56 overs, 249 mins) ���������� 100 tended drive outside off-stump October 1. tempted to alter the ball dur- To bat: Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Mohammad the fourth day of the third Test Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad only for the ball to hit Buttler “I’m genuinely excited to ing a Test in South Africa. to have opener Abid Ali lbw. Abbas, Naseem Shah. on the thigh as he failed to get have the opportunity to work They were all sent home That took the 38-year-old Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Masood), 2-88 (Abid). his gloves to a chance far less in golf, obviously for Golf Aus- in disgrace and banned in to 599 Test wickets but even Bowling: Anderson 12-3-18-1; Broad 11-5-23-1; difficult than several catches tralia, but more importantly for one of the biggest scandals to Woakes 8-2-14-0; Archer 9-5-8-0; Bess 14-3-27-0; though the floodlights were Root 2-0-3-0. he held on Sunday. the sport around the nation,” engulf the sport, which saw a on, the umpires ruled the only Match position: Pakistan are 210 runs behind with England batsman Ol- said Sutherland, who headed slew of executives at Cricket way play could continue safely eight second-innings wickets standing. lie Pope injured his shoulder Cricket Australia for 17 years. Australia leave. was with spin from both ends. Toss: England. chasing a ball to the boundary Golf Australia chairman Sutherland insisted he cri- As a result Anderson, who and was replaced by James Andrew Newbold said it was a sis had no bearing on his deci- had miserly figures of 1-18 Bracey, with the substitute coup to secure someone with sion to quit. from 12 overs was replaced fielder summing up the hosts’ by England captain Joe Root, morning when his needless who bowled his part-time off- shy at the stumps led to four breaks in partnership with England’s James Anderson reacts after England’s Jos Buttler (not in the pic) fails to take a catch off his bowling overthrows. frontline spinner Dom Bess. on the fourth day of the third Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Monday. (AFP) Pakistan resumed on Mon- Oz ready to hit ground running But with the natural light day a huge 310 runs behind a fading, the umpires decided captain, was 29 not out follow- Buttler drop a fourth catch in for a painstaking 42, with the total built on Zak Crawley’s Sydney: Justin Langer said his their lockdown and they will play conditions were unsafe even ing his first-innings century 37 balls off his bowling. batsman’s fruitless review 267 and Buttler’s 152. The pair Australia squad are super-fit four inter-squad warm-up games under for slow bowling. and Babar Azam unbeaten on After an initial rain break leaving Pakistan 88-2. shared an England fifth-wick- and ready to hit the ground run- to get match-ready after nearly Rain then fell to end any four. of more than three-and-a-half et record stand of 359. ning ahead of departing Sunday six months of inaction since hope of a resumption, with If England, as now seems hours, Masood fell lbw playing Select group Azhar’s superb 141 not out for a white-ball tour of England, the pandemic brought sport to more showers forecast for highly likely, avoid defeat they no shot to Stuart Broad for 18. No paceman has yet reached kept England at bay longer their first cricket since March. a halt. Tuesday’s final day. will win their first Test cam- The left-hander reviewed the landmark figure of 600 than looked likely after his side The 21-man squad gathered in They will head to a bio-secure Pakistan, following on, paign against Pakistan in a the decision but once again Test wickets. collapsed to 75-5 on Sunday. Perth before taking a direct flight hub in Southampton for the first were 100-2 – still 210 runs decade. Root’s men are 1-0 up technology upheld Michael The only bowlers ahead of Azhar found an ally in after which they will face several of three Twenty20s on Septem- behind England’s first innings in a three-match campaign. Gough’s original verdict. the 38-year-old Anderson in Mohammad Rizwan, with the days of isolation in Derby due to ber 4 against an England side 583-8 declared – at the close. Anderson started the day Anderson, switched to the all-time list are three re- wicketkeeper making 53 in a coronavirus restrictions. who have been back in action Azhar Ali, the Pakistan with 598 wickets and then saw Gough’s end, had Abid lbw tired spinners – Sri Lanka’s sixth-wicket stand of 138. Training will be permitted during since early July. (AFP) Medvedev makes strong start, NBA Kvitova shocked in opener Doncic nails epic buzzer-beater; DPA/AFP Celtics, Raptors set up clash New York AFP Daniil Medvedev com- Miami menced his Cincinnati title de- fence campaign with a smooth Luka Doncic wasn’t about to 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ameri- let a sprained ankle slow him can qualifier Marcos Giron to down, nailing a game-winning move into the third round on three-pointer at the buzzer to Monday, while Petra Kvitova lift the Dallas Mavericks to a fell in her opener to Marie 135-133 overtime playoff win Bouzkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. over the Los Angeles Clippers Cincinnati was one of six on Sunday. consecutive finals Medvedev The 21-year old Slovenian reached last season - a sensa- phenom, who was playing with tional run that also included a a tender ankle and missing his runner-up show at the US Open. offensive sidekick Kristaps Por- A break in the fifth game zingis, finished with 43 points, was enough to give Medve- 17 rebounds and 13 assists to dev the first set over Giron