QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Sunday JuLY 19, 2020 Dhu Al-Qa’da 28, 1441 Vol.13 no. 5002 qR 2

Fajr: 3:27 am Dhuhr: 11:40 am fine Asr: 3:05 pm Maghrib: 6:27 pm High : 41°C LOW : 33°C Isha: 7:57 pm

World 8 Business 9 Sports 13 China rolls out mass Nakilat best bet for equity Hamilton claims 90th testing in Xinjiang after investors to participate in career pole, record-equalling new virus cases Qatar’s LNG growth: Report 7th in Hungary

Amir checks on health of Kuwait Amir

QNA Amir checked on the health of HH Doha the Amir of Kuwait, praying to Al- lah the Almighty to bestow upon His His Highness The Amir of State of Highness good health and wellness. Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Later, HH The Amir also held a Thani on Saturday held a telephone telephone conversation with HH The conversation with His Highness The Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Amir of State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. Sabah to check on the health of HH During the phone call, HH The the Amir of the State of Kuwait.

Kuwaiti Amiri order assigns Crown Prince to take over some of constitutional jurisdictions QNA Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs in Kuwait Kuwait Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al Sabah as saying: “An Amiri Order was issued as- The Kuwaiti Amiri Diwan has an- signing His Highness the Crown Prince nounced that an Amiri Order was is- to take over some constitutional jurisdic- sued assigning Crown Prince HH Sheikh tions of His Highness the Amir, tempo- Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah to rarily.” take over some constitutional jurisdic- His Highness the Amir of State of tions of the Amir of Kuwait, temporarily. Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quot- Al Sabah was admitted to hospital on ed a statement issued on Saturday by Saturday for medical checkups.

COVID-19 recoveries reach 103,023 Qatar Rail’s Doha Metro wins As many as 410 people tested positive for coroanvirus (COVID-19) in Qatar on Saturday, the Ministry of Public CIHT international award Health (MoPH) said in its daily report. The last 24 hour also saw 426 people recovering from QNA the virus, taking the total number of recoveries in Qatar to Doha 103,023. Sadly, an 81-year-old patient receiving necessary medical care succumbed to the virus, taking the death toll Qatar Rail was recognised to 154. The MoPH said all the new cases have been kept internationally on Satur- in isolation and are receiving necessary healthcare accord- day after the Doha Metro ing to their health status. “Measures to tackle COVID-19 in received the Chartered Local dates Qatar have succeeded in flattening the curve and limiting Institute of Highways & the spread of the virus and the number of new daily cases Transportation (CIHT) in- to hit market and hospital admissions continues to decline each week,” ternational award 2020. the MoPH added. (TNN) The award recognises on July 20 outstanding examples of highways and transportation The Ministry of Munici- infrastructure or services pality and Environment from outside the UK and Ire- Rail’s Doha Metro the first ued Qatar’s clearly articu- (MME), represented by the land. project in the region to win lated vision for an integrat- Agricultural Affairs Depart- 33 work sites shut for flouting rule The company said the this prestigious award. ed transport network and ment, has announced that project won the award after A panel of impartial judg- Qatar Rail’s well thought- fresh dates (locally called QNA Al Thumama, Azghawa and Al Khor areas. being shortlisted alongside es with a diversity of experi- out planning and design, Al Rutab) from local farms Doha The Ministerial Resolution No 16 of 2007 mega projects in the US, Af- ence and opinion recognised effective engagement and will be available at all Al prohibits work between 11.30 am and 3 pm rica, Asia and the Balkans. Doha Metro’s outstanding communication with stake- Meera branches from July A total of 33 work sites have been closed for during June 15 and August 31 every year. The The established and achievement by looking for holders and successful 20. Fresh dates of different three days for violating the provisions decision obliges companies to work long-running CIHT awards excellence from the start of delivery on performance varieties will be available at of Ministerial Resolution No 16 of out a schedule in which it sets daily opened their doors to inter- the project through to imple- measures. fixed prices at all Al Meera 2007 regarding outdoor work hours working hours in accordance with the national projects for the first mentation and execution. branches. (TNN) during summer. provisions of the decision. time last year, making Qatar In particular, judges val- Continued on page 2  The violations were detected dur- The notice of schedule must be ing field visits carried out by inspec- displayed in a place that is easy for all tors of the Labor Inspection Depart- workers to see, and which inspectors ment of the Ministry of Administrative can observe during their visits. Qatar condemns Development, Labor, and Social Affairs The companies are also required Iraq bombings between July 5 and July 16. The companies that to provide air-conditioned spaces for the workers, flouted the rules were engaged in the contract- cool water, light clothes, and allocate rest periods QNA ing sector in Al Wakrah, Rawdat Al Hamama, Al at different times to protect them from the risk of Doha Kharaitiyat, Lusail, Umm Al Seneem, Al Kheesa, heat stress. Qatar has condemned the two bombings that occurred in Basra and Saladin gover- norates in Iraq, killing at least three people. In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign UDC begins construction works in Gewan Island Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and QNA commercial and residential main entrance’s cable-stayed versified residential and retail terrorism regardless of motives Doha district. bridge, a landmark and en- products on offer. and causes. The statement Once completed in 2022, gineering masterpiece which The island’s design incor- offered Qatar’s condolences to The United Development they will have 586 apartment connects The Pearl-Qatar to porates a number of sustain- the families of victims as well Company (UDC) held a cer- units from one to four bed- Gewan Island, continue. It ability features, including re- as the government and people emonial concrete pouring to rooms, 101 public retail, enter- demonstrates UDC’s commit- ducing the use of vehicles by of Iraq, wishing the wounded a announce the launch of con- tainment and dining outlets, ment to its strategy and the encouraging walking and bik- speedy recovery. struction works at Gewan comprehensive leisure facili- development timeline of all ing through dedicated pedes- Island, starting with Crystal ties for residents, and 1,456 its projects despite the current trian and cycling networks. Residence’s 15 mixed-use underground car parks. challenging situation. The island also imple- buildings and the climatised Most recently, UDC had The commencement of ments a centralised waste outdoor Crystal Walkway, the awarded the contracts for construction of Crystal Resi- collection system that is both QNB named ‘Best island’s retail hub. building, landscaping and dence is a major milestone for environmentally friendly and Crystal Residence’s low- infrastructure works on the UDC as it constitutes the spine cost-efficient. Bank in Qatar’ by Ceremonial concrete pouring to announce the launch of construction rise buildings sit at the heart of island, while dredging activi- of Gewan Island due to its cen- Euromoney (PG 9) works at Gewan Island. Gewan Island within a vibrant ties and construction of the tral location as well as its di- Continued on page 2  02 Sunday, July 19, 2020

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Turkey celebrates 4th anniversary of failed coup, thanks Qatar for support He thanked HH the Amir and the The Turkish government has de- ing control of the Turkish state from The Turkish people will always remember people of Qatar for their firm sup- clared FETO group as terrorist and within. port to “our democratically-elected criminal organisation and banned He said the banned organisa- Qatar’s valuable and solid support government after the heinous coup all its activities after the failed coup tion had also established media attempt on July 15, with phone calls, attempt. houses to shape the public opinion Ashraf Siddiqui strengthening bilateral relations and official visits, statements and social Ozmert said the terror group for and against any person, group Doha discussing regional and international media messages”. used children and their parents as or idea. It also started meddling issues of common concern. He said the Turkish people will ‘Chosen One’ with the seemingly in- in business transactions and gov- Qatar and Turkey enjoy excellent Turkish President Erdogan was always remember Qatar’s valuable nocent promise of better education ernment tender process, launder- relations which is reflected from in Qatar on a short visit at the begin- and solid support. and jobs by providing financial help ing, infiltrating critical state posts, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ning of July along with his delega- The Turkish diplomat said that and support in academics. eliminating opponents, illegal recent short visit to Qatar despite the tion and met the Amir His Highness just one year after the coup, Qatar “The whole purpose was to sub- wiretapping, fabricating evidences, coronavirus pandemic, said HE Mert Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. faced an unjust and unlawful block- vert democratic foundations of the unlawful arrests to intimidate and Ozmert, Charge d’ Affaires of Turkey Speaking about the foiled coup ade from some of its neighbouring Turkish state and establish a new blackmail a large segment of soci- Embassy in Qatar. attempt of July 15, 2016, Ozmert said countries, adding that Turkey did not anti-democratic government with ety, including politicians, business In an interview with Qatar Trib- the day is marked to pay tributes to HE Mert Ozmert hesitate a moment to come forward absolute rule of Gulen,” he said. community, journalists, artists and une on the fourth anniversary of the hundreds of civilians who sacrificed and support the people of Qatar. He said the terror group that sportsmen. failed coup, Ozmert said the meet- their lives protesting against the tion outlets, including TRT, the state “These crises and supportive po- disguised itself as an education He said the fight against FETO ings between the two leaders were coup carried out by the FETÖ group. broadcasting channel, CNN Türk, sitions led our countries to further movement gradually turned into a structures in Turkey and abroad re- part of continuing coordination be- He said coup plotters also target- sensitive buildings and various other strengthen bilateral relations at all secretive operational structure aim- mains among the top priorities of the tween the two brotherly countries in ed public and private communica- installations. levels,” he noted. ing to transform the society by tak- country. 238 Ugandan expatriates Qatar stresses importance of improving repatriated back home prison conditions to contain coronavirus CATHERINE W GICHUKI qna ing organised by the United is proud to support the Global control it in prisons. DOHA doha Nations Office in Vienna on Programme for the implemen- Mansouri concluded by ‘Drugs and Crime’ on the oc- tation of the Doha Declaration, saying that it is the first time The first Qatar Airways char- QATAR has stressed the impor- casion of the Nelson Mandela given that the rehabilitation of in modern history that the in- tered flight for repatriation tance of improving prison con- International Day, which falls prisoners through providing ternational community finds of Ugandans from Qatar left ditions in light of the outbreak on July 18 every year. education, vocational training itself united against a com- Doha with 238 Ugandans at of coronavirus (COVID-19) Mansouri said that all and work programmes is one mon threat, which is COV- around 11:30am on Saturday. through a rapid and firm re- countries should ensure that of the four main pillars of the ID-19, calling for turning the The flight is expected to land sponse aimed at ensuring a preparedness and response to programme. challenges of this pandemic at Entebbe International Air- healthy and safe incubation COVID-19 in prisons comply In the context of the re- into opportunities through port at around 5:30pm. and reducing overcrowding. with Nelson Mandela rules. habilitation of prisoners, he strong commitment and soli- The expatriates were seen This came in a speech de- During the meeting at- pointed out that the Global darity with the most vulner- off by Ugandan Ambassador to livered by Ambassador of Qa- tended by Minister of Justice Programme for the implemen- able groups in the societies, Qatar HE Dr Stephen Chem- tar to Austria and the perma- of South Africa Ronald La- tation of the Doha Declara- who are prisoners, as well as oiko Chebrot and a number of nent representative of Qatar to mola, Executive Director of tion provided technical and through the promotion of joint community leaders. the United Nations and inter- the United Nations Office on medical assistance as well as action to ensure an equitable Speaking to Qatar Trib- national organisations in Vi- Drugs and Crime Ghada Waly guidance and other materials distribution of necessary med- une, the ambassador said the enna HE Sultan bin Salmeen and accredited ambassadors to 11 countries to prevent the icines and medical equipment second repatriation flight is Al Mansouri before a meet- in Vienna, he added that Qatar spread of the pandemic and to all countries. scheduled for July 24. Ugandan Ambassador to Qatar HE Dr Stephen Chemoiko Chebrot and “Most of them were em- community leaders see off the expatriates at the airport. ployees here but we had other Ugandan expatriates from process went on smoothly and return here. Qatar is their sec- Lebanon, Australia and Japan, all 238 had COVID-19 tests ond home. We were very sat- who wished to go back home,” done.” isfied and happy with the way Gewan Island to accommodate 3,500 residents he said. Talking about how the we were assisted by the min- Continued from page 1  UDC is a leading Qatari public share- According to the ambassa- Ugandan government, Qa- istries and various sectors to holding company with a mission to iden- dor, the process of preparing tar government and Qatar repatriate our compatriots.” Gewan Island, UDC’s latest real-estate tify and invest in long-term projects con- them to go home was smooth. Airways have collaborated to The envoy thanked Ugan- project, is situated next to The Pearl-Qa- tributing to Qatar’s growth and providing He said, “We worked get these expatriates home, da Peninsula Community tar, spanning 400,000 sqm. shareholder value. closely with the Ministry of the ambassador said, “It has Qatar, one of the community Once completed, the island will ac- Established in 1999, the company was Foreign Affairs here in Qatar been an excellent exhibition of groups, for their involvement. commodate 3,500 residents and a similar first listed on the Qatar Exchange in June and the Ministry of Foreign trust. Things have worked so Chairman of the Uganda number of daily visitors. 2003. Affairs in Uganda. Through smoothly. This is really going Peninsula Community Qatar Gewan Island will be home to 659 It has an authorised share capital of the intervention of Director of to increase our bilateral rela- Benson Akampumuza said, residential units, including 586 apart- QR3.5 billion and total assets of QR18 bil- Protocols HE Ibrahim Yousuf tions with Qatar to make sure “The Uganda Peninsula Com- ments, 20 standalone villas located along lion as at March 31, 2020. UDC activities Abdullah Fakhro, we managed that when a situation like this munity Qatar alongside the a placid beach in a quiet and gated seaside cover a multitude of vital investment sec- to get for four health centres happens people are able to Embassy of Uganda played a community, as well as 21 beachfront villas tors, including real estate development, which were designated to do go back home and when the great role in coordination of with private beach, 26 waterfront villas land mansions, in addition to 11,000 sqm property management, infrastructure and the polymerise chain reac- situation gets back to normal, repatriation process for Ugan- that are equipped with private pontoons of retail spaces and 15 multi-use build- utilities, maritime and hospitality related tion (PCR) test for them. The many of them will be able to dans.” for private boats, and six independent is- ings. businesses.

