1996 - 2021 SILVER JUBILEE YEAR

UDC, subsidiaries ATTF, QTTA chief increase capital hails Qatar's share in Qatar show at Arab Cool by QR378m Championships

Business | 10 Sport | 16

Wednesday 18 August 2021 10 MOHARRAM - 1443 Volume 26 Number 8717 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 Riyals

World leaders stress Qatar’s role in intra-Afghan talks, govt formation

QNA — DOHA the developments in Afghanistan and enhancing them. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin and their repercussions. Both Meanwhile, the US Secretary Deputy Prime Hamad Al Thani held a tele- sides underlined the importance of State H E Antony Blinken has Minister and phone conversation with Chan- of continuing the talks and inten- thanked the State of Qatar for Minister of Foreign cellor of the Federal Republic sifying the necessary efforts to its role in continuing talks and AffairsH E Sheikh of Germany H E Dr. Angela achieve the national reconcili- providing the necessary Mohammed bin Merkel yesterday evening. ation and the peaceful transfer assistance in the evacuation. Abdulrahman Al During the phone call which of power for the interest of the Deputy Prime Minister and Min- Thani with Taliban H H the Amir received from H E Afghan people. ister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh delegation headed the German Chancellor, the two The phone call also touched Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al by Mullah Abdul sides reviewed the latest devel- on the strong bilateral relations Thani received yesterday a tele- Ghani Baradar in opments on the regional and between the two friendly coun- phone call from US Secretary of Doha, yesterday. international arenas, in particular tries and means of promoting State H E Antony Blinken. P2

A safer, more secure and private way QNB brings Apple Pay to customers to pay with iPhone and Apple Watch the peninsula — DOHA Al-Tamimi, General Manager, QNB create accounts or repeatedly encrypted, and securely stored in Group’s Retail Banking, said: “We type in shipping and billing the Secure Element, an industry- QNB Group, the largest financial are proud for taking the initia- information. Apple Pay makes it standard, certified chip designed institution in the Middle East tive of bringing Apple Pay to the easier to pay for food and grocery to store the payment informa- and Africa, has brought its Qatari market. QNB has a repu- deliveries, online shopping, trans- tion safely on the device. customers Apple Pay, a tation of providing its customers portation, and parking, among Apple Pay is easy to set up. On safer, more secure and with state-of-the-art technologies. other things. Apple Pay can also iPhone, simply open the Wal- private way to pay that helps With Apple Pay payment serv- be used to make payments in apps let app, tap “+”, and follow the customers avoid handing their contactless payment. Every Apple many more places. ices enabled to our customers, we on Apple Watch. steps to add QNB’s credit or payment card to someone Pay purchase is secure because QNB has developed a wide commit to address their chang- Security and privacy are at debit cards. Once customers else, touching physical buttons it is authenticated with Face ID, array of digital payment solu- ing needs with the highest and the core of Apple Pay. When cus- add a card to iPhone, Apple or exchanging cash and uses the Touch ID, or device passcode, tions in order to cope with the most advanced levels of service.” tomers use a credit or debit Watch, iPad, and Mac, they can power of iPhone to protect as well as a one-time unique challenges of the COVID-19 and Customers can also use Apple card with Apple Pay, the actual start using Apple Pay on that every transaction. dynamic security code. Apple to make payments contactless, Pay on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to card numbers are not stored on device right away. Customers Customers simply hold their Pay is accepted in grocery stores, whilst customer payment data make faster and more conven- the device, nor on Apple serv- will continue to receive all of iPhone or Apple Watch near a pharmacies, taxis, restaurants, remains secure. ient purchases in apps or on the ers. Instead, a unique Device the rewards and benefits offered payment terminal to make a coffee shops, retail stores, and Commenting on this, Heba web in Safari without having to Account Number is assigned, by QNB’s cards.  P4 02 Home Wednesday 18 August 2021 New academic year to begin with blended learning

The Peninsula — DOHA divide students into groups pro- students in one class does not viding that each group includes exceed 15 students while main- The Ministry of Education and Ensuring the progress of students and a maximum number of 15 stu- taining a distance of 1.5 metres Higher Education has decided dents, while maintaining a between them. to adopt the blended education increasing their academic achievements is social distance of 1.5 meters The Ministry stresses that system with rotation attendance the primary goal of the educational between each student. the health and safety of stu- in the school premises for process, as it represents the first and most They should have to com- dents, teaching staff, adminis- students in new academic year mitted to wearing face mask tration and all school workers 2021-22. important indicator of the school across all school stages, starting is among its most important The blended system will be performance as a whole. Let us join hands with grade 1 of primary stage priorities. for government schools as well together to accomplish this great mission in and maintaining the 50% While 94% of the educa- as for private schools and kin- capacity of the school buses tional and administrative per- dergartens according to their providing the best educational when transporting students. sonnel in all government and academic calendars. The new opportunities for our students. It is also mandatory for private schools and kinder- academic year for government school to continuously observe gartens in Qatar have received schools will open on August 29. the bubble system inside the their vaccinations. It was decided to observe an H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulwahed Al classrooms and organising the The Ministry stresses the average attendance rate of 50% Hammadi entry and exit of students to need that all administrators and in all government schools and Minister of Education and Higher Education prevent overcrowding. teachers apply the precau- private schools and kinder- Students who suffer from tionary measures and cooperate gartens, while continuously diseases that prevent them from fully with the concerned monitoring and assessing the receiving education at school authorities in the event of dis- educational process in direct human element, an essential students from grades 1 to 12 to remain in force, as it is man- are excluded from physical covering or suspecting any coordination with the Ministry pillar of building the nation. The wearing masks throughout their datory for all government and attendance, as determined by cases of contracting COVID-19. of Public Health (MoPH). achievements of our students presence in the school premises. private schools to ensure the MoPH, provided that they con- They are urged to firmly and The decision has been made in all events are the fruit of your The precautionary measures implementation of certain rules. tinue to attend their classes swiftly deal with any violation based on the updated indicators efforts and performance,” said inside school buildings will Schools are mandated to remotely. Students exempted of the precautionary measures published the by MoPH on the the Minister. from physical attendance must in schools. The Ministry reit- COVID-19 pandemic and in line He welcomed new teachers submit a recent supporting erates that any violation to with the precautionary measures and extended his support to All government and private schools and medical certificate approved by these measures will result in set by the State to preserve the them for choosing this great kindergartens to operate with average attendance MoPH. It is not allowed to go taking legal actions against the safety and health of citizens and profession, that of building gen- out on recreation. Students transgressor(s). The Ministry residents and to contain the erations for the future. rate of 50%. must eat their meals inside the also confirmed that the admin- spread of the coronavirus. “Ensuring the progress of stu- classroom. Morning assemblies istrative and teaching staff in Minister of Education and dents and increasing their aca- It is mandatory for students in grades 1 to 12 to and group activities, including government and specialised Higher Education H E Dr. demic achievements is the wear masks throughout their presence in the school trips, camps and celebrations schools, schools for students Mohammed bin Abdulwahed Al primary goal of the educational premises. are also banned. The events can with special needs, and private Hammadi has addressed school process, as it represents the first be organised remotely. Students schools and kindergartens are staff on the occasion of the and most important indicator Schools are mandated to divide students into will take all exams inside the obligated to conduct the rapid beginning of the new academic of the school performance as a school premises. antigen COVID-19 tests year. whole. Let us join hands groups with each group consisting of a maximum Specialised and technical approved by MoPH on a weekly “I congratulate you on the together to accomplish this number of 15 students. schools, and schools for stu- basis for those who did not advent of a new academic year great mission in providing the dents with special needs and receive or complete the doses to build a promising future for best educational opportunities Morning assemblies and group activities, including village-based schools shall of the COVID-19 vaccine. our students. We highly appre- for our students,” said the trips, camps and celebrations are also banned. adhere to the same attendance Those who have completed ciate your exceptional efforts, Minister. rates above-mentioned. As for doses of the COVID-19 vaccine especially during the pandemic It was also decided, in line The precautionary measures inside school buildings schools that have a small and those who have recovered period as we have a growing with the precautionary number of students, the from the disease are exempted trust in you and your role in measures announced by the will remain in force. attendance shall be 100%, pro- from conducting this building and educating the State, to make it mandatory for vided that the number of examination.​ Qatar draws global praise Chief of Staff holds for role in Afghan talks talks with Turkish and safe evacuation military officials QNA — Istanbul

Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces H E Lieu- tenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem, who is currently visiting the Discussed in a call with @SecBlinken the latest Republic of Turkey, met separately with developments on #Afghanistan and the necessity Turkish Minister of Defence H E Hulusi Akar, of reaching a comprehensive political settlement, and Chief of General Staff of the Turkish Armed including a peaceful transfer of power, protecting the Forces H E General Yasar Guler. progress of the #Afghan people & ensuring lasting The meetings reviewed the bilateral mil- peace and stability. itary relations between the two brotherly countries and ways of enhancing them. The Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces also visited Istanbul International Defense From page 1 The latest security and Industry Fair (IDEF). He was accompanied by Chief of Staff of QatarA rmed Forces H E Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen The call dealt with political developments in senior officers of the Armed Forces. Al Ghanem visiting Istanbul International Defense Industry Fair, yesterday. reviewing strategic bilateral Afghanistan were reviewed relations between the two during the phone calls. countries, and the latest Deputy Prime Minister and security and political devel- Minister of Foreign Affairs QFFD, Jordanian Higher Education Ministry opments in Afghanistan. also met yesterday morning The US Secretary of State with a delegation of Taliban thanked the State of Qatar for headed by Mullah Abdul sign MoU to develop education sector its role in continuing talks and Ghani Baradar. providing the necessary The meeting reviewed the The Peninsula — Doha by Jordan to provide them with educational of tuition fees.” assistance in the process of latest security and political services, in accordance with the selection He said that this agreement is an the evacuation. developments in Afghanistan, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and criteria from Ministry of Higher Education extension of the efforts made by Jordan The two Ministers stressed stressing on the protection of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scien- and Scientific Research of Luminus Tech- during the previous decades to develop the the importance of protecting civilians, intensifying the nec- tific Research of Jordan, have signed a nical University College (LTUC) that will education sector, which made it one of the civilians, intensifying efforts essary efforts to achieve memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement the program. leading countries in generalising primary to achieve a national recon- national reconciliation, contribute to the development and The program will include the provision school enrolment and gender equality in ciliation, and working on a working for a comprehensive Jordanian schools. comprehensive political set- political settlement and a Minister of Higher Education and Sci- tlement to ensure a peaceful peaceful transfer of power, entific Research of Jordan, Dr. Mohammed transition of power in light of with the importance of pre- Khair Abu Qudais, said: “This program will the gains the people of serving the gains made by the have the greatest impact on supporting Jor- Afghanistan have achieved. Afghan people. danian students and enabling them to com- The US Secretary of State Meanwhile, Turkish plete their studies in technical and applied tweeted: “Spoke today with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavu- disciplines required in the local and regional Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister soglu has praised Qatar for its labour market. This program will also and Minister of Foreign Affairs role in the Afghan peace talks, provide support to a large number of @MBA_AlThani_ and thanked underlining that Afghanistan refugee students residing in the Kingdom him for Qatar’s support in the needed “calm”, Anadolu and ensure a safer future for them, as they transit of US citizens and @ reported. will also be able to complete their studies.” USEmbassyKabul personnel He further said yesterday CEO of Education Above All Foundation, from Afghanistan through that Turkey is in dialogue with Fahd bin Hamad Al Sulaiti, said: “The Doha. We’re grateful for all sides in Afghanistan, agreement aimed at providing important Qatar’s assistance and our including the Taliban. educational opportunities for marginalised strong ties.” “We would like to say that youth, as we also witness new cooperation H E the Deputy Prime Min- we welcome the messages between Qatar and Jordan in the education ister and Minister of Foreign given by the Taliban so far,” sector.” Minister of Planning and Interna- Affairs also received a phone Mevlut Cavusoglu told tional Cooperation of Jordan Nasser call from Secretary-General of reporters during a joint press Shraideh stressed the Jordanian govern- the United Nations H E Antonio conference with his Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan H E Nasser Shraideh and ment’s appreciation of the QFFD and the Guterres. counterpart Ayman Al Safadi Ambassador of Qatar to Jordan H E Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani are looking Education Above All Foundation for con- During the phone call, the in Amman. on as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of JordanH E Dr. Mohammed tributing to the financing of the scholarship two sides discussed the latest Cavusoglu said he was Khair Abu Qudais and Director General of the QFFD Khalifa Al Kuwari sign the MoU. program for youth, as this program will security and political develop- referring to the group’s mes- contribute to supporting Jordanian students ments in Afghanistan and the sages on foreigners and dip- strengthening of the education sector by of several certificates, including the bach- and enabling them to complete their studies implications of the current sit- lomatic missions in the rehabilitating and improving the educa- elor’s degree, local diploma, and technical in technical and applied disciplines. uation on the country. country, as well as Afghani- tional capabilities of young people. diploma. He also referred to the support provided H E the Deputy Prime Min- stan’s people. It will be implemented in cooperation Director General of the QFFD, Khalifa by Qatar especially, a grant of QR10m to ister and Minister of Foreign “Important figures like with Education Above All Foundation which Al Kuwari, said: “This agreement comes in provide the coronavirus vaccine through Affairs also held yesterday (top peace negotiator) will implement and manage all the desig- the context of joint cooperation between Qatar Charity recently. phone calls with Minister of Abdullah Abdullah and nated projects. the two brotherly countries, which con- Ambassador of Qatar to Jordan, H E Foreign Affairs of the Republic (former president) Hamid The MoU has been singed in the tributes to the rehabilitation and Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, of Indonesia H E Retno Lestari Karzai, who had previously presence of the Minister of Planning and improvement of the educational capabil- said: “We are proud of the progress made Priansari Marsudi, and Min- been part of negotiations, are International Cooperation of Jordan, H E ities of young people through the support by the two countries in the educational ister of Foreign Affairs of the still in Kabul and are pre- Nasser Shraideh. and financing of the Scholarships Program fields at all levels, and we are looking Republic of Korea H E Chung paring for talks with the The MoU will cover 800 students of Jor- for Youth of the Qatar Scholarships forward to further to accomplish progress Eui-yong. Taliban,” added Cavusoglu. danian nationalities and refugees hosted program. The scholarships cover the costs and partnership in this area.” Wednesday 18 August 2021 Home 03

Kahramaa awards Official news tender to build Amir congratulates two substations Indonesia President Prayer DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim Timings the peninsula — DOHA bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir Prayer Timings H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation Thani, and Prime Minister and Min- (Kahramaa) has awarded a tender to build two substa- ister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid Fajr 03.47 am tions in Al Luqata and Gharfa Al Rayyan with a capacity bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani SUNRISE 05.09 am of 11/132 KV voltage. This came as part of Kahramaa’s sent yesterday cables of congratu- DHUHr 11.38 am continuous endeavour to improve the quality of the lations to President of the Republic electrical sector and develop its capabilities. of Indonesia H E Joko Widodo on Asr 03.07 pm A local company, New Noor for Contracting and the anniversary of his country’s Maghrib 06.09 pm Trading, has been selected to implement the project Independence Day. -QNA Isha 07.39 pm with an estimated Al Hammadi meets Ambassador of Malta amount of QR155m. A local company, This project New Noor for comes within the Qatari Ambassador Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al framework of Kah- Contracting and Hammadi met yesterday with Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to Qatar attends Indonesia ramaa’s continuous Trading, has H E Charles Sultana. During the meeting, cooperation relations between the two efforts to develop Independence Day countries were reviewed. electrical trans- been selected to mission networks to implement the celebrations meet the growing WEATHER power demand of the project, with an QNA — Jakarta TODAY Katara announces winners of Mobile App Ideas country at present estimated amount and in future and to Ambassador of the State of Competition in Love of Prophet Mohammed ensure the security of QR155m. Qatar to the Republic of Indo- QNA — DOHA 110 participants, as Egypt and Sudan and continuity of nesia H E Fawzia Bint Idris Al ranked first with 50 participants, and services through Sulaiti participated via video- The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) the Levant and Iraq ranked second with power transmission and distribution networks. The conferencing in the Indonesian announced the three first winners of the 27 participations, while the participation new two stations will enhance the capacity of power presidency’s celebration of the o o Mobile App Ideas Competition in Love of the GCC states reached 19. There were supply network in Al Luqata and Gharafa Al Rayyan 76th anniversary of the coun- 33 C 39 C of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon also nine participants from the Arab areas, in order to ensure the improvement of the try’s independence, with the Minimum Maximum Him), which it launched during the Maghreb countries, and five from non- quality of electrical services in these areas, which in attendance of President of the Hazy at places at first, becomes hot period from April 20 to May 29, within Arab countries. turn contributes to serving and supporting all vital Republic of Indonesia H E Joko daytime with some clouds and chance the activities of Doha Capital of Culture The competition’s organising com- future projects in the country. Widodo. of scattered rain, humid by night. in the Islamic World. mittee defined the conditions for par- W Alruwais : 32o → 34o The first-place winner was ticipation by submitting a report W Alkhor : 29o → 40o Mohammed Aref Al Dabbas from Iraq explaining the idea of the application, of who was awarded a prize of $3,000. In no less than two pages, and no more W Dukhan : 27o → 36o second place was Nardine Shafe’e Abadi than four pages, provided that the idea W Wakrah : 29o → 40o from Jordan who received $2,000, while is new, and not previously presented in W Mesaieed : 29o → 40o Anas Al Homsi from Syria came in third the application stores. W Abusamra : 25o → 40o with a prize of $1,000. If two ideas submitted are similar, This competition aims to encourage the winning idea will be the first, and the the talented and innovative young name of the idea owner will be placed HIGH TIDE people to keep pace with knowledge on the application information page. The 14:11– 23:52 economies, and to prepare a generation competition also allows the participant LOW TIDE 06:20 – 21:55 capable of entering into projects to serve to compete with more than one idea in religion and society. The competition, the same field, provided that Katara which was made available to everyone Publishing House has the right to inside or outside Qatar, attracted about implement the winning participations. Doha Forum ViewPoint series hosts Unicef Director of Criminal Evidence and Information Department Brigadier Nasser Abdullah Al Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Mahmoud attending a workshop held by Arab Interior Ministers Council via video conference. Qatar participates in Arab workshop on QNA — DOHA Higher Education in the State of partnerships in Qatar that are Qatar to help in the field of education working with digital learning plat- principles of special investigative techniques Doha Forum ViewPoint Series from home. forms in order to expand the possi- hosted Afshan Khan, the Unicef Khan said that the world has bilities of developing skills for young Regional Director for Europe and seen a massive change and the people. QNA — DOHA guidelines on special investigations of dif- Central Asia and Special Coordinator Unicef was keen on changing its way ViewPoint Series is an interview ferent types of crimes, in addition to the for Refugee and Migrant Response of operation in the wake of the novel platform for the Doha Forum, which The State of Qatar participated yesterday legal guardrails and electronic evidence in Europe. COVID-19 pandemic. “First of all, we provides an opportunity to talk with in a workshop organised by the Arab among other related topics. The workshop In an exclusive interview with have been changing rapidly to prominent political and industry Interior Ministers Council in cooperation also saw an analysis of good practices Doha Forum ViewPoint Series, Khan employ digital platforms to help figures from around the world. with the Counter-Terrorism in the Middle- internationally and nationally related to reviewed her viewpoint about the children learn, with hundreds of mil- The series opened its current East and North Africa Project on the special investigative techniques. changing world, alongside how lions of children out of school.” edition last week with an interview guidelines related to special investigative Director of Criminal Evidence and Unicef has amended its own policies She noted that the pandemic had with Chairman and CEO of TotalEn- techniques. The workshop was held via Information Department Brigadier Nasser in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, have a great impact on the children, ergies Patrick Pouyanne, who video conference. Abdullah Al Mahmoud participated in the including its mechanism of work especially in terms of education, explained the company’s special The workshop discussed the interna- workshop along with a number of spe- with the Ministry of Education and adding that the Unicef has relation with the State of Qatar. tional procedures and the European Union cialised officers.