in level the first-round NBA West- Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic celebrates a game winning three point 42 minutes and the Russian ern Conference playoff series at basket with teammates against the LA Clippers during overtime in number three seed broke early two games each. Game Four of the Western Conference First Round of the 2020 in the second to advance at the “This game was from an- NBA Playoffs on Sunday. (AFP) Western & Southern Open, other planet,” said Mavericks relocated from Cincinnati to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns a shot to Maria Bouzkova of Czech Republic during the Western & coach Rick Carlisle of Doncic’s Porzingis. Doncic sprained his With their backs against New York this year. He takes Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sunday. (Getty Images/AFP) heroics. Doncic made a basket left ankle in the second half of the wall, Joel Embiid and the on Aljaz Bedene next. with 50 seconds left to tie the game three and had an MRI on 76ers kept it close and trailed “I’m just looking to try to due the coronavirus pandemic. and is accustomed to such dif- joined Medvedev in the last 16 score 130-130 then gave Dallas Saturday to determine the ex- by just two points late in the make the same, it’s not easy. I Her last appearance was in ficult conditions, saved three with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Brit- a two-point lead with a spin- tent of the damage. third quarter before forward don’t think many players were Doha, where she was runner- break points in the final game, ain’s Dan Evans. ning move to the basket with “This morning I wasn’t Tobias Harris took a hard fall able to do it in their careers, it up to Aryna Sabalenka. and needed five match points Britain’s Johanna Konta, 19 seconds remaining. feeling good but as soon as I under the basket, his head was something unbelievable,” The two-time Wimble- to complete the upset. the eighth seed, showed no He capped his triple-dou- stepped on the court I knew slamming the hardwood. said Medvedev, reflecting on don champion, seeded sixth “Being from Czech Re- signs of the heart palpitations ble with a 27-foot step-back I could go,” said Doncic, who Harris was able to leave his stellar run last summer. in New York this week, start- public like me, she’s an idol. that affected her in Lexing- jumper from the left side as recorded his second straight the court under his own steam, “Of course I cannot predict ed strong against her fellow I watched her so many times ton earlier this month, as she time ticked down, sparking a triple-double. holding a towel to his left eye the future but I’m going to try Czech but appeared to struggle in Fed Cup when I was small. blasted past Belgium’s Kirsten wild celebration on the floor in Said Carlisle: “He sees the and temple, and returned after to do my best.” in the heat and humidity as the So today to get the win is ex- Flipkens 6-2, 6-0 in a 63-min- the NBA’s quarantine bubble game in 6G, not 5G. He is a treatment for what the team Kvitova, a two-time Cincin- match went on. tremely amazing for me,” said ute second round clash. She in Orlando, Florida. very special player.” said was a cut over the eye. nati semi-finalist, was in fine The 48th-ranked Bouz- the 22-year-old Bouzkova af- plays either Laura Siegemund “I can’t explain the emotions Trey Burke added 25 But the Celtics closed the third form before the tennis tour kova, who spent the last few ter the win. or Vera Zvonareva for a spot in I had when I saw the ball go in,” points, Tim Hardaway scored quarter on a 12-0 run that effec- was suspended early March months training in Florida Canadian Milos Raonic the quarter-finals. Doncic said. “When I saw the 21 and Seth Curry chipped in tively ended the 76ers’ hopes. whole team coming towards me 15 points for Dallas, who led “I feel like the game flipped that was one of the best feelings by 12 with nine minutes re- when Tobias went out,” Sixers I have ever had as a player.” maining in the fourth quarter. coach Brett Brown said. While Dallas levelled their Lou Williams had 36 The Celtics will face the Quick read series, Boston became the points and Kawhi Leonard defending NBA champion Spain’s Suarez Navarro pulls out of US Open Djokovic pulls out of doubles in tune-up first team to reach the second finished with 32 points for the Toronto Raptors who moved round with a 110-106 victory Clippers, who blew a 21-point onto the next round after New YORK: Two-time US Open quarter-finalist Carla Suarez Nav- New YORK: World number one Novak Djokovic withdrew from doubles over the Philadelphia 76ers. first-half lead. sweeping the Brooklyn Nets. arro of Spain pulled out of the upcoming Grand Slam tournament Sunday at the Western & Southern Open in New York, citing neck pain. Kemba Walker scored 32 Game five is on Tuesday. Reserve Norman Powell Monday citing unspecified “health reasons”. Suarez, 31 and ranked The top-seeded Serbian was still scheduled to open singles play on points and Jayson Tatum added Meanwhile, the Celtics’ scored a career playoff high 68th in the world, had already pulled out of this week’s Western Monday against qualifierR icardis Berankis of Lithuania after a first- 28 and 15 rebounds for the Celt- Walker, who arrived in Boston 29 points and the Raptors won & Southern Open, the ATP and WTA event usually held in Cincin- round bye. Djokovic had been entered in doubles with compatriot Filip ics, who swept the Eastern Con- after eight seasons of frustra- their series with a dominating nati but moved this year to the National Tennis Center in New York