Doha Metro awarded for originality, innovation Ministry takes legal action against Continued from page 1  mitment toward providing a world-class railway system With regard to the project in Qatar. Founded in 1930, blacksmith’s workshop over violations infrastructure, the judges The Chartered Institution of awarded the Doha Metro for Highways & Transportation its originality and innovation, is a non-profit organisation, for the use of environmental UK based with internal affili- and sustainable practices, for ations. the demonstrable employee The Qatar Group, founded and user safety standards and in January 2012 is the focus of for the demonstrable benefits CIHT in the Middle East Re- to the industry and society. tectural design, technology, tem in the country and a key gion. CIHT is the leading voice The judges were also im- safety, environment, and sus- ingredient in the accomplish- of the highways and transpor- pressed with the quality of tainability. ment of the Qatar National Vi- tation infrastructure profes- execution, with the architec- This award is further af- sion 2030. sion. It is the prime source tural design and the use of firmation from an esteemed It is set to revolutionise the of advice for UK national and materials and technologies, jury of the true magnitude of way people move around Doha local government and other with the speediness of pro- its achievements and dedica- and its suburbs. Sustainable strategic stakeholders when ject delivery, and with the tion to delivery at the highest design, construction and op- seeking technical expertise overall positive internal and international standards. erations has been incorporated and knowledge to guide future external feedback, the pro- The Doha Metro is a state- throughout the metro network policy and investment. ject has received. of-the-art, best in class au- achieving industry leading GSAS The institution is the natu- Since inception, Qatar Rail tomated rail network. Doha 5-Star and LEED Gold awards. ral home for all people work- has been the proud recipient Metro forms the backbone This achievement compli- ing in transport infrastructure The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), represented by the Department of Protection of many awards celebrating of Qatar’s integrated public ments previously awarded ac- who are seeking education, and Wildlife, initiated legal action against a blacksmith’s workshop which was functioning in a wild its dedication to achieving the transport system promoting creditation and it is testament professional qualifications, area in violation of the rules for environmental protection. (TNN) highest standards in archi- usage of public transport sys- to Qatar Rail’s ongoing com- and technical guidance. Nation Sunday, July 19, 2020 03 QRCS launches QR6.5mn Adhahi project for 125,000 beneficiaries Tribune News Network an integral part of the standard the safe donation made avail- eficiaries is well supervised. “Internationally, QRCS and Doha projects implemented every able to QRCS. On the other “Everyone who intends to its partners will slaughter and year by QRCS for those in need hand, the needy will receive offer sacrifices this year is in- distribute the meat rations of The Qatar Red Crescent So- everywhere.” sufficient amounts of meat in vited to visit the QRCS Dona- Adhahi in five countries: Pales- ciety (QRCS) has launched its He congratulated the peo- a safe manner. In order to en- tion Collection Agents in the tine (West Bank), Iraq, Sudan, annual Adhahi Qurbani project ple of Qatar and the govern- sure the proper performance shopping centres or to use Ethiopia and Somalia. The for the year 1441 A.H. under the ment, the Muslim nations and reward of the ritual, the any other means of donation number of animals to be dis- theme of ‘Offer Your Sacrifice,’ and the entire world on the whole process will be car- as soon as possible. You can tributed shall be 8,140 heads with the aim to help those who approach of the Eid-ul-Adha. ried out at the religiously pre- choose an animal and a coun- for the benefit of 111,820 per- wish to perform the practice of “This opportunity brings hap- scribed time. try, and then you can pay the sons. The animals of Adhahi Islamic sacrifice conveniently piness and friendliness to our Al Awadi stressed the rep- value. In this way, we will be include 9,010 heads of sheep and timely. lives,” he added. utation of QRCS as a widely able to ensure timely slaughter and goats and 130 cows. Under the QR6.5 million “It is when the rich observe trusted humanitarian pro- and distribution of animals. “As far as selection and project, the Adhahi sacri- the religious ritual to please Al- vider with access to vulnerable “In Qatar, Widam Food Co. payment are concerned, there fices will be distributed in the lah that He is Glorified.A t the groups in the hardest-to-reach has been contracted to supply are several ways that all com- form of food aid to more than same time, it is a source of de- areas, including countries af- and slaughter 1,000 heads of ply with safety and preventive 125,000 beneficiaries in Qatar light for all families who do not fected by natural disasters or sheep in accordance with the standards. QRCS agents are and five other countries. have enough food due to pov- armed conflict.. applicable legal and health available at shops and shop- Announcing the campaign, erty or displacement. Recently, “We work with fellow Na- requirements. The total cost ping centres. You can pay on- Yousef Mohamed Al Awadi, thousands of families have lost tional Societies and govern- is 520,000 QR. The QRCS line (www.qrcs.org.qa) or via director of Resource Mobili- their income as a result of the ment authorities in the host staff and volunteers will then the SMS page (app.qrcs.org. sation at QRCS, said, “Thanks coronavirus (COVID-19) pan- countries to secure high-qual- distribute the meat rations to qa / adh). You can also contact to Allah that we launched the demic and the resulting lock- ity animals. The entire process 1,200 poor families and 6,000 the donor hotline (66666364) third edition of the Adhahi down.” he explained, are twofold: on the sacrifice will find it easy to of slaughter, distribution and workers, or to a total of 13,200 or the home collection hotline Qurbani project. It has become The benefits of the project, the one hand, those offering purchase the animal through selection of the neediest ben- beneficiaries. (33998898). Qatar calls for lifting of Sudan sanctions Enjoy Vodafone GigaNet 5G network QNA delivered by Second Secretary on the progress made to open Geneva of the Permanent Mission of an office for the OHCHR in Su- the State of Qatar in Geneva dan. power on Samsung Galaxy devices Qatar has called for the re- Abdullah Al Suwaidi during a Suwaidi praised the co- moval of all restrictions that session on ‘Enhanced Interac- operation shown by the gov- Tribune News Network Vodafone GigaNet 5G network “Along with the camera, the would hinder Sudan’s ability tive Dialogue on Sudan’ at the ernment of Sudan with the Doha covers key areas across the Galaxy S20 makes it easier and to move forward in its efforts 44th session of the Human OHCHR, which reflects the country, including more than better to experience everything to promote the wellbeing of its Rights Council in Geneva. strong will of Sudan for cooper- Vodafone Qatar announced 70% of Doha. we love to do with our phones people. Suwaidi stressed Qatar’s ation with the UN mechanisms that following a Samsung Gal- The company also launched — enjoy personalised music for Qatar also urged lifting of keenness on promoting and and the fulfilment of its obli- axy software update, custom- Qatar’s first Unlimited 5G every moment of the day, watch all economic sanctions on Su- protecting human rights in gations for the promotion and ers can now enjoy the power plans, featuring unlimited local videos the way they’re meant to dan and its removal from the Sudan based on its firm con- protection of human rights. He of Vodafone’s world-class Gi- data, calls, and SMS, as well as be watched, and play console- list of state sponsors of terror- viction that the brotherly Su- hoped this sincere desire will gaNet 5G network using the roaming data around the globe; style games on the go,” it added. ism. Qatar also welcomed the danese people deserve sus- be met with strong determina- bold Galaxy S20+ 5G and Gal- perfect for use with the Galaxy In addition to solving con- efforts of the government of tainable peace, stability and tion from the Human Rights axy S20 Ultra devices. speeds at home and on the go,” S20 + 5 G and Galaxy S20 Ultra. nectivity challenges, the 5G Sudan to reach a lasting, just development. Council and the Office of the “Vodafone Qatar conducted the company said in a statement The Galaxy S20 + 5 G and Galaxy S20 + 5G and the Galaxy and comprehensive peace that He also thanked the gov- High Commissioner to provide rigorous tests to ensure that its on Friday. Galaxy S20 Ultra are launch- S20 Ultra devices “enable con- would lead to stability, security ernment of Sudan and the Of- the technical support to build thousands of Samsung Galaxy Vodafone Qatar stressed ing a brand-new camera archi- tinuous, integrated work, life and development in all parts of fice of the High Commissioner human rights capabilities in users would seamlessly con- that it has been “leading the tecture that combines AI with and play.” the country. for Human Rights (OHCHR) Sudan in cooperation with the nect to its 5G network to start deployment and commercial Samsung’s largest image sensor To learn more, visit www. This came in Qatar’s speech for the information provided Sudanese government. experiencing phenomenal 5G availability of 5G in Qatar”. The yet with stunning image quality. vodafone.qa/s20. 04 Sunday, July 19, 2020 Nation HMC’s centre conducts over 2,600 ICBF says goodbye to consultation sessions in 4 months long-time Indian expat Santhosh Chandran rating Centre. Doha HMC’s Tobacco Control In 2017, HMC’s Tobacco Control Center Center marks 3rd year as a was designated as a WHO Collaborating THE Indian Community Be- Centre, the first in Qatar and the region. nevolent Forum (ICBF), which WHO Collaborating Centre WHO Collaborating Centres, including re- functions under the aegis of the search institutes and parts of universities Indian Embassy, bade farewell and academies, are designated to carry out to long-time Indian resident Tribune News Network activities in support of the WHO’s mandat- Ravi Narayan, at a formal cer- Doha ed international health agenda. emony held in Doha recently. While social distancing precautions Narayan, who has been Despite the limitations resulting from remain in place, HMC’s Tobacco Control in Qatar for the last 42 years, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Center will continue to offer telephone- headed the Financial Control staff at Hamad Medical Corporation’s In 2017, HMC’s Tobacco Control Center was based services. The mission of the centre Department at Mannai Cor- (HMC) Tobacco Control Center continue designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre, is to provide health and medical advice to poration. He has also served to offer support and treatment services the first in Qatar and the region. the public on the dangers of tobacco use, in- as a corporation member and to tobacco-dependent patients wishing to cluding the dangers of secondhand smoke, treasurer of the ICBF. quit smoking. Officials of the centre have revealed that in addition to behavioural support and Narayan has been actively The centre’s services, which are cur- during the last four months, between mid- counselling for those wishing to quit the involved in community activi- through his organisation. event included ICBF President rently being provided over the telephone March and mid-July, staff have conducted habit. ties through various organisa- Speaking on the occasion, PN Baburajan, President of as a precautionary measure to prevent the over 2,600 consultations and support ses- For more information on HMC’s To- tions and has contributed regu- Narayan said, “Society gives Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) spread of COVID-19, include providing pa- sions with tobacco-dependent patients. bacco Control Center, or to book a consulta- larly to ICBF. He has supported you so much that you cannot AP Manikantan and promi- tients with treatment, medications and psy- This milestone coincides with the centre’s tion, one can make a call on 4025 4981 or the Indian community in his give back enough in a lifetime.” nent Indian community mem- chological support. third anniversary of being a WHO Collabo- 5080 0959. personal capacity, as well as Those who attended the bers amid COVID-19 protocol.

CBSE Class X, xii results BPS records 100% pass IIS students pass with flying colours Birla Public School (BPS) has achieved hundred THE Ideal Indian School (IIS) has once again rah Anwar with 92.8 percent marks. percent pass in the CBSE Class X results. The 13th recorded excellent results in Class XII Board Thanishi Ponnamma emerged topper in the batch of the school consisted of 485 students. Examination conducted by the Central Board of Humanities stream with 97.6 percent marks Arya Cherilasseri and Melissa Susan George Secondary Education (CBSE). Out of 274 stu- while Amrita Madhu Nair and F. Jasra shared emerged as the topper of the school by scoring 97.60 dents who appeared for the examination, 169 the second position with 92.2 percent. Joanna percent. Prisha Badwaik secured second place with (62%) secured distinction while 71 (26%) stu- Selven came third with 89.4 percent marks. 97.40 percent while Anna George took third place dents got first division. The School President Dr Hassan Kunhi M P with 97.20 percent. As many as 155 students scored In the Science stream, Vignesh topped with and Principal Syed Shoukath Ali congratulated the Vignesh more than 90 percent marks, while 256 students 96.6 percent marks while Hana Abdullaise and students and lauded the efforts of the staff. scored marks above 75 percent. Melissa S George Arya Cherilasseri Maria Liz James got second and third places re- Among subjects, Nawal Ashraf Kuttiyott, Among them, 39 students scored A1 grade in spectively with 95.8 percent and 95.6 percent. Nawal Ashraf Kuttiyott, Shihabudheen Harees, five subjects. The students are: Arya Ananthan, Similarly, in the Commerce stream, Aswathi Liya Mariyam, Dilshangi Sandusha, Aswathi Dhamini Manoj, Edwin Basil Judy, Joel John Man- Raghuraj secured the top position with 95.2 Raghuraj and Amrita Madhu Nair were the appurathu, Parvathi Rajesh Nair, Rimsha Dan- percent marks whereas Mohamed Shamim top scorers in English whereas Thanishi Pon- ish, Wajid Ajmal, Abhiram Suresh, Abin Varghese came second with 94.4 percent. The third posi- namma and Aswathi Raghuraj got the highest George, Allen Joseph Gladly, Anfaz Muhammed, tion was shared by Reshma Elsa Paul and Sid- marks in Informatics Practices. (TNN) Hana Abullaise Anna George, Pragya Ranjan, Shane Boby, Muhammed Hashim Abdul Rah- man, Subhashini Sudhakar, Ananya Kadungorth Manoj, Reeva Prashantbhai Shah, Aparna Sharma, Prisha Badwaik Anna George Shaza Ziyad, Ruba Sadiq, Alamelu Venkatachalam, Anith Benov, Diya Zainab, Yash Gabra, Prisha Bad- jeeta Ghosh and Eesha Vilas Kharade waik, Anupama Mary Thomas, Sanjay Krishna Ku- Birla Public School acknowledged the pivotal mar, Shaymanti Bhowmik, role played by the teachers and parents in their chil- Arya Cherilasseri, Athira Santhosh Kumar dren’s accomplishment. Maria Liz James Aswathi Raghuraj Mohamed Shamim Reshma Elsa Paul Sidrah Anwar Thanishi Ponnamma Narayanan, Sadiq Hussain Parappil, Sivakami School Chairman Gope Shahani and all the Gopinath, Kishen Gandhi, Maizah Maharoof, Board of Directors members congratulated the stu- Mehrose Fatima, Rahul Raghuveer Kamath, Shri- dents on their fantastic performance. (TNN) DPS-MIS registers 100 % pass Amrita Madhu Nair F. Jasra Joanna Selven Nawal Ashraf Liya Mariyam Dilshangi Sandusha DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS) recorded Najah Ismail named the topper in the school with 100 percent pass in Class XII CBSE examinations 98.6 percent aggregate percentage, followed by Oli- (AISSCE) 2020, with 128 students scoring above 90 ma Faisal Konath (97.6%) in the second place, while percent marks and 217 students securing distinc- Salih Mansoor and Advaita Nair (97%) shared the tion. third position. (TNN)

Anagha Dileep Sidrah Aslam Shifana Howdul .Janhavi Arora Neema Menezes Shihabudheen Harees

Najah Ismail Olima Faisal Konath Advaita Nair Salih Mansoor Arham Khalid Ahmad

Niroshan Adel Mohammed Aftaf Ahmed Rehaan Hussain Shaik Mohd Yousuf Tareq Mohd Aslam

Faiz Asim Mohinuddin Kshitij Parashar Malika Satyendra Dikshit Mohammad Omar Muhammad Hamzah

Aftab Aalam Mohamed Nihal Sandra Gireesh Kumar Asmaa M.Rashid Abdullah Bin Abdulhameed Aysha Ashiq

Naina James Abhishek Raj Namitha Maria Justine Nihal Anwar Nila Pournami

Abdullah Khan Faith Thimothy Farah Abbas Hiba Sherin Fathima Abdul Azeez Jesna

Aina Hanna Jain Pavani Dubey Prarthavi Prashant Garge Raiza Shanavas Rebecca Elsa Abraham

Ahmed Ibrahim Adem Rayyan Ahmed Fahtia Ashraf Namrata B Miya Parveen Firos Melvin Thomas S Premadharshini Anam Fatima Sanaa Khanam Sanskar Deepak Sarthak Choudhary

Sarthak Ketanbhai Suchitra Senthil Suhani Parashar Sweety Devnani Syed Muneeb Umang Sanjeev Ienstine Peter Fuaad Islam Zainab Khatoon Ayishath Samreena Abdullah Mohd Israr Reagan Savio Sunday, July 19, 2020 05 Reports by Ailyn Agonia For events and press releases email [email protected] or Ailyn Agonia Kabayan Corner Ailyn Agonia call (974) 4000 2222 Ailyn Agonia It’s time for overseas Filipino entrepreneurs to shine, says Filipino techpreneur

ilipinos based Javier, together with six Qatari innovators, abroad who have the knack for business established Cwallet Services a year and innovation should ago, and the startup has successfully take the risk and not beF afraid to jump on the entrepre- secured more than QR2 million grants neur bandwagon, says Michael Javier, CEO and Founder of Qa- and fundings having created Qatar’s first tar-based Fintech startup Cwallet and only mobile application to facilitate Services. Javier, together with six Qa- banking via blockchain technology cwallet tari innovators, established Cwal- let Services a year ago. On its first year as a registered company, the startup has suc- cessfully secured more than QR2 million grants and fundings hav- ing created Qatar’s first and only mobile application to facilitate banking via blockchain technol- ogy cwallet. To date, Javier is also the Managing Partner of Eventive Software Design and Event Man- agement Company, a proud tech- nology partner of QITCOM 2019. “It’s time for Overseas Filipino entrepreneurs! I know being an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) is good, but at the end of the day, with many talents and innova- tors, that is the only path to reach the dream that you are longing for yourself and your loved-ones. Es- pecially nowadays where job se- The Partners curity is no longer there, will you wait till you get fired to become an entrepreneur or start early and job in order to focus all his at- enjoy life earlier? If you will ask tention and efforts on the startup me, I wish I have started earlier which took the team a full year instead of becoming an entrepre- to develop from an idea to a live neur at the age of 40,” said Javier. product. Javier’s journey in becoming He named his wife Rhoda and a techpreneur includes his will- children Madisson, Martin Louise ingness to learn new skills. While and Marty Gaebriel as his main working in Qatar, he took several inspiration. He also said that the design courses at Virginia Com- project takes inspiration from monwealth University in Qatar hardworking expats in the region and Modern Arabic Classes at and the will to help them manage Stenden University Qatar. better their hard-earned money. Cwallet Services is actually Similarly, he acknowledged the the realisation of Javier’s the- support of his Qatari partners as sis at the Qatar campus of inter- factors that led to the realisation national business management of the venture. school HEC Paris where he took As a Filipino national leading Executive Masters for Strategic a Qatari startup, Javier said he Business Unit Management. The feels proud to represent the Fili- thesis was a socio-economic type pino community in the industry of research that focuses mainly posure. I have managed to se- vices beyond digital wallets, re- and thankful at the same time for on Filipino domestic workers and cure over QR 2 million in grants mittance and payment solution to the generosity of the host country. aims to create a value to his kaba- from Qatar Science and Technol- help build a cashless society for He said, “Qatar has been provid- bayan (fellow Filipinos) in Qatar. ogy Parks’ Product Development all sectors including the bottom ing employment opportunities to As a startup, Cwallet with its Fund along with Ooredoo Digital of the pyramid but not limited to expats and even allowing us to basic principles of Payroll, Pay- and Beyond Program from Qa- unstable societies, unjust govern- study in the prestigious schools ment and Remittance allow users tar Business Incubation Center ments and even refugee camps in in the country. I am proud to to pay online and onsite through which is powered by Qatar De- order to create jobs and micro en- be the first Filipino national to affiliated partners in order to velopment Bank. All mentioned trepreneurs within the business graduate from HEC Paris since it perform various financial trans- entities provided fundings in cash ecosystem. My personal vision is established a campus in Qatar 10 actions either locally or interna- and in kind.” to bring this back home and use years ago. Now, Qatar is extend- tionally. It promotes financial in- Further talking about the cwallet to promote for a more ing its generosity to individuals clusion and financial literacy for milestones of the App, Javier said cashless society in the Philippines who wants to do business here as the unbanked majority. The App for now only the Payment feature and for Filipinos to minimise the well. That is why we support the targets the low-income, high-vol- of the product is live but they are use of cash which can also help government’s initiative on build- ume market such as migrant and working hard to kick-start the lessen the corruption in the coun- ing a smart city and aiming for a domestic workers, as well as mi- Payroll and Remittance features try. In times of national disaster, cashless society, among others.” cro-entrepreneurs, and small and as well. He also shared that they such Apps will ensure that the Javier never rests on his lau- medium-sized businesses (SMEs). have established Cwallet Interna- financial assistance goes straight rels- he constantly strives to According to Javier, “We have tional that will allow them to op- to the rightful beneficiaries. I achieve more and works hard to- been privileged to get the incuba- erate outside Qatar’s jurisdiction. hope someday we shall reach that wards his passion. According to tion at Digital Incubation Center Looking ahead, Javier added, point.” him, he dreams of starting an in- which is under the Ministry of “Cwallet’s vision is to become a Javier admits being confront- cubation programme in rural ar- Michael Transport and Communications. premier Fintech influencer cre- ed with a lot of challenges while eas in the Philippines and hopes Javier Aside from free office, they have ating loyal fans in MENA and putting the project together in- to inspire young Filipino talents also provided mentoring and ex- Asian regions by providing ser- cluding being forced to quit his to be techpreneurs like him. 06 Sunday, July 19, 2020