269 new COVID-19 QFFD inspects health care centres for Syrian refugees in Jordan cases: MoPH the peninsula — DOHA the QC and the QRCS to ensure aim of enabling these states to the peninsula — DOHA comprehensive health care effectively provide appropriate A high-level delegation headed support in the camp. medical services to Syrian ref- The Ministry of Public Health by Khalifa jassim Al Kuwari The existing medical ugees and host communities (MoPH) yesterday announced Director General of Qatar Fund support comes in various forms, alike. the registration of 183 new for Development (QFFD) including the provision of The visit also included an confirmed cases of COVID-19 initiated an inspection tour for primary health-care services inspection of the projects of the among community and 86 the Fund’s health projects in the and referral services to spe- Jordan Health Fund for Ref- among travellers. Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. cialised advisory facilities, ugees (JHFR), financed by the Also 231 people have The inspection included the namely specialised post- QFFD in cooperation with the recovered from the virus during projects of the Zaatari camp, referral health care after Ministry of Planning and Inter- the past 24 hours, bringing the where the delegation visited receiving primary and sec- national Cooperation and the total number of cases recovered health care centres and hos- ondary care, including direct Ministry of Health in Jordan. in Qatar to 226,389. pitals providing various health support through the provision It is noteworthy that this As many as 416,2791 services to Syrian refugees, of equipment and supplies, inspection field visit is not the COVID-19 vaccine doses have which the QFFD contributes to capacity-building and boosting first-of-its-kind, but it is rather been administered since the its financing. the healthcare system. a part of periodic visits that start of National COVID-19 Vac- The strategic partners in The priorities also include take place from time to time cination Program, while 27,729 Qatar Charity (QC) and the strengthening infectious disease A QFFD official visits a health care centre for Syrian refugees in Jordan. with the aim of following up COVID-19 vaccine doses have Qatar Red Crescent Society surveillance, detection, the progress of projects in an been administered in the past (QRCS) also briefed the QFFD response and prevention of refugee camp in the world, infrastructure due to the effective and sustainable 24 hours. Besides, 91% of the delegation on the most these diseases, and ensure hosting nearly 77,000 Syrian COVID-19 pandemic and the manner, with a special focus eligible population (12 years and important developments access to chronic disease refugees, knowing that half of growing number of refugees, on reaching the target groups over) have now received at least regarding health centres and its treatment services. the Syrian refugees based in the priority now is to generally and the most needy persons, one dose of the vaccine while functioning in the Zaatari camp, The Zaatari camp, hosted by Jordan are children. amplify the capacity of and ensuring the achievement 79% of the total population have in addition to highlighting the the Hashemite Kingdom of With the increasing pres- healthcare services in host of transparency and quality now received at least one dose ongoing coordination between Jordan, is the second largest sures on healthcare systems and countries, with the standards. of the vaccine. QF's Georgetown welcomes incoming class of new students the peninsula — DOHA “We are so excited to included a special orientation at the university. opportunities. Having never “Applying to GU-Q was a welcome the Class of 2025 to programme called Hoyas 101. Current students are also lived in the Middle East before given for me. Two of my sib- New student orientation at QF our campus community,” said Held virtually during the contributing to that warm coming to GU-Q, I did not know lings are alumni and I’ve always partner Georgetown University programme organiser Assistant summer, the programme’s welcome, including NSO what to expect about the next felt inspired by their experi- in Qatar (GU-Q) kicked off, this Director for Student Pro- modules invited students to Student Advisor Sooin Jessica four years. But through the ences. I’m really looking week, welcoming the newest grammes Uday Rosario. learn how to register for classes, Choi, a senior majoring in people I met, all my anxieties forward to writing my own cohort of first year students and “This is their chance to bond join student clubs, and gain Culture and Politics, who recalls went away.” story here.” ensuring a successful start to with the classmates they will be access to Georgetown’s dedi- how important the programme While this year’s pro- The Class of 2025 will be their higher education journey. spending the next four years cated student support services, was for her own start at GU-Q. gramme is virtual, students joining a diverse student body The virtual programme, with, and to learn how they can such as GU-Q’s peer tutor pro- “NSO gave me my first were also offered an intro- at GU-Q of more than 40 dif- held over three days, connected enrich their undergraduate gramme which earned College impression of Georgetown. The duction to the GU-Q campus ferent nationalities. more than 115 new students experience beyond the Reading & Learning Associa- people I met at NSO later helped with a personalized tour. For The NSO programme will from Qatar and around the classroom through cocurricular tion’s (CRLA) International me figure out how to register participating first year student culminate in the annual New world with the resources, activities, student clubs, and Tutor Training Programme Cer- for classes, tutored me for Eco- Hamad Althani, enrolling in Student Convocation ceremony, guidance, and strategies needed research.” tification (ITTPC), setting a new nomics problem sets, and con- Georgetown continued an aca- a formal initiation into George- to thrive at GU-Q. This year’s NSO programme standard of academic support nected me to internship demic tradition. town’s academic community. 04 HOME Wednesday 18 August 2021 Indonesian Embassy celebrates 76th Independence Day

the peninsula — DOHA In his remarks, Ambassador Hassan said The Indonesian Embassy in that the momentum of the Independence Day Qatar hosted the commemo- should be seen as reminder for all Indonesians, ration of the 76th Independence Day of the country yesterday. including Indonesians in Qatar on the need to The ceremony was held at keep the nation’s diversity and tolerance. the Embassy’s premises in Onaizah. The event began with a flag Indonesians in Qatar on the are around 17,000 Indonesian hoisting ceremony which was need to keep the nation’s nationals who are living and attended by the embassy’s staff diversity and tolerance. working in Qatar. and representative of the Indo- “Indonesia is one of the “They work in various nesian community in Qatar by most diverse country in the sectors ranging from profes- following COVID-19 precau- world. It is one of the largest sional sector such as oil and gas, tionary measures. archipelagic countries in the education, healthcare, hospi- In addition to the flag world which consisted of tality and so on, to the domestic hoisting ceremony, tumpeng thousand of islands, hundred sector. Indonesian citizens in (tumpeng is Indonesian cone- ethnicity and local languages as Qatar have also been known for shaped rice dish with side well as various religions.” their activeness and creativity dishes of vegetables) was also “More importantly, Indo- in social and community cut to celebrate the event. nesia is built on and by various activities.” Ambassador of the Republic groups ranging from political Agri Sumara, one of the of Indonesia to Qatar, H E belief, ethnicity, religion and so community representatives, Ridwan Hassan accompanied on. All these groups have their who attended the flag hoisting by his spouse, Madam Lita own contribution in main- ceremony said that the com- Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Qatar H E Ridwan Hassan (left) receives the national Kadartin Hassan led this cere- taining, defending and pro- memoration of the Inde- flag during a ceremony to celebrate the country’s 76thI ndependence Day. monial procession. tecting the independence. pendence Day should be used In his remarks, Ambassador Therefore, we have no room for not only to reflect but also to put series of events in conjunction activities were carried out in competition), underwater flag Hassan said that the momentum division and conflicts. Everyone on reality the vision of the with the Independence Day online format. hoisting and a badminton com- of the Independence Day should should embrace our diversity,” country. commemoration. Only few physical activities petition titled ‘Ambassador Cup’ be seen as reminder for all he added. Apart from the flag hoisting, However due to the pan- were conducted such as fun which will be held on August 21 Indonesians, including He said that currently, there the Indonesian Embassy held a demic restrictions, most of the race individual trial (fun bike and 28. Ideal Indian School celebrates QNB brings Apple MME holds first meeting 75th Independence Day of India Pay to customers of national team for From page 1 companies, the Group QNB Group, cur- extends to more than 31 Minamata Convention rently ranked as the countries across three most valuable bank continents providing a QNA — DOHA brand in the Middle East comprehensive range of The Minamata Convention, and Africa, is proud to advanced products and The Ministry of Municipality which entered into force on be the Official Middle services. and Environment (MME) August 16, 2017, is an East and Africa Sup- The total number of held on Monday the first porter of the FIFA World employees is 28,000 meeting for members of the international treaty of the Cup 2022 and the serving approximately national team for the United Nations Environment Official Qatari Bank of 20 million customers Minamata Convention, with Program, which aims at the FIFA Club World operating through 1,000 the participation of the Cup Qatar 2020. locations, with an ATM concerned authorities in the protecting humans from the Through its subsidi- network of more than State. risk of the emissions of aries and associate 4,600 machines. The meeting discussed mercury and mercury the obligations of the State of Qatar after joining the compounds. DMIS celebrates 75th convention, and the role of each authority and future plans. Convention, which entered Independence Day of India The national team will into force on August 16, 2017, list the facilities, quantities is an international treaty of the peninsula — DOHA other dignitaries partic- and mercury waste in the the United Nations Envi- ularly Principal of TCS country. ronment Program (UNEP), Ideal Indian School officials during a celebration of 75th Independence Doha Modern Indian Ritula Singh; Principal The convention, which which aims at protecting Day of India. School (DMIS) cele- of ACS Seema Arun and the State of Qatar acceded humans from the risk of the brated 75th Inde- the Academic Coordi- to last year, aims to protect emissions of mercury and the peninsula — DOHA “It is a proud and joyous moment pendence Day of India nator of DMIS Elizabeth human health and the envi- mercury compounds. for every citizen of India that brings with great respect for graced the occasion. ronment from mercury The convention was Ideal Indian School (IIS) celebrated Indians from all walks of life the motherland. The chief guest in his emissions and its anthropo- adopted and signed on 7th Independence Day of India with together in a spirit of oneness and To commemorate the address exhorted eve- genic releases, move to safe October 10, 2013 at a con- high patriotic fervour. harmony and it is also an occasion sovereignty of the nation, ryone gathered for the alternatives, and encourage ference in Kumamoto in School President Dr. Hassan to pay tribute to the freedom fighters the chief guest event to uphold the awareness, training and pre- Japan. It was named after the Kunhi M.P hoisted the Indian flag who sacrificed their lives and fought Jayashankar M. Pillai, the great values of the vention programmes for Japanese city of Minamata, amidst recitation of the national to free their motherland from the Director of Taleb Schools nation and work for the individuals and professional where a mercury poisoning anthem. Speaking on the occasion, clutches of the oppressors” he added. unfurled Indian flag and unity, growth and pros- workers in order to raise disaster killed hundreds of Dr. Hassan Kunhi urged everyone Principal Syed shoukath Ali all in unison sang the perity of the country. awareness about mercury people and infected more to embrace the right patriotic sen- extended his greetings on the national anthem and Indians celebrate and its damages and reduce than 200,000 others with timents and to be truthful and occasion. Heads of sections, heads expressed the true joy of Independence Day all the pollution caused by it. chronic diseases in May devoted to the cause of national of departments and teachers and our freedom. over the world on T h e M i n a m a t a 1956. integration. other staff attended the function. The presence of August 15. . QRCS protects 3,200 vulnerable Tajikistanis against coronavirus the peninsula — DOHA