Krajinovic, but he pulled out before their scheduled opener on Sunday ference first-round series 4-0. tion with the Charlotte Hor- 150-122 victory in Orlando. where players are competing in a quarantine “bubble.” The US against Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe of the United States. The Doncic, who is playing in his nets, was basking in his first Serge Ibaka came off the Open will begin at the venue on August 31. “Unfortunately I had to tournament normally played in Cincinnati, Ohio, is being held this year firstNB A playoffs, carried the NBA playoff series win. bench to score a playoff career withdraw from the @usopen due to health reasons,” she said on in a quarantine bubble at the US Tennis Association’s Billie Jean King Mavericks Sunday without Por- “It feels good,” Walker said high 27 points and grabbed Twitter. “I’m not ready to compete at the moment, so I’m following National Tennis Center, where the US Open will start on August 31. zingis, who was a late scratch but added: “The work’s not 15 rebounds for Toronto, who medical advice.” Suarez will be replaced in the main draw of the US Djokovic won the title in Cincinnati in 2018 to become the only player because of a knee injury. done. We won a series, but swept a best-of-seven series Open by Japan’s Kurumi Nara, ranked 142 in the world. (AFP) to win all nine of the ATP’s elite Masters 1000 tournaments. (AFP) But the pre-game buzz was we’re still looking forward to for the first time in their fran- all about Doncic’s health, not some more tough ones.” chise history. Sports Tuesday, August 25, 2020 15 Al Kharaitiyat crowned second division football champions

Tribune News Network moted to the Second Division DOHA last season following a lengthy stint at the top flight, but the Al Kharaitiyat were official- club dominated this season ly crowned Second Division’s from the early stages and se- champions after sharing a cured the promotion with 1-1 draw with Muaither at three rounds to spare. the Grand Hamad Stadium Meanwhile, at the Suhaim on Sunday. bin Hamad Stadium, Al Markh- Ayoub Widrasi opened iya got the better of Mesaimeer the score for Muaither against 3-2 in a keenly contested match the run of play on 16 min- which secured them second utes, while Rashid Teberk- place and the chance to return enin maintained his blazing to the QNB Stars League. hot form by equalising for the Al Markhiya are now poised champions just five minutes to face Al Khor in a one match inside the second half. promotion playoff scheduled The result propelled Al for Friday, 28 August. Kharaitiyat’s tally to 37 points, The Qatar Football Asso- Al Markhiya ended as the runners-up. They will now play Al Khor in a meanwhile Muaither finished ciation (QFA) regulations stip- one-match promotion playoff on August 28. their season with 25 points in ulate that the club coming in fifth place. last position in First Division while the club ranked 11th in against the club ranked second Al Kharaitiyat players celebrate with the second division Qatar Football Association shield at the Grand Al Kharaitiyat were de- will join the Second Division, the First Division will play in Second Division. Hamad Stadium on Sunday. Suazo: Honduras have quality, real match-winners VAR set to make AFC Champions ‘The Panther’ on his qualifying experiences and the road to FIFA Qatar 2022 member of one of the another key factor was hav- Coito, will do a really good job, League debut finest generations of ing a coaching team that had because he’s got a very prom- Aplayers Honduras has worked with us for four years. ising squad of players. There AFC ever produced, David Suazo There was nothing improvised are a lot of youngsters but Kuala Lumpur knows better than anyone just about it and it helped Rueda to they’ve got quality. how hard and how satisfying get to know the players well, to The Asian Football Confeder- it is to reach the FIFA World pick out a captain like Amado Who do you think are the ation’s (AFC) commitment to Cup™. The former front man, Guevara and to blend home- key players in the squad? ensure Asian refereeing con- who ran out for the likes of grown players with those of us The experience of Maynor tinues to set new benchmarks Inter Milan and Benfica in playing abroad. It all helped Figueroa and Emilio Izaguirre was further underlined after his playing days, was on hand create a very strong team. is going to help and the Hon- it confirmed the implemen- as an assistant at this week’s duras forward line has a lot of tation of the Video Assistant Concacaf Preliminary Draw David Suazo starred in Honduras’ FIFA World Cup return in 2010. What was it like to play promise about it too: Anthony Referee (VAR) system from for the FIFA World Cup Qa- at the World Cup after so Lozano, who plays in Spain; the Quarter-final stage of the tar 2022™, which gave fifa. have to make the most of your duran. It was an incredible at- many years of waiting? Alberth Elis, who plays for 2020 AFC Champions League com the opportunity to ask home matches, and we lost mosphere. I ended my national team Houston Dynamo; and Romell – the first time that VAR will him about the qualifiers and just one of them, to USA, and We won but the USA-Cos- career on a high because going Quioto (Montreal Impact). All be introduced in the AFC’s his favourites to represent the won all the rest. ta Rica game was still going to and playing at the World Cup three of them are match-win- Club Competitions. region at the big event. We had a really good gen- on when our match finished. is what every player aspires to. I ners. I hope they believe it