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

Every US Prison Cell Is Now Trump’s War On Fauci May A Coronavirus Death Row As COVID-19 infections rip through prisons in several End In Defeat For Both US states, prisons must be decongested to protect inmates, staff to contain the spread of the disease If Trump thinks his government’s top infectious disease expert gives bad advice, AN Quentin is California’s most fa- departure dates slightly for about 3,500 he can sideline the doctor but the president must offer mous, most picturesque, most aged, home-bound prisoners. preferable solution to the health crisis Smost poorly designed and most lethal Now California Governor Gavin News- state prison. Its parking lot, down the om’s administration is finally getting more hill from twin gothic towers (built in the serious about reducing the infection risk by Ramesh Ponnuru 1850s) and high walls, offers a stunning reducing the inmate population. Departure Tribune News Service view of San Francisco Bay and the Bay dates will be moved up for thousands of ad- Bridge — when not threatened by winter ditional prisoners, including some elderly OWN double digits in some polls storm waves. The perspective is different and medically frail inmates who have been with less than four months until inside the gates, where cellblocks sur- locked up for years and who now pose little the election, President Donald round an open atrium-like space designed risk to their home communities. Ironically, Trump has decided that it’s time to give guards a view of each inmate. With and tragically, California still has people to launch an attack against … his the windows to the outside closed off and locked up who, on release, would be good ownD adviser. Who’s much more popular with prisoners and guards all breathing candidates for nursing homes, were they than he is. Trump has rewritten the po- the same poorly circulated air, it’s the per- also not hot spots for COVID-19. litical rulebook over the last four years, fect place to transmit a virus, quickly and Every prison is not just a disease vector but this revision seems unlikely to stick. mercilessly. In such an environment, so- for other inmates but, through employees White House aides have been distrib- cial distancing is irrelevant. and visitors, a serious threat to neighbour- uting a memo criticising Dr Anthony Fau- In other words, it’s not a good place to ing communities. Even the state’s newer, ci, and one went so far as to write an op- send inmates to shield them from COVID-19. relatively isolated prisons, such as Iron- ed article slamming him. Trump himself About 400 miles to the south, at the wood and Chuckawalla outside Blythe, has shared criticisms of Fauci on Twitter California In- pose high dan- and made his own in interviews. But he stitute for Men ger to populated has also chided the aide who wrote the in Chino (built areas because it anti-Fauci op-ed piece, economic adviser in the 1940s), turns out that Peter Navarro, since this White House is the corona- many employ- incapable of sticking to one story. virus spread ees choose not All of this is perverse as a matter of swiftly among to live in Blythe political strategy and government man- more than 600 but would rather agement. Like a lot of what the president ments on the pandemic certainly looks a ed, it’s in part because they have been inmates, caus- drive the two does, it seems to be based on paying too lot better than Trump’s — he has made given reasons for doubt. ing multiple hours each way much attention to what he sees on tel- serious missteps. In early March, he The insistence that citizens and public deaths and put- from either Palm evision. The best result of this one-sided told viewers of ‘60 Minutes’ that “there’s officials should “believe” or “follow” sci- ting other in- Springs or Phoe- feud might be for both he, and we, to see no reason to be walking around with a ence during the pandemic has been thor- mates directly in nix. It’s the same less of Fauci. mask.” Masks, he said, were not “pro- oughly unhelpful. Science hasn’t been harm’s way. So with other pris- The doctor has played several distinct viding the perfect protection that peo- able to tell us to what extent and for how hundreds of medically vulnerable inmates ons up and down the state. roles during the coronavirus pandemic. ple think” and could backfire by causing long to suspend normal life, or where the were moved to other prisons, including In some countries, prisons more closely The debate over him dwells on two of wearers to touch their faces more often. next viral hot spots will be — or even, as San Quentin. Some few brought the virus resemble schools or health facilities, be- them: adviser to the president and ex- He also cited the need to reserve masks noted, how effective masks are. with them, and San Quentin now has more cause that’s essentially what they are. None plainer of public-health policies to the for medical providers and sick people. That’s an indictment of a way of than 1,400 cases, each of them potentially of this is to say we should scrap punishment public. A third has gotten much less at- By June, he was saying that Ameri- looking at science, not of science itself. fatal. The prison’s notorious execution and confinement for murderers or rapists. tention. As director of the National Insti- cans should wear masks and that the Science is not a comprehensive set of chamber has been quiet for 14 years, but But not every convicted criminal deserves to tute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, earlier advice discouraging it was a re- answers to our problems, and its prac- now every San Quentin inmate is effective- be put on the coronavirus death row. a division of the National Institutes of sponse to “short supply.” More recently, titioners are not a priestly caste with ly on death row. Newsom’s release plan is a good start, Health, Fauci leads and co-ordinates the he has gotten testy when asked about the privileged access to those answers. What This was going to happen, one way but it’s only that. Inmates who must stay development of treatment and vaccine shift in his message. Fauci was in line science is, among other things, is a valu- or another. Prisons, like cruise ships and locked up should get more space between protocols to fight the coronavirus. This with the public-health community gener- able method of getting answers we don’t nursing homes, are virus breeding grounds them, and frequent testing with rapid re- role is more important than the other ally in downplaying the benefits of masks already have. and human death traps. Two-thirds of in- porting of results. The medical and elderly two. The consensus among informed ob- early in the crisis. But that’s the problem. The backlash to Fauci, which in its mates at the federal prison at Terminal Is- parole programmes should be stepped up, servers is that Fauci has performed it ex- The public-health community, including wilder manifestations assumes that he is land, across the shipping channel from San and quickly. Dorm-style inmate quarters ceptionally well. Fauci, wasn’t being candid. conspiring to wreck our economy, par- Pedro, were infected by May. Nearly 70 should be shut down, as should San Quen- Because Fauci has civil-service protec- Treating Americans as competent takes of these same outsized expecta- percent of inmates at the federal prison in tin’s most disease-prone quarters, and tions, Trump can’t keep him from doing adults would have meant saying some- tions of what science can tell us: If lis- Lompoc tested positive. COVID-19 infec- perhaps the entire prison. If a bar or a res- this vital work. If he thinks Fauci gives thing like: “While the precise effective- tening to him isn’t solving our problems, tions ripped through prisons in New York, taurant is too enclosed to be a safe space, bad advice, he has an easy solution avail- ness of masks in protecting against the there must be some sinister explanation. Chicago, Ohio. California’s 35 state prisons then so are many parts of prisons. able: He doesn’t have to take it. Trump can spread of coronavirus in different situa- The sniping at Fauci from the White suffered just a few infections, but were liv- And even then, the state’s inmate listen to other people he trusts more. If tions is not known, they are likely to be House is yet another example of the ad- ing and breathing on borrowed time. population will likely fall to the level Trump thinks Fauci has done a poor job as somewhat useful in many. Since supplies ministration’s dysfunction. But it’s also The only way to decrease the risk is to that its prisons were originally designed a communicator, he can have his adminis- are low at the moment, it would be best if a symptom of our political culture’s con- decrease the inmate population, and the to hold, meaning they will still be full. tration authorise fewer interviews. people showed restraint in getting medi- fused relationship with science. state made only the most modest effort at Does that make us safer? Not during this Fauci’s TV appearances have brought cal-grade masks.” The choices Fauci and that earlier this year, halting new admis- singular moment in history. And just may- him public acclaim. They have done less others actually made, on the other hand, (Ramesh Ponnuru is a Bloomberg sions for a few weeks and moving up the be, not ever. to advance the public interest. While the depleted public trust. If many people Opinion columnist. He is a senior criticism levelled at him is frequently “just don’t believe science and they don’t editor at National Review and (Tribune News Service) overdone — his record of public state- believe authority,” as Fauci has lament- contributor to CBS News) Taking Nigeria To The Next Level The new opportunities in Nigeria are not in crude oil, but in agricultural sector which will provide food for its people and raw materials for their agro-allied industry

per day, Nigeria had gone way with a Gross Domestic Product of Agriculture provides employ- renewed industrial resurgence structure and the manufacturing past India to become the world’s $446.543 billion. ment for 30 percent of Nigerians, should strengthen Nigeria’s econo- plants that must be provided to poverty capital. Nigeria’s future is going to be producing all kinds of grains, kola- my, and provide jobs for its young, power the economic renaissance This uncomfortable news came dependent on two critical parame- nut, palm oil and palm kernel. Co- energetic, population. Apart from will require a lot of external or for- when the Brookings Institution ters: Agriculture and its population, coa, groundnut, rubber, and timber, foodstuffs, most industrial prod- eign direct investment. of America estimated that more which will provide a huge market were cash crops that used to fetch ucts, like clothes, paper, furniture, Any entrepreneur, who thinks than half of the world population, and inventory of human capital the bulk of the foreign exchange, and medicines, are obtained from his organisation has the savvy to about 3.8 billion people, had been that is primed to take advantage of before crude oil eclipsed that. agricultural produce. take on the challenges that will elevated to the middle class, where the new information technology. Most of the players in the in- This may have prompted the provide immense profits in Nigeria households spend between $11 While agriculture returns the glory formation industry are youths, and recent Central Bank of Nigeria should make the move. Seize the and $110 per day. of the past, the human capital is the that’s why Nigeria’s human capital, directive that “all authorised moment, as the intrepid would say. The content of the Next Level promise of the future. mainly made up of youths, is the dealers (of forex), (meaning But to be sure, the new opportuni- Agenda of Nigeria’s ruling po- It’s interesting that crude oil, other critical input to Nigeria’s eco- commercial banks), are... to dis- ties in Nigeria are not in crude oil. litical party are: Creation of jobs, mostly found in Nigeria’s Niger nomic renaissance. Recent reports continue the processing of Form The price of crude oil has tanked to especially for the youths; infra- Delta region, replaced palm oil, also indicate that in Nigeria, the most M for the importation of msize/ $42 per barrel, and its production structure; business and entrepre- found mostly in the Niger Delta re- densely populated country in Afri- corn (into Nigeria).” has dropped to a 30-year all-time neurship development; political gion of Nigeria. Historian Thomas ca, about 44 percent of the popula- Anyone, who can perceive the low of 31.7 barrels per day world- inclusion of the youths and women; Pakenham recalls that Europe’s tion are between age 0 to 14. Anoth- nexus between agriculture and wide. It is agriculture that will pro- LEKAN SOTE and human capital enhancement, Industrial Revolution fed on Niger er 53 percent is between 15 and 65. creative youths must be doing eve- vide food for Nigerians, provide raw supported by good education and Delta palm oil- for lubricants to run Now, imagine if this teeming rything to invest in the youth, in materials for their agro-allied in- T’S probably apposite that the health care delivery services. factory machines, and make soap to population of citizens apply their agriculture, and the infrastructure dustry, as well as the infrastructure theme of the 2019 electioneering Nigeria’s economy, with a per keep the people clean. genius and creativity to the agricul- necessary to run the resultant agro- to back them up. Icampaign of Nigeria’s ruling All capita income of $2222, annual Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Presi- ture sector. The result will be two- allied industry. There should be takers for Progressives Congress is ‘The Next growth rate of 2.2 per cent, bank dent of Africa Development Bank, fold. Nigeria would feed its citizens, It is obvious that neither the these, especially because there are Level’, because Nigeria has stayed interest rate of 28.4 per cent, observed that, “The future mil- and provide input for an expected Nigerian state, nor its private sec- creative young people to run the too long on the nether side of devel- inflation rate of 13.4 per cent, lionaires and billionaires of Africa agro-allied industry. If you ever tor, can muster the financial and works. All they will need is appro- opment. a Central Bank of Nigeria offi- will not be coming from oil and thought this narrative leaves out technical competencies to build the priate training and orientation. In 2018, The World Poverty cial exchange rate of N381 to the gas sector, they will be coming industries, that means you do not infrastructure needed to move the Clock declared that, with 86.9 American dollar, and a popula- from agriculture... Food is critical, know the connection between agri- economy to the next level. Taking (Lekan Sote is a seasoned million citizens living below pov- tion of nearly 200 million, is the and that is what Africa has com- culture and industry. advantage of the huge investment Nigerian journalist, erty line, of $1.90 per household, 25th largest economy of the world parative advantage in.” Agricultural input for a opportunities in both the infra- columnist and broadcaster)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. World Sunday, July 19, 2020 07

News Mali opposition spurns crisis mediation offer in brief AFP Movement said the president’s On the agenda for media- new judges be appointed to Bamako departure had been a “red tion were discussions about the constitutional court so that One dead in line” for the mediators. the March-April parliamen- it could revisit its decision on Damascus blasts Mali’s opposition alliance It said this ignored the risk tary election, the disputed out- the parliamentary election. on eve of polls: has rejected a plan proposed Keita “poses to the very exist- come of which many analysts A “new government of na- State media by international mediators ence of Mali as a nation, re- say is the root of the crisis. tional unity” should also be to defuse tensions, sticking public and democracy”. Mali’s constitutional court formed, mediators said. Damascus One person to its demand that President The ECOWAS mediation in April tossed out about 30 One of the June 5 Move- was killed and another Ibrahim Boubacar Keita must team led by former Nigerian results from the elections in a ment’s leaders, Choguel Mai- wounded in two blasts resign. president Goodluck Jona- decision that handed seats to ga, said late Friday that the Saturday in the Syrian The rejection was the lat- than has been in Mali since members of Keita’s party, trig- mediators’ proposals had “re- capital, state news agency est setback in efforts to end Wednesday, meeting the par- gering protests. duced our entire struggle to SANA said, on the eve of Mali’s political standoff that ties in a bid to defuse the crisis. Protesters gesture on a barricade put up in front of the Salam But the mediators’ com- electoral issues”. the country’s third war-time has spiralled into violent Jonathan told reporters mosque of Badalabougou, where the Imam Mahmoud Dicko led a promise offer is substantially In the statement issued parliamentary polls. clashes which have left 11 peo- Saturday that negotiations prayer dedicated to the victims of the clashes of the past two days in similar to an earlier offer made Friday, the opposition move- It said “one person was ple dead. had not failed and that meet- Bamako recently. (AFP) by Keita, which the opposition ment said it was insisting the killed and another wounded In a statement late Friday ings would continue. has already rejected. president quit based on his in the explosion of two after several meetings with He said that the ECOWAS Three days of clashes be- jured, according to an official The mediating team pro- “proven inability to turn Mali devices near Anas bin a delegation from the 15-na- team would issue a statement tween protesters and security tally -- in the bloodiest bout of posed that Keita remain presi- around” and the loss of terri- Malik mosque” in the Nahr tion ECOWAS bloc, the June 5 on Saturday or Sunday. forces left 11 dead and 158 in- political unrest in years. dent, for example, but that tory, among other issues. Aisha area of southern Damascus. There were no immedi- ate details on the blasts near the mosque, where Clashes in President Bashar al-Assad has attended prayers in the Kashmir leave past, or the casualties. Nearly 35 million Iranians face Syrians go to the polls three civilians, Sunday to elect a new par- liament as the Damascus seven militants government grapples with dead international sanctions and virus infection, says Rouhani a crumbling economy after DPA retaking large parts of the Srinagar been infected with this virus,” war-torn country. An estimated 25 Rouhani said during a tele- Assad’s Baath party Three members of a fam- million have aleady vised meeting of the country’s and its allies are expected ily were killed when Paki- virus-fighting taskforce. to win most of parliament’s stani forces fired across a been infceted with “We have to consider the 250 seats in the first elec- ceasefire line in the disput- COVID-19; It seems possibility that 30 to 35 mil- tions since 2016. ed Kashmir region, police lion more may face infection,” For the first time this said on Saturday, as seven Iran is seek to defeat he added, citing the results of year, there will be polling militants were shot dead in the virus through a study by the health ministry. stations in former opposi- clashes with security forces. “We have not yet achieved tion bastions, including in Pakistani troops targeted herd immunity herd immunity and we have the Eastern Ghouta region Indian positions and villages AFP no choice but to be united and outside Damascus and in along the Line of Control Tehran break the chain of transmis- the south of Idlib province in (LAC) in the Poonch region sion of the coronavirus.” the country’s northwest. using mortars and automatic President Hassan Rouhani Rouhani’s deputy head Damascus has largely weapons late Friday night. said Saturday that 35 million Ira- of communications, Alireza been secure since Russia- A villager, his wife and nians may contract the corona- Moezi, said on Twitter hours backed government forces their son were killed when virus, as the country still did not later that the 25 million in expelled rebels and jihad- shells hit their house, local have herd immunity although a fact refers to “those who have ists from the capital’s police officer Ramesh An- quarter of the population may A photo shows President Hassan Rouhani speaking during a meeting of the national taskforce to combat encountered the virus and doorstep in 2018. (AFP) gral said. have already been infected. the COVID-19 pandemic. (AFP) achieved complete immunity”. Indian army officials It appears to be the first Rouhani also said that Iran said Pakistani troops initi- time a senior Iranian official has Iran hands over Ukrainian plane’s black boxes to Paris for analysis may have to prepare itself for Death toll from ated “unprovoked” gunfire, indicated the country is seeking double the amount of hospitali- sunken migrant in violation of a 2003 cease- to defeat COVID-19 via herd Tehran After more than six The jet was en route to Kiev aviation authority wrote in its sations it has had in the past five boat in Turkey fire accord between the immunity. months, Iran handed over to when it was mistakenly shot final report that the downing of months, according to the study. boat rises to 54 countries, and Indian forces The virus has killed more Paris the flight recorders of the down by Iranian forces on Janu- the flight was due to a “human The study shows that “out had retaliated. than 588,000 people and in- Ukraine International Airlines ary 8, shortly after having taken error.” It said there was a com- of every 1,000 infected, 500 Istanbul Nine more bod- On Saturday morning, fected nearly 14 million around flight that was mistakenly shot off from Tehran. All 176 people munication error at the respon- show no symptoms” Rouhani ies, including those of two four militants were killed the world since first being de- down by Iranian forces for on board were killed. sible military department due to added, warning that they pre- children, were recovered in a counter-insurgency op- tected in China late last year. analysis. France’s air accident inves- the incorrect alignment of the sent the main challenge by from a migrant boat wreck eration in the Shopian dis- Iran has been battling a Analysis of the flight record- tigation body BEA confirmed in radar system, which ultimately “spreading more virus and in Lake Van in south-eastern trict, police said. resurgence of COVID-19, with ers is due to begin on Monday, June that Iran had requested led to the aircraft being fired on over a longer period” than Turkey, bringing the death Security forces carrying figures showing a rise in both Iranian vice foreign minister its technical assistance to accidentally. Iran has said it is those identified. toll three weeks after the out search operations had new infections and deaths since Mohsen Baharvand said on repair the boxes and download willing to pay compensation to The health ministry does incident to 54, state news come under fire from mili- a two-month low in May. Saturday, according to news their data. people from abroad who lost not report the overall amount of agency Anadolu reported on tants hiding inside a house, On Saturday, the health agency Ilna. Last week, the Iranian relatives in the accident. (DPA) hospitalisations over COVID-19. Saturday. leading to the gunbattle. ministry reported another 188 The Islamic republic has Search efforts will contin- The clash came less than coronavirus deaths and 2,166 to 13,979 dead out of 271,606 ed authorities to reimpose extending them for an extra been struggling to contain the ue on Sunday, Anadolu said. 24 hours after a similar op- cases of infection in the past 24 cases since Iran reported its restrictions in worst-hit prov- week on Friday. Middle East’s worst COVID-19 The victims’ identities eration in Kulgam in which hours. first cases in mid-February. inces after being lifted coun- “Our estimate is that up to outbreak since announcing its were not immediately clear. three militants, including That took the overall toll The rising toll has prompt- try-wide in April, with Tehran now, 25 million Iranians have first cases in mid-February. The boat was carrying a senior commander of the around 60 migrants when it Jaish-e-Mohammad group, capsized on June 27. were killed, according to Lake Van is close to media reports. the Iranian border which India-administered Taliban reshuffle negotiators ahead of Afghan talks migrants have sought to Kashmir has been at the use to enter Turkey, headed centre of a separatist insur- AFP over the team, a Taliban com- tice Sheikh Abdul Hakeem, lah Amir Khan Muttaqi, a senior hinge on a prisoner swap, in for Europe. gency since the 1980s. Tens Islamabad mander, based at an unknown Maulvi Saqib, former chief jus- militant leader, the sources said. which Kabul pledged to free A deadly boat accident of thousands of people, location in Pakistan, told AFP. tice during the Taliban’s rule It comes after Akhundzada about 5,000 Taliban prison- on Lake Van in December including rebels, security The leader of the Taliban has The aides are all members in the 1990s, Mullah Shireen, appointed Mullah Yaqoob, the ers in return for around 1,000 killed seven people and 64 force personnel and civil- reshuffled his team of nego- of the militant group’s lead- a close aide and bodyguard of son of Mullah Omar, as head of Afghan security force captives were rescued. The boat had ians, have been killed. tiators ahead of peace talks ership council, which should the late Taliban founder Mul- the group’s military wing. held by the insurgents. been carrying migrants from Indian forces have with the Afghan government, help the team to make quicker lah Omar, and Maulvi Abdul “Yaqoob is young, energetic “Taliban had a choice to Pakistan, Bangladesh and upped their offensive adding four close aides to the decisions, two other sources Kabir, former governor of Af- and experienced,” the military cease the fire and halt taking in- Afghanistan. against militants since early group, sources in the move- in the Taliban movement who ghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar commander said and added nocent lives, instead, they chose Turkey hosts around 4 this year, and over 100 re- ment said Saturday. confirmed the move told AFP. province. that Yaqoob was respected in to kill more and showed no will million refugees, including bels have been killed since Mullah Haibatullah Ak- The four new negotia- The reshuffle also saw three the Taliban because of his fam- for peace,” National Security 3.6 million from neighbour- January. hundzada made the appoint- tors, who were appointed last to four earlier members of the ily background and experience. Council spokesman Javid Faisal ing Syria. (DPA) ments to strengthen his control month, are Taliban chief jus- team removed, including Mul- The peace negotiations said on Twitter on Saturday. Philippine envoy to South Ebola cases rise in new DR Congo outbreak Korea resigns over sexual AFP was “the longest, most complex ised humanitarian operations harassment case Mbandaka and deadliest” in the country’s and put lives at risk”. history. The influx of money to DPA The Philippine embassy The Ebola outbreak in the DR The two epidemics have no combat the spread of the virus Manila in Seoul is now headed by Congo’s northwest is growing, common viral strain, according in the east “has raised people’s Christian De Jesus as charge according to health officials, to the World Health Organiza- expectations”, the source said. The Philippines’ ambassador to d’affaires. sounding the alarm weeks after tion (WHO). Ebola experts said the expe- South Korea has resigned over “The department is com- the country officially declared The WHO called the lat- rience of the eastern outbreak allegations he sexually harassed mitted to ensuring that justice an end to a separate Ebola est figures “of great concern”, will be vital for informing fur- a South Korean woman while is rendered in this case,” it said. epidemic which claimed over saying that it had identified 56 ther action. serving in Seoul in December, “It also remains commit- 2,000 lives. cases by Thursday. Officials must “listen and the government said Saturday. ted in cultivating and preserv- There have been 54 con- “It is now surpassing the involve communities in time, A complaint was filed at the ing a work environment where firmed cases since June 1 in previous outbreak in this area in dialogue and planning the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, all personnel are treated with Mbandaka, a transport hub in which was closed off and con- response... otherwise we risk which then reported it to the respects and dignity, and free Equateur province, including trolled at a total of 54 cases,” There have been 54 confirmed cases since June 1 in Mbandaka, a being counter-productive,” said head office in Manila in Feb- from harassment of any kind.” 22 deaths, according to figures said Matshidiso Moeti, the transport hub in Equateur province, including 22 deaths, according to Abdou Dieng, head of the Unit- ruary, while the former envoy According to a report by released by the country’s health WHO’s regional director for Af- figures released by the country’s health ministry on Friday. ed Nations Emergency Ebola was in the Philippine capital on South Korea’s Yonhap news ministry on Friday. rica, referring to a 2018 Ebola Response. official business, theD epart- agency, which also did not There were four additional outbreak in Equateur in which epidemic. As I speak, we have epidemic. Health authorities have ment of Foreign Affairs said in name the former ambassador, suspected cases. 33 people died. five cases of polio,” he said. “We have less than two mil- launched a vaccination cam- a statement. Interpol has included him in its The outbreak is DR Congo’s “There are infections in lion dollars in our account,” paign, as was done in the east The department did not Red Notice list and asked mem- 11th since Ebola was identified several villages,” a local official, DR Congo is also struggling said WHO spokesperson Fad- where two experimental vac- name the ambassador in its ber states to help in locating in 1976. Moraliste Nembetwa, told AFP. with the new coronavirus, with ela Chaib about funding for the cines were widely deployed and statement, but noted that he and arresting him. On June 25, the vast central Serge Ngalebato, a doctor 8,249 cases including 193 fa- current Ebola outbreak. more than 320,000 people re- filed his resignation on March The Department of Foreign African country officially de- at the Bikoro hospital, said the talities. An investigation by The ceived a jab. 16 after an investigation. Affairs in Manila did not com- clared an end to an Ebola epi- epidemic affects “an area with WHO officials worry that New Humanitarian last month “More than 8,000 people It did not offer an explana- ment on reports the ex-ambas- demic that broke out in the east fragile health”. because of these competing found that payments to secu- have been vaccinated,” said Al- tion as to why his departure was sador is evading law enforce- two years ago, which Health “In 2018, we had the Ebola health crises, there could be a rity forces and job kickback hassane Toure, a vaccination only now being announced. ment authorities. Minister Eteni Longondo said epidemic. In 2020, the measles lack of funding for the Ebola schemes “may have jeopard- coordinator. 08 Sunday, July 19, 2020 World Britain ‘pausing’ daily COVID-19 death Long-time US civil rights leader John Lewis dead at 80 DPA protest against segregation, de- Washington spite facing police violence. toll after statistical flaws pointed out He continued to be a propo- US congressman and decades- nent of Martin Luther King Jr’s DPA hospital and discharged to the long civil rights activist John practice of non-violent protest London community,” they wrote. Lewis has died, House Speaker throughout his time in Con- Northern Ireland and Nancy Pelosi said in a statement gress and received the Presi- Britain will be “pausing” We must remember that this is a new and emerging Scotland use a 28-day cut-off on Friday. dential Medal of Freedom, the daily updates on its death infection and there is increasing evidence of long-term while calculating their statis- The long-time member of highest civilian honour, in 2011. toll from COVID-19 after re- health problems for some of those affected. Whilst this tics, meaning the issue relates the US House of Representa- Lewis had announced in searchers found statistical knowledge is growing, now is the right time to review how specifically to England. tives was 80 years old and had (File photo) Rep John Lewis, the December that he had stage- flaws in the calculations the “We must remember that been fighting pancreatic cancer. non-violent civil rights warrior four pancreatic cancer and British Press Association re- deaths are calculated this is a new and emerging in- Calling Lewis “the Con- who marched with Martin Luther pledged to fight it while contin- ported on Saturday. Public Health England’s Incident Director Susan Hopkins fection and there is increasing science of the Congress,” Pelosi King Jr and nearly died from uing to serve his constituents in The government said that evidence of long-term health praised the “moral leadership” police beatings before serving for the 5th congressional district of while the issues is being re- problems for some of those af- he brought to the US legislature decades as a US congressman, Georgia. solved, it would temporarily ID-19, regardless of whether East Anglia and the University fected,” said Susan Hopkins, over more than 30 years. “Eve- was diagnosed with pancreatic “I have been in some kind stop publishing figures on the they actually died from the of Oxford. Public Health England’s inci- ry day of John Lewis’ life was cancer in December 2019. (AFP) of fight - for freedom, equality, daily death virus rate. disease itself, or from some- The government “does not dent director, according to the dedicated to bringing freedom basic human rights - for nearly The problem is that the thing else. appear to consider how long PA. “Whilst this knowledge is and justice to all,” Pelosi wrote. the most prominent civil rights my entire life. I have never data counts the deaths of any- The problem was first ago the COVID test result was, growing, now is the right time Lewis, born the son of activists in the US. As a univer- faced a fight quite like the oneI one in England who has ever pointed out in a blog by pro- nor whether the person has to review how deaths are cal- sharecroppers in 1940 in Ala- sity student, he had taken part have now,” he wrote in a state- been confirmed to have COV- fessors from the University of been successfully treated in culated,” she added. bama, was considered one of in sit-ins and freedom rides to ment at the time.