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has completed a project to control COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Tajikistan, by supporting the poor families worst affected by the virus in Dushanbe. The project is aimed at providing urgent hygiene items to the most vul- nerable people of Tajikistan. The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan dis- tributed hygiene kits, disinfectants, and medical masks to 1,200 vulnerable families (around 3,200 persons) from different pandemic-affected groups, mainly the patients who are taking treatment in local hospitals of Tajikistan. QRSC volunteers distributing hygiene kits in Tajikistan. Valued at $20,000 donated by QRCS, the distributed aid included population. Some beneficiaries were The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan hygiene kits (2,500 beneficiaries), dis- covered by the house visit distribution thanked QRCS for the provided infectants (200 beneficiaries), and method. Measures to reduce the risk of donation and effective cooperation medical masks (500 beneficiaries). All COVID-19 transmission were factored and wished to continue further col- beneficiaries were selected according in during the distribution process, such laboration for the benefit of vulnerable to the criteria agreed upon with local as maintaining physical distancing and population. authorities. good hygiene practices at distribution This project is part of QRCS’s ini- The National Society’s assessment points. The volunteers and staff tiative to back the fellow National showed that the most vulnerable members engaged in the distribution Societies in 22 countries across six groups were households with multiple were provided with appropriate per- continents, aimed at protecting children, the elderlies, families of sonal protective items and trained in 320,000 persons against the virus, medical personnel, and people with the proper use and disposal of those with a total budget of QR 2,236,827. disabilities. items. These countries are: Palestine, Afghan- The operation was committed to The targeted vulnerable families istan, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Mon- ensuring that the SPHERE Humani- and local authorities expressed their golia, Laos, Vanuatu, Ethiopia, Chad, tarian Charter and Minimum Standards high gratitude and satisfaction to QRCS Senegal, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, were met. The distributions took place with the provided aid, believing that Sierra Leone, Albania, Kosovo, Mon- at Dushanbe hospitals that were con- the project prevented the vulnerable tenegro, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru, venient (easily accessible) to the target families from hygiene-related issues. and Panama. Wednesday 18 August 2021 HOME / Middle East / Africa 05 Lulu Hypermarket launches ‘Indian Silk and Ethnic Wear Festival’ The Peninsula —DOHA The festival is showcasing a products of India, silk is wide assortment of pure regarded as a fabric woven into Dr. Alpna Mittal, wife of the the history of the country. Indian Ambassador, inaugu- natural and synthetic silks Fair Exports India Pvt. Ltd., rated the Indian Silk and Ethnic from India including saris, one of Lulu Group’s Export dis- Wear Festival at Lulu Hyper- readymade garments and tribution centres in India, has market, Al Gharafa branch, been continuously the winner yesterday, on the sidelines of ethnic wear like salwar- of the ‘Best Exporter Award’ in the ongoing ‘India Utsav 2021’ kameez, kurtas and the category of Indian Silk Saris in celebration of the 75th Inde- churidars with exciting and Garments by the Indian Silk pendence Day of India. Export Promotion Council since The festival is showcasing offers. last two decades. a wide assortment of pure Lulu Hypermarket has con- natural and synthetic silks from It emerged as one of the tinuously been exerting its India including saris, read- major industries of the country greatest efforts to provide and ymade garments and ethnic that employs a large manpower sustain the supply of global wear like salwar-kameez, and a prominent player in the products at the best rates. With kurtas and churidars with export market. The Council, a the excellent combination of exciting offers. semi-government organisation high-quality offerings and Indian silk has a significant that regulates the export of organized logistics system, Lulu role to play in the Indian export Indian silk and its products, Hypermarket remains the sector, and it is considered as now has more than 1800 favourite shopping destination one of the major categories of exporters as its members. in Qatar when it comes to a India’s exports worldwide. India’s silk, which has a broader selection of interna- According to the statistics of the history of over 5,000 years, is tional products. Dr. Alpna Mittal, wife of theI ndian Ambassador, inaugurating Indian Silk and Ethnic Wear Festival at Indian Silk Export Promotion now produced in many centres Currently, Lulu Hyper- Lulu Hypermarket, Al Gharafa branch, yesterday. Council (ISEPC), India’s annual scattered in 24 states across the market Qatar has 14 state-of- silk exports stood at $265.77m country, each having its own the-art stores and a Shopping strategic locations across the comprehensive network of 22 countries including India, the in the FY 2020-2021. speciality. As one of the finest Mall scattered over various region. Lulu Group also has a Export Distribution Centres in UK, USA and Europe. Doha Festival City celebrates ‘Back to ExxonMobil appoints new research School’ season with activities, offers director for ExxonMobil Research Qatar The Peninsula — DOHA The Peninsula — DOHA to contribute to this fantastic establishment that underlines Doha Festival City, Qatar’s one ExxonMobil yesterday ExxonMobil’s commitment to and only choice for shopping, announced that it has appointed ground-breaking collaborative dining and entertainment, has Ana Laplaza as Research research and technology that announce a range of special Director for ExxonMobil will help find solutions for chal- activities and unique offers to Research Qatar (EMRQ), lenges in areas of strategic celebrate the ‘Back to School’ succeeding Dr. Mohamed Al interest to Qatar and season with Qatar’s community. Sulaiti, who retired recently. ExxonMobil.” With schools set to open at Prior to this appointment, Laplaza holds a Masters in the end of August, Doha Fes- Laplaza served for several years Chemical Engineering (1995) tival City is offering the latest as Head of Process Engineering, from the Massachusetts Back to School collections and seconded to Qatargas Operating Institute of Technology. essentials at a plethora of Company Limited. She has been Ana Laplaza EMRQ was established in stores. Running from August 15 merchandise from a selection Doha Festival City trading with ExxonMobil for 26 years, 2009 to help fulfil the objec- to 30, parents can avoid the of retailers including Cen- hours are from 10:00 to 00:00, beginning her career with the Research Qatar’s new Research tives of its National Vision stress of last-minute Back to trepoint, Daiso, Kipling, Moth- with an option to trade until company in 1995 at the Exxon- Director,” said Dominic Genetti, 2030. The center is located at School shopping with a variety ercare, Pottery Barn Kids, 01:00 for all retailers, and Mobil Upstream Research President and General Manager Qatar Science and Technology offers and promotions at the Marks & Spencer, FNAC and 02:00 for F&B outlets operating Company in Houston, Texas, for ExxonMobil Qatar Limited. Park and is one of its first mall and kick-start the new Skechers. for takeaway and delivery. The and gaining expertise in loss “Ana brings with her a anchor tenants. school year in style. Robert Hall, Doha Festival Hypermarket will be open con- prevention, process engi- wealth of experience in the oil Scientists and researchers Major retailers including City General Manager, said: “We tinuously from 09:00 to 00:00. neering and flow assurance. and gas industry, both in the at EMRQ — some of whom are Centrepoint, FNAC, Virgin, are excited to kick off our Back In line with the preventative She has worked at Exxon- field and in production man- Qatari nationals — have been Giftshed, Borders, Skechers and to School season bringing a measures set out by the author- Mobil’s LaBarge gas plant in agement, and we’re looking advancing key research in Athletes Co Kids will be range of exciting products and ities, Doha Festival City has Wyoming, USA, the site of the forward to seeing our research many areas. This work includes releasing their latest collections offers to Qatar’s community. introduced stringent health and world’s largest operating center reach even greater environmental (including of school supplies, clothing and Our unique promotions, along safety measures throughout the carbon capture and storage heights under her leadership as carbon) management, water this seasons’ must haves for all with the trendiest products on mall for its staff and visitors. facility, and later had positions we continue to support the reuse, LNG safety and modern children heading back to offer, are sure to make chil- This includes a thorough providing leading technical objectives of the Qatar National geology with the Ministry of school. dren’s return to school more mall disinfection treatment on expertise to ExxonMobil’s Vision 2030.” Municipality and Environment, Furthermore this year, the fun. We are thankful to our a weekly basis, robust cleaning, upstream business worldwide “I am grateful for this Qatar University, Qatar mall will have a special instal- shoppers for trusting us with and sanitization operations in the areas of flow assurance incredible opportunity to lead Petroleum, Qatargas and lation at Center Court — a large their shopping needs, and hope during mall trading hours, 225 and process engineering. EMRQ and join a team of skilled others. Their efforts helped earn yellow school bus boasting dif- they will continue to enjoy the hand sanitising stations “We are delighted to and dedicated researchers and EMRQ the Qatar Petroleum HSE ferent cabins, and highlighting variety of choices we have installed in the areas that have announce Ana Laplaza’s scientists,” said Laplaza. “It is Excellence and Innovation key Back to School available for them.” commonly touched surfaces. appointment as ExxonMobil an honour to have been asked Award.