too, Asian football history was eration of players, with a lot of You can imagine what those thank God that I was able to do because they’ve got all the mak- made in 2019 when VAR made strengthen the AFC’s capabili- You took part in three guys playing in Europe. And five minutes were like for us: that with a great team. We also ings of being match-winners. its debut from the Quarter-fi- ties in the VAR system appli- qualifying competitions we also have to thank USA the longest of my whole ca- showed the way forward be- nal stage of the AFC Asian Cup cation in the AFC Champions and finally made it to South too because they helped us go reer (laughs)! We stayed on cause Honduras went and qual- Who are your favourites in the United Arab Emirates League, a virtual AFC VAR In- Africa 2010 in the third. through by scoring in the last the pitch waiting for the match ified for the next World Cup, to claim Concacaf’s 3.5 before the system was suc- formation Officer (VIO) Work- What did you make of the minute against Costa Rica. to end. We thought we were which helped all these young- qualification places? cessfully implemented across shop 2020 will be organised whole qualifying process? What are your memories out and then USA scored very sters believe that we could be in These preliminaries will all 32 matches at the AFC U23 on August 26 to ensure VIOs Honduras made it back to of that last day of the quali- late on, which meant another the regional elite. show us what the standard is Championship Thailand 2020 are well informed on the latest the World Cup after 28 long fiers, when Honduras beat El celebration. We couldn’t have like in Concacaf. In the end, in January. VAR developments. years of trying, which just goes Salvador with a Carlos Pavon been happier. After missing out on Rus- though, I think Mexico, USA, Having organised numer- The VAR system, which to show how difficult it is to goal that you set up and USA sia 2018, Honduras are Honduras and Costa Rica are ous VAR courses and semi- aims to provide minimum qualify, because you come up drew 2-2 with Costa Rica? Coached by Reinaldo about to have another the favourites to make it to Qa- nars since March 2017, the interference with maximum against really strong teams Our match was amazing. Rueda, what was special crack at World Cup quali- tar. It’s going to be tough be- AFC has a proven track record benefit, is limited to four like Costa Rica, USA and Mex- We were away but it was the about the team that made fication. How do you rate cause it’s a very long road, but in the implementation of the game-changing decisions or ico. They’re very tough sides to first time ever that Honduras history by qualifying for their chances of making it I reckon those four teams will VAR system which has been incidents, specifically – goal or play in their own backyards. played ‘at home’ in a foreign South Africa? to Qatar? be fighting it out for the quali- endorsed by both FIFA and no goal, penalty-kicks, direct We did really well in 2010 country. I reckon at least half Aside from the European It’s a very young side and fication places. They’ve got the the IFAB. red cards and mistaken iden- though. In the qualifiers you the 40,000 crowd were Hon- experience that a lot of us had, I know that the coach, Fabian quality to do it. Additionally, to further tity decisions.

Zamalek claim Cairo 5th IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport bragging rights Aspetar experts to share insights on AFP instead of letting players return Johannesburg to their homes. Raja have 45 points as they Al Ahly may be on course for seek to become champions for illness, injury-prevention for athletes a record-extending 42nd Egyp- the first time since 2013, five tian Premier League title, but points more than Wydad Casa- Tribune News Network paediatric athlete, prevent- the bragging rights in Cairo on blanca, Mouloudia Oujda and Doha ing overuse injuries in team Monday belonged to fierce rivals Renaissance Berkane. sports, how to prevent ham- Zamalek. SOUTH AFRICA: Close en- Aspetar experts will be play- string injuries and one of the The White Knights defeated counters have been a feature ing key roles in the world’s most interesting topics ahead the Red Devils 3-1 at the week- of the South African Absa Pre- premier sports medicine of the Games, presented by end thanks to goals from Mosta- miership since the season re- event, the IOC World Confer- Prof. Sebastien Racinais, Head fa Mohamed and Osama Faisal started this month after being ence on Prevention of Injury of Research entitled ‘Tropical after Yassir Ibrahim of Ahly suspended in March due to the & Illness in Sport. The event paradise or danger zone? Beat had cancelled an Ahmed Sayed COVID-19 outbreak. is intended for individuals and the heat to protect athletes in a strike. Fourteen of the first 26 organisations with an interest sweltering 2020 Tokyo’. It was the first loss of the matches were drawn, 10 won by in the clinical aspects of sports Prof. Roald Bahr, IOCs season for record eight-time Af- one goal and the other two by and exercise medicine, only a Chair of the Scientific Commit- rican champions Ahly after 18 two goals, including a stunning few months before the largest tee of the conference and Head victories and two draws under 3-1 triumph for Bloemfontein sporting event, the 2020 To- Dr. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, CEO, of the Aspetar Sports Injury Swiss coach Rene Weiler. Celtic over leaders Kaizer Chiefs. kyo Olympic Games. Aspetar. and Illness Prevention Pro- Ahly have 54 points with 13 The biggest crowd-pullers The 5th IOC World Con- gramme, said: “I am grateful rounds remaining, Zamalek 42, have fared poorly in four match- ference on Prevention of In- to Aspetar for contributing no Pyramids 39 and Al Mokawloon es each behind closed doors jury and Illness in Sport was The 5th IOC World less than 15 staff members as Al Arab 37. with Chiefs dropping seven initially scheduled to be on Conference on Prevention speakers, including the pres- EGYPT: With Ahly set to points and second-place Ma- March 2020 but had to be of Injury and Illness in tigious keynote spot with Prof. finish first, there is a three-club melodi Sundowns and Orlando moved until February 2021 Sport was initially sched- Sebastien Racinais on how to contest for second position and Pirates nine. due to the coronavirus (COV- uled to be on March 2020 prepare for the challenging cli- the prize of being the other TUNISIA: Tunisian Ligue ID-19) outbreak. The event mate awaiting participants in Egyptian representatives in the Professionnelle 1 title-holders will now take place in Monaco but had to be moved until Tokyo for the Olympic Games 2021 CAF Champions League. Esperance retained a 10-point from the 11th till the 13th of February 2021 due the in July. Few, if any, other insti- Own-goals played decisive lead over CS Sfaxien with five February 2021 and will bring coronavirus (COVID-19) tutions world-wide can match roles in the fortunes of Pyra- rounds left after the clubs together a diverse faculty rep- outbreak. The event will the wide-ranging spectre of ex- mids and Mokawloon, who trail achieved contrasting victories. resenting the foremost inter- now take place in Monaco pertise provided by Aspetar”. second-place Zamalek by three Four-time African champi- national expertise on injury from the 11th till the 13th It is noteworthy that As- and five points respectively. ons Esperance edged seventh- and illness prevention. and researchers to join hands lems associated with sports petar in November 2012 cre- A Mohamed Nady own-goal place 2-1 in a Aspetar’s participation in with healthcare professionals, participation, using a multidis- of February 2021 and will ated a sustainable long-term in stoppage time gave Pyra- derby through goals from the upcoming conference as sharing insights on illness & ciplinary approach. The pro- bring together a diverse programme on injury and ill- mids a 2-1 win at Smouha while Algerian Abderrahmane Mezi- partner of the conference, and injuries prevention in sports. gramme will consist of guest faculty representing the ness prevention, the Aspetar Mokawloon fell 1-0 away to As- ane and Youssef Mosrati. is considering its partnership We are proud to be partners speakers, panel discussions, foremost international Sports Injury and Illness wan after Ahmed al Shimi put Goals during the final six with the IOC as being one of in such a prestigious event. As symposia, workshops, free expertise on injury and Prevention Programme (AS- the ball into his own net. minutes from Jassem Ham- its accredited research cen- an IOC Research Centre for communications and posters. PREV), which is based on the MOROCCO: Leaders Raja douni and Walid Karoui sealed a tres and part of Aspetar fun- the Prevention of Injury and Aspetar experts including illness prevention. two main conjoined elements Casablanca and their three clos- surprisingly comfortable 4-0 tri- damental role to protect the Protection of Athlete Health, several recognised profession- of research and implementa- est challengers for the Moroccan umph for Sfaxien at sixth-place health of athletes and prevent Aspetar is committed to shar- als in the area of injury and case studies, informative panel tion. The objectives and activi- Botola Pro 1 title had their week- Ben Guerdane. injuries and illnesses ing the knowledge with our illness prevention have been discussions and workshops. ties within ASPREV are closely end fixtures postponed due to ESWATINI: Young Buffa- Commenting on Aspetar’s partners around the world”. invited as members of the sci- The attending experts aligned with those of the IOC; the coronavirus pandemic. loes have been declared eSwati- participation, Chief Executive Like previous editions, entific committee. will offer insights, obtained Aspetar has been recognised The setbacks came after of- ni (formerly Swaziland) cham- Officer of Aspetar, Dr. Ab- the conference will present Thor Einar Andersen, Chief through real-life case interac- as an IOC Research Centre for ficials ordered all 16 clubs to stay pions after the Premier League dulaziz Jaham Al Kuwari, said, evidence-based information of Sports medicine in Aspetar, tions, on topics including load the Prevention of Injury and in hotels or sport centres when was cancelled with eight rounds “this conference is an ideal op- on the prevention of injuries, and fifteen high-level experts management in elite football, Protection of Athlete Health they are not training or playing to go because of the coronavirus. portunity for Aspetar’s experts illness and other health prob- from Aspetar will present their cardiac screening of the elite since November 2014. 