News in brief HONDURAN FORCES PRAY FOR COVID-19 Second weekend of protests in eastern Russia over governor’s arrest VICTIMS, FRONTLINERS MOSCOW: Thousands of people took to the streets in Rus- The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed sia’s far-eastern Khabarovsk region on Saturday for a second Forces Tito Livio Moreno Coello (centre) and weekend of protests over the arrest of their regional governor, high rank officers pray for victims of the new Sergei Furgal. coronavirus and for those who are fighting Local media reported that between 15,000 and 50,000 the infection, during a mass for the 51st people gathered in the centre of the city of Khabarovsk and anniversary of the end of hostilities between then marched to the city hall. There were no arrests reported Honduras and El Salvador, in Tegucigalpa on in the city with 600,000 people. Friday. 800 people have died and 30,867 Hundreds of people also demonstrated in other parts of have been infected with COVID-19 in Hon- the region. Two weeks ago, Furgal was arrested on charges duras amid corruption accusations against of involvement in multiple murders about 15 years ago. He Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez denies the accusations but is still being held for at least two in the purchase of seven mobile hospitals, months in detention in Moscow. (DPA) biosecurity equipment and material ‘to fight the pandemic’. (AFP) Thousands rally in France over death of man in police custody PARIS: Four years after the death of a 24-year-old black man, Adama Traore, in French police custody, several thousands of people rallied in his memory on Saturday, against the backdrop China warns of the global Black Lives Matter movement. UK over basing Family and friends of Traore continue to press for a full account of the circumstances leading up to his death amid China rolls out mass aircraft carrier heightened awareness of police brutality in a number of coun- tries around the world. The march -- in the town of Val-d’Oise in Pacific just outside Paris -- was organised by an Adama support group AFP and Alternatiba, an environmental group that is fighting against London social inequality. French judges have ordered a new medical testing in Xinjiang inquiry to ascertain the cause of Traore’s death in custody that Beijing’s ambassador to made him a symbol of alleged police racism and violence. (AFP) London has warned Brit- ain against stationing a Greece extends Japanese students new aircraft carrier in the after new virus cases Pacific, arguing it would be migrant camps face shorter a “very dangerous move” virus lockdown summer vacation in a newspaper interview ATHENS: Greece on Saturday due to virus The new infection published on Saturday. announced another extension Tokyo: Many students in Liu Xiaoming, China’s of a coronavirus lockdown on Japan will have to forgo part cases illustrate the top envoy in the UK, told its packed migrant camps as in- of their summer vacations continuing difficulty The Times that as London fections in the country increase after the country temporar- cuts trading ties with the and protective measures for the ily closed its schools due to China faces in European Union later this general public return. the coronavirus pandemic, ending the contagion year, it should not “gang The lockdown on camps according to local media up with the United States began on March 21 and is reports. on the Chinese” with mili- now extended till August 2 Some 95 per cent of local AFP / DPA tary deployments. “for the prevention of the school authorities said that Beijing “After Brexit I think dispersion of the coronavirus they plan to shorten the sum- the UK still wants to play cases”, the Migration ministry mer holiday at public schools China launched mass health an important role in the said Greece, with 194 coro- to make up for the classroom screenings in Xinjiang on Sat- world,” he told the paper. navirus deaths, has so far not time lost during the pandem- urday after a spike in corona- “That is not the way to been as badly hit as many oth- ic, Japanese business news- virus cases raised fears of a play an important role.” er European countries -- and paper Nihon Keizai Shimbun fresh outbreak in the far west- The Times reported this there have been no deaths in reported on Saturday, citing a ern province. week UK military planners the migrant camps. (AFP) recent survey. (DPA) The new cases illustrate have hatched plans to sta- the continuing difficulty China tion the HMS Queen Eliza- faces in stamping out the con- beth carrier in the Pacific tagion, which emerged in the A passenger uses an information robot at Tianhe Airport in Wuhan, in China’s central Hubei province, as part of an international central Chinese city of Wuhan recently. (AFP) alliance to counter China. late last year before spreading The £3.1 billion ($3.9 Trump’s White House moves Bush, around the world. 252 active cases nationwide, activities,” an official said at for transmission. billion, 3.4 billion euros) Clinton portraits to disused room The new testing regime according to China’s National the briefing, according to state Xinjiang was one of the vessel is due to set sail on comes a day after authorities Health Commission. The new media reports. first regions to let students her maiden deployment AFP Old Family Dining Room, which curtailed most flights into re- cases in Xinjiang were the only Urumqi residents were return to school in late March next year, on a tour that Washington CNN described as “a small, rare- gional capital Urumqi and local reported transmissions also urged not to leave the city after authorities declared an includes the region amid ly used room that is not seen by shut down local subway and in China on Friday, which also unless absolutely necessary. end to the initial wave of the concerns over freedom of In a break with tradition, the most visitors.” It said the room public transport services. reported six imported cases Strict lockdowns across the COVID-19 outbreak. navigation in the South White House of President Don- was mainly used to store table- The city had recorded 17 the same day. country and widespread COV- Ethnic Uighurs and oth- China Sea. ald Trump has removed the por- cloths and furniture. new coronavirus infections as Mass screening for the ID-19 testing largely brought er Turkic Muslims make up But the possibility of traits of two recent presidents, In place of pictures of of Saturday, authorities said in virus will begin in buildings the outbreak under control around half of the remote and basing the carrier there Bill Clinton and George W Bush, Trump’s recent predecessors, a briefing. which had reported new cas- within Chinese borders ear- landlocked region’s popula- more permanently comes from the building’s entrance there now hang pictures of Wil- China has largely brought es and eventually cover all of lier this year. But a new clus- tion. as tensions between Lon- hall, CNN reported on Friday. liam McKinley, who was assas- the coronavirus pandemic un- Urumqi, said local health com- ter emerged in Beijing in Many of them complain don and Beijing are rising The two paintings were sinated in 1901, and of Theodore der control, but a small num- mission chief Zhang Wei. June and infecting more than of decades of political and re- over a host of issues, and moved from the Grand Foyer, Roosevelt, his vice president ber of infections continue, ac- “The whole city has en- 330 people before it was con- ligious oppression by China’s as US-China relations also where the portraits of recent who succeeded him upon his cording to official government tered a ‘wartime state’, and tained, after millions of people ruling Communist Party, deteriorate markedly. presidents usually hang, to the death, sources told CNN. figures. There are currently will suspend all kinds of group living in the capital were tested which the government denies.

Hong Kong sets conditions for Barcelona back under lockdown as virus cases surge entry from high-risk countries AFP in a week. tomers outside either, where Barcelona In an announcement on the tables were well spaced. DPA Hong Kong has seen a total Friday, the Catalan regional “If they impose another Hong Kong of 1,714 coronavirus infections Barcelona’s streets were government urged nearly four lockdown and force us to close, and 11 deaths. largely empty on Saturday, million residents of metropoli- I will drop the blind, but it Hong Kong on Saturday set The newly gazetted condi- with millions of people in- tan Barcelona to stay home might as well be dropping the new conditions for incom- tions will affect travellers who structed to stay at home as unless absolutely necessary, blade of a guillotine on my own ing travellers from countries have visited Bangladesh, India, new coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of over 10 neck because we won’t be able deemed high risk, which mean Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, came into effect following a people and shutting cinemas, to survive,” the bar owner said. arrivals need an official certifi- Philippines, and South Africa spike in the number of infec- theatres and nightclubs. The new restrictions came cate to prove they have tested in the 14 days before arriving tions in the region over the “We’d just started to see barely four weeks after Spain negative for COVID-19. in Hong Kong, with the aim of past week. things coming back to life with ended its state of emergency The new measures, ef- stamping-out the number of “It’s a disaster,” wails the arrival of a few foreign when its 47 million residents fective from midnight (1600 imported cases. Maria Quintana, looking at tourists, so this is a step back- were subjected to one of the GMT) next Saturday, were an- Hong Kong’s government her empty bar terrace by the wards,” said Quintana, 35. world’s toughest lockdowns to nounced as Hong Kong grap- expressed concern at the 234 Sagrada Familia in Spain’s With a ban on counter ser- slow the spread of a virus that ples to stop a new wave of infec- imported cases there were re- A woman carries an inflatable float with the shape of a portion of second city where the number vice, there are no stools at the has killed more than 28,400 tions spreading, with dozens of ported between 20 June and 27 pizza in Barcelona on Saturday. (AFP) of new cases has tripled to 800 bar, and there were no cus- people in the country. new cases being reported daily. July. India’s richest man takes on Amazon, Walmart in e-com gamble page 12

Sunday, July 19, 2020

26,671.95 9,310.66 37,020.14 1,810.42 −62.76 pts -83.93 pts +548.46 pts Gold +0.74% No deal yet as Dutch block EU virus Dow QE sensex recovery package page 10 Price percentage Price percentage 19.76 Brent 43.14 -0.53% WTI 40.59 -0.39% Silver +0.98% QNB named ‘Best Bank in Qatar’ by Euromoney

Tribune News Network stronger thanks to its focus for Excellence are among the sponse to the COVID-19 pan- Doha on customer experience in most prestigious global awards demic while choosing this local and international mar- for banking excellence. year’s winners. Qatar National Bank kets, through enhanced per- The process for selecting QNB Group’s presence (QNB) Group, the largest sonal and corporate bank- the ‘Best Bank’ award win- through its subsidiaries and financial institution in the ing services and products ner is based on a wide range associate companies extends Middle East and Africa, has across its international of qualitative and quantita- to more than 31 countries won the award of “The Best network. tive standards such as busi- across three continents, Bank in Qatar” from Eur- It also reflects the ness volume, innovation, providing a comprehensive omoney magazine’s Awards Group’s proactive strategy in leadership, credit ratings, range of advanced products for Excellence 2020. responding to the COVID-19 quality of assets and earn- and services. Winning the award pandemic by accelerating ings, efficiency ratios and key It has more than 29,000 is a clear recognition of efforts to implement digi- performance indicators, ac- employees operating in 1,100 QNB’s successful model tal self-services and online cording to a statement. locations, with an ATM net- to create greater value for banking. The jury has also utilised work of more than 4,200 its customers as it grows The Euromoney Awards The QNB headquarters in Doha. the criteria of business re- machines. New oil and gas Nakilat best bet for equity project approvals investors to participate in set to plunge 75% Qatar’s LNG growth: Report in 2020: Rystad Tribune News Network time soon,” Satwani said. Doha COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest challenge facing the Addition of four LNG vessels should help earnings growth in 2020 and 2021: QNBFS The approval of new projects world economy, which has slid in the oil and gas sector is set into a recession that is expect- Satyendra Pathak to plunge by more than 75 ed to be the worst since the Doha percent in 2020 to $47 billion Great Depression, according as energy companies reduce to the International Monetary Nakilat is the best avenue spending on exploration and Fund. A number of oil com- for equity investors to partici- production due to the corona- panies have slashed spending pate in the long-term growth virus pandemic, to cope with the expected in Qatar’s LNG sec- according to a crisis. tor, QNB Financial Services new report from Oil prices (QNBFS) has said in its latest Norway based Spending are also trend- report. Rystad Energy. hit.. ing lower com- “Irrespective of the volatil- “At the be- pared to last ity of the LNG shipping mar- ginning of this year as demand ket, Nakilat’s business should year, the project suffers follow- remain relatively unaffected commitments $47 bn ing widespread given the long-term nature of forecast for 2020 Approval of new pro- restrictions on its charters. In the near-term, were expected to jects in the oil and movement in- addition of four LNG vessels be comparable troduced by the (two in 2020, with two next to 2019, but the gas sector is set to governments year) via its 60 percent-owned industry down- plunge to $47 billion to contain the joint venture, should help turn, thanks to as energy companies spread of the earnings growth in 2020 and COVID-19, has reduce spending in virus. 2021,” the report said. caused com- 2020 Brent crude “Going forward, in terms mitments to fall prices dropped of catalysts, we continue to sharply,” said from highs of believe expansion of Qatar’s Karan Satwani, almost $69 per LNG output from 77 MTPA to energy service $197 bn barrel in Janu- 126 MTPA is a significant driv- analyst at Rystad In 2019, the total ary to $19.33 by er. Currently our model does Nakilat registered 12.6 percent year-on-year increase in the second quarter of 2020 earnings. Energy. mid-March as not assume any fleet expan- Of the total investment in the demand buck- sion and we will incorporate year (YoY) increase in the “Adjusted revenue of and administrative (SG&A) contracts and weak shipyard value in 2020, new projects reached led. However, such expansion once more de- second quarter of 2020 earn- QR980.1 million (10.1 per- against our model helped business,” QNBFS said in the some $27 billion $197 billion prices recovered tails are revealed. We foresee ings. Revenue from wholly- cent YoY) was also consistent Nakilat during the second report. is expected to be to more than significantupward revision to owned ships of QR874.3 with our estimate of QR996.7 quarter of 2020. Adjusted “Higher-than-expected for offshore pro- $40 per barrel our estimates and price tar- million (14.9 percent YoY, million and was driven by the EBITDA of QR770.2 mil- finance charges of QR296.1 jects, with the remaining $20 on the back of an Opec+ agree- get once we factor in this ex- 0.1 percent QoQ) was in-line previously mentioned YoY lion was also in-line with our million, which modestly billion for onshore. In 2019, ment to cut production by 9.7 pansion. We do not envision with our estimate of QR877.7 surge in wholly-owned rev- modelled figure of QR775.8 exceeded our forecast of the total investment in the million barrels per day, with substantial risks to Nakilat’s million.” enue offsetting a decline in JV million. JV income of QR90.4 QR289.2 million also con- new projects reached $197 bil- tapering of supply in place un- business model due to the on- As expected, the report income. EBITDA of QR679.8 million was, however, lower tributed to the slight earnings lion, with $109 billion going to til 2022. going oil price volatility and said, the YoY growth in ship million (17.5 percent YoY, 2 than our estimate of QR105 miss. Net-net, these results offshore projects and $88 bil- The spending estimates COVID-9 pandemic, it said. revenue was driven by the percent QoQ) was also in-line million with Nakilat possibly are in-line and consistent lion to onshore projects. for the sector would have been While maintaining its ac- purchase of Nakilat’s remain- with our forecast of QR670.8 feeling the impact of lower with the overall progress we “Going forward, Rystad even lower if not for the recent cumulate rating on Nakilat, ing 49.9 percent stake in four million,” the report said. spot LNG shipping rates on see the company making on Energy estimates that sanc- contract awards in Norway QNBFS said, “Nakilat regis- LNG ships held under its OSG “Improvement in both di- the small number of its ves- the operational and costs tioning will not pick up again and Russia, the Rystad Energy tered 12.6 percent year-on- joint venture in October 2019. rect costs and selling, general sels on short-term (2-3-year) front,” it said. and recover to 2019 levels any- report said.