Independence Lebanon parliament to discuss fuel crisis IN BRIEF Day celebrations held at MESIS Reuters — BEIRUT Saudi Arabia reports 12 virus deaths The Lebanese parliament will RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health announced yesterday 569 The Peninsula — Doha convene on Friday to discuss new confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last what to do about a fuel crisis 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections in the Kingdom MES Indian School Abu that has brought much of the to 539,698. The Ministry also reported 12 new deaths, putting the tally Hamour Branch celebrated country to a halt and sparked of fatalities at 8,431. 75th Independence Day of deadly violence. Meanwhile, as many as 704 cases have recovered, raising total India with zeal and enthu- Speaker Nabih Berri called recoveries to 524,765, the Ministry said in a statement. — QNA siasm. Following all the coro- the session to discuss “appro- navirus protocols, the celebra- priate action” over crippling Kuwait registers 343 COVID-19 cases tions were broadcast live on fuel shortages, a crunch point Zoom and students were able in a two-year financial KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health said yesterday that to witness the event from their meltdown that marks Leba- 343 people were infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) home. non’s worst crisis since the over the past 24 hours, bringing the total infected cases to 406,883. The celebrations started 1975-90 civil war. A total of 620 people recovered from the disease in the same with prayer recitation by Naja A rocket-propelled grenade Motorcyclists wait to get fuel at a gas station in Lebanon, yesterday. period, pushing the total recoveries up to 397,867, the Ministry said in Mehdin of grade VII and pro- was fired near a Beirut petrol a statement. The death toll from the virus climbed to 2,393 after reg- ceeded by a welcome speech station during a dispute over water supplies and essential exchange rates, effectively istering 4 mortalities in the corresponding period. — QNA by Zeba Adam, the academic gasoline, a security source said. health services were ending a subsidy scheme which coordinator at MESIS. Gunmen opened fire on soldiers threatened, warning of a promises to increase prices Oman posts 8 coronavirus deaths The flag hoisting was done who had detained a man who humanitarian catastrophe. “A sharply. in the school auditorium by tried to fill his car by force. The bad situation only stands to get Despite soaring poverty, MUSCAT: The Omani Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday that MES governing board sec- station caught fire. worse unless an instant solution Lebanon’s ruling elite have 173 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been recorded retary Hazmal Ismail in the The steadily worsening fuel is found,” said Najat Rochdi, the failed to form a new cabinet during the past 24 hours bringing the total number of positive presence of president offici- crisis has hit a low in the last UN humanitarian coordinator since Prime Minister Hassan COVID-19 cases to 300,581. ating Khalil A.P and felicitation week, with power blackouts for Lebanon. Diab quit after last year’s dev- The Ministry said that 8 new Covid-related deaths were reported, address was delivered by MC forcing some hospitals, bak- Last week, the central bank astating Beirut port explosion. bringing the total number of deaths to 4,007. Muhamed, the director of cul- eries, and businesses to scale announced it could no longer The past week has seen The Ministry added that 220 new cases have recovered, bringing tural activities. down or close. finance imports of gasoline and repeated violence at gas the total number to 288,922 recoveries, while the number of hospi- Principal of MESIS A senior UN official said diesel at heavily discounted stations. talised people in intensive care reached 98 cases. — QNA Mohammed Haneef presented the message of the day. Stu- dents participated in the cel- ebrations by presenting cul- Gunmen kill seven at Shell gas project site in southeastern Nigeria tural activities showcased their skills in the celebrations in cul- Reuters — YENAGOA, Nigeria The Nigerian arm of Shell, Attacks on oil and gas facilities have long been a problem as is armed conflict between tural programs. SPDC, confirmed that in Nigeria, where the multi-billion dollar industry sits herders and farmers and The patriotic group song Gunmen killed a police officer unknown gunmen had between certain communities. was followed by keyboard and six employees of a Nigerian attacked a convoy of buses alongside impoverished communities that have seen little In the northeast, 12 years of war performance of ‘Sare Jahan Se oil and gas services contractor taking staff of its contractor, benefit from it. between insurgents and gov- Achha’ by Vandit of grade V during an attack on buses trans- Lee Engineering, to its Assa ernment forces have killed followed by keyboard version porting workers to a Shell North Gas development 350,000 people, according to of Vande Mataram by Blessy project site in the southeastern project site in the Ohaji area to prevent a recurrence,” it said The company is involved in a UN estimate. of grade VI. The speech about state of Imo, police said of Imo State on Monday in a statement. the installation and construction The oil and gas industry, Independence Day was yesterday. morning. Imo State police spokesman of a gas primary treatment located in the Niger Delta in the delivered by Sera Kuriakose Attacks on oil and gas facil- “We have since shut down Michael Abattam said efforts facility and the supply of a gas south of the country and off- of grade VII. It was followed ities have long been a problem the project site while the were ongoing to arrest the per- turbine generators and a waste shore in the Gulf of Guinea, has by a spectacular fusion dance in Nigeria, where the multi- incident has been reported to petrators. “The command has heat recovery system, according been a focal point for violence by students. Umaima of grade billion dollar industry sits the police for investigation. put in measures to guard the to its website. for several decades. The region V dedicated a heartfelt poem alongside impoverished com- SPDC is working with the con- workers in the area since it is Nigeria is struggling with a has a history of kidnappings, to soldiers. The vote of thanks munities that have seen little tractor and supporting the prone to attack,” he said. rise in different types of vio- inter-communal conflicts, was presented by Anu Manoj, benefit from it. In this case, the police through a thorough Lee Engineering could not lence. Kidnappings for ransom armed insurgency, piracy and teacher for primary section. motive was unclear. investigation of the incident and be reached for comment. and armed robberies are rife, oil smuggling. 06 ASIA Wednesday 18 August 2021 Taliban want peace, will respect women’s rights Reuters — KABUL “We don’t want any assessing how to respond to changed situation on the The Taliban held their first internal or external ground. official news conference in enemies,” Taliban’s Nato Secretary-General Jens Kabul yesterday since the shock main spokesman, Stoltenberg said the Taliban seizure of the city, declaring should allow all those who they wanted peaceful relations Zabihullah Mujahid, wanted to leave the country to with other countries and would said adding women depart, adding that Nato’s aim respect the rights of women was to help build a viable state within the framework of Islamic would be allowed to in Afghanistan. law. work and study and There has been widespread “We don’t want any internal criticism of the US withdrawal or external enemies,” the move- “will be very active in amid the chaotic scenes at ment’s main spokesman, Zabi- society but within the Kabul airport. German Pres- hullah Mujahid, said. ident Frank-Walter Steinmeier Mujahid said women would framework of Islam”. said “the images of despair at be allowed to work and study Kabul airport shame the and “will be very active in political West”. society but within the framework. Under a US troops with- Taliban officials during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday.P icture courtesy: Al Jazeera framework of Islam”. Mujahid’s conciliatory tone drawal pact struck last year, the The Taliban would not seek contrasted sharply with com- Taliban agreed not to attack official at the airport said. At sceptical. But they also know butchers were open, as were retribution against former sol- ments by Afghan First Vice- foreign forces as they leave. least 12 military flights had life must go on. hospitals, they said. diers and members of the President Amrullah Saleh, who US military flights evacu- taken off, a diplomat at the “I am scared but what made Traffic was light, but there Western-backed government, declared himself the “legitimate ating diplomats and civilians airport said. Planes were due to me to open my shop is feeding were several pick-up trucks he said, saying the movement caretaker president” and vowed from Afghanistan restarted yes- arrive from countries including my family,” 48-year-old with mounted white flags that was granting an amnesty for that he would not bow to terday after the runway at Australia and Poland to pick up grocery shopkeeper Moham- were carrying Taliban gunmen. former Afghan government sol- Kabul’s new rulers. Kabul airport was cleared of their nationals and Afghan madullah said by phone. “It was with the nation sup- diers as well as contractors and The Taliban news con- thousands desperate to flee. colleagues. “I don’t have any other way porting us that the Americans translators who worked for ference came as the United US forces took charge of the Meanwhile, some Kabul res- of income. If I don’t open my failed here, and the Islamic international forces. States and Western allies evac- airport — their only way to fly idents cautiously ventured back shop then how can I feed my system is established,” a Taliban “Nobody is going to harm uated diplomats and civilians out of Afghanistan — on Sunday, to work through quiet streets family of 12,” he said, adding commander on the street, you, nobody is going to knock the day after scenes of chaos at as the militants wound up a yesterday. that there were far fewer cus- Mawlavi Haq Dost, said. on your doors,” he said. Kabul airport as Afghans des- week of rapid advances by While the Taliban have tomers than usual. “This is a legal system and He said private media could perate to flee the Taliban taking over Kabul without a pledged there will be no retri- The majority of shops and we assure our people whether continue to be free and inde- thronged to the terminal. fight, 20 years after they were bution against opponents and supermarkets in Kabul were they are Hazara, Tajik or Turk pendent in Afghanistan, adding As they rush to evacuate ousted by a US-led invasion. promised to respect the rights shuttered and schools were (minorities) that there won’t be the Taliban was committed to diplomats and civilians from The number of civilians had of women, minorities and for- closed, residents said. But some any harassment from muja- the media within its cultural Afghanistan, foreign powers are thinned out, a Western security eigners, many Afghans are small grocery shops and hideen to them.” Malaysia king urges halt to bickering as he picks new PM IN BRIEF Thailand seeks AP — KUALA LUMPUR of the pandemic. Malaysia has caretaker prime minister until majesty... stressed the need to reformist government that won one of the world’s highest a successor is found. forge a new political landscape 2018 elections. With a razor-thin 12 million Malaysia’s king called for an infection rates and deaths per Opposition leader Anwar that is more peaceful for the majority in Parliament and an end to political bickering at a capita, with daily cases Ibrahim, who was among eight people,” Anwar told reporters unstable coalition, he became the Sinovac shots meeting yesterday with party breaching 20,000 this month party leaders summoned for a outside the palace. country’s shortest-ruling leader. leaders as he began the process despite a seven-month state of group meeting at the palace, All party leaders in Muhy- The king also asked all law- BANGKOK: Thailand will of selecting a new prime emergency and a lockdown said the king urged them to end iddin’s alliance and the oppo- makers to individually submit the purchase an additional 12 minister amid a worsening since June. their bickering. The monarch sition expressed their opinions name of a preferred candidate for million doses of Sinovac’s coronavirus outbreak. The king, Sultan Abdullah stressed that the new leader during the meeting and there prime minister by today. coronavirus vaccine to try to The resignation of Prime Sultan Ahmad Shah, has ruled should not be vindictive and appeared to be a consensus to This is somewhat similar to expedite its rollout, a senior Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on out a new general election that all parties must cooperate “drop the old style of tired and how the king picked Muhyiddin official said yesterday, despite Monday after less than 18 because many parts of the in tackling the pandemic and boring politics and focus on last year. The monarch inter- concerns over its efficacy months in office followed country are COVID-19 red reviving the economy, he said. developing the nation,” he said. viewed all 222 lawmakers indi- against the Delta variant of mounting public anger over zones and health facilities are “The issue here is not about Muhyiddin took power in vidually, then sought nomina- COVID-19. what was widely perceived as inadequate. appointing a new prime min- March 2020 after initiating the tions from party leaders in an Thailand’s strategy had his government’s poor handling Muhyiddin was appointed ister but more importantly, his c o l l a p s e o f t h e arduous process. planned to use mainly locally produced AstraZeneca vac- cines but with supply short of the government’s target, New Zealand thrown into lockdown Sydney virus cases to Sinovac shots are being used in a mix-and-match approach to inoculate the population over single suspected Delta case ‘rise substantially’ faster. The mass vaccination Reuters — WELLINGTON the toughest, level-four Schools, offices and busi- Reuters — SYDNEY campaign started in June but lockdown for at least three days nesses will close and only the rollout is being hastened Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from Wednesday. Auckland and essential services will be Australian authorities yesterday warned Sydney residents to brace by Thailand’s worst corona- put New Zealand under strict Coromandel, a coastal town operational. for a surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, urging people virus wave so far. - Reuters lockdown yesterday after the where the infected person also Shoppers crowded super- to get vaccinated to avoid more hospitalisations and deaths as country’s first coronavirus case spent time, will be in lockdown markets as news of the new daily infections hovered near record levels. Japan extends in six months was reported in for seven days. case and the imminent “We envisage that case numbers in the next two or three weeks the largest city of Auckland. “The best thing we can do lockdown spread. will bounce around and are likely to rise substantially,” New South lockdown as Ardern’s “go hard, go early” to get out of this as quickly as Ardern said authorities Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney, strategy has helped curb we can is to go hard,” Ardern were assuming the patient, a the state capital. cases surge COVID-19 but her told a news conference. 58-year-old man from Sydney, Australia’s largest city and the epicentre of the coun- announcement left people “We have made the decision Auckland who was not iden- try’s outbreak, has toughened lockdown rules, including setting TOKYO/FUKUOKA: Japan struggling to stack up essentials, on the basis that it is better to tified, had contracted the highly up roadblocks in parts of the city, and has hiked fines amid reports yesterday extended its state of businesses shutting abruptly and start high and go down levels contagious Delta variant of of people flouting strict stay-at-home orders. emergency in Tokyo and other schools and offices making last- rather than to go low, not COVID-19 although genome But the strict curbs, now in their eighth week, have failed to regions and announced new minute changes to go online. contain the virus and see it sequencing was yet to be rein in the Delta outbreak, with NSW yesterday reporting 452 measures covering seven more All New Zealand will be in move quickly.” completed. cases - its third-biggest daily rise during the pandemic - and one prefectures to counter a spike new death. in COVID-19 infections that is A case was detected as far away as Broken Hill, a mining town threatening the medical more than 900km northwest of Sydney deep in Australia’s outback, system. as the virus spreads to more regional centres raising fears of wider The current state of emer- outbreaks. With no flattening of the curve in sight, the chances gency, the fifth of the pan- of restrictions ending on August 28 in Sydney appears highly demic so far, was due to expire unlikely, with some economists predicting a second recession in on August 31 but will now last Australia in as many years due to the lockdowns. until September 12. Tokyo announced 4,377 new corona- virus cases yesterday, after a record 5,773 on Friday. China holds assault drills near - Reuters Taiwan after ‘provocations’ India vaccinations