16 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 The Last Word HBKU set to meet students’ needs in these tough times, say deans that is communicated here is mer which only added to their commercial law, racism and HBKU CHSS recently welcomed 61 new that we are all in it together existing expertise. Our faculty sustainability, and taxation in students to its four MA programmes and need to work collectively have always been implement- Qatar. The online platform will to get through the pandemic ing new teaching and learning enable us to draw in speakers Ailyn Agonia Tribune, Dean Malki stressed while helping and supporting techniques (flipped classes for from around the world as well doha the preparedness of Qatar each other.” example), and integrating dif- as attract a global audience”, Foundation, in general, as it Further talking about the ferent types of content using she said. THE college is fully ready to followed strict precautionary preparedness of CHSS for multiple modalities (audiovisu- On the new mechanisms receive its incoming and re- procedures and prepared all the new academic year, Malki al for example).” and programmes the college turning students, whether its buildings whether schools, highlighted the preparations Meanwhile, with an enroll- has put in place to ensure the in-person or online, said Dr universities and research insti- and necessary adjustments ment of about 45 students for students get to maximise their Amal Al Malki, founding dean tutes for the beginning of the made by the institution to en- the new academic year at the learning experience at HBKU, of the College of Humanities academic year. sure the delivery of quality of HBKU College of Law, Dean she stressed that having a reg- and Social Sciences (CHSS), She also said that the pan- Dr Amal Al Malki Dr Susan Karamanian education despite the prevail- Susan Karamanian said they ular series of activities outside one of the six colleges at the demic did not affect the col- ing global situation. have seen an increase in the of the regular classroom set- Hamad Bin Khalifa University lege’s enrolment rates and a global pandemic, and in both been positive is it highlighted She said, “We will begin the number of students in their ting, such as lectures and col- (HBKU). even cited that there was a situations we didn’t allow for the importance of multidisci- semester online as all of our degree programmes. loquia, will enable the college Recently, HBKU welcomed huge interest in CHSS pro- compromises when it came to plinary research”, Dean Malki programmes and classes will “It’s been a busy summer to bring its entire community more than 360 students for grammes locally, regionally our educational mission and said in her message to the in- start next week. Our digital plat- as we adjust to having at least together. the new academic year. CHSS and internationally. However, our students’ access to learn- coming students at HBKU. forms presented a very smooth the first month of classes and “Life is about addressing has welcomed 61 new stu- she added, they decided to ing. The pandemic has cer- She added, “Our faculty transition as the university has co-curricular activities online. and overcoming challenges. dents across its four MA pro- postpone launching their new tainly altered the ways through and students have started the best online tools which were Over the summer, some of our Stay engaged in the moment grammes (Translation Stud- Master’s programme in Inter- which we create and present working on research with mul- fully utilised when we had to faculty took a special course yet keep a watchful eye on the ies, Audiovisual Translation, cultural Communication de- our classes, but I think the sil- tiple entities and disciplines on migrate all of our classes online on how to best use the online long-term and short-term. Be Women, Society and Develop- spite the high enrolment rates ver lining was that it was about the socio-economic impact of last semester. The university platform, and thus we expect patient and appreciate that ment, and Digital Humanities due to the pandemic. time to consider self-paced and the pandemic on multiple sec- has been working on an online to see a more interactive on- each person is experiencing his and Societies), including eight “Our message has always other new forms of teaching, tors of the world’s population strategy amid crises and pan- line approach to teaching. We or her own unique set of diffi- doctorate students in its PhD been aligned to QF’s and that which digital learning offers. (for example women, refugees, demics, which was finalised have also lined up a number culties during these unsettling programme. is learning never stops. We Another way in which change communities of people with recently. Our faculty enjoyed of webinars on timely issues, times”, Dean Karamanian said In an interview with Qatar have faced a blockade and now caused by the pandemic has special needs, etc. The message extensive training during sum- including the pandemic and while addressing students. QU makes updates HBKU’s QEERI, Qatar stakeholders to its educational collaborate on project to detect plan for Fall 2020 Tribune News Network projects, as well as courses of spe- COVID-19 presence in wastewater Doha cial nature that require students to attend on-campus following the The Higher Committee for Health approval of the college dean. Aca- The project aims to find out the prevalence of coronavirus in municipality wastewater and Safety at Qatar University (QU) demic departments ensure that all has announced an updated plan safety measures announced by the Tribune News Network cases in the population based on for Fall 2020 in view of the fourth university are applied. Doha the levels found in wastewater. phase of the lifting of COVID-19 re-  Internship, fieldwork, pre- “These efforts are now moving strictions in the country, which is ceptorship and clinical practice A newly launched collaborative re- from proof of concept to regular expected to start on September 1. courses. Colleges are to develop a search project led by Qatar