Global debt surges to record $258 trillion in Q1 due to COVID-19 fallout Tribune News Network tual rise in debt was only $1.2 pandemic. to continue at an accelerated The total debt in emerging Doha trillion, well below the average Central banks and govern- pace. With abundant central markets also surged to over quarterly rise of $2 trillion over ments around the world have bank liquidity, the decline in 230 per cent of GDP in the first Global debt surged to re- 2015-2019. However, avail- topped up their fiscal support borrowing costs for corporates quarter of 2020, compared cord levels in the first quarter able data on issuance suggests to limit the economic damage has already led to a substantial to 220 per cent in the fourth of 2020 due to ‘widespread re- that the pace of debt build-up caused by the pandemic. surge in corporate bond and quarter of 2019, largely driven cessionary conditions’ induced has accelerated since March, “With some $11 trillion loan issuance since March, by non-financial corporates in by the coronavirus pandemic, largely reflecting the massive in global fiscal stimulus ap- amounting to some $4.6 tril- China. However, the econo- the Institute of International global fiscal and monetary re- proved and another $5 trillion lion in the second quarter mies recorded a slight drop in Finance (IIF) has said in its sponse to the pandemic,” the in the pipeline, gross debt issu- versus a quarterly average of debt levels to $72.5 trillion on latest report. report said. ance hit an eye-popping record $2.8tn in 2019,” IIF said. the back of currency deprecia- The total debt reached The COVID-19 outbreak of $12.5 trillion in the second Debt in mature markets tion against the dollar. $258 trillion, a record high of has tipped the world economy quarter, versus a quarterly av- has topped 392 percent of China’s debt is on track 331 percent of gross domestic into a recession that is expect- erage of $5.5 trillion in 2019,” GDP with Canada, France, the to hit 335 percent of GDP product in the first quarter, ed to be the worst since the the institute said. Central banks around the world have topped up their fiscal support to US and Norway, recording the in the second quarter. Total up 10 percentage points com- Great Depression, according The corporate sector ac- limit the economic damage caused by the pandemic. largest increases, the report debt across all sectors includ- pared to the fourth quarter to the International Monetary counted for over 65 percent of said. At $185 trillion in first ing household, government, of 2019. Fund. The global economy is the rise in the global debt-to- tor rose to $64 trillion during to $75.5 trillion, a record high quarter of this year, total debt financial and non-financial “While this marks the larg- expected to contract by 4.9 per GDP ratio in the first quarter of the first quarter, up from $8 at 95 percent of GDP. in mature markets is $22 tril- corporate increased from 302 est quarterly increase in global cent this year due to a more se- 2020, according to the report. trillion in 2016 while financial “Looking ahead, we ex- lion higher than in 2016, with percent of GDP to near 318 per debt ratios on record, the ac- vere economic fallout from the Total debt in the financial sec- corporate debt rose $12 trillion pect the rise in corporate debt the US making up half of it. cent in first quarter of 2020. 10 Sunday, July 19, 2020 Economy & Business

QNB ECONOMIC COMMENTARY US dollar as a safe-haven No deal yet as Dutch block and other factors supporting EU virus recovery package currency strength The Dutch are re- The global spread of COVID-19 has pro- luctant to hand out duced a wild ride in financial markets since the beginning of 2020, with risk sentiment cash to countries swinging from rampant optimism to fear such as Spain or and back again on a number of occasions. Historically, this has tended to favour Italy safe-haven assets, including high quality government debt, precious metals and cur- AFP rencies of wealthy countries. Brussels The DXY index measures the value of the United States Dollar (USD) relative to a EU leaders will meet again to weighted basket of six currencies: try to save a huge post-coro- • Euro (EUR) 57.6% weight navirus economic rescue plan • Japanese yen (JPY) 13.6% weight after running into a brick wall • Pound sterling (GBP) 11.9% weight of defiance from “frugal” coun- • Canadian dollar (CAD) 9.1% weight tries led by the Netherlands • Swedish krona (SEK) 4.2% weight and Austria. • Swiss franc (CHF) 3.6% weight Europe is in the depths Many of the currencies in the DXY models of equilibrium value of the USD of its deepest recession since basket are also safe-haven currencies them- suggest that it was around 20% over-valued World War II and the 27 na- selves, and this led to sharp swings in DXY during April, before its modest recent tional leaders are seeking com- during March for a number of reasons that weakening. Now that the Fed has slashed mon ground on the terms of a we explained at the time. This week, we US interest rates back down to zero, there 750-billion-euro ($857 billion) take a step back and consider the strength is a much smaller spread in risk free inter- stimulus package that would (From L) Austria’s Chancellor-designate Sebastian Kurz, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Luxem- of the USD against a broader range of cur- est rates between the USD and other major help lift those hardest hit by the bourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and President of the European Council Charles Michel speak during an rencies using the Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) global currencies like the EUR and JPY. pandemic. EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, on Saturday, as the leaders of the European Union Broad Index of the Foreign Exchange Value Second, as already mentioned above, But 12 hours of difficult hold their first face-to-face summit over a post-virus economic rescue plan.( AFP) of the Dollar (see chart). the economic rebound in Asia and Europe is haggling on Friday failed to Considering the strength of the USD more advanced by a few months relative to yield a result as Dutch Prime Macron described it as a “mo- Before the talks Rutte in- Michel plan. against a broader range of currencies the US, thanks to extensive stimulus meas- Minister Mark Rutte refused ment of truth”. sisted he wanted to show soli- Austrian Chancellor Sebas- (including EM) is important as the centre ures and the effectiveness of measures taken to give ground on his demand But, despite the long talks darity with countries that don’t tian Kurz wants the recovery of mass of the global economy is shifting to reduce the spread of the virus. As long as for strict controls on payments among all the leaders and have the budget to stoke a fund to be smaller, tweeting to towards Asia. it is sustained, the rebound should lead to a to his struggling southern part- small group meetings to try to meaningful recovery. say he “clearly rejects” the sum Having made this change, we can more pickup in asset values and returns to inves- ners. break the deadlock, a diplomat “But at the same time, you of 500 billion euros in grants. clearly see the USD acting as a safe-haven, tors, supporting the value of Asian curren- The 27 leaders were sched- said they had run into “a block- can also ask those countries to He also insisted he would with a very notable strengthening of the cies and therefore weakening the USD. uled to reconvene at 11:00am age on the question of govern- do everything possible to solve not accept anything leading USD during the peak of the market tur- Third, heavy issuance of US govern- (0900 GMT) on Saturday but ance for the recovery plan”. this yourselves the next time. to a “permanent ‘Transfer Un- bulence in March. Then, during April and ment debt in the coming years will put diplomats are increasingly According to diplomatic And you do this through re- ion’,” -- where Europe’s richer May, the USD drifted lower as lockdowns downward pressure on the USD.Foreign in- gloomy about the prospect of a sources, European Council forms, in the labour market, in countries would subsidise their across the globe were effective at slow- vestors already have largeholdings of USD deal being struck this weekend. president and summit host pensions etc,” he added. under-performing neighbours. ing the spread of Covid-19 and reducing assets, and would need to be incentivised to The Dutch in particular -- Charles Michel had suggested The draft plan put forward The frugals want any loans perceptions of risk from extreme levels. increase their holdings further. That could but backed by Austria, Sweden granting the members a form by Michel, foresees a recovery or grants to come with strict Indeed, effective policy responses have come in the form of higher interest rates, and Denmark -- are reluctant of “emergency brake” on pay- package, made up of 250 bil- conditions attached to ensure allowed economies in Asia, such as China but if the Fed keeps rates low over the to hand out cash to countries ments, to appease the Dutch. lion euros in loans and 500 that heavily-indebted coun- and Vietnam to return to growth. More coming years (as we expect), it may instead such as Spain or Italy they see This would enable govern- billion in grants and subsidies tries carry out labour market recently, the USD weakened during June require lower prices in foreign currency as too lax with public spend- ments to call a summit if they that would not have to be re- reform. This is furiously op- as lockdown measures were eased, even as terms—i.e., through USD depreciation. ing. have concerns about a nation- paid by the recipient member posed by the south. a period of social unrest contributed to a Taken together, we foresee a continued Germany’s Chancellor An- al economic plan, but other states. “If the money is not used to resurgence of the virus in a number of US but modest and gradual weakening in the gela Merkel and French Presi- members insisted it must not This package is in addition invest in the future, if it does states. value of the USD over the next few years dent Emmanuel Macron are amount to giving the Dutch a to the planned 1,074-billion- not go hand in hand with nec- We will now put these movements into as the global economy recovers from the backing a package of loans and veto over recovery measures. euro seven-year EU budget essary reforms in states that a longer-term context, considering three impact of Covid-19. The main risks to this subsidies to member states to “We’ll have to restart from 2021 to 2027 that the are simply broken in their sys- factors, which will act as headwinds to the view is that the global outlook could dete- revive economies shattered by things differently,” one senior leaders must also agree in the tems... then all this will fizzle USD during the rest of the year and over riorate again as a result of a second virus the virus and preventive lock- diplomat said, of Saturday’s coming weeks or months. out,” Kurz warned. the longer-term. wave and renewed lockdowns. That could downs. talks. - ‘Broken systems’ -Rutte’s The summit could even First, the USD has benefited from lead again to a strengthening of the USD as As she arrived for the sum- - ‘Difficult to swallow’ A- n- position has been backed to stretch into Sunday, but few persistent portfolio inflows into US mar- a safe-haven currency. mit -- the first to be held in other diplomat from a non- varying degrees by fellow in Brussels were confident of a kets over the past few years, reflecting high Time will tell which of the factors driv- person since the pandemic be- frugal state warned: “What the members of the so-called “Fru- breakthrough, despite the tight yields compared with other developed ing the USD will dominate over the next gan -- Merkel warned that the Netherlands wants is legally gal Four” -- Sweden, Denmark timetable, so another sum- market economies. Indeed, fundamental few months. differences among the leaders impossible and politically dif- and Austria. Finland has also mit may well follow later this were “very very large”, while ficult to swallow.” been calling for cuts to the month.

Fuso Rosa 26-seater From excursions to VIP transport, perfect for all kinds of runs

Tribune News Network Doha

Qatar Automobiles Company (QAC), the authorised distribu- tor of FUSO brand in Qatar and a subsidiary of the Naser Bin Khalid Group of Companies, continues to supply the Qatari Market with reli- able Fuso Rosa buses from Daimler, directly from Japan. FUSO Rosa buses are manufac- tured in Japan by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp, a subsidiary of Daimler AG. Daimler is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world’s biggest manufac- turer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. As a pioneer in au- tomobiles, Daimler is creating the future of mobility right now, and delivers safe and superior vehicles that attract customers using vari- ous, innovative technologies. The Fuso buses, the only 26-seaters available in Qatar, are known for their trusted quality, economic efficiency, solid and func- tional design and committed ser- vices. The 26-seater Rosa bus is dis- tinguished with its durability and reliability, while remaining afford- able in a competitive market. The FUSO buses are perfectly suited to meet the demands and require- ments of various sectors, and pro- vide services for passenger and staff transport, commercial operations and other kinds of business. The ROSA is the only buss in is a Japanese bus manufactured by disc brakes maximize the safety of cated throughout cabin. years of experience in the automo- FUSO Rosa buses are maintained Qatar that can accommodate Up to Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. the bus while moving and stopping Qatar Automobiles Company tive industry. at new dedicated service centers in 26 seats including the driver. It is The bus is perfect for all kinds of In terms of Safety and Comfort, (QAC) is the authorized distribu- Qatar Automobiles Company of- industrial area st. 10, as well as in equipped with Class Leading Fea- transportation including entertain- the accelerator interlock and pre- tor of Mitsubishi Motors Corpora- fers a package of benefits to FUSO service centers at Al Khour and Al- tures. Forward position of passen- ment trips, school transportation, warning buzzer prevents vehicle tion and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Rosa buses including in-house fi- wakra. ger entrance door makes it easier for staff, VIP transport. being driven with passenger door Bus Corporation in Qatar. QAC was nance from NBK Financial Services, Fuso Showroom is located on driver to see passengers entering/ The Rosa is equipped with high open. Other facilities includeseat- founded by the late Sheikh Nasser long-term service contracts that best Salwa road. Customers can visit the exiting the bus, while large bonded performance4.2 liter 4-cylinder Die- belts on every seat, 59 roll strength Bin Khaled Al Thani in 1970 as a fit corporate requirements.A vail- showroom at Salwa Road from Sat- passenger windows are ideal for sel engine and independent front compliant and rear air-conditioning subsidiary of Nasser Bin Khaled able at Qatar Automobiles Company urday to Thursday from 8 AM until unobstructed view. The Fuso Rosa suspension. Its dual caliper front system with integrated roof vents lo- Holding which has more than 70 showroom on Salwa Road in Doha, 8 PM. Sunday, July 19, 2020 11 Economy & Business Impact investing may help emerging economies come out of virus slump: OBG The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation estimates 30% of impact funds have invested in emerging markets, compared to 20% of conventional funds

Tribune News Network Doha

While global investment is ex- pected to fall sharply this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, impact investment – the funding of projects that generate a positive social or environmental impact, as well as a financial return – is tipped to hold relatively steady, and could play a key role in the recovery of emerging market economies, ac- cording to Oxford Business Group (OBG). In a sign of the depressed busi- ness sentiment that has accompa- nied the virus-related economic slowdown, UNCTAD, the UN’s trade body, predicted in June that global foreign direct investment flows would fall by 40% this year, while greenfield investment and mergers and acquisitions had both dropped by more than 50% year-on-year in the first quarter. However, the sentiment in im- pact investment – which is com- monly directed at projects in the renewable energy, housing, health care and education sectors – ap- pears to be more resilient. According to a survey of 294 impact investors conducted over March and April, a majority (57%) of respondents said they would maintain their 2020 investment plans, while 16% even expected to increase the amount of capital they invest. The report, published by the New York-based Global Impact In- vesting Network (GIIN), found that 20% were planning to decrease in- vestment, while 7% were uncertain. While sentiment may have hard- ened since the results came in, the survey nevertheless demonstrates a generally positive outlook in a chal- lenging environment. Indeed, the survey results have been reflected in several high-pro- file investment decisions. These The funding of projects that generate a positive social or environmental impact, as well as a financial return is tipped to hold relatively steady, and could play a key role in the recovery of emerging market econo- include a move in May by Norges, mies, according to Oxford Business Group (OBG). the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, to divest from 12 companies like-minded entrepreneurs and tion to not only solve Africa-centric demic had created some uncertain- engaged in oil and gas exploration, funds to better streamline and ac- What is impact investing? problems but also to make a good ty about their appetite for emerging while Italian asset manager Azimut celerate investment. return,” she said. market risk. Of those who respond- announced plans to raise €1bn for a On May 12 GIIN launched an Impact investments are investments made with the intention to gener- “We have helped repurpose es- ed that they were looking to reduce social infrastructure fund to invest investment coalition, which aims ate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a sential products and services to their investment as a result of the in care homes, schools and student to bring together various impact financial return.I mpact investments can be made in both emerging and make them more accessible to the coronavirus (20% of respondents), housing. investing networks to address the developed markets, and target a range of returns from below market to general public. When everyday folk the overwhelming majority had as- These developments followed large-scale socio-economic chal- market rate, depending on investors’ strategic goals. can access the essentials and reach sets in emerging countries. news at the beginning of the year lenges of Covid-19. The growing impact investment market provides capital to address their potential, that’s when the On a more positive note, 58% that BlackRock, the world’s largest By the end of the month, 97 in- the world’s most pressing challenges in sectors such as sustainable whole economy can thrive. Private of all respondents were looking to asset manager, was aiming for a 10- vestors – mainly asset managers, agriculture, renewable energy, conservation, microfinance, and affordable companies can rise to the occasion invest in sub-Saharan Africa in re- fold increase in sustainable invest- foundations and family offices – had and accessible basic services including housing, healthcare, and educa- and put more consciousness into sponse to Covid-19, the highest fig- ments over the coming decade. expressed an interest in joining the tion. their businesses to address these ure globally; Latin America came in coalition. problems.” second with 41%. Opportunities for collaboration Elsewhere, the Covid-19 Inves- “We will continue to see an in- Although sentiment thus ap- tor Coalition, which consists of a impact investing and demonstrate culture.” The impact on emerging markets crease in investment because op- pears to be holding firm, Covid-19 group of more than 20 investors its utility in this worst-case scenario Echoing this sentiment, Tokun- Although most impact inves- portunities abound and African has nevertheless brought about led by US venture capital firm Vil- we are experiencing,” Amma Gy- boh Ishmael, co-founder and man- tors are based in Europe and North countries still need the inflow,” some unique challenges to impact lage Capital, has announced that ampo, founding member of Impact aging partner at Nigerian invest- America, their investment plays Ishmael told OBG. “Irrespective investing. it is looking to invest $500,000 in Investing Ghana, a private sector- ment firm Alitheia Capital, told a major role in developing econo- of the economics, everyone recog- Primarily, the economic climate various projects within the next few led body of the National Advisory OBG that projects with a social or mies. nises the need for that to continue has made the funding environment months, while the Tipping Point Board, told OBG. “Impact investors environmental focus could be pri- The World Bank’s International – particularly where Covid-19 has more difficult for socially minded Fund on Impact Investing, another are stepping in to fund areas that oritised in light of the pandemic. Finance Corporation estimates that revealed gaps in social services, entrepreneurs. collaborative effort, announced in are likely to make the most sig- “From a more macro or global 30% of impact funds have invested health, education and infrastruc- While this could complicate the July that it will award $752,000 in nificant longer-term mark on SME perspective, the flow of funds that in emerging markets, compared to ture. The virus opened up the cur- implementation of certain projects, grants to eight organisations en- growth and the real economy – the come from official development 20% of conventional funds. tains and showed us that we have some impact investors are increas- gaged in impact investing. essential sectors like tech, health, assistance could be repurposed for However, the GIIN survey sug- not invested enough, either publicly ingly looking to collaborate with “This is the moment to catalyse education, retail, logistics and agri- impact investments with the inten- gested that the coronavirus pan- or privately.”