Reuters — BEIJING/TAIPEI near record, new

China carried out assault drills near Taiwan yesterday, with infections dip warships and fighter jets exercising off the southwest and southeast of the island in what the country’s armed forces said was a response NEW DELHI: India adminis- to “external interference” and “provocations”. tered more than 8.8 million Taiwan, which Beijing claims as Chinese territory, has com- doses of COVID-19 vaccines in plained of repeated People’s Liberation Army (PLA) drills in its the past 24 hours, government vicinity in the past two years or so, part of a pressure campaign data showed yesterday, close to force the island to accept China’s sovereignty. to its all-time record and In a brief statement, the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said speeding up a campaign to warships, anti-submarine aircraft and fighter jets had been dis- inoculate all eligible adults by patched close to Taiwan to carry out “joint fire assault and other December. drills using actual troops”. The surge in inoculations A senior official familiar with Taiwan’s security planning told came alongside a sharp Reuters that China’s air force had carried out a “capturing air decline in daily new infections supremacy” drill, using their advanced J-16 fighters. that fell to 25,166, the lowest “In addition to seeking air supremacy over Taiwan, they have since March 16, health ministry also been conducting frequent electronic reconnaissance and said. electronic interference operations,” the person said. India has undertaken one Taiwan believes China is trying to gather electronic signals of the world’s largest from US and Japanese aircraft so that they can “paralyse rein- COVID-19 vaccination drives forcing aircraft including F-35s in a war”, the source said, referring and has so far administered to the US-operated stealth fighter. 554 million doses, giving at Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said 11 Chinese aircraft entered its least one dose to about 46% of air defence zone and that it had scrambled jets to warn China’s its estimated 944 million planes away. adults. - Reuters Wednesday 18 August 2021 Europe 07 Thousands evacuated as fire sweeps through French forests AP — LA GARDE-FREINET, France Bleu. Two firefighters were Fuelled by powerful among the injured. Thousands of people fled seasonal winds coming off Water-dumping planes and homes, campgrounds and emergency helicopters zipped hotels near the French Riviera the Mediterranean Sea, the back and forth over hills lined yesterday as firefighters battled fire had spread across 5,000 with chestnut, pine and oak a blaze that raced through hectares (12,000 acres) of trees. Images shared online by nearby forests. firefighters showed black It was just the latest blaze forest in France by yesterday plumes of smoke leaping in a summer of wildfires that morning. across thickets of trees as the have swept across the Medi- flames darted across dry brush. terranean region, leaving areas Backed by planes and hel- in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Algeria according to the Var regional icopters, more than 900 fire- and Spain in smouldering ruins. administration. fighters worked yesterday to The wildfire started on Some 6,000 people were contain the blaze, civil security Monday evening, in the height evacuated from homes and a service spokesman Alexandre of France’s summer vacation dozen campgrounds in the Jouassard said. season, about 40 km inland region prized by vacationers, Local authorities closed Firefighters work near a major wildfire that broke out in the Var region of southern France, yesterday. from the coastal resort of while others were locked down roads, blocked access to forests Saint-Tropez. Fuelled by pow- in a holiday centre for Air across the region and urged The regional administration degrees C (104 F) in recent there is little doubt climate erful seasonal winds coming France employees. At least 22 caution. French President warned that fire risk would days. change from the burning of off the Mediterranean Sea, the people suffered from smoke Emmanuel Macron, who has remain very high today Such extreme weather is coal, oil and natural gas is fire had spread across 5,000 inhalation or minor fire-related been vacationing in a nearby (Wednesday) because of hot, expected to happen more fre- driving extreme events, such hectares (12,000 acres) of injuries, Var’s top government coastal fortress, was to visit the dry weather. Temperatures in quently as the planet is as heat waves, droughts, wild- forest by yesterday morning, official told broadcaster France fire zone later yesterday. the area have reached 40 warming. Climate scientists say fires, floods and storms. EU says will work with Taliban only if rights are respected North Macedonia expels Russian Reuters — BRUSSELS European Union foreign min- respect for the fundamental assistance to Afghan women, Borrell said the EU's priority isters to discuss the Taliban's rights of all Afghans, including men and children in need, is to evacuate EU staff and diplomat The EU will only cooperate with quick seizure of the Afghan women, youth and persons including to the large number Afghan helpers from Kabul. the Afghan government capital Kabul. belonging to minorities, as well of internally displaced persons. "We have to get in touch AP — SKOPJE following the Taliban's return He said that to address "the as respect for Afghanistan’s "The EU calls on the Taliban with authorities in Kabul ... the to power if it respects funda- worsening humanitarian situ- international obligations, com- to respect their obligations Taliban have won the war, so North Macedonia has expelled mental rights, including those ation in Afghanistan", the EU mitment to the fight against cor- under international humani- we will have to talk to them," a Russian diplomat — the of women, and prevents the use would continue to provide ruption and preventing the use tarian law in all circumstances. he told a news conference after second this year — authorities of Afghanistan's territory by assistance to the Afghan of Afghanistan’s territory by ter- The EU will also support the meeting. confirmed yesterday, without terrorists, the bloc's foreign people. rorist organisations," the Afghanistan's neighbours in Starting a dialogue soon was offering any explanation for policy chief said yesterday. "Cooperation with any statement said. coping with negative spill overs, necessary to prevent a potential the decision. Josep Borrell outlined the future Afghan government will Borrell called on all actors which are to be expected from migratory disaster and a Foreign Minister Bujar EU's stance in a statement after be conditioned on a peaceful to allow safe and unhindered an increasing flow of refugees humanitarian crisis, Borrell Osmani said the Russian an emergency meeting of and inclusive settlement and access for humanitarian and migrants," he added. said. ambassador was summoned last week and informed of the decision concerning one of his Germany: 1 dead, senior diplomats. UK approves Moderna shot for 12 to 17-year-olds Osmani didn’t reveal the 1 missing after diplomat’s rank and identity, Reuters — London group, it said. While most (JCVI) gave the go ahead on Aug. safety data was comparable or the reason for the expulsion, flood brings children develop mild or no 4 for 16 and 17-year-olds to get with that for young adults, with saying that “information of this The UK’s health regulator has symptoms with COVID-19, they their first dose of Pfizer’s adverse events being mostly nature is confidential.” He down bridge approved Moderna’s COVID-19 are still able to spread the virus COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the mild and moderate and added that North Macedonia vaccine for use in children aged and some remain at risk of reopening of schools for the including sore arms or fatigue. takes “all appropriate AP — BERLIN 12 to 17 years, it said yesterday, becoming seriously ill. new education year in The highly infectious Delta measures and activities” to weeks after Pfizer’s shot was Moderna’s vaccine was rec- September. variant of the coronavirus has protect its security and the German rescue teams have given the green light for ommended for use in adoles- JCVI will make a decision on become the dominant type glo- security of its allies. A Russian recovered the body of a deployment ahead of schools cents by European regulators whether 12-17 year olds should bally, sustaining a pandemic Embassy spokeswoman con- woman who was swept off a reopening. in July and is awaiting U.S. be vaccinated with the shot that has killed over 130,000 in firmed a diplomat had been bridge by floods in Bavaria, the The Medicines and authorisation. It is already made by Moderna as part of its Britain. The vaccine, developed declared “persona non grata” German news agency dpa Healthcare products Regulatory approved for people over the deployment programme. by Pfizer Inc and German and left the country 10 days reported yesterday. Agency (MHRA) has confirmed age of 18 in the UK. The MHRA said it did not partner BioNTech’s, got MHRA’s ago. She said Russian author- They are still searching for the vaccine, known as Spikevax, Britain’s Joint Committee on identify any new side effects nod for use in children aged 12 ities were reviewing reciprocal a second person who was also is safe and effective in this age Vaccination and Immunisation with the vaccine and that the to 15 on June 4. measures. swept off the bridge by sudden floods in southern Germany on Monday. Eight other people IN BRIEF caught up in the same flooding Prototype plane crashes in Russia, kills 3 were rescued uninjured. France logs 111 virus deaths in a day Heavy, sudden rains on AP — MOSCOW of Moscow, the corporation told cases. The plane flew to the Monday afternoon turned the the Tass news agency. Moscow region last week and PARIS: France registered 111 deaths from COVID-19 in hospitals Hammersbach creek in the A Russian prototype military Two test pilots and a flight was set to be unveiled at the yesterday, the first time since June 1 that the daily toll was more Valley of Hell near the town of transport plane crashed while engineer were aboard the Army-2021 forum later this than 100, health ministry data showed. Grainau into a torrent that tore performing a test flight outside plane, and none survived, the month. It is the first military The new figures took the cumulative death toll from COVID-19 down a wooden bridge, Moscow yesterday, killing all corporation said. transport plane developed in since the start of the epidemic to 112,844. sweeping two people into the three crew members on board, The Baza online news outlet Russia from scratch since the The seven-day moving average of deaths increased to 72, from water, dpa reported. The other Russia’s United Aircraft Corpo- posted a video in the messaging Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. 66 on Monday and fewer than 20 per day at the end of July. people were caught by the ration said. app Telegram of an airplane The Il-112V has turboprop France also reported that there were 1,953 people in intensive care raging water or cut off from The new light military crashing into the woods after engines and is designed to units with COVID-19. — Reuters their hiking paths by the flood transport plane, Il-112V, one of its engines caught fire. transport personnel, military elsewhere in the steep valley. crashed in a forested area as it Russian police have opened equipment and weapons. It is Italy reports 54 coronavirus deaths More than 160 helpers and was coming in for a landing at a criminal probe into the capable of carrying up to 5 tons helicopters were involved in the Kubinka airfield 45 km west incident, as is usual in such of cargo. ROME: Italy reported 54 coronavirus-related deaths yesterday the rescue missions. The body against 24 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily of the woman, who was not tally of new infections increased to 5,273 from 3,674. identified, was pulled out of Italy has registered 128,510 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its the water yesterday, police outbreak emerged in February last year, the second-highest toll in said. Europe after Britain and the eighth-highest in the world. The country In addition to the eight has reported 4.45 million cases to date. people rescued from the floods Patients in hospital with COVID-19 — not including those in Monday, authorities helped intensive care — stood at 3,472 yesterday, up from 3,334 a day earlier. 108 others who had to spend There were 49 new admissions to intensive care units, up from 32 the night in cottages higher up on Monday. The total number of intensive care patients rose to 423 on the slopes of the valley from a previous 404. Some 238,073 tests for COVID-19 were carried because of the flood. The out in the past day, compared with a previous 74,021, the health min- hikers were led down the istry said. — Reuters valley yesterday by moun- taineers, the Bavarian Red Russia posts 805 daily virus deaths Cross said. None were injured, dpa reported. MOSCOW: Russia reported 805 coronavirus-related deaths The Höllentalklamm, or yesterday, close to a record high, amid a surge in cases that author- Valley of Hell, is a popular des- ities blame on the infectious Delta variant. tination for hikers from across The government coronavirus taskforce also reported 20,958 new the country and abroad. cases in the last 24 hours, including 2,006 in Moscow, pushing the Severe weather conditions infection tally in Russia to 6,642,559 since the pandemic began. also led to a state of emer- — Reuters gency in northern Germany, where a tornado hit the village UK registers 170 coronavirus deaths of Grossheide near the North Climate change protest Sea coast late Monday and LONDON: Britain yesterday reported 170 deaths within 28 days destroyed more than 50 Extinction Rebellion Red Rebel Brigade pose in front of Brandenburg Gate during a demonstration of a positive COVID-19 test, the highest level since March, alongside homes, according to dpa. in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. 26,852 further cases, according to official data. — Reuters Police said nobody was injured, but several homes were destroyed. Across Germany’s Sweden’s once-highest peak loses 2 metres height as glacier melts southern border in Austria, at least four people were injured Reuters — STOCKHOLM the Kebnekaise massif was researchers from Tarfala temperatures but also changing control. Kebnekaise’s south by floods and mudslides, demoted to second in the research station. This is the wind conditions, which affect peak measured as high as 2,118 dozens of people were rescued Sweden’s only remaining rankings of Swedish mountains lowest height that has been where the snow accumulates metres in the mid-1990s. from cars and firefighters were mountaintop glacier, which after a third of its glacier melted. measured since the measure- in the winter.” It said the The Kebnekaise massif is called out hundreds of times until 2019 was also its highest Kebnekaise’s north peak, where ments started in the 1940s,” the changes reflect a longstanding located around 150 km (90 to remove toppled trees and peak, lost another two metres there is no glacier, is now the university said in a statement warming of Sweden’s climate, miles) north of the Arctic Circle pump out flooded basements, (6.6 feet) in height in the past highest in the Nordic country. yesterday. citing the recent UN climate in the Scandinavian Mountains the Austrian news agency APA year due to rising air tempera- “On August 14, the southern “The decrease in the peak panel report which said global range that stretches across large reported. Last month, more tures driven by climate change, peak of Kebnekaise was and the changed appearance of warming had caused an unpar- parts of northern Norway and than 200 people died in deadly Stockholm University said. measured at 2,094.6 metres the drift can mainly be alleled melting of glaciers and Sweden, and is part of the floods in western Germany. In 2019, the south peak of (6,912 feet) above sea level by explained by rising air was close to spiralling out of Laponia World Heritage Site. 08 VIEWS Wednesday 18 August 2021