Envi- surveillance at the national level. The new plan is part of the uni- mechanism in coordination with ronment and Energy Research In- Data collected from eight weeks versity’s efforts to ensure a smooth the training bodies and according to stitute (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin sampling have indicated a very educational process in the coming the safety measures announced by Khalifa University (HBKU), has clear trend that matches the decay semester. the relevant authorities. been able to monitor the municipal in reported clinical cases by MoPH QU said it will commit to the fol-  Main (midterm and final) ex- wastewater for the novel coronavi- until July 26, 2020. With the ease lowing instructions regarding the ams for all courses will be conducted rus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). of restrictions and return to school, teaching method during Fall 2020. on campus regardless of the teaching This national effort is a col- our wastewater surveillance pro- These instructions will remain ef- method of these courses (online or laboration with the Public Works gramme will be very useful in de- fective until further notice: on-campus). A plan for conducting Authority (Ashghal), Weill-Cornell tecting any change in COVID-19  Classes will continue accord- midterm and final exams will be de- Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), Qa- trends. The second phase of the ing to the announced Fall 2020 cal- veloped and shared early enough be- tar Biomedical Research Institute study will involve frequent sam- endar with no changes. fore the exam date with making sure (QBRI) and Hamad Medical Cor- pling from wastewater treatment  All academic policies and pro- that all safety measures are applied. poration (HMC). The project forms plants and selected catchment cedures suspended during Spring  Office hours will be provided part of the environmental testing areas in Qatar,” said Dr Khaled 2020 are reactivated. online by faculty members pilot programme launched by the Mahmoud, research program di-  Teaching will continue to be  Library, learning centres and Scientific Reference and Research rector of Water Quality at QEERI online except for students enrolled student services (academic advis- Task Force of the Ministry of Public The national effort comes as part of collaboration with the Public Works Author- and the project lead. in some specific courses. Faculty ing, career services, student learn- Health (MoPH), which was estab- ity (Ashghal), Weill-Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), Qatar Biomedical Research Dr Marc Vermeersch, execu- members teaching these courses ing support, student counselling, lished in response to the COVID-19 Institute (QBRI) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). tive director, QEERI, added: “Our will communicate directly with special needs services and finan- pandemic to provide scientific evi- primary objective at QEERI is to their students to notify them that cial aid services) will continue to dence to Qatar’s policymakers for evaluate if the virus could be moni- Wastewater monitoring is a support Qatar in any way we can to teaching will be on campus. These provide their services online and data-based decision making. tored. After processing multiple useful tool that can potentially as- tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. We courses include: face-to-face whenever is possible. Infection with COVID-19 leaves samples at QEERI, the collabora- sist MoPH in determining the life- are proud to lead this collabora-  Graduate studies courses Additional details regarding these traces of the virus in human waste. tive team measured COVID-19 cycle of the pandemic and in un- tion, and we believe that the tech- (diploma, masters and doctoral services will be announced later. Therefore, quantifying the viral levels in the sewage using the derstanding how it spreads. This nical knowledge of our scientists degrees). Face-to-face teaching on The committee also emphasised material level in wastewater of- quantitative reverse transcriptase- knowledge can help ascertain and working within QEERI’s laborato- campus will start on September 1. the importance of staying updated fers a good gauge of the infection’s polymerase chain reaction (qRT- provide a level of assurance in the ries and facilities, combined with  Practical laboratory courses regarding the different announce- prevalence among the population. PCR) technique, performed at efficacy of the implemented control the immense expense of our col- that require students to attend ments and instructions that will be This cheap, non-invasive tool has WCM-Q and QBRI. measures. In addition, the tech- laborators such as Ashghal, WCM- physically and perform hands-on sent out later from different sectors been shown globally to predict a The concentration of viral RNA, nique will allow early warning of a Q, QBRI and HMC, can definitely experiment in the laboratory. De- and departments such as the Stu- rise in COVID-19 positive cases in and its variations over time, can be resurgence of the virus. make a tangible difference to how partments offering these labs will dent Affairs Sector, Campus Facili- the population before the increase utilised to monitor the presence The wastewater monitoring Qatar is dealing with the pandem- monitor the teaching process in ties and General Services Depart- in case numbers begins to show in and changes in disease prevalence effort will ensure that sewage is ic.” light of the announced safety meas- ment, etc. Given the nature of the clinics. in the