Cuba to open foreign currency stores, end taxes on US dollar

Tribune News Service ing of the Council of Ministers ald Trump. fication of the blockade of the government will keep the in which the island’s appoint- Díaz-Canel blamed “the United States and allows for market regulated but through Cuba is set to open govern- ed President Miguel Díaz- blockade” (embargo) and “fi- more purchasing power,” he secondary mechanisms and ment stores across the island Canel outlined the reforms. nancial persecution” for the said. not using coercive measures. beginning on Monday that will Díaz-Canel said that the shortage of basic necessities The lack of foreign ex- State-owned companies will accept US currency to pur- government cannot continue on the island. change due to the closure of have greater management ca- chase hygiene and food items, “doing the same thing” in rela- An “exceptional situation” tourism in response to the pacity and competitiveness, and will do away with a 10% tion to the country’s economic in Cuba’s economy Economy coronavirus pandemic is com- savings and efficiency will be tax that is currently added to model because “it is not giving Minister Alejandro Gil, mean- pounded by a decrease the encouraged, he said. purchases made with green- results.” He added that the while, said the country has country’s traditional exports, The priority for the gov- backs. unification of the monetary been without tourism — a vi- Gil said, pointing to a tighten- ernment in the coming The new measures, made system in Cuba will be done tal source of funds — for four ing of the U.S. embargo. months will be national food public on national television “in the shortest possible time,” months, resulting in an in- “There has been a tighten- production, said Gil, who Thursday night, is part of an without providing details. Two crease in the budget deficit. ing of the measures,” Gil told labeled the current form of effort to battle the increasing currencies currently circulate Among the measures pre- TV viewers. He added that management as “monopolis- economic crisis, which the in Cuba — the Cuban convert- Cuba is set to open government stores across the island beginning sented by Gil is the elimina- Cuba will continue with a cen- tic.” In his address, Díaz-Canel government blamed on inter- ible peso (known as CUC), on Monday. (Dominguez/TNS) tion of the 10% tax imposed on tralized economy and will try also referred to food produc- nal deficiencies, the collapse which the government sets transactions in dollars since to “defend national produc- tion as a “priority” of the state. of subsidies from Venezuela at an equal value to the dol- ing the opening of the dol- paradigms of neoliberalism.” 2004. tion” and “banish the import “We have to learn to live with and sanctions imposed by the lar and the national currency, lar stores, a speculation that He also praised the book by “This is a measure that mentality.” Cuba imports fewer imports and with more United States. which has a significantly lower had been circulating for days, former U.S. National Security benefits all Cubans inside and about 80% of the food it con- exports, promoting national The announcement fea- value of 24-$1. Díaz-Canel said that “we live Adviser John Bolton, who has outside the country, ( … ) one sumes. production to meet domestic tured an excerpt from a meet- In his address confirm- in the definitive collapse of the been critical of President Don- that is taken amid the intensi- Gil also said said that the demand,” he said. 12 Sunday, July 19, 2020 Economy & Business High-profile Twitter accounts were hacked by young hacker friends AFP viewed four people who par- Washington ticipated in the hacking, who shared logs and screenshots Twitter says hackers “ma- backing up their accounts of nipulated” some of its em- what happened. ployees to access accounts in The young hackers said a high-profile attack on the a mysterious user who went social media company, in- by the name “Kirk” initiated cluding those of Democratic the scheme with a message presidential challenger Joe and was the one with access Biden and tech entrepreneur to Twitter accounts. Elon Musk. They added they were Posts trying to dupe peo- only involved in taking con- ple into sending the hackers trol of lesser-known but Bitcoin were tweeted by the desirable Twitter accounts, officialaccounts of Apple, Uber, Bill Gates and many others on Wednesday, forc- More than $100,000 worth ing Twitter to lock large of the virtual currency was numbers of accounts in dam- sent to email addresses age control. mentioned in the tweets, More than $100,000 according to Blockchain. worth of the virtual currency was sent to email addresses com, which monitors cryp- mentioned in the tweets, to transactions. US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (left) and Administrator of the Small Business Administration Jovita Carranza in Washington on Friday. (AFP) according to Blockchain. com, which monitors crypto such as an “@” sign and sin- transactions. gle letters or numbers that “We know that they ac- could easily be sold, accord- cessed tools only available to ing to the report. our internal support teams The hackers maintained to target 130 Twitter ac- they stopped serving as Resurgence of virus poses counts,” said a statement middlemen for “Kirk” when posted Saturday on Twitter’s high-profile users became blog. targets. For 45 of those accounts, President Donald the hackers were able to re- Trump’s account, which has set passwords, login and 83.5 million followers, was biggest risk to US economy send tweets, it added, while not targeted. the personal data of up to “The president will re- eight unverified users was main on Twitter,” White The next round of support should go to industries that have been hardest hit by the crisis: Mnuchin downloaded. House press secretary Kay- Twitter locked down leigh McEnany said. “His AFP shutdowns,” the report said. House hearing, adding that covery.” affected accounts and re- account was secure and not Washington With case counts spiking he would work with Congress While output has moved the fraudulent jeopardized during these at- in states like Florida, Geor- to determine the size of com- bounced back from the steep tweets. It also shut off ac- tacks.” The dominant risk to the US gia, Texas and California, lo- pany eligible for a second decline, that “is not the same counts not affected by the The hack has raised economic recovery is a re- cal authorities already have round of financing. as true recovery,” which re- hack as a precaution. questions about Twitter’s se- surgence of COVID-19 cases reimposed some restrictions. Hard work But Mnuchin also high- mains “in the distant future,” Most of those have now curity as it serves as a mega- that would force renewed The Washington-based lighted signs that the econo- Reinhart said. been restored, Twitter said phone for politicians ahead business shutdowns, the In- crisis lender said the recov- The US government will need my is recovering. The IMF agreed with on Saturday. of November’s election. ternational Monetary Fund ery “will require a further to do more in coming months And indeed data this many other economists in The attack was carried Twitter said it is limit- warned Friday. round of fiscal measures to provide support to week showed a surge in re- warning that the brunt of the out by a group of young ing the information it makes The US government will in the coming months that households and boost tail sales, manufacturing and economic impact of the coro- friends -- one who lives with public about the attack while need to do more in coming boost demand, increase demand, as well as address home building in June. navirus crisis is being borne his mother -- with no links it carries out “remediation months to provide support health preparedness, and worsening poverty and the But more recent data, as by lower income families, to state or organized crime, steps” to secure the site, as to households and boost support the most vulner- shortcomings of the US health new restrictions have been predominantly black and The New York Times report- well as training employ- demand, as well as address able.” system, the IMF said in its implemented, show new ap- Hispanic, who are least able ed on Friday. ees to guard against future worsening poverty and the “The US has fiscal space annual review of the world’s plications for unemployment to weather the downturn and The paper said it inter- hacking attempts. shortcomings of the US and it should be deployed biggest economy benefits are holding steady. will need more support. health system, the IMF said quickly to hasten the recov- Consumer confidence “There are already urgent in its annual review of the ery from the second quarter for the first half of July fell, warning signs that the depth world’s biggest economy. contraction, permanently eroding much of the gains of the economic contraction “Even with the unprec- improve the social safety net, include a $600 weekly pay- in June, according to the and the sectoral distribution edented policy support being and facilitate a broader re- ment from the federal gov- closely-watched University of economic losses will lead provided to the economy,” making of the US economy,” ernment on top of any state of Michigan survey released to a systemic increase in pov- the US suffered a 37 percent it said. benefits, as well as help for on Friday. erty,” the IMF said. collapse in GDP in the sec- President Donald contractors or self-employed Economists warn that the Federal Reserve Chair ond quarter, and the econ- Trump’s administration is workers, expire on July 31. situation could erode if the Jerome Powell and other omy is expected to contract negotiating with Congress Treasury Secretary Ste- epidemic worsens. central bankers have urged by 6.6 percent in 2020, the on the form of the next aid ven Mnuchin said in testi- About 15 million US the government to step in to fund said, stressing the “tre- package, with internal de- mony before Congress on workers are jobless, and ma- provide more support to the mendous uncertainties” sur- bate reportedly raging over Friday that the next round of jor airlines have announced economy, and that chorus rounding the outlook. whether to reduce payroll support should go to indus- tens of thousands of layoffs was joined by Powell’s two “The principal risk, and taxes, which would only help tries that have been hardest starting in October. predecessors, Janet Yellen one that is the most difficult people who are receiving hit by the crisis. Newly-installed World and Ben Bernanke, in testi- to quantify, is that a resur- salaries, or to extend unem- “There should be a sec- Bank chief economist Car- mony before Congress Fri- gence in the number of COV- ployment benefits. ond check available to the men Reinhart on Friday day. ID-19 cases in the US could The clock is ticking since businesses that are the hard- warned policymakers not to “The spending is abso- lead to renewed, partial the expanded benefits that est hit,” Mnuchin said at a “confuse rebound with re- lutely needed,” Yellen said. India’s richest man takes on Amazon, Walmart in e-com gamble kind of customer much sought af- told AFP. months Ambani has raised more told AFP. The mogul has long trumpeted his ambition to ter by Ambani and his rivals. But fewer than half his items than $22 billion in a rights issue A Reliance source told AFP Ji- The 22-year-old placed his first were delivered and mint leaves and through selling stakes in Reli- oMart had received an “amazing” revolutionise retail in the country of 1.3 billion JioMart order soon after the plat- he ordered arrived rotten, forcing ance to foreign investors. response from consumers. form’s hotly-antici- Shah to throw them away. The conglomerate is now net- “People in small towns are buy- AFP the latest Silicon Valley player to pated launch. Shah’s experience underlines debt-free and has cash to burn, ing Del Monte olives and focaccia Mumbai invest in the digital unit of the In- “I wanted the challenges facing Ambani as he analysts say. bread... They are aware of global dian oil-to-telecoms juggernaut, to experi- attempts to take on Amazon, Big- “JioMart will use the money by trends and want more options,” he Backed by multi-billion-dollar following in the footsteps of Face- ence what it Basket and Grofers, all of which offering deep discounting to get said. investments from global tech gi- book and Intel. was like... have established supply and de- consumers, and is in it for the long But he acknowledged the com- ants, India’s richest man is ready to These votes of confidence not- because livery networks in India. haul,” said independent analyst pany faced “teething issues” in lo- rumble with Amazon and Walmart withstanding, Ambani’s success there was so The 63-year-old tycoon will Minakshi Ghosh. gistics -- problems which analysts for the country’s huge e-commerce will depend on India’s mom-and- much hype likely deploy the same strategy he But the firm will also need to believe could prove its Achilles market through his conglomerate pop stores and their ability to around it,” used to make his Jio mobile ser- pump funds into training local heel. Reliance. adapt to the demands of an online h e vice a market leader following its shopkeepers in online trading. “You need consistent delivery But it is far from certain that business, analysts say. 2016 launch. Many say their businesses have models and customer satisfaction” Mukesh Ambani’s latest gamble Keeping bargain-hungry Jio’s cut-price discounts been badly hit by the rise of super- to run a successful e-commerce will pay off in a crowded market consumers satisfied in a put phones in the hands markets and e-commerce. operation, Forrester Research sen- where many suppliers are not well- fiercely contested market of millions of first-time “Even in my dreams I never ior forecast analyst Satish Meena versed in digital business. may be even harder. buyers in India, clob- imagined running such a modern told AFP. Reliance will not “have The mogul has long trumpeted Early signs have not bering the competi- business... or receiving card pay- a walkover just because of their fi- his ambition to revolutionise retail been promising for Ji- tion and driving ments,” said Kavita Chowdhury, nancial strength”, he said. in the country of 1.3 billion by con- oMart since its roll-out in rivals out of the a shopkeeper in Navi Mumbai, a Some customers have already vincing farmers and shopkeepers 200 Indian cities in May. race. city neighbouring India’s financial sworn off the platform. to sell their goods on his new Ji- Customers have com- In re- capital. Vamshi Krishna, 28, told AFP oMart platform launched this year. plained about everything cent Her partnership with JioMart he would never again buy anything But modernising India’s from rotting vegetables to could not have come at a better from JioMart after his first two or- creaky, inefficient supply chains missing deliveries and de- time for the 30-year-old, with the ders went missing. will not be easy, even for Reliance, layed refunds. coronavirus pandemic forcing “Despite problems with my first the nation’s largest retailer by rev- An avid online shopper her to shutter the bricks-and- order, I decided to give them a sec- enue with a portfolio including su- who buys electronics from mortar store. ond chance... because it is an Am- permarkets, electronics stores and Amazon and clothing from Reliance Industries She can now sell on- bani company,” he said. fast-fashion outlets. Walmart-owned retailer chairman Mukesh Ambani line instead and busi- “Now I seriously doubt whether Google on Wednesday became Myntra, Mehul Shah is the ness is booming, she I will ever get my money back.” Tiger Woods overcomes a nagging back to manage making the cut at US PGA Memorial page 14 SUNday, JULY 19, 2020 Hamilton claims 90th career pole; record-equalling 7th in Hungary

It’s crazy. I have to pinch myself. It’s quite humbling. Valtteri (Bottas) doesn’t make it easy for me at all so it requires absolute perfection when doing laps and qualifying like that is one of the things I enjoy most. – Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton after third qualifying at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday. (AFP)

DPA Hamilton clocked 1 minute Berlin 13.477 on the 4.381-kilometre course, and Bottas was .107 of Lewis Hamilton stormed to a second behind. a record-equalling seventh Racing Point, who are pole position at the Hungarian powered by Mercedes engines Grand Prix and a 90th over- but also under investigation STARTING GRID all ahead of Valtteri Bottas for their car being too similar 1st Row as Mercedes ruled Saturday’s to the 2019 Mercedes, occupy 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) qualifying for the third For- the second row on the grid in mula One season race. another strong showing be- 2nd Row Hamilton drew level with hind closed doors owing to the Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the qualifying session for the Formula One 3. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 4. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) Michael Schumacher who also coronavirus pandemic. Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday. (AFP) 3rd Row had seven poles at the Hunga- But Lance Stroll trailed roring, and in Sunday’s race Hamilton by more than nine- 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) can draw level with the former tenth and Sergio Perez was 4th Row German great in most wins at just over one second back. HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING TIMES 7. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 8. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) one grand prix, if he crosses They were ahead of the Fer- Q3 Bull-Honda) 1:15.715, 14. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) 1:15.742, 15. Nicholas Latifi the line first.S chumacher raris of Sebastian Vettel and 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:13.447, 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:16.544 5th Row achieved the feat in France. Charles Leclerc who showed 1:13.554, 3. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:14.377, 4. Sergio Perez Q1 (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:14.545, 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:14.774, 1. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:14.681 (Q), 2. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) The imperious Briton won some improvement but trailed 6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:14.817, 7. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) Point-Mercedes) 1:14.895 (Q), 3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:14.907 (Q), 4. in Budapest for the first time by some 1.3 seconds which is a 1:14.849, 8. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 1:14.966, 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/ Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1:15.281 (Q), 5. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren- 6th Row in his 2007 debut season and huge gap in F1 terms. McLaren-Renault) 1:15.027, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) no time Renault) 1:15.444 (Q), 6. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:15.455 (Q), 7. Valtteri Bottas Q2 (FIN/Mercedes) 1:15.474 (Q), 8. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 1:15.495 (Q), 11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 12. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) has won three of the last four Hamilton trails Bottas by 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:14.261 (Q), 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 9. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) 1:15.585 (Q), 10. Esteban Ocon (FRA/ races there, and could harly six points in the champion- 1:14.530 (Q), 3. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 1:14.976 (Q), 4. Charles Renault) 1:15.719 (Q), 11. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 1:15.722 (Q), 12. 7th Row believe he now has 90 poles, ship, with each winning one Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:15.006 (Q), 5. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 1:15.085 Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:15.767 (Q), 13. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 22 more than second-placed of the first two season races (Q), 6. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:15.131 (Q), 7. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point- 1:15.793 (Q), 14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1:15.848 (Q), 15. Nicholas Latifi 13. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 14. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) Mercedes) 1:15.176 (Q), 8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1:15.267 (Q), 9. (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:16.105 (Q) 16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) Schumacher. in Austria. He can go top if he Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:15.394 (Q), 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA/ 1:16.152, 17. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:16.225, 18. Romain Grosjean 8th Row “It’s crazy. I have to pinch wins from pole like last week AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:15.508 (Q) 11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1:15.661, 12. (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1:16.407, 19. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing- myself. It’s quite humbling,” in Spielberg but is taking noth- George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) 1:15.698, 13. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Ferrari)1:16.506, 20. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1:16.614. 15. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) he said. ing for granted. 9th Row “Valtteri doesn’t make it It’s a long run down to easy for me at all so it requires turn one, so nothing is a given. great job to get pole as always “It feels great when you Back-benchers Williams 17. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 18. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) absolute perfection when do- I’ve got to deliver at the start but it’s a long drag race to put it all together like that,” also impressed by getting 10th Row ing laps and qualifying like tomorrow and we don’t know Turn 1 so I’m looking forward he said. both cars through Q1, with 19. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 20. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari). that is one of the things I en- what the weather will do but to that.” “We’ve had the pace all Goerge Russell to start from joy most.” I’ll be trying as hard as I can Stroll was meanwhile de- weekend. Our sights are set on 12th Sunday and Nicolas Lat- With rain threatening but to bring a 1-2 home for the lighted as their qualifying re- tomorrow and I’m going to try ifi from 15th. Red Bull meanwhile dis- not even making Q3 for the not falling, Mercedes were in team,” Hamilton said. sult capped a strong weekend and grab some big points for “It feels great, the car was appointed, with Max Verstap- best 10 drivers as he will start a world of their own again. Bottas said: “Lewis did a so far. the team.” really good,” Russell said. pen seventh and Alex Albon from 14th. Frenchman Quartararo storms to Vettel finds reason to smile for Ferrari season-opening pole in Jerez AFP even if he was 1.3 seconds off Budapest the pace set by pole-man Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. AFP Sebastian Vettel found “It’s much better than the Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) cause for optimism on Satur- previous weekend,” said Vettel day after he and Ferrari team- referring to Ferrari’s embar- Frenchman Fabio Quarta- mate Charles Leclerc qualified rassing outing at the Styrian raro powered to pole position fifth and sixth for the Hungar- Grand Prix. “For the first time, for the season-opening Span- ian Grand Prix. we have both cars in Q3. ish Grand Prix on Saturday, The four-time champion, “We know that Austria setting a Jerez lap record in his final season with the didn’t really suit us and we lost time to edge out Yamaha’s Italian team, led the way as the a lot of time in the straights Maverick Vinales. two Ferrari drivers reached Q3 and here there are a lot more The 21-year-old Quarta- for the first time in three at- corners to make up for it. raro, who rides for the Yamaha tempts this season. “The car felt better bal- satellite outfit, posted a time Their improvement also anced as well, so we are of one minute and 36.705 sec- helped erase some of the em- much closer compared to the onds to claim his seventh Mo- Petronas Yamaha SRT’s French STARTING GRIDS AND barrassment after they had people around us, let’s say toGP pole in only his second rider Fabio Quartararo competes crashed into one another on Racing Point, Red Bull and top-class campaign. Petronas Yamaha SRT’s French rider Fabio Quartararo celebrates after during the MotoGP qualifying ses- QUALIFYING TIMES the opening lap of last Sun- even McLaren,” he said. “So He will be bidding for his winning the MotoGP qualifying session.(AFP) sion of the Spanish Grand Prix at MOTOGP day’s Styrian Grand Prix. that is positive. maiden victory on Sunday, the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Front row: 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/ He said the team’s aero- “We need to make sure having ended his rookie season qualify 11th, 1.036sec slower qualifying session. Frontera, Spain, on Saturday. (AFP) Yamaha-SRT) 1min 36.705sec, 2. Maverick dynamic upgrade package we keep that up and now all in 2019 with four runner-up than Quartararo. The 2019 Moto2 champion Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) at 0.139sec, 3. Marc had produced a significant that matters is to prepare for finishes in the last seven races. Reigning world champion will start from 21st on the grid. Andrea Dovizioso was Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.157 improvement in performance the race.” 2nd row: 4. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/ “I didn’t feel like it was a Marc Marquez will complete “Everything is so close in eighth quickest before falling Pramac) 0.250, 5. Jack Miller (AUS/Pramac) perfect lap because I made a the front row for Honda as he MotoGP,” said the 24-year-old in the dying seconds of quali- 0.748, 6. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/LCR Honda) mistake,” said Quartararo. starts his tilt at a seventh Mo- Alex Marquez. “Every day I am fying. 0.749 “I saw that someone had toGP title. on the bike I want to improve Spaniard Alex Rins also 3rd row: 7. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) fallen on the 11th turn so I was “I knew even before we left and learn new things -- tomor- suffered a heavy fall and his 0.788, 8. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) a little careful.” the garage that my target was row will be a good opportunity Suzuki team said he was taken 0.830, 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 0.931 Vinales was 0.139sec slow- to try and be on the front row,” to do this. for medical tests. 4th row: 10. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha- er than Quartararo, who will said Marquez. “The goal is to finish the This year’s MotoGP world SRT) 0.969, 11. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 1.036, 12. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 1.079 replace Italian veteran Valen- Marquez’s younger race but still to push as hard championship finally gets un- Moto3: 1. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN/Squadra tino Rossi at the Yamaha fac- brother Alex, making his Mo- as possible. We saw many derway on Sunday, behind Corse) 1:45.465, 2. Andrea Migno (ITA/Sky tory team next year. toGP debut as his sibling’s positives today but there’s closed doors and more than Racing) 0.195, 3. John Mcphee (GBR/ Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel steers his car during the qualify- The 41-year-old Rossi Honda teammate, failed to still some room to push a lit- four months late due to the Petronas) 0.307. ing session for the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring struggled and could only even make it into the second tle more.” coronavirus pandemic. circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday. (AFP) 14 Sunday, July 19, 2020 Sports Tiger battles to 71 in 3rd round at Memorial