Established in 1996

Chairman Dr. Khalid bin Thani Al Thani

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dr. Khalid MUBARAK Al-SHAFI [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR Mohammed OSMAN Ali [email protected]

EDITORIAL

Celebrating the power of youth Afghan National Army officers keep watch at a check point in Kabul on July 8, 2021. THE world acknowledged the valuable contributions by the youth with the celebration of the International Why did the Afghan army disintegrate so quickly? Youth Day on August 12. United Nations Secretary- General Antonio Guterres in a message on the embezzled money by submitting fund Afghan army chief Lieutenant General Wali occasion said: “Young people are on the frontlines requests for the salaries of “ghost soldiers” Mohammad Ahmadzai, who was of the struggle to build a better future for all. The – i.e. soldiers who had not actually signed appointed in June, with the Afghan COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dire need up for the military. As this was happening, National Army’s special operations for the kind of transformational change they seek – ANDSF personnel were kept unpaid and command, Major General Haibatullah and young people must be full partners in that effort.” retained on duty without permission to Alizai. Similarly, he replaced his interior Throughout the history of mankind, youth have leave and see their families for months. ministers twice and reshuffled his defence played a vital role in shaping the future of any com- Abdul Basit Unsurprisingly, the ANDSF had one of minister and six core commanders in munity as they are quick to embrace changes and AL JAZEERA the highest desertion and casualty rates in recent months. put reformation in motion, by investing their full energy the world. According to one estimate, the Fifth, the Taliban’s smart military and resources into the philosophy that they believe On August 15, the Taliban captured the ANDSF’s per month attrition rate was 5,000 strategy of taking control of major border in. Afghan capital Kabul and declared the war while the recruitment rate was 300 to 500. crossings, main highways and besieging So, nurturing the talents of youth in such a way in Afghanistan over. The lightning speed Second, the embezzlement and cor- the big cities crippled Kabul’s ability to that they use their formidable energy, aspirations and with which the group made major terri- ruption undermined morale within the send reinforcements and supplies. Many quest for the development of the community and torial gains as the Afghan National Defence ranks of the army. The integrity of senior army units were cut off from the rest of the country they belong to. Engaging youth in varied activ- Security Forces (ANDSF) retreated without leadership is pivotal in military affairs to country and thus were forced to either flee ities according to their tastes such as sports, arts, putting up a fight shocked many. win the troops’ respect and loyalty. For across the border neighbouring countries voluntary work, and social activities is very important Over the last 20 years, the US spent unpaid soldiers, the lavish lifestyles of their or to dissolve. for the future of the state. more than $83bn training, equipping and commanders were often too much to Finally, despite receiving years of Qatar’s efforts in these areas were recongnised developing the Afghan national army, swallow. Hence, instead of fighting and training and billions of dollars worth of in a global level recently as the country made police, air force, and special forces. Yet, dying, they preferred to save their lives by equipment, the ANDSF never developed remarkable progress in the Youth Development Index under the advance of an armed group car- surrendering to the Taliban under its the capacity to stand on its own. In fact, it 2020, ranking second in the Arab world and 32nd rying light weapons, the ANDSF fell apart amnesty offers. was entirely dependent on the US and globally. The Youth Development Index issued by in a spectacular fashion. Third, there was also no ideological NATO troops to protect urban areas. Once The Commonwealth Association, measures the status Keep reading In Pictures: Evacuation cohesion within the army or a sense of these forces began to withdraw, there was of young people in 181 countries around the world. flights resume at Kabul airport Infographic: national duty and belonging. In fact, there no barrier to stop the advance of the Congratulating the country’s youth on the Tracking the flights out of Kabul Afghan- was significant mistrust towards the coun- Taliban and the weaknesses and incompe- achievement, Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah istan under the Taliban: What do we know try’s political leadership. No Afghan soldier tence that was covered up by foreign mil- bin Ghanem Al Ali, expressed his pride of the youth so far? What does the Taliban’s return to was ready to fight and die to defend Pres- itary presence quickly came to the fore. energies in Qatar saying that the achievement is the power mean for Afghanistan? The unprec- ident Ashraf Ghani or the government. As the collapse of the ANDSF became fruit of the efforts exerted by the youth in the service edented pace of the Taliban’s territorial Conspiracy theories about a secret deal apparent, the Afghan government of their society and their homeland and their active gains surprised even US intelligence, which between the Afghan government and the scrambled to put together a new force participation in youth centres and sports clubs. had projected that it would take months for Taliban were rife among Afghan troops. composed of various militias. Three influ- Qatar’s progress in the index was a fruit of the the group to establish control over the This environment of doubt and suspicion ential warlords – Atta Muhammad Noor of social youth movement as a result of the strategic country. As a result, the US and several further undermined Afghan soldiers’ Jamiat-e-Islami, Abdul Rashid Dostum of steps taken by the authorities such as the election other Western countries have had to resolve to resist the advance of the ideolog- Hezb-e-Junbish and Haji Muhammad of the Youth Advisory Committee for the Minister of redeploy thousands of troops to help with ically cohesive Taliban, whose fighters Muhaqiq of Hezbe-e Wahdat Islami Culture and Sports, which represents the voice of the emergency evacuation of their citizens were driven by a desire to establish an Mardom-e Afghanistan – met to forge a youth in the proposal initiative making them part of and diplomatic staff from Kabul. Islamic emirate and drive out foreign joint front against the Taliban and coor- the decision making process. Had Western analysts and intelligence troops they saw as occupiers. dinate their struggle with the ANDSF. Over the years, Qatar has developed itself as a agencies been more aware of the realities Fourth, continuous political inter- However, the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif to hub for world sports through hosting several inter- on the ground, perhaps, they would not ference and reshuffling of office holders as the Taliban forced them to flee the country. national sports events and tournament and the have been taken by surprise by the devel- high as interior and defence ministers, gov- The collapse of the ANDSF even before the upcoming Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Gener- opments of the past few days. A number of ernors and police chiefs also affected the US withdrawal was completed and the way ation Amazing legacy programme organised by the factors account for the collapse of the ANDSF’s battlefield performance. An army the gains of the so-called “war on terror” Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has Afghan state and the ANDSF. needs unity of command and leadership have been reversed will reverberate for been instrumental in making tangible changes in the First, there was widespread corruption continuity to function properly and fight years to come. The thousands of fighters life of hundreds of thousands of young men and in Afghanistan’s defence and interior min- effectively on the battlefield. The military freed by the Taliban from Bagram Airbase, women not only in Qatar, but across the world espe- istries where funds, ammunition and food chief of staff is the centre of gravity of his including those from Al Qaeda and other cially in the less developed countries. deliveries were stolen before reaching the organisation and if he is changed consist- groups, will pose a major security chal- Several programmes being conducted under the soldiers on the ground. The ammunition ently, it adversely affects the organisation. lenge in the region and beyond. aegis of Qatar Foundation such as Reach Out to Asia and other equipment were sold on the President Ghani regularly changed his have achieved revolutionary development in the life black market, eventually ending up in the military leaders amid the US withdrawal The author is a research fellow at the S. of thousands of young people. Taliban’s hands. and the Taliban’s offensive across Afghan- Rajaratnam School of International Studies Furthermore, some commanders istan. For instance, Ghani replaced the (RSIS), Singapore. Fires and deforestation made 2020 a nightmare year for the Amazon d-ring road, post box: 3488, doha - qatar Laura Millan Lombrana the National Center for Moni- report published in Nature in record-setting drought and email: [email protected] Bloomberg toring Natural Disasters in July. increased deforestation. INPE Sao Paulo. “The Amazon basin The researchers behind data also showed that new editor-in-chief office: tel: 4455 7741 / 767 has seen an increase in the the study conducted 590 deforestation in the Amazon fax: +974 4455 7758 Wildfires in the southern Amazon last year and in the illegal and legal deforestation flights over the Amazon from between March and June of managing editor: tel: 4462 7505 nearby Pantanal region were over last four years.” Latin 2010 to 2018 to measure this year was the highest since the worst on record, mainly America and the Caribbean carbon dioxide and carbon at least 2015. deputy managing editor: tel: 4455 7769 due to the deadly combi- are home to almost 60% of monoxide emissions. They “Fires and deforestation nation of drought and human the world’s remaining native found that the Amazon was in are now threatening one of local news section: tel: 4455 7743 activity. forests. Together they store an fact temporarily a net emitter the world’s largest carbon business news section: tel: 4462 7535 These catastrophic fires estimated 104 gigatons of of greenhouse gas from 2010 sinks, with far-reaching and made 2020 more destructive carbon, some of which is to 2016, when the area suf- long-lasting repercussions,” sport news section: tel: 4455 7745 even than 2019, the previous released back into the atmos- fered intense drought. “This said WMO Secretary-General record-holder for fire phere when forests burn. The change can become per- Petteri Taalas. “Latin America online section: tel: 4462 7501 damage, according to the Amazon river basin alone, manent if global warming, and the Caribbean is among email: [email protected] World Meteorological Organi- stretching across nine coun- deforestation and an increase the regions most challenged tries, stores 10% of the world’s in the concentration of carbon by extreme hydro-meteoro- public relations: tel: 4455 7613 zation’s new report, State of email: [email protected] the Climate in Latin America carbon. dioxide continue,” Marengo logical events.” The report & the Caribbean in 2020, The world’s largest said. also determined that climate- Marketing: tel: 4455 7657 released on Tuesday. The tropical forest, the Amazon Fewer fires burned in the related events have resulted email: [email protected] blazes caused irreversible captures more carbon than it Brazilian Amazon from in the loss of 312,000 lives damages to vital ecosystems- emits, making it what’s know January to July of this year and directly affected more advertising department: tel: 4455 7837 / 857 and to the people dependent as a carbon sink. But the eco- compared to 2019 and 2020, than 277 million people fax: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] on them. system is teetering on the according to data from Bra- between 1998 and 2020. The classified department: tel: 4455 7857 “Continued deforestation edge of becoming a net source zil’s National Institute for region has been hit by high email: [email protected] is one of the factors that per- of carbon, and will soon emit Space Research, or INPE. The temperatures, record- petuates these wildfires,” said more than it stories if tree loss fire season, which usually breaking droughts, floods, sea subscription & distribution: tel: 66766718 Jose Marengo, lead author of continues at current rates, runs from June to October, level rise, tropical cyclones WhatsApp: 66766718, email: [email protected] the report and the director of according to a scientific could be worsened by a and glacier melting.