population, in near-real- regularly analysed for traces of the Since the onset of the COVID-19 ures by the university. Students will pandemic, all plans remain subject During the pilot phase of the time. The relative concentrations of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. pandemic, QEERI has realigned its attend these courses on campus to reviews and updates according to project, Ashghal provided sewage this viral material in sewage should QEERI will employ a modelling ap- research priorities to contribute to starting from September 6. the directives received from the rel- samples from various wastewater be proportional to the number of proach to estimate the number of the fight against COVID-19 through  Graduation and research evant authorities. treatment plants across Qatar to infected cases. symptomatic and asymptomatic research and innovation.

Drug repurposing is practical in treatment of COVID-19: QU experts Tribune News Network with the drugs and the lack of cieties, the cost of drug ex- repurposing for COVID-19 Doha statistically significant clini- ploration is a major barrier treatment comes with added cal data that can prove effi- for many. Here, within the costs for evaluating the thera- THE coronavirus (COVID-19) cacy. context of cost, treating COV- pies and their safety via clini- has created an unprecedented Dr Fatima Mraiche, asso- ID-19 with repurposed drugs cal studies in real-world set- situation all over the world ciate professor of Pharmacol- leads to significant cost sav- tings of COVID-19 patients, with no drugs available to ogy and Pathophysiology at ings since experiments related this cost is easily surpassed treat this virus. As a result, the College of Pharmacy, QU to general drug safety, phar- by the cost-saving associated the need to find a cure has Health, Qatar University, has macokinetics and the route with not having to develop made scientists and clinicians been involved in research that of administration are already new drugs.” to go for drug ‘repurposing’, a looks at the new use of exist- performed. It is important to Dr Badriyeh clarified, process that involves finding ing drugs. She said, “Drug re- emphasise, nonetheless, that however, that “potential a new use for an ‘old’ drug. purposing is a useful strategy Dr Fatima Mraiche Dr Hazem Elewa Dr Daoud Al Badriyeh, cost savings cannot be what cost saving with repurposed Drug repurposing is ap- for using existing therapeu- solely defines successful re- drugs may not be achieved, pealing as the safety, efficacy, tics for new indications.” tients, repurposing drugs ap- do not. If this is not done, or at most, very modest ben- purposing of drugs. A suc- given that drug companies and toxicity of an existing Her current work investi- proved for other indications you may end up using drugs efits from this combination. cessful repurposing has to be could potentially be inclined drug have been extensively gates SGLT2 inhibitors, anti- to be used in the treatment that do not add any benefits In addition, this combina- confirmed via clinical studies to support non-commercial studied by the US Food and diabetic agents, which show of SARS-COV-2 is a smart, or with harmful side effects. tion is associated with cardiac that investigate the impact of efforts of repurposing. For Drug Administration and/ remarkable cardiovascular fast and practical idea. How- A good example is the use toxicity. Currently, the CDC, several important factors that example, based on a recent or the European Medicines benefits and could be repur- ever, the health systems in of hydroxychloroquine and WHO, and many internation- vary with the change in drug economic study published at Agency. This is appealing dur- posed as novel cardio protec- different countries have to azithromycin in COVID-19 al organisations recommend use, including the relevance the Journal of Virus Eradica- ing an emergency when time tive interventions in high-risk assess the use of these repur- patients. against its use, however, the of the disease, optimal dose, tion, authors calculated that is ticking and large controlled cardiovascular patients. posed drugs for safety and ef- Preliminary results from a combination is still recom- patients’ characteristics, and for one of the drugs, which trials, which take much time, Dr Hazem Elewa, asso- fectiveness in appropriately small study in France showed mended and prescribed by the drug interaction with oth- reduced duration of COVID are not suitable to address the ciate professor and head of designed studies. Then, the that this combination con- many practitioners which er concurrent drugs in COV- infections, the standard cost- existing situation. Clinical Training at the Col- repurposed drugs should be tributed to a reduction in time may be extremely harmful to ID-19 patients. effectiveness evaluations can Some countries are lege of Pharmacy, QU Health, periodically reviewed based to a clinical resolution and a patients.” Dr Daoud Al Badriyeh, as- justify a drug cost to hospitals against the use of drug repur- said, “Since supportive care on the results of these stud- reduction in viral load. Since Furthermore, with the sociate professor of Pharma- that is as high as $4,500, as- posing because of the poten- is the mainstay treatment ies to recommend those that then, many other studies already increased economic coeconomics at the College of suming a case of life saved as tial adverse effects associated approach for COVID-19 pa- work and avoid those that have shown a lack of efficacy burden of COVID-19 in so- Pharmacy, said, “while drug an outcome.