AFP at the par-4 ninth but rallied Washington again with back-to-back bird- ies at 14 and 15, the latter on a Tiger Woods overcame nag- 17-foot birdie putt, only to bo- ging back issues to fire a one- gey the par-3 16th after miss- under-par 71 in Saturday’s ing a five-foot par putt. third round of the US PGA Woods, level with Sam Memorial tournament, feel- Snead on a record 82 US ing better after barely making PGA titles, said the back that the cut. bothered him in shooting 76 on Friday was “a lot better” on Saturday. Tiger Woods, the reigning “That’s the way it is these Masters champion, playing days,” Woods said of his in- his first tournament consistent body. since finishing 68th last “I was moving better to- day. I felt like I did the first February at Riviera, stood day. Consequently, I can make on two-over 218 after 54 the passes at the golf ball like holes at Muirfield Village I did the first day.U nfortu- nately, I didn’t make any putts in Dublin, Ohio. today. Hopefully I can make a few tomorrow.” The 44-year-old reigning The 15-time major cham- Masters champion, playing pion, finishing well before the his first tournament since fin- leaders teed off in the Jack ishing 68th last February at Nicklaus-hosted event, said Riviera, stood on two-over 218 the course was playing as the after 54 holes at Muirfield Vil- legend would like. lage in Dublin, Ohio. “It’s tough. It’s fast. It’s “Overall I felt I played right where they want it,” well, controled the ball well,” Woods said. Woods said. “I hit one really Woods was pleased to be bad shot at three, but overall it able to have two more com- was a good solid day.” petitive rounds this weekend World number 14 Woods, after nearly missing the Me- a five-time Memorial cham- morial cut for the first time in pion, plunked his approach at 18 starts. the par-4 third into the water “Playing at home and and made bogey, but answered out here is so very differ- with eight-foot birdie putts at ent,” Woods said. “Absolutely the fifth and sixth. happy to get in a couple more He fell back with a bogey rounds playing competitively.” Tiger Woods of the United States speaks to the media after the third round of The Memorial Tournament on Saturday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, US. (Getty Images/AFP)

Burnley beat nine-man Pessina strike Quick read Arteta has faith in Norwich to keep stalls Atalanta Arsenal board Euro bid alive London: Mikel Arteta insists in Verona he has “full faith” in Arsenal’s AFP tion from the Premier League, board despite recently admitting Norwich (UK) Norwich hardly covered them- AFP League,” said Gasperini. he is worried about the club’s selves in glory. Milan “Ours was a good match spending power. Gunners boss Burnley kept their bid for Eu- Daniel Farke’s bottom-of- against a team that is doing Arteta raised eyebrows after this ropa League qualification alive the-table team have lost their Matteo Pessina grabbed the well and wanted to recoup week’s win against Liverpool as New Zealand striker Chris last 10 games in all competi- equaliser for Hellas Verona after a controversial defeat when he said it was a “big con- Wood inspired a 2-0 win over tions and this was a total em- to hold his high-flying parent against Roma.” cern” that he may not be given nine-man Norwich on Saturday. barrassment. club Atalanta 1-1 in Serie A on Verona, in ninth, are the finances to mount a Premier Wood struck in first-half The Canaries have failed Saturday. coached by ex-Croatia mid- League title challenge.His side stoppage-time at Carrow Road to score in a league-high 19 Atalanta move level on fielderI van Juric, who played are preparing for a fourth sea- after already relegated Nor- games this season, including points with second-placed In- under Gasperini in Genoa and son out of the lucrative Champi- wich had Emiliano Buendia 11 of the past 13. They are the ter Milan, but are six points was his assistant at Inter Mi- ons League and their cashflow and Josip Drmic sent off. first English top-flight side to adrift of Serie A leaders Ju- lan and then Palermo. has also been hit. Arteta also Ben Godfrey’s late own lose five consecutive home ventus. Atalanta threatened early revealed he is in regular contact goal extended Burnley’s un- matches without scoring since On-loan Pessina headed in with Mario Pasalic, scorer of with Arsenal’s US-based owner beaten Premier League run to Birmingham in 1922. just before the hour mark in a hat-trick against Brescia Stan Kroenke. (AFP) seven games as they climbed The turning point came Verona minutes after Colom- this week, forcing a save from to ninth place. when Norwich were reduced bian striker Duvan Zapata had Marco Silvestri after quarter of They are one point behind to 10 men in the 35th minute put the visitors ahead. an hour. Serena Williams set seventh-placed Tottenham in as Argentine midfielder Buen- Atalanta are equal on 71 Zapata came close before to play inaugural the race to book a spot in next dia needlessly clashed with points with Inter Milan, who the break, before getting his Kentucky tournament season’s Europa League. Ashley Westwood. travel to fifth-placed Roma on chance five minutes into the The odds are still against Buendia elbowed the Sunday, with eight-time reign- second half pouncing on a Ko- Los Angeles: Serena Williams Sean Dyche’s side reaching Burnley midfielder in the back ing champions Juventus, host- ray Gunter defending blunder will make her return to the WTA Europe as they have just one of the head as he tried to get up ing fourth-placed Lazio, who to blast past Silvestri. tour at a new hardcourt tourna- game left, while Tottenham, after a collision between the are eight points adrift of top Zapata pulled Atalanta ment in Kentucky in August, or- Sheffield United and Wolves pair. VAR checked the inci- spot, on Monday. ahead after the break with his ganizers said Thursday. The Top all have two games to ensure dent and referee Kevin Friend Atalanta have scored in a 18th goal in all competitions Seed Open said 23-time Grand they finish above the Clarets. watched a replay on the pitch- club record 22 games in a row, this season. But four minutes Slam champion Williams and Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid’s Spanish Emphasising their su- side monitor before showing but Zapata’s second-half goal later midfielder Pessina drew 2017 US Open winner Sloane defender Sergio Ramos celebrate with the trophy after winning the Liga preme organisation under the red card. was not enough to bring home Verona level, sending in a re- Stephens will be in the field title after the Spanish League match against Villarreal CF at the Alfredo Dyche, Burnley keeper Nick In first-half stoppage-time, the three points. bound for his seventh league when play begins on August 10. di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, near Madrid, on Thursday. (AFP) Pope is in contention to win Norwich’s season-long habit Gasperini’s side are the goal this season, after Gollini Williams hasn’t played since the Premier League’s gold- of shooting themselves in the only team to remain unbeaten denied Amir Rrahmani. representing the United States en glove award for the most foot resurfaced. on the road this season, but AC Milan host Bologna in the Fed Cup in February, clean-sheets. He now leads the Drmic was sent off after their hopes of a first Scudetto later Saturday looking to move before the WTA tour along with Zidane says Real way with 15, while Manchester lunging into a reckless studs- in the team’s 112-year his- into the Europa League places most of global sport shut down City’s Ederson has 14. up foul on Erik Pieters, with tory are all but over with four with in-form Sassuolo travel- amid the coronavirus pandemic. In their last home game VAR consulted to approve games left to play. ling to Cagliari. Both the WTA tour and the Madrid will not switch before they return to the Friend’s decision. “Talking about the Scu- Scoreline: Hellas Verona 1 men’s ATP tour are scheduled to Championship next season, Scoreline: Norwich 0 bt Burnley detto is too much. We lack a (Pessina 59’) drew with Atal- resume in August. (AFP) off ahead of City test following a record fifth relega- 2 (Wood 45+5’, Godfrey 80’OG). point to get to the Champions anta 1 (Zapata 50’).

AFP days off but everyone will be Madrid focused on what is a crucial match.” Setien accepts Messi rant, believes Barca can win CL Zinedine Zidane said Sat- Madrid sit seven points urday that his players will clear of Barcelona at the top AFP is what the meeting was all not be given any holiday after of La Liga after securing only Madrid I don’t give it much importance. The feeling I get is about, preparing for the fu- La Liga ends this weekend as their third league title in 12 we are absolutely aware that we have a very important ture with optimism.” Real Madrid turn their atten- years. Quique Setien said on Sat- But Setien’s position is al- tion to their crunch Champi- Their success comes after urday he does not feel un- competition to come and we want to reach the final and win it. ready unstable, with failure in ons League tie with Manches- a 10-match winning run since dermined by Lionel Messi’s Barelona coach Quique Setien the Champions League likely ter City. the restart, with the team find- damning review of Barcelona’s to prompt another change Madrid have won La Liga ing their best form after the season and insists they can still after Ernesto Valverde was with a game to spare and could three-month suspension due win the Champions League. that can be taken badly,” said vince me everything has been a sacked in January. rest players for Sunday’s final to the coronavirus pandemic. Barca surrendered the La Setien, ahead of Barcelona’s fi- disaster, it hasn’t,” said Setien. Barcelona could finish the game away to relegation bat- “The title should never be Liga title to Real Madrid on nal league game of the season “We have to be more consist- season without a trophy for tlers Leganes. under-estimated, especially Thursday by losing at home to on Sunday away at Alaves. ent, more reliable. If we manage the first time in 12 years. But Zidane insists there this one. It has been difficult Osasuna and after the match, “I don’t give it much im- to have a game like the one we Asked if he had thought will be no let-up from Monday and we have fought to the Messi vented his frustration, portance. The feeling I get is played against Villarreal, where about resigning, Setien said: “I as Madrid attempt to overturn end,” Zidane said. saying the team has been we are absolutely aware that everything went well, it will un- always knew things were not a 2-1 home defeat to City in Madrid’s line-up and focus “weak”, “inconsistent” and we have a very important com- doubtedly give us a chance to going to be easy. At no time the second leg of the last 16 could be crucial to La Liga’s “lacking in desire”. petition to come and we want win the Champions League.” have I had the feeling of really encounter. survival race given Leganes Messi added that unless to reach the final and win it.” Setien said he and the wanting to leave.” “They are not going to are fighting Celta Vigo to avoid there was “a lot of change” the Barca face a second leg at players held a meeting on Fri- Setien has named only 16 have two weeks off,” said Zi- the drop. Leganes are a point team would lose to Napoli as home against Napoli in the day and admitted there had players in the squad for the dane in a press conference behind Celta, who play away at well next month in the Cham- last 16, with the tie in the bal- been disagreements. game against Alaves, includ- on Saturday. bottom club Espanyol. pions League, comments some ance after a 1-1 draw in the “There are things on which ing three goalkeepers, mean- “We have a game tomor- “We can’t play it different- have taken as a shot at his coach. first leg. The winner will play we agree and other things that ing he can only make three row and then we are not on va- ly,” said Zidane. “One match is But Setien maintains he Bayern Munich in the quarter- we don’t, that’s normal,” he said. outfield substitutions. cation. Let’s get some rest, but left, we must respect that. It is has no problem with Messi’s finals,assuming they finish “Everyone’s concern is Arthur Melo, who has then our minds will be on City. the last game and we have to assessment. the job against Chelsea. to improve the team. We agreed to join Juventus next “The season is not over. respect everyone else. We will “Not at all, I think in cer- Barcelona’s Spanish coach “We have to improve in are trying to find solutions season, is unavailable after he We’re going to have a few play it to try to do well.” tain moments we all say things Quique Setien. (AFP) some areas but you can’t con- so things change and that reported an ankle injury. Sports Sunday, July 19, 2020 15 QFA President Meets Italian Ambassador to Qatar UN Global Programme gathers International Expert Group to explore COVID-19 impact on major sporting events Tribune News Network New York