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar Countless Haitian families who have lost everything due to the earthquake are now /Peninsula_Qatar living literally with their feet in the water /ThePeninsulaNewspaper due to the flooding.

+974 6698 6188 Bruno Maes, UNICEF representative in Haiti Wednesday 18 August 2021 AMERICAS 09 Haiti quake death toll tops 1,400 as rains lash survivors

Reuters — LES CAYES, Haiti poles and tarps that were Right now, about half a destroyed by Grace overnight. Flooding due to a storm over- Some took cover under plastic night complicated efforts million Haitian children have sheets. yesterday to seek survivors limited or no access to Mathieu Jameson, deputy from a weekend earthquake in shelter, safe water, head of the committee formed Haiti that killed more than by the tent city residents, said 1,400 people and provide aid healthcare and nutrition. hundreds of people there were and relief to hundreds of thou- in urgent need of food shelter sands left struggling for food, and medical care. water or shelter. Bruno Maes “We don’t have a doctor. We The quake brought down Unicef representative in don’t have food. Every morning tens of thousands of buildings Haiti more people are arriving. We in the poorest country in the have no bathroom, no place to Americas, which is still recov- sleep. We need food, we need ering from a temblor 11 years more umbrellas,” said Jameson, ago that killed over 200,000 nutrition.” By yesterday adding the tent city was still A man walks on beach as tropical depression Grace approaches, in Les Cayes, Haiti, on Monday. people. morning, only a light rain was waiting for government aid. “Countless Haitian families falling over Les Cayes, the The US Agency for Interna- assassination of President children and the elderly. Haitian which had been forecast to who have lost everything due southern coastal city that bore tional Development (USAID) Jovenel Moise on July 7. authorities said on Monday that dump up to 15 inches (38 cm) of to the earthquake are now the brunt of Saturday’s 7.2 mag- said it had resumed rescue and Several major hospitals 1,419 deaths had been con- rain on some areas, was moving living literally with their feet in nitude quake, after Tropical relief operations yesterday were severely damaged, ham- firmed, with some 6,900 people into Jamaica, according to the the water due to the flooding,” Storm Grace had unleashed tor- morning after suspending them pering humanitarian efforts, as injured. US National Hurricane Center. said Bruno Maes, the United rential rains and floods in at during the storm and was were the focal points of many As hopes faded of finding Rescue workers have been Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) least one region. working with international shattered communities, such as significant numbers of survivors digging alongside residents representative in Haiti. At a tent city in Les Cayes partners to scale up assistance. churches and schools. in the wreckage, the storm through the rubble in a bid to “Right now, about half a containing many children and Haiti’s latest natural disaster Doctors worked in make- impeded rescuers in Les Cayes, reach bodies, though few voice million Haitian children have babies, over a hundred people comes just over a month after shift tents outside of hospitals about 150 km (90 miles) west hope of finding anyone alive. A limited or no access to shelter, scrambled to repair makeshift the country was plunged into to save the lives of hundreds of of the capital Port-au-Prince. smell of dust and decomposing safe water, healthcare and coverings made of wooden political turmoil by the injured, including young By early morning, Grace, bodies permeates the air. More protection: US likely to authorize COVID-19 booster shots US ships nearly half a million ap — WASHINGTON both the highly contagious doses that we don’t undermine variant and preliminary evi- our campaign for first vaccina- vaccine doses After struggling for months to dence that the vaccine’s pro- tions,” Lawrence Gostin, a persuade Americans to get the tective effect starts dropping public health specialist at Geor- to Rwanda COVID-19 vaccine, US health within months. getown University, said yes- officials could soon face a fresh The new urgency from US terday. “That’s truly the exis- Reuters — WASHINGTON challenge: talking vaccinated officials reflects how quickly the tential crisis in the United people into getting booster variant has knocked the country States.” Calling for third doses The United States is sending shots to gain longer-lasting back on its heels. On July could discourage people who nearly half a million doses of protection as the delta variant Fourth, President Joe Biden pro- had been skeptical of the shot’s Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine sends infections soaring again. claimed that the nation was effectiveness in the first place, to Rwanda, including the first As early as this week, US declaring its independence Gostin warned. doses from the Biden admin- health authorities are expected from the virus. But since then, Booster shots would only istration’s 500 million global to recommend an extra dose of infections, hospitalizations and begin to be administered widely pledge earlier this summer, the vaccine for all Americans deaths have increased once the Food and Drug Admin- the White House said eight months after they get their nationwide, overloading emer- istration formally approves the yesterday. second shot, according to two gency rooms across parts of the vaccines, which are being dis- “Today, we are shipping people who spoke on condition South and West. pensed for now under what is over 488,000 doses of Pfizer of anonymity to discuss internal When Pfizer announced A nurse collects a nasal swab from a person for COVID-19 test, at a known as emergency use to Rwanda, including the first deliberations. plans in July to apply for mobile testing site in Times Square in New York City, US, on Monday. authorization. Full approval of 100,000 doses from @ That means the biggest vac- approval for boosters, US offi- the Pfizer shot is expected in the POTUS’ 500 million shots cination drive in US history is cials shot back that it was too boosters would muddle the hesitant to get their first shots. coming weeks. Last week, US pledged and purchased this about to get even more early to know whether they continuing campaign to win “We have to really make health officials recommended summer. This is just the extensive. were needed. Experts worried over the tens of millions of sure that while we’re spending boosters for some people with beginning,” White House The move is being driven by that a new campaign calling for Americans who are skeptical or a lot of time and effort on third weakened immune systems. spokesman Kevin Munoz said in a post on Twitter. The move is part of the Nicaraguan Biden administration’s Largest of US wildfires moves near California city support for COVAX, the global vaccine sharing govt cancels AP — SUSANVILLE, CalifORNIA section chief. “It’s not out of has made the US West warmer counties from yesterday program with the World play, and the next 24 hours are and drier in the past 30 years evening through afternoon Health Organization to help registration of Firefighters faced dangerously going to be crucial to watch as and will continue to make the today to prevent winds from distribute vaccines to poorer windy weather yesterday as to what the fire is going to do weather more extreme and knocking down or hurling countries. 6 foreign NGOs they struggled to keep the there,” he told an online wildfires more destructive, debris into power lines and US President Joe Biden in nation’s largest wildfire from briefing. according to scientists. sparking new wildfires. Most of June said the United States Managua — Reuters moving toward a Northern Cali- To the east, spot fires Susanville is the seat of those customers are in Butte would donate 500 million fornia city and other small became established south of the Lassen County and the largest and Shasta counties, which doses of Pfizer’s shot, made The Nicaraguan government mountain communities. small community of Janesville, city that the Dixie Fire, named have seen a number of deadly with partner BioNTech SE, on Monday canceled the regis- Forecasters issued red flag which had been ordered evac- for the road where it started, and devastating wildfires in and officials have said they tration of six non-govern- warnings of critical fire weather uated. Some structures were has approached since it broke recent years, including the Dixie would start shipping out in mental organizations (NGOs) conditions including gusts up lost there, but a surge of fire- out last month. The former Fire. late August. from Denmark, Spain, the to 40 mph (64 kph) from late fighters was able to herd the fire Sierra Nevada logging and The Dixie Fire has scorched In Rwanda, COVID-19 United States and Sweden, morning to near midnight. around the majority of the mining town has two state more than 940 square miles infections are decreasing claiming they were violating The warnings came after town, Brunton said. prisons, a nearby federal lockup (2,434 square kilometers) in the with 584 average daily the Central American nation’s the Dixie Fire grew explosively Firefighting managers and a casino. northern Sierra Nevada and reported cases, 42% of its transparency laws. from winds spawned by a new warned to expect spot fires to Ash fell from the advancing southern Cascades since it peak caseload reported on President Daniel Ortega, weather system that arrived on up to 1 mile (1.61 km) ahead of fire and a Police Department ignited on July 13 and eventually July 22. who is seeking a fourth con- Monday afternoon. It was about the main fire, said Ulibarri. statement urged residents “to merged with a smaller blaze Biden administration secutive term in a November 8 miles (12.8 km) from Susan- The Dixie Fire is the largest be alert and be ready to called the Fly Fire. It’s less than health officials have said election, has drawn wide- ville, population about 18,000, of nearly 100 major wildfires evacuate” if the fire threatens a third contained.. efforts to quell the novel spread criticism from foreign early yesterday, said fire burning across more than a the city, although no formal Ongoing damage surveys coronavirus outbreak governments after the recent spokesman Doug Ulibarri. dozen Western states that have evacuation warning had been have counted more than 1,100 worldwide is key to ending arrests of several opponents, Numerous resources were seen historic drought and issued. The weather forecast buildings destroyed, including the pandemic and preventing including some presidential put into the Susanville area, weeks of high temperatures and prompted Pacific Gas & Electric 630 homes, and more than future problematic COVID-19 candidates. where residents were warned dry weather that have left trees, to warn that it might cut off 16,000 structures remained strains, in addition to ongoing Nicaragua’s official gazette to be ready to evacuate, said brush and grasslands as flam- power to 48,000 customers in threatened. Numerous evacu- efforts to vaccinate people in showed the interior ministry Mark Brunton, an operations mable as tinder. Climate change portions of 18 California ation orders were in effect. the United States. had suspended the registration of Danish NGO Oxfam Ibis, Spain’s Oxfam Intermon Foun- IN BRIEF dation and Sweden’s Diakonia. It also suspended the reg- Brazil govt weighs suing paper istration of the US National Democratic Institute for Inter- over article on election threats national Affairs, the Interna- tional Republican Institute, SAO PAULO: The Brazilian government is considering suing and Helping Hands The national newspaper Estado de S. Paulo for a July 22 article that Warren William Pagel, MD stated that Defense Minister Walter Souza Braga Netto had Foundation. threatened the 2022 election, Braga Netto told lawmakers in The government argued Brasilia yesterday. the NGOs “have failed to The article, which cited anonymous sources, said that Braga comply with their obligations Netto had told the head of Brazil’s lower house that the election under the laws that regulate would not take place if it was not conducted via printed ballot, a non-profit organizations”. measure pushed by right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. The organizations were Both Braga Netto and House Speaker Arthur Lira denied the accused of not signing agree- report. -Reuters ments setting out their source of financing and project port- folios, and of not reporting Developing southern Mexico key aim their financial statements to the interior ministry, the of economic talks with US, FM says gazette said. Representatives of the NGOs in Nicaragua did MEXICO CITY: Promoting development in southern Mexico not immediately respond to will be a key objective of the so-called high level economic requests for comment. Argentina protest dialogue to be held between the United States and Mexico The government has also next month, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said canceled the registration of Demonstrators lay stones in front of the Casa Rosada presidential palace to protest President Alberto yesterday. local NGOs critical of Ortega, Fernandez’s handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as part of a demonstration Speaking at a regular news conference, Ebrard said border infra- which worked on human movement dubbed the ‘March of the Stones’, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Monday. structure and creating economic opportunities in Central America will rights and institutional issues. also be central to the agenda. -Reuters