High-level representa- tives and leading experts from the field of sport, security and health gathered at a virtual ‘International Expert Group Meeting on The Impact of COVID19 on the Security of Major Sporting Events’ early this week. Participants exchanged views on the challenges caused by the pandemic on major Massimilioano Montanari, CEO, sporting events and agreed on International Centre for Sport dure, we know that sport and which might enhance both Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of Qatar Football Association, on Saturday the urgent need to develop com- Security (ICSS) presented the sporting events will be critical health, safety and security”. received in his office HE Alessandro Prunas, Italian Ambassador to the State of Qatar. The meeting was prehensive preventive measures progress of the UN Guide on the in helping support and inspire The virtual event was the attended by Mansoor Al Ansari, Secretary-General of the QFA, and Ali Dawood, Executive Director of the encompassing health, safety and Security of Major Sporting Events. our societies in these challeng- second International Expert President’s Office. The meeting included discussions on matters of common interest. The QFA President security aspects. ing times,” said Mauro Medi- Group (IEG) meeting that was noted the existing relations between the Qatar’s and the Italian federations are paving the way for future Over 300 high level repre- the impact of the COVID-19 co, Director at UNOCT speak- held under the framework of cooperation. During the meeting, the two talked about finding ways to develop football relations since sentatives from UN Members pandemic on the security of ing on behalf of the United the United Nations Global Qatar is preparing to stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Italian ambassador praised Qatar’s urgent and States, international and re- sporting events of internation- Nations partners at the open- Programme on Security of timely measures to protect the health of citizens and residents alike in the face of the COVID-19 pandem- gional organisations, interna- al interest or dimension, in- ing of the event. Major Sporting Events, and ic. Ambassador Prunas praised the level of relations between the two countries, saying that they are strong tional and continental sports cluding from a terrorism pre- “This is the reason why we Promotion of Sport and Its and time-tested. He said the countries will continue to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership in federations, local organising vention perspective, helped hope to use the discussions of Values as a Tool to Prevent many sectors, especially sports. The two also exchanged memorial shields. The QFA President presented committees, the business sec- identify new vulnerabilities this meeting to shape our up- Violent Extremism. The pro- the official jersey of Qatar national team to the Italian Ambassador.(QF A) tor and the scientific commu- and opportunities in this con- coming United Nations Global gramme is led by the United nity attended the event. text, and paved the way for the Guide, that once finalized will Nations Officeof Counter- The meeting featured in- development and implemen- act as a reference to help pre- Terrorism (UNOCT), in part- terventions from senior rep- tation of activities aimed at paring, organising, hosting nership with the United Na- resentatives from the World addressing current challenges and managing sporting events tions Interregional Crime and Al Rayyan SC president submits Health Organization (WHO), while optimising the use of while mitigating the threats Justice Research Institute INTERPOL, the Council of available resources. posed by terrorism,” he added. (UNICRI), the United Nations Europe (CoE), Supreme Com- More concretely, the find- Massimiliano Montanari, Alliance of Civilizations (UN- candidacy for a new term mittee for Delivery & Legacy ings of the virtual expert group CEO of the International Cen- AOC), the International Cen- (SCDL), ‘Coordination Na- will feed into the UN Global tre for Sport Security, who pre- tre for Sport Security (ICSS), QNA statement on its official Twit- Sheikh Khalifa to be tionale pour la Sécurité des Guide on the Security of Ma- sented the progress of the UN in consultation with the UN Doha ter account that Sheikh Ali bin Al Wakrah SC president Jeux Olympiques et Paralym- jor Sporting Events, Promot- Guide on the Security of Ma- Counter-Terrorism Com- Saud has officially filed to run till 2024 piques 2024 (CNSJ)’, Portu- ing Sustainable Security & jor Sporting Events, said that mittee Executive Directorate HE Sheikh Ali bin Saud Al for the presidency and that Ali Sheikh Khalifa bin Hassan gal’s Home Affairs Ministry, Legacies that will serve as a “there was a way to protect (CTED) and with the partici- Thani, the current president of Salem Afifa will run for the will be president of Al Wakrah Confederation of African core reference for policy and major sporting events before pation of INTERPOL. Al Rayyan Club, has officially post of vice-president. Sports Club till 2024. The de- Football (CAF) and the im- decision-makers related to 9/11 and a way after it. Simi- The programme is sup- submitted his candidacy for The ordinary general as- cision was made at the club’s plementing Agency for Crime the security planning of major larly, there will be a new way ported by the State of Qatar, the club’s general assembly sembly election is scheduled General Assembly on Friday. and Security of the the Carib- sporting events. to secure events in the post the United Nations Peace and election for the 2020/2024 to be held on August 25 after Club members also elected bean Community (CARICOM “It is hard to say when and COVID-19 world. We need Development Fund (UNPDF – session, which is scheduled on submission of applications to Salman Abdulghani to con- IMPACS). where we will all return back to identify new vulnerabili- funded by the People’s Repub- August 25. run for the election closes on tinue in his role as deputy for Discussions highlighted to a form of normality. How- ties and at the same time fol- lic of China) and the Republic Al Rayyan Club said in a Tuesday, July 21, 2020. a further four years. the urgency of understanding ever, should this situation en- low new integrate approaches of Korea. Cricket returns to Archer available for 3rd Test South Africa after as rain frustrates England week of controversy AFP Test starts on Friday, July 24. AFP Manchester “Jofra Archer has been Centurion fined an undisclosed amount Jofra Archer will be avail- and received an official writ- A week of race controversy for able for England’s third and ten warning after admitting South African cricket ended on final Test against the West to breaching the team’s bio- Saturday with the sport’s return Indies next week after being secure protocols on Monday to live action in the country. ruled out of the second match 13 July when he made an un- An unusual match involv- for a breach of coronavirus authorised visit to his home in ing three teams was played protocols, it was announced Hove,” said an ECB statement. in an empty SuperSport Park on Saturday. Former England spinner in Centurion, making it diffi- AB’s Eagles’ captain AB de Vil- The England and Wales Giles said on Thursday that cult to judge whether the new liers holds the trophy after they Cricket Board’s statement Archer’s breach of the regu- form of the game, branded 3T won the match during the 3TC came as the hosts’ quest to lev- lations was a potential “dis- Cricket, had the potential for Solidarity Cup match in Centurion el the three-match series at 1-1 aster” that could have cost major spectator appeal. on Saturday. (AFP) was frustrated by rain washing “tens of millions of pounds” It was the first major tel- out the whole of the third day’s amid fears it could scupper evised sporting event in South Graeme Smith, South Af- play in Manchester. an international programme Africa since the coronavirus rica’s director of cricket, was Both teams have been liv- taking place amid the corona- lockdown in March, and came one of Ntini’s captains but if ing in “bio-secure bubble” virus pandemic. days after 30 black former there was any ill feeling it was sites at the Ageas Bowl, the But Giles added: “Young South African international not in evidence when they venue for last week’s first Test, men make mistakes... Jof will players alleged in a letter that were on air together with Ntini and Old Trafford, where the learn from it. racism still affected the sport. saying “we stand together” final two matches of a series West Indies’ captain Jason Holder (left) walks on the pitch with teammates Kemar Roach (right), Shamarh “He is a fine young man, The 24 players involved at one point. Smith came out that marks international crick- Brooks (2nd left), Shane Dowrich (2nd right) and Raymon Reifer (centre) after play was abandoned due to incredibly polite, works on Saturday were united in strongly in support of Black et’s return from lockdown are rain on the third day of the second Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. (AFP) hard and is a great asset to wearing Black Lives Matter Lives Matter on Friday. taking place. this team.” armbands. Before play started Saturday’s match featured Fast bowler Archer broke He was then left out of the Ashley Giles on Friday decided man “full of remorse”. Meanwhile England star there was a minute of silence three teams of eight players the rules by going home to ongoing second Test that start- an “undisclosed” fine, believed He will now undergo two Ben Stokes said Friday: “We for victims of the COVID-19 each, with no regional identity. Hove on Monday, during ed Thursday, with Archer self- to be in the region of £30,000 COVID-19 tests, which have really need to be there to sup- virus followed by all the play- The Eagles, a team captained by which time he met with an isolating in an onsite hotel room ($38,000) and a written warn- to produce negative results, port Jofra right now.” ers taking a knee in solidarity AB de Villiers, were the winners unnamed individual follow- at Old Trafford for five days. ing amounted to sufficient before his self-isolation period Thursday saw an apolo- with the BLM movement. with a total of 160 for four from ing England’s four-wicket loss But the 25-year-old could punishment. is lifted. getic Archer say he was “ex- Makhaya Ntini, the former 12 overs, with six overs each in the series opener at South- yet feature in the finale after Archer’s “impeccable re- The ECB said Archer was tremely sorry”, adding: “I Test fast bowler who played in bowled by the other two teams. ampton before the team trav- a disciplinary hearing chaired cord” was said to have counted due to rejoin the squad on Tues- fully accept the consequences 101 Test matches, was one of De Villiers hit 61 and Aiden elled north to Manchester. by England managing director in his favour, with the pace- day – three days before third of my actions.” the commentators. Markram scored 70. India cricket board ordered to pay former IPL champions $640m

AFP was illegal and premature, a als being suspended for two In 2017, the Kochi Tuskers New Delhi legal representative of Deccan seasons. Kerala team won a similar ar- Chronicle told AFP. Bombay high court had in bitration case over its termina- A court has ordered India’s “They have been directed September 2012 appointed the tion six years earlier. cricket board to pay more than to pay Indian rupees 4,000 arbitrator to decide whether The IPL is the world’s most $640 million to former Indian crores ($640 million) plus BCCI’s termination notice popular Twenty20 league but Premier League champions taxes which might amount to the team for “irremedial has been plagued by contro- Deccan Chargers for illegal to about 80 billion,” the legal breaches” was avlid or not. versy since it started in 2008, termination of the franchise. representative said on condi- The company had chal- with corruption and match- The Chargers, which were tion of anonymity. lenged the termination by fixing cases often taking cen- owned by the Deccan Chroni- “We haven’t received the BCCI over concerns of the tre-stage. cle newspaper group, were judgement copy yet, only af- company’s financial stability. Deccan Charges had won kicked out of the IPL in 2012 ter reading we will decide The HC had at the time also di- the second edition of the IPL by the Board of Control for next plan of action,” Hemang rected DCHL to furnish a bank in 2009 at the Wanderers Sta- Cricket in India (BCCI) for fi- Amin, the interim chief execu- guarantee of Rs 100 crore in dium in Johannesburg after nancial breaches. tive of the BCCI, was quoted as 10 days. BCCI had in 2012 the event was moved to South The action was taken a day saying by the Economic Times said players were not paid and Africa due to general elections before the team’s deadline to newspaper. many banks were creditors of in India. settle matters however. And A spot-fixing scandal in the franchise with collective Deccan Chargers had won the Bombay High Court ruled 2013 led to the Chennai Su- dues of over Rs 4000 crore by 6 runs defeating Royal Chal- on Friday that the termination per Kings and Rajasthan Roy- pending against DCHL. lengers Bangalore in the final. 16 Sunday, July 19, 2020 The Last Word Genetics plays major role in COVID-19 severity: Study leader at the Institute for Molecu- could be a potential game-chang- QF’s Qatar Genome Programme first lar Medicine, Finland. er in swiftly determining which Results from the latest round patients are high-risk and need and only participant from Arab region of the global study show strong more aggressive treatment. Previ- to contribute to the global study evidence of genetics playing a ously, this study identified a varia- role in COVID-19 severity. A site tion at another spot in the human Tribune News Network people globally, is the difference on Chromosome 3 has been iden- genome. The identified spot con- Doha in severity. Some people don’t tified to have a solid link to COV- sisted of the gene that determines even show symptoms, some die ID-19 severity. The identified site blood type. Patients with Type A Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Qatar and many more are somewhere in is home to six genes, hence it is blood, for example, were found to Genome Programme (QGP) is the the middle. not yet possible to say exactly be at greater risk of being severely first and only active participant Age, sex and underlying which one of them influences the affected by COVID-19. from an Arab country in the COV- health conditions clearly play an course of COVID-19. Further in- “We are glad to have contrib- ID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, a important role. But geneticists vestigations are underway to pin- uted to this initiative with the global initiative to elucidate the believe the difference in sever- point exactly which gene this is. genomes of an Arab population, role of a host of genetic factors in ity could be linked to the natu- Dr Hamdi Mbarek Dr Andrea Ganna Dr Hamdi Mbarek, a geneti- which has added valuable diver- the susceptibility and severity of ral variation in people’s genetic cist, who led QGP’s participa- sity to the study. The diversity in the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic. code. This is what launched the Twenty countries are currently over 13,000 genomic results. tion said, “These results are very the participating genomes strong- Why does a 17-year-old with COVID-19 Host Genetics Initia- contributing to the study, with “The contribution of Qatar Ge- interesting and timely. We now ly indicates that COVID-19 indis- no underlying health conditions tive (HGI), led by Mark Daly and the majority of studies being con- nome to COVID-19 HGI is very have a target region in the ge- criminately affects populations succumb to COVID-19 while a Andrea Ganna from the Finnish ducted in Europe (55 percen) and important because it adds diver- nome, and the next challenge is from all around the world,” added 75-year-old great grandmother Institute for Molecular Medicine the US (28 percent). The United sity to the initiative and high- to understand the link between Dr Said Ismail, director of QGP. makes a full recovery? The wide (FIMM) and the Broad Institute Kingdom (10 percent) and Italy lights the importance of including the six genes and COVID-19 se- QGP’s participation in this variation in severity makes it in Boston. (9 percent) are the top two coun- populations which are tradition- verity. Identifying the gene linked study is a testament to QF’s com- seem like they did not have the The initiative aims to bring tries in terms of genomes contrib- ally unrepresented in genetic re- to COVID-19 severity will be very mitment to doing meaningful same disease, except they did. together the scientific commu- uted from Europe. search, but still highly impacted valuable in drug development.” research. The COVID-19 HGI is One of the most mysterious fea- nity to study the role of the hu- QGP, the initiative’s only ac- by the COVID-19 pandemic,”said If researchers are able to iden- proof of how crucial research is in tures of this disease, which has man genome in explaining COV- tive participant from the Middle Dr Andrea Ganna, co-founder of tify exactly which gene is respon- finding a way forward in uncer- killed more than half a million ID-19 susceptibility and severity. East, has so far contributed with the COVID-19 HGI and group sible for COVID-19 severity, it tain times. VCUarts Qatar’s alumni partner to recreate slice of ‘Money Heist’ in Qatar

Tribune News Network Doha

Ooredoo’s recent video commercial based on Netflix’s much-watched series ‘Money Heist’ has become a hit among viewers, and two alumni from Virginia Commonwealth Uni- versity School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qa- tar Foundation (QF) partner university, have played key Dimitri Yuri Saadia Khabab roles in its success. VCUarts Qatar’s Class of HBKU Press enables local, 2018 co-valedictorian Dimitri Yuri developed the script and directed the filming, while Class of 2016 alumna Saadia Khabab designed the cos- global artists to showcase tumes for the cast. Prior to directing the com- mercial, Yuri, who currently works at The Film House, the their creativity to the world company which produced the film in partnership with M&C Saatchi and Ooredoo, had al- The collaboration provides artists a platform to share their work and showcase their creativity ready established himself as a director among the local film- Crew during the shooting of the commercial. Tribune News Network with new and raw talent that “Illustrators and other through his famous sketch- ing fraternity. One of the films Doha have the potential to illus- artists should definitely make style drawings that marked he directed, ‘Falling Leaves’, itself was a favourite of mine. trate children’s books being sure they have a strong on- his collaborations with Roald was screened at the Ajyal Film “For this specific project, HAMAD Bin Khalifa Univer- published. If one has a port- line presence as it’s a great Dahl. Festival in 2019, and won the the challenge wasn’t so much sity Press (HBKU Press) has folio of one’s work, the easi- tool you can use to promote Reem Al Askari, an art in- Best Narrative Award in the in designing the costumes, as said it is committed to part- est way to establish an online your work and make connec- structor based in Qatar, has Made in Qatar section. it was in having the costumes nering with Qatari, Arab and presence is through a free so- tions.” established her career as a According to him, the ready amidst the pandemic- international artists to illus- cial media platform, like In- Submitting one’s portfolio children’s book illustrator for Ooredoo commercial was ex- imposed restrictions. I still trate and design covers for stagram or Facebook. If one for consideration by publish- the past 20 years. She has il- ceptional. “When we shot the managed to source the tex- their rapidly growing collec- can manage to financially in- ers is a great proactive way lustrated over 40 books and scene outside Ooredoo Tower, tiles and have them tailored tion of books. Their collabo- vest in this endeavour, there to establishing one’s career most of them come as a direct I remember thinking to my- within the deadlines, and the rations provide artists eve- are several online illustrator as an illustrator. Just as an result of being specifically self, ‘This is so cool; it’s a once- cast were pleased when they rywhere a platform to share directories that one can pay author would submit a sub- recommended for projects by in-a-lifetime opportunity’,” tried them on – they looked their work and opportunities a monthly or annual fee to be mission package, an illus- an author. says Yuri. as if they had stepped out of a to showcase their creativity listed on. Or, one can create trator would do the same. A In her latest upcoming “To be able to take inspira- Costumes designed by Saadia Money Heist episode!” in a local and international one’s own website with details collaboration with HBKU tion from a popular series such Khabab for the Ooredoo commercial As she talks about her context, it said. of oneself, highlights of one’s Press, Askari was recom- as Money Heist, and blend years following university, “We are always on the work and a contact page. One HBKU Press constantly mended to the publishing that with Doha’s skyline, is discuss my ideas, and work Khabab says that costume de- lookout for new artists, il- must ensure to include key scopes out illustrator house by author Leena Al Ali a creative process that most with them on short films and sign was hardly on her mind lustrators and designers metadata words that will pop directories and social to illustrate her forthcoming filmmakers dream of.” other media content.” when she graduated from VC- with whom we can partner up in search queries to make media platforms in an book ‘The Attar Plant’ (Al Yuri – who was also the In fact, it was that network Uarts Qatar. Rather, like most to bring to life the content oneself more visible. Yarawa). assistant director for ‘Champi- – an NU-Q alumna and friend new fashion design graduates, of our books, many of which Inna Ogando’s online effort to connect with new “By establishing a rela- ons of Hope’, a short film pro- of his – which would help him she was keen to work with a lo- explore international values presence, for example, is ex- and raw talent that have tionship with authors, I’ve duced on the occasion of the land a job as a project man- cal or regional fashion brand. and themes, as well as those actly what led her to estab- the potential to illustrate had some wonderful op- inauguration of the Education ager at The Film House. A few After a stint as a freelancer from local Gulf and MENA lishing a lasting relationship children’s books being portunities to work on best- City stadium – was barely 12 months into the job, though, he for various local fashion enter- culture,” explains Zeyad Abu with HBKU Press over the published selling and award-winning years old when he first aspired started creating story boards prises, she received an oppor- Irshaid, production and digi- past three years. The artist books”, Askari explains. to be a filmmaker. Yet, when and proposals for a few clients. tunity to design costumes for tal specialist. “Whether the from the Ukraine had a pro- “Some of these relationships it came to choosing a major at The clients loved his work, so Al Jazeera’s TV series ‘About artwork they provide is a file on a popular illustrator’s complete submission package continue and some are for university, he opted to study much so that within two years, Cinema.’ cover design or illustrations, directory and her portfolio should include a brief biog- one book only. Art History. Yuri had transitioned into a “The opportunity at Al by partnering with various was considered for an up- raphy that details any formal “On Leena’s recommen- “Even before I joined VC- fully-fledged writer and direc- Jazeera took me back to my artists using different medi- coming publication. training or reflects one’s pas- dation, I was asked to il- Uarts Qatar, I had my heart tor at The Film House. training in university,” she ums, we can ensure that the “I was actually contacted sion for art along with various lustrate my first work with set on filmmaking,” says the The Ooredoo commer- says. “My brief was to design images in our catalogue of by HBKU Press just a few samples of your work. HBKU Press. Such relation- VCUarts Qatar alumnus. “I cial’s eye-catching costumes period costumes for the series. works authentically reflect days after I created my online Sometimes publishers ships open doors for illustra- wanted to study something have been another reason for “Designing period cos- the content when presented portfolio on a popular web- may not be in touch imme- tors and provide opportuni- that would give me a differ- its popularity. Inspired by the tumes requires an immense to international audiences. site for illustrators”, Ogando diately because they simply ties that may have never been ent perspective of the world iconic red jumpsuits worn by amount of background re- The variety in design and says. don’t have a suitable manu- made available before”, she in general – so that when I the cast in the Netflix original, search, a skill that my un- style strengthens our pub- The book titled ‘A Recipe script to match to one’s style. continues. eventually started working in the wardrobe was developed dergraduate studies had in- lishing house’s standing as a for Home’, won the 2018 Pur- But the chances of one’s be- “HBKU Press keeps all films, I would have a differ- by fashion design alumna grained in me. My instructors world-class publisher.” ple Dragonfly Book Award in ing hired for work increases artist portfolios – those sub- ent interpretation on a scene Saadia Khabab. had emphasized the need for Breaking into the pub- several categories in part due with every portfolio one pro- mitted to us and those we’ve or story. Studying Art History Khabab had already com- every detail – from the pur- lishing industry can some- to her creative illustrations. actively sends. scoped out – on file because seemed to be the best pathway pleted half a dozen projects pose of the design, through the times be as simple as having “I loved the story since As an illustrator for we never know if and when for that.” with The Film House, when tailoring methods, to the way a a strong online presence, it approached diversity in a books, it is also key to con- an opportunity for a col- Yuri adds that one of the she was approached by the garment fit the historical con- submitting one’s portfolio to creative and approachable nect directly with authors as laboration will be available”, benefits of studying at VC- filming company with the re- text – to be explored in depth. a publisher, or being recom- way for children and was a way into the world of pub- says Zeyad Abu Irshaid. “It’s Uarts Qatar in Education City quest to design the costumes “I didn’t realize it then, but mended by an author one has happy to take on the job. I’m lishing. Some of the most fa- important to us that the art- was the access it gave him to for the Ooredoo commercial. today I know for certain that established a relationship proud of my contribution to mous artists are recognisable ist’s style complements the students in other universities, “Being offered the oppor- I would not have been able with. its success. Since then, I have based on their collaborations author’s text. So even if we “As it was clear that I would be tunity to design costumes that to traverse such a variety of HBKU Press constantly built a very good relationship with specific authors, for ex- don’t have a project at the making films, it helped that I had such popular references projects, had it not been for scopes out illustrator direc- with HBKU Press and credit ample, illustrator Quentin moment, we never know could make friends with stu- is a dream come true for any the rigorous mentoring – and tories and social media plat- my online presence as a big Blake made his mark in the when we’ll receive the next dents at Northwestern Univer- fashion stylist,” says Khabab. confidence – that I received at forms in an effort to connect part of being discovered. world of children’s literature project that is a perfect fit.” sity in Qatar (NU-Q); I could “I was delighted, as the show VCUarts Qatar.”